Yun Heng circled around him, noticing the fierce aura emanating from his body, with faint flames flickering at the tip of the Fire-Tipped Spear.
Yun Heng asked curiously, "Are there monsters?"
"No."
"You look like you're about to fight someone."
"Yes, I want to find someone to fight!"
Yun Heng asked again, "With the Dragon King's son?"
"Exactly."
Yun Heng took out his golden bow and silver pellets: "Then I also want to fight the Dragon King's son."
"Eh?" Nezha lowered his head to look at him, "Why do you want to fight his son?"
Yun Heng rushed forward and hugged his leg: "I like Nezha brother the most, I'll help you fight him!"
Nezha looked at his face, which resembled a steamed bun, and couldn't resist pinching it: "Alright, let's go together to beat him up!"
Yun Heng excitedly waved his little fists: "Beat him! Beat him!"
Celestial Master Zhang performed a water-avoiding spell, and all the Immortals were enveloped in a huge transparent bubble. The sea surged with towering waves, then parted to both sides, revealing a broad water path in the middle. The transparent bubble traveled along this path deep into the sea.
Yun Heng watched with fascination, tentatively extending his index finger to poke the transparent bubble. Finding it quite sturdy, he confidently leaned closer. With both small hands pressed against the barrier, he curiously peered outward.
The Dragon Palace of the East Sea was situated at the bottom of the East Sea, a crystal-clear palace made of crystal. Usually, it was the Dragon King of the East Sea, Ao Guang, who returned to the Heavenly Court to report on his duties. The Jade Emperor rarely visited the Dragon Palace during his Tour of the Three Realms. This rare visit prompted Ao Guang to lead his dragon sons and grandsons, along with shrimp soldiers and crab generals, to welcome the imperial arrival.
Yun Heng craned his neck to look. Behind the old Dragon King stood many people. He tugged on Nezha's Hun Tian Ling (Cosmic Silk) and whispered, "Nezha brother, which one is the Dragon King's son?"
Before Nezha could reply, the old Dragon King began introducing them to the Jade Emperor himself: "This is my eldest son Ao Jia, second son Ao Yi, third son Ao Bing…"
He introduced them one by one. Yun Heng lowered his head, counting on his fingers. One small hand wasn't enough, so he had to use the other.
As the introductions continued, the little one's reaction grew increasingly astonished. By the time the old Dragon King had introduced all his sons to the Jade Emperor, Yun Heng was unsure which finger to bend: "Oh my!"
His exclamation drew everyone's attention. Throughout the journey, this little prince had caused quite a few disturbances, and the Immortals had almost developed a conditioned reflex. Hearing his sudden cry, they immediately turned their heads, fearing another unexpected incident.
Yun Heng simply looked at Ao Guang and posed a soul-searching question: "My Father Emperor only has one son. How do you have so many sons? I can't even count them all."
"…"
The Jade Emperor maintained a stern expression, wondering what there was to compare.
Ao Guang looked embarrassed; having many sons wasn't his fault. There were still two dragon eggs incubating in the Dragon Palace.
Celestial Master Zhang quickly stepped in to mediate: "Children's words carry no harm, children's words carry no harm."
Ao Guang could only chime in: "I've long heard of the Crown Prince's intelligence and wisdom." Seeing him today, indeed, the reputation is well-deserved."
After speaking, he promptly stepped aside, respectfully inviting the Jade Emperor into the Dragon Palace and ordering attendants to serve tea.
Of course, Yun Heng wasn't merely feeling deeply about the Dragon King having many sons. As everyone moved inside, he quickly tugged Nezha's Hun Tian Ling again and whispered, "The Dragon King has many sons, Nezha brother, which one are you going to fight?"
Nezha said, "The third prince of the Dragon Palace, Ao Bing."
Yun Heng turned his head back again. The Dragon King's several sons were all following behind, and he could only see their similar-looking backs, unable to tell which was which. Yet he still raised his golden bow and silver pellet, asking, "Who is Ao Bing?"
"I am," a gentle and clear voice came from ahead. Yun Heng looked toward the sound and saw, among the Dragon King's many sons, a youth with blue hair dressed in white turning around.
"Ah!!!" Yun Heng's eyes widened in astonishment, staring dumbfounded. "You… you…"
Ao Bing glanced at Nezha with a slight frown, then looked at the child holding the golden bow and silver pellet beside him, a soft smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "I am Ao Bing."
By now, the old Dragon King and his dragon sons and grandsons had already ushered the Jade Emperor into the Crystal Palace. Apart from the shrimp soldiers and crab generals guarding the palace gates, only the three of them remained standing outside.
Nezha raised his Fire-Tipped Spear, pointing at Ao Bing. "Your Highness, beat him up!"
Yun Heng was filled with mixed emotions. "But… but…"
"But what?" Nezha tilted his head. "Didn't we agree you'd help me fight?"
Yun Heng simply put down his golden bow and silver pellet. "But he's so good-looking. I don't want to hit him."
"???" Nezha was so angry he laughed. "Your Highness, how can you switch sides at the last moment?"
Yun Heng put his hands on his hips, speaking with righteous conviction. "Good children don't fight."
Ao Bing reached out and pushed aside the Fire-Tipped Spear pointing at him, then crouched down with a smile, looking at Yun Heng. "Exactly, only bad children play with swords and spears."
Yun Heng tilted his head, studying him, and soon broke into a smile. "Brother Ao Bing, your eyes are so beautiful, and your nose is too. There are so many dragons in the Heavenly Court, but none are as good-looking as you."
"!!!"
Nezha snorted through his nose. "Your Highness, how much Hundred-Flower Nectar did you drink this morning?"
"A huge bowl!"
