I am a fairy in Journey to the West

Chapter 406 Blood-Born Monster
Although the trip to the underworld was a huge setback, and his enthusiasm was dampened, Pei Jue was not discouraged. Instead, he regained his confidence in a very short time.

"Judge Cui said that at midnight on the fifteenth of each month, the underworld will send ghost messengers to escort the wandering ghosts here." Pei Jue told Zhuang Yan about his experiences in the underworld without any concealment.

Zhuang Yan looked at Pei Jue and said, "They despise you so much, I think it's better not to be a 'Mao Shen' anymore, so you can avoid suffering more humiliation."

“Hey!” Pei Jue disagreed with Zhuang Yan’s words and said, “How can someone who achieves great things not experience some setbacks? Although I am a minor deity, I have sworn to perform extraordinary feats so that the Heavenly Court will recognize me and bestow upon me the title of a true City God!”

Seeing Pei Jue's wandering gaze, Zhuang Yan chuckled and said, "Starting to daydream?"

Pei Jue snapped out of his daze, his face somewhat embarrassed. At this moment, Zhuang Yan asked, "I'm very curious, why are you so obsessed with the 'divine position'?"

“You don’t understand,” Pei Jue sighed, then said, “This is the obsession of five generations of my family. My father held my hand until his death and told me that I must become a god.”

Zhuang Yan asked in surprise, "Then where did your five generations of obsession come from?"

Pei Jue said, "That started with my great-great-grandfather. Before he took human form, he was a precious seal in the Tai Xuan Zhen Mansion. Later, due to an accident, it fell to the mortal world and became covered in dust. By chance, he gained sentience and thus transformed into a demon."

"Oh," Zhuang Yan suddenly realized and said, "No wonder you have such an obsession. It turns out that your ancestor was an official seal that came to life."

Pei Jue nodded and said, "It's not just that. There are many other benefits to becoming a god. For example, ordinary demons only live a little longer than ordinary human cultivators. If I can't become an immortal, I'll live for at most three hundred years. But becoming a god is different. Once you become a god, there is no limit to your lifespan. As long as you don't suffer any calamities or violate the heavenly rules, you can live forever. And once you become a god, all your relatives in this life, including your deceased ancestors, will be protected by you."

"And another thing," Pei Jue said, "once you become a god, regardless of your rank or position, everyone will treat you with utmost respect. Plus, you'll receive a monthly stipend from the Heavenly Court. Isn't that much better than mindless, arduous cultivation?"

Zhuang Yan laughed and said, "So becoming a god comes with so many benefits and privileges."

“Of course.” Pei Jue casually patted Zhuang Yan on the shoulder and said, “The divine power of the Heavenly Court is far superior to the positions of all the major sects in the world. It’s a golden opportunity.”

At this point, Pei Jue said to Zhuang Yan, "You better follow me closely. Once I receive the Heavenly Decree, I will definitely not forget you."

Zhuang Yan cupped his hands and smiled, "Then we'll have to rely on the City God."

Pei Jue was in a great mood and asked Zhuang Yan to clear out two rooms in the City God Temple before continuing his search for wandering ghosts.

Time flies, and more than half a month has passed in the blink of an eye. The moon in the sky is very far away and very bright tonight. Yes, today is the fifteenth of October.

At midnight, the City God Temple in Puyu City was suddenly shrouded in a dark mist, followed by howling winds, and a group of ghost messengers emerged from the mist.

Pei Jue, who had been waiting in front of the main hall, saw these ghost messengers and quickly went to greet them.

"Gentlemen, you have arrived. I have been waiting for you for a long time." Pei Jue stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting, and addressed the group of ghost messengers.

The leading ghost officer said calmly, "Enough with the nonsense. Quickly bring those wandering ghosts back so we can escort them back to report."

Pei Jue's expression froze slightly, but he quickly smiled and said, "Alright, alright, please wait a moment, it will be ready soon."

As soon as Pei Jue finished speaking, he saw Zhuang Yan walking ahead, leading a string of wandering ghosts tied with a red hemp rope.

