Although Yun Heng was unfamiliar with the title "Erlang Shen," he certainly knew his cousin.
Erlang Shen Yang Jian, nephew of the Jade Emperor, had aided the Zhou dynasty in overthrowing King Zhou during the Investiture of the Gods, repeatedly achieving remarkable feats. In times of crisis, he single-handedly managed the overall situation, regarded as the foremost among the third-generation disciples. Through Physical Body Ascension to Sainthood into the path of immortality, his abilities were truly extraordinary.
Yang Erlang possessed immense skills, and his temper surpassed even his abilities. He often traveled abroad, responding only to orders and not summons. The Jade Emperor could dispatch him to slay demons and monsters, but meeting him depended entirely on his mood.
However, every year on Yun Heng's birthday, he would return to the Heavenly Court for the banquet. For his little cousin Yun Heng, he held great affection.
At this moment, a handsome and imposing young man entered the hall. He wore a cloud crown, dressed in white robes, with a silk sash tied around his waist—a simple Daoist attire that diminished some of the sharpness of a young general but accentuated his ethereal elegance and extraordinary demeanor.
The Queen Mother glanced at Yang Jian, then turned back to her son. The little one's eyes lit up as soon as he saw the newcomer: "Cousin, it's my cousin!"
The Queen Mother smiled and asked him, "Is he handsome?"
"He's handsome, my cousin is the most handsome!" Yun Heng clutched the edge of the desk, resting his chin on the tabletop: "Even more handsome than Goddess Chang'e, no no, more handsome than all the Immortals here!"
Yang Jian stepped forward, bowing to the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother. When he raised his head, he saw a small head peeking out from behind the imperial desk, smiling at him.
The little one was truly adorable, and Yang Jian couldn't help but curl his lips slightly.
The banquet officially began. Within Ling Xiao Dian (Hall of Heaven), mist drifted ethereally, and celestial music floated gracefully. The dancing Fairy Maidens were all exceptionally beautiful, with Goddess of the Moon being the most striking.
The various Immortals exchanged cups and toasts. The Four Heavenly Masters took turns standing up, repeating the lavish praises for the little prince from the previous year, delighting the Jade Emperor who raised his cup to drink with all the Immortal Ministers.
Yang Jian had just sat down and hadn't yet poured himself a cup of Divine Wine when two others sat beside him, one on the left and one on the right.
Looking up, he saw his two old friends Nezha and Lei Zhenzi.
The three of them shared the same sect but had different masters, all being third-generation disciples under Yuanshi Tianzun. With different masters, their magical power and abilities, divine weapons, and Magical Treasures also differed.
During the Investiture of the Gods, the three youths together assisted their uncle Jiang Ziya, achieving illustrious military exploits, ultimately attaining Physical Body Ascension to Sainthood and forging a deep friendship.
The three close friends rarely gathered together, naturally intending to drink heartily. Just as they raised their cups, unexpectedly a small figure dashed out beside them, heading straight toward Yang Jian. Midway, he stumbled on the jade steps and tumbled down.
"Prince!"
"Heng'er!"
"…"
Three people simultaneously reached out to help. Yang Jian, being closest, quick-eyed and swift-handed, scooped the child up, but the little one still landed on his leg.
Yang Jian looked down at the soft, snowball-like figure on his leg, sighed helplessly, picked him up, placed him on his lap to sit properly, and gently squeezed his little arms and legs: "Where did you fall? Does it hurt?"
The little one waved his hand dismissively: "I fell on Cousin's leg, doesn't hurt, doesn't hurt."
His earnest but irrelevant answer amused the three beside him greatly. Nezha straightened his Immortal Robe: "Prince, you're running around again."
Yun Heng nestled in Yang Jian's embrace, wrapping his arms around his neck: "Heng'er hasn't seen Cousin for so long."
Nezha teased him with a stern face: "You only like your cousin, not Nezha brother."
"I do!" Yun Heng reached out and touched his cheek with a finger, "I also like Nezha brother."
A voice beside them asked: "Then do you like me?"
Yun Heng turned his head and finally saw Lei Zhenzi's face. The little one instinctively felt a bit fearful and retreated further into Yang Jian's embrace.
Lei Zhenzi quickly lowered his head, somewhat embarrassed: "My ugly appearance startled the Crown Prince."
But Yun Heng said: "Who are you? I haven't seen you before."
Lei Zhenzi replied: "Lei Zhenzi, disciple of Yun Zhongzi from Jade Void Palace. This time I came to attend the banquet on behalf of my master."
Among the Immortals in the Heavenly Court, the elders were kindly and benevolent like Taishang Laojun, the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals naturally dignified and solemn, and the Fairy Maidens were fair and graceful. Those like Yang Jian and Nezha belonged to the exceptionally handsome ones, and Yun Heng particularly liked them.
The least attractive Immortals he could think of were Wind-Following Ear and Thousand-Mile Eye guarding the Southern Heavenly Gate.
