Chapter Nine, The Mountain Spirit

Father... I almost couldn't see you again... Where is the previous ruthlessness of wanting to take your place? However, she is no longer surprised; when Qingya was clinging to the deity's thigh, she could tell that it was not a skill developed overnight, and indeed it was as expected.

Indeed! She and Qingya almost climbed up the last staircase!

She truly believes that the Lord God has lost his mind, suffering from a delusional disorder. He is merely a local deity from Jialing; even if he were to descend from the heavens, he would still be like the deity of Jufeng, demoted rather than promoted, right? How could these deities possibly come to see him? He is too good at cheering himself up.

Hu Chun originally wanted to interrupt him immediately, but his pretentious display of deep emotion was too disgusting, leaving her so repulsed that she couldn't speak in time. "I just want you to help me deliver a message to Bai Guang," she said coldly. To avoid looking at the nauseating expression on Hui Ya's face, she didn't even want to clarify her words, lest he add more drama to the situation.

Hu Chun secretly mocked him: so arrogant, yet merely a watchdog.

Hu Chun felt a bit sad upon hearing this. If it were not for the fortuitous encounter with the deity, the fate of Qingya's mother could very well have been her own. She too might have given birth to a young prince who aged slowly, and then helplessly allowed him to live in the bottle of benevolence.

Qing Ya knocked on the door, and the tone of her voice revealed her very bad mood, "Hu Chun! Hu Chun! Come out! How long are you going to keep sleeping!" The door was banged on so hard that it echoed like thunder.

Hu Chun could only politely tap on the door within reach, making almost no sound. The door was too thick, and the position where she tapped was too low, resulting in hardly any significant noise.

Hu Chun was unexpectedly a bit moved upon hearing this; this truly reflects the innermost thoughts of a young master pretending to be youthful. The fact that he could say this to her indeed shows that he does not regard her as an outsider

She couldn't help but ask, "I say, Little King, how old are you this year?"

It depends on the situation; has he already called for a board with Lai Yun? This is clearly something that has been struck by lightning.

Qing Ya frowned and said: "It is my father, Hui Ya!"

However, Hu Chun smiled wryly and intended to explain, but was interrupted by the boy's impatient wave of his hand

Hu Chun smacked his lips and could not help but ask, "Will these people really come?"

Qing Ya seemed to hear it and said resentfully: "My mother was also forced, and as a result, she lost her life! I have lived for eighty years, all trapped in the Jishi bottle!"

The journey up Mount Jiaming was arduous for Hu Chun, as he had to be on guard against the sudden appearance of Lady Yun, who could threaten both his and Qingya's lives. Additionally, in order to hasten their pace, he had to carry Qingya on his back, as her short legs made it difficult for her to keep up. Although Qingya was small in stature, she quickly became heavy after being carried for a while

The wooden-faced youth raised one eyebrow, admiring her shock while also looking down on her ignorance, and added in an extremely irritating manner: "Only these people can be brought in directly; everyone else must wait."

The height of Mount Jiaming exceeded Hu Chun's imagination; she walked for three days and three nights! The path from the foot of the mountain to the waist was manageable, as it was a rocky trail with small caves for shelter, and there were fruits and wild game available. Although climbing the mountain was exhausting, it was a landscape she was familiar with. However, above the waist of the mountain, it was all青石 steps, seemingly reaching the clouds. The higher she climbed, the denser the fog became, and apart from the steps, nothing was visible. The most terrifying part was the increasing cold, with snow accumulating on the steps.

Hu Chun saw him about to leave and urgently called out: "Your Majesty!"

Hu Chun pouted, this esteemed deity truly knows how to put on airs! Only sending the registration to Songlin Pavilion at the hour of Shen, those who came early to seek an audience must wait a whole day? Who would be so foolish as to seek an audience with him! It is likely that he is just amusing himself with the rules he set for himself.

Qing Ya felt heavy-hearted as she carried him on her back; after all, it was quite undignified for a little king to serve as a servant to others. Considering Hu Chun's care for him, he reluctantly answered her question: "Eighty."

