The male supporting character was actually myself.

Later, with the shop owner's gentle encouragement, Yimei stepped out of the shop and walked through countless streets, large and small, bustling and quiet.

Humans marvel at her stunning beauty, and many young men chatter incessantly with shining eyes, but when Ime reveals her ball joints hidden under long gloves, their expressions of terror are intriguing.

Later, Imi got tired of it.

Most humans are indeed warm-hearted, but most cannot accept that a girl with a perfect appearance is actually just a puppet. Many people will even instantly change their attitude from gentle and kind eyes to looking at a demon with fear and hatred. Imi gradually dared not openly reveal her true identity anymore.

Aside from the shopkeeper, all the humans either coveted her beauty, treated her as a plaything, or feared her puppet form. She felt there was nothing in the outside world worth staying for. If she could stay in the shop and merge with the soul of her beloved shopkeeper in the void, her solitary beauty would be better than deception and false love.

"If I choose to trade, will I never be able to step out of the shop again?"

"Oh no, after you choose to trade, you will belong to the Wonder Shop, but it won't restrict you from leaving the shop to relax outside. It's just that you can't leave for a long time, especially when the Wonder Shop needs you."

Whether it's the Void or the Shopkeeper, both serve the Mystic Shop. The order is: God's Will > Mystic Shop > Void > Power Collar > Shopkeeper. But with great power comes great responsibility; this applies to the Shopkeeper's contract to take over the shop, and it applies to your choice to trade.

Ime took a deep breath, picked up the collar, and put it on herself. "I accept the deal. I've long considered the Wonderful Shop my home. Since the shopkeeper is still here, nothing has changed. I want to become an integral part of the Wonderful Shop, to protect it and fight for it alongside the Void!"

The exquisite collar around the puppet maid's neck added a touch of glamour to her beauty. The moment she put it on, a radiant light flashed, and Imi felt that the connection between the shop and herself was completely different from before. It felt so warm and intimate, as if it had merged into one with her.

Anyone who dares to desecrate the Wonder Shop will be punished by the Puppet Maid!

"Congratulations on becoming the guardian of the Wonderful Shop." The ancient voice rang out again. "You will represent the interests of the Wonderful Shop, and even the rules governing the shop owner's power can be modified to a certain extent—provided that your modifications are based on the development and operation of the shop. Remember the basic principles of the Wonderful Shop: fairness, justice, and punishing evil and promoting good."

Feeling an unprecedented and strange energy filling her body, Ime narrowed her eyes slightly and smiled slightly. "I will uphold the basic principles and ensure that the Wonder Shop is not contaminated!"

She rose gracefully and went upstairs without any hindrance, opening the attic and using the energy granted by the power collar to activate the machine's backend, adding an invisible rule.

"Mu Jiuxiu, I hope you are someone who can admit your mistakes and correct them." Yi Mei looked at the hidden rules of use, and then at the world in the mirror shrouded in dark clouds. Now that she had the power collar, everything in the mirror gradually unfolded to her through the clouds.

After Erlang Shen left Jiang Chen's demon land, his figure disappeared and instantly reappeared at the foot of Mount Hua.

Even in the dimly lit cave, the slow, steady dripping of water could still be heard. The Holy Mother of the Three Kingdoms sat cross-legged beneath a cage shaped like Mount Hua, her eyes tightly closed. Despite the suffering she endured from the oppression, a slight smile still crept onto her lips.

Thinking that the magpie spirit would mend the story and bring it back together, the Weaver Girl would have no worries and could take care of the gentle and refined young man who was injured while saving her, just like she had done for Chang Ge back then, a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

It brings back memories of those warm and happy moments from our past life.

The candlelight flickered, and she gently and tenderly cared for Chang Ge, who had fallen and injured himself. Chang Ge looked at her with eyes full of tenderness and true love. Their two hearts beat closer and closer. It was a wonderful time that makes one smile just thinking about it.

For Brother Chang's sake, I would gladly go through fire and water and be shattered to pieces!

"When did the Seventh Princess Weaver Girl offend you? Why did you push her into eternal damnation?" Erlang Shen looked at his sister's innocent and beautiful face and couldn't believe that she had participated in planning such a vicious thing.

But the truth was right before his eyes. His heart was breaking, yet he had no choice but to make the painful decision to reinforce the cage so that the Third Holy Mother could no longer send out any messages.

The fifth brother, thirty-eighth chapter: If love is meant to last, why should it be confined to day and night?

The Third Holy Mother, who was immersed in beautiful memories, was suddenly startled when she heard her brother's voice and heard him mention the Weaver Girl. She broke out in a cold sweat.

