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

Chapter 604 Yang Jian's Intimidation

Meanwhile, the little alligator dragon Tuojie was furious and wanted to send his troops to slaughter the fishermen who made a living on the eight rivers of Chang'an and to massacre the city.

Seeing this, Prime Minister Gui was extremely anxious and hurriedly stepped forward to advise him:
“Your Highness, we are not wild monsters who rule the mountains. Those are all desperate criminals, their heads hanging by a thread, their lives hanging by a thread. They are arrogant today, but will be beheaded by the Heavenly Court tomorrow. That is why they act recklessly.”

"We are the righteous gods of the Water Palace, protected by the Heavenly Court and enjoying peace in this region. However, we are also subject to the strict control of the Heavenly Court. Every move we make is under the watchful eye of the Heavenly Court."

"Within Chang'an City, there are also many Taoist temples dedicated to the gods of Heaven, as well as temples dedicated to Erlang Shen, the True Lord Yang Jian."

"If Your Highness acts rashly and escalates the situation, causing bloodshed in Chang'an, it will surely alarm the Heavenly Court."

"It even attracted the personal attention of Erlang Shen Zhenjun Yang Jian, who unleashed his thunderous wrath and divine punishment. Not only will Your Highness be punished, but Prince Dinosaur will also be implicated and blamed for 'lax family management'."

"By then, it will be too late for regrets. Your Highness, please think carefully before you act!"

Little Dragon Tuojie was stopped by the Turtle Prime Minister, and his anger burned even brighter, his handsome face turning bright red.

But he also knew in his heart that this Prime Minister Turtle was his father's trusted confidant, who had followed his father for many years and was loyal to him. What he said was not unreasonable.

Moreover, Erlang Shen, the True Lord Yang Jian...

"Erlang Manifests Sage True Lord Yang Jian..."

Upon hearing Yang Jian's name, the little alligator dragon finally showed some apprehension.

In the past, Erlang Shen Yang Jian was stationed at the mouth of the Guanjiang River in the Southern Continent. The demons of the Southern Continent were terrified at the mere mention of his name, and few dared to stir up trouble.

Later, when floods struck the human world, Erlang Shen Yang Jian again came to control the floods, wielding considerable influence.

Although Erlang Shen Zhenjun Yang Jian has now gone to the Heavenly Court to serve as an official and is no longer in the Southern Continent.

Yang Jian gradually stopped interfering in worldly affairs.

But not long after Erlang Shen Zhenjun Yang Jian issued his warning.

When Erlang Shen Yang Jian was controlling the floods in Nanzhanbuzhou, he had seen him slay demons and monsters along the way.

Others feared his power in the Jinghe Water Palace and dared not provoke him easily.

However, Yang Jian wielded a three-pointed, double-edged sword that had cleaved even the Buddha on Mount Ling and the gods of Heaven.

In Yang Jian's eyes, their Jinghe Water Palace and even the West Sea Dragon Palace were nothing.

His uncle, the Little Crocodile Dragon, is the Dragon King of the West Sea.

Yang Jian's maternal uncle is the Great Celestial Venerable.

Moreover, Yang Jian is now the judicial deity of the Heavenly Court, overseeing all illegal activities in the heavens, and wields immense power.

If Yang Jian were to cleave his little alligator dragon in two today, his uncle, the Dragon King of the West Sea, would probably have to put on a smiling face and say:

"Erlang Shenxian Shengjun, well done!"

“He disciplined this wretched nephew of mine.”

……

Just as Erlang Shen, the True Lord of Manifestation, resolutely accepted the "Sword of the Human Emperor" and said to the Human Emperor Yu:

"In today's world, the human race is in dire straits."

"Demons and monsters roam freely, trampling on the lives of humankind."

"Look at the countless gods and Buddhas in the sky, sitting high above, sitting in the clouds, looking down on the suffering of the world, yet they are like watching a fire from across the river, unmoved."

"They regard us humans as objects to be enslaved at will, treat the suffering of humans as worthless, and manipulate the fate of humans at will, playing us like puppets."

"Humans struggle in this world, yet they can hardly find even a small place to settle down and make a living."

"What I want to protect is the lives of all living beings from the wanton trampling of gods, demons, monsters, and Buddhas, and to safeguard the small piece of land on which they depend for survival."

