"Sect Leader."
Huang Lao Xu, who had always harbored prejudice against Xu Qing, finally lowered his head.
When Huang Lao Xu was about to leave, the Golden Chicken in the shop followed him out the door, flapping its wings, looking extremely smug!
The nature of chickens and yellow wolves is discordant; seeing the old Yellow Weasel embarrassed, the Golden Simurgh naturally felt delighted.
Just as Huang Xiaoliu had finished putting up the couplets, he happened to see Xu Qing coming out of the shop, and his ancestor was respectfully following one step behind.
When they arrived at the Paper Mache Shop, Xu Qing glanced over.
The couplets, originally aligned inwards, had now turned outwards.
What the Yellow Weasel thought was proper didn't seem to align with human standards.
Xu Qing shook his head, considering it a feature of the Transmission Hall; as long as Huang Xiaoliu passed messages timely and accurately, it didn't matter if the couplets were crooked.
"Sect Leader, my grandchildren..."
Xu Qing looked at Huang Lao Xu, whose eyebrows were droopy, casting a nearly pleading gaze.
"Lao Xu, you are an immortal who strictly abides by rules and diligently performs your duties, and someone with these qualities should not fall into decline."
"Your grandchildren, I will arrange for them to enter the best immortal system of the Jin Sect, like crows of Chaotic Stone Mountain, and receive the best training."
Huang Lao Xu looked at the person leading the immortal circle of the Jin Sect, feeling that at this moment, Xu Qing was extraordinarily tall, so tall that even lifting his head, he couldn't see his true face.
"Thank you, Sect Leader, this sentiment the little old man will never forget."
"I do not need you to remember. Perhaps in the future, I may need you to step in, or perhaps not, but I hope you are always prepared, like Crow Grandpa."
...
Cat Immortal Hall, Bao Sheng Temple, Funeral Shop.
Xu Qing worked tirelessly, and after settling the affairs of the hall and the funeral, he came alone to Ziyun Mountain.
On the mountain path, a once-abandoned shrine for Ziyun Fairy had been freshly painted, with new letters added on the plaque naming it the "Great Guardian of Ziyun Mountain."
A temple big and public is known to the world, receiving the worship of believers from all over; a temple small and private remains unknown to outsiders, known only to local villagers or worshipped privately.
This shrine had no source, and the Jin Sect had no legend of Ziyun Fairy; Xu Qing privately thought someone enamored with the blooming beauty of the astragalus on Ziyun Mountain built such a small shrine.
The shrine's position was near the foot of the mountain; anyone visiting Bao Sheng Temple would pass by here. To embellish his temple, Xu Qing repurposed this empty shrine into the "abode" of the mountain deity.
In spring and summer, when astragali bloom in profusion, it feels like a true Ziyun Fairy is guarding this place.
Bao Sheng Temple is a newly birthed deity, urgently needing to establish cultural roots. Xu Qing knew the importance of this and arranged many legends over the years, narrated by the temple priest Sister Jin to the believers.
The mountain guardian also had a legend: whenever the astragali bloom, Ziyun Fairy would descend to the world, coming to the mountain to enjoy the scenery and flowers.
Thus, every spring and summer, the incense at Bao Sheng Temple would burn a little more brightly.
Over time, somehow, people considered astragalus the flower of forging good marriages.
Slowly, when proposing or getting married, people in the Jin Sect would place some astragali flowers on the banquet tables.
"I haven't paid attention for a while, but the incense here has accumulated significantly."
Looking at the Red Strings hanging from the big tree behind the shrine and the overflowing incense ash in the Incense Burner, Xu Qing was silent for a moment.
Since when did his Bao Sheng Temple become a deity of marriage?
Xu Qing pondered, thinking that he should have Sister Jin remind believers that astragali are under the care of Lady Bao Sheng, who governs childbirth, not romance.
An empty-named mountain guardian can't safeguard worldly marriages.
Xu Qing continued up the mountain path; with every step he took, the accumulated snow would part to the sides, and by the time he reached Bao Sheng Temple, a clear path had been created for believers to traverse.
At the temple gate, before Xu Qing got close, he spotted Sister Jin with a broom coming out.
