On the Dragon-Slaying Platform, I was executed and became Yang Jian's brother-in-law.

The Lingxiao Palace.

The immortals fell silent.

After reading the whole story, they were filled with mixed feelings.

"Alas..." Wuqu Xingjun sighed, "Although this demon wreaks havoc in the Three Realms, he is indeed loyal and affectionate towards Yang Chan."

"Yes, he was willing to risk his life to protect her..."

"What a pity, what a pity..."

The Old Man of the Moon stroked his beard and sighed, "A marriage is bound by fate, even in life and death. What a pity for this union... If they had been born in another era, perhaps it would have had a better ending..."

The immortals all nodded in agreement.

But soon, their gazes all fell upon the Jade Emperor.

That look in his eyes... something's off.

There were doubts, confusion, and even a hint of disdain.

"Your Majesty..." Venus began, "Those heavenly soldiers promised Yang Chan they would spare Su Bai, but then they turned around and..."

"Just kill him cruelly!" Wuqu Xingjun interjected, "This...this is not how the Heavenly Court should behave!"

"That's right! If word gets out that they broke their promise, how will the Heavenly Court save face?"

"Although Su Bai is a demon and killed heavenly soldiers, he protected Yang Chan, which shows he has a sense of loyalty and righteousness. Since he promised Yang Chan to let him go, why did he break his promise?"

The immortals all voiced their doubts, one after another.

The Jade Emperor's face turned extremely ugly, even blacker than the bottom of a pot!

What's wrong with me today?

First, he was forced to expose his family's dirty laundry, and now he's being questioned by the immortals?

They've completely lost face!

"Silence!" The Jade Emperor slammed his hand on the armrest of his dragon throne. "Are you questioning me?"

"As the ruler of the Three Realms and the master of the Heavenly Way, I would never break my word!"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

The Jade Emperor stated unequivocally, "There must be something fishy about this! It must have been those heavenly soldiers acting on their own; it has nothing to do with me!"

He turned to Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King: "Li Jing! As the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, commanding the heavenly soldiers and generals! You must investigate this matter thoroughly for me!"

Li Jing: "......"

He said, utterly speechless, "Your Majesty, this happened before... I had even ascended to heaven to become a deity..."

Jade Emperor: "......"

The atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment.

Venus quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "Your Majesty, please calm down! This old minister has just remembered that Marshal Tianpeng was primarily in charge of capturing Yao Ji and Yang Chan back then!"

"Marshal Tianpeng was once one of the top generals in Heaven, commanding an 80,000-strong navy, a truly awe-inspiring figure! Why not summon Tianpeng and have him explain the situation?"

Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor's expression became even more unnatural.

Tianpeng...

Those things were indeed handled by Tianpeng...

But with so many deities in front of him, he couldn't very well refuse, so he could only bite the bullet and say, "Alright! Summon Marshal Tianpeng to the palace!"

"As you command!"

A celestial official immediately went down to issue a summons.

But soon, the celestial official returned in a panic.

"Your Majesty, Marshal Tianpeng... cannot be found!"

"What?!"

"Can't find it?"

Where did he go?

The immortals were in an uproar.

The Jade Emperor's face turned ashen: "Search carefully! Search everywhere! You must find Tianpeng for me!"

Outside the Jade Pool, the moonlight was as clear as water.

Marshal Tianpeng staggered along the cloud road, carrying a wine gourd in his hand and humming an off-key tune.

He drank too much.

I just attended the Heavenly Peace Conference at Yaochi. I only intended to have a few drinks, but the celestial wine was so strong that I accidentally got drunk.

"Hehe...it was worth watching today's show..." Tianpeng hiccuped, "That Jiao Demon King's affair...heh, it was truly exciting..."

He was a little dizzy, stumbled, and almost fell off the cloud.

Just then—

A graceful figure appeared ahead.

She was a fairy dressed in a white gauze dress, with an exquisitely beautiful face and a cool, aloof demeanor like the moon. She was none other than Chang'e, the fairy mistress of the Moon Palace.

