Chapter 47 Returning to Lotus Heart Residence.
What happened next was that Bai Yuan ran away on her own, and the two who were busy fighting didn't have time to take care of her.
Jiang Huaisu sat calmly in the audience, watching Nezha and Red Boy fight from inside the cave to outside, from the mountaintop to the foot of the mountain. But it quickly turned into Red Boy's one-sided escape and Nezha's one-sided pursuit.
In terms of both combat experience and skill, Xiao Niu was far inferior to Nezha, so of course he wouldn't stubbornly continue fighting him. Moreover, Nezha was in a fit of rage at the moment, and with a swift strike of his Fire-Tipped Spear, he completely shattered Xiao Niu's hair, leaving him with patches all over his body.
Jiang Huaisu observed the battle intently. Thanks to the spiritual power Nezha had bestowed upon her earlier, her injuries were under control, and she could now happily watch Red Boy's disheveled escape.
Analyzing the current situation from a third-person perspective, it's not hard to conclude that Nezha's goal was to vent his anger, not to kill his opponent. Some of his attacks were even deliberately mishit, as if he enjoyed the pleasure of intimidating his opponent.
The last person to suffer such a pursuit was Jiang Huaisu. Now that the tables have turned, she watched Red Boy flee with glee, feeling a sense of satisfaction at having avenged herself.
But she soon made a new discovery: this cunning little ox seemed to be deliberately letting Nezha vent his anger. When faced with an attack he was confident he could dodge, it would feign a disheveled state to make his situation seem more precarious.
It can only be said that this fight involved a great deal of human relationships and social maneuvering. Nezha did indeed inflict several bloody wounds on Red Boy, chasing him all the way to Mount Hao before finally giving up, and declaring at the entrance of the Fire Cloud Cave that he would beat him every time he saw him again.
For Nezha, this fight was not satisfying enough; in fact, it was quite frustrating.
He spared Red Boy not only because the ox was his second brother's future colleague, but also because Red Boy had a firm grasp on his mind and knew how to appease him. The ox could have dodged some of the non-fatal attacks, but it took them by force.
While claiming that the father was to blame for the son's misbehavior and attempting to shift the blame, Red Boy did not actually seek help from the Bull Demon King or Iron Fan's caves to turn the private fight into a brawl. Instead, he chose to take responsibility for the matter on his own.
Most importantly, he did not truly intend to kill Jiang Huaisu, thus committing an irreparable mistake.
In conclusion, a combination of factors led Nezha to stop at the entrance of the Fire Cloud Cave, and he did not carry out any further acts of destruction.
On the way back to Flower Fruit Mountain, Nezha began to regret his excessive mercy. He had promised to poke eighteen holes in Red Boy, but the actual number was less than promised. He kept muttering to Jiang Huaisu through the embroidered ball:
"How about we go back and beat them up again?"
"He seemed completely unaffected, so it was obvious I hadn't gone easy on him."
What do you think?
Jiang Huaisu thought Nezha was just grumbling, but when he actually started to turn around, she urgently stopped him: "No, no, actually you hit him just right. Red Boy has already learned his lesson. He didn't faint directly in the Fire Cloud Cave just now; he was just putting on a brave face."
Inside the embroidered ball, Jiang Huaisu could communicate with Nezha using her spiritual senses, which was even more convenient than using a sound transmission talisman. In fact, other demons could do the same, but no one dared to disturb Nezha; usually, only the Third Prince would give them orders individually.
Nezha: "How do you know he's just putting on a brave face? I think he still has plenty of energy left."
Jiang Huaisu: "You had just turned to leave when he collapsed and fainted. Xiao Yao had to carry him inside. You didn't see it, but I did."
These words made Nezha feel a little better, and he finally gave up the idea of turning back. He took Jiang Huaisu back to Flower Fruit Mountain. He hadn't forgotten that she was still injured, and it was indeed not suitable for her to travel any further at this time.
Seeing Nezha return with Jiang Huaisu, the monkeys of Flower Fruit Mountain breathed a sigh of relief. They had been exhausted these past few days, with one trouble after another coming their way, making it difficult to cope.
Now that Jiang Huaisu is injured, the little monkeys dare not bother her anymore and can only watch helplessly as Nezha carries her into the room.
"She needs to rest quietly afterwards, and no unauthorized monkeys are allowed inside." On the monkeys' territory, Nezha issued his orders with the air of a master, and none of the monkeys dared to disobey. After all, Nezha had been a great help in this incident, so it seemed only right that he had a say.
