Chapter 47: An Immortal’s Visit to the Dilapidated Temple

The Earth God had been filled with joy, yet a sudden impulse yesterday afternoon led him to discover the true spirit of the idol growing increasingly dim, leaving him so anxious he barely slept a wink all night.

The roof above remained perpetually leaky, a constant lament of profound sorrow.

With holes riddling the temple, the Pallas’s Cat found nowhere suitable to rest.

A dry spot lay before General Song’s idol, but the old man would immediately scold her whenever she approached it.

“Dead old man, you won’t even let me lie down for a moment…”

Muttering, she resigned herself to finding a secluded corner, where she sprawled out languidly.

“Alas, this wretched world.”

The old man, observing the true spirit faintly lingering yet undeniably fading, felt a pang of both relief and anguish.

He remembered the celestial war of yesteryear; without cultivators to keep them in check, demonic entities had surged throughout the mortal realm. General Song, leading the tattered remnants of the former dynasty’s army, had fought relentlessly, his sole purpose to safeguard the common folk.

Yet, in the end, he was reduced to this mere shadow of existence.

He could only resent the world’s injustice, where those of true merit remained utterly nameless.

The divine path of incense, originally a serendipitous bestowal by the common folk upon virtuous officials, stemmed from a simple wish: that those of pure heart might, even in death, continue to safeguard the peace of their generation and their land.

However, it ultimately became coveted by the ambitious, who sought to convert it into sustenance for their own cultivation. This avarice led to the divine path’s downfall, leaving behind nothing but utter disarray.

The current dynasty had once harbored intentions to reconstruct the divine path, yet their accumulated foundation proved too meager.

Consequently, those they begrudgingly elevated were merely self-serving individuals, eager to garner fame and recognition.

The collective wishes of the common people could not be unified, rendering the transformation of incense into divine power an impossible feat.

“Old man, what exactly are you worrying about?”

Driven to distraction by the Earth God’s incessant fretting, the Pallas’s Cat could no longer bear it and finally spoke.

“Worrying that your father is truly dead!”

The Earth God’s exasperation was palpable. He cared little for the mundane affairs of the mortal realm; his sole desire was General Song’s prompt return.

“The Gubei Demon’s aura has already dissipated, so there’s likely a master within the city. If you’re so afraid, why not seek their help?”

The Pallas’s Cat discreetly tucked away a yellow leaf Qíngyǔ had gifted her a few days prior, then spoke.

“If there truly is a master, then we absolutely cannot go.”

The old man, thoroughly exasperated, slammed his staff against the ground twice, producing sharp, metallic clangs.

“Then my father will never wake up, will he?”

The Pallas’s Cat hastily shut her eyes. Her slightly damp tail caused her considerable discomfort, prompting her to curl her body as tightly as she could.

The Earth God found himself momentarily at a loss for words. He let out two drawn-out sighs before reluctantly conceding, “If that master were to come to this temple… then I, this old man… might reluctantly give it a try…”

‘Still waiting for someone to arrive?’

The Pallas’s Cat, thoroughly unimpressed, simply regarded the Earth God’s excessive caution as nothing short of spineless cowardice.

Just as she prepared to speak, a clear, cool voice drifted in from beyond the temple walls.

Amidst verdant shadows, a figure in green robes appeared, their Daoist attire lending them an ethereal, immortal grace.

Two figures then stepped into view.

“Are you still waiting for me to arrive?”

Having just led her Little Girl into the temple, Qíngyǔ overheard their exchange and found herself somewhat amused.

She had initially maintained her “Shadow Concealment Art,” intending only to discreetly observe General Song’s dilapidated idol. Now, however, her Little Girl was eagerly nudging her to approach and engage in conversation.

“Who… who!?”

The green-robed Young Lady, who had materialized so abruptly within the temple, startled the Earth God profoundly, causing his staff to nearly slip from his grasp.

He frantically signaled the Pallas’s Cat, adopting an air of profound apprehension. Yet, the mischievous creature utterly ignored him, merely flicking her tail before settling back into a comfortable sprawl.

“I have always known she was here, Earth God, so there is no need for concern.”

Qíngyǔ cleared her throat, then spoke, her tone carefully considered.

Having just concluded their visit to the Paper Shop, she and her Little Girl had ascended the mountain to this very spot, catching a glimpse of the bustling Mùyún Temple in the distance.

She mused that if the auspicious surge of incense offerings could be sustained for another two or three days, then Song Daocong’s awakening would surely not be far off.

“This old man failed to recognize a master; this was an act of desperation. I beg your forgiveness.”

