Traveling Through Journey to the West: I Am the Dragon King

Yun Chonghua left the Heavenly Realm and arrived in Nanyang.

After descending from the clouds, he concealed his magical powers and changed into the clothes he usually wore when walking in the mortal world.

After inquiring about "Anning Village" from neighbors and passersby, they went straight to the village to search for the whereabouts of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.

Anning Village is a rural mountain village where the villagers live nestled against the mountainside. Because it is a mountain village, the population is small and the roads are underdeveloped. It is indeed a secluded place.

Yun Chonghua entered the village and was immediately met by an old woman carrying a basket of hemp. He stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and asked, "Excuse me, ma'am, is there anyone in this village named 'Cowherd'?"

Upon hearing this, the old woman frowned slightly, then looked Yun Chonghua up and down.

In their remote mountain village, the villagers would be very wary if a stranger of unknown identity suddenly appeared.

The old woman did not answer directly, but instead asked, "Who are you?"

Upon hearing this, Yun Chonghua made an excuse, saying, "I am the brother of Niulang's wife. My elder sister has married far away here, and my father is truly worried about her. He specially sent me to give her some money to help her make a living."

Upon hearing this, the old woman said, "Oh! So you are the brother of the Cowherd's wife. You are not an outsider. I was just on my way home to deliver some hemp straw to your skillful sister who is good at spinning thread. In that case, you may come with me."

Hearing the old woman's words, Yun Chonghua was overjoyed. He thanked her and followed her into the mountains.

Along the way, the old woman continued to praise the Weaver Girl's skillful hands in front of Yun Chonghua, saying that her skillful weaving had helped the villagers a great deal.

They also praised him and the Weaver Girl, saying they were both good-looking and clearly came from wealthy city families, unlike the villagers like themselves. They also praised the Cowherd for his good fortune in marrying such a virtuous wife.

Upon hearing this, Yun Chonghua could only echo his sentiments.

A moment later, Yun Chonghua followed the old woman to a fenced courtyard on the mountainside.

Yun Chonghua looked up and saw that the courtyard had no walls, only a fence around the outside. The houses in the courtyard were thatched huts built of stones from the mountains.

Two children, around four or five years old, were squatting and playing in the yard. The girl looked slightly older than the boy.

There is a cowshed in this yard, but the old cow is nowhere to be seen.

Meanwhile, from the annex on one side of the main house, the continuous sound of looms could be heard.

Although the environment here looks very poor.

But the courtyard was very clean and tidy. Everything, from the farming tools to the piles of things in the yard, was in perfect order.

Just then, the old woman stood outside the fence and called out, "Cowherd's wife! Look who's here!"

The weaver, who was weaving inside the house, stopped her loom when she heard the shouts from outside the courtyard.

She looked out the window and saw Yun Chonghua, who was as handsome as a celestial being, standing next to the old woman. She couldn't help but frown.

The Weaver Girl took her magical shuttle from the loom and hid it in her sleeve. She then slowly walked out of the house.

Yun Chonghua looked up and sized up the Weaver Girl in front of him.

The Weaver Girl was dressed in coarse linen clothes, and her hair, which was coiled up, was wrapped in a headscarf. Her current appearance was no different from that of an ordinary village woman.

The only thing that didn't match her outfit was her angelic beauty.

The Weaver Girl put the hand that was hiding the shuttle behind her back, and then quickly stood in front of her child.

She looked at the old woman and Yun Chonghua and said, "So it's Aunt Che. Is this person next to you a relative of yours?"

Upon seeing that the Weaver Girl did not recognize Yun Chonghua, the old woman immediately became wary. She turned around to look at Yun Chonghua.

Yun Chonghua didn't want to involve ordinary people, so he explained, "Sister Caizhi, it's been many years since we last met. Why don't you recognize me? Your parents are worried about you since you married far away. So they sent me to bring you some gold and silver."

After hearing Yun Chonghua's words, the Weaver Girl was completely convinced of his identity. She looked at the two children behind her, and then at Granny Che in front of her.

The Weaver Girl, seizing the opportunity, said, "Oh! So it's you, little brother. When I left home to marry here, you were just a child. Now you've grown up so fast. If you hadn't mentioned my given name, I really wouldn't have recognized you!"

The old woman's expression softened somewhat upon hearing the Weaver Girl's admission.

The old woman laughed and said, "It's understandable that you siblings don't recognize each other after so long."

The old woman then handed the basket to the Weaver Girl, saying, "Cowherd's wife, this is some hemp grass that I gathered while digging for herbs on the mountain. You're the only one in the village skilled in weaving, so I'm giving it to you. Today you and your brother are reunited, so this old woman won't disturb you any longer. I'll be going now!"

The Weaver Girl took the bamboo basket from the old woman, then looked at the two children behind her and said, "Auntie Che, please wait."

The Weaver Girl called out to the old woman who was about to leave, then went back into the house and took out some prepared tea and rice, which she put into a basket.

The Weaver Girl, carrying a basket of simple food, stepped forward and said to the old woman, "Auntie Che, it's noon, and I was going to deliver lunch to my husband. But my brothers came to visit, and I really can't leave. I'd like to trouble you, Auntie Che, to take this food to my husband for me."

The Weaver Girl often helped the old woman with her skillful hands, and the old woman quickly took the food basket and said, "Okay, then I'll help you with this trip."

The Weaver Girl bent down and instructed her two children, "Children, didn't you want to go to the fields?"

Do you want to play with Daddy? Mommy has to stay home to entertain Uncle, so I can't go with you. Would you like to go with Grandma Che instead?

The boy laughed and cheered, but the girl tilted her head and looked at Yun Chonghua, saying, "Mother! I want to play with Uncle!"

Upon hearing this, the Weaver Girl felt a pang of bitterness in her heart.

The Weaver Girl said, "Uncle is very busy and will only stay at our house for a short while before leaving. After Mother 'sends' Uncle off, she will go to the fields to find you."

Hearing her mother's words, the little girl innocently replied, "Okay." She blinked at Yun Chonghua, then said, "Then Uncle, come play with us later!"

Faced with the child's innocent invitation, Yun Chonghua was quite embarrassed. He didn't say anything, but just nodded silently.

Then the two children followed Granny Che down the mountain slowly.

At this moment, Yun Chonghua took the opportunity to throw out the ghost money.

After Granny Che led the two children around the mountain path, the Weaver Girl's smiling face instantly fell.

She hid the celestial shuttle behind her back and looked at Yun Chonghua, asking, "Who exactly are you? Although you have concealed your immortal aura, judging from your appearance, you are definitely not an ordinary person."

Seeing the Weaver Girl's hostile expression, Yun Chonghua said, "Weaver Girl, don't be nervous. I am Yun Chonghua, the Dragon Lord of Sishui. I was secretly sent here by the Queen."

Upon hearing the words "Dragon Lord of Sishui," the Weaver Girl couldn't help but take a few steps back, widening the distance between herself and Yun Chonghua.

The Weaver Girl said, "So it's you, you murderous wretch! I heard about your deeds before I descended to the mortal realm. You climbed over the corpse of the Seventh Princess's husband to curry favor with His Majesty and the Empress, and that's how you gained your current glory. Now you're still not satisfied, and you want to curry favor with the Empress again, coming here to make trouble for me?"