Yun Heng examined Lei Zhenzi carefully again, seeing his face blue like indigo, hair crimson like vermilion, eyes fiercely glaring, fangs protruding… indeed not bordering on handsome.
The little one bit his lower lip, didn't speak, and the atmosphere instantly became awkward.
Just as Nezha wanted to say something to divert the topic, unexpectedly Yun Heng spoke again: "No."
Lei Zhenzi was stunned: "What?"
"You're not ugly at all." Yun Heng's gaze fell upon his back, "Your wings look really beautiful, can I touch them?"
Yang Jian and Nezha exchanged glances, truly not expecting that the little one who was always mischievous and troublesome actually had a pure and kind nature, and was extremely perceptive, not only able to discern people's hearts but also soothe them.
"Of course!" Lei Zhenzi happily turned around, revealing his wind and thunder wings. There were occasional flashes of lightning on them, faintly accompanied by thunderous sounds, making Yun Heng marvel.
"If the Crown Prince likes them, riding on them, you can fly thousands of miles away in an instant."
Yun Heng turned to look at Yang Jian: "Can I?"
Yang Jian smiled and shook his head: "No."
The little one pursed his lips: "Alright."
Yang Jian, Nezha, and Lei Zhenzi all had youthful dispositions and weren't much interested in the graceful dances of the Fairy Maidens.
Lei Zhenzi set down his jade cup and suggested: "It's been a long time since I sparred with you two brothers, why don't we go find a secluded place outside and have a match."
This suggestion immediately received responses from the other two. Their gazes intertwined, each seeing eager anticipation in the others' eyes.
Yun Heng also clapped his hands and joined in the excitement: "I…"
Yang Jian raised a finger to his lips: "Shh!"
But unexpectedly the little one leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek: "Cousin, I also want to go!"
"Let's go!"
The three of them took Yun Heng and headed outside. The Jade Emperor and Queen Mother watched clearly from the high platform.
"Yang…" The Jade Emperor was about to call out to Yang Jian but was stopped by the Queen Mother, "Your Majesty, let them go."
After crossing the celestial bridge, there was an open space, and they stopped there.
Yang Jian placed Yun Heng aside and summoned Xiaotian Quan to accompany him. Then, standing in the center of the open space, he spread his hands and conjured the San Jian Liang Ren Dao, pointing it toward Nezha and Lei Zhenzi opposite him: "You two come at me together."
Nezha held his Fire-Tipped Spear in one hand and grasped the Qiankun Ring in the other: "Erlang Shen speaks with great confidence."
Lei Zhenzi spread his wings, brandishing his Wind Thunder Golden Staff, and in a blink rushed toward Yang Jian.
The three exchanged blows, fighting brilliantly, their three peerless divine weapons driven by power, colliding in the air with dazzling sparks.
Yang Jian faced two opponents yet handled them effortlessly, never falling behind.
As the three flew about, fighting vigorously, Yun Heng's gaze was completely captivated by them.
Suddenly, a sweet fragrance wafted into his nostrils—a scent he had never smelled before.
Turning his head, he discovered that Xiaotian Quan had transformed into human form at some unknown time, crouching in a corner, clutching a paper package, saliva nearly dripping from his mouth.
He picked up a green piece and put it into his mouth, closing his eyes and revealing a deeply satisfied expression.
"What are you eating?"
Xiaotian Quan startled, lifting his head: "Mung… mung bean cake."
Yun Heng grew even more puzzled: "What is mung bean cake?"
"A snack from the mortal world."
"The mortal world?"
"Uh…"
The little prince, born and raised in the Heavenly Court, had eaten plenty of immortal fruits and peaches, but snacks from the mortal world were unheard of to him.
Thus, without a word, the little one lunged forward: "Let me taste it too!"
He was the Jade Emperor's little prince; Xiaotian Quan, with all his courage, dared not compete with him for food, yet dared not truly let him eat. In desperation, he prepared to stuff all the snacks from the paper package into his mouth.
Seeing this, Yun Heng panicked, reaching out to snatch it from his mouth.
Meanwhile, Yang Jian, handling two opponents alone, still managed to spare a glance at his cousin.
This glance proved alarming; with a sweep of his arm, he pushed Nezha and Lei Zhenzi several yards away.
The Jade Emperor's prince was snatching food from a dog's mouth!
Yun Heng finally managed to pry a piece of mung bean cake from Xiaotian Quan's mouth, about to put it into his own, when unexpectedly he was lifted up, his hand firmly grasped.
The little one flailed anxiously in Yang Jian's embrace: "Eat… want to eat…"
Erlang Shen was not defeated by Nezha and Lei Zhenzi combined, but was defeated by this three-year-old little one.
He had little experience comforting children, especially when the little one became agitated: "Heng'er, be good, we won't fight with him; next time Cousin will bring you some."
Nezha, seeing his stern face yet clumsy handling, leaned on his Fire-Tipped Spear, laughing uncontrollably.
Lei Zhenzi, unaware of the situation: "Immortals do not consume grains; they absorb the essence of sun and moon."