Jiang Huaisu lay in bed but couldn't stay still. A few days had passed, and she felt that her injury had almost healed. It wasn't that serious to begin with; she had just been overworked and caught in the rain that day. With her physical condition, she would recover with some rest.
But Nezha was even more concerned about her health than she was, and insisted that she rest in bed.
During this time, he didn't say anything about letting her return to Yunlou Palace. Given the current situation, Huaguo Mountain needed someone to help keep an eye on it. It was obvious to anyone that Jiang Huaisu couldn't leave with him with peace of mind.
This turmoil shows that even if he intervened to suppress the nearby demons, it wouldn't be a permanent solution. There's no guarantee that some fools, those out of touch with the information, or those fearless enough to risk their lives will still try to join the fray, like the golden eagle and the black bear.
After pondering the current situation for a while, Nezha went to the Dragon Palace of the East Sea.
The Dragon King felt a headache coming on just looking at him, and managed a weak smile as he asked what business he had. Nezha didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "Huaguo Mountain is located in the East Sea. I request that the Dragon King dispatch a team of elite aquatic creatures to guard this mountain and protect its peace."
He considered sending celestial troops to garrison the mountain, but then reconsidered, thinking that using the Heavenly Court's direct forces to protect Flower Fruit Mountain seemed too high-profile and inappropriate. So he came up with a compromise and sought help from the Old Dragon King.
This didn't sound difficult; it was just a team of elite troops. The Dragon King actually breathed a sigh of relief and nodded in agreement.
"Thank you. I will send someone to deliver the reward when I return to the palace."
Leaving those words behind, Nezha nimbly turned and left. The Dragon King watched his retreating figure, his feelings somewhat complicated. In the past, when he came to the Dragon Palace, he would never have been so polite and restrained. Now, although his actions were still domineering, at least his words were much more disciplined.
Could it be that after living as a human in the mortal realm for a lifetime, one becomes more humane?
*
Jiang Huaisu lay on the bed reading to pass the time, with a plate of dried fruit beside her.
These books were all bought by Nezha's men. He was bored while ill and wanted to engage in some light entertainment, and reading was the most suitable activity.
Since it was probably his first time doing this kind of job, the heavenly soldier in charge of buying books had no experience in picking out storybooks. Thinking that buying more would never be a mistake, he simply bought a huge pile, almost emptying half of the bookstore.
Those books were in Jiang Huaisu's room; if stacked vertically, they would reach the ceiling. Even if she read them day and night for two months, she probably wouldn't finish them.
The book she was reading now featured Nezha as the main character, and the content was quite serious, telling the story of him subduing demons in a certain place. Although she didn't know if the plot was true or false, Jiang Huaisu was reading it with great interest.
She thought to herself that her earlier guess was correct; there really were stories and novels featuring Nezha as the protagonist in the mortal realm. Besides these serious demon-slaying tales, there must be other types, less serious ones.
Two knocks sounded on the door. Hearing this, Jiang Huaisu stuffed the book under her pillow and sat up.
"Nezha?"
"It's me." Nezha opened the door and walked in. Seeing that her face was a little flushed, he touched her forehead. "Is your fever still not better?"
"It's all better now." She scratched her cheek a little awkwardly. "It's just a bit hot inside."
"Then I'll go out for a walk with you and get some fresh air."
"No need," she changed the subject. "I didn't see you this morning, I thought you had gone back to Yunlou Palace."
"I won't leave without saying goodbye. If you don't leave, then I won't leave either."
Jiang Huaisu's heart stirred, and she remembered the argument the two had last had.
Neither of them brought up that unpleasant parting again, as if the argument had never happened. But Jiang Huaisu still had a lingering doubt: if Nezha asked her to go to Yunlou Palace again, should she agree?
Emotionally, Nezha had helped her so much, how could she refuse him again and again? Besides, going to Yunlou Palace was something she had already agreed to.
Logically speaking, if the Black Bear Demon were to act like that character again, and she weren't on Flower Fruit Mountain, the monkeys would be in great danger.
"I went to the Dragon Palace this morning."
Jiang Huaisu's attention was immediately drawn to it: "Dragon Palace? What are we going there for?"
She was a little nervous, subconsciously not wanting Nezha to have any further involvement with that place. She hadn't been involved in Nezha's actual childhood, but the story of his causing havoc in the sea and committing suicide was common knowledge in her original world, and she naturally knew about his connection with the Dragon Palace.
"Let the Dragon King send troops to protect Flower Fruit Mountain, so you won't have to worry about those monkeys anymore. Sun Wukong is really something, leaving you with such a mess after he left." Nezha's tone was somewhat resentful.
