I am a fairy in Journey to the West

In early spring, February, the severe cold has subsided, and the grass grows and the orioles fly.

The Great Emperor of the Northern Mountain, accompanied by Empress Jingming and his consorts, moved to Fenglingjian in Hengshan. The streams flowed gently, flowers bloomed everywhere, and the rosy clouds covered the land.

The cultivators and demons living near Mount Heng all came to pay homage, and the Great Emperor of the Northern Mountain bestowed upon them immortal fruits and spiritual food. All the cultivators and demons kowtowed and thanked him.

At this moment, the Great Emperor of the Northern Peak seemed to remember something and asked Minister Zhao Chongguo, "Minister Zhao, the letter summoning Yan Junzhi has been sent to the Southern Continent for three months, hasn't it? Why haven't we received a reply yet?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chongguo quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I am also puzzled. Logically speaking, if the Wutai Mountain Divine Palace were to reply, it would arrive within a month at most."

"Could it be that the messenger encountered an accident on the way?" Emperor Beiyue asked.

Zhao Chongguo thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will immediately dispatch another divine general to Mount Wutai."

The Great Emperor of the Northern Peak nodded. Just then, a divine light descended, revealing the Commanding God General, Taiheng Jun.

Taihengjun hurriedly approached, first paying respects to the Great Emperor of the Northern Mountain and Empress Jingming, and then pulled Zhao Chongguo aside.

Emperor Beiyue and Empress Jingming looked puzzled. They exchanged a glance and then looked at Lord Taiheng and Zhao Chongguo, who had walked to the side.

Taihengjun lowered his voice and asked Zhao Chongguo, "Minister, whose name was written on the letter of summons you issued?"

Zhao Chongguo was stunned and hurriedly asked, "Are you referring to the matter of summoning Yan Junzhi? Of course, it refers to Yan Junzhi, whom you recommended, my lord."

"But why is it Yan Xiezhi who came?" Lord Taiheng asked. "Are you sure you didn't write the name wrong?"

"This!" Zhao Chongguo was also shocked. After thinking carefully, he said, "I'm sure I didn't write it wrong. It's definitely Yan Junzhi's name."

At this point, Zhao Chongguo asked, "Has the Wutai Mountain Divine Palace replied?"

"Why reply? The people are already here." Lord Taiheng said helplessly.

Zhao Chongguo's eyes widened, and he quickly asked, "Where is he?"

Lord Taiheng said, "I didn't bring them with me. I came to ask you first whether the people are suitable or not. Minister, you only need to say one word and I will send them back."

Zhao Chongguo said, “My lord, you are confused. They are your relatives, or even the Empress’s family. Whether they are useful or not, since they have come to visit, we should at least meet them. If we just send them back like this, wouldn’t that sever our kinship ties?”

Lord Taiheng said, "Then shall I go and bring it over?"

Zhao Chongguo nodded and said, "Bring the person here immediately. I will inform His Majesty first."

"Alright." Lord Taiheng nodded, then directly rode the divine light and flew towards the direction of the Northern Mountain Divine Palace.

At this moment, Zhao Chongguo returned, and the Great Emperor of the Northern Mountain asked with a smile, "What secrets do you two have that you've kept from even me?"

Zhao Chongguo quickly apologized and reported, "Your Majesty, it is clear that the Wutai Mountain Divine Palace has not replied."

"Oh?" the Great Emperor of the Northern Peak asked, "Why?"

Zhao Chongguo said, "The reason they didn't reply is because the God of Wutai Mountain sent people directly over. The journey was long, so it took three months."

The Great Emperor of the Northern Mountain nodded and smiled, "That's quite thoughtful. Sending someone directly is much simpler than exchanging letters."

“But…” Zhao Chongguo shook his head and said, “It wasn’t Yan Junzhi who came.”

"Not Yan Junzhi?" The Great Emperor of Beiyue raised an eyebrow. "Then who is it?"

Zhao Chongguo said, "It is Yan Xiezhi, the direct descendant of the God of Wutai Mountain. He has already arrived at the God's Palace, and Lord Taiheng has gone to bring him here."

