Traveling Through Journey to the West: I Am the Dragon King

Chapter 22 Everyone knows the immortals are good, but they can't forget fame and fortune.

The White Crane Fairy went to the Lingxiao Palace to report.

In the Jade Pool, the goddess invited Chonghua to drink tea.

The aroma of this celestial tea truly surpasses that of ordinary mortal teas.

But after Chonghua lifted the lid of the teacup, looking at the tea leaves floating on top, he couldn't help but think of Dong Xiaozi, whom he had beaten to death under the camellia tree.

The Seventh Princess's imprisonment was her own fault, and also a way of avenging herself for being robbed. Yun Chonghua felt no remorse for using her to ascend to immortality. This was something the Seventh Princess owed him.

But Dong Yong was a virtuous and filial gentleman without any faults, a truly good person.

Even he felt a pang of guilt at the thought of profiting from the suffering of such good people.

The Empress noticed something unusual in his eyes with a casual glance.

The Empress asked, "Chonghua, what's wrong? Why are you refusing to drink? Is the celestial tea from Penglai Island not to your liking?"

Yun Chonghua, regaining his composure, said, "Your Majesty, this celestial tea is far more fragrant than anything in the mortal realm. For me to be able to taste it is a blessing earned through countless lifetimes. How could I possibly dislike it?"

The Empress knew he had something on his mind, so she smiled slightly and said, "Chonghua, you can speak freely in front of me. There's no need for such concealment."

Seeing that he hadn't managed to hide it, Yun Chonghua tentatively said, "Your Majesty is indeed insightful, but this matter is not something I, Xiaolong, can speak of. If I must reveal it, could you please forgive me first?"

The Empress laughed upon hearing this, "Hehe, very well, I forgive you. You seemed a bit off earlier; what was on your mind? Did you feel my reward was too little?"

Yun Chonghua shook his head and said, "Your Majesty enlightened me to become an immortal and bestowed upon me a celestial talisman. If I may presume to say something presumptuous, Your Majesty's kindness is like that of my second parents. How could I possibly think it is too little? It's just that just now, when I saw the tea leaves floating in that celestial tea, I couldn't help but think of Dong Xiaozi, whom I unintentionally killed."

"That filial son Dong was beaten to death by Xiaolong under a camellia tree. That filial son Dong was an honest and upright gentleman. I still feel sorry for him for dying like that. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me."

As he spoke, Yun Chonghua knelt before the Empress and begged for forgiveness.

Seeing this, the Empress said, "What is Chonghua doing? You pity Dong Yong, that's your kindness, how could I blame you? But you don't need to feel sorry for him. You took on the karma for Dong Yong, and now Dong Yong has his own good fortune."

"Oh?" Yun Chonghua stood up and looked at the Empress with a face full of curiosity.

After dismissing her attendants, the Empress continued, "Dong Yong and Qi'er's illicit marriage was a violation of the Heavenly Laws. According to the Heavenly Rules, he would be cast into the eighteenth level of hell, never to be reincarnated. But you have cleared Qi'er's name of the sin of marrying a mortal, so not only Qi'er but also Dong Yong has been exonerated."

"Dong Yong committed no crime and died unjustly. In his previous life, he was a filial and righteous gentleman, so in this life he was reborn into a blessed realm and went into reincarnation early. In this life, she will no longer suffer the pain of slavery, and she will be blessed in all nine lifetimes. One day in heaven is equivalent to one year on earth. She must be a year old now. So you don't need to blame yourself."

After hearing the Empress's words, Yun Chonghua's guilt was completely relieved. Although he had broken up Dong Yong's marriage, he had at least saved him from suffering in hell. In that sense, he should be thanking her.

However, the Empress did not tell Chonghua that although Dong Yong would live a life of wealth and longevity in his next nine lifetimes, he would never be a man again; he would be a woman in all nine lifetimes.

However, this was not to retaliate against Dong Yong, but for his own good, and for the good of everyone.

After the seventh princess of the province finished her meditation in seclusion, she descended to the mortal realm to find Dong Yong's reincarnation and continue their predestined romance.

So the Heavenly Court simply allowed Dong Yong's nine subsequent incarnations to be reborn as wealthy young ladies. From childhood to old age, they enjoyed all the pleasures of the mortal world. Even if the Seventh Princess descended to earth and they met again, they could only be sisters, not husband and wife.

