Chapter 167: Chapter 161: Aloof Chang E Traps Tianpeng [Seeking Monthly Tickets and Subscriptions]_1
Marshal Tianpeng had already begun to lose his fighting spirit. He even longed for the day when the Jade Emperor would summon him back to the Heavenly Court to continue his official duties.
This was a dangerous thought, and Sha Chen knew he had to help extinguish Tianpeng’s desire to return to his heavenly office.
Proving that the Jade Emperor had schemed against Tianpeng all along, and that his eventual fate was to be used no matter how obsequiously he acted, seemed challenging. Yet, it was actually straightforward.
Sha Chen couldn’t possibly bring the Jade Emperor here to prove what happened in the past, Tianpeng thought. Even if he found another high-ranking official from the Heavenly Court, it still wouldn’t be enough proof.
Tianpeng had deluded himself to this extent.
But Sha Chen laughed. To prove it, it wasn’t necessary to have only the Jade Emperor; there was another person who could also do it. Chang E.
He clapped his hands, and a woman of unparalleled beauty and elegance, both striking and virtuous, stepped out from the palace. Her beauty was unmatched, beyond compare in all the land.
Upon seeing her, Marshal Tianpeng was immediately dumbstruck, his face a mix of shock and disbelief. He gasped, "Fairy Chang E? You, you, you—how could you be here? Aren’t you supposed to be in Guanghan Palace?"
Then he rubbed his eyes and activated his Heavenly Vision, as if to ascertain whether the Fairy Chang E before him was real or fake. After thorough scrutiny, she was indeed real.
The aura of Fairy Chang E was all too familiar to him. That air of cool pride, her condescension, as if no one else mattered, and the insurmountable arrogance that made others unwelcome—it was not something that could be mimicked.
Not even Sha Chen’s Divine Power, outstanding as it is, could replicate this unique demeanor, could it?
Moreover, he could see the aura surrounding Chang E, a power so profound and boundless, on the verge of reaching the Da Luo realm. She was the very same Fairy Chang E he had met more than a hundred years prior, stronger and more profound than before.
Marshal Tianpeng could be certain that this woman before him was real and truly Fairy Chang E, not someone transformed by another. Hence, his amazement, his shock, his disbelief.
Fairy Chang E gave a slight nod. Upon seeing Tianpeng, her disdain and the distance she maintained were still apparent. But still, she obliged Sha Chen; he had asked her to come out, so she did.
And she hadn’t expected Tianpeng and Sha Chen’s relationship to be this good; a hint of guilt rose in her heart. But then, seeing Tianpeng’s boorish countenance, she immediately felt her guilt was misplaced. He deserved it, she thought. Given the chance, I’d trick him again.
Marshal Tianpeng stepped forward, overjoyed, and said, "Fairy, how come you are here? It’s been such a long time. You still recognize me, don’t you?"
Chang E nodded and replied, "Of course I recognize you, Marshal Tianpeng. After all, we had some interactions."
Tianpeng knew Chang E was referring to the incident at the Peach Banquet where he had behaved improperly towards her. He felt embarrassed, yet also nostalgic.
SLAP!
Chang E raised her hand and struck Tianpeng across the face, stunning him.
"Fairy, why, why did you slap me?" Tianpeng asked in bewilderment.
Chang E said indifferently, "Oh, nothing much. Seeing your expression, I thought you were recalling that indecent past, and I couldn’t help but hit you."
Marshal Tianpeng protested his innocence. He was reminiscing, but by heaven and earth, he swore he entertained no improper thoughts. Still, he felt he owed Chang E an apology and therefore had no complaints.
"Fairy, I’m truly sorry," Tianpeng said. "Under the influence of alcohol that day, I offended you and tarnished your reputation. I am sincerely sorry." He bowed deeply, clasped his hands together, a picture of remorse. "Over a hundred years have passed since that incident, and I have always felt guilty, wanting to apologize to you. But I never had the opportunity until now. Please forgive me."
He apologized earnestly, with utmost respect.
Sha Chen watched from the side with a curious expression on his face.
Chang E simply replied, "There’s no need. After all, I was the one who tricked you first back then."
Marshal Tianpeng was taken aback. Sensing something ominous, he became extremely anxious. In a panic, he asked, "Fairy, what do you mean by that?"
