Peach Banquet

Marshal Tian Peng's little face turned red. After hesitating for a long while, he finally opened the notebook.

But the next moment, his expression changed abruptly.

"Bang!"

Marshal Tian Peng snapped the diary shut.

The carefree look he'd worn before vanished without a trace.

"This..."

For a moment, Marshal Tian Peng didn't know whether this was real or fake.

But as the old saying went, it was better to be safe than sorry.

What if all of this was true?

After all, the Heavenly Court was a place where you could never know what people were thinking.

Even he himself couldn't predict what might happen.

Marshal Tian Peng pondered for a moment, then tucked the diary into his robe.

He looked around and, after making sure no one had noticed him, returned to his residence.

Three days later, Queen Mother Niangniang personally hosted a banquet, laying out a lavish feast.

The Peach Banquet was held at the Jade Pool.

At once, a fairy in a red robe led the way. Her face was like a peach blossom, and her skin smooth as jade.

The fairies in blue, white, black, purple, yellow, and green followed her.

Each carried a flower basket as they went to the Peach Garden to pick peaches.

The Seven Fairies arrived at the Peach Garden's entrance, where they saw the Land God, a Lishi, and two Second Division Immortal Officials from Qi Tian Mansion.

The red-robed Fairy Maiden stepped forward with a smile and said, "We have come here especially to pick peaches by the order of Queen Mother Niangniang."

"Then please, fairies, go on in."

The Land God smiled.

The Seven Fairies went in and picked peaches, then began making preparations for the Peach Banquet.

"Benefactor, ever since I started taking those pills a few days ago, I've felt light as a feather. It's truly a wonderful feeling."

Sun Wukong looked at Chen Tong with gratitude.

Chen Tong waved a hand. "It's nothing. Don't mention it. From now on, stick with me and you'll eat and drink well. As long as I've got a bowl of rice, you'll have a bowl to wash."

Sun Wukong paused at that, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

"By my reckoning, the Peach Banquet should be today. Are you interested in getting some free goodies?"

Sun Wukong asked, "Benefactor, what does 'free goodies' mean?"

"It means getting something without paying for it."

Chen Tong grinned mischievously.

At that, Sun Wukong's ears perked right up.

"That's a thing?"

Chen Tong nodded. "Come on, let's go take a look at the Heavenly Court."

"We can even trick them into giving us some pills."

Chen Tong cleared his throat.

Sun Wukong nodded. "I'll follow your arrangements, Benefactor."

Chen Tong nodded. "When you enter the Heavenly Court, transform into the Netherworld Cult Master."

Sun Wukong asked, "Benefactor, why?"

Chen Tong explained everything. "If you run into anyone, trick him into going somewhere else, then head to the Jade Pool banquet on your own."

Sun Wukong nodded. "Benefactor, I understand. What about you?"

"I have my own arrangements. We'll meet at the Jade Pool banquet later."

The next moment, a Somersault Cloud appeared beneath Sun Wukong's feet, and he soared away through the clouds.

Chen Tong chuckled. "Looks like another reward is coming my way."

Sun Wukong arrived at the Heavenly Court and ran straight into the Barefoot Immortal.

When the Barefoot Immortal encountered the Netherworld Cult Master, Sun Wukong immediately recalled what his benefactor had told him.

He swaggered about in the Netherworld Cult Master's appearance.

"Where are you headed, Immortal?"

Seeing that it was the Netherworld Cult Master, the Barefoot Immortal said, "Cult Master, what a coincidence! I'm on my way to Queen Mother Niangniang's Peach Banquet. Why don't we go together?"

The "Netherworld Cult Master" put on a serious face and said, "Immortal, you may not know, but the Jade Emperor just asked me to invite everyone to the welcome ceremony at Tongming Hall. Only after that may we attend the banquet."

The Barefoot Immortal was an upright man, so he listened to the "Netherworld Cult Master" and said, "Didn't we give thanks at the Jade Pool in previous years?"

"Why do we have to go to Tongming Hall to pay our respects before heading to the Jade Pool?"

The Barefoot Immortal was at a loss. He had no choice but to ride his auspicious cloud straight to Tongming Hall.

At that moment, the "Netherworld Cult Master" transformed back into Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong grinned, then immediately transformed into the Barefoot Immortal.

The "Barefoot Immortal" headed straight to the Jade Pool and soon arrived at the Treasure Pavilion.

He pressed down the head of his Somersault Cloud and stepped inside cautiously.

Just one glance inside revealed a scene filled with auspicious clouds, while colorful streamers covered the Jade Terrace.

The Treasure Pavilion was shrouded in thick clouds, and phoenixes circled and soared through them.

Azure phoenixes flew high into the distance.

Golden blossoms rose and fell in the air, and behind them stood screens adorned with nine phoenixes amid the evening clouds.

The tables were painted in five colors and edged with gold. Jade flowerpots held a thousand kinds of blooms, and the tables were laden with dragon liver and phoenix marrow.

There were bear paws and orangutan lips, and a hundred delicacies in all.

Exotic fruits and fine dishes filled the place, dazzling the eye.

Everything had been arranged neatly, though no immortals had arrived yet.

Sun Wukong took it all in.

A powerful aroma of wine lingered beneath his nose.

Sun Wukong turned and looked beneath the corridor on the right.

There were several Immortal Officials making wine, Lishi sorting the lees, a few Daoists carrying water, and attendants behind them tending the fires.

They were washing pottery and scrubbing vats. The Jade Nectar and Ambrosia, along with fragrant wines and fine brews, had already been prepared.

At that moment, Sun Wukong finally understood what his benefactor had meant.

Warmth welled up in Sun Wukong's heart. As expected of his benefactor—he'd been thinking of him all along.

He couldn't possibly pass up such a good opportunity.

His mouth watered, and he was ready to go help himself.

But with all those people there, he couldn't very well just start eating.

After thinking for a moment, he plucked out a few hairs, then put them in his mouth and chewed them up.

He spat them out, then chanted, "Transform!"

In an instant, several Sleepy Bugs appeared and flew onto the workers' faces.

Sun Wukong could clearly see their arms going limp with exhaustion.

Their eyes slowly closed, and they dropped their tools and went off to sleep.

Sun Wukong grinned and scooped up several hundred delicacies, along with the Eight Treasures and all the fine dishes.