Journey to the West: Demon Emperor: Beginning as a Little Toad

Chapter 603 The Mischievous Crocodile
Southern Jambudvipa.

The land of Chang'an.

Fish market.

Outside the tavern window, the dark clouds grew thicker, and the long-awaited raindrops finally began to patter down, striking the murky river surface and the thatched eaves of the fish market, splashing up fine droplets and rippling outwards. A fishy smell mixed with the sweltering heat of the marketplace filled the air...

Meanwhile, in the tavern of the fish market, Dongfang Kuai (Tieguai Li) cast a divination, saying that in the Blackwater Bay of the western section of the Wei River, where the waters swirl and surge, there must be a golden dragon swimming hidden within.

This golden carp, just beginning to develop its spirituality, is easily lured by blood-soaked food and fragrant bait, much like a child encountering worldly delicacies for the first time and finding it hard to resist the temptation.

Upon hearing this, Yuchi Zhenjin was overjoyed. He immediately went to the fish market and found two of the most experienced and daring fishermen, offering them a generous reward to catch the golden carp.

These two men are Zhang Laosan and Xu Laosi.

Although the two were skeptical about the matter, they were happy to give it a try since there was money to be made.

Therefore, both parties entered into a written agreement, with clear and distinct terms in black and white.

It was agreed that Zhang Laosan and Xu Laosi would set up their nets to fish at the time and place indicated by Mr. Dongfang.

If we can truly capture this extraordinary creature, Yuchi Zhenjin will surely reward us handsomely.

……

The next day.

The third quarter of the hour of Mao (5:45 AM).

A faint glimmer of light appeared on the surface of Blackwater Bay, where the current was rapid and swirling.

Zhang Laosan and Xu Laosi followed the plan and cast their nets.

A moment later, as the net was being pulled in, it felt unusually heavy, as if a huge object was struggling with immense force, which was difficult to resist.

The two of them worked together and, with great effort, finally managed to drag the object in the net ashore.

After the two of them worked together to drag it ashore, the creature in the net suddenly came into view – a strange “loach” about three feet long, its body seemingly forged from molten gold!
Its body was covered with fine golden scales, and four fleshy claws grew from its belly. It tumbled and leaped in the net, its golden scales shining brightly in the sunlight. Even more strangely, the creature emitted a faint hiss like a baby's babbling!

"My God! This...this is a golden loach with claws!"

"Scales! It has scales! Just as Mr. Dongfang said!"

"It...it can make a sound! Like a human voice!"

……

The onlookers were stunned, speechless, and exclaimed in astonishment:

"Hidden Dragon!"

"This is indeed the 'hidden dragon' that Mr. Dongfang spoke of!"

Yuchi Zhenjin suppressed his excitement and sold the strange "golden loach" to a wealthy family in Chang'an who believed in auspicious omens at a high price, earning several hundred gold coins and returning home with a full load.

This news spread like wildfire throughout the fish market.

The fishermen were amazed by Mr. Dongfang's extraordinary abilities and discussed it among themselves, all saying that they had encountered a living deity who could see the secrets of heaven.

As a result, many fishermen would pay money to have Dongfang Kuai tell their fortunes, and then, according to the divination results, they would go to the eight waters of Chang'an to catch goldfish on a large scale.

For a time, this trend became popular, with fishing boats shuttling back and forth, and hundreds of nets being cast. The eight waterways of Chang'an were bustling with activity.

People are generally fond of supernatural beings and strange tales, and emperors are no exception.

A poem laments:

"The Xuan Room sought out worthy men and visited exiled officials; Jia Yi's talent was unparalleled."

"Poor at midnight, I don't ask people to ask ghosts and gods."

For a while.

In Chang'an, princes, nobles, and high-ranking officials all considered "raising golden carp" a fashionable practice, regarding it as an auspicious omen and a symbol of status.

This sparked a frenzy among kings, nobles, and wealthy merchants to collect the "Golden Scale Hidden Dragon," which was regarded as an auspicious and rare treasure, priceless and attracting everyone to compete for it.

