Chapter 403: SUPERIOR GENERATION!

Gu Qing met the Immortal of a Hundred Flowers at Yang Jian’s wedding.

After Yang Jian joined the campaign against King Zhou, the combat strength of Xiqi greatly increased; although Shang Zhou resisted fiercely, the intervention of Shangjiao immortals, the protection of Yuanshi Tianzun, and the divine powers of the Western Buddha removed all obstacles, and now Xiqi’s army had reached Muye, just one battle away from overthrowing Zhou.

At this pivotal moment of victory, Jiang Ziya arranged the match, and after many trials, Yang Jian and Ao Cunxin finally decided to be together.

“Congratulations, congratulations.”

Gu Qing’s entire family had come here to celebrate the groom.

Yang Jian wore his wedding attire, holding a folding fan, his every gesture elegant and distinguished; when he saw Gu Qing, his expression darkened for an instant, but over the past few years, Yang Jian had learned much of what Gu Qing had done at Guanjiankou—his sister’s life was good, so Yang Jian said nothing more.

Of course, Yang Jian still disapproved of Gu Qing.

He thought Gu Qing was too promiscuous.

The reality was, as soon as Gu Qing entered, he saw Ao Tingxin beside Ao Cunxin, and the Immortal of a Hundred Flowers standing nearby; after exchanging greetings, Gu Qing and the Immortal of a Hundred Flowers seemed to be at odds.

“My master is inside!”

Yang Jian pulled Gu Qing toward the direction of Yuding Zhenren.

“Why didn’t you say anything just now?”

Ao Tingxin whispered.

The Immortal of a Hundred Flowers shook her head; upon seeing Gu Qing, she felt an uncanny familiarity—his faint floral scent, his speech and mannerisms, all resonated with her heart, as if she had met a kindred soul.

But this kindred soul was already married.

The Immortal of a Hundred Flowers’s gaze unconsciously followed him, seeing Gu Qing seated beside Yuding Zhenren and Taiyi Zhenren, two renowned Shangjiao immortals.

“Did you eat that ginseng fruit?”

Gu Qing leaned close to Yuding Zhenren’s ear and asked.

“What ginseng fruit? I’ve never seen one.”

Yuding Zhenren covered his mouth with his folding fan and denied it outright: “I am a disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun—do you think I’d care for such a thing?”

“So you ate it.”

Gu Qing saw Yuding Zhenren’s expression and understood; he nodded and said, “It’s just a fruit—what’s the big deal? When the nine-thousand-year peaches ripen, I’ll pick a few and return them to him.”

Immortals lived by millennia; to Gu Qing, this tiny ginseng fruit was nothing.

Yuding Zhenren looked astonished and grumbled, “You really know how to make favors!”

If Queen Mother were your proper mother-in-law, fine—but who in the Three Realms doesn’t know your family is at war? And now you’re stealing her peaches to repay a debt…

“It’s no longer just about a few ginseng fruits.”

Taiyi Zhenren chimed in with amusement: “Not long ago, your monkey disciple was captured by Zhendianzi, then escaped—but during his escape, the monkey knocked over the ginseng fruit tree.”

This was a major matter.

“Not my fault, not my fault…”

Yuding Zhenren quickly ducked his head and said, “Once a divine root is toppled, there’s no saving it.”

“Really no way to save it?”

Gu Qing tapped Yuding Zhenren’s head and said, “Use your legendary memory to sift through every scripture and find a way to save the tree!”

Yuding Zhenren slumped over the table, frowning in distress, pondering countless texts in his mind; Gu Qing sat beside him, offering no hint.

Taiyi Zhenren watched this and snorted, envious: “I didn’t eat any, so it’s none of my business.” Still, he felt uneasy inside.

Nezha crept over cautiously and said, “How about I steal you some?”

“Can you even escape?”

Taiyi Zhenren gave Nezha a sharp tap on the head—his disciple was indeed inferior to Yang Jian and Sun Wukong.

Nezha glanced sidelong at Taiyi Zhenren, seriously considering Gu Qing’s suggestion.

Yang Jian’s wedding was grand indeed: one side was a princess of the Western Sea, the other a general of the Zhou-overthrowing army; moreover, countless immortals and gods were entangled in the Divine Investiture War. By the time of the wedding ceremony, immortals and deities came and went in great numbers, and among Yang Jian’s friends—the Six Monsters of Meishan, Xiaotianquan—all gathered; together, they orchestrated the event flawlessly.

“Strange.”

Gu Qing sidled up to Jiang Ziya, whose beard was entirely white, and said, “Heaven’s laws forbid immortals from marrying, to preserve order. Yang Jian ignoring heavenly decrees is normal—but why did the Western Dragon King come to this wedding? That’s suspicious.”

Jiang Ziya, who had arranged the match, stroked his beard gently and replied, “I petitioned the Moon and Harmony Elder in Heaven, and Yang Jian and Cunxin truly had the bond of husband and wife; Heaven also recognized Yang Jian’s achievements, so it tacitly approved.”

