Hearing Monkey's teasing remark, Tina Ao shot him a glare, then turned away to keep staring at the Nine-Headed Wyrm. After a long pause, she spoke softly, "He's Marina's husband."
Monkey asked, "Who's Marina?"
"Marina is Princess Azurewave's nickname."
"So Princess Azurewave is called Marina?"
Tina Ao gave Monkey another glare and explained, "Only the direct line of the Four Seas Dragon Kings can use the 'Ao' surname. The Azurewave Pool Dragon Palace is a collateral branch, so she’s simply called Marina, without a family name. I only just learned about all this myself. When the Nine-Headed Wyrm entered the city two days ago, I contacted my father with a jade slip and found out that the Azurewave Dragon King abandoned the marriage alliance with the Western Sea Dragon Palace to promise Marina to the Nine-Headed Wyrm, in exchange for his help rescuing the Six Demon Kings. Now both the Azurewave Dragon King and Marina are wanted by the Heavenly Court."
Monkey blinked in surprise. "So it was the Azurewave Dragon King who asked the Nine-Headed Wyrm to rescue the Six Demon Kings?"
"That's right. The Azurewave Dragon King has always been close with the Ox Demon King. I heard that, back when the Azurewave Pool Dragon Palace was first established, he received some favors from the Ox Demon King, so he never forgot that debt. In a crisis, it's natural he'd want to help. I also heard that Marina herself wanted to be promised to the Nine-Headed Wyrm. That's probably why the Azurewave Dragon King decided to go all in. After all, once the marriage alliance with the Western Sea Dragon Palace failed, the Azurewave Pool branch would eventually be branded as demons anyway. At that point, nothing would really change. The Azurewave Dragon King just wanted to use this last chance to have the Nine-Headed Wyrm repay the debt to the Ox Demon King on behalf of Azurewave Pool."
Tina Ao glanced sideways at Monkey. "I heard the Wyrm came this time to beg for a Peach of Immortality to extend the Azurewave Dragon King's life, right?"
"That's right. I heard the Azurewave Dragon King only has two months left to live." Monkey nodded and laughed. "What, are you trying to stand up for your cousin after his broken engagement and convince me not to give him a Peach?"
"No." Tina Ao shook her head. "Give it to him. The Western Sea Dragon Palace has definitely lost face, but Azurewave Pool is already scattered, and both the Azurewave Dragon King and Marina have become exiled demons hunted by Heaven. There's no need to go too far. Besides, all dragons are one family, and the Azurewave Dragon King has suffered enough. So, give it to him."
With that, Tina Ao sighed quietly and lowered her head in silence.
Monkey’s brows furrowed slightly at her words.
If Tina Ao had tried to persuade Monkey not to give the Nine-Headed Wyrm a Peach, he might have done her that favor. After all, with her clever mind, she would surely have a way to help Monkey clean up the aftermath.
But now she was advising him to give it, and speaking as if it was her decision—what was that about?
Tina Ao raised her head and looked at him coolly. "What’s wrong? Don’t want to give it? Don’t forget, you still owe me a Peach."
"When did I ever owe you a Peach? Didn’t you already take the one I gave you last time?" Monkey shot her a glance.
"Is that so?" Tina Ao’s eyes flickered, and she tilted her head, looking at Monkey with a meaningful smile. "Who did I help out with that, hmm? If you won’t agree, I’ll go find Belle—maybe she hasn’t eaten hers yet. I can just ask for it back."
With that, she turned to leave.
"Wait, wait!" Monkey hurriedly blocked Tina Ao’s path. "It’s not that I don’t want to give it, but even if I do, there needs to be a proper reason. You know the rules here in Blossom Mountain—all sixty-five remaining Peaches are public property. I don’t have even one for myself. You wouldn’t want me to break my own rules, would you?"
"That’s easy," Tina Ao replied. "You captured General Lee this time, right? Aren’t you planning to award war merits? Since you’re the only one with any credit for that, just reward yourself a Peach, and then give it to him privately."
"That won’t work." Monkey shook his head. "He’s neither kin nor comrade, and I’ve got plenty of my own people who haven’t tasted a Peach yet. Why should I give it to him? If I really did that, wouldn’t it chill everyone’s hearts? If you want me to hand one over, you’ll have to give me a way to save face. Besides, you wouldn’t want me to do a losing deal, would you?"
"Finally speaking your mind, huh? In the end, you just don’t want to take a loss." Tina Ao snorted and said slowly, "He’s a Celestial Sage, a demon at the Taiyi Golden Immortal level. There are only a handful of demons in the world who’ve reached that realm. If a single Peach could recruit such a powerhouse, you’d be grinning from ear to ear. How could you possibly lose? Opportunities like this don’t come every day."
Monkey shook his head. "He’s already offered to join Blossom Mountain. But talk is cheap—it only counts if I can really win him over. Otherwise, I might just be inviting a wolf into the fold."
"You’re afraid he’ll go back on his word?"
"What do you think?" Monkey shot back.
Tina Ao thought about it and realized he was right.
The Nine-Headed Wyrm was certainly powerful, but neither she nor Monkey truly understood his temperament. And precisely because of his strength, he didn’t need to rely on Blossom Mountain like the other demons did, nor did he feel any real sense of belonging. Aside from a single Peach, there was nothing at Blossom Mountain that could truly bind him.
