Chapter Ten: The Maiden's Sorrow, Calamity in the Eastern Sea

  Shennong had a little daughter named Nüwa. Nüwa was delicate and lovely, extremely kind, with a heart of justice and compassion, often helping those in trouble, so everyone loved this kind-hearted little girl, and Shennong loved her even more, treasuring her like a precious jewel!

  One day, a girl was playing with her friends when she saw an older boy riding on the back of a younger boy. The younger boy was already exhausted and panting, but the older boy refused to let him go. The girl got angry and walked up to the older boy, pointing at him and scolding: "You're so shameless! You're so big and still bullying little kids!"

  The big boy looked at her and said nonchalantly: "I am the third prince of the East Sea Dragon King, what do you want to do?"

  The girl hummed and said: "I am Nüwa, the daughter of the human ancestor God Nong. Now you must leave here immediately!"

  The Third Prince of the East Sea Dragon King was shocked to hear that she was the daughter of the Human Emperor, and he knew that he couldn't mess with her. He could only say begrudgingly: "Don't come to my East Sea in this life, otherwise you'll know the ferocity of my East Sea Dragon Clan!"

  The girl heard this and didn't care at all, went to help up the little boy, and ignored the Third Prince. The Third Prince was extremely embarrassed, but since he was on land now and in Chen Du, he didn't dare make any moves towards the girl, so he could only swallow his anger and return to the East Sea.

  After some time, Shennong took the four-way inspection minister to inspect the world, and Nüwa was left alone at home, feeling bored. Her brother had to help Emperor Huangdi with government affairs, and she, a little girl, couldn't help much at home, so she sneaked out to play. She wore a red dress, tied two small braids on her head, humming songs as she walked through the streets of Chendu. Along the way, those aunties and mothers saw her and looked at her with affection, and she left Chendu like this.

  The girl furrowed her brow, unsure of where to go. After thinking for a long time, she had an epiphany and thought to herself: "I've often heard the elders in my tribe say that the East Sea is magnificent, why don't I go take a look?" With that thought, the girl set off towards the east, eating wild fruits by the roadside when hungry and drinking dew from leaves on tree branches when thirsty. After traveling for a month, relying solely on her strong willpower, she arrived at the edge of the East Sea on foot, her hair disheveled, clothes tattered, and panting heavily!

  At this time, the sun was rising, and the golden rooster was ascending in the east. The radiant light illuminated the entire sea surface, just like a golden tide rising from the ocean. Seagulls were flying and dancing in the morning sunlight. In the distance, a white line of waves was approaching from afar, accompanied by the sound of splashing water. A wave crashed onto the girl, instantly submerging her. When the wave receded, the girl popped out of the water with a small head, shaking off the seawater on her hair. She let out a cheer and dove back into the sea to play and frolic, her joyful laughter echoing far away.

  At this time, however, the seawater not far away was boiling, and the girl was surprised, stopped, and quietly watched the changes in the seawater. Several shrimp soldiers and crabs emerged from the seawater, surrounding a big boy in the middle, who was the third son of the East Sea Dragon King, Chen Dou, who bullied the children.

  The third son saw that it was a girl playing in the water and was overjoyed. He thought to himself: This time, see what you can do!

  He shouted at the girl: "Girl, now that you've come to my East Sea, on the territory of this crown prince, if you apologize to me, I'll let bygones be bygones and let you leave. Otherwise, the East Sea will be your burial ground!"

  The girl said fearlessly: "I didn't do anything wrong, why should I apologize to you?"

  Third Prince heard this and laughed in extreme anger, saying: "Good, good! That day you were on land, the eldest prince couldn't do anything to you, but today on the East Sea, let's see who can save you?" After finishing speaking, his body was surrounded by a cloud of smoke, and he immediately transformed into a four-clawed golden dragon. He let out a long roar, soared into the sky, and under the shining sun, his sharp claws flashed with a chilling light that intimidated people. The Third Prince looked down at the girl with a majestic and powerful aura, saying: "Today, I will let you know the dignity of my dragon clan cannot be violated!"

  With a flick of the dragon's tail, it struck the surface of the sea, and instantly the seawater within a hundred miles rose by ten zhang, rushing towards the girl. In an instant, she was submerged, without a trace. When the winds and waves calmed down, there was no sign of the girl in the sea. The Third Prince smiled triumphantly several times, and under the escort of his shrimp soldiers and crab generals, he returned to the Crystal Palace.

  Not long after the third prince left, a spirit rose from the sea, faintly visible, which was the soul of the girl. The spirit looked back in the direction of Chen Du, let out a long scream towards the sky, but couldn't make a sound. She struggled to scream again and again, but it had no effect. Suddenly, she felt resentful and her anger reached the sky. In an instant, she transformed into a bird, with the appearance of a crow, black head, white beak, red feet, making the sound "Jingwei, Jingwei, Jingwei" in a mournful tone!

  The Jingwei bird flapped its wings and carried wood and stone back and forth between the Western Mountains and the Eastern Sea, vowing to fill up the Eastern Sea. Day after day, year after year, it never gave up!

  Shennong returned home after three years of touring the world, and heard from his family that Nüwa had not returned for three years. He searched everywhere but couldn't find her, and was greatly shocked in his heart. Nüwa was still young, and the earth was full of monsters and spirits, so he was extremely worried.

  Shennong had no choice but to come to the residence of Youchao and Suiren, asking them about Nüwa's whereabouts. The two calculated with their fingers and were greatly shocked. Youchao said to Shennong, "Follow us!" Without waiting for Shennong's response, the two set up a lucky cloud, carrying Shennong northward. After traveling for a day, they arrived at the foot of Fajiu Mountain.

  Only on the mountain of Fa Yu Shan, there were many withered trees. On one of the withered trees stood a bird, making "Jing Wei, Jing Wei" cries. Perhaps due to blood ties, Shen Nong burst into tears as soon as he saw the Jing Wei bird. He hastily walked towards the Jing Wei bird, trembling and shouting: "Niang Niang, is it you? I am your father!"

  Jingwei bird seemed to have not heard, only carrying a withered wood flying towards the direction of the East Sea, no matter how Shen Nong shouted behind her, she had no reaction at all!

  Shennong stared blankly at the receding figure of Jingwei, two lines of hot tears falling silently. He turned back to ask Youchao and Suiren: "May I ask, ancestors, why did the girl change into this?"

  The Lord of the Sui Dynasty sighed and said, "The girl went to play in the East China Sea, but unexpectedly was drowned by the third son of the Dragon King of the East China Sea. After her death, she transformed into a Jingwei bird with a strong resentment, vowing to fill up the East China Sea!"

  Shennong heard this and could no longer hold back, bursting into loud wails. His cries were so sorrowful that even Youchao and Suiren, who were standing by, felt their hearts heavy with grief!

  Shennong cried and then stood up, singing loudly:

  The Jingwei bird chirps, and heaven and earth are moved!

  The mountain is green and lush, but people are like fish and insects!

  The young lady cannot speak, and her father is deeply grieved!

  Why is the sea not calm? The waves are surging!

  May your descendants never enter the sea!

  May our nation forever take pride in the mainland!

  The sound echoed far and wide, drifting desolately across the land. The nearby spirit beasts heard it too and let out a chorus of mournful cries, as if protesting against the cruel fate that had befallen the young girl!

  He is determined to fill up the East Sea with pebbles, even if he drowns, his heart will not change.