"Ao Guang, tell me, with dragon meat from a Grand Unity Golden Immortal..."
Sun Wukong narrowed his eyes, a faint smile on his face, but his voice was as cold as a blade.
"Would it be more tender steamed, or tastier braised?"
At those words, a chill ran up Dragon King Ao Guang of the East Sea's spine. Even his whiskers trembled.
He forced a smile uglier than a grimace and stammered, "I-Immortal, you must be joking! This old dragon's meat is tough and reeks of fish. How could anyone eat it? Ahem... it really isn't fit to eat!"
Before he finished speaking, a mighty gust from a fist swept toward him.
Sun Wukong's face darkened. Without another word, he drove his right arm forward and threw a punch!
Bang!!
Ao Guang flew like a kite with its string cut, smashing through a dragonwood desk and a coral screen. He hurtled dozens of yards before crashing beneath a pillar. Scales burst apart, blood sprayed, and the entire hall trembled.
The Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals inside and outside the Dragon Palace scattered in terror. None dared help him.
"Ugh—!"
Ao Guang cried out. Before he could rise, Sun Wukong flashed in front of him and stomped him back to the floor.
Cold light blazed in Sun Wukong's eyes as he looked down at Ao Guang and sneered.
"Old Sun spared your life because you treated me to wine and meat. But lie to me again, and one more push of my foot will send you straight to the King of Hell. Believe me?"
"Those two bald donkeys, Medicine King and the other one, egged Old Sun on to come to the Dragon Palace for treasure. I killed them both with two punches! And now you, old dragon, come offering treasure yourself. Do you take Old Sun for a fool? You dare make a monkey out of me? Are you that tired of living?"
Ao Guang's face went ashen. That punch had nearly shattered his dragon essence, and now the foot pinning him down left him unable to fight back.
Besides, this monkey had casually killed even Buddhist School bodhisattvas. What courage could a mere East Sea Dragon King muster against him?
He could clearly feel Sun Wukong's overwhelming killing intent. The monkey could take his life at any moment!
"Spare me, Immortal!"
Enduring the pain, Ao Guang wailed through his tears.
"Spare me, Immortal! I was wrong! I know I was wrong! It was all arranged by the Buddhist School! They ordered me to do it, just to... just to burden you with more karmic debt!"
"Just as I thought."
Sun Wukong narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them. Having read Journey to the West thoroughly, he knew the trip to the Dragon Palace for treasure was a crucial part of the Buddhist School's scheme. Still, now that he was living through it, he had wanted to confirm it for himself.
Everything was just as Master wrote in his novel. The Buddhist School calculated every move, laying traps to saddle Old Sun with karmic debt, step by step.
Sun Wukong lifted his foot and released Ao Guang, though his gaze remained chillingly cold.
"Get up."
As though granted a reprieve, Ao Guang shakily propped up half his body. He coughed up blood again and again, his whiskers soaked with cold sweat.
Head bowed, he said in a trembling voice, "Immortal, I... I never meant you harm. But the Buddhist School is powerful. I... I truly didn't dare defy them. If I'd had a choice, how could I have dared deceive you?"
He watched Sun Wukong's expression cautiously, as though one wrong glance might cost him his soul.
Sun Wukong smiled faintly and stood with his hands behind his back, his golden eyes deep and unreadable. His tone remained casual.
"If you want Old Sun to take the Sea-Calming Divine Needle Iron, that's fine. You only have to agree to a few small things..."
Sun Wukong turned, his gaze cutting across Ao Guang like a knife. "Then I'll take the Sea-Calming Divine Needle Iron, and you can report back to the Buddhist School!"
"Yes, yes! I'll do whatever you ask, Immortal! I'll brave fire and water without a word of complaint!" Ao Guang nodded frantically, afraid even a moment's hesitation would be too long.
"Flower-Fruit Mountain has millions upon millions of demon soldiers and generals. Feeding and clothing them costs a fortune, but our land is barren and poor in resources. It can't compare with your Dragon Palace and all its wealth."