She tried to send the message by making a hand seal, but found that all her magical power was frozen and could not be used. Even the cage was more golden and dazzling than before. The shrunken soul of Mount Hua pressed down on her body, making it hard to breathe. Cold sweat immediately slid down her beautiful face.

"What is brother saying? I don't understand." The Third Holy Mother forced an innocent smile, her face pale as she looked at him, her voice revealing deep exhaustion. "For some reason, this cage is making me feel increasingly suffocated."

"This is the real punishment of repression. The reason you were living so comfortably before was because I was worried that you were too lonely and suffering from torture. I used my position to lighten your burden so that you could communicate with other women and not be lonely. I never expected that it would become a convenient place for you to plot against me!"

Erlang Shen took another step forward, his expression growing increasingly grim. "I told you, I would break the heavenly rules to help your family of three reunite." (Liu Yanchang, unable to bear the loneliness, went to find women, but after I discovered him, he was severely beaten and obediently hid at home making lanterns, daring not to have any further thoughts.)

I've been cleaning up Liu Chenxiang's messes and even found him the perfect master—the Thunder Immortal—to teach him. The path is all laid out; even the Lotus Lantern and Pangu's Axe are ready. All he needs to learn is enough to split Mount Hua and rescue you!

As the God of Justice, I went to great lengths to clean up your mess after your descent into mortal life, yet you secretly colluded with the wicked minister of Heaven, the Golden Bull Star Lord, even conspiring to harm the Seventh Princess, the Weaver Girl, hoping to force her to give birth to a mortal child by the Cowherd. Such wickedness, solely for your own gain, is truly hateful!

The Third Holy Mother's face turned even paler.

It wasn't just that his magical power was suppressed by Mount Hua and couldn't function; it was also a sign of his guilty conscience after his conspiracy was exposed.

“I have thoroughly investigated this matter. The magpie spirit on Taurus Star Lord’s side is sending you a message; you should pass on any news to the Purple-Clad Fairy, and she, of course, will pass on every word to your greatest reliance—Laojun!”

Erlang Shen pulled something out from behind him and threw it over, saying, "With your brother planning for you, are you still not satisfied and have to put yourself to death to be satisfied? If you are determined to die, I don't need to go to great lengths to protect your family. Wouldn't it be better to just let you fend for yourselves?"

"Clap!"

Only after the thing fell to the ground did the Third Holy Mother see clearly that it was a magpie spirit that had been forced back to its original form and had its senses shut down, as if it were dead.

One second they were immersed in beautiful and happy memories; the next second their conspiracy was exposed, and their hearts plummeted from heaven to hell.

Seeing her staring intently at the magpie spirit in silence, Erlang Shen was furious. "I'm not here today to spite you. That scoundrel Laozi went to great lengths to scheme and even seduce the Purple-Clad Fairy into having an affair with a mortal. The awakened consciousness of the Golden Bull Star Lord also contained the aura of him refining elixirs. It can be said that he went to great lengths to help you two mortal fairies who secretly altered the marriage register."

"When did you two become such good friends that I had no idea?"

"So you knew all along." The Third Holy Mother had previously held onto a sliver of hope, believing that as long as Laozi didn't reveal himself, his immense supernatural powers would surely ensure everyone's safety.

But even such clandestine communication could not escape the notice of this mighty judicial god.

Completely exposed, she stopped pretending to be a weak and innocent girl, her expression turning cold. "What else is there to say? As my own brother and Chenxiang's uncle, your so-called scheme was to have him split Mount Hua to rescue me, so that the three of us would fall to the mortal world and never have the chance to become immortals again."

Laozi, however, was different!

He was compassionate and genuinely felt that we were truly innocent.

The Taurus Star Lord only changed a few mortal marriages on a whim while drunk. What's the big deal? It won't cause the sky to fall or the earth to collapse. Mortals only live for a few decades, which pass in the blink of an eye. Is it worth making such a fuss?

Could anyone be more despicable than Sun Wukong, who wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace and arbitrarily altered the Book of Life and Death?

It's bad enough that Taurus Star Lord was banished to the mortal realm, but to be condemned to be an ox for eternity and never be able to return to Heaven, isn't that a grievance?

What's wrong with me longing for the mortal world? Immortals are nobler than mortals. Mortals are attracted to the beauty and wealth brought by the magic of immortals; immortals are attracted to the gentle embrace of mortals. Each has their own needs, and it's just a fleeting affair that naturally ends after a short period of ten years or so.

I wouldn't alter the Book of Life and Death to make Liu Yanchang immortal. What unforgivable crime could I possibly commit?

Even if marriage between a celestial and a mortal is forbidden by heavenly laws, the child born is utterly innocent. Why can't my Chenxiang become an immortal? I am a deity; I gave him half my bloodline. He should be treated with superiority, more noble than lowly mortals, and have an easier time ascending to the ranks of immortals!

