Chapter 1943: Jade Capital Mountain

Wuxia and Xianxia

Scholar Chen and City God Yu were both talkative, and Judge Yi and Doctor Liu provided excellent commentary. Qin Sang occasionally interjected a few words, but mostly listened to their conversations with great interest, periodically joining them for a drink. This table, bringing together mortals, gods, and immortals, offered a truly unique experience.

'Sizzle...'

Qin Sang personally grilled the meat over charcoal until it was slightly charred, sprinkling seasoning powder. Every movement was precise, every detail perfect. Once ready, he first took out a few skewers and handed them to his apprentices. The four youngsters gathered in a corner, their mouths greasy from eating.

"You guys... on the mountain... Ow, it's scalding!" Tao Teng repeatedly drew in breaths, unwilling to spit out the meat in his mouth. He swallowed with difficulty, feeling the aroma penetrate to his bones. Whether from being burned or from envy, Tao Teng's eyes were red as he looked at Yu Lang. "This is truly... the life of an immortal!" The pageboy, Ming Yan, nodded repeatedly in strong agreement.

"Just eat your food!" Yu Lang handed Tao Teng a spirit fruit, effectively silencing him.

'Rap! Rap! Rap!'

Someone was frantically knocking on the door outside. Doctor Liu jumped in surprise, while City God Yu and Judge Yi turned to look. Qin Sang said it was fine, got up, and opened the door. Vermilion Bird, with its head poking out mischievously, flew in. Having been reprimanded several times, it had finally learned its lesson. It didn't make a fuss, but stared intently at the meat in Qin Sang's hand. Qin Sang had already prepared a plate for it. Vermilion Bird ignored everyone and buried its head, devouring the food.

Everyone at the table watched Vermilion Bird gobble down the meat. "Even a little bird likes to eat it, so the taste must be excellent," Doctor Liu said with a chuckle. Vermilion Bird rolled its eyes at him and continued to bury its head in its food. City God Yu and Judge Yi continuously scrutinized Vermilion Bird, astonished to find that they couldn't even see through a bird in this temple.

Calming himself, City God Yu picked up a skewer of meat, sniffed it gently, and, imitating Qin Sang, bit off a piece directly from the skewer. In his mortal life, he had come from a scholarly family and had been raised under strict rules. Such a crude way of eating was a first for him, and he wasn't quite accustomed to it. Scholar Chen had initially been the same, but quickly got used to it and greatly praised this eating style, declaring that this was how it should be eaten. City God Yu savored the taste.

Scholar Chen watched him, and once he swallowed, he said with self-satisfaction, "Brother Yu, how does it taste? I wasn't exaggerating, was I?"

"Truly a divine delicacy!" City God Yu didn't stint on his praise.

"The Drunken Fragrance Feast at Drunken Fragrance Tower is renowned as a unique culinary delight in Jiangnan, but it doesn't compare to this simple skewer of meat." Judge Yi echoed, though he secretly thought to himself, 'Look at the ingredients used; how could it not be delicious?' His gaze swept over the several mortals in the room. They had consumed so many highly nourishing spiritual herbs and fruits without bursting, which clearly indicated that the Abbot had subtly intervened, allowing them to slowly digest the medicinal power. At the very least, it would strengthen their bodies and benefit them for life.

"What is the Drunken Fragrance Feast?" Scholar Chen asked, surprised. He had been to Drunken Fragrance Tower many times but had never encountered such a feast.

"The owner of Drunken Fragrance Tower was once an imperial chef," City God Yu explained. "It's said he offended some minor figures in the palace and was forced to retire, returning to Jin County to open Drunken Fragrance Tower. The Drunken Fragrance Feast can only be prepared by the owner, and he has no successors to this day. The owner is old now and can only make it a few times a year. Only his old acquaintances have the good fortune to taste it." City God Yu took a sip of wine, savoring the mingled aromas of wine, meat, and medicine.

