Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 488: Inviting People, The Annoying Wretch Appears Again

It was only a little while before two individuals walked in through the grand doors of Guanghan Palace, three times the height of a person.

One of them was clad in a resplendent golden robe, its golden patterns shimmering even from ten meters away. Standing at a height of eight chi, with a slender yet substantial frame, his entire body radiated with a golden glow.

The other had blue hair reaching down to their waist, adorned with a white-edged bow. In the center of the bow was a large red silk ribbon, sprinkled with gold threads that shone but weren’t blinding—without these threads, the ribbon would’ve seemed quite dull. He wore a skirt that matched the bow on his head.

The skirt stopped at the calves, with flower-laced socks on the feet. In bright red, the skirt’s pleats reflected the light more brightly when hit by it. His eyes were large, and his face still carried the tender softness of youth, but there was a cleverness in his eyes and brows.

Upon their entrance, they headed straight for Chen Nuo, "Shopkeeper Chen, it’s been such a long time."

Chen Nuo, with a wine cup in hand, saluted them, "Jin Zha, Nezha."

Jin Zha, being taller than Nezha, crossed the room in long strides, directly approaching Chen Nuo, "Ah, Shopkeeper Chen, it really has been too long. I’ve been meaning to visit you, but I could never get an appointment. I waited so anxiously, and now, what a surprise to find you attending the banquet at Guanghan Palace."

Chen Nuo nodded towards Jin Zha, "I’ve had too many guests to manage appointments well."

After greeting Chen Nuo, Jin Zha turned to Chang’e and said, "All thanks to Fairy Chang’e. Without your palace’s rabbits, we wouldn’t have tasted such delights. And for providing a venue for us—I’ve arrived late, so I will drink three cups as a self-penalty before I toast to you."

"Why would you say that, Lord Jin Zha? Those rabbits were really troubling me, and I had no way to dispose of them. It was truly out of desperation that I agreed to let Shopkeeper Chen cook them, finally resolving a problem that plagued me for years," said Chang’e, handing over a wine cup to Jin Zha.

Jin Zha took the cup from Chang’e and drank it in one gulp, then filled it with wine from the jug and drank four more cups in a breath. Just as he was about to pour another, his lips pursed in preparation, Chen Nuo stopped him.

"You punish yourself with three cups and then toast someone else, but who is this cup for?" Jin Zha grinned, "Ah, Brother Chen, don’t be offended. How can you not let me drink a couple more cups when the Peach Blossom Wine is so delicious?"

Chen Nuo simply felt that Jin Zha was being impolite, he furrowed his brows and dropped his hand, "Here to mooch off food and drink again."

Sun Wukong wasn’t acquainted with Jin Zha; he only knew Nezha. He called for Nezha, unaware that Nezha would bring Jin Zha along as well.

"Is this your elder brother?" Sun Wukong stood next to Nezha, sizing up Jin Zha, "Truly living up to his name—brilliantly golden, as if afraid others wouldn’t know who he is."

Nezha hadn’t wanted to invite Jin Zha along either, but when Sun Wukong had called him, he happened to be with Jin Zha, ready to attend the banquet.

Jin Zha insisted on knowing where he was going and, upon learning of the banquet at Tian Peng’s, refused to leave him be. Nezha had no choice but to bring Jin Zha along.

Sun Wukong was unaware that Jin Zha knew his own master. Seeing Jin Zha chatting away beside Chen Nuo seemed strange to him, so he leaned into Nezha’s ear and asked, "Is your elder brother Jin Zha one to make himself at home so easily? How come he chats with my master so readily?"

"You don’t know, I descended to the mortal world before to help Shopkeeper Chen, and then I saw my elder brother standing with Shopkeeper Chen. It must have been when Shopkeeper Chen went down to search for ingredients and chanced upon my brother. He particularly loves the Peach Blossom Wine from Xian Xian Residence, but since they limited the quantity and he’d arrive late, he often couldn’t buy some, so he would steal our father’s wine and get beaten up several times for it," explained Nezha.

Sun Wukong nodded, not having expected such a backstory.

Looking at Jin Zha, he figured his master must be getting annoyed by now, but it didn’t matter since an important person was yet to arrive. Once she arrived, surely Jin Zha would not dare to linger around his master any longer.

The important person Sun Wukong was waiting for was Nuwa, who was taking a brief rest. Xuan Feng rushed in like a madman, and had it not been for her sense of propriety and rank, it’s likely she would have been dragged outside immediately.

Xuan Feng explained to her that Chen Nuo was hosting a banquet at Guanghan Palace, and Sun Wukong had invited them to join.

But Nuwa felt that since the banquet had already started, it meant the host had not intended to invite them in the first place, and it would be a bit inconvenient to go now.

She genuinely did not want to go, even if Chen Nuo was there, but she still had to consider the occasion.

Due to her status, it was not convenient for her to go anywhere, especially since Tian Peng was the host, whom she did not particularly like. Even if she went, she would not give him a warm reception, so she simply decided not to attend.

However, Xuan Feng insisted on her going, and Nuwa did not know the reason at first, thinking that Xuan Feng just wanted her to get closer to Chen Nuo.

It was Xuan Feng who said seriously to her that Fairy Chang’e’s appearance was top-notch in the Heavenly Court, and if she did not attend, when Chang’e took a fancy to Chen Nuo, Nuwa would have another rival in love.

Nuwa scoffed, a mere Chang’e was not enough to intimidate her.

She was certain that Chang’e’s nature would not withstand any major storm, even if she liked Chen Nuo, but then Xuan Feng told her that Yang Chan and Fairy Baihua might also come, and Nuwa was taken aback.

If it were anyone else, she would not care much, but Yang Chan and Fairy Baihua were different, as both of them knew Chen Nuo earlier than she did. Even by the rule of first come, first served, it would not be her turn.

Fortunately, love doesn’t follow the rule of first come, first served. After some thought, Nuwa decided to attend the banquet and headed there with Xuan Feng.

Since she was napping, she had not made up or dressed, and even other divine officials would not necessarily dare to look directly at her face. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

But it was different if there were two love rivals present, plus one who could potentially become another.

Nuwa applied a full makeup and chose an outfit that was dignified and elegant without being ostentatious. However, when she arrived, those two had not yet come.

Nuwa glanced at Xuan Feng, who hastily said, "Your Majesty, I didn’t lie, I guess those two haven’t arrived yet."

"I figured you wouldn’t dare to lie." Nuwa withdrew her gaze and entered Guanghan Palace with Xuan Feng.

What first caught the eye was the five long tables seating ten each, directly facing the door without any screens, leaving the courtyard’s situation completely visible.

Occasionally, a few round and plump rabbits scurried about. With many people around, it didn’t feel empty, but if the tables and guests were cleared away, the courtyard would reveal its desolation.

Nuwa stood up straight, stepped over the threshold, and all the guests inside were toasting and drinking to each other. Some turned their curious eyes to the entrance, and upon recognizing the newcomer, were so shocked they dropped their wine cups onto the table.

Someone next to them, laughing, said, "Zhao, I think you’re truly drunk; you can’t even hold your wine cup steady. If you can’t handle your drink, you better head home to rest."

The man’s hand shook, wanting but not daring to point, and stammering, "The, the entrance."

"What could possibly be at the entrance to scare you like this?" The person laughed and looked towards the entrance, and upon seeing the newcomer, they too were stunned and shouted, "Ah!"