He merely responded with a noncommittal "mm" and said, "We'll talk about it then."

I, we. Hu Chun was already overjoyed; she had no experience in answering the door, when had the Fox Fairy ever knocked on the door?

"Qingya... actually, it is already quite good that the two of us can ascend Mount Jieming," Hu Chun sincerely advised him

The Hedgehog Spirit of Tangjia Mountain

Very impolite, quite rude

Qingya also jumped down from his leg and said affectionately, "Father, may you have a safe journey ahead."

Quickly change your clothes, and from now on, pay close attention to the sounds at the door. Some lowly and weakly magical beings cannot produce clear sounds.

Qingya snatched away the list, leaving everyone dumbfounded

From now on, you will reside here, responsible for welcoming guests and registering them daily. If there are important guests, report to Songlin Pavilion immediately. As for the others..." The youth displayed a classic expression of indifference mixed with disdain, "Just register them casually and let them wait. In the evening, at the hour of Shen, consolidate the records and send them to Songlin Pavilion.

Hmph. The wooden-faced youth seemed to feel offended, flicked his sleeve, and coldly said, "You will know soon enough"

Father, what has happened to you?" Qingya asked, voicing Hu Chun's concern

Hu Chun and Qing Ya both secretly made a disdainful expression

Hu Chun slept soundly, having been pursued by Lai Yun and having climbed mountains consecutively, which had exhausted both her mental and physical strength. Moreover, the Shitang Palace is located at the summit of Jieming Mountain, shrouded in mist year-round, and strong winds blow at night, making it particularly suitable for snuggling under the covers to sleep. Now that she has taken on a human form, she finally experiences the various pleasures of being human, with sleeping soundly being one of them.

Huiya's hair resembled a bundle of dry, coarse straw, unable to be styled into a proper bun, left to sit atop his head like a chicken's nest. The color had also turned a brownish-yellow, reminiscent of wheat ears in autumn. His face was mottled with dark and light patches, appearing as if it had been scorched by fire, and his eyebrows had become short. Once a wealthy lord, he had now become a destitute man from the western regions.

Follow me. The boy with a wooden face led them to a row of small houses by the door. In fact, this row of cabins was not small; it was just that the doors were too large, making the row of houses appear like a quail's nest.

I know. "Qing Ya replied in a muffled voice, and after a moment of silence, he said softly, "I want to replace Hui Ya; this experience has always been somewhat disreputable.

The female demon with the roundest face in Quanjialing

She exerted a great deal of effort to push open a small gap, and it was only with Huiya's assistance from the outside that she was able to enter and exit smoothly. Just because Huiya gave that push, she nearly lost her balance and stumbled back a step, allowing Qingya to take the lead. As she stepped out the door, she saw Qingya clinging to Huiya's leg, weeping heartbrokenly.

The young man with a wooden face asked them to wait in the main room, then he entered the inner room. After a short while, he came out with two sets of long gowns identical to his own. Remarkably, they fit Qingya perfectly as well.

"From now on, you will be responsible for guarding the door," said the boy with a wooden face.

"It's over five hundred, right?" Qingya replied, while also digging her fingers into Hu Chun's shoulder to gauge her expression, mockingly saying, "You don't really have any thoughts about him, do you? Who else could possibly be interested in him besides the blind one, Lai Yun?" Qingya said indignantly.

"Do you really think you can meet the deity?" The youth with a wooden face glanced at them, his lips moving slightly as if to sneer, but Hu Chun felt he was trying to say: 'You should take a good look at yourselves.' "The deity has already issued a divine decree, requiring you to take over my duties."

Hu Chun replied in his heart: Your mother

It might be a genetic issue; we all grow slowly. When Qingya noticed that Hu Chun had paused, he guessed that she felt deceived and was afraid she might abandon him right there, which is why he patiently explained the situation.