Tianpeng's eyes lit up.

"Oh my, isn't this the fairy Chang'e?" He slurred as he approached, "Fairy... Fairy, you're so beautiful..."

Chang'e frowned and turned to the side to avoid it.

But Tianpeng was already quite drunk and didn't care about anything else. He reached out to grab Chang'e's sleeve: "Fairy, don't go... chat with this old pig for a bit..."

"How dare you!" Chang'e's expression changed, and she pushed Tianpeng away with a slap. "Marshal Tianpeng, you're drunk!"

"I'm not drunk! I'm not drunk!" Tianpeng shook his head, "Fairy, do you know, I, Old Pig, have admired you for a long time..."

He was emboldened by the alcohol and tried to go forward again.

"stop!"

A sharp shout rang out!

Several celestial generals emerged from the clouds, the leader of whom was none other than the Giant Spirit God!

"You scoundrel Tianpeng! How dare you flirt with the fairy Chang'e! You are truly audacious!"

"Guards! Seize him!"

Several heavenly generals rushed forward and pinned the drunken Tianpeng down.

Tianpeng finally realized what was happening, sobering up considerably, his face deathly pale: "Wait! It's a misunderstanding! This is a misunderstanding!"

"A misunderstanding?" The Giant Spirit God sneered. "We saw everything clearly! The evidence is irrefutable that you flirted with the Fairy Chang'e!"

"Take them away! Report to Your Majesty!"

Not long after.

Side hall of Lingxiao Palace.

The Jade Emperor summoned Marshal Tianpeng alone.

There were only the two of them in the main hall; even Venus had been sent away.

"Your Majesty..." Tianpeng knelt on the ground, cold sweat pouring down his face, "I was indeed drunk, but I had absolutely no intention of harassing the fairy Chang'e! I beg Your Majesty to investigate!"

The Jade Emperor sat on his throne, looking at him with deep eyes.

After a long silence, he finally spoke slowly: "Tianpeng, how many years have you served me?"

"This..." Tianpeng was taken aback, "Your Majesty, I have followed Your Majesty for over thirty thousand years..."

"Thirty thousand years..." the Jade Emperor sighed. "You are a general I rely on, commanding an 80,000-strong navy, and have made great contributions to the Heavenly Court..."

"His Majesty..."

"But!" The Jade Emperor's tone shifted, his voice becoming serious, "You've seen what happened today. The matter of the Flood Dragon King has caused a great uproar. All the immortals are questioning the Heavenly Court, questioning me!"

Tianpeng's heart sank.

He certainly understood what the Jade Emperor meant.

He was indeed acting on the Jade Emperor's orders regarding Yang Chan's matter back then. This included the arrest and the subsequent handling of Su Bai...

"Your Majesty..." Tianpeng said, forcing a smile, "What happened back then, I was merely acting under orders..."

"I know," the Jade Emperor interrupted him, "but now, I need an explanation. I need an explanation for all the immortals, for the Three Realms."

He stood up, walked to Tianpeng, and said in a low voice, "Tianpeng, do you understand what I mean?"

Tianpeng trembled all over.

He got it.

The Jade Emperor is making him take the blame!

"But...Your Majesty..." Tianpeng's voice trembled, "Your Majesty..."

"I will not mistreat you," the Jade Emperor said calmly. "Although I am demoting you to the mortal realm this time, it is merely for show. Once the storm has passed, I will recall you to the Heavenly Court, reinstate you to your original position, and may even bestow upon you a higher reward."

"But if you refuse..." A cold glint flashed in the Jade Emperor's eyes, "then the events of that year must be thoroughly investigated..."

This is a threat!

A blatant threat!

Tianpeng's face turned deathly pale.

He knew he had no choice.

They'll either take the blame and be banished to the mortal realm, but at least they'll save their lives and have a chance to return in the future.

If he refuses, the Jade Emperor will shift all the blame onto him, and what awaits him then is likely to be the destruction of his soul!

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty is filled with fear..." Tianpeng's voice was hoarse.