The problem was, the Azurewave Dragon King only had two months left to live. Even if they used a Peach to bind the Wyrm, it would only last those two months. Once the Peach was given, there’d be no leverage left.
After thinking it over, Tina Ao said, "Here, let me teach you a trick. It’ll work, guaranteed!"
...
By dusk, many demons who’d been working outside the city were already returning, but the southern gate remained deserted—there wasn’t a soul in sight.
Monkey carried a tray holding a single Peach of Immortality, striding across the drawbridge step by step until he stood before the Nine-Headed Wyrm.
The Nine-Headed Wyrm stared at the Peach for a long while, then glanced at Monkey, swallowed hard, and asked, "You agreed?"
"More or less," Monkey replied.
Standing up, lips pressed tight, the Nine-Headed Wyrm stared at the Peach. "What’s the catch?"
"No catch," Monkey said.
"No catch?" The Nine-Headed Wyrm was stunned, his eyes narrowing to slits.
Would Monkey really hand over a Peach with no strings attached? Was that even possible? Was this another trap?
The Nine-Headed Wyrm had already experienced Monkey’s cunning firsthand.
Never mind the time he drank tea and chatted while secretly rehearsing a battle outcome and quietly mobilizing troops to trap him—just leaving him in the demon city to "drink tea" was enough to send chills down anyone’s spine.
With a casual gesture, Monkey made him glance at Nezha, and before he knew it, he’d become "fast friends with the Handsome Monkey King" in front of the other demon kings—no matter what he said, he couldn’t explain it away.
A single move, and he was separated from those six fellows.
Faced with a Monkey like that, if he suddenly said he’d give you a Peach for free, would you dare accept it?
To the Nine-Headed Wyrm, Monkey was already on par with the most cunning Sages. In fact, ordinary Sages couldn’t even compare.
But right now, he desperately needed a Peach—more than anything. The temptation was simply too great.
After hesitating for ages, the Nine-Headed Wyrm finally reached for the Peach. But just as Monkey nudged the tray closer, he panicked and snatched his hand back.
Swallowing hard, the Nine-Headed Wyrm stared helplessly at Monkey. "Enough games, all right? I really need that Peach. I’m begging you—stop playing around."
Monkey couldn’t help but laugh. "What games? You wanted a Peach, and here I am bringing it to you."
"You..."
For a moment, the Nine-Headed Wyrm truly didn’t know what to say.
To be honest, he was a little scared of Monkey now—really scared. If it were a straight fight, he wouldn’t mind, but if Monkey started scheming...
He knew he was no match for that, and honestly had no idea how to deal with it.
At this moment, he’d rather Monkey come out with the Peach and demand an outrageous price—even Marshal Silver’s head would be fine. After all, an outrageous price could always be bargained down; as long as the Peach was offered, it meant Monkey was willing to make a deal.
But instead, Monkey just said "no catch," and that made the Nine-Headed Wyrm even more uneasy.
What was he planning?
Could the Peach be fake? He’d never seen one before, so even if it was, he wouldn’t know.
Was it poisoned? Did Monkey want to kill the old Dragon King?
But what would Monkey gain from that? He was the type who never lifted a finger unless there was something in it for him.
Maybe Monkey had just lost his mind and wanted to do a good deed for once?
Is that even possible?
The Nine-Headed Wyrm’s mind spun wildly—nine heads thinking at once, and still he couldn’t make sense of it.
His look of longing mixed with hesitation was so comical that even Tina Ao, watching from the city wall, almost burst out laughing.
The two stood there in silence for a long time before the Nine-Headed Wyrm finally spoke, his voice trembling with doubt.
He lowered his voice, almost pleading: "I’ve never begged anyone for anything before. This is the first time. Please, I’m asking you—give me a Peach. Don’t play games. Let me save my father-in-law’s life. Name any condition you want, as long as I can do it—just don’t say there are no conditions. I..."
Monkey cut him off. "I’ve heard people complain about prices being too high, but never about them being too low. So what, you don’t trust me?"
"No! It’s not that I don’t trust you... I just don’t feel safe. You know? If you give me a Peach for no reason, I can’t accept it with peace of mind. Even if I took it, I wouldn’t dare let my father-in-law eat it."
"So, bottom line, you just don’t trust me," Monkey said, expressionless.
Pressed by the remark, the Nine-Headed Wyrm hesitated for a long time, then blinked and admitted, "Fine, you’re right. I don’t trust you."
"All right, here’s what we’ll do." Monkey paused, and the Nine-Headed Wyrm perked up, listening intently.
Monkey spoke slowly, "How about you take me to meet the Azurewave Dragon King?"
"Meet the Azurewave Dragon King?" The Nine-Headed Wyrm was stunned.
"Yes, meet your father-in-law. To be honest, I’d really like you to serve Blossom Mountain. But I don’t trust you either. We both distrust each other—so it’s not like one of us is wronging the other. Here’s my proposal: I’ll give you the Peach in front of your father-in-law, and whatever promises you make to me, you’ll say them in front of him. What do you think?"