Alright, we cannot stay here for long, take care of yourselves. Huiya glanced at the door; he still felt a degree of fear towards the deity.

"Put some effort into it!" Qingya said as she raised her small fist and struck down with force, producing only a soft sound that only the two of them could hear

Qingya was about to erupt, but was stopped by Hu Chun pressing on her forehead. After all, she is a lackey of the deity, and arrogance is quite normal for her

Hu Chun had no choice but to press down on Qing Ya's forehead, preventing him from beating the wooden-faced boy

Indeed, a somewhat unclear voice of inquiry came from inside the door: Who is it?

We can work hard and strive to stay for a few more years. Hu Chun thought of a good idea, but when he spoke it out, he did not receive a positive response from Qingya.

Oh... the person inside thought for a moment, as if recalling something, and slowly opened the door

Huiya still looked bewildered

The gate tower of Shitang Palace is extraordinarily high; even if two Hu Chuns were stacked on top of each other, they would still be unable to reach the golden door ring, even with their tiptoes. Hu Chun scratched her head; she was accustomed to scratching her ears, while others would scratch above their ears, she scratched the Baihui point.

The voice from inside the door became even more displeased, "Who are you? Which beggar is asking for money?"

Hu Chun was almost knocked over by this revelation; an eighty-year-old man had been pretending to be so young for such a long time! She had been taking care of him as if he were a little child.

"It's all that wretched woman’s fault!" Huiya was truly angry this time, cursing as he slapped his thigh, but he forgot about his son hanging on his leg. With a loud bang, he hit Qingya's back, causing Qingya to gag and nearly spit blood. "The cloud drum she gave me is a fake! I was chased and electrocuted by an electric eel through three trenches! Fortunately, I managed to escape to the shore in time; otherwise, I would have lost my life!" Huiya was filled with rage, "Damn the East Sea for going crazy with her!"

He used an affirmative sentence, and Hu Chun smiled apologetically. It seems that everyone here knows about the incident of the deity's object being thrown from a height, as even the lowly gatekeeper is aware of it

Hu Chun calmly asked, "Have you thought about what you will do three years from now?"

I have finally freed myself from the Healing Bottle, and now I must ascend Mount Jieming! What difference does it make? I am still trapped in one place, unable to move, and it will last for a full three years

Upon reaching the summit, she was left with only a breath of life. The last remaining fragment of her spirit descended the stairs on its own, also with just a final breath. The two stood shivering before the colossal gate, gazing up at the resplendent plaque of the Shitang Palace, shimmering in the mist, nearly brought to tears.

As soon as the door opened, Qingya was taken aback upon seeing Hu Chun, and with a look of disdain, she said: "There is someone at the door looking for you," then she scrutinized Hu Chun from head to toe, adding, "It would be best if you freshened up a bit."

Who would believe that he is only three or four years old, given his cunning and shamelessness

Hu Chun opened the book she caught, her literacy being limited, but the few characters she could recognize dazzled her eyes: "Queen Mother of the West, Supreme One True Person, Immortal of Penglai..."

In fact, Hu Chun did not want to meet Hui Ya, but it was not feasible to keep delaying, and sooner or later, the matter had to be clarified. So, after hastily tidying herself up, she followed Qing Ya to the front of the enormous gate. She finally understood why Qing Ya had come to summon her; given Qing Ya's height and physical strength, she was not capable of pushing open this door alone.

Hu Chun furrowed her brows and sighed; a seemingly light remark was, for her, an insurmountable challenge

The young master, who pretends to be youthful, fell into a prolonged silence, leading Hu Chun to believe that she could indeed be considered an expert in creating awkward situations. Three years later, when they descend from Mount Jiaming, they will still face the current predicament, once again being pursued by Lai Yun. She is somewhat fortunate, as she can completely sever ties with Hui Ya, but Qing Ya is not so lucky. Moreover, in three years, it is unlikely that there will be any breakthroughs in cultivation that would enable them to be unafraid of Lai Yun.

