I am a fairy in Journey to the West

Jambudvipa, the Great Tang Dynasty in the Southern Continent, Shu Prefecture.

The sun was shining brightly, and the sky was clear and bright. Such good weather is rare in Sichuan, so the people of Sichuan all came out of their homes to air out their clothes and bedding, and also to sun themselves.

However, the Qingcheng Mountain was not so peaceful. The dark clouds had just dispersed, the thunder and lightning had gradually subsided, and the sky had cleared up again.

In a beautiful and secluded valley, a woman dressed in white with an exceptionally beautiful face appeared.

Meanwhile, outside the gate of Changdao Temple on Mount Qingcheng, an old Taoist priest stood under a tree with two young boys, their eyes fixed on the valley below.

The boy on the left said, "Master, just now the valley was covered with dark clouds, lightning was gathering, and demonic energy was soaring into the sky. It is likely that a great demon is transforming."

The Taoist priest called "Celestial Master" was Du Guangting, the abbot of Changdao Temple. Thirty years ago, he was bestowed the title of "True Celestial Master" by the Tang Dynasty. He was also a disciple of Wenshi Zhenren and belonged to the direct lineage of Laozi.

Du Guangting said, "It's a snake demon."

The boy on the right asked, "If it is a snake demon, why doesn't the Celestial Master subdue it?"

Du Guangting said, "This demon has a great deal of karma on her body, which is beyond my ability to interfere with. Besides, the demonic energy on her body is pure and righteous. If she is content to cultivate in the mountains, there is no need to interfere. All things in heaven and earth are subject to their own destiny."

After saying this, Du Guangting led the two boys back to the mountain gate.

At the same time, just as the snake demon woman stepped out of the valley, she saw a wisp of auspicious cloud passing by in the sky. Upon seeing this, the woman hurriedly knelt on the ground and kowtowed devoutly.

Perhaps sensing the woman's sincerity in her worship, the auspicious cloud immediately stopped above Yunzi's head. Then, the cloud light dispersed, and an old woman wearing a nine-colored robe appeared.

The old woman looked at the woman below and laughed, "You little demon, what do you want with my worship?"

The woman bowed and said, "Immortal, please forgive me. I have just undergone tribulation and transformed into human form. When I saw auspicious clouds flying by in the sky, I knew that an immortal was passing by. So I worshipped with all my heart and asked for nothing."

Upon hearing this, the old woman smiled and said, "I see. It seems this is fate. I noticed you had just taken human form, and your body still carries demonic poison and aura."

At this point, the old woman reached into her sleeve and took out a magic pill, which she wrapped in a ray of magical light and presented to the woman. "This is the 'Clear Yuan Treasure Pill,' which can help you clear away demonic poison and brighten your spirit."

The woman looked at the elixir before her with great excitement. She kowtowed three times to the old woman before accepting the elixir.

The old woman said, "From now on, you must cultivate diligently and attain enlightenment as soon as possible." Then she asked, "Do you have any methods of cultivation?"

The woman bowed her head in gratitude, saying, "I will obey the immortal's command. I have a method of breathing exercises for demon cultivators, which you may practice."

The old woman shook her head and said, "The methods of demonic cultivation are ultimately inferior, and it is difficult to achieve true enlightenment."

Then, the old woman pointed at the woman's brow, and a beam of divine light immediately flew into the woman's spiritual realm.

The woman was taken aback at first, then she realized that a Taoist technique seemed to have appeared between her eyebrows. Upon closer inspection, she found that the technique was called "Qingling Hunyuan Dao".

The woman was overjoyed and immediately bowed her head in gratitude, saying, "This disciple thanks my master for bestowing upon me the Dharma."

The old woman smiled faintly and said, "This method is not my own, but a Daoist method created by the 'Celestial Saint Ancestor Bixia Yuanjun'. It is a righteous method that all living beings in the world can practice. You should study it carefully."

The woman changed her words again, saying, "Yes, disciple will follow the teachings of the immortal." After saying this, the woman hesitated for a moment and then asked, "The immortal has bestowed upon me both elixir and magic, his kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain. May I ask the immortal's name? In the future, disciple will set up an altar in the temple and worship him morning and evening during the four seasons and eight festivals."

The old woman laughed and said, "I am the Old Mother of Lishan."

The woman's face changed drastically, and she prostrated herself, saying, "I never expected that it would be the Holy Ancestor Zi Yuanjun in person. This disciple has been unruly and begs for forgiveness from the Holy Ancestor."

The old woman waved her hand and said, "Remember, cultivate diligently and become an immortal as soon as possible. Come find me at Mount Li after you become an immortal."

The woman was overjoyed, her face beaming with happiness. The message was clear: if she could become an immortal, she could become a disciple of the Old Mother of Lishan.

"Yes!" The woman bowed her head and kowtowed: "This disciple will definitely cultivate diligently and attain immortality as soon as possible."

But no sound came from the sky. The woman waited for a while, then looked up and saw that the auspicious cloud had disappeared without a trace.

