- In Marvel: I Start by Marrying Scarlett Witch [Complete]
- MWM Chapter 581
“Hahaha, your master Yuding Zhenren has given me too much credit. This is merely my duty. As for contributions to the world, the Heavenly Lord has done just as much, if not more.”
The Jade Emperor laughed, stroking his beard.
Back when the Jade Emperor was just a boy serving by Hongjun’s side, the Three Purities were already great powers in the Three Realms.
Later, he was fortunate to be bestowed the title of Jade Emperor by Hongjun, assuming the role of the ruler of the Three Realms. Yet, deep down, he remained wary of the Three Purities.
He knew that angering any one of them could result in the destruction of his Heavenly Court.
While it would undoubtedly anger Hongjun, the Jade Emperor’s standing in Hongjun’s eyes would plummet, and the likelihood of being replaced was significant.
Therefore, hearing such praise from Yuding Zhenren, a disciple of the Heavenly Lord of Primordial Beginning, pleased him greatly—it indicated respect from the Heavenly Lord.
“But I never expected that some deities in the Heavenly Court would dare to misuse the authority of Heaven, under the guise of Your Majesty’s might, to act tyrannically in the mortal realm. While my master Yuding Zhenren was in seclusion at Kunlun, they forcibly broke into my guarded cave and brazenly attempted to steal the Taoist scriptures of my Chan Sect.
It’s as if they hold neither Your Majesty, the Chan Sect, nor the Heavenly Lord in any regard!”
Leo’s tone suddenly shifted, brimming with indignation.
“Humph! Who dares to act so boldly?”
The Jade Emperor’s face darkened with anger.
Leo raised his hand, pointing directly at the Great Golden Crow.
“Your Majesty, it is none other than the Great Golden Crow. Today, while I was meditating at the cave as instructed by my master, the Great Golden Crow, leading celestial soldiers, surrounded Yushan Mountain, attempting to forcefully break in.
I tried to dissuade him with kind words, but he attacked me outright.
Once he barged into the cave, he took advantage of his status to attempt to steal the various Taoist techniques and scriptures placed there by my master.”
“How dare you, Great Golden Crow! Is this true?”
The Jade Emperor furrowed his brows and glared at the Great Golden Crow.
This was no trivial matter.
Forcibly breaking into a disciple’s cave, stealing Taoist techniques—such rumors would severely tarnish the Heavenly Court’s reputation, and his own. If the Heavenly Lord of Primordial Beginning held him accountable, the consequences would be grave.
“Your Majesty, it’s not like that. I was simply…”
The Great Golden Crow tried to explain, but Leo interrupted again.
“Your Majesty, I have evidence—a recording stone!”
Leo pulled out a stone, infused it with magic, and a virtual image appeared in the Celestial Hall.
The image showed the Great Golden Crow, leading celestial soldiers to surround Yushan Mountain. Leo appeared, smiling as he tried to explain something. The Great Golden Crow looked menacing. Despite Leo’s calm demeanor, the Great Golden Crow threw his golden wheel, initiating an attack, which Leo deflected with ease.
The footage then showed the Great Golden Crow attempting another attack.
The scene shifted to the cave interior, freezing on the moment when the Great Golden Crow was staring directly at the Taoist scriptures.
Though the recording lacked sound, the visual evidence was compelling, corroborating Leo’s story.
Leo remained courteous throughout, while the Great Golden Crow appeared aggressive, launching unprovoked attacks. The final frame, of him staring at the scriptures, was particularly damning.
The Jade Emperor’s veins bulged with anger.
If not for the Great Golden Crow being his eldest son, he might have immediately ordered his banishment to the mortal realm to preempt any dissatisfaction from the Heavenly Lord.
“Your Majesty, if not for my cultivation, I might have been beaten to death from the start. By the time my master returns, all he’d find would be my corpse and an empty cave.
Such actions, even though the Great Golden Crow is Your Majesty’s son, surely demand fair judgment, don’t they?”
Leo escalated the situation further, from a break-in and theft to an attempted murder and robbery of Taoist techniques.
“Great Golden Crow, is there any falsehood in this recording? Speak truthfully now!”
The Jade Emperor still clung to the hope that the footage was magically fabricated by Leo.
Flustered, the Great Golden Crow quickly bowed and replied, “The recording is genuine, but the situation is not as it seems…”
The Great Golden Crow wanted to explain that the footage was incomplete and misleading. He had merely been following orders to capture the three Yang siblings and had no intention of stealing Taoist techniques.
But Leo wasn’t about to let him speak.
“Your Majesty, since the Great Golden Crow has admitted the recording’s authenticity, there’s nothing more to say.
If Your Majesty, out of familial affection, is reluctant to act, then I will wait here in the Heavenly Court for seven days until the other disciples return from seclusion and report this matter to the Heavenly Lord for justice.”
“Great Golden Crow, how dare you commit such a grave offense! Guards, seize him and banish him to the mortal realm, just like Yaoji!”
The Jade Emperor slammed the table and issued the command.
Though reluctant, the evidence left him no choice but to make this decision.
“Father, it’s not what you think! Please listen to my explanation!”
Seeing two celestial guards approach to take him away, the Great Golden Crow panicked.
But the Jade Emperor, consumed by anger, wasn’t in the mood to listen.
“Wait!”
At that moment, a grand and powerful female deity, flanked by several celestial maidens, flew in and seated herself beside the Jade Emperor.
It was the Queen Mother, returning after taking control of the Desire Realm in the Fourth Heaven following Yaoji’s banishment.
“Your Majesty, calm your anger. What crime has the Great Golden Crow committed to warrant banishment?” she asked gently.
The Jade Emperor recounted the entire incident to her.
“This Great Golden Crow has been so foolish. If I don’t banish him, how will I maintain authority? How will I explain this to the Heavenly Lord?”
“Your Majesty, let’s not be hasty. First, hear what the Great Golden Crow has to say. If the facts are as stated, there will be time for punishment.”
The Queen Mother, not easily swayed, sensed something amiss.
She knew the Great Golden Crow well—he was inflexible and single-minded in following orders, but to covet Taoist techniques and resort to murder? That, she couldn’t believe.
“Very well, Great Golden Crow, explain yourself.”
With the Queen Mother’s intervention, the Jade Emperor’s anger subsided somewhat, and he allowed the Great Golden Crow to speak.
The Great Golden Crow detailed everything—from receiving information about the Yang siblings’ whereabouts near Yushan Mountain to the subsequent events.
After hearing this, the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother felt that if the Great Golden Crow’s account was truthful, his actions, while rash, weren’t entirely wrong.
“Empty words! Who knows if you were truly after the criminals or just coveting our Taoist techniques? Anyway, I have the recording stone. If necessary, I’ll summon all the deities in the Three Realms to judge this matter together.”
Leo raised his head defiantly, ready to escalate the issue, leaving the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother with a splitting headache.
(End of this chapter)