With a shovel in hand, midwife Liu behind her commented: "It's strange how, with heavy snow sealing the path, people still come up the mountain to pray?"
Sister Jin laughed, "Someone coming at this time means our Lady Bao Sheng is effective, well-known; it's a good thing. As temple priest disciples, we should clear the path to make it convenient for the believers.
Besides, it's also convenient for Lady Bao Sheng; she might come back one day and need to use this path."
Midwife Liu chuckled, "How could a lady who is like an Immortal come up the path? But you're right, we should be diligent and make it convenient for the believers."
As they walked and chatted, they bumped into Xu Qing when coming out of the temple gates, surprising Sister Jin: "Mr. Xu, what brings you here?"
Xu Qing smiled and said, "Nothing much, just came to look around. Also, the mountain path has already been cleared by me, so you two needn't bother."
"The path is ready for the cleanup team; how could we trouble you, sir..."
Continuing their conversation, they turned back to the temple.
Midway, Xu Qing asked, "I heard someone came to the mountain to pray today?"
Sister Jin replied, "This morning, a young lady came to pray; from her look, she didn't seem like a betrothed girl. I don't know why she came so devoutly given the snow sealing the path."
Xu Qing nodded without saying much.
He had just come up from the foot of the mountain but hadn't seen a single footprint on the path.
With snow so thick, to come up without leaving traces means it's either someone with incredible skills or someone with some Daoist training, or even perhaps a ghostly spirit like Xiu Niang or Shiyue.
Xu Qing took a look through the Dharma Realm but found nothing unusual.
Reaching the Incense Hall, he saw before the statue of Lady Bao Sheng, a girl in a yellow dress, with chubby cheeks, making a wish on the cushion.
As for what wish she was making...
The fumbling speech was not easily understood by ordinary people.
However, only Xu Qing, who had activated the hearing skill to interpret ghostly and divine sounds, caught some clues.
She was speaking in true divine tones!
Xu Qing put aside his casual attitude and regarded the being before him, with not high cultivation, apparently just entering the path of understanding, more seriously.
Why not refer to her as a lifeform? Because when Xu Qing opened his Yin Pupil, what he saw was not the form of a girl, but a floating mass of bright yellow, dense energy.
Despite having many demonic entities under his command, and even being a malevolent spirit himself, Xu Qing was momentarily stunned.
What kind of filthy creature is this?
"Young lady, are you here to seek a child?"
Xu Qing stepped closer to ask.
Seeing the doubtful look in the eyes of the girl in yellow, Xu Qing explained, "The deity worshipped in this temple is the Deity of Childbirth and Protection, who oversees matters of birth in the world, so you must not pray to the wrong god."
Speaking, Xu Qing secretly applied the White Mouth Heavenly Constitution, trying to guide the mysterious being before him.
The White Mouth Heavenly Constitution is an Exotic Technique utilizing the eloquent skill, turning verbal sound into statute, impacting others' Divine Souls and spirits.
Historically, monks and Daoists often used this method to preach Dharma law and educate the world.
After hearing Xu Qing's voice, akin to that of a divinely religious figure, the girl in yellow was unaffected. She tilted her head, scrutinizing the young man before her, and pondered aloud:
"You speak like those holy ones; once they begin to talk, countless worshippers gather on the mountain to hear them preach and spread the law."
"I haven't heard such a voice in a very long time."
Xu Qing frowned slightly, ceasing to use the White Mouth Heavenly Constitution, and instead, asked in a regular tone, "This is Bao Sheng Temple; since you are not a worshipper, why are you here to pray?"
The girl in yellow placed her palms together, looking to the statue of Lady Bao Sheng, saying, "I am not worshipping; I am negotiating with the lady."
"..."
Curious, Xu Qing asked, "What kind of negotiation?"
Her gaze still fixed upon the statue of Lady Bao Sheng, the girl in yellow devoutly said: "I am a humble spirit of the wilderness, unnamed. I have wandered for long, like a rootless duckweed. Knowing the lady's name for benevolence in the world, blessing all nature, I ask to take shelter in this treasured mountain... In return, I am willing to guard this woodland, oversee the seasons' flora, and bless the peace within the mountain."
"I pray for the lady's approval."
Beside her, Xu Qing had a look of sudden realization.
So, she was here for an interview!