After hearing this, Chonghua replied, "Since this filial son Dong is also a good person who has been rewarded, then I, Xiaolong, am relieved. Alas! I just hope that after the Seventh Princess finishes her meditation retreat, she won't seek revenge or cause me any trouble."

The Empress laughed and said, "Hehe, you can rest assured about that. Chonghua, if Qi'er ever makes things difficult for you again, you can come to me and complain. I will stand up for you. Besides, you didn't harm Qi'er. Her having worldly desires is a grave crime. If you hadn't covered for her, she would have faced ten thousand years of imprisonment, instead of just being confined to her palace as a minor punishment."

After listening, Chonghua nodded and then said, "Your Majesty, there is one more thing that I don't quite understand. I wonder if Your Majesty could enlighten me?"

The Empress smiled and said, "Just now you said that I am like your mother. What can't a son say to his mother?"

Faced with the Queen Mother's majestic demeanor, Yun Chonghua mustered his courage and asked the question that had troubled him for many years.

"Your Majesty, why can't immortals fall in love? Why can't they unite with mortals? Those who yearn for mortal life must be imprisoned for so long to atone for their sins. Is it really that terrible for immortals to fall in love?"

This question had troubled him for many years. When he read novels in his previous life, he couldn't understand why these gods always liked to separate lovers between immortals and mortals.

Is it simply a matter of "not being a good match"? He felt that wasn't entirely the case.

If it were merely a matter of "unequal social standing," the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother wouldn't have been so furious. They could have simply captured the Seventh Princess privately and kept her under strict supervision. There was no need for such a grand spectacle, a "three-court trial" in the Lingxiao Palace, making it known to everyone.

Therefore, Yun Chonghua could never understand it.

But as soon as he raised the question, Yun Chonghua felt a sense of unease, fearing that the Empress would be furious and he would suffer the consequences.

But the Empress's reaction was beyond his expectations.

Although the empress was somewhat surprised by his question, she was not angry.

Instead, she remained kind and gentle, saying, "Hehe, I didn't expect you to ask this question. But since Chonghua has doubts, I won't hesitate to tell you. However, these are two questions, so I'll start with why immortals and mortals cannot unite. Chonghua, you come from the mortal realm, do you know what mortals love most?"

After thinking for a moment, Yun Chonghua replied, "Fame and fortune?"

The Empress replied, "You are right, but not entirely right. The Heavenly Laws strictly forbid mortals from marrying immortals, actually to protect mortals and to maintain the balance of order in the Three Realms. If this starts with Qi'er, then the Heavenly Laws will no longer be able to restrain the immortals, and the entire Three Realms will be in chaos."

Upon hearing this, Yun Chonghua couldn't help but show a puzzled expression.

Seeing his puzzled expression, the goddess patiently explained, "Mortals are only human, and can only see appearances. Let alone powerful immortals, even minor immortals and spirits can transform into gold and silver, into beauties of unparalleled beauty, or handsome young men, making it incredibly easy to fool mortals. If immortals and mortals were allowed to marry, wouldn't the world be in chaos?"

"Moreover, when one falls in love, selfishness arises. Although mortals live for a hundred years, their appearance will fade and they will grow old in just forty or fifty years. At that time, their divine partners will surely try every means to preserve their youth and prolong their lives, seeking immortality."

"They may find an opportunity, obtain spiritual objects, or even be directly guided to achieve immortality. They may become earth immortals or human immortals. As for celestial immortals, guiding a mortal to achieve immortality is not a difficult thing."

"If these mortals who marry gods can easily extend their lives and cultivate immortality without cultivation, how can that be fair to human cultivators and beast spirits who accumulate merit and undergo arduous tribulations? If it were just about enlightening one person, that would be one thing, but people's hearts are not invigorated. Those mortals who have attained the Dao also have relatives, friends, disciples, and former followers. At that time, I'm afraid not all mortals will fantasize about marrying immortals, hoping that one person's enlightenment will lead to the ascension of their entire family."

Yun Chonghua nodded silently after listening. As a human being, he understood human greed very well.

In today's world, many people dream of marrying a rich man in order to quickly achieve upward social mobility and financial freedom.

Many people either pave the way with "golden bridges" or offer themselves up to unspoken rules, thinking of "taking the back door" to achieve their goals.

And all of this is just for fame and fortune.

The allure of immortality is far greater than that of gold, silver, and power.

After gaining fame and status, one must make arrangements for relatives, friends, and even descendants.

If it were truly possible to "ascend to heaven" through marriage and blood ties, then things would certainly descend into chaos.