I am submissive in Journey to the West, I strike hard at the gods

He flashed, transforming into a streak of light, his halberd gleaming coldly as he headed straight for the ruined Taoist temple.

Under the moonlight, his figure was like a war god descending to earth, exuding a murderous aura.

As Jiang Wang stepped onto the bluestone slab in front of the dilapidated Taoist temple, he heard a gust of wind howling behind him.

He turned around and saw Yang Jian holding a halberd, his eyes wide with anger, the tip of the halberd pointed directly at his chest, shouting: "Jiang Wang!"
You scoundrel, how dare you kill my Howling Celestial Dog!

Today I will make you pay for your crimes in blood!

Jiang Wang sneered, showing no fear whatsoever. He reached out and grabbed the halberd blade, his tone contemptuous: "Yang Jian, you're a truly pathetic judicial god."

"It's just a dog, it's dead, so what? Is it worth making such a fuss?"

Yang Jian trembled with rage, his third eye blazing with golden light, and roared, "Jiang Wang, you're courting death!"

He trembled his halberd, and a fierce gale burst forth from the blade. At the same time, his Heavenly Eye shot out a beam of destructive divine light, aiming straight for Jiang Wang's brow.

A cold glint flashed in Jiang Wang's eyes. He released the halberd, slightly shifted his body to the side, easily dodging the annihilating divine light, and laughed, "Yang Jian, you dare to show off your meager skills in front of me?"

He raised his right palm, and a golden light shone brightly. He unleashed a powerful Tathagata Palm, the palm wind as heavy as a mountain, directly swatting Yang Jian and the annihilating divine light away.

"boom!"

With a loud bang, Yang Jian flew out like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the distant summit of Mount Hua, causing rocks to shatter and dust to fly everywhere.

He fell to the ground, his silver armor shattered, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. Both his primordial spirit and physical body were severely injured, and he fainted.

Jiang Wang clapped his hands and sneered, "God of Justice?"
That's all there is to it.

He turned and walked towards the Taoist temple, humming a little tune: "Tonight we're eating dog meat, fairy, would you like a bite?"

Inside the Taoist temple, Chang'e had already heard the commotion outside. She covered her mouth and chuckled, saying to the Jade Rabbit, "Look, this Jiang Wang is indeed a ruthless character."

Yang Jian is probably in for a bad time now.

The Jade Rabbit widened its eyes and said worriedly, "Master, Yang Jian is a man of the Heavenly Court. If he dies, the Heavenly Court will probably investigate."

Chang'e waved her hand dismissively: "So what if we investigate?"

With Jiang Wang here, who dares to touch my Guanghan Palace?

She paused, a calculating glint in her eyes, "However, this matter concerning Yang Jian will likely reach the Jade Emperor."

"Very well, let the Heavenly Court be thrown into chaos so we can proceed more smoothly."

Meanwhile, at the foot of Mount Hua, Yang Chan was rushing over.

From afar, she saw Yang Jian lying on the rubble, his breath faint, his silver armor stained with blood. She immediately cried out in alarm, "Second Brother!"

She rushed forward, took out the Lotus Lantern, and the wick ignited, casting a soft light that enveloped Yang Jian and slowly healed his injuries.

Yang Chan gritted her teeth, tears glistening in her eyes, and murmured, "Second brother, don't worry, I will definitely report this to the Jade Emperor and seek justice for you!"

She looked up towards the direction of the dilapidated Taoist temple, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. "Jiang Wang, you wait, the Heavenly Court will not let you off!"

Under the moonlight, Jiang Wang's laughter echoed from the dilapidated Taoist temple, mingled with the aroma of wine and a murderous aura, lingering for a long time.

On the open ground in front of the Taoist temple, the bonfire crackled, and the firelight reflected on Jiang Wang's face, outlining his sharply defined features.

He leaned against a blue stone, holding a sharpened wooden stick with a golden-brown roasted dog leg skewered on it. The fat dripped into the fire, sizzling and releasing a rich aroma of meat.

Jiang Wang lowered his head and sniffed, a satisfied smile appearing on his lips.

"Oh, Celestial Dog, you've got all that fat, all that lean and fat, you'd smell amazing roasted."

Jiang Wang muttered to himself, turning the wooden stick over to heat the dog's leg evenly, "That guy Yang Jian is probably still crying in Heaven, right?"
"Tsk, the mighty Erlang Shen can't even protect his own dog, yet he dares to challenge me?"

As he was speaking, a series of light footsteps came from the mountain path, mixed with the soft rustling of a skirt.

Jiang Wang raised his eyelids and glanced at the entrance of the mountain path, where he saw a figure slowly walking towards him.

The woman wore a white dress with a moon-white ribbon tied around her waist. Her steps were light as if she were walking on clouds, and the moonlight shone on her, as if she were shrouded in a thin layer of silver light.

It was Chang'e.

Jiang Wang narrowed his eyes, paused with the wooden stick in his hand, and said with a hint of mockery, "Oh, why has a fairy from the Moon Palace descended to earth?"
"Could it be that you came here specifically to freeload because you were attracted by the aroma of my grilled meat?"