Upon seeing this, the woman immediately recited the title "Yuqing Holy Ancestor Ziyuanjun," kowtowed three times to the heavens, and then stood up.

The woman looked at the elixir in her hand with a smile on her face, and without saying a word, she returned to the valley.

Three months later, the woman emerged from the valley again. During those three months, she had consumed and refined the 'Qingyuan Baose Pill', clearing away the demonic energy and poison from her body, and had also cultivated the 'Qingling Hunyuan Dao'.

If she didn't reveal her true form as a snake demon at this moment, she would appear to be a human cultivator.

The reason the woman left the valley today was because she received news that the Great Compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva of the South China Sea, at the invitation of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, would manifest and preach the Dharma at Mount Emei tomorrow.

So the woman left the valley, rode the wind, and flew straight to the foot of Mount Emei. To show her sincerity, she burned incense and bowed in reverence, then climbed step by step from the foot of Mount Emei toward the summit.

When she reached the top of the golden mountain, it was exactly 7:00 AM the next day.

At this time, the Golden Summit was already packed with people. Devotees from all over Shu County had gathered here to pay homage to Guanyin Bodhisattva and catch a glimpse of her holy appearance.

Holding three sticks of incense, the woman squeezed through the crowd and arrived at the gate of the Golden Summit Buddhist Temple.

At this moment, a burst of rosy light suddenly surged above the Golden Summit, and clouds and mist rose and shone brightly. Then, a radiant Buddha light shone in all directions.

Everyone present was extremely excited and knelt down, bowing and worshipping towards the center of the Buddha's light, chanting "Great Compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva".

The woman hurriedly knelt down and bowed. A moment later, a Bodhisattva appeared in the center of the Buddha's light. The Bodhisattva was dressed in white, holy and dignified, standing on a lotus flower, and holding a jade vase in her left hand. It was none other than Guanyin Bodhisattva.

After Guanyin Bodhisattva manifested her divine power, her Buddha light shone down, freezing all the mortals around the woman in place.

"Who is that kneeling demon holding incense below?" Guanyin Bodhisattva asked, her gaze falling on the woman.

Upon hearing this, the woman quickly looked up at Guanyin Bodhisattva, and upon confirming that Guanyin Bodhisattva was asking her, she bowed and said, "Bodhisattva, please forgive me."

"Bai Suzhen at the foot of Qingcheng Mountain, has cultivated her body for a thousand years in the cave. I beg the Bodhisattva to enlighten me and guide me, Suzhen, out of the mortal world."

In Hangzhou, Qiantang County, West Lake, people come and go on the Broken Bridge.

An old Taoist priest with an air of otherworldly wisdom squatted on the bridge. There were no flags beside him, nor any stalls in front of him; he simply squatted there.

Passersby simply admired the scenery of West Lake, and few even glanced at the old Taoist priest.

The old Taoist priest's gaze swept over the passersby, glancing at each one, but only glancing at them once.

"Taoist priest, the county government has received a report that you are harassing passersby here. Come with us to the county government." Li Gongfu, the head constable of Qiantang County, led several constables to the old Taoist priest.

The old Taoist priest blinked. “Harassing passersby? I’ve been squatting here the whole time without moving.” “Your body didn’t move,” Li Gongfu said, “but your eyes did. The ones who came to the county office to report you were all young women. They said that you, this Taoist priest, were extremely rude, and that every passing girl would take a look at you.”

Upon hearing this, the old Taoist priest chuckled and said, "Oh, so that's how it is. I saw... eh? Let me finish."

The old Taoist priest was shouting, but he was already being lifted up by the constables behind Li Gongfu and taken back to the county government office.

Upon arriving at the county government office, the magistrate of Qiantang County held court and, after taking his seat, looked at the old Taoist priest and asked, "What's your name?"

The old Taoist priest looked left and right, then said, "I didn't call out."

A burst of laughter came from the side. The magistrate glared at him, slammed his gavel, and said, "What is your Taoist name?"

The old Taoist priest said, "I have no name or title, only the common surname Li."

"Oh, your surname is Li." The magistrate then asked, "Old Li, this county has received a report that you were spying on young girls while squatting on the Broken Bridge. Is this true?"

Old Li waved his hand and said, "Absolutely not."

Upon hearing this, the magistrate sat up straight and asked, "So it was a misunderstanding? You didn't peep on the girl?"

"Of course not," Old Master Li denied. "It's not just young girls; I see men, women, young and old alike."

"What?!" The magistrate was shocked, then angrily said, "Our Great Tang has always respected Taoism and Buddhism. How dare you, this fake Taoist, so disgrace the Taoist tradition! Guards, strip him of his Taoist robes and throw him into prison. Lock him up for two years to see how he behaves."

The constables immediately obeyed, and the elder stripped Li Laodao of his Taoist robe, leaving him with only a gray straight robe on his body.

Old Li cried out, "Injustice!"

The magistrate stopped the bailiffs escorting Li Laodao and then asked Li Laodao, "What injustice have you suffered?"

Old Li said, "Does the magistrate not ask me why I am looking at passersby?"

Upon hearing this, the magistrate immediately asked with a serious expression, "Why?"

