Indian Mythology: the Heavenly Emperor is not working today
Chapter 56 - 56 56 In Praise of Airavata Unfilial Child Seeking Continued Readership

56: Chapter 56: In Praise of Airavata, Unfilial Child (Seeking Continued Readership) 56: Chapter 56: In Praise of Airavata, Unfilial Child (Seeking Continued Readership) Thump!

Thump!

Thump!

Thump!

Thump!

The eyes of the gods sharpened, and their faces turned in unison toward the lake.

Sprays of water jetted from Airavata’s long trunk, showering down into the lake, where misty waves reflected a rainbow of seven colors.

Roar!!!

At that moment, the resounding trumpet of the elephant echoed forth.

“Pristine and pure, grand and mighty~”

“King among elephants, oh, White Elephant~”

“White Elephant ah!”

The Ritual Master Immortal, with a smile on his face and arms spread wide, began to sing praises rhythmically as he slowly approached the White Elephant.

Roar?!!!

Airavata cocked its head, looking at the gods and voiced its confusion amidst the melody.

Stomp!

Stomp!

Wind God Vayu and Water God Varuna took quick steps, the sound of stomping accompanying their chant.

“The mount of Heavenly Emperor Indra, the extraordinary king amongst all beasts, with a body white as snow~”

“Summoner of wind and rain, invincible in all respects~”

“White Elephant~”

“White Elephant ah!”

The two deities walked side by side; with a flash of divine light in their hands, a golden shawl materialized and they flung it into the air, where it landed gracefully upon the White Elephant’s form, its golden silk obscuring the brilliance.

Sun God Surya and Fire God Agni, smiling continuously, also began to sing praises together.

“Mighty is the White Elephant, that calls forth thunder and lightning~”

“King among elephants!”

“White Elephant~”

“White Elephant ah!”

Surya threw his hands into the sky, and countless sun rays transformed into golden marigolds that descended from the heavens.

The flames in Fire God Agni’s hands suddenly rose, turning into a red powder as if crushed from petals, and he tossed it into the air where it drifted down, staining Airavata’s body with red.

Golden flowers fluttered while red powder danced in the air.

Achoo~

Airavata couldn’t help but wrap its long trunk and let out a loud sneeze.

The Ritual Master Immortal stepped across the lake waters, rippling the surface, and walked up to Airavata, holding up a golden ring aglow with the light of jewels, placing it upon Airavata’s head as he continued to sing.

“White Elephant’s treasured glow, aiding the creation of clouds and rain!”

“Its trumpet shakes the heavens, revered by all beings, the auspicious White Elephant churned from the Milk Sea, with wisdom too vast for even three heads to contain~”

“White Elephant~”

“White Elephant ah!”

At this moment, the gods joined their voices together.

“White Elephant ah!!!”

In the midst of the Immortal’s and gods’ songs of praise, Airavata gradually lost itself in excitement, kicking the ground with its back feet, lifting its front legs high, and trumpeting to the sky.

Roar!!!

With the trumpeting, water splashed in all directions.

As the singing ended, the gods, with genial smiles, gathered around White Elephant Airavata.

“Airavata!”

“You are a symbol of purity, nobility, and flawlessness, representing Heavenly Emperor’s power over clouds and rain!”

“Now we bestow upon you a challenging task!”

“We believe you can accomplish it!”

The Ritual Master Immortal declared.

Roar?

Airavata flapped its large ears, eyes wide with curiosity.

…

Kailash.

Mahadeva Shiva touched the ground with one foot, the other resting upon his knee, maintaining his original posture.

He nodded slightly.

“The Devas have found a way, the Heavenly Emperor’s asceticism may continue now,”

Shiva said.

Mahadeva Shiva, he too is the protector of ascetics!

He protects ascetics, and killing one would incur his wrath.

Nandi stood by, ears twitching, gazing reverently at the Supreme Lord, though a hint of confusion crossed his face.

Hands joined in prayer, he tilted his head, puzzled.

“Supreme Lord!”

“Is what the Heavenly Emperor is doing also a form of asceticism?

He doesn’t seem to be in pain.”

Nandi inquired.

Shiva lowered his gaze to his divine steed and smiled gently.

“Nandi, you practice asceticism under me, are you happy?”

Shiva asked.

“Of course, I am happy!”

Nandi responded immediately.

With a slight smile, Shiva remained silent, then lowered his foot, slowly rose, and descended from the stone platform.

“It’s time to pick a bouquet of flowers for Parvati!”

Smiling, Shiva left, leaving behind a contemplative Nandi.

…

Heavenly Realm.

Palaces upon palaces, terraces abound.

Dark towers with pointed tops rose within the Heavenly Realm, emitting a dim glow.

“Master!”

“When will Indra emerge?”

Jīnchuáng frowned deeply, his patience wearing thin, and with a tinge of impatience, he looked towards Sukhacara Sage.

The master is becoming increasingly less useful!

“What’s the hurry!”

“He’ll be out soon!”

The Sukhacara Sage remained calm.

Jīnchuáng suppressed his restless irritability and clenched his fists tighter, lamenting the excessive time he had wasted on this Indra, and yet after all these years, he had not even caught a glimpse of his enemy.

