Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 698 - 697: Little White Dragon Stays at Chaos Residence
Ao Lie cocked his head to the side, he didn’t really understand, "Shopkeeper Chen, I don’t quite understand, whether I am the White Dragon or the Golden Dragon, isn’t it still me? What difference does it make to you?"
"The difference is huge." Chen Nuo said, "If you were the White Dragon, you would still be wanted by the Jade Emperor, waiting for the fated person to pass by Eagle Sorrow Stream and then enlighten you, and you would accompany him to the Western Heaven to seek scriptures. Only after going through all this could you completely erase your past transgressions."
"But if you’re the Golden Dragon, the things the White Dragon did have nothing to do with you."
Ao Lie listened, and slowly, his eyes began to widen. Could it really be like this?
"So it can be like this!" Sun Wukong was also very surprised.
"Hey, Third Prince, weren’t you always wanting to shed this criminal label? Now it’s good, you don’t have to do anything, nor do you need to accompany anyone to the Western Heaven to seek scriptures. Your criminal name is already gone."
Ao Lie couldn’t believe it, his lips quivered, and after being silent for a while, he slowly said, "Really, is it true? I don’t have to do anything, and everything I did before is already wiped clean?"
"Not wiped clean." Chen Nuo corrected, "But it has nothing to do with you."
How could this be? He had been imprisoned for several hundred years for this crime, had suffered so much, and now they were saying it was as if none of it happened. It was just too unbelievable.
"Really, it has nothing to do with me anymore?" Unable to help himself, Ao Lie asked again. He really couldn’t believe it—how could it suddenly have nothing to do with him?
"Why don’t you believe it?" Sun Wukong was getting a little unhappy, "What do you mean by that? Could it be that you still want to live that old life? Locked up in a dungeon waiting for someone fated to liberate you?"
"No." Ao Lie’s eyes reddened, and his voice was slightly choked up; the news had come too suddenly, and it was reasonable that he dared not believe it, "It’s not that I don’t believe it, I just don’t dare to."
"Is there a difference?" Sun Wukong said.
The difference wasn’t big, mainly because after transforming, Little White Dragon himself didn’t feel any difference from before, other than the change of his true form. This made him reluctant to believe.
But these were all secondary. Little White Dragon felt that there was an even more important thing he had yet to do, which was, "Shopkeeper Chen, if that’s the case, does it mean I don’t have to wait for that person of fate to lead me, and I can also live a peaceful life?"
Chen Nuo thought for a moment, then smiled and shook his head at Ao Lie, "Not just yet."
"But didn’t you just tell me that my past has nothing to do with me? Why can’t I be free now?"
Ao Lie was somewhat disappointed; he had truly thought he had gained his freedom, but it turned out to be an empty hope. In the end, he was still powerless to do anything.
"You have gained freedom, but not right now." Chen Nuo explained, "Your person of fate, Xuanzang, must be nearing Eagle Sorrow Stream by now, and Bodhisattva Guanyin will be there waiting for you. If you don’t go now, they will definitely look for you."
Because he was overwhelmed with joy, Ao Lie had actually forgotten about this.
He thought about it, indeed, if he wanted to regain his freedom, he really needed to wait for this storm to pass.
"I seem to have forgotten about this." Ao Lie thought, he indeed still had many matters to attend to, but the first and foremost was to resolve this issue.
"That’s also true. If he doesn’t show up, maybe the higher-ups will come here looking for us, and that would be troublesome." Sun Wukong also realized the gravity of the situation.
"Last time, Tian Peng’s incident already made the Jade Emperor hold a grudge against us. If it is said that Jin Chanzi’s reincarnation went to Eagle Sorrow Stream and found no one, will the blame also be placed on us?"
"Why would you say that?" Sha Wujing only knew of Tian Peng’s reincarnation but was not aware of the issues between the Jade Emperor and Chaos Residence. Upon hearing what Sun Wukong said, he hurriedly asked what had happened.
Sun Wukong didn’t consider it a significant affair. Hearing Sha Wujing’s question, he replied.
"Speaking of which, it’s really not a big deal. Our Chaos Residence has always been very democratic and doesn’t impose its will on others like the Jade Emperor does. So once our principles clashed, the Jade Emperor harbored resentment against us."
"So, it’s since Tian Peng’s banishment that the Heavenly Realm began to hold prejudice against us, is that right?" Sha Wujing inquired.
"You could understand it that way," Chen Nuo answered. "I usually don’t get involved in the affairs of the Heavenly Realm because it can be very troublesome. As a cook, I don’t want to take on such a big responsibility."
Although Chen Nuo said this, in truth, it seemed that every affair he set his mind to had never been neglected.
"So what Shopkeeper Chen is saying is, I still can’t go out now?" Ao Lie asked.
"If you want to regain your freedom, indeed, you need to wait a while," Chen Nuo said.
"Alternatively, if you’re willing to accompany Xuanzang on his Journey to the West, we certainly won’t stop you. Of course, if you don’t want to go, we would also welcome you to stay at Chaos Residence for a time. As for how this matter will be handled afterward, you needn’t concern yourself. As long as Chaos Residence stands, we definitely won’t hand you over."
Ao Lie was both excited and incredulous upon hearing Chen Nuo’s words.
Even though he knew Chaos Residence was no ordinary restaurant, he was still unclear about the extent of its power.
Moreover, his current status was that of a criminal wanted by the Heavenly Realm. It seemed there was no reason for Chaos Residence to help him with this matter.
"But why?" Ao Lie asked.
"Why what?" Sun Wukong, hearing Ao Lie’s question, didn’t quite understand what was truly on his mind.
"You just need to give an answer," he said. "Say what you want to say, do what you want to do. Why all these questions? Where is your resolve?"
"Why would you help me?" Ao Lie rephrased his question.
"Originally, this matter had nothing to do with you at all. And it seems there’s no benefit for you in helping me. Given that, why would you help me?"
"Does helping you need a reason?" Sun Wukong looked at Sha Wujing, then at Chen Nuo, and said, "Let me put it this way, my master doesn’t just help anyone."
"Maybe you haven’t realized what benefits you can provide for our Chaos Residence, but since my master has chosen you, you must be of use to him. You just need to reply, as for the rest, it’s not your concern."
Although he didn’t know what use he had for Chaos Residence, Ao Lie felt somewhat relieved that he could be of help.
After all, if he was of help to them, they had a reason to assist him. This was in contrast to feeling insecure when he seemed to offer no help yet they were still willing to aid him.
"Since I can be of help to Chaos Residence, then I shall stay here for now," Ao Lie declared. "Compared to the Heavenly Realm that strikes with one hand and offers a date with the other, I find Chaos Residence much more to my liking."