……

then.

On the Wei River, Jing River, and other eight rivers of Chang'an, fishing boats come and go like a woven tapestry, with hundreds of nets spread out as if to catch all the golden fish in the water.

However, such fanatical behavior eventually alarmed the Jinghe Water Palace.

……

Now, the sister of the Jing River Dragon King and the West Sea Dragon King had nine sons.

Little Yellow Dragon, residing in the Huai River.

The little dragon dwells in the Ji River.

The Green-backed Dragon dwells in the river.

A red-bearded dragon dwells in the river.

The dragon, though futile, is now the bell-ringer on Mount Ling.

……

Only the ninth son, Little Crocodile Dragon, was young and had no important job.

The little alligator dragon is the youngest son of the Jing River Dragon King.

An old saying goes:

"Parents all over the world love their children the most."

That is to say, most parents in the world tend to favor their youngest children.

The ancient family precepts, "Yuan Family Precepts," also state:
"It is incomprehensible that the older of the two children, born of the same mother, may be disliked by their parents while the younger one may be loved by them."

"I have pondered this carefully and found that when a child is one or two years old, his or her actions and laughter naturally win people's affection. Even others love him, let alone his or her parents?"

visible.

In ancient times, loving one's youngest child was a natural human instinct; there was no way around it, that's just human nature.

However, as Liu Bei advised Liu Biao, "Deposing the eldest son in favor of the youngest is a path to chaos... one should not spoil him..."

The kingdoms of King Wuling of Zhao, Yuan Shao, Liu Biao... all perished in this way.

……

The Dragon King and Queen of the Jing River (sister of the Dragon King of the West Sea) also doted on their young son, Little Crocodile Dragon.

Whatever their youngest son, the little alligator dragon, desired, the Jing River Dragon King and Queen would do everything in their power to grant it and fulfill it wholeheartedly.

Little Tuolong Tuojie was born into such pampering. He was loved by his parents, protected by his brothers, and favored by his uncle, the Dragon King of the West Sea... Over time, he developed a spoiled and unruly personality.

at the moment.

The Dragon King of the Jing River arranged jobs for his first eight sons, assigning them duties in various waterways, as well as in the sacred mountains and the Heavenly Court.

Only the youngest dragon, Xiao Tuolong, is still being raised by his side, residing in the Dragon Palace of the Jing River.

But he said.

Those of the Dragon Clan who wish to rule a region of water must first be sent out to gain experience, cultivate their character, and preserve their lives. Only after accumulating sufficient experience can they be promoted.

Just as the Dragon King of the West Sea once said to Sun Wukong:

“I brought him (the little alligator dragon) here and raised him to adulthood with your kindness. However, he had nowhere to live, so I arranged for him to cultivate his nature and practice immortality in the Blackwater River…”

Sun Wukong once rebuked the little alligator dragon, saying:

“You disobey the imperial decree. Your maternal uncle (the Dragon King of the West Sea) originally intended for you to live here, to teach you how to cultivate your character and preserve your life. When you achieve fame, you will be given a different ‘relocation’.”

"How dare you seize the Water God's residence, abuse your power, deceive your superiors, and play tricks to fool my master and junior brothers?"

at the moment.

There are currently no vacant positions in the various waters of Jambudvipa.

As the saying goes:
"It is only natural for sons to inherit their fathers' businesses."

The Dragon King of the Jing River first personally nurtured his young son, the Little Crocodile Dragon.

He often took the little dragon with him to the eight rivers of Chang'an, where he would summon clouds and rain, teaching it the art of rainmaking and the ability to patrol the rivers and protect the law, thus displaying the power of the dragon clan.

at the same time.

The Jinghe Dragon King petitioned the Heavenly Court to allow the little alligator dragon to temporarily assume the position of "Weihe Dragon King of the Eight Rivers of Chang'an," that is, "the fake Weihe Dragon King," so that the little alligator dragon could first manage the Weihe River and become familiar with the way of water management.