It was precisely this tacit approval that was strange.

Gu Qing sensed that the Queen Mother might be targeting Yang Jian.

After Yang Jian and Cunxin bowed to Heaven and Earth, then to Yaoji and the Dragon King, the crowd moved toward the bridal chamber; upon entering, everyone gasped—they saw a gourd of divine pills and a ceremonial crown inside.

“Golden Cloud Crown.”

“Cave of Eternal Youth Pill.”

Taiyi Zhenren exclaimed in surprise upon seeing the items.

The Golden Cloud Crown was a relic of Huiling Shengmu of the Jie Sect; Gu Qing had defeated many female immortals of the Jie Sect, and this one had been restrained by Jinling Shengmu and had not participated in the Divine Investiture War—yet her relic appeared here, which was odd.

As for the Cave of Eternal Youth Pill, it was a divine medicine of Donghua Emperor.

Yang Jian took the two items, read the note beneath them, and chuckled; he looked at Yuding Zhenren and said, “My younger brother heard I was marrying and sent these as gifts.”

Yang Jian had heard of Sun Wukong’s recent reputation in the Three Realms—mainly his feud with Zhendianzi—but since his mother and sister had eaten the ginseng fruits, Yang Jian felt if trouble came, he’d bear it; he held great respect for his younger brother Sun Wukong.

“What gifts? These are probably stolen goods!”

Ao Cunxin frowned at the two items.

Saying such words at a wedding feast froze the atmosphere.

“Stolen goods?”

From among the congratulating immortals, one leapt out, waving his hands and shouting, “These are my old Monkey’s legitimate gains!”

Upon hearing this, all immortals turned to look—the man’s demeanor revealed him as Sun Wukong in human form.

“Monkey, I’ve caught you at last!”

A cold laugh echoed through the crowd; all immortals saw a wide sleeve sweep through the air, spinning once—Sun Wukong was instantly swept into it. They turned to the one who acted, and saw the figure transform into a celestial immortal wearing a purple-gold crown, silk shoes, holding a fly whisk, radiating divine grace.

“Zhendian Daxian.”

All immortals bowed and addressed him respectfully.

Zhendian Daxian held extremely high status in the Three Realms—he was the Ancestor of Earth Immortals; except for the reckless Monkey, every immortal showed him deference.

“What Daxian? Let him go first!”

Yang Jian flicked his folding fan, and his three-pronged, two-edged spear materialized in his hand, aimed squarely at Zhendian Daxian, ready to strike.

“Are you mad?”

Ao Cunxin pulled Yang Jian and said, “Daxian has countless immortal disciples across the West and East, even Heaven reveres him—how dare you draw your blade on him?”

Yang Jian turned to look at Ao Cunxin, studying her expression as if seeing her for the first time. “Zhendian Daxian…”

Ao Cunxin bowed to Zhendian Daxian.

Yuding Zhenren and Taiyi Zhenren, seeing this, turned their faces away.

“This sister-in-law…”

Yang Chan pursed her lips lightly; her second brother carried a proud spirit, but faced with such a pragmatic sister-in-law, the two would surely endure much friction.

“Zhendian Daxian.”

At this moment, Gu Qing appeared behind Zhendian Daxian and said, “The deed is done. Now, if you fly into a rage, it won’t help the ginseng fruit tree or recover your loss. Let’s sit down and discuss what compensation you should receive.”

Yang Chan stood behind Gu Qing, gripping the Precious Lotus Lamp tightly; the Seventh Princess also drew her sword and stood on the other side.

Yaoji watched this, silently glancing at Ao Cunxin; with this contrast of a harmonious couple, Yaoji found Ao Cunxin’s behavior utterly disgraceful.

Of course, one might say a virtuous wife prevents misfortune—but again, this misfortune was caused entirely by Ao Cunxin’s mouth.

“Compensation?”

Zhendian Daxian waved his fly whisk and said, “So today I finally find the culprit.” He flicked his sleeve, and Sun Wukong, bound in ropes, tumbled to the ground. “I treated this monkey kindly, yet he stole my ginseng fruits overnight and fled—utterly disgraceful!”

“You told me Jinchanzi was my master, and I should join the Buddhist path and cultivate diligently…”

Sun Wukong grumbled, “Why should I join the Buddhist path? Who is Jinchanzi? I already have a master—why should I bow to Jinchanzi? You schemed against me first, so I took your ginseng fruits and left you with nothing!”

“Good!”

Yuding Zhenren exclaimed, “Good!”

Everyone turned to stare; Yuding Zhenren quickly looked away.

“You knocked over my ginseng fruit tree!”

Zhendian Daxian said angrily.

“That’s because you made me take the blame!”

Sun Wukong said, “I clearly remember picking only fifteen. When I arrived at Wuzhuang Temple, you insisted I’d taken nineteen!” Sun Wukong couldn’t stand Wuzhuang’s accounting method, so he uprooted the ginseng fruit tree.

“Brilliant!”

Gu Qing, hearing Sun Wukong’s accounting argument, couldn’t help laughing.