The Great Emperor of the Northern Peak immediately understood everything, and also understood why the God of Wutai Mountain sent the person directly instead of replying to the letter.

He turned to look at Empress Jingming and said, "Your brother is quite cunning; he's going to do the same for me, acting first and reporting later."

Empress Jingming laughed and said, "I did remind you. I told you to send the summons letter directly to Yan Junzhi, but you wouldn't listen. What could I do?"

"Alas," the Great Emperor of the Northern Peak sighed, "I never expected it to turn out this way. What can we do now?"

Empress Jingming said, "This is definitely not my brother's idea; it must be my sister-in-law who instigated it behind the scenes. I know Xie Zhi as well; he is not as good as Jun Zhi, but he is quite clever. We'll see how he is later. If he can be used, we'll use him; if not, we'll send him back in my name."

The Great Emperor of the Northern Peak nodded and said, "That's the only way."

Before long, Lord Taiheng led a group of divine generals, along with a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy and a burly, red-haired, blue-faced demon, to Fenglingjian.

Then the demon was left on the outskirts to stand with a group of gods, while Taiheng Jun led the boy to pay homage to the Great Emperor of Beiyue.

Taiheng Jun was the first to bow and said, "Father, Mother, I have brought my cousin Xie Zhi here."

Yan Xiezhi immediately kowtowed and said, "This humble one, Yan Xiezhi, pays respects to His Majesty the Great Emperor of the Northern Peak, and to Empress Jingming of the Northern Peak." "Xiezhi, there's no need for such formalities. Your father and I are siblings. You can just call me Aunt," Empress Jingming said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Yan Xiezhi immediately bowed to Empress Jingming again and called her "Aunt".

However, one cannot so casually address the Great Emperor of the Northern Mountain as "uncle." The ruler takes precedence over relatives; the proper etiquette between ruler and subject must be observed first, followed by the etiquette between relatives.

The Great Emperor of the Northern Mountain asked, "Xie Zhi, what did your father tell you before you came?"

Yan Xiezhi respectfully replied, "My father told me that His Majesty's summons of me this time is a benevolent and wise act, and that I should always remember His Majesty's kindness, work diligently, and live up to His Majesty's favor."

Upon hearing this, the Great Emperor of Beiyue exchanged a glance with Empress Jingming. It seemed that Yan Shenggong had not told Yan Xiezhi the truth, so Yan Xiezhi believed that he was the one who had been summoned.

The Great Emperor of the Northern Peak then asked, "If you were a divine ruler, how would you govern?"

Yan Xie said, "I have received Your Majesty's command and am committed to the fundamental principles of education. I will appease those near and win over those far, and spread my power and virtue so that all living beings may live in peace and demons may submit to my grace."

The Great Emperor of the Northern Peak then asked, "I heard that you have a half-brother named Yan Junzhi?"

Yan Xiezhi was taken aback, wondering why the Great Emperor of Beiyue would ask about Yan Junzhi, so he replied, "Your Majesty, that is indeed the case."

The Great Emperor of the Northern Peak asked, "What do you think of this person?"

Yan Xiezhi immediately recalled his mother, Lady Chonghua's, instructions: if the Great Emperor of Beiyue asked about Yan Junzhi, he should severely criticize him.

However, Yan Xiezhi felt that doing so was too petty. Although his relationship with his half-brother Yan Junzhi was so-so, he would not go so far as to belittle him behind his back.

Yan Xiezhi replied, “Your Majesty, I am not close to my half-brother Yan Junzhi, but I know that he is honest, filial and friendly, and has a good reputation.”

The Great Emperor of the Northern Mountain was quite surprised by this answer, and his expression softened. He pointed to the jade cushion beside him and said, "Rise, and take a seat."

Yan Xiezhi immediately kowtowed to express his gratitude, then got up and sat down on the jade cushion.

