Chapter 37037 I want to dye this thing into a rainbow
"Third Prince, can you reveal a few words?" I blew out a series of bubbles and asked him curiously.
He glanced at me and asked, "Why is your prototype different from ordinary carp?"
He said this as if he had just recognized me. Who was it that had been mocking us just now?
I flicked my broad tail fin: "Yes, I am a butterfly carp among the koi, a rare species, surprised?" Butterfly carp is obviously a species that was artificially cultivated in later generations, and I don’t understand why I was reincarnated as this species.
"Butterfly carp?" Nezha looked me over again, his eyes full of curiosity. "These fins... do look a bit like the fluttering wings of a butterfly."
"Is that so?" I spun around proudly, ripples spreading across the water. "What I'm most satisfied with is this big tail. Doesn't it look like a long skirt?"
The frost and snow that had been condensing in Nezha's eyes for years seemed to melt a little, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, revealing a very faint smile that could be called approval.
At this moment, lotus petals that had floated from nowhere suddenly gathered together, forming a dense wall of flowers, standing tightly between Nezha and me, blocking my view.
"Little Lotus!" I turned my head helplessly to look at him. Although the wall of petals was beautiful, it was really hurtful to see them so densely packed before my eyes.
Little Lotus leaned back, her hand resting on her cheek. On her slightly raised index finger, the lotus she had spawned had already withered, leaving only an immature lotus pod. He frowned, his tone tinged with hidden provocation, "Third Prince, if you have anything to reveal, please share it."
Nezha raised his eyebrows and snorted softly. With a casual wave of his armored arm, the flower wall was instantly engulfed in crimson flames that erupted from nowhere, dissipating into the river. Although he knew the Samadhi Fire was invulnerable to ordinary water, seeing the flames blazing at the bottom of the river still gave him a shudder.
"Yes, I do," Nezha said slowly, a spark of fire dancing on his fingertips, "but I don't like the way you treat guests."
Little Lotus: “…”
I:"……"
Fortunately, the two of them knew their limits, and the spark-filled atmosphere did not escalate into a real conflict.
Little Lotus snorted coldly, pulled off the small green lotus pod on her index finger, and threw it over: "Here, the art of hospitality is for you."
Nezha raised his hand to catch it, glancing at the small lotus pod with a hint of disdain, but still flicked his finger, injecting a stream of pure magic power into it. The green lotus pod instantly plumped up and matured, emitting a fresh fragrance.
I:"……"
Great! Fresh lotus seeds to eat again!
…
The three of them divided the lotus seeds and sat down. Nezha then said seriously, "I have come to the mortal world for two reasons."
The first one is the death of the river fairy of Yunshui River.
Upon hearing this, Little Lotus scoffed unceremoniously. Honestly, I wanted to laugh too. So many generations of people have been sacrificed, and it's ironic that Heaven is only now intervening.
Nezha naturally understood our laughter and didn't try to defend himself. He simply stated calmly, "The missing tablet in the scroll was set up by mortals without their permission. In truth, the so-called 'Cloud and Water Goddess' is not registered in the immortal records. I've checked the Golden Book of Heaven, and there's no such name."
I exchanged a glance with Little Lotus. This sounded like a classic rehash of "Temporary Worker." If Lady Yunshui wasn't a registered deity, everything would make sense—how could Heaven bring down divine punishment on a nameless being treated this way by mortals, even subjected to generations of human sacrifice? Since she wasn't registered as an immortal, then this was a mundane matter unrelated to the immortal realm.
...But, is it really because of this reason?
"Now that this matter is over," Nezha's eyes fell on me, "you are expected to be granted the title of River God."
I was chewing a sweet lotus seed when I heard this, and my movements paused slightly. Although I was also called "Goddess of Clouds and Waters," I knew full well that, like my predecessor, I wasn't recognized as an immortal by the Heavenly Court. I believed I hadn't done anything earth-shattering or beneficial to the common people, so the possibility of being admitted was slim. I took Nezha's words as comfort and smiled at him. "Thank you for your kind words."
This second goal was to target the Little Lotus. The existence of two Nezhas in this world posed a threat no less serious than a hole in the sky. If Nezha from another world could arrive, who knew that gods and demons from other realms wouldn't follow? Wouldn't order in the Three Realms then be in turmoil? Furthermore, this was the crucial juncture of the Journey to the West, and there was no room for error. In comparison, the matter of Yunshui River paled in importance.
I guess the immortals in heaven must have discussed this matter urgently before. This time they invited us to go with them. I wonder if they want to continue the meeting and discuss it, or make direct arrangements for us?
"Speaking of which, Little Lotus," I remembered something, "haven't you been to Heaven before?" When he first arrived, he went to Heaven with Nezha, but it was said that it was to scare Li Jing.
After hearing what I asked, Little Lotus said, "I know what you want to ask. That time I really just went to scare Li Jing. As for other gods, even if I meet them, they will only mistake me for him." He raised his chin in the direction of Nezha.