When there are large water veins available in places like Nanzhanbuzhou or Xiniuhezhou, the Jinghe Dragon King can arrange for the little alligator dragon to go there, so that it can display its talents and become famous throughout the world.

……

It is said that the little alligator dragon once went to the Abyss of Buzhou to help his cousin, "Ao Moang of the West Sea".

Unexpectedly, in the land of Beiju Luzhou, the little alligator dragon ran into the ferocious "Golden Horn King" and was easily defeated in just a few rounds.

King Golden Horn lifted the little child and tucked the small alligator dragon under his arm.

The little alligator was extremely embarrassed, crying out in pain, utterly humiliated and filled with shame and indignation.

Since then, Little Crocodile Dragon has been depressed all these years, feeling that he is not strong enough.

Seeing his beloved son in such a state, the Dragon King of the Jing River felt deep pity and comforted him, saying:
"My son, do not be sad. Those old demons and monsters in Beiju Luzhou have been cultivating for countless years."

"Even your cousin Ao Moang, when he went to confront him, did not gain much advantage."

"You are still young and your foundation is not yet solid. It is only natural that you are no match for them. There is no need to worry about it."

In order to quickly improve the strength of the little alligator dragon.

With a wave of his hand, the Dragon King of the Jing River lent all the magical treasures of the eight rivers of Chang'an, such as the "Eight Rivers Dividing Water Flag" and the "Dragon King's Water-Dispatching Seal," to the little alligator dragon.

The Jinghe Dragon King allowed the little alligator dragon to directly absorb the water veins of the eight rivers in Chang'an for cultivation.

Dragons rely on water elemental energy for cultivation.

Now, with the help of magical artifacts, the little alligator dragon can swallow and spew the waters of the eight rivers of Chang'an, and its strength naturally increases by leaps and bounds.

In recent days.

The Dragon King of Jinghe and the Dragon Queen of Jinghe (sisters of the Dragon King of the West Sea) were invited by the Dragon King of the West Sea to go to the Dragon Palace of the West Sea to discuss important matters.

The little alligator dragon was left to guard the family business in the eight rivers of Chang'an, and to supervise the waters of the Jing River, Wei River, Ba River, Feng River and so on.

Since the emperor is absent, it is only natural for the princes to oversee the country.

At this moment.

Deep within the Jinghe Water Palace, crystal palaces gleam with light, and coral trees sway gracefully.

However, a monstrous creature dwells atop the Dragon King's throne.

Upon closer inspection:

Its lips curled into a huge mouth, its white, sharp teeth like halberds, exuding a bloodthirsty aura.

Its face is round and bright, seemingly containing rosy light, with golden rays appearing and disappearing as it opens and closes.

Clad in heavy black iron armor, adorned with gleaming floral patterns; and wearing a jeweled gold helmet, he exuded an even more menacing aura!

It truly is a sight to behold: "The dragon's might is awe-inspiring, and the crocodile's appearance is ferocious!"
This monstrous creature was none other than the youngest son of the Jing River Dragon King, "Little Tuolong Tuojie".

Ever since he helped his cousin Ao Moang fight in the Buzhou Abyss of Beiju Luzhou, only to be captured alive by the Golden Horn King in a few moves, held under his arm, and humiliated like a plaything, the little alligator dragon felt deeply ashamed. Whenever he thought of it, he would grit his teeth and feel extremely resentful.

At this moment, his body was surrounded by a misty vapor that seemed to boil, as if shrouded in clouds.

The little alligator dragon, also known as Tuojie, was fully utilizing its magical power, greedily absorbing the vast and boundless spiritual energy of the eight rivers of Chang'an drawn from the two magical treasures floating in front of it: the "Eight Rivers Dividing Water Flag" and the "Dragon King's Water-Dispelling Seal".

