I am a fairy in Journey to the West

Looking at Chi Ling, who invited him to take a seat, Zhuang Yan cupped his hands and smiled, "Thank you for your kindness, Grand Commandant. I am just a wandering cultivator, how dare I be above you?"

Upon hearing Zhuang Yan's words, Chi Ling's face stiffened for a moment, then she reacted quickly. She coughed first, then straightened her back and said, "Ah, fellow Daoist, you may not know this, but respecting the virtuous is the earnest teaching of the Divine Firmament Emperor, which I, the Grand Commandant, always keep in mind!"

At this point, Chi Ling turned to Wu Chenzi and Ren Xiaoyao beside her and said, "You two go and guard outside the reed hut. No one is allowed to come in without my order. I have some important matters to ask this esteemed scholar."

Upon hearing this, Ren Xiaoyao and Wuchenzi immediately accepted the order and went outside the thatched hut to stand guard.

Because the reed hut was protected by a barrier, people outside could not see what was happening inside. Therefore, after Ren Xiaoyao and Wuchenzi left, Chi Ling immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Your subject Chi Ling pays respects to Your Majesty."

Zhuang Yan reached out and grabbed her shoulder, helping her up from the ground, then smiled and said, "You have a good eye."

Chi Ling smiled and said, "I have followed Your Majesty since Lingtai Mountain. Although I cannot fathom Your Majesty's great power, Your Majesty's every move and behavior has long been imprinted in my heart. Considering that you can blow away the Extinction Smoke in one breath, combined with your behavior, it is not difficult to make a guess."

“Not bad,” Zhuang Yan said. “With your insight, you could be a Yama King in the underworld.”

"I'm not going," Chi Ling said as she invited Zhuang Yan to take a seat. "As long as I can stay by His Majesty's side, I'd be willing to be a lowly servant."

Zhuang Yan smiled faintly and then asked, "When did I give you earnest advice or teach you to respect virtuous people?"

"Hahaha." Akaya laughed awkwardly, and said evasively, "I've said that before."

"When?" Zhuang Yan continued to ask.

Chi Ling blushed and kept scratching her head, saying, "This... anyway, it was in the past, I can't quite remember."

Seeing her so flustered, Zhuang Yan couldn't help but smile and said, "Your personality isn't suited for flattery. Just be yourself and don't force yourself."

Chi Ling stood up straight and said solemnly, "Yes, Your Majesty's decree will be obeyed."

Then Chi Ling asked, "Now that Your Majesty is here, everything here is up to Your Majesty to decide."

But before she could finish speaking, Zhuang Yan raised his hand and said, "No need. I'm here to cultivate in the mortal world this time. Didn't you see I've concealed my identity?"

Chi Ling asked in bewilderment, "Your Majesty, please forgive my ignorance, but I truly do not understand what this worldly experience means, and what kind of experience it is. Isn't it just the kind of thing where immortals play in the mortal world and laugh at the world's affairs?"

“You’re right,” Zhuang Yan said. “It’s a simple truth, but there are some differences.”

Chi Ling quickly replied, "Please enlighten me, Your Majesty."

Zhuang Yan asked, "What are the four seasons?"

Chi Ling laughed and said, "Your Majesty underestimates me. The four seasons are spring, summer, autumn and winter. The four seasons of heaven and earth are like the birth, aging, sickness and death of all things, repeating endlessly."

Zhuang Yan said, "Then, back when you hadn't been subdued by me and were still a snake spirit in the mountains, what did the four seasons look like to you?"

This memory is quite distant; it happened nearly six hundred years ago.

Chi Ling stood there, carefully recalling those distant memories, and only after a quarter of an hour did she answer: "In spring, the severe cold subsided and all things grew. In early spring, I slept in the cave, and I could hear the sound of insects crawling in the soil and the sound of green grass breaking through the soil to sprout. When the Awakening of Insects arrived, spring thunder rolled, spring was warm and flowers bloomed, and all things revived, and I woke up from my hibernation."

"In the summer, when the temperature is hot, I often go out to hunt for food. The mountains are fragrant with flowers and grasses, and the trees are laden with fruit."