Nezha laughed: "Our little prince is different from other immortals."
The three spent quite some time coaxing the little one; ultimately, Lei Zhenzi spread his wings and flew him around the Heavenly Court to finally soothe him.
Before leaving, Yang Jian presented two items as birthday gifts for Yun Heng.
One was a pure gold bow, adorned with intricate and splendid decorations, embedded with various gemstones, appearing radiant and exceptionally beautiful.
During the birthday banquet, other immortals also gave many gifts to Yun Heng. In the mortal world, these would be rare treasures seldom seen.
But in the eyes of Yun Heng, the little prince of the Celestial Realm, these things held no particular allure—they couldn’t compare to the mung bean cake he had never managed to taste.
The faint trace of sweetness he had caught a whiff of was enough to linger in his memory for a long time.
Apart from that, Yun Heng’s favorite was the bow Yang Jian had gifted him. He fiddled with it over and over, yet had no idea how to use it.
A Fairy Maiden nearby reminded him, “This is Erlang Shen’s golden bow and silver pellets.”
“Sister Ziyuan, you know about it?”
Ziyuan was the youngest of the Seven Fairies. Ever since Yun Heng’s birth, the Queen Mother had tasked her with personally attending to the little prince’s daily needs.
“Of course!” Ziyuan laughed. “Just like the San Jian Liang Ren Dao, the golden bow and silver pellets are among Erlang Shen’s personal Magical Treasures. He once used them to shoot down a pair of phoenixes. There isn’t an Immortal in the Heavenly Court who doesn’t know about it.”
Yun Heng pouted. “I didn’t know.”
Ziyuan placed a bowl of Hundred-Flower Nectar in front of Yun Heng. “Your favorite.”
Yun Heng pushed the bowl aside without even glancing at it.
“What’s wrong?” Ziyuan looked at him in surprise. “It’s freshly brewed by the Hundred Flower Fairy. Try it, it’s very sweet.”
Yun Heng remained bent over, studying his golden bow and silver pellets. “I’m tired of drinking it.”
“Then shall I fetch some immortal fruit for you?”
“I’m tired of eating that too.”
“What do you want, then?”
“I want mung bean cake.”
“Mung bean cake?”
“…”
After studying it for a while, Yun Heng tried placing a pellet against the bowstring. He pulled and released, but instead of shooting out as he had expected, the pellet fell to the ground.
Ziyuan watched him for a long moment. “Your Highness, you have no magical power and don’t understand Immortal Arts. You can’t wield this Magical Treasure. Don’t waste your effort.”
“Hmph!” Yun Heng turned away with a pout and continued studying his slingshot.
Ziyuan watched his absorbed, studious expression—it was rather adorable. For this little one to stay put quietly without running around or causing mischief was a rare sight indeed.
The Queen Mother had other tasks for her, so she left.
When the Queen Mother of the West returned from inspecting the Pan Tao Yuan, she suddenly noticed that the Jasper Pool was unusually quiet that day. It dawned on her that she hadn’t yet caught sight of that little rascal Yun Heng.
She called Ziyuan over and asked, “Where is the prince? Did he sneak out again?”
Ziyuan bowed slightly. “No, he’s in the rear palace.”
“Hmm?” This was new. The little one, who could never stay still for long, was quietly staying in the Jasper Pool today without going anywhere. “Really? Has the sun risen from the west?”
When a child is quiet, mischief is surely afoot.
The Queen Mother flicked her sleeve and strode off. “I must go see him.”
The Seven Fairies attending her exchanged glances and followed.
Four years ago, the Queen Mother of the West had suddenly journeyed to the Kunlun Mountains for several months of seclusion. When she returned to the Heavenly Court, she not only gave birth to the prince but also exhibited vastly different temperaments and preferences from before. Even her appearance seemed to have grown younger.
The Queen Mother led the Seven Fairies to the rear palace. Before they could enter, a flash of silver light shot toward them with a whistling sound. A series of swishing noises followed, and then something clattered to the ground.
The Queen Mother glanced left and right. The Fairies were unharmed, but the hair ornaments on their heads lay scattered across the floor.
She stepped inside for a closer look. Good heavens—anyone unaware might have thought some formidable demon had stormed the Heavenly Court and taken over the Jasper Pool.
The crystal cups, agate bottles, coral trees, jade screens… every single item placed in the room had shattered into pieces on the floor, spared none.
Among the pile of shattered jade and crystal fragments, countless silver pellets were scattered. Yun Heng stood in the center of the palace, holding a bow in one hand and resting the other on his waist, proudly saying: "Ziyuan sister, look, without magical power, without understanding Immortal Arts, I can still use this Magical Treasure."
He ran to the Queen Mother like seeking praise, tugging at her wide sleeve: "Mother, am I not impressive?"
"Impressive!" The Queen Mother nodded, muttering quietly: "Yes, without magical power, without understanding Immortal Arts, your destructive power is still formidable."