Chapter Fifty-Three — The Horse-Riding Immortals of Yingzhou

Li Daoxuan started. "Fairy Que, you did not decide this on your own and sneak the carriage over?"

He was a nobody — what qualification to ride the Lady in Green's phoenix carriage?

If the Lady in Green learned of it, would she be angered?

Fairy Que swallowed the still-wriggling bugs and rolled her eyes. "This immortal is not so foolish!"

"I had meant to come alone, but when the Lady learned, she bade me fetch you in her carriage."

She tilted her head, somewhat puzzled. "Strange, too — besides me and Granny, the Lady seldom lets others ride her carriage; why so kind to you, little Daoist?"

She had a thought, fixed on Li Daoxuan, and said, "I know — you wouldn't… also have brought bugs for the Lady!"

Her big eyes welled as if to weep, as if to say this immortal misjudged you.

Li Daoxuan started, then laughed aloud and shook his head. "The Lady does not care for bugs."

Only then did Fairy Que set her heart at ease; she finished the bugs in the jar in a few bites, then patted her flat little belly and showed a satisfied smile.

"The Lady says one must not take another's gift for nothing; little Daoist, this is for you!"

She waved a hand; a snow-white feather drifted down into Li Daoxuan's hand, gleaming with a lustrous sheen.

"This is…"

Li Daoxuan pinched the feather; it felt like silk, soft and smooth, and looked most uncommon.

"This is my plume; the Lady says that if you gather the feathers of six other rare birds, you may make the magic treasure the Five-Fire Seven-Bird Fan!"

"Of course, you may also pour mana in to make it an avatar of mine, to attack and defend for you — but it may be used only once."

Li Daoxuan looked at the feather; the Five-Fire Seven-Bird Fan was a fine thing, and as for turning it into her avatar to attack…

Li Daoxuan thought of that tiny skylark and shook his head — would that not be a meat-bun thrown at a dog?

Such a little thing, whom could it beat?

He put away the feather and asked, somewhat puzzled, "Fairy Que, are we not there yet?"

The flight was no slow thing, yet a half-hour had passed and still no arrival.

Even the whole of Yuzhang City was not so large!

Fairy Que smiled. "Soon, soon — where we go is not the Green-Robe Temple but the Blue Netherworld!"

"The Blue Netherworld!"

Li Daoxuan started — he was already within the ghost realm?

He hurried to look out the window; sure enough the scenery below was wholly changed, yin-qi thick, with faint piteous ghost-wails, making the heart bristle.

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Those buildings were all low, shrouded in a faint blue light, with not a wisp of worldly smoke.

"Stop looking — we are nearly there!"

…

Yanfu Mountain, the Blue Netherworld Hall.

Two figures drifted down, one old, one young; behind them black-smoke wings had gathered, like the pinions of birds.

The smoke dispersed, revealing their faces; the old, long beard and white temples, steady of bearing; the young, a square face, lush of hair, eyes burning — both wore shaman robes.

The young man, seeing the towering and splendid Blue Netherworld Hall, could not help sighing. "Master, we have crossed mountains and rivers and at last arrived!"

The long-bearded elder nodded. "When you meet that Lady later, remember — be humble and reverent, on no account presumptuous!"

"I know, Master — you have said it eight hundred times!"

The young man's eyes turned; he said low, "Master, just how beautiful must the Lady in Green be, to have our Patriarch so forever on her mind?"

The long-bearded elder at once cuffed him. "Hold your tongue!"

He sighed within — this disciple of his was of high talent, his only flaw a certain pride.

Just then the immortal music sounded.

Three celestial steeds descended; the crystal-fine carriage slowly halted, golden boys and jade girls attending in procession.

The clear-qi and radiant light of heaven and earth seemed all gathered upon this carriage, drawing every eye.

The long-bearded elder hurriedly pulled his disciple aside and clasped hands in salute.

"Greet the Lady!"

He lowered his head, daring not gaze upon the deity's true face.

The young man also bowed, but could not help raising his head a trifle, to glimpse the Lady in Green's countenance.

He lifted his head, a flicker of astonishment in his eyes.

"Master, the Lady… is a man?"

He recalled the Patriarch's obsession with the Lady, and his gaze grew odd — could the Patriarch, the old man… favor that sort?

The long-bearded elder too lifted his head; he saw stepping from the carriage a handsome young Daoist, an oil-paper umbrella on his back and a short sword at his waist — some cultivation, but not deep.

Li Daoxuan swept a glance at their shaman robes — this was the garb of shamanism, whose followers are mostly in Yingzhou, the later Northeast.

Yingzhou was thousands of li from here; that one so far away had also come to the banquet?

"Nonsense!"

Fairy Que jumped down, hands on her slim waist, angry, pointing at the two.

The young man's eyes lit — so this was the Lady in Green? Truly beautiful!

Only why would the Lady in Green ride in one carriage with a young Daoist?

Fairy Que humphed. "The Lady is unparalleled in grace, the fairest I have ever seen — even the moon in heaven falls short; I shall not let you slander her!"

Only then did the young man understand — she was not the Lady in Green, but likely a maid.

He glanced at Li Daoxuan and knit his brows. "This… fairy — since it is the Lady's phoenix carriage, how could you let him ride it? And I traveled all this way and saw all come by their own path; on what grounds so special?"

Li Daoxuan thought — aye, on what grounds; he himself was most curious…

"Heh — since it is the Lady's phoenix carriage, let her seat whom she will; what is it to you!"

Fairy Que showed no mercy, opening with a taunt.

"You!"

The young man was about to flare, but the long-bearded elder held him back.

"We are of the Horse-Riding Immortal line of Yingzhou; we crossed mountains and rivers only to attend the Lady's feast and present a gift. My disciple is unruly — may the fairy forgive."

Hearing this, Fairy Que glared at the young man, then led Li Daoxuan into the Blue Netherworld Hall.

Within the hall the banquet was laid; many already sat quietly in their places.

Seeing Fairy Que enter, all rose and saluted.

Fairy Que gave Li Daoxuan a cheeky smile, as if to say see how mighty this immortal is!

She led Li Daoxuan straight forward and stopped at the first seat on the right, smiling. "Sit here!"

Hearing this, all were startled and scrutinized Li Daoxuan closely.

What virtue had this little Daoist, to sit so far forward — almost at the Lady's side!

At such a feast, seating is by precedence; only the most honored guests sit at the front.

For a time many eyed Li Daoxuan with envy.

How many cultivators under heaven dream of ties with the Lady, for her guidance.

And some noticed that this young Daoist had arrived escorted by Fairy Que and seemed to have ridden the Lady's phoenix carriage!

Just then those two Horse-Riding Immortal scions also entered, guided to their seats at the third from the left end — nearly the very last.

The young man's face darkened; he looked at Li Daoxuan and gave a cold hum, muttering, "Just a pretty face — handsome but useless…"