Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 689 - 688: Courting Little White Dragon

"Don’t you know?" Marshal Tian Peng asked, "You can’t even answer such a simple question?"

"I, I think that you indeed made a mistake in this matter, but since Fairy Chang’e has already forgiven you, then this matter should be considered over. His Majesty shouldn’t have used this incident to punish you because the merits and faults have offset each other; it’s as if the incident never happened."

Originally, the matter had been settled privately.

Since it was a private settlement, there should have been no place for outsiders to intervene. Unexpectedly, the Jade Emperor would step in and catch everyone off guard, to the extent that no one really understood what had happened.

"There’s really nothing worth arguing about in this matter." Marshal Tian Peng became furious every time he brought up the incident, and since Ao Lie also did not quite grasp the meaning, there was even less reason to discuss it with him.

"Ah, as for this matter, let it be. After all, when he banished me to the mortal world, he said there was something for me to do. But I’ve already lost trust in them; no matter what benefits they offer, I have no intention of returning to the Heavenly Realm."

"You’re not returning to the Heavenly Realm?" Ao Lie was astonished. He thought about the honors Marshal Tian Peng once received—honors that made many Immortal Officials admire him—and here he was, ready to give them all up so readily.

"Why?"

"What else could it be? The Jade Emperor has banished me to the mortal world, so what’s the point of going back to the Immortal Realm?" Tian Peng said with indifference.

"Even though the Jade Emperor banished you to the mortal world, you’re still different from ordinary mortals. With your current stature and aura, what ordinary mortal could compare?"

Ao Lie’s words were certainly heartfelt.

Even though Chen Nuo had previously disguised himself as Marshal Tian Peng and descended to the mortal world, it was not until he reached the Chaos Residence that he realized the clothes on Shopkeeper Chen were fake.

And the real being was right beside him. Indeed, there was a slight difference, but even looking at Marshal Tian Peng himself, one could still see that he was superior to ordinary mortals.

"What I now possess was not given to me by the Jade Emperor." Marshal Tian Peng said, looking at Chen Nuo, who was cooking, "All of this was given to me by friends I met here at the Chaos Residence and by the shopkeeper."

"What?" Ao Lie did not quite understand what Tian Peng meant by that.

"The Jade Emperor banished you to the mortal realm, so naturally these things were given to you by the Jade Emperor. Although Shopkeeper Chen might provide you with assistance, if we talk about it, the Jade Emperor has been the greatest help to you."

"No, it was not given to me by the Jade Emperor." Marshal Tian Peng denied Ao Lie’s words, "If not for the shopkeeper and the few friends of mine, I wouldn’t even know where I would be nibbling on mud right now."

"What do you mean by that? Even at worst, you wouldn’t be nibbling on mud."

Little White Dragon tugged at the corner of his mouth, thinking Marshal Tian Peng was joking with him, but Tian Peng showed no hint of laughter, and Little White Dragon immediately turned serious after a brief smirk.

"It’s true." Marshal Tian Peng said seriously, "Previously, when the Jade Emperor banished me to the mortal world, he cast me into a pig fetus. Do you think he intended for me to have a good end?"

"If not for the several fellow workers and the shopkeeper at the Chaos Residence, I might indeed be nibbling on mud now."

Little White Dragon looked at Marshal Tian Peng, his face filled with shock and sorrow. He truly couldn’t fathom how the Jade Emperor could have cast him into a pig fetus. After all, this was Marshal Tian Peng—being demoted to the mortal realm was one thing, but being cast into a pig fetus was another.

"Enough, look at you, Third Prince, you don’t need to pity me. I myself no longer care about these things, so you don’t have to feel sad for me," Marshal Tian Peng said with a smile.

"That must be with the help of Chaos Residence, you’ve had a good few years, right?" Little White Dragon looked at Chen Nuo and Sun Wukong, who were cooking. They were both good people.

"Of course," said Marshal Tian Peng with a smile, "Look at me now, do I look like I’ve been through a lot of pain?" "So, you see, it’s all thanks to the folks at Chaos Residence and Shopkeeper Chen that I can get back on my feet so quickly."

"Chaos Residence is indeed wonderful. I’ve felt it since Shopkeeper Chen brought me in," said Little White Dragon. "Your atmosphere is great too. I’ve never seen such harmony, not even in the Dragon Palace."

"Then why don’t you join us at Chaos Residence?" asked Tian Peng.

"Ah? Me?" Little White Dragon pointed at himself.

The reason Tian Peng asked directly was because Little White Dragon hadn’t come in on his own; he had followed Chen Nuo from the outside.

And since he had gone through experiences somewhat similar to his, Tian Peng figured Shopkeeper Chen must have brought Little White Dragon in with the intent of recruiting him into Chaos Residence.

Moreover, there was a bit of self-interest for Tian Peng as well. Being able to call the Third Prince, Ao Lie of the West Sea Dragon King, a colleague at Chaos Residence and perhaps even having him address him as ’senior brother’ in the future, Tian Peng couldn’t help but find the thought delightful.

"I’ve already said it, of course, I’m asking you," Tian Peng said with a smile. "Look around, aren’t you the only one here not from Chaos Residence?"

"You mentioned how great the atmosphere at Chaos Residence is. If you join us, it would become even better. And it’s not just about the atmosphere; our treatment is something those immortals would break their necks trying to get."

Little White Dragon had always been confined in the Water Prison and had never heard of Chaos Residence.

From following Chen Nuo in, he had simply thought of it as a place to cook. Although he envied the atmosphere and the harmonious relationship among the staff at Chaos Residence, he had no desire to stay.

"Sorry, I’d rather not," Little White Dragon refused. "I do envy the atmosphere here, but I have more important things to do. If I don’t, I fear I will never be able to shed my identity as a sinner, so I cannot stay here."

"What is this more important thing you’re talking about, Third Prince?" Marshal Tian Peng, a bit annoyed by Little White Dragon’s obstinate attitude, asked, "Is it to wait for a fated person, then take him as a teacher and follow him on the Journey to the West for Scriptures?"

"Yes," Little White Dragon nodded.

Tian Peng found dealing with his stubbornness somewhat exasperating. Do you really know what you want?

Could it be that what you want is merely to accompany Xuanzang on the Journey to the West for Scriptures, then return and be rewarded with a title to live out your life in comfort?

He couldn’t understand what was so appealing about such a life. Everyone wants a title and then live out the rest of their days, so why not choose to stay at Chaos Residence?

He couldn’t believe someone would actually not want to stay at such a wonderful place like Chaos Residence. Maybe there was something wrong with his brain.

"I know it seems like I lack ambition, but if I don’t do this, I’ll never be able to escape the label of a criminal," Little White Dragon said with a wry smile.

"And if I stay here, miss out on that ascetic, I’ll still end up being captured and thrown back in prison."

"You’re really wrong there. As long as you’re at Chaos Residence, nobody will take you away," Tian Peng said. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"Why?" Little White Dragon didn’t understand. No matter how impressive Chaos Residence was, at the end of the day, it was just a restaurant. Even if it was remarkable, how far could that really go?