“In autumn, the world becomes desolate and the temperature gradually drops, so I rarely leave my cave. I just watch the colorful mountains and the ripe fruits. Every now and then, one or two fruits will fall into my cave, and the wild animals will come to take the fruits and I will eat them.”

“When autumn comes and the weather gets cold, I will close my cave and enter into a deep hibernation to wait for the spring of the following year.”

After saying that, Chi Ling smiled at Zhuang Yan and said, "Your Majesty, this is how I saw the four seasons back then."

Zhuang Yan nodded and said, "Since you followed me, especially after you became an immortal, what are the four seasons like in your eyes?"

Upon hearing this, Chi Ling's eyes lit up, and she said, "That is certainly different. In spring, we see flowers; in summer, we see water; in autumn, we see mountain colors; and in winter, we see frost and snow. Every year is the same, yet every year is different."

"It wasn't until we arrived at Buzhou Mountain that things got busy, and I had no time to observe the changing seasons," Chi Ling concluded.

Zhuang Yan said, "By the way, the so-called worldly cultivation is to change one's identity and perspective to observe all things and beings, and comprehend the way of heaven and earth."

“I understand.” Chi Ling nodded and said, “I often hear Sister Huo Ling say that all living things have their own path, even a mayfly, in its limited time, is practicing the infinite path.”

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "Huo Ling has exceptional talent. She can understand the scriptures and classics of Taoism and Buddhism at a glance and can integrate them. Apart from the saints, there are not many people in this world who can compare to her, so her cultivation level is even higher than mine."

Chi Ling nodded and said earnestly, "The person I admire most is His Majesty, and the second most is Sister Huo Ling."

"That's why she issued the 'Jiaxu Decree'." Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "In the past, the promotion of celestial officials and gods was rather arbitrary, without a unified regulation and process. The Fire Spirit's Jiaxu Decree aims to formalize the process of promoting celestial officials."

The Jiaxu Decree had two points: first, after completing the required merits and virtues, one would be assessed and become a celestial official or deity; second, one would be promoted to a celestial official or deity after passing the examination of the Jade Palace of the Mortal Realm.

Both of these points contain the word "examination," which shows what kind of reforms the Fire Spirit Immortal wants to implement.

She herself was an extremely 'excellent' cultivator. Even before she became an immortal, she was able to refute even highly accomplished Buddhist monks in debates.

If the cultivation world is a university, then the Fire Spirit True Immortal is the strongest academic genius.

If you ask a top student to set the selection criteria for celestial officials and deities, then it will naturally come down to the word 'exam'.

However, the "examination" of the Fire Spirit True Immortal is not just about testing your scripture level; the most important thing is your 'merit'.

Merit, composed of two parts, merit and virtue, together refers to a living being's positive contribution to heaven and earth and all things. Thus, the Fire Spirit Immortal is a 'perfect personality'; she hopes that every celestial official and deity can possess both morality and ability, and also contribute to heaven, earth, all living beings, and all things.

“No wonder so many gods objected,” Chi Ling said. “Actually, even I can’t meet Sister Fire Spirit’s standards.”

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "If you encounter difficulties, reflect on your own actions. Always be mindful of your destiny and seek good fortune for yourself."

Finally, Zhuang Yan slowly said, "This is why I entered the mortal world to cultivate."

Chi Ling said, "I think I understand."

Having said that, Chi Ling asked Zhuang Yan, "So, Your Majesty, will you continue your travels? Or..."

Zhuang Yan laughed and said, "Since Ren Xiaoyao brought me here, I'll stay here for a few days. From now on, you should treat me as Lingtai Daoren, not Shenxiao Dadi."

Chi Ling bowed and accepted the order: "Your subject obeys the decree."

After saying that, Chi Ling chuckled and looked at Zhuang Yan, saying, "Then, Daoist Lingtai, I must ask you to step down from your seat. This is my place."

Zhuang Yan said, "So you were just flattering me, right? You even talked about respecting virtuous people."

Chi Ling smiled and said, "Master Lingtai is absolutely right."