Hu Chunling had a sudden inspiration and pulled a golden hairpin from her head, a gift from Huiya. It had survived her escape and the climb without falling off. She used the hairpin to tap on the beast-head nail on the door, finally producing a faint tinkling sound, much clearer than tapping with her hand

Hu Chungen does not care about how he appears in the eyes of a child, even though this child is already eighty years old. She raked her disheveled hair with her hand, revealing a hint of surprise, "Who is looking for me? Bai Guang? When did her news become so well-informed?"

Hu Chun and Qing Ya have no connections; it's not just the East Sea, even the West Sea is willing to help her, and the Pulao bone has been lent to her.

Hu Chun sneered coldly in her heart, thinking of confronting Yun for an account? How could his limited abilities compete with Yun? The sly smile on Hui Ya's face was very annoying to her. Just as she was about to glare at him coldly, she couldn't help but feel a moment of doubt.

Oh! Oh! I understand now. Huiya immediately got the message.

Hu Chun slightly nodded, knowing that the "we" he referred to also included Huiya's eldest son, Chiying. Chiying, despite being one or two hundred years old, still looked like a child, and even when summoned to the heavens, he had not "grown up". This indicates that the lineage of Huiya indeed grows very slowly

"Old Wu has told me everything about you. " Hui Ya looked at Hu Chun with reluctance, "It is a good thing that you can hide here for three years. During these three years, I will definitely take care of that woman, Lai Yun, for you! Do not be afraid! I will handle everything!"

Everything else is none of my concern, as long as you do not let the deity see you smile

Hu Chun finally understood why his voice was so soft; it was because the door was simply too thick. Inside the door was a boy of about twelve or thirteen years old, wearing a long coat the color of dark clouds, with his hair styled in two buns. He looked quite innocent, yet his tone was rather sharp, and with a cold expression, he spoke without any emotion

May the great king have a safe journey! Hu Chun now somewhat understands the sentiment behind Qing Ya's words, akin to how a killer in the mortal realm, before taking a life, would often bid the victim farewell with the phrase: May you have a safe journey.

Oh... Huya felt a bit disappointed, "Who is this white light...?"

"Just type anything." Qingya gasped weakly, struggling to catch her breath.

"It is Hu Chun and Qing Ya." Hu Chun continued to smile cheerfully

"Since we are here, should we first pay our respects to the deity?" Hu Chun asked with a smile. She was quite skeptical about whether the deity truly had such an arrangement, wondering if this wooden-faced child was acting on their own accord.

Hu Chun and Qing Ya still did not respond, both thinking the same thing in their hearts: as long as you are not afraid, that is enough

"Then your father—" How old must this old man Huiya be to look like this

Hui Ya had already turned away, but upon hearing her call, he immediately smiled and turned back to look at her, saying with self-indulgent affection: "Alright, I know everything you want to say, I will wait for you. This is not a place for conversation; all the words we have are understood between our hearts."

At the Shitang Palace, as long as one is obedient, diligent, and performs their duties well, there will be countless benefits. The wooden-faced youth glanced at Hu Chun, as if these words were directed specifically at her. However, there is one thing: the deity cannot tolerate laughter from others. You are aware of this.

"Here it comes—here it comes—" Hu Chun was actually almost asleep, but being urged like this for repayment made him very displeased. He lazily shuffled to the door.

Huiya's thoughts were not on his son; he merely feigned anger and scolded, "Child, do not be afraid, your father will go back and settle accounts with that woman!" As he spoke, he glanced at Hu Chun, and a hint of a smile even appeared at the corner of his mouth

This is the list of important visitors. Memorize it. Those listed here should be taken directly to Songlin Pavilion upon their arrival, without the need for further notifications.

Hu Chun clicked his tongue inwardly; the deity said he did not need cattle or horses, but he surely needed dogs to guard the gate

"Why did it take you so long to arrive? Did you crawl here?" he asked in a daze. Although his tone was quite harsh, the lack of any expressive features diminished its impact.