Jiang Huaisu was momentarily stunned and looked up in surprise.
His actions for Flower Fruit Mountain far exceeded her expectations. Jiang Huaisu whispered, "Thank you, but let's not go to the Dragon Palace next time. Asking the local earth god for help should be an option."
"The local deity has no soldiers under his command, so he's not as useful as the Dragon King."
Nezha had no lingering resentment towards that distant past and never imagined that Jiang Huaisu would resist interacting with the Dragon Clan because of him. He simply assumed she found it troublesome and said, "It's all settled. We'll have those shrimp soldiers and crab generals watch over the area around Flower Fruit Mountain, and there won't be any more problems."
Jiang Huaisu stared at him, unsure of what to say, and could only slowly nod: "Okay. Thank you for doing this."
Nezha muttered, "You're always so polite. When Sun Wukong helps you, do you ever say thank you?"
"......"here we go again.
Sun Wukong was already suffering from the smoke and fire in the furnace, and now he was being innocently dragged into the mess.
Jiang Huaisu explained very seriously, "This is just a polite expression and doesn't indicate the closeness or distance of our relationship. If Sun Wukong helps me, of course I'll thank him. It's just a matter of saying a few words, it's that simple. You two are both great gods who can go to heaven and earth, and your abilities are much greater than mine. I have nothing to repay you with, so of course I can only say some nice things."
“You’re helping Sun Wukong guard Flower Fruit Mountain, isn’t that repaying him?” Nezha corrected her, dissatisfied. “What do you mean by just saying nice things? You’ve clearly done so much for him.”
“That’s true. But this is more like a reward outsourcing, since you put in more effort guarding Flower Fruit Mountain.” Jiang Huaisu chuckled. “Speaking of which, how should I repay you? Well, if there’s anything I can do to help you, just ask.”
"What if I want you to come back to Yunlou Palace with me?"
"sure."
Jiang Huaisu's quick agreement surprised Nezha. He had been prepared for rejection, thinking it would be a good opportunity to suggest they stay with her on Flower Fruit Mountain for a while. He hadn't expected this response. Observing her expression, he realized she wasn't joking.
Seeing that Nezha didn't respond, Jiang Huaisu thought he hadn't heard her clearly, so she repeated, "I said yes. Nezha, when do we set off?"
"You...you really want to?"
"Wasn't this already agreed upon? Besides, the matter of Flower Fruit Mountain has been resolved, so I can leave with peace of mind."
Nezha turned his head away somewhat awkwardly: "I was just kidding. Let's stay at Flower Fruit Mountain. Anyway, you're always worried about the monkeys, so you won't feel at ease even if you go to Cloud Tower Palace."
"Aren't the aquatic elites guarding the area? Whether I stay here or not makes little difference."
This situation is truly delicate. Before, when Nezha wanted Jiang Huaisu to return to Heaven with him, she refused. Now that she is willing, he is making excuses.
"Then how about this," Nezha thought for a moment, "you come with me to the Cloud Tower Palace, and once your injuries have fully healed, I'll send you back to Flower Fruit Mountain?"
"According to the original plan, shouldn't I have stayed in Yunlou Palace until Sun Wukong was born before returning to the mountain?"
"Oh well."
Jiang Huaisu actually took the initiative to suggest staying at Yunlou Palace a little longer; how could he bear to refuse such a request?
"By the way, if anything happens at Flower Fruit Mountain, Ao Guang will let me know, so you don't need to worry."
Jiang Huaisu gave him a thumbs up: "The Third Prince is indeed very capable."
Looking at her smiling eyes and brows, Nezha felt relieved and a smile crept onto his face.
Suddenly, he understood what it meant to retreat in order to advance. Despite the unpleasantness they had caused before, Jiang Huaisu still refused to go back to heaven with him. But when he decided to take the initiative to back down, she became unusually easy to talk to.
On the way back to Yunlou Palace, Jiang Huaisu suddenly remembered that she hadn't finished reading her storybook. It was about Nezha leading his troops to chase down the witch and fighting her at Black Wind Mountain. She wondered what would happen next.
She felt a pang of regret for not seeing the ending and sighed unconsciously. Nezha immediately tensed up, turning to look at her: "What, have you changed your mind? Want to go back to the mountain?"
"No, I just realized I forgot to bring something."
"What is that?"
"Didn't you send a lot of books to my room a few days ago? They're still piled up there; you forgot to put them away and take them with you."
Nezha's expression immediately softened: "That's easy, I'll go back and get it, or I can have the heavenly soldiers bring it up another day."