Left with no alternative, the Earth God spoke with a strained voice, all the while secretly gathering spiritual power, ready for any unforeseen contingency.

“Why are you so short?”

The Little Girl, her face alight with a smile, couldn’t help but inquire, noticing that despite the Earth God’s ancient visage, he stood no taller than herself.

“That is rude.”

Qíngyǔ, who had been maintaining a stern facade, felt her imposing aura dissipate almost entirely upon hearing the remark. She could only give her Little Girl’s hand a firm squeeze, silently urging her to show more respect.

“Mere childish prattle, no harm done, no harm done.”

The Earth God, however, remained unperturbed. Having originated as a Houttuynia cordata spirit (TL Note: A plant with a strong, pungent smell, often used in Chinese cuisine and traditional medicine. Its root is called ‘zheergen’ in Chinese.), he was long accustomed to dwelling beneath the earth and truly cared little for such trivialities.

“Right, right!”

The Little Girl made another playful face at her mother, but only after seeing her mother stubbornly maintain a rigid expression did she reluctantly pout and cast her gaze downward.

“I apologize for the disturbance.”

Qíngyǔ shook her head. She often found her Little Girl to be a blend of sweet obedience and impish cunning, forever creating minor commotions to capture her attention.

‘I wonder who she learned that from.’

“May I ask, Immortal, for what purpose have you graced this dilapidated temple?”

The Earth God recalled his previous obstinate silence. Now, with the demonic aura that had long plagued Gubei City entirely dissipated, he suspected this individual had come to exact retribution.

“It’s nothing particularly important; I merely wish to invite the two of you to relocate.”

Qíngyǔ nodded, surveying the crumbling temple. She noted the numerous leaks and the bluestone slabs, once neatly laid, now largely cracked. It was a place where even a casual traveler would likely hesitate to seek refuge.

“This…”

Thoughts whirled through the Earth God’s mind, the Young Lady’s cool, detached tone striking him like a harbinger of doom.

No sooner had this person arrived than she spoke of ‘moving’; indeed, she had come to demand an explanation!

“Alright, where are we going?”

Just as the Earth God desperately racked his brain for a polite refusal, the Pallas’s Cat abruptly spoke, effectively choking back his half-articulated excuses.

“To Mùyún Temple, below.”

Qíngyǔ, however, harbored no such elaborate thoughts.

She simply reasoned that since these two had guarded Song Daocong’s residual spirit for such an extended period, they were unlikely to be malicious, and a move to Mùyún Temple would serve them well.

As for the Earth God’s prior inaction, she provisionally attributed it to the constraints of his situation.

Upon hearing the fluffy little animal speak, the Little Girl scampered over in two quick steps, once more eager to tug at its tail.

The Pallas’s Cat hastily recoiled two steps, narrowly evading the girl’s outstretched hand.

“Little Girl, that is rude!”

“Mama, she can talk!”

In truth, the Little Girl had already been captivated the previous time she’d heard it speak.

Seeing her daughter’s interest in a talking Pallas’s Cat, an inexplicable ripple of thoughts stirred within Qíngyǔ. She stepped forward, gently taking her daughter’s hand and drawing her back to her side.

“Little Girl, that is rude.”

“Oh…”

Noticing her mother’s gentle displeasure, the girl immediately sought to appease her by clinging to her arm.

Only once the Little Girl was back by her side did Qíngyǔ’s mind regain its placid calm.

‘Why would I become angry over such a thing?’

The Young Lady, too, felt a sense of unease. Frankly, she could barely recall the last time she had felt such anger.

‘Surely it’s not an inner demon?’

Glancing at the adorable girl beside her, Qíngyǔ shook her head. Perhaps it was merely due to a lapse in her cultivation; more diligent practice later would surely remedy it.

The Earth God, however, had perceived it clearly. In that fleeting moment, sensing a subtle, almost imperceptible trace of anger, he felt as if plunged into an icy abyss, silently cursing his misfortune.

“My daughter is mischievous; this humble Daoist apologizes on her behalf.”

“How dare you say that, how dare you.”

The old man could only force a bitter smile and quickly respond. Forget offense; even if the little girl were to tug at his beard, he would now only be able to smile and accept it.

“Very well, then. What have you decided regarding the matter I just mentioned?”

Qíngyǔ nodded, bringing the conversation back to its original point.

The Earth God’s shock had not yet subsided. Believing himself incapable of resistance, he could only sigh inwardly, then bowed his head and hands in submission.

“I shall comply with all of the Immortal’s arrangements.”