"Another recluse! My Jin County truly deserves to be called a city of recluses! A county of recluses! Let's drink a toast!" Carried away by his excitement, Scholar Chen suddenly slammed the table and drained his cup of fine wine in one gulp. He drank several cups in succession, his demeanor becoming increasingly unrestrained.

City God Yu glanced at Qin Sang, secretly thinking, 'Indeed.' "If it's a county of recluses, it's also a deep abyss where hidden dragons reside. Brother Chen, should you be emerging from seclusion for next year's autumn examination?" As the City God of Jin County, he paid attention to the talented scholars under his jurisdiction. He knew that Scholar Chen was quite learned but had suffered from unfulfilled potential, failing the examinations repeatedly.

Scholar Chen let out a bitter laugh. "When I was young, I fancied myself extraordinary, yet I repeatedly failed the examinations. Seeing all my classmates succeeding, I could only feign a carefree and unrestrained demeanor. It was merely a mask to cover my last shred of dignity. I was never a true recluse, so how could there be talk of emerging from seclusion?"

"With such a broad mind, I believe Brother Chen will achieve his aspirations one day," Qin Sang said, raising a toast to Scholar Chen. The others also drank. No one offered words of comfort, as Scholar Chen's willingness to expose his own shortcomings indicated that he didn't need anyone's consolation.

Scholar Chen accepted it calmly, stood tall, and looked out the window. "In my reckless youth, I was prone to making startling pronouncements. But now, I no longer harbor thoughts of being enfeoffed as a king or marquis, or leaving my name in history. If I am fortunate enough to pass the examinations and govern a region, I only ask to be worthy of the common people, worthy of the Emperor, worthy of Heaven and Earth, and worthy of my own heart!"

In the pavilion of Green Goat Temple, cups clinked and wine flowed. In Jin County town, people came and went. A teahouse should have been even livelier than the street.

When the young girl entered the teahouse, she felt a strange tranquility. Everyone was intently listening to the storyteller. The tea server walked with extremely light steps, even fearing to make a sound when pouring tea. The patrons rarely conversed, forgetting even the food and tea before them. Only when the storyteller slammed his gavel did the patrons seem to awaken from a dream, drinking tea and conversing, causing a momentary stir, but their voices were as faint as ants. The entire teahouse echoed with the storyteller's voice, seemingly covering up the noise from outside.

"What story could have such charm?" The girl was secretly amazed by this sight. Her gaze swept past the patrons to the storyteller on the stage. Indeed, just as the auntie outside the door had said, the storyteller wore a grey long gown, looked very young, was of average height, and had an ordinary appearance – the kind of person who would be overlooked in a crowd. The storyteller also noticed the girl entering. Seeing her approach, he smiled slightly and nodded in greeting. The girl couldn't help but smile back. The tea server, carrying a teapot, came forward to greet her. After a brief exchange of glances, he led the girl to an empty table.

"Now, when the Heavenly Maiden of the Nine Heavens descended to the mortal realm, the Heavenly Mother happened to send a Blue Bird to deliver a command. She secretly instructed the Blue Bird that if the Heavenly Maiden remained obstinate, it should use its magic to escort her to the Celestial Pool. Unexpectedly, the Blue Bird yearned for the mortal world and was coaxed down to the mortal realm by the Heavenly Maiden with just a few words..." So, it was a mythical tale. The girl thought, as the tea server led her to sit down, unaware that the kingfisher on her shoulder had raised its head and flapped its wings upon hearing "Blue Bird."

'Chirp, chirp...' The kingfisher flew up, completely engrossed. It circled tirelessly, round after round. Its feathers shed blue sparkles of light, and its chirping perfectly blended into the storyteller's narrative, transforming it into the Blue Bird from the story, immersing everyone in the scene. No one listening, including the girl, found it strange.

The girl completely ignored her companion. Once seated, she intently watched the storyteller on the stage, listening to the captivating tale. In a daze, she felt as if she had become the Heavenly Maiden of the Nine Heavens from the story. Her master was the cruel Heavenly Mother. Every action and encounter of the Heavenly Maiden after descending to the mortal realm tugged at her heartstrings. When the Heavenly Maiden rejoiced, she smiled brightly. When the Heavenly Maiden grieved, her face was covered in tears. The girl forgot she was in a teahouse, forgot everything around her, and was fully immersed in the world the storyteller had created.