Jiang Huaisu shook her head repeatedly: "No, no, I can go by myself."
She immediately sprang into action, flying back to the Water Curtain Cave like a whirlwind, stuffing all the books into her storage bag, including the one under her pillow. She'd only glanced at them briefly when she bought them; there seemed to be several more featuring Nezha, all bestselling stories. The heavenly soldiers certainly knew how to choose.
She would be staying in Yunlou Palace for at least several dozen days, and with these storybooks, she wouldn't be bored. However, due to some inexplicable feeling, she didn't want Nezha to know what she was reading, which was why she didn't let him come in.
After this minor incident, the two returned to Yunlou Palace. Considering the celestial flow of time, the time Jiang Huaisu spent in the mortal realm was negligible.
Lotus Heart Residence remained exactly as it had been before. The furnishings in her bedroom were unchanged. Upon entering, one could smell a delicate, cool fragrance. Two or three lotus flowers in a jade vase were in full bloom, maintained by magic, and would not wither even after decades. The windows were bright and clean, and the floor was as smooth as a mirror, covered with a thin layer of spiritual mist that would not dissipate.
Although it is nominally just a guest room, it has clearly been carefully decorated and has all the necessary amenities, so it doesn't feel empty at all.
Jiang Huaisu collapsed into the soft brocade quilt, inhaling the fragrance of the clean fabric, and sighed contentedly. Nezha leaned against the door, watching her with a deep gaze until she sat up, then looked away, facing the small window, pretending to be admiring the scenery.
"Rest well, call me if you need anything." He added, "Every day at noon, a fairy maiden will come to your room to bring you medicine. You must finish it and don't secretly throw it away."
She obediently replied, "Understood."
Although she disliked taking medicine, how could she bear to waste the good things in the Celestial Palace on feeding the fish? No matter how bitter it was, she would hold her nose and drink it. However, she still asked one more question: "Do I have to drink it every day in the Cloud Tower Palace?"
"Once you recover, we'll switch you to a different kind of tonic that won't be bitter."
"oh."
In fact, Jiang Huaisu felt that her injury had long since healed, but Nezha had his own set of standards for judgment. He believed that a wound was not fully healed until the bleeding stopped and the scabs formed. He was only considered fully healed when the scars were smoothed out, the face was rosy, and the body was in much better shape than before.
In the days that followed, Nezha spent most of his time with her at Lianxin Residence. Occasionally, he would go out on demon-slaying missions, but he would always return quickly. As if afraid that she would be bored by herself, he would sometimes bring Zhenying over to play with her.
"When you're feeling better, I can take you with me when I go to exorcise demons."
I wonder how well Nezha would be satisfied with her recovery. She has been recuperating at Lotus Heart Residence for so long, nourished by spiritual energy every day, and eating elixirs and medicines like they were free. She has long since transcended the category of an injured person, and even her cultivation is showing signs of breaking through to a higher realm. But in his eyes, this is still far from enough.
“Actually, you can bring me along now,” Jiang Huaisu suggested. “Even if I don’t participate, I can just stay inside the hydrangea and watch the fun.”
“That’s where the Demon Lord and the Demon King are imprisoned. Staying there for too long will be bad for your health.” Nezha shook his head. “You can’t go in there often. Once or twice is fine.”
"Oh." She recalled her previous two experiences of entering the embroidered ball. Physically, she didn't feel any discomfort. No matter how bumpy the journey was, she remained completely unaffected inside the embroidered ball, even more stable than riding the clouds. However, she would inevitably feel depressed.
"That guy called White Fang..."
"What about him?"
"Something feels off. He was very enthusiastic when I first entered the hydrangea. But he was nowhere to be seen the second time I went in," Jiang Huaisu said, somewhat concerned.
She had a bad feeling about this tiger demon, and its words and actions were hard to understand.
"Is that so? Let me see." Nezha used his divine sense to probe inside the embroidered ball, and soon brought back some unexpected news.
White Fang is dead.
Jiang Huaisu's doubts were resolved: "No wonder I didn't see him when I went in last time."
He chose to end his life before his release, suggesting that the agonizing life of imprisonment must have been more agonizing than death itself. Theoretically, atoning for his sins would grant him freedom, perhaps in a thousand years, perhaps ten thousand. White Fang lacked the willpower to withstand such a long period, so he chose this method to end his suffering.
“Even his corpse was devoured by other monsters; he’s as dead as can be.” Nezha chuckled nonchalantly. “Bound by sins, even if he were to be reincarnated, he’d be a maggot. Fool.”
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