"Snapped!"

Erlang Shen's three eyes turned bloodshot, and he slapped the Third Holy Mother hard across the face. "You have violated the Heavenly Laws and disrupted the court, yet you show no remorse whatsoever!"

"Don't forget that we too are products of violating the Heavenly Laws and causing chaos in the court!" The Third Holy Mother, her right cheek swollen and red from the beating, with a strand of hair hanging by her ear, shouted hysterically, "Do you think that just because you've been appointed as the God of Justice, the Jade Emperor will trust you? You will always be ostracized and not given important positions, simply because you too are products of illicit relations between immortals and mortals, and your bloodline is impure!"

Venting the thoughts that had been bottled up in her heart for many years, she panted heavily and looked at her brother with hatred in her eyes, sneering, "If we don't force the Jade Emperor to change the Heavenly Laws, neither of us will ever be recognized, and you will always just be a dog that the Heavenly Court can order around!"

"Laojun has a brilliant plan." Erlang Shen laughed instead of getting angry. "This is the ultimate purpose of planning to imprison the Weaver Girl—she is the Jade Emperor's most beloved youngest daughter, and the Jade Emperor can't bear to see her suffer."

However, she was imprisoned because her celestial robes were stolen, preventing her from returning to the Heavenly Palace. She was forced by the Cowherd to give birth to a mortal child, which was considered a marriage between a celestial and a mortal. However, staying in the mortal realm to have children was not her wish, and the Weaver Girl was also a victim, so the Jade Emperor could not punish her further.

She will surely be reluctant to part with her children and flesh and blood at that time. Once this precedent is set, you will have a reason to force the Jade Emperor to amend the Heavenly Laws, allowing illicit relations between immortals and mortals and recognizing the bloodline between immortals and mortals…”

He laughed loudly, "Laojun, what a brilliant plan! In this way, with Yao Ji and the Third Holy Mother in the front, and the Weaver Girl and the Purple-Clad Fairy in the back, a group of female immortals are willing to break the heavenly rules in exchange for the opportunity to amend them. He can then openly and legitimately bring his illegitimate child, who has fallen to the mortal world, back to the Heavenly Court."

illegitimate child?

The Holy Mother of the Third Princess was taken aback upon hearing this. Laozi actually had an illegitimate child?

How can it be!

"What are you saying, brother? Have you gone mad and are spouting nonsense? Lao Jun just... pitied us for being trapped by love, pitied my heart for my child..."

"You have a heart for your own child, and he has a heart for his own child too." Erlang Shen sneered, "If it weren't for his own interests, who would go to such lengths to devise such a vicious conspiracy for you!"

If I'm not mistaken, this plan was initiated as soon as Taurus was banished to the mortal realm.

Even with Laozi's abilities, I have no doubt that the Taurus Star Lord's act of arbitrarily altering the Book of Fate was very likely a scheme; including your encounter with Liu Yanchang and the birth of your mortal child.

Seeing that even his brother Erlang Shen, the Third Princess, hadn't forced the Jade Emperor to change the Heavenly Laws because of his longing for the mortal realm, he changed his strategy. First, he awakened the consciousness of the Golden Ox Star Lord and restored some of his magical power. Then, he used sweet words to deceive the Purple-Clad Fairy. All of you female immortals who longed for the mortal realm became pawns in his hands.

If successful, he can simply reap the rewards.

If he fails, he will not be implicated as he left no evidence.

Yet you still cherish Laozi's kindness, protecting him in every way and regarding him as a great philanthropist and a good friend!

The Holy Mother of the Third Prince still couldn't believe it; how could Laozi, such a kind and benevolent deity, possibly...?

"You still don't believe me?" Erlang Shen, seeing that his sister wouldn't shed a tear until she saw the coffin, waved his right hand and threw out a bright sky, on which was a cute-looking child.

Her face was as white as if powdered, her lips as red as if painted with vermilion, revealing her talent. Her hair was styled in a dark cloud, surpassing even the color of indigo; her eyebrows were like crescent moons, as if carved by a knife.

The Third Holy Mother believed that her beloved son, Chenxiang, was already exceptionally handsome and outstanding, but the plump child in the red bib above the sky was even more charming and adorable, making him instantly likable.

"His name is Red Boy, his real name is Niu Shengying, and he calls himself the Holy Infant King."

The sky transformed once more, revealing two figures: a woman of stunning beauty and captivating charm, and a bull-headed, human-bodied, imposing yet ugly bull demon who hadn't even conjured a human form. He wore a copper ring on his nose and had thick, long horns, exuding a domineering aura.