Ao Guang nearly burst into tears. So the monkey wanted money!
Damn you!
Why didn't you say so earlier?
Did you have to punch a dragon?
Could these old bones of mine take a punch from you?
Boo-hoo-hoo!
I took that punch for nothing!
Still, if it was money, the dragon clan had plenty.
The seabed held countless gold and silver deposits. Pearls, agate, shells, and gems were virtually inexhaustible. Immortals had no interest in such things, and no one normally competed with the dragons for them.
"How much do you need, Immortal? I'll do my best to provide it."
"Not much. Not much."
Grinning, Sun Wukong flicked his hand and produced an abacus, clicking its beads back and forth.
"Flower-Fruit Mountain's running short of food, so start with ten billion jin of seafood. Live and fresh, mind you, and nothing with a shell."
"As for treasure, a hundred thousand jin of gold, a million jin of silver, and a million pearls. Coral, agate, shells, and gems can come to a million tons altogether."
He spoke while idly sliding the beads, as though the figures had simply come to mind.
Cold sweat poured down Ao Guang's back. The cost pained him, but he could grit his teeth and accept it. The Monkey King had the bigger fist, after all, and that was what counted these days!
Just then, Sun Wukong slowly raised his head.
"Of course, those are consumables. Once they're used up, they're gone. For Flower-Fruit Mountain's long-term growth, your dragon clan can deliver the same amount every year!"
Sun Wukong had no intention of killing the goose that laid the golden eggs. He knew a crop had to be harvested a little at a time!
The Eastern Sea was vast, and its seabed rich in resources. With the dragon clan supplying them, the Demons of Flower-Fruit Mountain would never lack provisions!
"Pfft—!"
Ao Guang spat a mouthful of blood that shot several yards into the air. His face turned purple.
"What? Every year? Wouldn't that make the dragon clan a vassal of Flower-Fruit Mountain, paying tribute year after year?"
"What, you refuse?!"
Sun Wukong flexed his fist and smiled darkly. "Ao Guang, would you like another punch?"
Through his tears, Ao Guang agreed. "I understand. I'll send Flower-Fruit Mountain that much tribute every year!"
Sun Wukong laughed and patted Ao Guang on the shoulder.
"Old Dragon King, don't look so miserable! From now on, Flower-Fruit Mountain and the East Sea Dragon Palace will be brother states. Old Sun will be the elder brother, you'll be the younger, and we'll be allies. Think of those supplies as protection money. Old Sun will look after your Dragon Palace!"
Sun Wukong was, after all, straightforward about debts and grudges, generous and loyal to a fault!
But Ao Guang wanted to cry. Who asked you to protect us, Mischievous Monkey? You're only a Peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal. You can bully me only because the dragon clan has fallen so far. Once the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist School make their move, they'll capture you in no time!
That's right! Let the monkey strut around for a few years. Once the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist School act, all of Flower-Fruit Mountain will be wiped out. Then there'll be no tribute to pay!
The thought eased Ao Guang's gloom a little, and he said:
"Immortal, I've agreed to your terms. Would you please accept the divine iron now?"
Ao Guang's face was full of hope. He wanted nothing more than to shove this burden into Sun Wukong's hands, drive him out of the Dragon Palace, and never see him again!
"Not yet."
Sun Wukong grinned, showing two gleaming front teeth.
"Old Sun heard that the Dragon Palace offers the Heavenly Court and the Buddhist School more than ten thousand dragons' worth of meat every ten years! That's a thousand a year!"
"Old Sun wants a taste of dragon meat too!"
Ao Guang only wanted Sun Wukong gone. Gritting his teeth, he took out a storage ring and said, "Immortal, I have a thousand Dragon Corpses here. Please accept them!"
Sun Wukong took the ring and laughed. "Not bad, not bad! You've become much more obedient, Dragon King. Remember to send Flower-Fruit Mountain a thousand Dragon Corpses every year from now on!"
Once again, Ao Guang agreed through his tears.
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