Zhendian Daxian listened, glanced at Gu Qing and Yuding Zhenren, and suppressed his anger: “Fine. I don’t ask for anything else—just restore my ginseng fruit tree. As for the fruits… I won’t pursue it!”

This wasn’t Zhendian Daxian compromising; Sun Wukong had uprooted the tree—like tearing off the roof of his house. Compared to the entire roof, a single window opening was nothing.

Gu Qing looked at Yuding Zhenren.

Yuding Zhenren began desperately scratching his head, searching through Shangjiao scriptures for a way to save the ginseng fruit tree.

“If you truly save my ginseng fruit tree, you really won’t pursue it?”

Sun Wukong asked curiously.

“Of course not!”

Zhendian frowned darkly; he could capture Sun Wukong, but he couldn’t hold him—no matter how many ropes or methods he used, Sun Wukong always escaped. Facing such a thief, Zhendian felt like handling a porcupine. “Not only will I not pursue you—I plan to become sworn brothers with you!”

More friends, more paths.

“Oh oh oh…”

Sun Wukong looked at Yang Chan, knowing the Treasure Lotus Lamp in her hands held infinite mysteries.

“Snap!”

Yu Ding Zhenren slapped himself and said, “That’s right—the Treasure Lotus Lamp! Gu Qing, bring out the Yangzhi Ganlu, then use the Treasure Lotus Lamp, and we can revive the Ginseng Fruit Tree!”

Gu Qing turned around and looked at Yang Chan behind him; the Treasure Lotus Lamp was one of the most powerful treasures in the world, and many matters could not bypass it.

“Can’t we ask Cihang Dao Ren for more?”

Gu Qing asked softly, hoping for a free handout.

She’s not available right now.

Yu Ding Zhenren said, “If she had achieved cultivation and could act, one person would be enough.”

Cihang Dao Ren possesses both Buddhist and Daoist methods; after the Ten Thousand Immortals Array, she followed the Western Buddha Elder in cultivation and is now at a critical moment—likely uncallable.

“Then it’s settled!”

Gu Qing agreed at once, grabbed Yang Chan, the Seventh Princess, and soared into the air toward Wanshou Mountain’s Wuzhuang Temple in the Western Continent of Niuhe.

Zhen Yuan Daxian, seeing there was indeed a way to save it, rose on clouds; behind him, Sun Wukong, Tai Yi Zhenren, Yu Ding Zhenren, and Yao Ji each unleashed their divine arts—even Yang Jian leapt into the air.

“Today is our wedding night—where are you going?”

Cun Xin blocked Yang Jian and asked.

“First to Wanshou Mountain’s Wuzhuang Temple!”

Yang Jian spoke stiffly to Cun Xin, harboring resentment; after taking to the clouds, the immortals and gods quickly departed, and the once-boisterous wedding soon had few guests left.

Jiang Ziya stroked his beard, looked at Cun Xin, who was crying and smashing things, and slapped his own face… Why did I meddle in this matchmaking?

This was asking for trouble!

Wanshou Mountain, Wuzhuang Temple.

The Ginseng Fruit Tree lay overturned beside them, barren of fruit; after Gu Qing and Yang Chan landed, Gu Qing sprinkled the Yangzhi Ganlu, while Yang Chan silently chanted sutras—the Treasure Lotus Lamp radiated light, bathing the Ginseng Fruit Tree, restoring it to its upright position, and the fallen fruits burst from the earth, reattaching themselves to the branches.

“Good! Good!”

Zhen Yuanzi, witnessing this, was deeply moved; when he looked again at Sun Wukong, his gaze held something different.

This monkey left Zhen Yuanzi helpless, yet his behind was powerful—not only the Chan Sect, but also the future Buddhist Sect, and Gu Qing, a force of raw strength—so Zhen Yuanzi swiftly took Sun Wukong’s hand and swore brotherhood within Wuzhuang Temple.

“Good. Good.”

Sun Wukong gripped Zhen Yuanzi’s hand and said, “From now on, we’re brothers.”

Zhen Yuanzi gladly offered tea and called Sun Wukong brother.

“Brother, let me introduce you.”

Sun Wukong pulled Zhen Yuanzi along, pointed at Gu Qing, and said, “This is my father.” Then pointed at Yang Chan, “This is my mother.” Then pointed at Yu Ding Zhenren, “This is my master.”

These introductions left Zhen Yuanzi frozen in place.

His usual circle of friends were those who mingled with the Three Pure Ones; now, having sworn brotherhood with Sun Wukong, he suddenly found himself one generation below Yuan Shi Tianzun’s disciples—it felt deeply wrong.

“Hmm… hmm…”

“Cough… cough…”

Yu Ding Zhenren and Tai Yi Zhenren made awkward noises, glancing at Zhen Yuanzi; for them, this was a massive generational leap.

Gu Qing held Yang Chan’s hand and asked Zhen Yuanzi, “What should the Jade Emperor call me?”

Gu Qing wanted to see how far up the generational ladder this went.

(End of Chapter)