Chapter 101

On a certain utterly ordinary day in the Yao calendar year 374, element 6, cycle 4.

That day, a major event occurred in the southern sea area of the East Sea in the Wasteland...

"What? The Heavenly Emperor is coming here to look for relatives?!"

A group of local aquatic monster folk instantly became excited:

That's the Heavenly Emperor!

"Does the Heavenly Emperor even have relatives here?"

A shrimp folk stroked his whiskers, feeling somewhat bewildered:

"I heard the Heavenly Emperor isn't a three‑legged crow, right? He probably has nothing to do with our sea folk…"

"Where'd this old fossil come from? Don't you know the dynasty has changed?"

"Hmph!"

At the foot of First Yang Mountain.

【Under the welcome of your father, the Golden Flood Dragon King, you have returned to your long‑lost homeland.】

…

"…You don't know, back when he dismantled the dragon clan, I was terrified! I disbanded the palace servants overnight and even split up the family… Then the vanguard of First Yang Mountain arrived, and I cooperated fully—at that time that human vanguard even wanted me to go to First Yang Mountain to recognize him."

The days passed quickly.

"Compensate me with the Primordial Purple Qi!"

"Heavenly Emperor… why are you so shabby?"

"Once, the turtle chancellor of the Crystal Palace came to me and asked if I knew 【Jin Bing】… I definitely didn't."

It's indeed strange, but unexpectedly I feel it's not bad…

The Golden Flood Dragon King poured out his bitterness; for the safety of this family, he had made too many cuts…

【You, who know your father's nature well, did not expose his lies, because you also know that over these years you have done too many great deeds, far beyond your family's imagination and tolerance; if your father hadn't cut ties, something would surely have happened by now!】

"If he doesn't come of his own accord, that shows it's not yet time to recognize each other; we not recognizing him actually works in our favor… You don't know how many enemies he's made out there—those people can't get to him, but getting to us is easy."

"Ah? Red Cloud?"

"I don't care; compensate me with the Primordial Purple Qi!"

Some monster folk muttered complaints under their breath; others shared the same sentiment, having grown accustomed to the grand spectacle of the Heavenly Emperor's tours, yet now, seeing the Heavenly Emperor in person, they were shocked to find no spectacle at all.

"Heavenly Emperor… you're so kind…"

【During the meal, your father suddenly apologized to you, saying he shouldn't have severed ties with you in various ways back then, and that he's been worrying about you in his dreams…】

The stereotypical image of the Heavenly Emperor instantly shifted from a lofty, non‑human "divinity" to a living, breathing person.

Only after the Heavenly Emperor located the excited Golden Flood Dragon King did the father and son chat as they went to the Golden Flood Dragon King's palace; a large flood‑dragon crowd drifted away, and the people still hadn't fully reacted.

In the Golden Flood Dragon King's palace, the old dragon king was feigning calm as he and his wife learned to cook, planning to personally prepare a nourishing meal full of parental love for the Heavenly Emperor when he arrived…

Xuan Du sighed:

【"Bing brother, back when you drunkenly critiqued state affairs, I thought you were just blowing hot air—never imagined…"】

Everyone whispered among themselves.

Hou Tu: …

That little monster gave a cold snort, then grew curious:

"…Surname Jin, or a flood dragon… it feels like he belongs to the Golden Flood Dragon King's family."

"Never mind that; once the Heavenly Emperor comes, we'll find out… I hope after his visit to relatives he'll give us locals some heavenly treasures."

The Second Prince, Jin Yi, suddenly said weakly:

"Alas."

"What else then?"

A clump of red clouds that could not yet take form was lunging at Hou Tu's side; no matter how the helpless Hou Tu tried to persuade, it refused to leave:

"Maybe he's a distant relative of that old dragon king… and besides, the Heavenly Emperor is only a true immortal—so it's not impossible…"

Upon hearing this, Xuan Du suddenly felt a bit afraid:

"You really want to go? But you killed their elder brother…"

"I think I might have gone berserk from cultivation…"

"All right."

The spectacular effects supposedly accompanying the Heavenly Emperor's divine carriage are completely missing…

"Go ask your elder brother for it…"

Xuan Du listened, utterly confused—this person isn't he dead?

But soon he understood…

"Hmm."

…

"Even if you want it, I won't give it."

【You first congratulated Brother 250 on finally getting a name, then the two brothers chatted about past amusements.】

"He's really a true immortal… and I've even become a celestial immortal!"

The Golden Flood Dragon King sighed:

"I never imagined back then that he'd amount to this; after I made an exception and let him go, I thought he'd be unable to last a few days and come back—who would have thought…"

The scene was so ordinary that, had it not been for the vanguard chief's reminder, the crowd might not have recognized who the Heavenly Emperor was…

The Golden Flood Dragon King rolled his eyes:

The Heavenly Emperor wore ordinary robes, brought along a few helpless attendants, and simply rode a cloud to this place.

