The Emperor's New Burden

For the next two years, Ne Zha and Ao Bing existed in a state of ethereal limbo, their souls contained within the sacred lotus. In this spectral form, they had no need for sleep or sustenance, allowing them to spend every moment together.

Days blended into nights as the two friends-turned-soulmates delved into each other's pasts, sharing stories of lonely childhoods, the pain of being misunderstood, and dreams of acceptance and freedom. Ao Bing revealed the pressure he had felt as the dragon prince, his struggles with identity and purpose, while Ne Zha opened up in ways he never had before.

As time passed, their bond deepened beyond mere friendship. Physical boundaries ceased to exist in their spectral state, allowing for a level of intimacy that transcended the corporeal. They found comfort in each other's presence, often manifesting this closeness through ethereal touches - a hand on a shoulder, a gentle caress, or simply existing with their forms overlapping.

These gestures, impossible in their physical bodies, became a natural expression of their growing affection.

Their conversations ranged from playful banter to deep philosophical discussions, laughter and arguments intertwining as they grew in ways neither had thought possible. Ne Zha and Ao Bing's connection became something unique and profound, two halves of a whole, their souls so deeply entwined that the thought of separation seemed impossible.

As the two-year mark approached, they could feel a change coming. The energy within the lotus began to shift, signaling the approaching moment of their rebirth.

On the day they both turned 18, the lotus began to glow with an otherworldly light. Ne Zha and Ao Bing felt a pulling sensation, as if their very essences were being drawn into a more solid form.

"I guess this is it," Ne Zha said.

Ao Bing nodded, reaching out to interlace his ethereal fingers with Ne Zha's.

The lotus petals began to unfurl, releasing a blinding light that engulfed both of them. Ne Zha and Ao Bing felt a rush of sensation as their consciousness was pulled into newly formed physical bodies.

As the light faded, two figures emerged where the lotus had been. Ne Zha, despite being 18 years old, appeared once again in his familiar child-like form, his body once again constrained by the universe collar around his neck. His dark hair was tied up in two small buns, and the yang symbol on his forehead glowed softly beneath his bangs.

Beside him stood Ao Bing, now in his true 18-year-old form. His long, flowing hair shimmered with an ethereal blue-silver hue, and the yin symbol on his forehead pulsed gently. The contrast between them was stark - Ao Bing in his mature, princely form, and Ne Zha in his eternal child-like appearance.

Ne Zha looked down at his small hands, his eyebrow twitching with frustration. "Oh come on, how come you get to stay an adult?!" he grumbled, his voice high-pitched once more.

Ao Bing knelt down to Ne Zha's level, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It doesn't matter what form you're in, Ne Zha. You're still you."

Ne Zha's eyes met Ao Bing's and he turned away, rubbing the back of his neck.

Around them, the crowd watched in awe - Ne Zha's parents, Taiyi, and many of the villagers. They marveled at the sight of the two, once bitter enemies, now standing side by side as the closest of friends.

After an emotional reunion with his parents, Ne Zha wriggled out of their embrace. His mother suggested holding a celebration for their return, but Ne Zha shook his head.

"Sorry, but there's something I've been dying to do," Ne Zha declared.

Ao Bing looked at him, puzzled. "Ne Zha, what are you talking about? You never mentioned anything like this before."

Ne Zha looked up at him, grinning like the small demon he was. "You'll see."

Without further explanation, Ne Zha set off on his wind and fire wheels towards the heavenly palace, leaving a confused Ao Bing and his worried parents behind. His small form moved through the eastern sky like a comet, fueled by the pent-up frustration of being trapped for two years and his admittedly short temper.

Upon reaching the palace, Ne Zha boldly strode in, demanding an audience with the Heavenly Emperor. When he finally stood before the most powerful being in existence, Ne Zha pointed an accusatory finger.

"Hey, old man! I've got a bone to pick with you," Ne Zha declared loudly.

The Heavenly Emperor looked down at the child-like figure before him, bemused. "Oh? And what could a small child possibly have to say to me?"

Ne Zha's eye twitched at the dismissal. "First off, grandpa, I'm challenging you for trying to kill me. And second, you're going to release the dragons from their underwater prison!"

The Emperor chuckled, clearly not taking Ne Zha seriously. "Run along, little one. I have no time for children's games."

Ne Zha's face darkened, but then he suddenly broke into a carefree grin. "You're right, my bad. I'll just be going then."

He turned as if to leave, taking a few steps towards the exit. The Emperor, satisfied, began to turn away. Suddenly, Ne Zha spun around, his body erupting into flames as he launched himself at the Emperor with incredible speed.

"Gotcha!" Ne Zha yelled, his fire-tipped spear snapping into his hands as he attacked.

Ne Zha's surprise attack caught the Heavenly Emperor off guard and the battle quickly escalated. Ne Zha, despite his small stature, moved with incredible speed and agility, his fire-tipped spear leaving trails of flame wherever it touched.

