As early as the first year of the Yongchu era, when Shaodian Qingnu led the immortal host of Mt. Tai down the mountain to save the world, Deng Sui had already heard the legends.
She did not know they were gods, only assuming they were righteous individuals from some faction, and thus ordered people to search for them.
Yet for years, there was no word.
After all, how could ordinary mortals track Shaodian Qingnu's trail? Had she not lingered here for a few days, the messenger would have likely returned empty-handed. Seeing the man's travel-worn and disheveled appearance, she first gave him a drink of water.
"Do not rush, catch your breath first..."
The man drank the water, his gratitude toward Shaodian Qingnu deepening.
He bowed to her and explained that Deng Sui wished to request an audience.
Upon learning this, however, Shaodian Qingnu shook her head and declined the invitation, saying, "No, I have things to attend to. I will not go to see her."
At these words, the man's expression shifted, and he hurriedly said, "Noble lady, please reconsider. The empress dowager..."
Shaodian Qingnu raised a hand to stop him from continuing.
"There is no need for more words. Return. Rest assured, no one will blame you for this!"
The man did not dare to forcibly stop her, and could only watch as she departed.
One night, within the Han palace of Luoyang.
Sandalwood smoke curled in the air.
In her sleep, Deng Sui saw an ethereal illusion. Within the haze stood a jade platform. She ascended it, finding only a woman dressed in green standing in the center.
"Who are you? Where is this, and why am I here?"
Deng Sui asked in quick succession. Shaodian Qingnu simply raised a hand and beckoned for her to come closer.
Once she approached, Shaodian Qingnu said, "Did you not order people to search the world for me? Now that I have come, you do not recognize me?"
Her words were playful teasing, but hearing them, Deng Sui was greatly astonished!
Almost without hesitation, she knelt before Shaodian Qingnu.
"Deng Sui pays respects to the immortal!"
Shaodian Qingnu gave a light gesture, signaling for her to rise.
She said leisurely, "There is no need to kneel to me. I know what you seek is nothing more than for the world to be free of disaster and for peace and prosperity to return. I am doing this, and you are doing this as well. Continue your efforts; in a few years, the calamities will subside. There is no need to pray to gods or worship the Buddha."
Deng Sui was stunned. She opened her mouth and suddenly asked, "Are the disasters of the world caused by my actions?"
Shaodian Qingnu replied, "Heaven follows its own dao. What does it have to do with you?"
Having ruled as regent for many years, Deng Sui had suffered much verbal abuse. Now, hearing Shaodian Qingnu's words, her tears fell like a spring. She bowed deeply and said, "My thanks to the immortal..."
"Do not send people to find us anymore. Just follow your own path."
Shaodian Qingnu comforted her with a few more words. As the dream began to dissipate, Deng Sui hurriedly asked, "May I ask the immortal's title?"
"Have you not already paid homage to me?"
Leaving behind those words, Shaodian Qingnu vanished.
She held many identities now—the Holy Mother of Mount Tai, the Heavenly Maiden of Tianshan, and the Medicine-Offering Pure Light Bodhisattva of Lapis Lazuli—yet she still felt a special attachment to her role as the Jade Maiden of the Azure Heavens.
This was her first divine office, the very beginning of her connection to the mandate and fate of heaven and earth.
Deng Sui froze, but she soon realized the truth!
Among the immortals she had recently paid homage to, there was only one: the Jade Maiden of the Azure Heavens.
It was her!
It was actually her!
The goddess worshipped by the people of Guanzhong for centuries truly existed, and she was so responsive!
Upon waking the next day, Deng Sui sent people to Chang'an.
She originally wanted to expand the Jade Maiden Shrine, but since it was a time of disaster, it was not appropriate to undertake grand construction. She could only have people offer frequent sacrifices to show her respect.
With both gods and humans working together, the world's calamities gradually faded.
However, once the world had stabilized, Empress Dowager Deng Sui passed away. The people of the time praised her for reviving extinguished states and restoring broken lines! Emperor Liu Hu also recognized her achievements, but after she was buried, he acted with lightning speed to exterminate the Deng consort kin.
The following year, he followed the example of previous emperors and went to Mt. Tai to perform the Fengshan ceremony.
When Shaodian Qingnu heard this news, she felt he was unworthy. After all, even Liu Xiu's performance of the ceremony had drawn much debate; how could he compare?
Did his achievements even match those of the Guangwu Emperor?
At this time, no one lived on Mt. Tai. When Liu Hu performed the ceremony, he repaired the palaces atop Jade Emperor Peak once more.
After the ceremony, Liu Hu was in no hurry to return to Luoyang. Instead, he toured the world. However, life and death are fated; he suddenly fell ill and died on the journey.
He was only thirty-two years old.
Truly, the debts of karma must be repaid, and not a bit can be spared.
Atop Mt. Tai.
Hongluan lay slumped on a table, looking haggard. She sighed, "Saving the world is really not a job for a bird."
Jingang and Sun Huowang's fur had both dulled considerably. Years of sleeping in the wild and enduring the elements had truly exhausted their spirits.
"Still, we did save many commoners!"
Chunyu Tiying looked at everyone and smiled, saying, "That is a great merit!"
"Indeed!"
As they spoke, Shaodian Qingnu walked in from outside.
She looked around at them and smiled. "You all were even faster than me!"
"Our Lady!"
Chunyu Tiying and the others rose and nodded to Shaodian Qingnu.
Hongluan sat up and said, "This time we traveled across half the world. You must reward us properly..."
Hearing this, Shaodian Qingnu gave a beautiful smile and nodded. "Of course, Sister Bird!"
After many years, Jade Emperor Peak was lively once again.
Everyone shared the strange things they had encountered over the years. Sun Huowang said that when he passed by Mount Yunjin, he ran into a crazy old man who claimed to be refining some dragon-tiger elixir. He had been targeted by this old man and was almost caught.
This was quite surprising.
Shaodian Qingnu glanced at him and asked, "There is actually someone who can catch you?"
"Heh! There really is!"
Sun Huowang scratched his head and said, "I don't know where that old madman came from, but his providence is extraordinary. I really couldn't do anything against him."
Hearing this, Shaodian Qingnu frowned and asked, "What was his name? Do you know?"
"He seemed to be surnamed Zhang, called..."
Sun Huowang blinked, thinking hard for a good while before he remembered the man's name.
He slapped the table and said, "Right... his name is Zhang Daoling!"
As soon as this name was spoken, Shaodian Qingnu's expression froze. After a moment's pause, she asked, "Are you sure you didn't remember it wrong?"
Sun Huowang nodded. "Of course. My memory is excellent!"
"Is there something wrong with this person?"
Seeing Shaodian Qingnu's strange reaction, Chunyu Tiying was even more confused. In over two hundred years, she had never seen Shaodian Qingnu look like this.
Shaodian Qingnu took a deep breath and said, "There is a very big problem!"
Then, without waiting for them to ask more, she stared at Sun Huowang and asked, "Since he targeted you, how did you escape his hands?"
After some thought, Sun Huowang replied, "He was blocking me from leaving, but how could I just take that lying down? I immediately brought up your name, Our Lady. As soon as he heard it, he made way and saw me down the mountain!"
"Oh, right, he also said that if there is a chance to meet you in the future, he won't come to visit for now!"
Sun Huowang added, "He didn't even look at your status versus his. Is it so easy to see you whenever one wants..."
As he was talking, he saw Shaodian Qingnu silently packing the luggage she had just taken out, turning to leave.
Hongluan hurriedly asked, "Wait, where are you going?"
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