Chapter 125: I Am Buried in Affairs, While He Remains at Leisure

"Mountain Master, the Emperor’s favor toward you is truly profound."

Taibai Jinxing smiled as he spoke. His gaze swept over the four fox spirits, Hu Yan and the others, and he transmitted his voice: "Mountain Master, these four little foxes are quite spirited. However, based on their innate talent alone, it may be difficult for them to reach the realm of longevity. If they could serve you as attendant deities, it would be a great fortune for them."

The words of Taibai Jinxing pulled Cao Kong’s consciousness back, banishing his wandering thoughts. It is said that one cannot refuse the favor of the Emperor. To decline such kindness would seem ungrateful. Furthermore, his master, the Heavenly Venerable Taiyi, resided in the heavens; perhaps, one day, he too might go there to serve. With this in mind, he bowed and accepted the imperial decree.

Taibai Jinxing watched with a smile, placing the golden decree into Cao Kong’s hands. After a moment of thought, he added: "Mountain Master, forgive my forwardness. Although you have been granted the title of 'True Lord,' it is, for now, merely an empty name. You are confined to a single mountain, and your foundation of incense and worship is thin. In the future, when you have leisure, you might save and aid your believers to accumulate incense. Only then will you have the authority to recruit attendant deities."

As he spoke, the corner of Taibai Jinxing’s mouth curled into a meaningful smile. "And more importantly..."

"What is it?" Cao Kong could not help but ask.

"Haha, never mind. It is not my place to say more. However, as you have shown me kindness here at Green Dragon Mountain, take my advice: accumulate more incense. It will only be to your benefit, never your detriment."

Though Cao Kong did not fully understand, he nodded in agreement.

Taibai Jinxing smiled, recalling the scene before he descended to the mortal realm. He had been granted an audience with the Great Heavenly Venerable in the Hall of Miraculous Radiance. Upon his arrival, the Great Heavenly Venerable had dismissed the dancing celestial maidens, silenced the music, and, casting a glance toward the mortal world, remarked: "That leopard has little ambition. I granted him benefits, yet he knows not how to fulfill the duties of the divine path. I am busy enough with the affairs of the Three Realms, yet he remains content in his idleness. It is vexing to behold. Taibai, go with my decree and urge that leopard along."

Taibai Jinxing was no ordinary figure; as a trusted confidant of the Jade Emperor, he knew that the "vexation" the Emperor spoke of was clearly the tone of one looking upon a descendant in whom great expectations were placed. Otherwise, such generous treatment would never have been bestowed. Of course, whether it was due to the connection with the Heavenly Venerable Taiyi or simple fondness, Taibai Jinxing could not fathom.

"The decree has been delivered, and it is time for me to return to the heavens. Mountain Master, we part here. Should you come to the heavens one day, look for me, and I shall have fine wine waiting."

Cao Kong bowed to see him off. He watched as Taibai Jinxing rode upon auspicious clouds, his figure trailing celestial light as he ascended into the firmament, gradually fading from view.

***

As Cao Kong watched him depart, a thought suddenly occurred to him, and he hurriedly called out: "Star Lord, you have left your golden bamboo behind!"

A voice filled with laughter echoed from the sky: "To drink one's wine and leave a bamboo in return—this is the way of courtesy."

He heard further: "Since you have accepted the fruits, I shall borrow flowers to offer to Buddha. I hope the Mountain Master will share the wine in the cup with them."

Hearing this, Cao Kong looked at the stone table. Initially, there had only been two sections of golden bamboo, but following Taibai Jinxing’s words, the section that had held the wine had split into four more. The mystery of this was beyond Cao Kong’s ability to grasp, and he could only laugh: "Truly a celestial figure, a master of great supernatural powers."

At that moment, the four foxes returned with various spirit fruits. They looked around in confusion: "Mountain Master, why are you alone? The old celestial messenger has left, and we had specifically picked fruits for him to take along."

Cao Kong smiled: "The old messenger has returned to the heavens. He left some wine for you; go and drink."

