Jin Can Zi wandered around the Turquoise Pool after leaving, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity with the Heaven Palace—like he had been here before. He picked up a stone and smashed it on the ground twice, finding it unexpectedly satisfying, as if it had always come naturally to him. However, no matter how hard he tried to recall, nothing came to mind, so he could only continue to wander aimlessly.
Meanwhile, Jin Jiao and Silver Horn, who were much more familiar with the Heaven Palace, left the Turquoise Pool main hall and headed straight to an open area to play with Nezha's latest electric Wind and Fire Wheel model. Unlike the old wind-and-fire-powered version, this one incorporated lightning, making it several times faster and the special effects even flashier.
The leader of the dancers performing within the Turquoise Pool was not the Deity of the Moon but the chief instructor of the Moon Palace palace maids, considering that there weren't many in the Primordial Celestial Court bold enough to summon the Deity of the Moon for something as trivial as a dance performance.
This Heavenly Court Dance Troupe consisted of three hundred palace maids, with the chief instructor affectionately called Chang'e, representing all the other Chang'es in the Moon Palace. Chang'e stood out, not just because her dancing skills were unparalleled, but her figure, temperament, and beauty were all top-tier. While none of the female immortals of the Heavenly Court could be considered unattractive, anyone who encountered Chang'e couldn't help but praise, "She's stunning." It's safe to say that the Taiyin Star indeed produces beauties.
After finishing her performance, Chang'e gave a polite bow and gracefully retreated. A different performance then took over the center stage of the Turquoise Pool. Chang'e took this opportunity to arrange for the palace maids to return to the Taiyin Star, while she set off to find the Jade Rabbit, who had sneaked out to play, before making her way back.
During the banquet, even though the wine didn't drunk the man, Tianpeng was already drunk with his own emotions. Seeing Chang'e leaving the main hall of the Turquoise Pool, he could no longer suppress the restlessness in his heart. He stood up and followed her out. Sitting beside him, Yang Jian observed the scene but didn't intervene. Yang Jian was well aware that Tianpeng wasn't particularly liked either among the Star Gods or within the larger Heavenly Court. He saw no reason to interfere in Tianpeng's affairs.
Nezha, on the other hand, chuckled and clinked glasses with the Jade Emperor, taking a quick glance at Tianpeng's departing figure before straightening his posture. He knew the drama was about to unfold.
Everyone seated at this level wasn't a novice. Although they didn't know exactly what Tianpeng was up to, a simple sweep of their Divine Sense revealed his movements. They all pretended as if nothing was happening, maintaining the cheerful mood of the banquet while secretly focusing their attention elsewhere.
In truth, Tianpeng wasn't planning anything nefarious. After witnessing Chang'e dance, his uncontrollable love for the Deity of the Moon flared up. Fueled by his drunken courage, he simply wanted Chang'e to act as an intermediary to pass along his feelings and build a bridge for him.
Drunkenly staggering out, he wandered around the Turquoise Pool for a while until, finally, he spotted Chang'e holding the Jade Rabbit in her arms. The Deity of the Moon, being the leader of the Taiyin Star, typically wore blue-and-white garments. Following her example, the Chang'es of the Moon Palace also adopted similar attire for everyday life, aside from performance costumes.
Now, having completed her performance, Chang'e had changed out of her elaborate outfit back into a simple blue-and-white dress. Coupled with the Jade Rabbit nestled in her arms and an ethereal beauty that outshone over ninety percent of female immortals, the utterly wasted Tianpeng was convinced, through his drunken haze, that the Deity of the Moon herself stood before him.
His eagerness overcame him as he rushed forward, grabbing onto Chang'e's sleeve, desperate to pour out his heart.
A drunken big man lunging for your clothes—who wouldn't be startled, especially if you were a beauty everyone had their eyes on?
Chang'e didn't initially recognize who this was, but seeing the figure dressed in advanced armor, addressing him as "General" seemed a safe and polite assumption.
"Ah! General, please restrain yourself!"
By this point, Tianpeng had completely retreated into his own little world. In his mind, Chang'e was undeniably the Deity of the Moon.
"Chang'e, do you know? From the moment I first laid eyes on you, I fell hopelessly in love. My feelings for you ebb and flow like the waxing and waning of the Taiyin Star. If you'd only agree to be with me, I wouldn't care even if I had to give up my Immortal status!"
With those words, he clasped Chang'e's wrist tightly, his grip firm.
Chang'e was genuinely frightened. "What nonsense about love! I've endured grueling cultivation for tens of thousands of years to ascend to immortality and secure a position in the dance troupe. Why on earth would I waste it all on some random romance with a lowly man like you?" However, her status wasn't high enough to outright offend someone dressed in such high-ranking armor. She could only struggle to free herself while trying to placate him with kind words.
"General, you and I have cultivated arduously for so many years to ascend to the Immortal Class and enjoy a life of freedom and leisure. Why throw it all away for something as petty as love?"
Chang'e, in truth, was something of an exam-grind town girl. She had clawed her way up, overcoming countless rivals among female immortals to achieve her current position. Naturally, she didn't understand the privileged outlook of someone like Tianpeng, who had risen through connections.
Tianpeng clearly didn't accept Chang'e's reasoning. All those years of effort, what did they matter in the face of love?
"Chang'e, don't push me away. I truly love you~"
Chang'e struggled to free her hand, but despite her efforts, she couldn't break Tianpeng's grip. At this moment, the Jade Rabbit in her arms finally lost its patience. In the Moon Palace, the Jade Rabbit was the pet of the Taiyin Star's Heng E. While Heng E occasionally cuddled it, the one responsible for its daily care was none other than the very Chang'e now holding it.
(Status rank in the Moon Palace: Deity of the Taiyin Star > Jade Rabbit > Chang'e > Palace Maid)
A cornered rabbit can even bite. Being a civilized creature, however, the Jade Rabbit didn't resort to biting and instead opted for kicking.
You little brat, daring to harass my caretaker? Taste my flying kick!
The Jade Rabbit suddenly leaped from Chang'e's arms with an explosive move known as "Rabbit Kicking Eagle." Its powerful hind legs struck Tianpeng square in the chest.
As everyone knows, rabbits primarily use their hind legs for propulsion, and those legs were naturally strong and powerful. Coupled with its decent cultivation level, the Jade Rabbit's kick caused Tianpeng to see a flash of white light as an indescribable force crashed into his chest, like being struck by a thousand-foot mountain. His grip on Chang'e loosened as he collapsed to the ground, nearly choking as the wind was knocked out of him.
The Jade Rabbit wasn't one to be trifled with. Having been pampered all its life, one might even call it a little princess with a temper. Transforming into a petite, 1.6-meter-tall fairy clad in the same blue-and-white palace attire, it opened its mouth and began to yell.
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