Inside the grand and resplendent hall, several green lanterns flickered, their dim red flames casting wavering shadows on the floor as the wind drifted in from outside.
The Serpent Lord sat on the dragon throne, staring blankly at the bamboo scroll in his hand. His already small eyes narrowed to slits as he pondered.
"Act wisely?"
He had just received a message from King Virūḍhaka at the Southern Heavenly Gate—just four words: "Act wisely."
"What does that mean?" He furrowed his misty, cloud-like brows and clicked his tongue with a sigh.
After thinking for a long time, he still couldn't figure it out, so he simply raised his head and let out a long sigh.
"Whatever." He yawned lazily, stretched, and, leaning on the armrest of the dragon throne, stood up, preparing to return to his chambers for sleep.
Anything else could wait until tomorrow. After all, a single day meant nothing to the Heavenly Court—just a fleeting instant.
Just then, a demon official dressed in black court robes rushed in from outside, shouting, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations!" before falling to his knees with a thud.
The Serpent Lord let out a long snort, pouted, and sat back down on the dragon throne, asking with a blank face, "What is it? Did we win?"