When Zhuang Yan stopped outside the main hall, the group of ghost messengers stared at him intently and couldn't help but turn their heads.

“There are two hundred and seventy-six wandering ghosts here,” Pei Jue said, handing over a thin booklet. “I have already registered their names and hometowns in this booklet.”

The leading ghost messenger looked at Pei Jue with surprise, then took the booklet and put it in his sleeve. He didn't say anything, but just nodded to Pei Jue.

Then the group of ghost messengers took the rope from Zhuang Yan and led the two hundred and seventy-six wild ghosts into the gloomy fog.

As the gloomy mist gradually dissipated, Pei Jue stood there, lost in thought.

When Zhuang Yan approached, Pei Jue said, "He is indeed a ghost messenger, unlike the living. He is gloomy and taciturn."

Zhuang Yan said, "These ghost messengers are ninth-rank Yin gods. Although they are the lowest rank, they are still legitimate deities. Their gloomy and taciturn nature may simply be because they look down on you."

Pei Jue exclaimed in surprise, "Is that really the case? Would gods be as opportunistic as mortals?"

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "Gods are also transformed from humans, especially those of lower rank. They have their own way of dealing with the world."

Pei Jue was speechless after hearing this, and said, "I really didn't expect that even gods are not exempt from human relationships and social customs."

At this point, Pei Jue had another idea, "Maybe I should find a way to earn some purple coins."

Zhuang Yan said, "Then I'll have to take on freelance work."

Pei Jue looked at Zhuang Yan and asked, "How do you take on freelance work?"

Zhuang Yan said, "Use your current identity to do some side jobs for those cultivators and demons."

At this point, Zhuang Yan said to Pei Jue, "There just happens to be a side job here. There's a toad spirit in Yushuijian outside the city that needs human flesh and blood. If you send some over, he can pay you one purple coin per person."

Upon hearing this, Pei Jue shook his head repeatedly and said, "How can this be? Although it's not a big deal for monsters to eat people, as a city god, how can I send living people to be eaten by monsters? I absolutely cannot do such a thing."

Zhuang Yan laughed and said, "This monster eats people without being picky, so why send good people over? Why not just send over the most heinous criminals? That way you can make money and get rid of evil at the same time, why not?"

“No!” Pei Jue said firmly, “Those who commit crimes will be punished by law. As the City God, I cannot violate human laws, nor can I cross my own bottom line. I absolutely cannot do things like trafficking people to feed demons.”

Then Pei Jue asked Zhuang Yan, "So that toad spirit is very rich?"

Zhuang Yan said, "It should be. It used to cultivate in a Buddhist temple, but later the temple was destroyed by Brahmanism, so it escaped."

"Oh," Pei Jue nodded, then said to Zhuang Yan, "I'll be right back."

After saying this, Pei Jue rode away on the wind. About an hour later, Zhuang Yan saw Pei Jue return carrying a black iron spear. He had several wounds on his body and was covered in signs of fighting.

"Where have you been?" Zhuang Yan asked in surprise.

Pei Jue smugly reached into his sleeve, pulled out thirty purple coins, and said with a smile, "I beat that toad demon to a pulp and collected thirty purple coins as protection money from him." Zhuang Yan sighed and said, "Your comprehension is very high. How can trafficking people be faster than just robbing them?"

Pei Jue was very happy to have snatched thirty purple coins. He said to Zhuang Yan, "I'm going to meditate and heal my injuries first. Tell me if anything comes up tomorrow morning."

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "I understand."

Pei Jue then went straight back to his hermitage to meditate and heal his injuries.

The night was as dark as ink, and the October night was as cool as water.

In an ordinary home in Puyucheng, dim candlelight reflected on the thin window paper, casting wisps of dim, yellowish light.

A series of piercing screams pierced through the house, making the family waiting outside extremely anxious, especially the young man, who was standing on tiptoe, constantly peering into the window.

After an unknown amount of time, a red light suddenly shone from inside the house, and a moment later, a clear and tender cry echoed throughout the courtyard.

"It's born! It's born!" the young man exclaimed excitedly.