The Emperor, recovering from his initial shock, summoned his divine powers. Bolts of golden celestial energy slicing through the air, meeting Ne Zha's flames in explosive collisions. The very foundations of the heavenly palace shook with each impact.

Ne Zha utilized his wind and fire wheels to great effect, zipping around the Emperor and launching attacks from all angles. His six arms manifested, each wielding a handful of flame, creating a whirlwind of fire and destruction.

The Emperor retaliated with waves of divine light, each blast powerful enough to reshape mountains. But Ne Zha's small size and incredible speed made him a difficult target. He weaved through the attacks, retaliating with bursts of hellfire that scorched the Emperor's robes and long white eyebrows.

As the battle raged on, it spilled out of the palace and into the heavenly realm itself. The sky turned a chaotic mix of gold and red as divine energy clashed with demonic fire. 

Before long, Ne Zha's relentless assault began to wear down the Emperor and as the final clash subsided, the Heavenly Palace lay in ruins around them. Pillars of celestial jade were shattered, and the once-pristine halls were scorched into char. Ne Zha stood over the Emperor, his fire-tipped spear pointed at the divine being's throat.

The Emperor, his robes tattered and singed, raised a trembling hand. "Enough," he gasped, "I... I yield."

Ne Zha lowered his spear, his small chest heaving with exertion. "So... does this mean you'll free the dragons?"

The Emperor chuckled weakly, pushing himself to a sitting position. "Young Ne Zha, I'm afraid it's not that simple. You've done far more than secure the dragons' freedom."

Ne Zha tilted his head, confused. "What do you mean?"

The Emperor's expression turned solemn. "By defeating me in combat, you've invoked an ancient heavenly law. You, Ne Zha, are now the new Heavenly Emperor."

"What?!" Ne Zha exclaimed, taking a step back in shock.

The Emperor sighed, running a hand through his mussed hair. "Indeed. And with this position comes ascension to true godhood."

As he spoke, a warm light began to envelop Ne Zha like an aura, and the lotus prince began to feel a tingling sensation on his skin, arcs of golden energy flickering off of him in a mesmerizing light-show. He swatted at these like mosquitoes, as though trying to scare them away.

"You are no longer merely Ne Zha, the third lotus prince," the Emperor continued. "You are now Ne Zha, God of Fire and Filial Piety, ruler of the heavenly realm and all its deities."

Ne Zha's jaw dropped. "HAH!? Did I hit you too hard, old man!?" Ne Zha protested again, waving his hands frantically. He began to pace back and forth, his small form still radiating golden divine energy. "Can't I just free the dragons and call it a day?!"

The Emperor shook his head, a wry smile on his face.

 As the implications of his impulsive challenge sank in, Ne Zha groaned. He had sought revenge and freedom for the dragons, but instead, he had inadvertently bound himself to the very position he was least suited for. The irony wasn't lost on him - in his quest for freedom, he had shackled himself to the ultimate responsibility.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

"No, no, no," Ne Zha protested, shaking his head vigorously. "This isn't right. I can't be the Emperor! I'm not cut out for this stuffy, rule-following bull!"

He stopped pacing and pointed towards the direction of the mortal realms entrance. "Ao Bing! He'd be perfect for this job. He's responsible, level-headed, and actually likes following rules. Why can't he be the Emperor instead?"

The former Emperor sighed, pushing himself to his feet. Despite his defeat, there was a hint of amusement in his eyes as he watched Ne Zha's tantrum.

"I'm afraid it doesn't work that way, young Ne Zha," he explained patiently. "The heavenly laws are clear. You defeated me in combat, and thus, you are the new Emperor. It's not a position you can simply hand off to someone else, no matter how suitable you think they might be."

Ne Zha groaned, tugging at his hair in frustration. "But I'm reckless! Impulsive! I can't sit still for five minutes, let alone rule the heavens! This job will suffocate me!"

The Emperor placed a hand on Ne Zha's shoulder, his touch surprisingly gentle. "I understand your concerns, but you don't truly have a choice in this matter. The heavens have acknowledged you as their new ruler."

Before the emperor could say anything more, Ne Zha swatted at the emperor's hand and stormed out of the heavenly golden palace. H needed to get away, to put as much distance between him and his mistake as possible. And much more, he needed to talk to someone, someone who would understand his fears and frustrations.

Without a second thought, Ne Zha summoned his wind and fire wheels, leaping onto them and speeding away from the celestial realm. He descended towards the mortal world, his destination clear in his mind - Ao Bing.

As he approached his parents' palace, Ne Zha landed in the courtyard, his wheels dissipating as he rushed inside, practically still vibrating with agitation. 

Ao Bing was already waiting for him, kneeling on the floor in quiet contemplation. The dragon prince looked up, startled by Ne Zha's sudden entrance and the waves of frustration rolling off him.

"Ne Zha, what's wrong?" Ao Bing asked, "You look like you're about to burst into flames at any moment."

