CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 39: LI JING’S LETTER (PLEASE FOLLOW THE STORY!)

Ao Bing had returned to the Dragon Palace for three days.

For the first two days, he secluded himself for rest and recuperation, meeting no one.

On the third day, Ao Bing changed into his court robe and, with a memorial in hand, planned to meet the Dragon King in the Crystal Palace.

He had thought it through; since Nezha had placed a constraint upon him, though he was under someone’s control for the moment, it was just a mere ten years.

He could use these ten years to serve Nezha wholeheartedly, and if he could curry favor with the Chan Sect, not only would there be no loss, but later on, he might even inherit the position of Dragon King and be awarded the title of True God of Rain Regulation by the Heavenly Court.

Though now a Crown Prince of the Dragon Palace, he was unsettled in his heart, without a formal rank within the Heavenly Court.

The grand and majestic Crystal Palace, impossible to be of this world, stretched across the sea like a silent sea monster. He stood straight outside the palace gates, lost in thoughts when Minister Turtle came to report:

"Your Highness, your timing is not good. Yesterday, the Dragon King was invited to attend a birthday banquet at the South Sea Dragon King’s court."

Hearing this, Ao Bing was taken aback and said, "Hasn’t a gift already been presented to the South Sea earlier this year?"

Minister Turtle’s face, filled with wrinkles, squeezed into a bitter smile and said, "It’s for the little girl at the South Sea Second Prince’s household, celebrating her birthday this month."

Ao Bing asked, "Does the little girl’s birthday warrant Father King to personally attend?"

Minister Turtle replied, "The South Sea Dragon King personally extended the invitation, it must be to discuss important matters, just using the birthday as a pretext. What business does Crown Prince have?"

Ao Bing shook his head and simply withdrew. Upon returning to his palace, it wasn’t long before General Hedgehog came to report.

Ao Bing saw General Hedgehog’s face bristle and with a slight frown, he asked, "What’s the urgency?"

General Hedgehog was tall and strongly built, armored all over, his face ferociously fierce yet somewhat simple and honest. He chuckled and said, "Reporting to the Third Prince, there is a message from a messenger, which I have intercepted and brought to you to inspect."

Ao Bing’s brows furrowed even more and he tentatively asked, "Where is this message from, and why did you intercept it?"

General Hedgehog was his trusted aide, always loyal, but a bit dim-witted. Being dim would have been fine, but he often overstepped, and more than once or twice, Ao Bing had been put in awkward situations because of him.

General Hedgehog chuckled and asked, "Are you still troubled by the matter with Nezha, Your Highness?"

Ao Bing felt a pang in his heart and nodded.

Seeing Ao Bing nod, the famously rough General Hedgehog of the East Sea girlishly coyly grinned, causing Ao Bing to shudder all over.

"This little Nezha has no regard for the East Sea, let alone Your Highness. I thought to relieve your worries, but alas, I haven’t found a way. Fortunately, fortune favors the persistent!"

Hearing this, Ao Bing’s face darkened as he said, "So what then?"

General Hedgehog said, "Isn’t it fortuitous, Your Highness? I happened to stumble upon Li Jing sending a message to the Dragon King. He’s someone who knows the ropes, and he’s Nezha’s father as well. Father and son have a strong bond, surely he intends to plead for Nezha. The Old Dragon King is easily swayed and has old ties with Li Jing. If he manages to successfully deal with this matter, how would we avenge our grudge? So, I intercepted the message."

Ao Bing felt dizzy upon hearing this, rubbed his temples and gritted his teeth and spoke sternly, "You do have ideas."

General Hedgehog chuckled and said, "All thanks to the teachings of the Crown Prince. In a few days when Li Jing arrives, we’ll ambush him and use Li Jing to threaten Nezha. Filial piety comes first; Nezha will surely comply."

Not afraid Nezha will comply?

A scornful smile crossed Ao Bing’s mind, afraid that when Nezha gets furious, it would be himself who ends up dead.

This death-seeking Hedgehog is more a hindrance than a help!

Thus, as soon as General Hedgehog finished speaking, Ao Bing raised his hand to strike, slapping General Hedgehog to the ground with a palm.

"Crown Prince?"