I remembered how they had deliberately swapped outfits when they returned, and I suddenly understood. I could almost imagine Li Jing facing two Nezha's, a scene of intense fear, almost to the point of collapse. It was a hidden terror, a fright that even Li Tianwang himself might not be completely certain of.
But what if it was Madam Yin? Little Lotus had only mentioned seeing him once from a distance; Madam Yin probably had never met him formally. I looked at Little Lotus again. He lowered his eyes as he peeled lotus seeds, his expression hard to discern. I wondered if deep within his heart he harbored an unspoken longing.
I turned to Nezha, who was being stared at by the little lotus and reluctantly trying to induce the birth of lotus seeds. "Third Prince, when are you going?"
Nezha answered simply: "Now."
"So urgent?" I was a little surprised. "A day in heaven is a year on earth. Could you please hold off for a moment and allow me to make some arrangements?"
Nezha nodded: "Yes."
A delay of several months on earth is only a few hours in heaven.
So, I sent a message to the Taoist priest through the scale left on Yisheng's body.
The old Taoist came very quickly, probably in about ten minutes.
He was accompanied by Jinniang, and when they saw me, they were so excited that they almost burst into tears.
"Oh, don't cry, don't cry. I'm back safe and sound." I swung my fish tail, stirring up a bunch of bubbles.
Jinniang stopped sobbing and squatted on the bank. Her eyes were red as she said, "We couldn't find you before. The Yunshui River was dead silent, but there was a strange painting hanging in the sky above the White Tiger Ridge! Later, when we met the monk with the hairy face and thunder god mouth, we realized that you and... that immortal were trapped in the painting! I..." She spoke and raised her hand to wipe away her tears, "I hope you can come back safely... I hope you can come back..."
The old Taoist priest continued, "When Yisheng noticed the heat on his scales, I knew you were back! I rushed over immediately. Yanniang and Wuniang wanted to come with me, but I was afraid there might be some monsters left in White Tiger Ridge, so I asked them to stay behind."
"Sorry, I only contacted you after I got out." I felt a little guilty. I didn't report my safety immediately after I got out. It wasn't because I forgot about them, but because of inertia - they weren't there when the accident happened, so I assumed they didn't know about it yet.
The old Taoist stroked his beard and asked, "I wonder what important matter you want me to tell you urgently?" If the message is transmitted through the scales, it must be something urgent.
"Of course," I said seriously, "because of the scroll, Little Lotus and I must accompany the Third Prince to Heaven. A few days in Heaven might take years on Earth. While I'm away, I'll leave the Yunshui River to you and Jinniang. The evil spirit in the river has subsided, so there's no immediate danger. But people's hearts are unpredictable, so we still need to be cautious. Thank you for your concern. Zhou Yaozong's body is still at the bottom of the river. When the Hexian Temple is completed, you, Jinniang, must find a way to salvage it and return it."
I've made some simple arrangements. Honestly, I haven't made any plans for the future of Yunshui River. It's a rare trip to Heaven, so I have to see it all, otherwise it'd be a waste, right? The Yunshui River issue can be delayed for a few years; we've been going on like this for hundreds of years, so a few more years won't hurt.
When the Taoist priest and Jinniang heard that I was going to heaven, they kept congratulating me. I could only wave my hands and say, "I haven't even started yet, so don't rush to congratulate me."
"It's just..." The old Taoist hesitated for a moment, his eyes moving back and forth between my body and mine.
I wondered, “What’s wrong?”
The old Taoist raised his hand and pointed his fingertips in the direction of my fish body, with a strange expression on his face: "You... intend to ascend to the heavens with this true body?"
I swam gracefully in circles, my tail fin spreading out like a tulle skirt. "Isn't this wonderful? Authentic."
Old Taoist: “…”
Jinniang covered her mouth and chuckled: "Mrs. Yunshui is wonderful no matter what!"
…
After saying goodbye to the two, I set out to find He. He was deep in the cave, so I had to transform into human form to get there.
He was quite surprised to see me coming. "Huh? That idiot actually let you come to find me alone?"
"He doesn't know. I have something to ask you. Your feather..."
The Crane Immortal proudly spread his wings, his snow-white feathers gleaming like jade in the light. "Nothing's wrong! Everything is fine!"
I took a closer look, and those areas burned by the Samadhi True Fire were actually back to normal, with new feathers growing out. And it had only been a few hours!
"Tell me, what's the important matter that brought you here this time?" Hexian asked as he folded his wings.
I explained my purpose: "It's not a big deal. Someone from Heaven asked me and Little Lotus to go up there. I'll be on Earth for a few years, and I'd like you to help look after Yunshui River."
"It's a small matter! Leave it to me!" Hexian agreed readily.
In this way, all the affairs in the world are arranged properly, and the worries in my heart are slightly relieved.
After making the arrangements, we didn't ascend to heaven immediately, but stayed on earth for another day. During this day, Little Lotus played a game of chess with Nezha, while I ate the two lotus seeds he had helped to produce.
