bookbashuk Chapter 842 We've been waiting for you!
Chapter 842 We've been waiting for you!
Chapter 842 We've been waiting for you!
Raising children is not an easy task, and learning to let go is even more difficult.
As dawn broke and before the foxes had even gotten up, Gong Mengbi took a rare stroll in the foxes' courtyard.
Originally, this place was just a barren mountain. It was Gong Mengbi who, along with the fox spirits, gradually built it up. Most of the fox spirits he taught graduated and left to pursue their own destinies, with only a few remaining at the Fox Spirit Academy as instructors.
He basically stopped caring about the fox spirits these days, but these unfamiliar faces held him in high esteem. When he occasionally showed up, they would all hide in corners and peek at him.
Gong Mengbi lit the first incense stick before the statue of the Goddess of Mount Tai, silently praying that the Fox Clan could overcome the calamity and truly spread its teachings to the countryside.
The goddess's statue has slightly drooping eyelids, and her gaze always carries a sense of compassion.
As the winds of Changhe swept across the land and the star Antares illuminated the heavens and earth, Gong Mengbi withdrew from Fox Slope without notifying anyone.
Kang Wen came to pay his respects every day, but one day, after waiting for a long time at the door without being greeted by a smiling servant in blue, she understood everything.
She pushed open the door and entered. Everything in the courtyard was as it had been yesterday, and everything was in good order. But today, although the scenery was the same as before, there was no trace of human life.
Kang Wen went through a series of emotions, from initial unease to later anxiety and reluctance to part, as if a rope was tied around her neck, making her already slender neck even longer, to the point that she had to stand on tiptoe to barely catch her breath.
Now that the rope has finally been pulled away, she has gradually found peace in her heart.
She sat in the courtyard for a while, then went out as usual to check the breakfast prepared by the dining hall.
Gong Mengbi lightly stepped forward and passed through the cave gate, arriving at the familiar Heavenly Fox Courtyard.
Compared to the human fox monastery, the Heavenly Fox Monastery is located in a blessed grotto atop Mount Tai, brimming with spiritual energy that almost transforms into clouds and rain.
As usual, they entered through the Sifangyuan courtyard. Gong Mengbi had barely stepped off the ground when he heard a voice say, "That troublemaker has arrived!"
Gong Mengbi looked up and saw his second aunt preening her feathers on a persimmon tree laden with fruit in the corner of the wall. When she saw him looking over, she pecked a yellow persimmon from the tree and flew over.
Second Aunt landed on Gong Mengbi's shoulder, gesturing for him to take the persimmons.
"It'll be ready to eat in two days, it'll be delicious!" Second Aunt shook her feathers, which shimmered with iridescent light in the sunlight.
"My second aunt's gift of persimmons is truly an auspicious sign. It seems that everything will go smoothly for me on this trip." Gong Mengbi put the persimmons into his sleeve.
Second Aunt burst into laughter and said, "Well said, well said!"
It's still early, but we can't stand this commotion.
Two little foxes emerged from a corner of the courtyard, met Gong Mengbi, verified his identity, and then let him pass, saying, "Envoy, this way please."
Gong Mengbi looked at the two unfamiliar faces and asked, "Where is Director Hu?"
“It’s getting colder, and she won’t get up until noon,” the second aunt said on his shoulder. “The eldest sister is frail, and now she’s taking care of these two girls. I’m really afraid that one day she won’t wake up at all.”
"Has your old ailment of being sensitive to cold not gotten any better?"
"It's beyond cure. It's a chronic condition left over from the battles in my early years. I could suppress it when I was young, but it has surfaced now that I'm older. It's deeply rooted and can't be cured. I can only rely on warming herbs to ease the symptoms."
My second aunt's voice was already hoarse, but now it sounded even more sorrowful: "I'm afraid she'll be leaving before me."
"I'll also keep an eye out for any good medicines for my second aunt," Gong Mengbi said, acknowledging her kindness.
Second Aunt didn't take it seriously. Seeing that Gong Mengbi had already reached the entrance, she flew off his shoulder and said, "Then thank you very much, you restless boy."
Gong Mengbi passed through the gateposts and was greeted by the densely packed buildings of the Tianhu Courtyard, including tall buildings, pagodas, and palaces surrounded by mountains, with corridors and walkways connecting them.
Gong Mengbi had traveled to and from Tianhu Academy countless times, but this time he came with a different mindset. Walking into the cluster of buildings resembling stars and constellations, he headed straight east. There, on a high cliff, where even the sea of clouds could not obscure, stood the Ascension Platform. The Juxia Division was located to the west of the Ascension Platform.