Ne Zha paced back and forth, his hands gesticulating wildly as he spoke. "You won't believe what just happened, Ao Bing. They're trying to make me the new Heavenly Emperor!"

Ao Bing's eyes widened, his mouth falling open in shock. "The Heavenly Emperor? You? But how did this happen?"

Ne Zha let out a groan of frustration. "I challenged the old Emperor to a fight, and I won. But apparently, that means I have to take his place now."

Ao Bing watched as Ne Zha continued to pace, his small feet wearing a path in the palace floor. "I see... I can only imagine how overwhelmed you must feel."

"Overwhelmed doesn't even begin to cover it," Ne Zha said, his voice rising with each word. "Ao Bing, you should be the Emperor, not me. I'm just a reckless troublemaker, I'll make a mess of everything!"

Ao Bing couldn't help but chuckle at Ne Zha's self-description. "A reckless troublemaker, huh? Well, I can't argue with that."

As Ne Zha continued his rant, Ao Bing listened patiently, a contemplative look on his face. When Ne Zha paused for breath, Ao Bing finally spoke.

"Ne Zha, I understand your frustration, but perhaps this is an opportunity in disguise. The heavens work in mysterious ways, and if you've been chosen for this role, there must be a reason behind it."

Ne Zha looked up at Ao Bing, his eyes wide with uncertainty. "But what if I mess everything up? What if I'm a terrible Emperor?"

Ao Bing smiled at his friend, "I'll be by your side, you won't have to make any difficult decisions alone."

Ne Zha's shoulders slumped, and he let out a sigh. "I just don't want to sit in a chair all day and do paperwork. It sounds so boring!"

"I can take care of that, too." Ao Bing laughed, "Besides, "I'm sure we can come up with some creative solutions to keep you from getting too bored."

Ne Zha finally stopped pacing and plopped down on the floor, resting his head on Ao Bing's lap. He looked up at his friend, his eyes wide and vulnerable. "You promise you won't leave me, right? You'll stay by my side?"

Ao Bing's expression softened, and he gently stroked Ne Zha's hair. "Of course, Ne Zha. I'll always be here for you, no matter what. We're in this together, little monster."

As they sat there together, Ne Zha's fears and frustrations slowly began to ease. With Ao Bing by his side, perhaps being the Heavenly Emperor wouldn't be so bad after all. Well, perhaps bad but not as bad.

As Ne Zha settled into his new role as the Heavenly Emperor, his first order of business was to fulfill his promise to Ao Bing.

determined to free the dragons from their underwater prison without releasing the evil spirits trapped there, delved deep into the ancient archives of the celestial realm. He spent countless hours studying the intricate magical seals and barriers that kept the dragons confined, searching for a way to break them without unleashing the malevolent entities.

After days of tireless research, Ne Zha finally discovered a solution. He learned of a powerful artifact known as the Dragon Orb, which had the ability to selectively break the seals imprisoning the dragons while maintaining the barriers that held the evil spirits at bay.

With the Dragon Orb in hand, Ne Zha descended to the underwater palace, accompanied by a group of elite celestial warriors. Together, they fought their way through the labyrinthine corridors, battling the malevolent spirits that sought to escape their confinement.

Finally, they reached the central chamber where the center of the formation was. Ne Zha held the Dragon Orb aloft, channeling his divine power into the artifact. The orb pulsed with a brilliant light, and suddenly, the seals that had held the dragons captive for so long shattered.

The dragon clan, led by Ao Guang, emerged from their watery prison, their scales glistening in the sunlight as they stretched to the sky for the first time in centuries.

Ao Bing watched serenely as his family was finally freed, his heart swelling. He turned to his friend, enveloping him in a tight hug and squeezing almost until Ne Zha was out of breath. "Thank you, Ne Zha. You have no idea how much this means to me and my people."

Ne Zha grinned, puffing out his chest. "Of course, Ao Bing. I promised you I would make things right. What sort of man would I be if I didn't keep my promises?"

Ne Zha couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. He had fulfilled his promise to Ao Bing, proving that he was capable of great things as the Heavenly Emperor.

However, as Ne Zha began to navigate the complex world of celestial politics, he quickly realized that his new role would not be as easy as he had hoped. Despite his incredible power and the fact that he had defeated the previous Emperor in combat, the other gods and goddesses seemed reluctant to take him seriously.

In meeting after meeting, Ne Zha found himself struggling to assert his authority. The older deities would exchange amused glances whenever he spoke, their eyes flickering to his childlike form with barely concealed mirth. It was as if they couldn't see past his youthful appearance to the powerful being within.

Frustration began to build within Ne Zha as he watched his ideas and proposals being dismissed or ignored. He turned to Ao Bing for support, hoping that the dragon prince's calm demeanor and wisdom would help him navigate these challenges.

And as time passed, Ne Zha found himself struggling with a different kind of frustration.

His growing feelings for Ao Bing.