I am a fairy in Journey to the West

At Lingtai Dao Palace, Zhuang Yan was playing chess with Tieguai Li. After hearing Zhang Xianzong and Li Zhicheng's report, he simply said, "How can there be no deaths in war? It's just a thousand divine generals. The Southern Mountain Divine Palace can handle it."

“But two celestial officials, who had been granted the title of marquis, also died,” Li Zhicheng said.

Zhuang Yan's expression turned solemn, and he said, "This is different. They are celestial officials who receive blessings from the Heavenly Court and have been granted titles and honors by the Heavenly Court. Killing them would be a completely different matter."

Zhang Xianzong hurriedly asked, "Your Majesty, should we bring that old ginseng king up?"

Zhuang Yan placed a piece and then said, "Bring him over."

Zhang Xianzong responded, then got up and walked out of Xuanqing Book Pavilion, quickly bringing the old ginseng king in.

As soon as Old Ginseng King entered the library, he saw Zhuang Yan and Tieguai Li playing chess inside. He immediately stepped forward and bowed, saying, "This humble immortal greets the Supreme God and the True Man Li."

Tieguai Li chuckled and said, "Old Ginseng King, there's no need for such formalities. I didn't expect we'd meet again so soon."

The old ginseng king was slightly embarrassed upon hearing this, and cupped his hands in apology, saying, "This humble immortal truly had no choice in the matter."

Tieguai Li smiled slightly, then raised his hand and gestured to Zhuang Yan opposite him, asking, "Do you know who this is?"

The old ginseng king paused for a moment, then shook his head and said, "This humble immortal does not know, and fearing to be presumptuous, I dare not ask the venerable deity for the name?"

Zhuang Yan laughed and asked, "Who bestowed upon you those three steps of Qi?"

The old ginseng king hurriedly and respectfully said, "It was when I saw the Dao stele that I received guidance from the 'Dao Intent' left by the Great Emperor Shenxiao, which enabled me to comprehend the wonderful method of the 'Three Steps Gang'."

"If we really have to say, it should be a gift from the Divine Emperor," said the old ginseng king.

"Hmm." Zhuang Yan said, "You don't need to know who I am. Since you have the wonderful method bestowed by the Great Emperor of Shenxiao, it means that your fate is not yet over. Although you killed the Heavenly Court officials this time, I will not punish you."

Upon hearing this, the old ginseng king immediately bowed and said, "Thank you for your forgiveness, Your Majesty."

“This is not forgiveness,” Zhuang Yan said, waving his hand. “This is a calamity. Since you killed the celestial official, you have entered this calamity with your own body. If you can survive this calamity and emerge unscathed, your sins will be forgiven. If you die in this calamity, there is no need to punish you.”

Upon hearing that it was a calamity, the old ginseng king's expression changed drastically. Throughout history, how many people who have entered a calamity have survived to the end? How could he possibly have such great fortune?
Zhuang Yan looked at him and said, "I know what you're thinking, but you can't escape your fate. Don't even mention a mere Earth Immortal like you; even if you were a Celestial Immortal, where could you possibly escape to?"

The old ginseng king listened, sweating profusely, standing there trembling, feeling that the road ahead was bleak and he could not see any light at the end of the tunnel.

Yes, the entire Southern Mountain Divine Palace is after him. Even if he escapes, where can he go? To one of the other four continents? Won't the other four continents help the Southern Mountain Divine Palace capture him?

Zhuang Yan looked at the old ginseng king and asked again, "I heard from those two that you have been wronged?"

The old ginseng king quickly knelt on the ground and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I have a hundred-year-old grievance to appeal."

Zhuang Yan said, "What injustice is it? Tell me about it."

The old ginseng king reported, "Your Majesty, as I have said before, I was originally a ginseng from the Huoshan Medicinal Garden. Later, I gained sentience, took human form, and attained enlightenment. I then took the opportunity to escape from the Huoshan Medicinal Garden, which is why I am wanted by the Southern Mountain Divine Palace. However, the Huoshan Divine Palace searches for divine herbs and medicines from all over the Southern Continent, simply to refine elixirs for the gods to eliminate disasters and resolve difficulties. Since I have gained sentience and taken human form, I should logically be a part of all living beings in the world. Isn't it only natural that I escaped from the Huoshan Divine Palace?"

Zhuang Yan asked, "Then what is the injustice you are referring to?"

The old ginseng king asked, "Great God, can a ginseng king like me, who has already developed sentience, taken human form, and attained enlightenment, still be used for alchemy?"

“Of course not,” Zhuang Yan said. “The Heavenly Laws clearly stipulate that all intelligent beings in the world must not be used as medicinal ingredients or blood offerings. Anyone who dares to disobey will be treated as a heretic or evil person.”

