476: To strike the mountain to intimidate the tiger!

"Bodhisattva, you speak too seriously."

Lu Jiuyuan withdrew his hand, the trace of apology on his face fading, restoring his usual warmth: "Bodhisattva, your heart is tied to the Three Realms. Arriving unannounced is merely an act of compassionate urgency; what crime is there in that?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva held her pure vase, her eyelids drooping slightly, concealing that trace of astonishment and fluctuation beneath her compassionate expression.

The Great Heavenly Venerate has quite a temper today.

She bowed slightly once more: "Thank you, Great Heavenly Venerate, for your understanding."

Immediately, her gaze turned to the row of people kneeling, lingering for a moment on Golden Cicada before she spoke softly:

"This poor monk sensed a clash of Qi in the Heavenly Court and feared a mishap, which is why I arrived a step late.

Yet I do not know what offense Erlang Shen, Third Prince Nezha, Monkey King, and Golden Cicada... have committed?"

This question was asked gently, yet it made the hearts of those kneeling skip a beat.

Monkey King rolled his eyes and laughed, cutting in: "Bodhisattva, we didn't commit any offense, none at all! It's just that Old Sun felt the white jade floor of the Hall of Miraculous Mist was quite cool to kneel on, so I dragged Second Brother, Little Nezha, and Master to try it out! Right, Master?"

As he spoke, he winked at Golden Cicada.

Golden Cicada closed his eyes and pressed his palms together, pretending not to hear.

Little Nezha nodded quickly like a chick pecking at rice: "Yes, yes, yes! It's cool! Really cool! Bodhisattva, would you like to also..."

Before he finished speaking, he shrank his neck.

Erlang Shen remained kneeling straight, but his face darkened a few shades, his lips pressed tightly together, saying nothing.

A vein pulsed faintly on his temple.

Guanyin Bodhisattva swept her gaze over them, glanced at the Three-Headed Flood Dragon lying on the ground in a V-shape and gasping softly, and finally looked at Lu Jiuyuan, waiting quietly for an answer.

Lu Jiuyuan paced back to the imperial throne with his hands behind his back, but he did not sit down. Instead, he turned sideways to look at the vast, boundless sea of clouds and sky outside the hall.

"They..."

His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears:

"One, with injustice in his heart and unwillingness in his spirit, feels the heavenly laws are unfair, that familial affection has been betrayed, and wants to use the blade in his hand to demand an explanation."

"One, fearing nothing but Chaos, driven by brotherly loyalty, grabbed his spear and wanted to come 'support the scene'."

Nezha stuck out his tongue and lowered his head to play with the hem of his clothes.

"One, who loves watching the excitement and doesn't fear big trouble, has been thinking about it all the way from Mount Emei to the Hall of Miraculous Mist, thinking that anyone who doesn't fight when there's a fight is a fool, and anyone who doesn't watch a show is an idiot."

Monkey King scratched his head and gave a sheepish laugh.

"And another..." Lu Jiuyuan looked at Golden Cicada, his eyes carrying a hint of playfulness: "He says he came to mediate, but the itch in his heart to watch the show is probably even greater than the number of Monkey King's monkey hairs."

Golden Cicada remained expressionless and pressed his palms together: "Your Majesty is discerning; This Humble Monk would not dare."

"As for you, Bodhisattva..." Lu Jiuyuan turned around, his gaze falling on Guanyin Bodhisattva's ever-compassionate and calm face, "You came at a coincidental time, yet not so coincidental."

"The coincidence is that those who should be kneeling are almost all here."

"The lack of coincidence is..."

He paused: "Today, I actually never intended for anyone to keep kneeling."

As the words fell, Lu Jiuyuan lightly flicked his sleeve.

A gentle yet irresistible force brushed over the four kneeling people.

Erlang Shen felt his body lighten, and the invisible restraint that had been "pressing" him firmly into the ground instantly vanished. He let out a muffled groan and stood up involuntarily.

Nezha let out an "Ouch," jumped straight up, hopped twice on the spot, and grinned: "No more kneeling, no more kneeling! Standing is much more comfortable!"

Monkey King did a somersault and stood up; by the time he landed, he had already retrieved his golden-hooped rod and weighed it in his hand.

Golden Cicada rose slowly, his posture remaining composed.

On the ground, only the Three-Headed Flood Dragon was twisting and groaning, but it remained paralyzed, not daring to move, and was picked up by Erlang Shen.