"The time has come." Nezha waved his hand, collecting the chessboard. The undecided pieces instantly transformed into light points that dissipated into the river. He stood up, his aura suddenly becoming chilling. He was no longer the casual chatterer in the river, but the demon-slaying deity who commanded the Three Altars.
"Do you really want to use this body?"
I nodded.
"Alright," he said, "Little Lotus has already been to Heaven. And now that you're in this body, you don't have to concentrate or hold your breath. Just let him hold you up."
I hurriedly said, "No, no, I still want to experience it."
Will he still support me after I turn into a human?
"Okay then. Let's begin right away. Close your eyes and focus."
I did as he instructed, and felt a warm force instantly envelop me. The surrounding water, light, and sound seemed to be instantly withdrawn, and my body became extremely light. I felt like a balloon filled with rising energy, being swept up by a huge air current and soaring into the sky.
The gravity of the earth and the feeling of weightlessness came alternately, and there was a whistling sound of wind in my ears, but it was different from the wind in the mortal world. This wind was wrapped in a fresh breath, unlike the turbid air in the mortal world.
I don’t know how long it took, maybe just a moment, maybe a long time, the whistling wind suddenly stopped.
"Open your eyes." Nezha's voice sounded beside him, with a strange echo.
I slowly opened my eyes and saw the little lotus standing in front of me, holding me up with both hands, and I was in a bubble formed by water vapor, just like when the immortal pointed me out of the lotus pond.
Seeing me open my eyes, he smiled and silently mouthed: Are you okay?
I also mouthed: It's okay.
When I turned around, what I saw took my breath away.
The sea of clouds rolls endlessly and stretches for thousands of miles, flowing with pearl-like luster, with golden and purple mists rising in it, changing unpredictably.
In the distance, a palace complex, so majestic and magnificent that words cannot describe it, hovered above the sea of clouds. Tiles were made of glazed glass, steps were made of white jade, and resplendent pillars reached into the sky. Vivid golden dragons and jade phoenixes coiled above them, and auspicious rays of light and mist illuminated the entire sky with a brilliant light.
The rich and extremely pure spiritual energy of heaven and earth hits you in the face, and every breath seems to be inhaling and exhaling the essence of the sun and the moon, making your whole body relaxed.
"We've arrived at the South Heaven Gate." Nezha's voice brought me back from my novel experience.
Looking up, I saw a massive portal towering above the sea of clouds. Its pillars were two white jade columns entwined with enormous coiled dragons, their eyes gleaming, their scales gleaming, as if ready to soar into the air at any moment. High above the lintel hung three golden characters: "South Heaven Gate." The characters were vigorous and powerful, imposing a sense of oppression.
To either side of the gate stood several silver-armored divine generals, several feet tall, faces ranging from majestic to ferocious. Wielding divine weapons, their bodies aglow with divine light, their presence imposing. They were the legendary celestial soldiers and generals. Their gazes were like physical searchlights, scanning every immortal entering and exiting the South Heavenly Gate.
As we approached, those majestic gazes converged upon us. Upon seeing two nearly identical Nezha figures standing side by side, the celestial generals' eyes flashed with disbelief and alarm, their grips on their divine weapons noticeably tightening. And when their gazes fell on me, a koi leisurely wagging its tail in the air tank, their astonishment transformed into stark bewilderment and confusion.
"Third... Third Prince?" The heavenly soldier's voice was filled with incredible hesitation, his eyes moving quickly back and forth between the two Nezha, finally landing on Nezha who was riding on the wind-fire wheels.
"Who is this...?" He looked at Xiao Lianhua again, frowning.
It suddenly dawned on me that apart from the different attire, Nezha seemed to have always been riding on the Wind Fire Wheel!
"And this...?" Another heavenly soldier couldn't help but speak. His eyes were fixed directly on me, the fish. His expression was quite wonderful. He seemed to be trying to understand the rationality of a carp appearing at the South Gate of Heaven.
A subtle, tense atmosphere hung in the air. The vigilance of the divine generals, the identity confusion brought on by the two Nezha, and my incongruous presence... this combination was bound to attract attention. The solemn and sacred atmosphere of the South Heavenly Gate suddenly took on a strangely dramatic quality with our arrival.
Nezha's face was expressionless. He simply displayed a jade token, which shone with divine light. He spoke succinctly, "I have been summoned. This is the Lord of the Yunshui River, and my companion."
Little Lotus crossed her arms, with a hint of a smile on her lips, and watched the changing expressions of the heavenly soldiers and generals with great interest.
And I, this innocent little carp, could only try to maintain an elegant posture in front of everyone, shaking my proud big tail that looked like a skirt, and spitting out a string of small bubbles that reflected colorful light under the divine light.
Colorful bubbles!
Mary Sue's hair is colorful and changes into different colors as her mood changes.
And I, an ordinary little carp, can spit out colorful bubbles - wait, wouldn't just bubbles be a bit monotonous?
"Little Lotus! I want to dye this thing into a rainbow!" I said, pointing to my tail.
Little Lotus:?
Nezha:?
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