The old ginseng king said, "The little immortal's grievance is right here. Since the Southern Mountain Divine Palace knows that I have attained immortality, they still want to capture me and take me back to refine elixirs."

Zhuang Yan said, "If such a thing really happened, then it is naturally not allowed. You should go and seek justice."

Upon hearing this, the old ginseng king asked, "May I ask, Your Majesty, who should I seek justice from?"

Zhuang Yan said, "First, we should find the local earth god, mountain god, and water god. If they all refuse to accept the offer, then we should go to the local deity."

The old ginseng king smiled bitterly and said, "I'm afraid even the local deity wouldn't dare to accept this."

Zhuang Yan laughed and said, "Go and plead your case first. If no one dares to accept it, I will have my own explanation."

At this point, it was Zhuang Yan's turn to make a move. He raised his arm slightly to place the piece, but accidentally knocked one of the pieces to the ground.

Seeing this, the old ginseng king hurriedly reached out and picked up the chess pieces from the ground, then put them in the chess box.

Zhuang Yan placed a piece, then turned his gaze to the old ginseng king and asked with a smile, "How is this piece?"

Upon hearing this, the old ginseng king replied, "Alright."

Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "Really? I also think this chess piece is very good."

After saying that, Zhuang Yan said to the old ginseng king, "Go. If you want to seek justice, go to the local deities. If you want to escape calamity, see if you have the ability."

The old ginseng king looked at Zhuang Yan with reverence, then rose to take his leave.

After the old ginseng king left, Zhuang Yan turned his gaze to Zhang Xianzong and Li Zhicheng and said to them, "They don't recognize the talisman that the Fire Spirit gave you?"

Zhang Xianzong replied, "Your Majesty, they do acknowledge it, but we do not have the authority to interfere in the affairs of the various divine palaces in the Southern Continent."

Zhuang Yan nodded and said to the two of them, "I give you both a decree, granting you power."

After saying that, Zhuang Yan raised his hand and pointed, and two golden talismans immediately appeared in front of the two of them. The two of them quickly reached out and caught them. In the center of the talismans was a golden taboo character, which was Zhuang Yan's secret taboo character.

On either side of the taboo character is a line of smaller characters, which read: "By imperial decree, I shall inspect the area and be in charge of all relevant departments."

"With this talisman in hand, you have the authority to oversee and intervene in the affairs of all the major and minor divine palaces. Now, you two should follow the old ginseng king closely and see which family he wants to seek redress from."

The two men respectfully put away the golden talisman and bowed, saying, "As you command." Meanwhile, after leaving the Lingtai Dao Palace, the old ginseng king hesitated about one thing, unsure of where to go.

As that deity just said, killing those two marquises meant he had entered a calamity, one he couldn't escape.

In the Jambudvipa world, among the four continents, is there a place for him to stand?
Why not do as that god suggested and seek justice? But the entire Southern Continent is ruled by the Great Emperor of the Southern Mountain. Is it really possible for me to sue the Great Emperor of the Southern Mountain's son?

Thinking of Zhuang Yan again, the old ginseng king's face was immediately filled with doubt. What was the origin of that god? Even Master Li respected him so much.
Could it be a great deity from the Jade Palace of the Mortal Realm? But aren't both the Great Master of Fate, the Fire Spirit True Immortal, and the Grand Commandant of the Vanguard, Chi Ling, female immortals? This deity is clearly a man.

After thinking for a long time, the old ginseng king finally decided to try what the god had said, just in case there really was a deity willing to seek justice for him.

So the old ginseng king immediately went to Zhongnan Mountain to seek an audience with the mountain god.

The mountain god of Zhongnan Mountain is none other than the Taoist master Kou Qianzhi, and his divine abode is an ancient and magnificent Taoist temple.

Upon hearing that the old ginseng king had come to pay his respects, Kou Qianzhi immediately ordered his servants to serve tea and fruit in his honor.

But when the old ginseng king explained his purpose, Kou Qianzhi laughed and said, "Although I am the god of Zhongnan Mountain, I am just a Taoist disciple guarding the ancestral temple. I do not have the ability to seek justice for you."

The old ginseng king bowed and said, "Since you are a compassionate and benevolent person, why can't you help this humble immortal?"

Kou Qianzhi said, "If you hadn't killed everyone from the Southern Peak Divine Palace, I could still have spoken a few words for you in the Southern Peak Divine Palace. But now you have killed a thousand divine generals and two sixth-rank immortal officials from the Southern Peak Divine Palace. This is no ordinary crime."

The old ginseng king said, "But I was forced into this situation. I've been on the run for so long, but they still won't let me go. I have no choice."

“I know you were forced into this situation, but I really can’t help you with this,” Kou Qianzhi said, waving his hand. “Fellow Daoist, you should find someone more capable.”

Old Ginseng King was disappointed after hearing this, but he quickly adjusted his mindset, picked up his teacup, and offered Kou Qianzhi a cup of tea.