Shortly after the girl entered the teahouse, a chilling wind suddenly swept past the entrance. From the shadows, a figure invisible to ordinary people materialized. This person was clad in armor, a ghost deity under the command of the Jin County City God. His divine rank was not low; he was the Day Patrol God, second only to the City God and the civil and martial judges, and held equal standing with the chief officials of various departments and generals.

"Did she go in?" Where the Day Patrol God appeared, two ghostly constables had been waiting. They bowed in unison and affirmed. The girl must have had means to conceal her aura, as she had evaded the gate-keeping constables upon entering the city, but she was still detected by the divine artifacts in the City God Temple. Unfortunately, the principal officials were all absent today. The City God and the Civil Judge had gone on patrol together, and the Martial Judge had personally led troops out of the city to apprehend a fiend. The Day Patrol God and the chief officials of various departments had not ascertained the girl's origin and dared not act rashly. Seeing her innocent and carefree demeanor, which didn't seem to harbor ill intentions, the Day Patrol God had gone out of the city to request instructions from the Martial Judge. The two ghostly soldiers were ordered to wait there.

"Yes, she went into the teahouse and hasn't come out," a ghostly constable said, hesitating. "It's a bit strange inside, my lord. Perhaps you should see for yourself."

"Hmm?" The Day Patrol God frowned. He led the two ghostly constables quietly through the curtain. At that moment, the storyteller happened to be narrating the part where the Heavenly Maiden of the Nine Heavens encountered danger.

"The Heavenly Mother dispatched heavenly soldiers and generals to search the entire world. No matter how careful the Heavenly Maiden of the Nine Heavens and the Blue Bird were, they ultimately couldn't escape their fate. On Lianyang Mountain, they were finally discovered by a squad of heavenly soldiers. Alas, the immortal seal they bore upon their descent to the mortal realm had not yet been dispelled, and their magic had only recovered to thirty percent, yet they were about to endure a fierce battle..." The kingfisher had, at some point, returned to the girl's shoulder. Like its owner, it was engrossed in the story, displaying an extremely nervous expression. Meanwhile, the Day Patrol God and the two ghostly constables who had just stepped into the teahouse were astonished to see the storyteller nod towards them. At this moment, a surge of boundless heroism suddenly swelled within their chests. They felt as though they had transformed into heavenly soldiers and generals, tasked by the Heavenly Mother to apprehend criminals and carry out divine punishment! They completely forgot the purpose of their visit, walked to another empty table, sat down with perfectly straight backs, and their eyes shone brightly. The story continued.

City God Yu and Judge Yi at Green Goat Temple were oblivious to all this. Their banquet lasted from early morning until the afternoon before dispersing. Doctor Liu stayed overnight at Green Goat Temple. Scholar Chen, City God Yu, and the others descended the mountain together. Upon reaching the edge of the bamboo forest, they bid each other farewell. Scholar Chen had offered to send them off by carriage, but City God Yu and Judge Yi declined. After parting ways, the two deities vanished into thin air, reappearing in a mountain not far from Green Goat Temple.

"Greetings, esteemed sirs." The local Earth God, who had been waiting there early, hastily saluted.

Judge Yi said, "We have met Daoist Qingfeng. He is truly extraordinary. You should handle him with care in the future. Be sure to carry out any instructions he gives, and generally, do not disturb him."

The Earth God was astonished. "May I ask about the Daoist priest's background?" Judge Yi looked at City God Yu. Just now, City God Yu, for reasons unknown, had not inquired about this.