"They are Red Boy's parents. His mother, Rakshasa, also known as Princess Iron Fan, is said to be the daughter of the Holy Mother of Phoenix Mountain, Yu Huan, but she failed to be ranked among the immortals and instead resides in the Flaming Mountain area. Her only magic weapon is a banana leaf fan, which can extinguish fire with one fan, create wind with two fans, and bring rain with three fans. She controls the livelihood of the people in the Flaming Mountain area, who live off tribute."

There are countless magical treasures in the heavens, but very few can replace the Thunder God, Lightning Goddess, Wind God, and Dragon King with a single fan.

The Rakshasa woman, an unknown figure, possessed such a magical treasure, yet it was never coveted. The flames on the Flaming Mountain were as fierce as the fire in Laozi's alchemy furnace. It was the flames that were created when Sun Wukong, drunk, kicked Laozi's alchemy furnace down to the mortal world during his havoc in the Heavenly Palace five hundred years ago, causing countless deaths. Apart from Laozi's banana leaf fan, no other magical treasure could control the fire.

Princess Iron Fan happened to have such a fan and became a mountain queen;

Ironically, despite marrying the Bull Demon King, she didn't give birth to a child with bull horns; instead, she had a cute, pink, round baby.

Unfortunately, Red Boy's most powerful ability is Samadhi True Fire;

The transformation magic that neither the Bull Demon King nor Princess Iron Fan possessed, Red Boy could do. Not only could he transform at will, but he also brazenly impersonated a Bodhisattva to swindle and deceive. Such audacity and power, surpassing even the Bull Demon King by countless others—don't you think it's too much of a coincidence?

The Third Holy Mother was completely stunned, staring blankly at the family of three in the sky who bore no resemblance whatsoever. Even her breathing became somewhat rapid. "Brother means... he is Laozi's..."

"Don't you know Laozi's abilities? Do you think a monkey can kick over his alchemy furnace?"

Erlang Shen crossed his arms and sneered, "Laojun was involved in that farce five hundred years ago. It was precisely after Sun Wukong kicked over the alchemy furnace that the Flaming Mountain was born in the mortal world, causing unbearable suffering to the people within a hundred miles. Then Princess Iron Fan appeared with her banana leaf fan and successfully took over the mountain as her queen."

It must be said that Laozi was quite cunning. If he hadn't been unable to bear the slightest hint of misbehavior from Red Boy, whom he had personally trained, who would have suspected him of being involved in the connection between the havoc in Heaven and the Flaming Mountains?

They tricked a monkey into crossing out its name from the Book of Life and Death to balance the accounts.

He managed to balance the accounts again while overseeing the peach orchard, successfully gaining the control of all the immortals;

He caused a ruckus in the Tushita Palace, settled a debt of elixir transactions, kicked over the alchemy furnace causing it to tilt and spill, resulting in widespread suffering. He also found a carefree and worry-free place for his lover, and with enough time for her to be worshipped, Princess Iron Fan was able to rise to the rank of Earth Immortal through incense offerings.

As for that stupid bull, he thought he had found some beautiful fox spirit to keep as a mistress and enjoy the blessings of having multiple wives, thus surpassing Princess Iron Fan. Little did he know that he was the cuckolded bull being used to raise children!

"Is that so?" The Third Holy Mother is indeed love-struck, but she's not brainless.

With the facts laid bare, she quickly understood the intricacies of the situation.

As for whether Laozi was behind her desire for mortal life, the Third Holy Mother had no idea. Besides, even if she knew now that it was a schemed encounter, it would be too late; she was already completely trapped…

"You can't succeed. How can Heaven allow you to change the Heavenly Laws by scheming and plotting?" Erlang Shen said coldly, both angry and resentful. "The purpose of the Heavenly Laws is to maintain fairness and justice in the Three Realms and punish evil and promote good. Your existence and mine are already wrong. Whether Heaven tolerates it or not, I will stick to the righteous path to the end."

To fundamentally eliminate the practice of illicit relations between immortals and mortals, and to prevent second-generation immortals from relying on powerful figures to seize spiritual energy and cultivation opportunities in the mortal realm, the celestial realm can have more virtuous and worthy immortals, instead of deities like the Taurus Star Lord who arbitrarily alter mortal marriages and harm others for their own pleasure.

It can also eliminate you gods who regard mortals as ants and are unworthy of your positions!

"You yourself are a product of celestial and mortal origins, yet you look down on mortals because of it. You are no longer worthy of the title of the Third Holy Mother. Yang Chan, while we still have a sibling bond, I will plan one last time for you. Let the position of the Holy Mother of Mount Hua be reserved for the next female immortal who attains enlightenment through her own cultivation."

After saying this, he put away the magpie spirit and disappeared beneath Mount Hua.