"No wonder your mouth is so sweet."
Ao Bing knew he was good-looking, but he had never been praised like this before, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Yun Heng pointed at the top of his head. "Your dragon horns have turned red."
"…"
"Your dragon horns are so beautiful too. Can I touch them?"
"…"
Nezha put away his Fire-Tipped Spear and leaned against a nearby coral tree. Watching Ao Bing blush and become flustered felt even more satisfying than beating him up.
Based on his understanding of Yun Heng, this little prince always adhered to the principle of "as long as I'm not embarrassed, then the embarrassment is others'." He was sure to do even more amusing things later. Nezha just needed to stand by and watch the show.
Sure enough, Ao Bing was too embarrassed to refuse and let Yun Heng touch his dragon horns.
After touching the horns, Yun Heng asked again, "Brother Ao Bing, do you have a mount?"
"Yes," Ao Bing summoned a rhinoceros. "This is my Water-Avoiding Beast, used when traveling across the sea."
Yun Heng said, "There are so many fish over there. Can I ride it over to play?"
"You can ride it," Ao Bing glanced inside the Dragon Palace, hesitating. "But going out to play might not be allowed."
Yun Heng took his hand and gently shook it. "Father Emperor goes to many places every day, meets many Immortals, and handles many celestial duties. I can only wait obediently outside, unable to go anywhere."
Nezha chuckled. "You've never once waited obediently outside."
Yun Heng pointed at Nezha. "Father Emperor even specifically told him to keep an eye on me, so I don't run around."
Ao Bing looked at Yun Heng's innocent expression, then turned to Nezha and saw his disdainful demeanor—truly resembling a supervisor.
The gentle and kind-hearted Third Prince of the dragon clan softened immediately. He picked Yun Heng up and placed him on the back of the water-avoiding beast, seating himself behind him. "Let's go, we'll see the big fish."
Yun Heng cheered excitedly, "Let's go, catch the big fish!"
The water-avoiding beast, indeed one of the rarest rare birds and strange beasts in the East Sea, swam far away in an instant. Nezha, riding his Wind-Fire Wheels, nearly couldn't catch up. "Hey, Prince, wait for me!"
When they arrived, Yun Heng could only observe the fish in the sea through a barrier. Now riding the water-avoiding beast, he could interact closely with these fish.
A large fish swam past him, its mouth opening and closing as it blew bubbles. Yun Heng mimicked it, puffing his little cheeks. The fish turned and approached him.
Just as the fish's mouth was about to touch Yun Heng's lips, the little one suddenly opened his mouth wide and shouted, "Eat you!"
The fish, startled, flicked its tail and swiftly swam away.
Ao Bing held him from behind, fearing that if he got too excited, he might swim off with the fish.
Yun Heng extended a finger, and a fish with colorful stripes stopped at his fingertip. The little one moved his finger, and the fish leaped up, flipped in the water, and landed back on his fingertip.
Soon, a large group of fish swam over. Nezha, behind them, threw out his Hun Tian Ling (Cosmic Silk), gently shaking it to create a small whirlpool around Yun Heng. The fish then circled around Yun Heng, swimming in loops.
"Wow! So many fish, so many fish!" The little one waved his hands wildly on both sides, fish slipping through his fingers, making him giggle with delight.
Ao Bing suddenly patted him. "Prince, look quickly!"
Yun Heng followed his pointing finger and saw something emitting a faint blue glow deep in the sea, moving toward them.
Soon, the cluster of blue light expanded, connecting into a vast expanse that floated past overhead.
Yun Heng exclaimed in surprise, "So there are stars in the sea too."
Ao Bing said, "Those are glowing jellyfish."
Yun Heng had never seen jellyfish, especially glowing ones. Seeing them flicker, he insisted they were stars.
At Yun Heng's request, they chased the "stars" all the way to the surface. The waves pushed the three of them along with the jellyfish onto a central reef.
As the waves retreated, the reef was scattered with shells and conches. Yun Heng picked them up along the way, saying he would take them as gifts back to the Heavenly Court for his mother.
Ao Bing laughed. "The Dragon Palace has larger and more beautiful ones. If the Prince likes…"
"No," the little one replied without looking up. "My mother will only like what I pick myself."
Nezha held his Fire-Tipped Spear, his toes resting on a protruding rock at the cliff edge, with his Hun Tian Ling fluttering in the sea breeze.
Time passed swiftly over centuries. The Dragon Palace of the East Sea had now transformed, with the dragon clan growing stronger and the Dragon King becoming a timid old man. Only this Third Prince remained the gentle youth he always was.
Nezha hadn't changed either—restless and spirited, naturally inclined to battle. Watching Ao Bing's back, he grew increasingly eager for a fight. Such a good opportunity, such a perfect place—not fighting would be a waste.
"Ao Bing!" Nezha called out, "I still want to fight you."
Ao Bing was accompanying Yun Heng as they collected seashells. Hearing the voice, Yun Heng immediately stepped in front of Ao Bing: "Brother Nezha, don't bully him. Brother Ao Bing is a good person."
"How is he good?"
"He took me out to play and helped me gather many beautiful conch shells."
Nezha flew down and landed before them, stomping his foot in frustration: "Your Highness, you're so ungrateful. How long has he been with you? Who has been by your side every step of the way all this time?"
"But… he even let me ride his mount."
Hearing the word "mount," Nezha had a sudden idea: "We won't fight—just a friendly spar. If I win, he'll transform into his true form and let you ride him as a mount, okay?"
Ao Bing asked, "And if you lose?"
"Me? Lose?"
At that moment, Yun Heng, who had been standing protectively in front of Ao Bing, quietly stepped aside.
Ao Bing stared at him in disbelief: "Your Highness??"