The middle-aged man behind the young man was also extremely excited, but even more so, astonished: "Old woman, did you see that? That red light just now!"

“I saw it.” The middle-aged woman’s face was full of joy. “My grandson was born with extraordinary signs, and he will surely be rich and noble in the future.”

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man immediately said, "Give the midwife plenty of money later, and this matter must be kept secret."

The middle-aged woman was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, then realized what she meant and nodded solemnly.

Suddenly a scream came from inside the house. People outside were startled and hurriedly looked towards the delivery room. They saw the midwife rushing out with a look of terror on her face and running towards the yard without saying a word.

"Ghost! Ghost!" the midwife screamed as she ran.

The young man rushed into the bedroom, only to find it shrouded in blood. His wife lay weakly on the bed, while the floor was covered in blood. In the blood lay an infant with horns on its forehead, a red face, and fangs.

The young man stood frozen in place, but the baby grew at a visible speed, and at the same time, it rapidly absorbed the surrounding blood.

By the time all the blood and energy in the room had been completely drained, the baby had grown to be about eighteen or nineteen years old.

He then stood up from the ground, and only then did the young man realize that his ten fingers were shaped like blades more than three inches long.

The young man turned pale, cried out in alarm, and collapsed to the ground. Looking at the monster before him, he exclaimed, "Who...who are you? Where is my child?"

The monster laughed and said, "Father, I am your son."

After saying this, the monster turned and bowed to the woman on the bed, saying, "Your son greets his mother."

The woman was already very weak after giving birth, and when she saw this monster, she rolled her eyes and fainted.

Seeing this, the monster had no choice but to cover the woman with the blanket and then said to the man, "Father, I have important business to attend to. I will come back to take care of you both later."

After saying that, the monster walked straight outside. The man hurriedly dodged and didn't even dare to look it in the eye.

At this moment, the man's parents were guarding outside the door when they suddenly saw a monster with a blood-red body, horns on its forehead, ten fingers like knives, and a red face with fangs walk out. They were so frightened that they trembled all over.

When the monster saw the old couple, it greeted them with a smile, saying, "Grandson greets Grandfather and Grandmother."

"Uh!" The middle-aged woman fainted. The middle-aged man quickly helped her up and then cautiously stepped aside.

The monster didn't seem to mind and walked out of the courtyard with a nonchalant air.

Meanwhile, throughout Puyu City, every family that gave birth that night experienced the same thing.

Just half an hour later, more than a dozen monsters that looked exactly alike gathered from all directions, and the direction they were heading was the 'Shande Temple' in the city.

Soon, Seondeoksa Temple became noisy and chaotic as the monsters forced their way in and began to wreak havoc.

The monks of Seondeok-ji Temple were no match for these monsters; it was a one-sided massacre.

Soon, the night patrol received a plea for help from the monks of Seondeok-ji Temple and rushed to the temple to provide support, but the guards were completely helpless against the monsters.

Those monsters' ten blade-like fingers were extremely sharp, cutting through the soldiers' armor as easily as cutting tofu.

An hour later, the entire city of Puyu was alarmed. The palace was brightly lit, and all the civil and military officials were summoned by King Jinlun overnight.

At the same time, all the royal guards gathered and completely guarded the palace.

Pei Jue, who was healing her injuries in the hermitage, suddenly heard a series of rapid knocking sounds outside. Her expression turned serious, and she quickly stopped practicing her internal energy. Then she got up and walked out of the hermitage.

Upon seeing Zhuang Yan standing before the altar, he asked, "Is there something you need?"

Zhuang Yan said, "Something has happened in the city."

Pei Jue was startled upon hearing this and hurriedly asked, "What happened?"

Zhuang Yan said, "Go out and see for yourself."

Upon hearing this, Pei Jue immediately stepped outside the main hall. In an instant, a mixture of malevolent energy, blood energy, and demonic energy rushed towards him. Pei Jue's expression changed drastically, and he said, "Such a strong demonic aura! Has a demon king invaded Puyu City?"

Then she looked in the direction of Seondeoksa Temple, where flames were shooting into the sky, illuminating most of the sky as if it were daytime.

(End of this chapter)