However, Ao Bing's warning came too late. Seeing him suddenly dart out, Yun Heng grew even more excited, releasing his hand and sending the silver pellet flying toward the clam shell.
Ao Bing gathered a stream of water in his hand, directing it toward the silver pellet. Yet, the golden bow and silver pellet were Magical Treasures of Erlang Shen, imbued with a measure of divine power.
Ao Bing's magical power could only slow the pellet's speed and force, unable to prevent it from striking the little creature inside the clam shell.
With a "chirp," the little creature suddenly sprang up, darting toward Yun Heng with lightning speed.
"Ah!" Yun Heng couldn't evade, being knocked down by the creature. Panicked, he cried out, "Monster, monster, fight the monster…"
His small hands flailed wildly in front of him, trying to push the monster away. In his panic, he touched something soft and cool, grabbing it with both hands, pushing and tugging with all his might. Yet, the creature clung tightly to his clothes, refusing to let go.
The two little ones tumbled on the ground, one shouting "fight the monster" repeatedly, the other chirping "chirp chirp chirp" in a sharp, thin voice.
The scene turned into utter chaos. Nezha went to help Yun Heng, while Ao Bing went to pick up the little creature in his arms. The two youths struggled for a while before each holding one, separating the two little ones.
Yun Heng, still restless in Nezha's arms, waved his fists and kicked his feet, stammering excitedly: "Fight the monster, hit him, Nezha brother, quickly hit him."
The little creature in Ao Bing's arms chirped at him from afar: "Chirp chirp chirp, chirp chirp chirp chirp~~"
Ao Bing kept soothing the little creature in his arms: "Stop fussing, calm down."
"Huh?" Yun Heng blinked, focusing his gaze, "This monster is a bit cute."
Seeing his puzzled little face, Nezha couldn't resist tickling his chin: "You're even more cute."
What Ao Bing held was actually a little dragon. Earlier, curled into a circle inside the clam shell, hiding its head and tail, Yun Heng hadn't clearly seen its form.
"Ao Bing brother, what kind of monster is he?"
"He's not a monster, he's my younger brother. He hatched recently and hasn't cultivated a human form yet."
Yun Heng climbed down from Nezha's arms, walked to Ao Bing, and carefully examined the little dragon cub in his embrace.
Yun Heng had never seen such a small dragon, resembling a kitten. Its claws were pink and fleshy. The dragon horns had just begun to emerge, and the dragon whiskers hadn't grown yet. Without the protection of hard dragon scales, its skin was a faint pink, with visible veins beneath.
"He's really beautiful," Yun Heng couldn't tear his eyes away after seeing the little one's appearance, "Ao Bing brother, what's his name?"
"He's called Ao Ling, you can call him Ling'er."
"I want to touch him."
Ao Bing deliberately bent down so Yun Heng could reach: "Of course!"
Yun Heng reached out, stroking the little dragon cub's head, then pinching its small claws: "Ling'er, can I hold you?"
This time, he didn't seek Ao Bing's permission but directly asked the little dragon cub. They had just fought, and the little dragon cub was temperamental, initially wanting to bare its teeth at him. But Yun Heng's gentle touch earlier made the little dragon cub drop its guard, extending its claws willingly.
Yun Heng cradled him in his arms as if holding some rare treasure, handling him with such care.
Before long, the two were playing together, chasing and frolicking in the garden, rolling around in each other's embrace. The entire garden was filled with Yun Heng's giggling laughter and the little dragon cub's chirping cries.
Yun Heng lay on his back, lifting the little dragon cub high into the air: "You're so chubby!"
Ao Bing watched nervously from the side. His brother was indeed well-fed, and he feared the little prince might slip and drop him…
Just as that image formed in Ao Bing's mind, a soft splat echoed, and Ao Ling indeed landed right on Yun Heng's face.
"My nose, my nose!"
"Chirp!"
"…"
For a moment, Ao Bing didn't know who to feel sorry for. He glanced over at Nezha, who, as the prince's personal guard, was leaning against a rockery, completely unfazed.
Yun Heng buried his face in the little dragon cub's soft belly: "Ling'er, why don't you come back to the Heavenly Court with me?"
"Chirp chirp chirp"
"I'll give you immortal fruit. There are so many peaches planted behind the Jasper Pool. When my mother hosts the Peach Banquet, I'll ask her to give you one too."
"Chirp chirp chirp"
"After eating the peach, you'll grow up quickly."
"Chirp chirp chirp"
"When you grow up, you can be my mount!"
"Chirp!"
Ao Bing chuckled: "It seems the prince truly needs a mount."
Nezha lazily leaned against the rockery: "Not just one, but a new one every day."
Ao Bing asked again: "How many does he have now?"
Yun Heng pouted in grievance: "Not a single one."
"…"
After handling his celestial duties, the Jade Emperor prepared to leave the Dragon Palace of the East Sea. He then sent Marshal Wang to fetch them back.
Ao Bing was about to return his brother to his own little nest, but Yun Heng clung to the little dragon cub, reluctant to let go: "Brother Ao Bing, let him stay with me a little longer."
The little dragon cub also nestled obediently in his arms, seemingly fond of this little prince from the Heavenly Court.
Seeing how inseparable the two were, Ao Bing reluctantly agreed, allowing Ao Ling to accompany them to the entrance of the Dragon Palace.