With each deep breath, the radiance of the pearls embedded in the walls of the water palace dimmed for a moment, as if all the essence had been swallowed up by it.

The little dragon then exhaled forcefully, and streams of pure, solidified pale blue water essence burst forth, causing the surrounding water to ripple and surge.

The "Little Alligator Dragon" is short and stout, moves slowly, and "looks like a pig."

Its snout is short, blunt, and flat, resembling a pig's snout, and the sound it makes is like a pig's squeal, hence its other name, "Pig Dragon." "Hmph!"

"Humph!"

"Humph!"

……

The little alligator dragon let out a series of "pig squeals," its breath rumbling like muffled thunder, shaking the very soul.

As its scales opened and closed, the sounds of wind and thunder seemed to appear, clearly indicating that its cultivation was progressing at an astonishing speed, day and night, and it should not be underestimated.

He had only one obsession:
"Become stronger! Avenge this humiliation! Only by becoming stronger can I wipe away this shame and let those like King Golden Horn know the might of me, Little Crocodile Dragon!"

However, just as he was immersed in a state of complete absorption in his cultivation, the "Dragon King's Water Seal" in his palm suddenly emitted a violent and ominous tremor!

It was no longer a smooth, vibrant pulse, but a agonizing wail like being pierced by a thousand needles and scratched by a hundred claws!
That was the mournful cry of countless aquatic creatures, newly awakened to intelligence and possessing the potential to transform into dragons, struggling desperately in the nets within the eight rivers of Chang'an, which traveled straight through the water veins to the "Dragon King's Water Seal"!
"Humph!"

"Roar--!"

A loud squeal of a pig.

The little alligator dragon suddenly opened its dragon eyes!

Two beams of golden light, seemingly solid, shot out like sharp swords piercing through the water curtain!

The violent aura that the evil dragon boy had been forcibly suppressed was instantly ignited, transforming into a suffocating ferocity that swept through the hall. The thousand-year-old seaweed around the jade platform trembled and cowered in fear!
"Somebody come!"

A furious shout echoed like thunder through the Crystal Palace, making the beams and pillars vibrate.

A moment later, a water patrol yaksha hurriedly entered the hall, bowed, and asked:
"What are your orders, Your Highness?"

The little alligator dragon's face was grim as it shouted:

"Go and find out what's happening on the river. Go and come back quickly!"

The water patrol yaksha obeyed the order and quickly disappeared into the water.

Not long after.

A surge of water rushed out from outside the palace gate!

The river patrol yaksha, looking flustered, scrambled in.

Behind him dragged a half-dead, soaking wet fisherman.

The sea patrol yaksha collapsed before the steps, his voice trembling:
"Your Highness, Crown Prince Tuolong! Something terrible has happened! Disaster is imminent!"

Upon hearing this, the little alligator dragon's eyes widened in fury, becoming as terrifying as copper bells, and it roared:

"How unbecoming is it to be in a panic!"

"Has the sky fallen? What calamity has befallen you? Speak quickly!"

The patrolling yaksha was terrified by Tuo Jie's imposing aura, his heart pounding with fear. He hurriedly kowtowed and said urgently:
"Your Highness, please allow me to report! Those reckless fishermen in Chang'an City have somehow acquired evil magic and are now forming groups to hunt down those newly intelligent and gifted aquatic spirits in the waters under the jurisdiction of my Jinghe Water Palace!"

"Especially the Wei River area, which has become a disaster zone, with aquatic creatures suffering terribly!"

"Seeing that things were not going well, I quickly grabbed a fisherman to ask His Highness the Crown Prince questions."

As he spoke, the patrolling yaksha placed the fisherman on the ground.

The fisherman, upon entering the underwater realm, was terrified. Suddenly, he saw a monster resembling a giant crocodile, speaking human language and looking ferocious. He screamed in terror:
"There's a monster!"

Then, the fisherman's eyes rolled back and he fainted.

The little alligator's eyes flashed like lightning, instantly fixing on the fish trap brought by the patrolling yaksha.