Fairy Chang E spoke indifferently, "How else can it be explained? Do you think your cultivation level would allow you to get close to me? And if you really had indecently assaulted me, would the Jade Emperor even have gotten the chance to punish you?"
Marshal Tianpeng immediately felt that something was off. "Fairy," he said, "are you suggesting that I actually didn’t assault you back then?"
Chang E replied, "It was indeed an assault. After all, in order to convict you, there must be irrefutable evidence. So, you can take pride in the fact that you did indeed assault me back then."
SMACK!
Then, she slapped Marshal Tianpeng again, dazing him.
Marshal Tianpeng, feeling wronged, said, "Fairy, what’s the reason for this slap?"
Chang E answered, "You offended me back then; giving you a slap isn’t too excessive, right?"
Marshal Tianpeng felt this seemed quite reasonable. Not too excessive, he thought. Then he tried to laugh it off. "Not excessive at all. What the Fairy says is true. Offending the Fairy, any number of slaps would be justified." He continued, "But why did the Fairy say it was deliberate? Could there be a hidden story behind all this?"
He also felt that with his cultivation level, it would have really been impossible for him to offend Chang E. And given Chang E’s temperament, if there really had been a scoundrel, she would have taken care of it herself long ago—how could it have been left for the Jade Emperor to punish?
Marshal Tianpeng sensed that something was amiss. He glanced at Chang E, then at Sha Chen, feeling that the next words might be a huge blow to him.
Sha Chen tapped on the table. Chang E went forward and poured him a cup of wine, then under the watchful eye of Marshal Tianpeng’s envy and jealousy, she moved behind Sha Chen and began to massage his shoulders.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Marshal Tianpeng was struck as if by lightning, his entire worldview shattering, staring dumbfounded.
The high and mighty, the cold goddess Fairy Chang E, who even made the Jade Emperor plead three times before reluctantly agreeing to dance for him. Such an aloof Fairy Chang E was now massaging Sha Chen’s shoulders.
He found it unbelievable. At the same time, he envied Sha Chen’s shoulders and truly wished he were the clothing upon them. To be ravaged by Fairy Chang E!
Marshal Tianpeng wore a complicated expression, his heart shattered to pieces. He wanted to ask what their relationship was, but when Fairy Chang E brought up the matter herself, he was even more shocked and unable to accept it.
Chang E said, "Marshal Tianpeng, the truth is that I was the one who harmed you back then. The Jade Emperor made a deal with me: if I framed you, he would grant Guanghan Palace more power and freedom."
"I agreed. Then, I purposely performed half a dance before you to seduce you into committing the offense. You fell for it, your lust overpowering your wisdom, and I completed the task with ease."
Marshal Tianpeng collapsed to the ground. "Fairy," he said, "are you saying that this was all the Jade Emperor’s scheme, and you were an accomplice?"
Fairy Chang E’s brows knitted slightly as she replied, "I don’t like the term ’accomplice,’ but indeed, I was involved."
Marshal Tianpeng was on the verge of tears. His determination and that glimmer of hope suddenly turned to despair.
Originally, he had hoped to return to the Heavenly Court as Marshal Tianpeng. He had been looking forward to the Jade Emperor changing his mind, remembering their old affection, and inviting him back. It was all vain hope.
His current plight was all orchestrated by the Jade Emperor himself. Only, he didn’t understand why the Jade Emperor would do this to him. It seemed she had discerned his confusion.
Chang E explained, "The reason the Jade Emperor cast you down to the mortal world and made you endure hardships was that he traded you to Buddhism. You were a bargaining chip."
Marshal Tianpeng looked at Sha Chen, as her words matched exactly what Sha Chen had told him.
Sha Chen shrugged. "Don’t look at me. You never believe what I say. But you must believe what my sister says, right?"
Marshal Tianpeng’s emotions were indescribably complex. "So, what you said was true," he said. "For decades, I’ve been suspicious."
"I thought you were deceiving me, just wanting to see me suffer alongside you, as brothers in misfortune. I never expected it to be true."
Sha Chen’s cheek twitched. This pig really has some imagination, he thought. It was a waste how well I treated him, for him to think of me like this.
Marshal Tianpeng had come to terms with reality, but there was still something he couldn’t accept. With a complex, sour expression, he said, "Fairy, what’s the relationship between you and Old Sha? He’s so unsightly, not nearly as handsome as me. How could you... how could you be attracted to him?"