King Yellow Wind was deep in thought when the playful carp dragon interrupted.
"Old Huang, you're building a palace, right? Why not ask Gui Fu Shen Gong to help?"
"Gui Fu Shen Gong? I can't afford them," King Yellow Wind replied, rolling his eyes.
Gui Fu Shen Gong, the Celestial Architects, were two divine beings overseeing an elite team of craftsmen under the Heavenly Court. They were responsible for constructing the palaces, sanctuaries, and mansions of the immortals.
If the Jade Emperor commissioned a project, the costs—materials and labor—were covered by Heaven's treasury. For instance, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven's Mansion that Sun Wukong would later inhabit was built by them.
However, if a deity invited them personally, the host had to supply the materials and pay not only in spirit treasures but also in merit and incense offerings.
Thinking of skimping on payments?
Let's just say Gui Fu Shen Gong weren't only master craftsmen—they also knew their way around a hammer. A large one for eighty strikes, a smaller one for forty! Their connections with the Celestial Thunder and Fire Divisions ensured few dared cross them.
The carp dragon dismissed his concerns.
"Isn't it just a matter of money? I've got plenty!"
King Yellow Wind hesitated. "I'm not talking about mere gold or silver. It's spirit treasures, merit, and incense currency we need."
"Spirit treasures? Do pearls and coral count? My family has loads!"
King Yellow Wind froze.
"Wait. Are you talking about your new home or your old one?"
"My hometown, of course! My new one's just been set up. I've already searched the lake—there's nothing good in there," the carp replied matter-of-factly.
"Where's your hometown?"
The carp dragon blinked, then realized.
"Trying to trick me into telling, huh? I'm not falling for it!"
With a flick of its tail, it vanished into the lake, leaving ripples behind.
King Yellow Wind rubbed his chin.
"East Sea or West Sea? Fangcun Mountain is closer to the West Sea, so that seems more likely."
If the Thunder Toad and the carp dragon were connected, it would suggest someone from Fangcun had a hand in orchestrating this.
"Could it be that the true investment wasn't in me but in this little fish? I was just the one along for the ride."
The idea that the carp might be a Western Sea Dragon Princess began to solidify. With her family's vast wealth, she would indeed have no shortage of treasures.
Still, he hesitated. The wealth of dragons often came with strings attached—heavy strings.
Rather than exploit the carp dragon, King Yellow Wind decided to bide his time. "This relationship should be used wisely, when the stakes are highest."
Furthermore, he saw the palace project as an opportunity to foster cooperation between humans and demons, laying the foundation for Yellow Wind Ridge's future development.
Monkey King Visits
As he deliberated, a cloud descended. From it, Sun Wukong somersaulted down, landing lightly on the ground.
"Monkey King!"
With a mischievous grin, Sun Wukong approached. "Brother Yellow, I'm here to pay a visit!"
King Yellow Wind chuckled. "What brings you here, Monkey King? And why call yourself 'Old Sun' now?"
The Monkey King grinned, rubbing the back of his head.
"After I returned to Flower Fruit Mountain, I dealt with a rogue called the Mischief Demon King who was bullying my monkeys. My little ones started calling themselves First Sun, Second Sun... Sun after Sun... so I became Old Sun to sound grander!"
King Yellow Wind laughed heartily. "Always one for big titles, aren't you? But tell me, Monkey King, what's the purpose of your visit today?"
Sun Wukong's face grew serious.
"Brother Yellow, I've been drilling my little ones in combat—using bamboo as spears and wood as blades. But I'm worried that news might spread to nearby kings, be they human or beast. If they come with steel weapons, we'd be no match."
"I've been thinking: we need proper swords and spears. And you, Brother Yellow, are the best smith I know. Can you spare a few for Old Sun?"
King Yellow Wind smiled wryly. He recalled Sun Wukong's escapades with weapons in the original story.
The first time, he had plundered the armory of the human Ao Lai Kingdom, leaving its soldiers defenseless and its king helpless to retaliate.
The second time, he raided the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace, snatching the Ruyi Jingu Bang (Golden-Hooped Rod) and forcing the dragon kings to part with precious armor. This wasn't just robbery—it was daylight extortion.
Infuriated, the dragons took their grievances straight to the Jade Emperor, whose reluctance to act eventually set the stage for Wukong's celestial rebellion.
"Interesting," King Yellow Wind mused.
This time, rather than ransacking Ao Lai Kingdom or visiting the dragons, Sun Wukong had come directly to him.
"How many weapons are we talking about, Monkey King?"
"Nothing fancy," Wukong replied. "A thousand or so ordinary weapons—and maybe a few magical ones, if you have any to spare. Old Sun doesn't even have a weapon to call his own yet!"
King Yellow Wind raised an eyebrow.
A thousand? This monkey was ambitious.
"Monkey King," he began, "I can provide the common weapons easily. Magical weapons, however, are rare treasures."
"But," he added with a sly smile, "I have two conditions."
"Name them!"
"First, you'll help me with the forging process—hammering iron and shaping steel."
"Second, I'd like to visit Flower Fruit Mountain afterward. Let me pick a few treasures as payment."
"Fair deal, don't you think? Brothers are closer when their accounts are clear."
Sun Wukong chuckled. "Agreed! Old Sun will do his part."
King Yellow Wind leaned closer.
"Monkey King, it's not stinginess. The iron ore for these weapons is mined at Thousand Cavern Mountain, overseen by my General Rat. It's their effort, and they deserve proper compensation."
Sun Wukong nodded. "Fair enough. If they're compensated, they'll work harder for you."
With that, the two friends set out to forge the beginnings of an arsenal that would soon arm Flower Fruit Mountain's budding army.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。