"Your Highness, save me!"

Inside the cage is a golden carp, about a foot long, with scales that gleam like gold, exuding a lively spirit.

At this moment, it was twisting its body in terror, its gills opening and closing rapidly, breathing heavily, and its eyes even showed a pleading look as it cried out for help to the little alligator dragon!

These spiritual objects are the foundation of the future Water Palace and the seed of dragon transformation. They are extremely precious and should not be allowed to be touched by mere mortals!

Looking at the unconscious fisherman, his skin was rough, and he smelled of cheap rice wine and fish blood. It was this ant-like mortal who dared to taint the bloodline of the dragon!
The fisherman reeked of fish blood, a pungent smell that seemed to mock his authority as the "fake Dragon King of the Wei River," fueling his rage.

The little alligator dragon stared at the golden carp and gritted its teeth, saying:

"How hateful! How dare they so brazenly hunt and kill the aquatic creatures of the eight rivers of Chang'an, treating the Jing River dragon clan as if they were nothing?"

"How audacious!"

After saying this, the little alligator dragon angrily reached out, opened the fish cage, and released the golden carp, letting it swim happily into the deep water.

The little alligator dragon said in a deep voice to the golden carp:
"Fish, go swim on your own and strive to transform from mortal to spirit as soon as possible."

"Be careful not to be captured by mortals again."

"This is due to my dereliction of duty in supervising the eight rivers of Chang'an, which has caused you to be trapped in the fish trap and suffer this disturbance."

"I, the Crown Prince, will certainly seek justice for you!"

Then, the little alligator dragon looked at the fisherman and felt deep hatred for him.

The little alligator dragon took a step forward, its massive body stirring up gusts of evil wind, and its giant claws shot out like lightning, grabbing the unconscious fisherman in its palm!

His five fingers were held together like steel.

"what!"

The fisherman had barely let out a short scream of agony when the gaping maw snapped shut!
"Crack!"

A sickening sound of bones cracking rang out!

Blood gushed out like a fountain, staining Tuojie's jaw, breastplate, and the jade steps beneath his feet.

The little alligator dragon didn't care at all. It opened and closed its huge mouth and chewed, swallowing the fisherman's head and shoulder in just a few bites.

The smell of scalding blood and raw flesh seemed to further stimulate the ferocity in his bones, and his golden vertical pupils instantly turned into a bloodthirsty red light!
Followed by.

"Hmph, hmph, hmph!"

After several loud squeals from pigs.

The enormous crocodile dragon performed an incredibly agile "crocodile dragon roll," opening its massive jaws to a terrifying angle and swallowing the fisherman's mangled body whole!
A low, satisfied gurgling sound came from his throat, and a tattered piece of cloth and a string of blood beads clung to the corner of his mouth.

What a ferocious alligator dragon!

"Go investigate again! Find out who's behind this! There must be no mistakes!"

Tuo Jie licked her blood-stained teeth and said angrily.

"Yes, Prince!"

Patrolling the water was so frightened that Cha was scared out of his wits. He was afraid that the little alligator dragon would become fierce and eat him too. He scrambled away to obey the order.

Subsequently.

The little alligator dragon returned to its throne and awaited news.

Not long after.

The patrolling yaksha returned in a panic, panting, and said:

"Your Highness."

"I was lying in wait under a fishing boat today and overheard their wild tales. They said that a mysterious fortune teller named Dongfang Kuai has come to the taverns in Chang'an's fish market!"

"This fiend possesses extraordinary abilities, able to pinpoint the exact location of the 'dragon-transforming' creatures lurking there, and instruct fishermen to cast their nets to capture them! Those golden-scaled loaches and red-whiskered koi that were caught... are all the future foundation of my Water Palace!"

"what?!"

"That's unreasonable!"

Upon hearing this, the little alligator dragon flew into a rage, and the water vapor around its body instantly transformed into a chilling aura, causing the seaweed around the jade platform to tremble.