Chang'e stopped and stood by the campfire, the firelight making her cheeks slightly flushed.

She covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her voice clear and melodious like jade beads falling onto a plate: "Jiang Wang, your mouth smells even better than the roast meat in your hand."

but……"

Her gaze fell on the dog's leg, and her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly. "This meat is roasted too roughly. The heat is uneven, and it's probably burnt on the outside but raw on the inside, wasting good ingredients."

Jiang Wang raised an eyebrow and snorted: "Fairy, you have good taste. Are you looking down on my skills?"

Why don't you give it a try and teach this mortal how to bake something that tastes like it's from heaven?

Chang'e did not refuse. She walked straight forward, lifted her skirt, squatted down by the campfire, and took the wooden stick from Jiang Wang's hand.

With practiced ease, she flicked her wrist, flipping the dog's leg over the fire. Oil dripped down, flames leaped up, and the aroma intensified.

As she grilled, she turned her head to look at Jiang Wang, smiling broadly: "Jiang Wang, you're quite an interesting person. You killed Yang Jian's dog and still dare to grill it here so brazenly. You've got some nerve."

Jiang Wang leaned against the bluestone, his hands behind his head, and lazily said, "Yang Jian?"
He's just a spoiled brat who relies on the Heavenly Court's backing.

His dog barked loudly in front of me, and I was just disciplining it for him.

"What, does the fairy also want to stand up for him?"

Upon hearing this, Chang'e chuckled and her wooden stick trembled slightly: "I don't have that kind of free time."

"Yang Jian's affairs are for the Heavenly Court to worry about. I was merely passing by and came up to take a look because of the fragrance."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Jiang Wang's face with a hint of inquiry. "Speaking of which, you're a really strange person. I heard you fought your way from the mortal realm to the Heavenly Court, causing a huge uproar, and even the Jade Emperor couldn't do anything about you."

"Jiang Wang, who exactly are you?"

Jiang Wang raised his eyelids, glanced at her, and said with a half-smile, "Why is the fairy asking about this?"
Could it be that she's taken a liking to me and wants to play matchmaker for me?
"It's a pity, I hate it when people arrange my marriage, especially that matchmaker, always trying to tie the red thread randomly, it's so annoying."

Upon hearing this, Chang'e's eyes flashed with a strange light, but she quickly covered her mouth and laughed, "The red thread of fate tied by the Old Man of the Moon is not something to be done casually."

Jiang Wang, if you truly dislike marriage, why are you still lingering in this mortal realm?

He should have severed all ties with the mortal world long ago and ascended to heaven to become a carefree immortal.

Jiang Wang snorted, his gaze falling on the fire, his tone becoming somewhat indifferent: "Immortal?"
They are nothing more than puppets whose hands and feet are bound by the laws of Heaven.

I, Jiang Wang, act solely on my conscience. Neither the Heavenly Court nor the Old Man of the Moon can interfere with me.

Upon hearing this, Chang'e paused in her actions, her gaze lingering on his face for a moment, as if she wanted to say something, but then swallowed it back.

She focused intently on grilling the meat, the firelight reflecting off her face, softening her cool demeanor and adding a touch of warmth and life.

The dog leg gradually turned golden and crispy under her hands, filling the air with fragrance, which made Jiang Wang a little stunned.

"Okay, that's almost it."

Chang'e handed the roasted dog leg to Jiang Wang with a smile and said, "Try my cooking. It's much better than your half-cooked one, isn't it?" Jiang Wang took the dog leg, took a bite, and found the meat tender and melt-in-your-mouth. It was indeed better than his.

He clicked his tongue and nodded, saying, "As expected of the Moon Palace Fairy, her skills are enough to open a tavern."

but……"

He changed the subject, squinting at her, "You're being so attentive, fairy, it's not just to show off your cooking skills, is it?"
"Speak, what is your purpose?"

Chang'e was taken aback by his direct gaze, then laughed and said, "Jiang Wang, you are too suspicious."

I'm just a carefree fairy, what purpose could I possibly have?
The meat smelled so good that it made my mouth water.

She paused, as if remembering something, "However, although the meat tastes good, the seasoning is a bit lacking."

I have a spice box at home containing some special spices from the Moon Palace. Would you mind if I went to fetch them?

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wang's gaze swept over her face with a hint of wariness: "A condiment box?"

Is the fairy so kind?

"Are you trying to put some kind of drug in the meat I'm eating?"

Chang'e laughed at his words, stood up and clapped her hands: "Jiang Wang, if you're really afraid I'll poison you, you can come with me to get it, so you won't be so suspicious."

Jiang Wang thought for a moment, then stood up and said, "Let's go then. I want to see what secrets the Moon Palace Fairy has hidden in her spice box."

The two descended the mountain and arrived at the village at its foot.

Chang'e's residence is an exquisite bamboo house, with a clump of osmanthus trees planted in front of it. When the night breeze blows, the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms fills the air.

Jiang Wang stood at the door, looked around, and only after confirming that there was nothing unusual did he follow Chang'e into the house.

The room was simply yet elegantly furnished. On a wooden table sat a carved wooden box. Chang'e opened the box, and inside were several bottles of spices, emitting a faint fragrance.