At that moment, dark clouds suddenly surged in the distance of the Heavenly Realm.

The black clouds tumbled and the fierce wind howled, as fine drops of rain began to cascade obliquely in the Heavenly Realm, moistening everything in sight.

“He’s coming!”

“Indra is coming!”

The Sukhacara Sage’s gaze sharpened as he coldly proclaimed.

“He’s finally here!”

“Indra!”

Jīnchuáng covered his cheeks with his hands, his golden vertical pupils visible through the gaps between his fingers, quivering with a voice tinged with the joy akin to that of a farmer awaiting a bountiful harvest.

Roar!!!

Suddenly, an exhilarating trumpet of an elephant echoed through the air.

“That’s Indra’s mount!”

The Sukhacara Sage continued.

Jīnchuáng’s heart swelled with elation, his fingers repeatedly clenching and unclenching as he contemplated how to forcefully suppress Indra later.

The sky was shrouded with black clouds when a flash of white suddenly emerged.

“He’s here!”

Jīnchuáng’s eyes widened.

Whoosh!

In the next instant, a huge three-headed White Elephant walked out of the black clouds.

The White Elephant wore golden chains on its head and was draped in elegant divine silk, with glittering gold anklets encircling its mountainous limbs, and its whole being shone resplendently.

“A White Elephant?!”

Jīnchuáng’s eyes widened as he slowly furrowed his brows.

He looked around, the Power of the Heavens spreading out from within him, searching for traces of Indra.

“Nowhere!

How can he not be here!”

“Where are you, Indra!”

Jīnchuáng said in disbelief.

A nameless rage began to rise from his heart, burning fiercely.

He stared intently at the three-headed White Elephant Airavata, watched as the elephant flew to the Mortal Realm, and then, with a curl of its trunk like a water spout, it began to pour Amrita down in the Mortal Realm.

And then…

The White Elephant casually tread on the clouds and flew away.

“The Heavenly Emperor is clever indeed; he probably guessed that we were waiting for him!”

“This White Elephant was his probe!”

The Sukhacara Sage displayed a reflective expression and spoke in a measured tone.

Jīnchuáng’s anger was boundless, his teeth grinding as if colliding worlds, producing a terrifying, grating noise, as he wished nothing more than to devour Indra whole.

“How deceitful!”

“What do we do now, Teacher?”

Jīnchuáng said through gritted teeth.

The Sukhacara Sage slowly turned around and spoke in a deep voice, “We may have no choice but to wait!”

Hearing this, Jīnchuáng’s complexion darkened.

“Wait!”

“Then we’ll wait!

If he stays for five hundred years, I’ll wait for five hundred years!

If he stays for a thousand years, I’ll wait for a thousand years!

If he stays for ten thousand years, I’ll wait for ten thousand years!”

“Indra!”

Jīnchuáng clenched his fists, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins as he hissed.

Indra!!!

He roared this name, as if it had become his obsession, not allowing any joy in his life until Indra appeared before him to be slain.

The Sukhacara Sage’s brow tensed.

Coming from anyone else, he might not have believed such words, but Jīnchuáng indeed would do as he said.

Jīnchuáng is innately obstinate!

Whatever he is determined to do, he will never change, and he will always achieve what he sets out to do!

“Sigh, I hope you do manage to wait for him!”

The Sukhacara Sage sighed deeply.

After saying this, he turned and left, for with such stubbornness, Jīnchuáng was likely not destined for a good end.

Jīnchuáng appeared not to hear, continuing to stand there.

Time flies swiftly.

The sun and moon rise in the east and set in the west.

In the blink of an eye, three hundred years passed by.

The very spot where Jīnchuáng once stood had now become a high platform.

From the top of the high platform, countless pearls and golden curtains draped down, concealing a Golden Throne.

Asura women gently fanned peacock feathers on both sides of the throne, attending to Jīnchuáng, who sat upon it.

Jīnchuáng was seated on the throne, hands resting on either side, gazing unblinkingly upwards.

He was waiting like a patient hunter!

Over these two to three hundred years, he hardly returned home, paying little attention even to his own wife and son, all for the sake of waiting for that one person.

Only today, there was an unexpected turn of events.

“King!”

“There’s trouble, someone is performing a ritual!”

An Asura Soldier suddenly reported.

“For such a trivial matter, you could’ve just killed them, don’t bother me with it, don’t disrupt my important affair!”

Jīnchuáng kept his unwavering gaze skyward, merely showing displeasure with an annoyed wave of his hand as he said irritably.

“But… it’s the prince who is performing the ritual!”

The Asura Soldier said, bowing and stuttering hesitantly.

What!

Poluo Keluota!

Jīnchuáng’s brow furrowed abruptly.

At last, his gaze, carrying a terrifying chill, fell upon the Asura Soldier.

“Who is he worshipping in the ritual!”

Jīnchuáng’s voice was low, like a monstrous beast hidden beneath the earth.

The Asura Soldier’s face was struck with fear.

“It’s… it’s…”

“Speak up!”

“It’s Indra and Vishnu!”