He suddenly leaped off the stage, transforming into human form—a handsome young man in brocade robes and a jade belt, whose face was striking yet unable to conceal his arrogance.

The little alligator patted the "Dragon King's Water Seal" hanging at its waist and shouted sternly:

"How dare you, a mere mortal, an ant-like creature, covet my dragon bloodline and undermine the foundation of my Water Palace?"

"It's really asking for death!"

"Bring me my water-driving whip! Quickly muster a thousand elite water soldiers!"

"First, throw those reckless fishermen, boat and all, into the river to feed the fish!"

"Follow me, the Crown Prince, and march on Chang'an!"

"I will personally skin that damned 'Dongfang Kuai' sorcerer, tear him apart, grind his bones to dust, and hang his head on the banks of the Wei River as a warning to others!"

"Finally, eat him!"

"Let's see who dares to touch a single hair on the head of my Jinghe aquatic tribe!"

"Hmph, hmph, hmph!"

After several loud squeals from pigs.

The little crocodile dragon's golden eyes blazed with fury. It clenched its claws, took out the military tally, and prepared to mobilize its troops.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

"Clang, clang, clang!"

……

In an instant, a murderous aura swept through the hall like a tidal wave.

The elite soldiers of the Water Palace moved at the command, the sounds of armor clashing and weapons being drawn were as dense as rain, and the glint of swords reflected on the crystal palace walls, chilling to the bone.

Just as the Jinghe naval forces were about to break out of the Jinghe Water Palace, sweep across Chang'an, slaughter countless lives, and cause a great disaster!
Just then, a calm yet slightly anxious voice came from the side of the hall:
"Your Highness! You must not act rashly!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw the Turtle Prime Minister leaning on a dark, shiny cane. Although his steps were unsteady, they were extremely swift as he blocked Tuo Jie's path.

This old tortoise was a trusted minister of the Jing River Dragon King and enjoyed his deep trust.

Before leaving, the Dragon King of the Jing River specifically instructed him to take good care of the young master to prevent him from causing trouble due to his youthful arrogance.

Prime Minister Turtle knew that Little Crocodile Dragon had a violent temper and that if he started a fight, the consequences would be unimaginable, so he rushed over to dissuade him.

"Prime Minister, don't stop me!"

Tuo Jie glared angrily at the Turtle Prime Minister and shouted.

Prime Minister Gui bowed deeply, his tone earnest and his speech rapid:

"Your Highness, you must not act rashly!"

"Chang'an City is the 'Imperial Capital' of the Southern Continent, the place where the human race's destiny is bestowed!"

"Chang'an City is home to millions of people, and it is also the foundation of the incense and faith of my Jinghe Water Palace!"

"Among them, besides my Jinghe Water Palace, there are also many believers of the gods of Heaven and Taoist temples, with incense burning everywhere."

"The city is guarded by the City God, the Underworld God, the Earth God, and the Mountain God, who monitor the situation day and night."

"My Jinghe Water Palace is a department officially appointed by the Heavenly Court, and the Dragon King is a righteous god of the Heavenly Court. Your Highness, as the son of the God of Rain, you are in charge of controlling the clouds and rain and enjoy the incense offerings of the mortal world!"

"Although we are protected by the Heavenly Court, we are also subject to its control."

"We are not wild gods or monsters."

"How can we act recklessly, start a war, and slaughter the believers of our own Water Palace and the gods of Heaven?"

This is a grave taboo!

"Moreover, last time, when 'Erlang Manifests Sage True Lord Yang Jian' was controlling the floods in the Southern Continent, he gave us many warnings, strictly ordering us not to appear in the mortal world too often, so as not to disturb the living beings in the mortal world and disrupt the order of the human world."

"Today, there are still many temples dedicated to Erlang Shen in Chang'an, with incense burning continuously, and his majesty remains."

……

(5.5K words + long chapter today, early update, please vote with monthly tickets, thank you for your support!)
(End of this chapter)