Therefore, when Yang Jian was controlling the floods in the Southern Continent, he warned and restrained the mountain gods and water deities in the Southern Continent, strictly forbidding them from appearing in the mortal world at will, so as not to disturb the living beings in the mortal world and disrupt the order and balance of the human world.

Yang Jian warned him:
"You must remember my orders. If you disobey them, don't blame my three-pointed double-edged sword for being merciless."

The mountain gods and water spirits of the Southern Continent, intimidated by Yang Jian's majesty and supernatural powers, were quite obedient and rarely appeared in the world to disturb humankind.

Although Yang Jian is no longer stationed in the Southern Continent, he has ascended to the Heavenly Court to become a judicial deity.

However, its influence remains in the southern continent of Jambudvipa.

What's more.

Yang Jian is now the "God of Justice" in the Heavenly Realm, holding a high position and great power, with the power of life and death in his hands. He can easily execute these mountain gods and water spirits in the lower realm without asking any questions.

Therefore, the mountain gods and water spirits of all places in the Southern Continent still hold Yang Jian in great awe and fear, lest they offend this infamous judicial god and bring about their own destruction.

……

"Erlang Manifests Sage True Lord Yang Jian..."

Upon hearing the name Yang Jian, Xiao Tuolong Tuojie felt a chill run down his spine, and a sense of dread arose spontaneously.

He instantly snapped out of it.

However, the little alligator dragon was still filled with resentment, so it roared loudly:

"Prime Minister Turtle!"

"Could it be that we are just going to let those damned scoundrels collude with those charlatan sorcerers and hog the head of my Jinghe Water Palace?"

"You've damaged the foundation of my Water Palace and tarnished my dragon's might?"

"How can I, the Crown Prince, tolerate such an utter disgrace?"

Seeing that his anger had subsided somewhat, though a hint of fierceness remained in his brow, Prime Minister Gui hurriedly stepped forward to offer his advice, his words earnest and sincere:
"Your Highness, please calm your anger. How could this old minister allow the Water Palace to be humiliated? However, there are suspicious circumstances surrounding this matter!"

"That fortune teller, Dongfang Kuai, is skilled in divination and could accurately track down the seed of a dragon. Such supernatural abilities are far beyond the reach of ordinary martial arts practitioners!"

"They are probably unorthodox practitioners with extraordinary skills, or even... perhaps they have deeper motives."

As the saying goes: Hearing is unreliable, seeing is believing.

"The truth and falsehood, what this person's true purpose and abilities are... will be known at a glance."

Having said that, the Turtle Prime Minister stroked his beard, his gaze deep, and continued:
"My suggestion is that you and I, master and servant, disguise ourselves and go to the fish market in Chang'an to investigate secretly."

"Firstly, we can see for ourselves who this Dongfang Kuai is and just how capable he is."

"Secondly, if we can find out their background or their plans."

The glint in the eyes of the Turtle Prime Minister shone even brighter:
"If Dongfang Kuai is just a charlatan with a reputation but no real skills, that would be even better!"

"Your Highness, you can expose his tricks on the spot, smash his fortune-telling stall, and make him suffer the scorn of the world, losing all face!"

"In this way, we can vent our anger, deter those ignorant fishermen, and further demonstrate Your Highness's wisdom. Isn't that wonderful?"

He paused, then lowered his voice even further:
"If...if Dongfang Kuai is indeed a sorcerer who spreads falsehoods and plots evil deeds, and even has some skill, then we can immediately set off for the Western Sea and report the truth to the Dragon King!"

"Since ancient times, the Water God has been in charge of water, and the City God has been in charge of land."

"Our Dragon King and the City God of Chang'an have worked together for so many years, so they can be considered to have some friendship."

"At that time, all the Dragon King needs to do is invite the City God of Chang'an to a meal, and let the City God expel or prosecute this fortune teller within the territory of Chang'an. Wouldn't that be perfectly justified and in accordance with the laws of Heaven?"

"And now that I've been exempted from the Jinghe Water Palace, it's giving people something to talk about?"

"In this way, my Jinghe Water Palace can not only stay out of it and avoid criticism, but also eliminate the threat and preserve its foundation!"

"At that time, even if Erlang Shen, the True Lord of Manifestation, were to come in person, seeing that my Water Palace's actions were reasonable, lawful, and in accordance with the rules, and with the City God as a witness, he would certainly have nothing to say."

Tuo Jielong's eyes darted around rapidly, flashing with a fierce light.