Among the many buildings of the Heavenly Fox Courtyard, the Juxia Division is indeed extraordinary. It is located at the easternmost part of the Heavenly Fox Courtyard and is also the highest among the surrounding halls and pavilions. The Four Directions Courtyard is where the foxes come and go, but when the Heavenly Foxes ascend to heaven or when the Supreme Immortals arrive, they all use the Ascension Platform. Gong Mengbi, a mere seventh-rank fox official, is far from qualified to step onto the Ascension Platform.
Gong Mengbi appeared in front of the gate of Juxia Division. The fox guard guarding the gate immediately lit up and stepped forward to greet him, "Are you Mr. Mingfu?"
Seeing Gong Mengbi nod, the fox servant stepped forward to lead the way: "We've been waiting for you. If you hadn't come, your Demon Examination Hall would have been in chaos."
"Official Hu ordered me to take up my post in ten days, and today is only the tenth day. How could the Demon Examination Hall have fallen into chaos?"
"It's about Hu Lingguan. Hu Lingguan is in charge of the two Demon Examination Offices. The Demon Examination Envoy of the outer office has already been appointed to a high position, registered in the Heavenly Palace, and ascended to immortality, leaving only two clerks and one assistant envoy. Originally, it wouldn't have been a problem for Hu Lingguan to be in charge, but Hu Lingguan somehow took leave, and the Heavenly Palace issued the Demon Examination list again. The outer office is already in a panic and doesn't know what to do. They are urging me to keep a close eye on the gatekeeper and invite Mr. Mingfu over immediately when I see him."
No one knew better than Gong Mengbi how Hu Lingguan had requested leave. But this mess they were in now probably wasn't without reason.
"What a coincidence?"
"That's right. Everyone says that Mr. Mingfu is incredibly capable and has connections everywhere. Now that he's come to the institute, he's going to take on a major role."
Gong Mengbi was both amused and exasperated: "Where did these rumors come from? I was originally just a minor seventh-rank fox spirit official, at most a schoolteacher. How did they come to say that I have supernatural powers and connections everywhere?"
The waiter winked at him, giving him a knowing look, and said, "I understand, I understand everything."
As they arrived at the Demon Examination Hall and entered the palace, they found two halls, east and west, both bearing the sign for the Demon Examination Hall. A servant led him to the east hall and called out, "Master Mingfu has arrived to assume his post! Come and greet him!"
No sooner had the words been spoken than a round-faced clerk with his hat askew emerged from the east hall. He rushed out, his face contorted with worry, almost weeping with joy: "Your humble servant Chunminwen greets the envoy!"
"Envoy, you've finally arrived!"
Gong Mengbi asked, "What's wrong?"
Chunminwen nodded her thanks to the attendant, then pulled Gong Mengbi by the sleeve and led him into the hall.
The Demon Trial Hall was divided into several palaces. In the void of the main hall, a golden list of names shone, with the names appearing and disappearing but not their true forms.
Chunmin said, "It's this thing that's causing me so much distress!"
Gong Mengbi looked up and saw that the list was obscured by a powerful spell. This spell even blocked his eyes; unless he forcibly broke through it, he wouldn't be able to see anything on it.
"what is this?"
"This is the list of candidates for the Demonic Examination issued by the Heavenly Palace. It lists all the Daoists we need to test. The Spirit Official is on leave, so no one can see the list now, and the Demonic Examination cannot be conducted. If the time is missed and the Daoists' cultivation is disrupted, it will not only delay their progress but also result in punishment from the Heavenly Palace."
Before Chunminwen could speak, two fox spirits emerged from the side room. One had jeweled hairpins swaying in her hair and a radiant glow emanating from her body, almost mesmerizing. The other was alluring and graceful, with a crimson lotus flower between her brows. It was the latter who spoke.
"You are?"
Chunminwen quickly introduced them, pointing to the one wearing a red hairpin and saying, "This is Su Zhenzhen, a clerk from our outer office." Pointing to the one with a red dot between her eyebrows, she said, "This is Chun Jingshu, the envoy of the wealthy family."
The two immortals bowed slightly, their smiles forced, and said, "Greetings, envoy."
This attitude had already made Gong Mengbi frown.
Chunminwen gave an awkward smile and quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Your Excellency, the most urgent matter is to unlock the golden book and get the list of names."
Gong Mengbi asked, "How do we unlock this golden book?"
"Besides the three immortals of Juxia Division and Hu Lingguan, only the Demon Examiner of the Heavenly Palace can unlock the Golden Book. The envoy is going to his post today. He will refine this divine seal and then unlock the list."
Following Chunminwen's gaze, a gold seal was indeed found on the table in the main hall.
"Once the messenger refines the divine seal, he will understand the duties of the demonic test messenger."