After leaving the Divine Palace of Zhongnan Mountain, the Old Ginseng King arrived at the Water Palace of Jing River.

This is the palace of the Jinghe Dragon King. After the previous Jinghe Dragon King was dismissed and beheaded for breaking the law, the Heavenly Court appointed Ao Xu, the eighth prince of the East Sea Dragon King, as the new Jinghe Dragon King.

On this day, Ao Xu was enjoying some leisure time in the Dragon Palace, watching music and dance, when suddenly the Turtle Prime Minister came to report that an old ginseng king was requesting an audience.

Ao Xu was slightly surprised, "Old Ginseng King? Which Old Ginseng King?"

Prime Minister Turtle laughed and said, "It's that old ginseng king who's wanted by the Southern Mountain Divine Palace."

"Oh? You mean the old ginseng king who escaped from the Huoshan medicinal herb garden?" Ao Xu asked.

"Your Majesty, it is indeed this person," said the Turtle Prime Minister. "The Southern Mountain Divine Palace has been searching for this person. Your Majesty, if we can seize this opportunity to capture him, it will be a great achievement."

Ao Xu's eyes flashed, and he said, "That makes sense. If we capture him, we will not only achieve a great feat, but also befriend Marquis Anlu. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

The Turtle Prime Minister immediately flattered, "The Dragon King is wise!"

Ao Xu could no longer bear it. He immediately stood up, dismissed the dancers, ordered someone to put armor on him, and then ordered the Turtle Prime Minister to instruct the soldiers of the Water Palace.

Before long, Ao Xu donned his helmet and armor, leading five thousand shrimp soldiers and crab generals out of the Dragon Palace in a grand procession, surrounding the old ginseng king who was waiting outside.

The old ginseng king was taken aback by this scene and hurriedly asked Ao Xu, who had appeared in front of him, "Jing River Dragon King, what is the reason for this?"

Ao Xu shouted, "You fiend, you are wanted by the Southern Mountain Divine Palace, yet you dare to come to my Water Palace to show off your power! All generals, listen to my command, capture this fiend, and I will reward you handsomely."

In an instant, five thousand shrimp soldiers and crab generals rushed towards the old ginseng king. Seeing this, the old ginseng king hurriedly said to the Jing River Dragon King, "Dragon King, this is a misunderstanding. I have come to seek justice."

"Seek justice? Hmph, go to the Huoshan Divine Palace and tell them your grievances yourself," Ao Xu replied coldly.

Seeing his resolute attitude, the old ginseng king immediately understood that the other party would not give him any chance. So the old ginseng king did not hesitate any longer and immediately performed a three-step qigong technique, and a sudden gust of wind arose.

The gale stirred the river water, creating a surging torrent, its power undiminished by the fact that it was in the water.

The shrimp soldiers and crab generals that rushed forward were quickly swept up by the water force stirred up by the gale, and then more than a dozen waterspouts began to wreak havoc in the Jinghe River.

In an instant, the Jing River surged with waves, its waters churning and churning, and even the Jing River Water Palace trembled slightly under the fierce wind.

The five thousand shrimp soldiers and crab generals were powerless against the fierce wind and were flung around by the waves.

Upon seeing this, Ao Xu was greatly surprised and said, "How could a mere immortal ginseng possess such magical abilities?"

The Turtle Prime Minister, already dizzy and disoriented, clung tightly to a nearby stone pillar, saying, "Dragon King, I'm so dizzy!"

Ao Xu frowned, glanced at the Turtle Prime Minister, and immediately leaped up. The next moment, Ao Xu transformed into a hundred-zhang-long azure dragon.

Ao Xu raised his dragon body and came to the Jing River. He pressed down with his four claws, and four beams of divine light shone down, immediately calming the waves on the Jing River that had been stirred up by the gale.

When the old ginseng king saw that Ao Xu had revealed his dragon form and suppressed the waters of the Jing River, he immediately withdrew his fierce winds.

Because of the true dragon's control over the waters, after Ao Xu suppressed the river, his fierce winds could hardly do anything at the bottom of the river.

So the old ginseng king immediately flew towards the outside of the Jing River. At this moment, Ao Xu saw that the old ginseng king wanted to run away, so he immediately leaped over and grabbed at the old ginseng king with all four claws.

The old ginseng king remained calm and continued to step into the Three Steps of Qi, strengthening the qi wind around him.

The moment Ao Xu's four dragon claws landed on the old ginseng king, they were instantly torn to pieces by the fierce winds surrounding him.

Ao Xu let out a scream, immediately released the old ginseng king's body, and turned to dive into the riverbed with his four bloodied and mangled dragon claws.

Seeing Ao Xu retreat, the old ginseng king stopped pursuing the matter and quickly left the Jing River, heading towards the next divine palace. (End of Chapter)