Ao Bing stood up, gripping the carved crystal armrest of his throne, a wisp of white smoke snorted from his nostrils, growing angrier as he thought more about it. "You brute, who told you I have a grudge against Nezha?"

The porcupine General was stunned and said with an innocent face: "Who needs to tell me this? Didn’t the Crown Prince go ashore to seek trouble with Nezha a few days ago? Even if I were as dumb as a pig, I could guess that the Crown Prince and that Nezha lad are at odds."

"Nonsense!"

These four words baffled the porcupine General completely. Just a few days ago when Yaksha had just died, Ao Bing, infuriated, smashed tables and chairs around in the palace, vowing personally to take Nezha’s life. Was it all a dream of his own?

The porcupine General felt that he hadn’t been dreaming and being quite clever, he couldn’t have remembered it wrong. Therefore, there was only one possibility left – the Crown Prince, a man of high standing, was forgetful.

He quietly reminded him: "Crown Prince, that Nezha lad, first hindered the sacrifices at the East Sea, and then killed Yaksha. If we do not punish him, wouldn’t our glorious Dragon Palace lose all its face?"

Having said that, Ao Bing clenched his fist and struck the porcupine General in the face with a punch, making him see stars, then grabbed him by the collar and hoisted him up, grinding his teeth he said: "Nezha, that brat? I’m telling you, watch your mouth. Remember, from now on Nezha is my, Ao Bing’s, sworn brother, my dear and intimate friend, AAAARGH!"

"Eh?"

The porcupine’s delayed reaction earned him another beating, but luckily he was born stocky and tough-skinned, able to bear a beating without much trouble.

Nonetheless, he truly couldn’t figure out what the relationship between Ao Bing and Nezha had become.

And all this talk of sworn brotherhood, dear and intimate friendship.

He asked: "Crown Prince, what about this letter?"

Ao Bing pondered for a while, then finally said: "Let me have a look at it."

After reading the letter – it had nothing special in it, Li Jing did not mention any particular matters. It was just that, as usual, the banquet at the South Sea would not end without at least ten days or half a month.

The Dragon King was away, and Ao Bing did not mind making Li Jing wait a little longer. His only concern was that if Li Jing’s attempt to apologize on behalf of Nezha went wrong and caused trouble, in the end, it could involve himself.

He said: "Since the letter has been intercepted, sending it back would only draw attention. I will take care of this matter. When Li Jing comes to the East Sea, I will receive him personally. Remember, do not let any other idle fish know about this."

"Yes!"

The porcupine verbally complied, yet in his heart, he complained: after all that talk, the letter was still kept. Then why the beating earlier?

Ao Bing thought that he must entertain Li Jing well this time, as compared to his own wealth and life, the sacrifice held by the Sea Dragon King was nothing, and such disturbances must never occur again!

While he was worried on his part, little did he know that Li Jing was even more anxious.

Out of the eight hundred protectorates under heaven, four hundred had rebelled, the military situation was critical, and the lives of the people were in turmoil. However, none had reached Chentang Pass.

Li Jing had been using military drills as a pretext to take the water sprite Lv Ping, his servant girl, to the scenic and wildlife-abundant Wild Horse Ridge, leisurely hunting and frolicking every day in great comfort.

But one day, a house guard came to report, recounting one by one the numerous incidents of Nezha hindering the Sea Dragon King’s sacrifice, killing Yaksha, slaying the Great Witch, and so on.

Li Jing, who was just about to leave on horseback for a ride that moment, nearly fell off the horse upon hearing these reports. After regaining his composure, he immediately gathered his men and hurried nonstop towards Chentang Pass.

At the same time, he sent a letter to the Dragon Palace, planning to visit and ready to swallow his pride and personally apologize to the Dragon Palace of the East Sea.

Li Jing thought to himself that Nezha was truly a worry. Having a good relationship with the Dragon Palace of the East Sea was more important than the lives of a few mortals!

The more he pondered, the more agitated he became, feeling that during this visit, he must make clear to the Dragon Palace that this matter was entirely caused by Nezha’s foolishness, a young lad’s unawareness, and had nothing to do with himself.

The sacrifices at the East Sea, a millennial tradition at Chentang Pass, would certainly not and could not stop with him, Li Jing!