After saying that, Chi Ling sat down in her seat and called out to the outside, "Ren Xiaoyao, Wuchenzi, come in."

The two quickly entered the reed hut. Chi Ling said to Ren Xiaoyao, "You did well. Daoist Lingtai is indeed a virtuous and outstanding immortal. This Grand Commandant will reward you."

Ren Xiaoyao's eyes lit up, and he quickly asked, "What will I reward you with?"

Chi Ling said, "I'll give you one hundred purple coins."

Upon hearing this, Ren Xiaoyao's eyes darkened, and he said, "Then I don't want it."

"You don't even want a hundred purple coins?" Wuchenzi exclaimed in surprise. "When did you become a tycoon?"

Ren Xiaoyao said smugly, "I just fined two Taoists two thousand purple coins. Grand Commandant, you should keep this hundred purple coins."

Chi Ling didn't ask any further questions after hearing this. She punished the two Taoist priests, knowing that they had encountered some trouble while on official business.

These kinds of punishments are usually based on one's own abilities and don't require them to pay anything. "Fine, if you don't want it, then forget it."

At this point, Chi Ling asked Zhuang Yan, "Master Lingtai, what... uh... what position do you wish to hold?"

Zhuang Yan said, "I will waive the post. I am a wandering Taoist and do not seek power. If the Grand Commandant can find me useful, I will certainly serve him."

Upon hearing this, Chi Ling said, "Alright then, Daoist Master, please stay in the mountains for now, and we will trouble you to help us when needed."

Zhuang Yan nodded and said, "Okay."

On the very day Zhuang Yan settled in Qingtai Mountain, at dusk, five stumbling beams of light landed in the mountain.

Then Gu Hanqing, Zhang Qiubai, Yue Botong, Li Zhicheng, and Zhang Xianzong appeared and quickly arrived at the large tent to see Chi Ling.

"Grand Commandant." The five men, looking haggard, bowed to Chi Ling.

Seeing this, Chi Ling frowned and asked, "What's going on?"

Gu Hanqing said, "Grand Commandant, for some reason, the Third Holy Mother of Mount Hua suddenly appeared and competed with us to arrest those criminal officials. When we tried to reason with her, she chased us away instead."

"The Third Holy Mother?" Chi Ling frowned. "What does she want to do?"

The five people also looked bewildered and shook their heads, saying, "We don't know either."

Zhang Xianzong added, "She took all the criminal officials we had already captured. We wanted to resist, but she had a very powerful weapon in her possession, and we were no match for her."

Chi Ling said calmly, "I know that magic treasure. It's called the Lotus Lantern. It was bestowed upon her by His Majesty the Divine Firmament Emperor."

"That vile woman," Li Zhicheng cursed, "using the magic weapon bestowed upon us by His Majesty to attack us, it's disgusting."

Zhang Qiubai asked, "Grand Commandant, with the Third Holy Mother acting so recklessly, we can't catch any criminals at all; she's kidnapped them all."

Just as Chi Ling was about to speak, two more people rushed in from outside the reed hut. Everyone looked and saw that it was Ren Xiaoyao and Wuchenzi.

The two entered the thatched hut and hurriedly went up to Chi Ling, saying, "Grand Commandant, something bad has happened! There's someone blocking the gate outside the mountain. We just came out of the mountain to arrest the criminal official, but she stopped us."

Upon hearing this, Chi Ling raised an eyebrow, and Gu Hanqing asked, "Was it a woman? Was she very beautiful?"

"Pah!" Wuchenzi spat and said, "She's a woman, but she's not pretty at all."

“That’s the Third Holy Mother,” Gu Hanqing said. “Grand Commandant, I never expected her to come to Qingtai Mountain to block our door.”

A murderous glint flashed across Chi Ling's face, followed by a sharp voice: "Let's go, let me go and meet her."

Having said that, Chi Ling led the seven people out of the reed tent. As soon as they came out, they saw an auspicious cloud drifting in from the horizon beyond the mountains. On the cloud, radiant with celestial light, stood a woman in palace attire, with an ancient and exquisite lotus lantern hanging above her head. (End of this chapter)