Traveling Through Journey to the West: I Am the Dragon King

Fairy White Crane said, "Brother Chonghua, if the old Dragon King gives you any more gifts in the future, just accept them. Firstly, you can enjoy them yourself. Secondly, it will save him from going crazy from not being able to give them away. Besides, you're not the only one in heaven who has received gifts from the old Dragon King. Just as the old Dragon King said, brother, you must not be too 'unconventional' and should try to fit in with everyone. Hahahaha."

As she spoke, the White Crane Fairy couldn't help but laugh again.

Yun Chonghua asked, "So, if that old Dragon King sends me a gift again next time, I'll just accept it?"

The White Crane Fairy said, "You may accept it. Although the old Dragon King is a bit cunning, he is still quite loyal to His Majesty because of Nezha's havoc in the sea. He may not be a confidant, but he can be considered one of our own. If he gives you any gifts in the future, just accept them and enjoy them. Besides, the old Dragon King will at most give you some gold and silver, a few maids, and maybe treat you to a drink."

"The value of these mundane items is far less than that of the spiritual treasures like the intertwined pears and fire dates that the immortals in heaven exchange privately. So even if His Majesty were to investigate, it wouldn't be considered a serious crime. Besides, His Majesty wouldn't even bother to pursue it."

"As for the feud between the two of you, I think it's best to put it aside for now. After all, it's better to resolve conflicts than to let them fester. Although you were frightened, things turned out alright thanks to a series of unforeseen events. The Four Seas Dragon Lords are also important subordinates of His Majesty in the mortal realm. For the sake of His Majesty's overall interests..."

The White Crane Fairy patted Yun Chonghua's little belly and said, "Your belly is really big enough to hold a boat. Let's not bother with such a small matter and lower ourselves to the level of a mere dragon king."

The White Crane Fairy continued, "His Majesty's hundred acts of forbearance led to his attainment of the Great Celestial Venerable's position. It wouldn't hurt for us to be a little more forbearing for our own future. If you still can't get over it, when you return, find an opportunity to ask him for more wealth and treasures as compensation. When his loyalty to His Majesty diminishes, you can personally send him to the execution platform without any problem."

Yun Chonghua nodded and said, "Yes, Chonghua understands. As for the marriage..."

After thinking for a moment, the White Crane Fairy said, "Since the Dragon King is interested, and you also like the four dragon maidens, in my opinion, it's a good match."

But then the White Crane Fairy changed the subject, saying, "However, you must not agree to his request."

"Huh? Why is that?" Yun Chonghua asked back, "Didn't my sister say before that I could get married?"

The White Crane Fairy said, "Of course you can get married. It's just not now. The old Dragon King only wants to marry his daughter to you because he sees you as a confidant of His Majesty and the Empress and wants to climb the social ladder. We can't be like those commoners who come to propose and then just agree to it, which would be beneath our dignity."

"But don't worry, as long as you loyally assist His Majesty and the Empress, they will not mistreat you. As for your marriage, His Majesty and the Empress will certainly oversee it and bestow a marriage upon you in the future. Since you have taken a liking to the Fourth Princess of the East Sea, I will inform the Empress and make her the first choice. But in His Majesty and the Empress's hearts, it is hard to say whether that little dragon from the mortal realm is worthy of you, my brother, a celestial dragon."

"But you don't need to worry. Even if you don't marry the Fourth Princess of the East Sea, His Majesty and the Empress will arrange a better match for you. You don't need to worry about this. If the Dragon King asks again, just tell him that the Empress has her own arrangements."

Yun Chonghua nodded after hearing this and said, "Yes! Now I'll know how to handle this when I get back."

Although the matter of the Fourth Princess might not be very likely to come to fruition, Yun Chonghua didn't care.

After all, although he liked the Fourth Princess, he wasn't so determined to marry her.

If the Empress and His Majesty could arrange a better one for him, then he would naturally "obey the assignment".

This time, he informed the White Crane Fairy of the situation, and the White Crane Fairy promised to report it to the Empress, making the Fourth Princess his first choice for marriage. Yun Chonghua had done his best. Whether the marriage would succeed or not was up to "fate".

After they finished speaking, the two went to the palace deep in the Jade Pool to pay their respects to the Empress.

The Empress inquired about Yun Chonghua's experiences in the mortal realm and some interesting things that happened there.