Upon hearing this, the four foxes first felt regret that they hadn't been able to offer the fruit to the old messenger, whom they found quite endearing. But hearing there was wine, they hopped and skipped toward the stone table.

"Wow, such beautiful bamboo, and it smells so good!"

They each picked up a section, and without hesitation, drank it in one gulp. As they finished the wine, they showed no signs of intoxication; instead, their aura surged and solidified, and their cultivation levels increased significantly.

They noticed the golden bamboo in their hands began to glow, shifting like flowing liquid. Through this transformation, the bamboo solidified into four distinct objects: a sword, a whip, a staff, and a cudgel.

The four foxes were overjoyed: "Mountain Master, the old messenger is so kind! He even gave us weapons."

Cao Kong watched, silently marveling that these enlightened deities were mostly of kind heart, bestowing blessings whenever they formed a connection.

"This is a favor from the old messenger," Cao Kong said. "Keep it in your hearts. Use these to do good deeds, and if you are ever fortunate enough to enter the Heavenly Palace, be sure to go and thank him."

The four foxes nodded in unison.

Just then, Cao Xiang returned from the mountain, having finished his medical rounds. Dressed in his Daoist robes and carrying a medicine basket, he had been regularly descending the mountain to practice medicine ever since he spent time as an itinerant physician in Qingyun City seven years ago. At first, it had been to earn worldly wealth, but later, he thought he enjoyed the feeling of being revered.

Yet, now, he realized he simply loved the genuine smiles on the faces of those he healed.

He relied not on elixirs or spiritual energy, but on medicine and herbs. Elixirs and spiritual energy were his alone, but medical skills and herbs could be passed down to the world, benefiting generations to come. Cao Kong, knowing this, was pleased that his brother possessed the heart of a benevolent healer.

***

Sometimes, Cao Kong could not help but reflect on the cleverness of life’s fate and encounters. If different causes and conditions had been set at the beginning, the results would have been vastly different.

Take Cao Xiang, for instance. Without his own arrival, though Cao Xiang was born with good fortune, he would have lived in the mountains in a daze, following the example of other demons who preyed on humans. To beasts and spirits, there seemed little difference between eating humans and eating other animals.

But because he had come to this world and taught Cao Xiang to be kind to others, and because Cao Xiang had the fortune to study under the Immortal Elder Shou Xing, learning the arts of alchemy and medicine, these results were achieved.

'Good causes, good fruits; evil causes, evil fruits?' Cao Kong marveled at the intricacy of it all.

"Brother, I’m back. What is that in your hand?" Cao Xiang asked curiously.

The four foxes chimed in, explaining the turn of events, adding with regret: "It’s a pity you didn't come back sooner, Second Mountain Master. Otherwise, that old messenger surely would have given you something good as well."

Cao Xiang laughed at this: "It is no pity. I am doing what brings me joy, and that is enough."

He looked at Cao Kong: "Brother, congratulations! Heh, I’ve traveled through many cities lately and bought some worldly medical texts. I’m going to study them now."

Cao Kong watched him with satisfaction: "Go. To do good deeds while following your heart—that is a virtuous thing."

Cao Xiang nodded repeatedly and returned to the cave to study his texts, verify his medical knowledge, and synthesize new methods.

Cao Kong carefully put away the golden decree and thought: 'If I focus too much on divine duties, I fear I will be spread too thin. The hardships and desires of the people are so numerous, yet since they believe in me, I cannot remain indifferent.'

He looked at Cao Xiang’s departing figure, his thoughts shifting. The Green Flower Longevity Realm contained countless medical texts—or rather, it contained knowledge of all things. He wondered if he could copy some for Cao Xiang to study. He had a vague feeling that the act of healing the world might bring unexpected rewards for Cao Xiang in the future.

As these thoughts turned in his mind, he smiled.

He had it. He would report the decree of the Great Heavenly Venerable to his master and ask if his brother, Cao Xiang, might be allowed to study those medical texts.

Before long, he knelt before the statue of the Heavenly Venerable, lit incense, and bowed.