He had to admit that what the old turtle Prime Minister said was indeed much more comprehensive and prudent than his own calls for war.

Although he was hot-tempered, he was not entirely a reckless fool; he knew that his father valued face and power above all else.

If we can uncover the truth and expose the mastermind without resorting to violence, it would be a great achievement in front of my father.

Furthermore, he also developed a strong curiosity and a competitive spirit towards Dongfang Kuai, who could accurately calculate the "Golden Scale Hidden Dragon".

What kind of demon dares to provoke the Grand Duke Jupiter?

This prince wants to see what extraordinary methods you possess!

"Hmph, whatever!"

"Then we shall do as the Prime Minister says!" "This Crown Prince... will give Yang Jian some face for now! We will hold back for the time being!"

The little alligator dragon snorted coldly and said:
"This prince will personally go and meet that fortune-telling Dongfang Kuai, and see what kind of god he is, that he has the audacity to dare to touch the dragon whiskers of my Jinghe Dragon Palace!"

Having said that, he grinned, revealing a ferocious and cruel smile, his sharp white teeth clearly visible:
"Once the truth is found, if he is indeed spreading heresy, I, the Crown Prince, will smash his stall and throw him into the river to feed the fish!"

"go!"

present.

The little alligator dragon swayed, its demonic aura shifting.

The ferocious and enormous crocodile dragon's body rapidly shrank and transformed into a young gentleman dressed in extremely luxurious clothes, covered in silk and satin, and adorned with jewels that were almost blinding.

His face was still handsome, but he carried an undisguised air of arrogance and domineering. He held a glittering, valuable folding fan, looking every bit the part of a top-tier spoiled brat.

Only in the depths of his eyes, which occasionally swept across the surroundings, did the cold, vertical pupils and golden light of a top predator flash by, revealing his inhuman nature.

The Turtle Prime Minister also transformed into a well-dressed, white-haired, shrewd and worldly-wise old steward, bowing slightly and following closely behind this "young master".

The master and servant left the Jinghe Water Palace, rode a gust of water wind, and silently landed on the shore, heading straight for the bustling fish market in Chang'an City.

……

The Chang'an fish market was bustling with activity.

The fishy smell, mixed with the odor of sweat and the sour smell of inferior rice wine, rose and permeated the sweltering afternoon heat, directly assaulting the nostrils.

The shouts rose and fell, sometimes high, sometimes low, never ceasing.

The sounds of bargaining continued incessantly, with both buyers and sellers sticking to their own arguments and refusing to yield an inch in this small transaction.

The sound of the fishing nets shaking was continuous.

A poem says:
"May I ask where the tavern is? A shepherd boy points to Xinghua Village in the distance."

Sure enough, outside a tavern called "Xinghua Village," a crowd surged like a tide, surrounding the place in layers.

All the fishermen craned their necks, stood on tiptoe, and strained to see the center of the crowd, their voices buzzing with discussion:
"Mr. Dongfang is amazing! A few days ago, Zhang Laosan really did catch a golden-clawed loach in Blackwater Bay. The loach's golden claws were shining brightly, which was truly an extraordinary phenomenon!"

"That's right! That golden-clawed loach was sold to General Wang's family, and I heard they got several hundred taels of gold for it. It's truly the envy of everyone!"

"We toil away fishing all day long, but we've never reaped such a huge profit!"

"Indeed! This morning, Brother Han also caught a red-whiskered koi at the fork in the Jing River. Its whiskers were a bright red, with faint dragon patterns, and it was full of spirituality! If it weren't for Mr. Dongfang pointing out the location, who could have found such a rare treasure?"

The other person quickly echoed, their eyes filled with envy and jealousy.

"A living god! Line up quickly, let the master tell me where I should place my net today for the best fortune, so I can get some of his divine energy!"

Another person shouted urgently, their voice revealing a hint of impatience.

"..."

Everyone chimed in with their own comments, creating a lively atmosphere.

……

In the center of the crowd, the fortune teller Dongfang Kuai (Tieguai Li), dressed in plain clothes and straw sandals, sat calmly behind his desk, his expression serene and composed.

Ordinary tortoise shells and copper coins, placed on a greasy table, subtly attract countless greedy and expectant eyes.

His cloudy eyes occasionally swept across the crowd, as if he were waiting for something.

……

"Humph!"

"How dare these mere ants presume to discuss the transformation of dragons and snakes! It's utterly laughable!"