Guanyin Bodhisattva looked at Your Majesty, then at the four who had stood back up with varied expressions, as well as the terrified immortal officials and warriors nearby, and understood in her heart.

She held her pure vase and bowed slightly: "Since that is the case, This poor monk will not disturb you further. If the Great Heavenly Venerate has any needs, This poor monk is always at your service."

After speaking, clear light swirled around her, and she moved to walk out of the Hall of Miraculous Mist. Her figure slowly faded, finally turning into a wisp of clear breeze, dissipating into the Heavenly Court with the scent of lotus.

"All of you, disperse." Lu Jiuyuan waved his hand at the still-bewildered immortal officials and attendants.

Everyone felt as if they had been granted amnesty and hurriedly bowed and retreated, even gently closing the hall doors behind them.

In the vast Hall of Miraculous Mist, for a moment, only Lu Jiuyuan, A Fei, the four who had just risen and still appeared somewhat uneasy—Erlang Shen and the others—remained, plus the Three-Headed Flood Dragon playing dead in Erlang Shen's hand.

"What are you still standing there for?"

Lu Jiuyuan glanced at them, "Go back to wherever you should be, don't be an eyesore here."

"Hehe, Your Majesty, then should Old Sun also leave?" Monkey King scratched his ears and cheeks, asking tentatively.

"Get lost." Lu Jiuyuan waved his hand impatiently, "Remember what you promised Me. If you don't teach Chenxiang well, I will come to settle the score with you later.

By the way, you haven't lived in your Mansion of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven for a long time, and the God of Misfortune has been using it to raise ducks! If you want to live there, go clean it up yourself."

"Got it!"

Monkey King did a somersault out of the hall, his voice coming from afar: "Old Jade Emperor, just you watch! Old Sun is going to go break the God of Misfortune's legs right now."

Nezha rolled his eyes and also wanted to slip away, but was called out by Lu Jiuyuan: "Little Nezha."

"Ah? Does Your Majesty have any other instructions?" Nezha stood straight immediately, his little face full of cuteness.

"Behave yourself for a while," Lu Jiuyuan said indifferently, "Otherwise, I will deal with you properly!"

Nezha shrank his neck: "How could that be... I am the most obedient! Yesterday the Heavenly King didn't carry his pagoda, and I didn't stab him; I was very obedient!"

"Best be so." Lu Jiuyuan waved his hand, "You go back, too."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Nezha felt as if granted amnesty, stepped on his wind fire wheels, and ran away in a flash.

Finally, only Golden Cicada remained, still standing with palms pressed together, his expression calm.

"Do you still have something?" Lu Jiuyuan looked at him.

"This Humble Monk has no business." Golden Cicada bowed slightly, "It is just that before leaving, I would like to ask one more thing. What Your Majesty did today, startling the tiger by knocking on the mountain, fishing in a deep pool.

But I do not know... that 'thing' in the pool, in Your Majesty's heart, is there a measure?"

Lu Jiuyuan looked at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Golden Cicada, sometimes, you are so smart it's annoying."

"This Humble Monk is dull." Golden Cicada's expression did not change.

"Measure?" Lu Jiuyuan looked out at the sea of clouds outside the hall with his hands behind his back, his gaze distant,

"My fist is the measure. My patience is also the measure. As for that 'thing'... if it is sensible, it has its own path to survival.

If it is not sensible..."

He did not continue, but the temperature in the hall seemed to drop inexplicably.

Golden Cicada remained silent for a moment, then bowed again: "This Humble Monk understands. May Your Majesty... achieve your wishes."

After speaking, he turned and left, his pace composed, slowly disappearing into the daylight outside the hall door.

Everyone had left.

The Hall of Miraculous Mist returned to its usual emptiness and silence. The circular depression on the ground and the spiderweb-like cracks had silently restored themselves to perfection.

A Fei walked silently to Lu Jiuyuan's side, like the quietest of shadows.

Lu Jiuyuan stood on the imperial steps, remaining motionless for a long time.

His gaze seemed to penetrate through layers of palaces, landing beyond the Nine Heavens, deep within the Chaos.

A cool and fragrant exotic scent suddenly rippled through the hall, neither orchid nor musk, yet carrying the graceful demeanor of ruling all flowers and serving as the mother of the Three Realms.