The two were quite informal in their conversation. After paying his respects to the Empress, she bestowed upon Yun Chonghua two bottles of imperial wine and a meal, instructing him to finish his meal in the Jade Pool before returning to the mortal realm.

After receiving the Empress's reward, Yun Chonghua left the Empress's palace and went to a side hall to taste the imperial cuisine.

A moment later, the White Crane Fairy came in carrying an exquisite food box.

The White Crane Fairy opened the food box and took out four famous dishes from the Heavenly Palace. Each dish, a mix of meat and vegetables, was exquisitely prepared and exuded a wonderful aroma.

Then, two bottles of fine imperial wine flew out from the White Crane Fairy's sleeve, to accompany the dishes.

The White Crane Fairy said, "Brother Chonghua, please enjoy your meal here. The delicacies of the Heavenly Palace are far superior to those of the mortal world. If it weren't for the Empress's Peach Banquet, even the Five Elders of the Five Directions and the immortals of the Ten Continents and Three Islands wouldn't have the fortune to enjoy them."

Finally, the White Crane Fairy pushed the two bottles of imperial wine in front of him and said, "This jade nectar is the essence brewed by the fairy maidens of Yaochi from countless immortal herbs and spiritual objects. Drinking it will enhance your magical power. Try to drink it all; it will benefit you. The Empress has some matters to attend to, so I won't stay here with you any longer. I'll see you out in a little while."

Yun Chonghua nodded, and then the White Crane Fairy turned and left the side hall, returning to the Queen Mother's presence.

The White Crane Fairy reported to the Queen Mother in detail about Yun Chonghua's previous interactions with Nezha and others, his grudges with the Dragon King, and his marriage to the Fourth Princess of the East Sea.

However, the White Crane Fairy was quite helpful to Yun Chonghua.

When it came to some trivial details, they covered him up and even spoke well of him.

For example, his grudge against the Dragon King of the East Sea. The White Crane Fairy then told the Empress that Yun Chonghua harbored resentment towards the old Dragon King, but for the sake of Her Majesty and Her Majesty's overall interests, he had been holding back.

After hearing this, the Queen Mother smiled and said, "Alas, this child is ultimately a man of strong emotions. However, his clear sense of gratitude and his consideration for the greater good are commendable. Although Nezha is unruly, his father, Li Jing, is a loyal subject. Since Nezha has saved Chonghua's life, let him be. Just instruct him not to associate too closely with the disciples of the Three Pure Ones. As for the Dragon King, in my opinion, it's better to resolve enmity than to perpetuate it. Let him ask the Dragon King for some wealth and treasures as compensation."

The White Crane Fairy replied, "Yes!"

The Queen Mother smiled and nodded. She continued, "By the way! Chonghua has only been in the Immortal Realm for a short time. If he encounters any problems in the future, you, as his senior, should guide him accordingly."

The White Crane Fairy replied, "I will obey Your Majesty's orders."

At this moment, the White Crane Fairy looked at the Empress and continued to ask, "But Your Majesty, what should we do about the marriage of the Fourth Princess of the East Sea?"

Speaking of this matter, the Empress rested her head on her wrist and sighed deeply.

The Empress said, "This child has come down to the mortal realm and, just like Qi'er, has developed worldly desires. Could it be that the heavy, turbid air of the lower realm has tainted them? He is a scaled insect and a terrestrial immortal. Although he is not bound by heavenly rules, how can that Dragon Girl of the East Sea be worthy of him, a celestial dragon? That Dragon Girl is fine as his maidservant, but to marry the Dragon King of the East Sea is truly beneath this child's dignity."

The White Crane Fairy asked, "Then what does Your Highness mean...?"

The Empress said, "My fairy maidens from the Jade Pool and Chang'e from the Moon Palace, though residing in Heaven, are both celestial beings. In terms of talent and beauty, which one of them is not superior to the princesses of the Four Seas? If he still desires marriage after returning to Heaven, I will personally find a Chang'e fairy for him from the Moon Palace or the Jade Pool, and bestow upon him a golden and jade-like marriage."

But in the end, the Empress sighed and said, "Of course, if he really has feelings for the Princess of the East Sea, he can come to the Japanese palace to help her. After that, it all depends on his own actions."

The White Crane Fairy had served the Empress for tens of thousands of years and knew her temperament very well; all of this was within her expectations.

She had already explained this to Chonghua, so there was no need to repeat it.

After receiving the Empress's reply, he immediately returned to the side hall to find Chonghua.