Li Laodao said, "I am not spying, but looking at faces."

"Oh? Fortune telling? What kind of fortune telling?" the magistrate asked.

Master Li said, "Observe the myriad forms of all living beings, and judge the causes and effects of fortune and misfortune."

"Hehe." The magistrate smiled faintly and said, "In that case, take a look at my face. If I am right, I will find you innocent."

Old Li's gaze fell on the county magistrate, and after just one glance, he said, "The county magistrate is ill."

These words shocked everyone present, and the magistrate was even more furious. He stood up and shouted, "I am not yet forty years old! I am strong and healthy. How dare you, you sorcerer, spout nonsense and curse me! Guards, throw me into prison immediately!"

Old Li was quickly taken out, but his voice still carried into the hall: "Innocent, Your Honor! You're really sick."

The magistrate, his face grim, had his good mood ruined by this whole ordeal. He casually waved his hand and said, "Court adjourned, court adjourned." Then he walked away.

After the county magistrate and others left, Li Gongfu followed a group of yamen runners down the steps. One of them said, "This old Taoist priest really angered our county magistrate."

Li Gongfu waved his hand and said, "It's none of our business. We're only responsible for arresting people, nothing else. I'm off on patrol."

As Li Gongfu and his group of constables left the yamen, they saw a young man standing outside, handsome and with an extraordinary air about him.

Li Gongfu was taken aback at first, then quickly called out, "Uncle Zhuang, what brings you here?"

The surrounding constables were taken aback and asked one after another, "Chief Li, this man looks younger than you, so why are you calling him uncle?"

Li Gongfu turned around and said, "You don't know anything. This is my father's sworn brother."

"Huh?" The constables were startled again. "Chief Li, didn't your father pass away fifteen years ago? How come you suddenly have such a young sworn brother?"

Li Gongfu laughed and said, "You wouldn't believe it, would you? Not long ago, during the Qingming Festival, I went to sweep my parents' graves and happened to meet a young man. He looked kind, so I greeted him. When he saw me greet him, he smiled and walked over, and bowed to my father's tombstone. Guess what happened then?"

The constables looked on with curiosity. "What happened?"

Li Gongfu said, "My father's tombstone fell down on the spot, hahaha."

The constables looked at Li Gongfu as if he were a fool. "Your father's tombstone has fallen over and you can still laugh? What a filial son."

But Li Gongfu continued, “I was startled at the time. Later, I heard from Uncle Zhuang that he and my father were sworn brothers. However, because my father died young, they could only become sworn brothers at his grave. So after Uncle Zhuang bowed to my father’s grave, my father’s tombstone fell down. Haha, that was my father performing the sworn brotherhood ceremony with Uncle Zhuang.”

"Ah!" The constables suddenly realized, and they all gave a thumbs up, saying, "So that's how it is! What a coincidence!"

Li Gongfu stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting to Zhuang Yan, and said, "Uncle Zhuang, what brings you to the county office?"

Zhuang Yan looked at Li Gongfu and said, "I came to find you. Did you arrest an old Taoist priest today?"

"The old Taoist priest?" Li Gongfu asked. "Is Zhuang Bo referring to that old Taoist priest, Li?"

"Yes." Zhuang Yan nodded and said, "That's my friend."

Li Gongfu's expression changed, and he clapped his hands, saying, "Oh no! I didn't know that Old Li was a friend of Zhuang Bo. He has now been sentenced and imprisoned by the county magistrate. What should we do?"

Zhuang Yan reached into his sleeve, took out something, and handed it to Li Gongfu, saying, "It's alright. Take this to your magistrate, and he will naturally release Old Taoist Li."

Upon hearing this, Li Gongfu quickly took the item from Zhuang Yan's hand. It was a purple-gold token with the four characters "Lingtai Daogong" engraved on the north side, and "Imperial Decree of the Supreme Great Tang National Preceptor, the Number One Daogong Under Heaven" engraved on the front.

Li Gongfu's hands trembled, and his whole body went limp. At that moment, he could even hear his own heartbeat.

"Zhuang Bo...you...you...you are the Imperial Preceptor of the Great Tang Dynasty?" Li Gongfu exclaimed in shock, and the surrounding constables also showed expressions of utter astonishment.

Zhuang Yan laughed and said, "No, I am a close friend of the Grand Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty. I borrowed this token from him."

Upon hearing this, Li Gongfu breathed a sigh of relief, but felt a slight disappointment. However, he quickly adjusted his mindset. His uncle, who was not his uncle, even knew the Grand Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty, so he was probably no ordinary person.

As for the authenticity of this token, rest assured, it is impossible to forge. It is made from acquired purple energy refined from ten thousand purple coins. A deity with the ability to produce one hundred thousand purple coins would not need to forge this token.

"Go quickly." Zhuang Yan waved his hand and said, "I'll wait for you here."

Li Gongfu quickly replied, "Yes, Uncle Zhuang, please wait a moment, I'll take care of it right away." He then instructed his constables to stay with Zhuang Yan before turning and entering the county government office. (End of Chapter)