However, even as they were about to board the Nine-Dragon Imperial Carriage, Yun Heng still refused to release Ao Ling. The little dragon cub also seemed reluctant to part with him, snuggling tightly in his embrace.
Ao Bing smiled and reminded him: "Your Highness, please give Ling'er back to me."
Yun Heng bit his lower lip and looked toward the Jade Emperor: "Father Emperor, can they take him with us?"
The Jade Emperor felt a headache coming on at the sight of the little milk dragon in Yun Heng's arms. His son's habit of wanting to bring everything back to the Heavenly Court was probably incurable.
"No, the Heavenly Court already has enough with a little one like you."
"But," Yun Heng gently stroked the little dragon cub's head, "I really like him."
"Liking him isn't enough. He's still too young to be your mount."
"No, no, no!" Yun Heng shook his head vigorously like a rattle drum. "I don't want him to be my mount. I just want him to play with me every day."
"This is the Dragon King's seventh prince, not your pet."
Yun Heng turned to look at Ao Guang and said in a negotiating tone: "Dragon King, you have so many sons. Why not give Ling'er to me?"
"…"
Such words—no matter how many sons one had, they weren't picked up from the sea. Each was the Dragon King's own flesh and blood. How could they be given away so casually?
"This… this…" The Dragon King felt a pang of heartache at the thought of his newly hatched youngest son being coveted and insisted upon being taken away.
But Yun Heng was not just anyone; he was the son of the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother, the little prince of the Celestial Realm. Wanting a dragon as a pet was not a big matter in itself. If this Dragon King refused, it would seem petty.
Ao Guang was torn between reluctance to part with his son and fear of offending the prince, so he could only cast a pleading glance at the Jade Emperor.
The Jade Emperor beckoned to his son: "Heng'er, return the seventh prince to the Dragon King and come to Father Emperor."
Yun Heng still clung to the little dragon cub, unwilling to let go, his lips pursed and his small face puffed up like a dumpling, his large eyes brimming with tears: "But… I really like Ling'er."
"The Heavenly Court also has dragons. If you like them, Father Emperor will give you one."
"It's different!" Yun Heng finally couldn't hold back, tears streaming down. "Ling'er is different from them."
The Jade Emperor was puzzled: "How is he different?"
"When he grows a bit more, he can transform into a child like me. I want him to stay with me forever."
Apart from him, there were no children of his age in the Heavenly Court. The Immortals around him all treated him as a child to be coaxed. He could only spend his days playing with immortal cranes, red-bearded dragons, and red-crowned phoenixes—rare creatures unable to cultivate human forms—and never had a playmate of his own age.
Days in heaven were inherently longer than those in the mortal world. He was too lonely; he needed companionship from someone of his own age.
Seeing his son's sorrowful appearance, the Jade Emperor softened. He had always indulged this son in countless ways. How could he, as Father Emperor, disappoint him over such a small request?
Sending a son to the Heavenly Court to serve as the prince's study companion was not a bad thing for the Dragon Palace of the East Sea either.
The Jade Emperor was just about to mention this to Ao Guang when, unexpectedly, Ao Bing suddenly walked up to Yun Heng, crouched down, and grasped his shoulders: "Prince, do you like Ao Bing?"
"Yes!" Yun Heng choked out, "Of course I do! I like Ao Bing, and I also like Ling'er."
Ao Bing smiled: "Then, Prince, stay in the Dragon Palace and be with us, okay?"
Yun Heng shook his head without hesitation: "No, I cannot stay in the Dragon Palace. Father Emperor and Mother Empress would miss me; I cannot be separated from them."
At this point, he widened his eyes and suddenly understood Ao Bing's meaning: "Are you saying Ling'er doesn't want to go to the Heavenly Court with me?"
Ao Bing shook his head: "Ling'er likes you very much and also wants to play with you. But the Dragon Palace is his home; here he also has his father and mother, brothers and sisters. He cannot bear to part with us and does not want to be separated from us."
Yun Heng lowered his head and gently stroked the little dragon cub in his arms.
Some Immortals had said before that the little prince's aura was supremely pure and refined, and all living beings wished to be close to him.
This was absolutely true. No matter which Immortal's mount or pet, even the Dragon Palace's second prince, who appeared as cold as ice beside them, had to admit that he also felt fondness for this little prince from the Heavenly Court.
Ao Ling was even more so; without knowing when, he had already fallen asleep nestled in Yun Heng's embrace.
Yun Heng bent down, touched the little dragon cub's head with his lips, and then gently handed him to Ao Bing: "I won't take him to the Heavenly Court. I don't want him to be separated from you, and I don't want him to be sad."
Seeing this scene, the surrounding Immortals were all moved. Although the little prince was mischievous and unruly in daily life, lacking any trace of the steadiness befitting a successor of the Celestial Realm, one thing was innate in him: his compassion for all living beings.
Seeing how sensible he was, Ao Bing felt both touched and heartbroken. "When Ling'er grows a bit older and can transform into human form, I'll let him come keep you company, okay?"
The little one's eyes lit up instantly. "Really?"
Ao Bing nodded. "Really."
He then looked toward the Jade Emperor. "Father Emperor, is that alright?"
The Jade Emperor said nothing, only giving a slight nod.
"Great!" Before even wiping away his tears, Yun Heng smiled again. "Then tell him not to grow too fast—I'm afraid I won't be able to carry him."