"Here, this is it."

Chang'e handed the wooden box to Jiang Wang, saying, "Check it to see if I've hidden any sleeping potions."

Jiang Wang took the wooden box, opened it, and smelled it. It was indeed just some spices, with a fresh scent and nothing unusual.

He snorted and closed the box: "At least you're honest."

Let's go back and finish the meat before it gets cold.

The two returned to the Taoist temple, where Chang'e sprinkled spices on the dog's leg and roasted it for a while longer. The aroma became even stronger, making people's mouths water.

Jiang Wang tore off a piece of meat, and after taking a bite, his mouth was filled with fragrance. He couldn't help but praise, "These spices are indeed quite sophisticated. As expected of a fairy from the Moon Palace, even your seasonings are so particular."

Chang'e sat opposite him, resting her chin on her hand, and looked at him with a smile: "Jiang Wang, you may have a tough tongue, but you're not a bad person at heart."

Tell me, what exactly are you trying to achieve by causing all this trouble?
Power?

Fame and fortune?

Or... something else?

Jiang Wang chewed on the meat, his gaze fixed on the fire, his eyes gradually becoming unfocused.

He seemed lost in some kind of memory, muttering, "What's the point... all I want is an answer."

He raised his head, his gaze falling on Chang'e's face. In the firelight, her beauty seemed almost unreal, like a figure from his memories that haunted his dreams.

“Feifei…”

Jiang Wang murmured softly, his eyes gradually becoming unfocused.

He suddenly stood up, took a few steps to Chang'e, bent down and picked her up in his arms, his movements urgent. "Feifei, I've finally found you!"

Chang'e was taken aback, then realized what was happening. A hint of panic flashed in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it.

She whispered, "Jiang Wang, what... what's wrong with you?"
I am Chang'e, not some Fei Fei.

Jiang Wang seemed not to hear her, carrying her into the Taoist temple, whispering, "Feifei, all these years, I've been looking for you... Do you know how much I've missed you..."

His voice was choked with emotion, but his eyes burned with an intense intensity.

Just then, a clear voice came from the horizon, breaking the eerie atmosphere: "Jiang Wang!"
The Jade Emperor has decreed that you must immediately ascend to Heaven!

Jiang Wang was jolted awake, as if from a dream. He looked down and saw that the woman in his arms was clearly Chang'e. Where was Fei Fei?

His pupils contracted, he abruptly released his grip, took two steps back, and shouted sternly, "Chang'e!"
What kind of evil magic did you use on me?!

Chang'e was pushed away by him and staggered a bit, but her face showed a bit of innocence: "Jiang Wang, what kind of evil magic are you talking about?"
"I was just having barbecue with you, how did that become sorcery?"

Jiang Wang snorted coldly, and was about to ask again when a golden light descended from the horizon. Taibai Jinxing, holding a whisk, walked over with a smile: "Jiang Wang, don't be angry. The Jade Emperor has summoned you to discuss important matters. Come with me quickly."

Jiang Wang frowned, glanced at Chang'e, and ultimately did not pursue the matter further, following Venus as they soared away on the clouds.

Chang'e stood there, watching his retreating figure, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.

Above the clouds, Jiang Wang followed behind Taibai Jinxing, his face still gloomy: "Old Bai, what happened just now?"

"That woman Chang'e is definitely strange!"

Venus stroked his beard and sighed, "Jiang Wang, you've really run into a big mess this time."

Did you know that trouble broke out at the Palace of the Old Man Under the Moon a few days ago? The Bodhi Patriarch of the West tricked the Old Man Under the Moon and tied your, Chang'e, and Xiaotianquan's marriage threads together.

If it weren't for Kui Mulang's interference, even Zhu Bajie might have gotten involved with you!

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wang's expression changed drastically, and anger flared in his eyes: "Bodhi Patriarch?"

!

"You old bald monk, how dare you scheme against me!"

He clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking. "Fortunately, I have cultivated the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique to the sixth revolution, breaking free from the restrictions of the Heavenly Dao. Even that red thread cannot bind me!"

"Bodhi Patriarch, you just wait!"

Seeing his anger, Venus quickly advised, "Jiang Wang, don't be impulsive."

The Bodhi Patriarch is a protector of the Western Sect, possessing extraordinary abilities. If you rashly oppose him, you will likely suffer losses.

Jiang Wang sneered: "Suffer a loss?"
Old Bai, you underestimate me too much.

"Whether it's Bodhi or the Jade Emperor, whoever dares to scheme against me, Jiang Wang, I'll make them regret ever being born!"

Venus shook his head helplessly and led him straight to the South Heavenly Gate.

As Jiang Wang stepped into the Heavenly Court, he could hear Yang Jian's furious roar coming from the Lingxiao Palace: "Jade Emperor!"
That Jiang Wang has gone too far! He killed my Celestial Hound and injured me! I beg the Jade Emperor to avenge me!

Jiang Wang smirked, pushed open the door, and said loudly, "Yang Jian, how dare you complain?"

"Your dog barked at me first, I was just teaching it a lesson. As for you... you're just not as good as me, who can you blame?" (End of Chapter)