"I fear that even the lords of the prefecture would treat this person with utmost respect. For such a person to be residing in Jin County, I'm not sure if it's a blessing or a curse." City God Yu sighed softly. "Regardless of his identity or cultivation, just treat him as a powerful being who is experiencing the mortal world." The Earth God, looking bewildered, acknowledged. Judge Yi glanced at the Earth God and said gravely, "For such figures, everything depends on destiny and opportunity. If the connection is not yet here, everything is futile. Don't think that diligent service will earn you any benefits; be careful not to overdo it." The Earth God, his thoughts exposed, shivered. "Thanks to your lordships' warning, I almost made a grave mistake."

"There's no need to be so overly cautious. I observe his temperament is amiable; just let nature take its course," City God Yu instructed further, then, along with Judge Yi, returned to the county town.

"What did you say? The Day and Night Patrol Gods and the Soul-Reaping Envoys are all trapped in the teahouse?" When City God Yu and Judge Yi returned to the county town, the Martial Judge also happened to return from apprehending a fiend. As their forces converged, they received a spiritual talisman message. Upon seeing the contents of the talisman, the expressions of all three principal officials changed. It turned out that after the Day Patrol God entered the teahouse, he went missing. The Night Patrol God and the Soul-Reaping Envoys came looking for him and also became trapped in the teahouse. Subsequently, several chief officials from various departments also became ensnared. The teahouse door seemed like a gaping maw, swallowing all the ghost deities who entered, none returning. As more and more ghost deities became trapped, finally, a ghostly constable realized something was amiss.

"Preposterous! I'd like to see what fiend dares to act so brazenly within the county town!" The Martial Judge was furious. With a wave of his large sleeve, all the ghost soldiers transformed into a gust of ghostly wind and swiftly rushed towards the teahouse. City God Yu and Judge Yi exchanged glances, seeing the same concern in each other's eyes. 'How could this be such a coincidence?' Something had happened in the city precisely when they were visiting Daoist Qingfeng.

At this moment, the area outside the teahouse was surrounded by layers of ghostly constables, who had cast spells to isolate the teahouse from the mortal world. Mortals remained oblivious, with people still coming and going on the street, but they would subconsciously ignore the teahouse. The storyteller's booming voice emanated from within, narrating how the Heavenly Maiden of the Nine Heavens and the Blue Bird were being hunted by heavenly soldiers and generals. This pursuit was thrilling and captivating. All the ghost deities in the city were gathered here, but no one dared to step half a pace into the teahouse.

'Whoosh!' A ghostly wind descended from the sky. City God Yu and the two judges finally arrived. After hearing their subordinates report the full story, they walked to the teahouse entrance. The door curtain was made of bamboo. Through its gaps, one could vaguely see the scene inside the teahouse. The girl, the Blue Bird, and a host of ghost deities, all with varied expressions, were completely engrossed in the story.

"Deploy the Mountain-Suppressing Spirit Banners!" the Martial Judge said in a low voice. Outside the teahouse, a team of ghost deities withdrew upon command, returning with nine black, three-zhang-tall banners, which they erected around the teahouse. The ghost deities were divided into nine teams, gathering beneath the banners. The main banner was set up behind the Martial Judge. The nine banners formed a formation, designed to suppress all immortal cultivators and fiends!

City God Yu nodded to Judge Yi. Judge Yi stepped forward and lifted the door curtain, but did not cross the threshold. The curtain was half-raised. The three principal officials saw the storyteller, and at the same time, the storyteller looked up at them. City God Yu opened his mouth, just about to speak.

'Thwack!' The storyteller suddenly slammed his gavel. "The heavenly soldiers and generals were forced back by the Heavenly Maiden of the Nine Heavens' ingenuity and suffered a crushing defeat. Just as the Heavenly Maiden of the Nine Heavens and the Blue Bird were celebrating, they didn't know that danger was approaching! The three Star Lords had already led their troops in pursuit. This ordeal would surely be difficult for them!"

In the Blazing Domain Daoist Temple, Qin Sang's true self, who had been meditating on a sword formation, suddenly awoke. His gaze turned south, and his expression gradually grew solemn. After a moment of contemplation, Qin Sang stood up, left his cave dwelling, sent a message to Marquis Gui, and then vanished, transforming into lightning.