"The purple qi has already been used up by my older brother; I can't possibly produce any now……"

An old turtle stared at him in shock:

"The bird Heavenly Emperor abdicated long ago, retiring to Marsh Soup Valley… The current new Heavenly Emperor is a flood dragon named Gold Bing…"

Although a bit disappointed, not seeing the Heavenly Emperor's splendid honor guard, nor any heavenly palace maidens… but such an ordinary-looking Heavenly Emperor actually feels… uh, more real than the lavish procession of the legendary Heavenly Emperor on tour.

【Gold Ding sighed like that.】

Everyone couldn't help but feel doubtful:

"I daren't go! The dragon clan of the Eastern Sea has already offended him, and the Heavenly Court side also thinks he's a power‑grabbing villain; I'm afraid of being implicated……"

【At the banquet, naturally brothers and sisters came to hint that they wanted a minor official post for themselves, but you treated such requests as if you hadn't heard them, merely continuing to feast with everyone.】

"Now I finally understand why you've been reluctant to acknowledge kin all this time……"

……

That day, the local aquatic villagers, who had long been prepared, including the Gold Flood King's whole family of over a thousand people, under the leadership of the vanguard chieftain, welcomed the Heavenly Emperor who had come to seek kin!

The Gold Flood King happily accepted his children's flattery, then urged:

"Be quick with your hands, otherwise when Brother Bing returns we still won't have learned……"

……

【Parents, older brothers and sisters—you've seen them all; although most of them you're not familiar with, calling out a couple of times is still no problem.】

"Don't! I'm old and muddled! Old and muddled……"

"My Heavenly Court is not like the old Heavenly Court; at least I will always uphold equality—here, kin and friends and the common folk are all the same."

"I'm not afraid of what those eleven might do to me; I just fear that Old Ancestor Red Cloud will insist that Mother Earth compensate him for his primal purple qi……"

"He was just greeting me a moment ago……"

"……"

Gold Bing smiled, a playful look on his face:

How should I put it?

"If something happens to us, it might actually leave him tied up……"

After leaving the Eastern Sea, Xuan Du, who had been standing beside the Heavenly Emperor, finally let out a breath of relief:

The Crown Prince Gold Jia was also nearby, diligently learning to cook, feeling a dreamy, unfocused sensation as he struggled to tell reality from fantasy:

"Great chieftain……"

"Dad……"

【Brother 250 found you—no, he's now become the fourth named little Gold Flood Dragon, following Father's puzzling naming logic, named "Gold Ding".】

"It doesn't feel as scary as my dad."

Gold Bing laughed:

"Dad, is the Heavenly Emperor really that little brother who left the palace to study back then?"

【And you smiled: who says youths can't comment on the affairs of the world? Who can say for sure what the future holds? Being able to comment on the world at least shows that someone still cares about these matters……】

"However, the Gold Flood King is only a Golden Immortal now, and his sons and daughters are at most Mystic Immortals—how could they possibly be related to the Heavenly Emperor?"

【Everyone was excited; amid their nervous anticipation, they asked you many questions about your glorious deeds—like the great battle against the Supreme Heavenly Court, breaking the twelve divisions of the Wu Clan—and you answered each with a smile, satisfying their curiosity.】

"Bold old fool! How dare you directly utter the Majesty's name!"

"No problem."

"By cutting ties with your little brother like this, aren't you afraid of offending him?"

Then, a Heavenly Emperor in ordinary attire smiled and walked over, first offering a few words of encouragement to the overjoyed vanguard chieftain, then naturally moving into the crowd to greet everyone……

Given the Wu Clan's explosive temper, Xuan Du just thinking about it feels frightening.

Is this really the Heavenly Emperor?

【This left the relatives who hoped to rely on you to avoid decades of hard work feeling quite troubled……】

"Right, let 250… no, Gold Ding come over… let's make dumplings together!"

"He's dead already—what do I want! Compensate me for my purple qi!"

A little demon scolded him, frightening the old turtle into shaking its head repeatedly:

"Great chieftain, I really fear they'll just directly ask you for an office……"

【You: ……】

"It's possible!"

【In short, your time with family has been very pleasant……】

Gold Bing shook his head, ending the topic.

Contrary to everyone's expectations, there were no heavenly blossoms and chaotic rains, no golden lotuses springing from the earth, nor any legendary "Emperor's Nectar" that could enlighten all beings, and not even heavenly maidens playing music and scattering flowers.

"Oh dear! Father King, your insight!"

"This time, on our tour, besides visiting kin, there's still much to do…… First we'll head to Mount Shouyang to see Mother Earth and her companions."

Had I known this guy would be like this, I shouldn't have revived his true spirit back then!

……

(End of chapter)