1251: Chapter 369: The Tribulation of the Heaven-Earth Ferryman 1251: Chapter 369: The Tribulation of the Heaven-Earth Ferryman The snow had blanketed the entire mountain, yet the heavy snowfall continued unabated, seemingly without end.
Two days had passed, and the enthusiasm of Changfeng City had not been dampened by the snow; instead, it had grown even livelier.
The liveliness lasted all night long.
The grand ceremony was to be held today.
Last night, Ya Ya was forcibly taken back to the City Lord’s Mansion.
After a few trips by the maids of the City Lord’s Mansion failed to bring her back, Green Snake came in person.
At the foot of East Mountain, she looked up only once.
Ya Ya obediently dropped the shrimp shells and returned to the City Lord’s Mansion.
That Green Snake possessed an authority resembling that of a “Prime Minister,” showing no impropriety even in the presence of the many Dragon Turtles, Phoenixes.
Even Xuanzhen Taoist treated her with utmost respect.
Only in the presence of Su He would a hint of playfulness appear, as if she were still the Green Snake from Snake Valley.
After decades of holding real power in Changfeng City, Green Snake’s authority went without saying.
Commoners were one thing, but even the Cultivators, including Xuanzhen Old Taoist, took her seriously—had this snake awakened unimaginable power?
Su He once asked Xuanzhen Taoist.
Xuanzhen Taoist chuckled: “Indeed, that’s the truth!”
This Little Green Snake truly had the capability of a Prime Minister—ruling over a small kingdom like Ya Ya’s was actually beneath her great talents.
At the very least, she would need a realm unified like the Sealed Emperor Great World to truly demonstrate her abilities!
As Ya Ya walked the Imperial’s Tao, Green Snake served as her able advisor, creating a path that was smooth and unobstructed!
The City Lord’s Mansion was decked out with lights and decorations.
Cultivators need no sleep, and commoners were too excited to rest today.
Ya Ya, trapped in the Government office, her tiny body at the mercy of several terrifying demon kings.
Four great Confucian scholars tirelessly repeated their instructions on the etiquette for the ceremony of becoming a king.
Where to step, how many steps to take, and what they symbolize…
How to read the royal edict, where to pause, and where to imbue deep emotion…
Ya Ya, overwhelmed, her eyes filled with fear, had for the first time the thought…
perhaps not to become a king.
At this moment, being a City Lord didn’t seem so bad.
If this were a battlefield, she would have already thrown away her helmet and armor in retreat.
But Aunt Qing was right by her side, and her pleas were useless.
Next to her, an Attendant held ceremonial clothes for the scholars to inspect, fearful of even the slightest mistake.
Despite being declared a king, Ya Ya’s ceremonial attire was not the crown and gown typical of a king’s distant travels, but was strikingly similar to the emperor’s crown and Dragon Robe.
Perhaps it was because there was no emperor above her as king?
The Dragon Robe was not simply embroidered with dragons, but with motifs of Dragon, Phoenix, Tortoise, and Qilin, and lightning adorning the collar.
A small garment, yet exquisitely detailed.
Ya Ya glanced at the royal attire, then back at her own crimson Armor, looking almost pleadingly at Green Snake.
“Green Cloth, let me wear the Armor!
We’re fighting for the world, not accepting a title of nobility…”
Green Snake bowed, her demeanor respectful: “That won’t do!”
Her refusal was adamant.
“Yah, yah, yah!” Ya Ya raged; she had been raging since she was forcefully taken back last night, but to no avail—Aunt Qing was unpersuaded.
“I am the king!
Is not a king supposed to do whatever he wishes, his words like imperial edicts beyond reproach?
Why can’t I even decide what clothes I want to wear!”
She had not a shred of freedom, not even as much as the dog Prosperity!
Ya Ya enviously eyed the big black dog gnawing on a bone below.
Green Snake looked at her: “In terms of freedom, a king is less free than a beggar.
If you desire freedom, Your Majesty may become ‘Turtle Su,’ but she cannot be ‘Zhou King Su Man!'”
At the mention of this name, even Green Snake’s eyes filled with helplessness.
The little girl had compromised on everything except her name!
Her true name was Su, and that could not be changed by anyone.
But a Dragon Turtle has not only a true name but also a common name to be called by ordinary people.
Like Gu Luo, Green Thunder.
The ministers from the court originally intended to choose a serious name, but the girl was adamant about Su Man, refusing to change it.
Had it not been for the ignorance that Dragon Turtle names could only be a single character at the time of breaking the shell to transform, she would have been named Su Man then.
The moment the name “Su Man” was uttered, her surname Su was set in stone.
Dragon Turtle Su, City Lord Su Man!
Ya Ya’s face showed despair: “And this royal edict for the crowning is so lengthy…
I can’t memorize it…
Can I just not recite it, and perhaps Aunt Qing could prompt me with a voice transfer at that time?”
Green Snake remained respectful: “That is not allowed!”
Ya Ya: “…”
Rebellious people!
Treacherous subjects!
Grinding her teeth in resentment, she suddenly heard a raspy voice: “Little girl, if you do not wish to do it, why trouble yourself?
If you don’t become a king, wouldn’t that be fine?”
Ya Ya pouted: “That’s not what I want at all!”
It had been hard enough to come this far!
Turning toward the source of the voice, she saw that an old crone, leaning on a Dragon Head Walking Stick, had appeared beside the black dog, smiling kindly at her.
An old crone appeared out of nowhere, yet the guards of the City Lord’s Mansion did not react.
Even the ministers below did not stir, remaining as still as if time had been frozen for them.
Outside Changfeng City, where Su He was watching the fireworks, he immediately turned his head towards the mansion and took a step to enter the city, only to be stopped by Thai Zu.
“Hehe, no need to rush.
If a rat shows up, there will be a cat to deal with it—though our family doesn’t have a cat, we do have a dog!”
Su He fell silent: “Grand Ancestor, did you already know someone would come?”
Thai Zu smiled: “Even if a rat hides in a gutter for a thousand years, it will come out once it smells blood.”
Su He squinted toward the City Lord’s Mansion but could see nothing out of the ordinary, everything appeared normal to him.
Only the Daozu Finger Bone pulsating within the External Space indicated the unrest inside.
“Who’s inside?” Su He asked.
“Eh?
Who are you?” Ya Ya tilted her head, looking at the old crone on the stairs.
The old crone chuckled, her face full of wrinkles bunching up, extremely ugly, her voice hoarse: “Well…
when I was young, the children called me Granny Li, so I suppose my name is ‘Li’!”
“Li?” Ya Ya pondered for a moment and shook her head: “Never heard of it!”
The old crone laughed heartily: “That’s alright, no matter!
Most people have never heard my name.
But this old granny has lived long and seen much, and I simply cannot bear to see a tender sprout like you in trouble.
Little girl…
would it not be better not to be a king?”