The little alligator snorted inwardly, pushed through the crowd, and led the Turtle Prime Minister to the front.

……

Erlang Shen possesses great supernatural powers, is skilled in transformation, and is adept at water combat; his divine duties are extensive.

As a "water god," he protects the peace and tranquility of rivers, lakes, and seas.

He is also the "God of Hunting," wielding the power of hunting in the mountains and forests.

He is also the "God of Agriculture," who helps ensure abundant harvests and peace year after year.

He is also the god of war, the guardian of children, and the protector of the nation...

……

In particular, in previous years, Erlang Shen tamed the floods and slew the dragon in the Southern Continent, subduing many water monsters that had been causing havoc on humankind.

Erlang Shen also once searched the mountains and subdued demons in the Southern Continent, defeating many mountain spirits and monsters.

There are "Erlang Shen Slaying the Dragon" and "Erlang Shen Searching the Mountain"... Shadow God paintings have been passed down through the ages and are widely known.

Therefore, fishermen in Jambudvipa often worship Erlang Shen, the "water god," praying for favorable weather, safe fishing, and protection from water monsters.

Woodcutters would also worship Erlang Xiansheng Zhenjun, the "God of Hunting," in order to receive his protection when they went into the mountains to chop wood and avoid being disturbed by mountain spirits and monsters.

At this moment.

In this fish market, near the tavern, there is a temple dedicated to Erlang Shen, which is very popular and has many believers.

Inside the tavern owner's shop, there was a clay sculpture and painted statue of "Erlang Xiansheng Zhenjun".

The True Lord's three eyes are wide open, with a vertical eye on his forehead like a torch, piercing through the three realms; he holds a three-pointed, double-edged sword, exuding a majestic aura; accompanied by the Howling Celestial Dog, his divine might is further enhanced.

The little alligator's eyes flashed like lightning as it swept over Dongfang Kuai, initially dismissing him with disdain:
"Hmph, you're just an old mortal, with not even the slightest fluctuation of magical power on your body. What supernatural abilities do you have?"

"If I reveal my true form as a crocodile dragon, I can swallow him whole in one gulp."

but.

When the little dragon's gaze swept over the "three eyes" of the Erlang Shen statue in the tavern and then caught sight of the Erlang Shen Temple not far away, it hesitated for a moment and finally gave up the idea.

Back then, Erlang Shen, the Divine Manifestation True Lord, was controlling the floods in the Southern Continent.

Clad in silver armor and wielding the Xuanyuan Sword, his three-pointed, double-edged blade was invincible. The golden light from his divine eye on his forehead split the sky with every opening and closing. No matter how deep their roots or how powerful their background, the unruly water monsters and demons that entrenched themselves in the rivers and lakes were like clay chickens and earthenware dogs under his blade, their heads separated from their bodies in an instant, their blood staining the waves!
The cold and authoritative warning still echoed in my ears:
"If you disobey my orders and disturb the mortal realm, do not blame me for being merciless with my blade!"

As the saying goes:
"Advise people not to do anything against their conscience, for there are gods watching over them."

In this mythical world.

Statues of gods can communicate with the divine.

Temples can also reach the ears of the heavens.

There are indeed gods watching from three feet above one's head.

They should not be insulted lightly.

He, the little alligator dragon, wanted to kill and eat people, and he could do so secretly behind Erlang Shen's back, but in the end, he still dared not kill and eat people under Erlang Shen's nose.

They were even believers who ate Erlang Shen (a deity associated with the gods).

Isn't this a blatant provocation against Erlang Shen?

Just imagine.

In Chang'an, the capital of the human race, under the bright sun and in full view of everyone.

A monster killed and ate Erlang Shen's followers in Erlang Shen's temple. How can Erlang Shen still live in peace?

This is a slap in the face to Erlang Shen!
The little alligator dragon hesitated for a moment, thinking to itself:

"That's it, that's all."

"I am temporarily in charge of the Water Palace, and there are many who are dissatisfied with me. If I were to devour them all at once, it would make me appear too incompetent."

"Why not test his abilities first? If he's just a fraud, I'll expose him on the spot, smash his stall, and make him lose face and suffer endless scorn."

"My father always says I act rashly, only know how to act recklessly, and am not smart enough!"

"Hmph! I'll show Father that I, Tuojie, am not just a reckless brute who knows only how to act bravely!"

(End of this chapter)