The Great Emperor of the Northern Peak looked at Yan Xiezhi and said, "You are about to take up the post of Divine Lord of Guanling Prefecture. This is a very important position, as it is related to whether my Northern Peak Divine Palace can maintain stability in Beiju Luzhou. Are you capable of this role?"

Yan Xiezhi cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, it is up to human effort to accomplish this."

"Alright." The Great Emperor of Beiyue nodded and said, "You will stay on Mount Heng for a month. I will have Minister Zhao Chongguo show you the situation in Beiju Luzhou and Guanling Prefecture. A month later, I will officially confer upon you the title of Divine Lord of Guanling Prefecture, and then you can go and take office."

Upon hearing this, Yan Xiezhi immediately rose and bowed, saying, "I will obey Your Majesty's decree."

In a small courtyard at the Wutai Mountain Divine Palace, Yan Junzhi looked at his mother with a guilty expression.

Hu Ling remained calm, looking at her son and saying, "I heard that Young Master Xie was summoned by the Northern Mountain Divine Palace and became a regional deity?"

“Yes,” Yan Junzhi said. “How did Mother know?”

Hu Ling said, "It was the Du family who told me that Young Master Xie has a good background. He is the eldest son, and the Northern Mountain Divine Palace will definitely think of him first when they recruit him. I come from a humble background and only use my looks to please people, which has implicated you."

Yan Junzhi asked in surprise, "Why did Mother say such a thing? Isn't this embarrassing for her son? I don't care about Mother's background. You gave birth to me, so you are the most precious person in my heart."

Hu Ling smiled and said, "I know you are filial, but I always feel guilty. Young Master Xie became a regional god at the age of sixteen, while you are still just a rogue cultivator. I feel really bad about it. Unfortunately, I have no money or connections here and can't help you."

"Mother, what are you saying?" Yan Junzhi smiled and said, "Mother, you don't need to worry, I already have a place to go."

"Oh?" Hu Ling quickly asked, "Where are you going?"

Yan Junzhi said, "Last year when I went down the mountain to travel, I came to the territory of the Great Tang Kingdom. It happened that the Lingtai Taoist Palace was recruiting virtuous people, so I went to apply."

At this point, Yan Junzhi took out a talisman and said, "Yesterday, the Lingtai Dao Palace sent a talisman saying that I have passed the selection and can go to the Lingtai Dao Palace to serve at any time."

Hu Ling asked, "It sounds like a Taoist sect, where people don't eat the food of the gods, right?"

Yan Junzhi laughed and said, "Mother, it is so difficult to become a celestial official these days. This Lingtai Dao Palace is the number one Dao Palace in the Great Tang Dynasty. If I go there to work, I can earn a hundred purple coins a month."

"So much?" Hu Ling was startled. As the concubine of the mountain god, she could only receive ten purple coins a month from the Wutai Mountain God's Palace.

Yan Junzhi said, “Mother, I am getting old, and after many years of cultivation, I still cannot understand the mysteries of the immortal path. This time, I will go to Lingtai Dao Palace to take up a post. Firstly, I can earn some purple coins, and secondly, I can visit immortals and ask questions. If I can get guidance from a master, wouldn’t that be better than me staying in the mountains and cultivating in seclusion?”

Hu Ling said, "That's true." After saying that, Hu Ling looked at Yan Junzhi and said, "You have your own ideas about everything, so I won't interfere. You wait here."

After saying that, Hu Ling went into the house and soon took out a brocade bag, which she handed to Yan Junzhi, saying, "This is the purple money that your mother has accumulated over the years, a total of two hundred and seventy coins. You can take it and use it for social interactions when you get to the Lingtai Dao Palace."

Yan Junzhi quickly declined, but Hu Ling was adamant, saying, "I have no worries about food, clothing, or lodging here, so I don't need these purple coins. Those places require a lot of social interaction. After you arrive, spend these purple coins first, and then repay me after you've settled down and started receiving your monthly salary."

Upon hearing this, Yan Junzhi finally stopped refusing and accepted the gift. He then knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times to Hu Ling before bidding her farewell and descending the mountain. (End of Chapter)