Chapter 42: The Birth of Tang Yao, the Descent of the Immortal Maiden

  Zhuanxu reigned for seventy-eight years and died at the age of ninety-eight. The many ministers recommended his nephew, Emperor Ku, as the common lord of the people. Emperor Ku was also a leader among men, born with divine intelligence, who spoke of his own name, assisted Zhuanxu at the age of fifteen, ascended to the throne at thirty, and resided in Millet. Emperor Ku's virtue brought peace to the world, comforted heaven and earth, and made the spirits joyful. He taught the four seas, illuminated the darkness, and was a ruler with accomplishments and virtues, revered by all the people.

  The third wife of Emperor Ku was named Qingdu, who was born on the top of Taihang Mountain. She was a girl who accidentally injured her foot and bled in the mountains, and then became pregnant and gave birth to herself. She happened to be seen by Chen Fengshi, who went up the mountain, and took her back home, adopting her as a foster daughter for 15 years. After Chen Fengshi passed away, Qingdu lived alone. It so happened that Emperor Ku's mother was also Chen Fengshi, and Emperor Ku obeyed his mother's orders to marry Qingdu.

  One night, Qingdu was leaning against the window of his home, looking up at the sky and admiring the bright moon. Suddenly, the starry sky darkened, and a golden boundary appeared on the horizon, shining brightly like daylight, startling the great divine beings in the world.

  A nine-clawed golden dragon suddenly appeared from the boundary, raised its head and let out a long wail, then flew down into the night sky, heading towards Qingdu. In her astonished gaze, it instantly disappeared into her abdomen, the strange phenomenon vanished, and the starry sky reappeared!

  This change shocked the thirty-three heavens and the multitude of saints in the primordial chaos.

  The Great Red Sky, the Eight Scenic Palace. The Supreme Old Lord slightly furrowed his brow, then relaxed again, and once more closed his eyes to wander in the vast expanse of the void!

  In the Huoyun Palace, three human holy emperors looked at each other in dismay. Xuan Yuan Huangdi said worriedly: "The divine dragon enters the belly and must give birth to a sacred master, which is our good fortune as humans. However, that divine dragon was one of the gods in the Kuangtu Seal, now that it's gone, doesn't that weaken the Nine States Boundary? What should we do about this?"

  Fuxi Holy Emperor and Shennong Holy Emperor were silent!

  In the clear and void sky, in the profound and clear realm. Hongyuan silently gazed at the scene in the Cloud Light Mirror, and instructed the White Jade Boy beside him: "You go and transmit my decree, proclaim it far and wide to the Clear Void Heaven!"

  The White Jade Boy nodded and responded with a voice, then immediately left the Qingxu Heaven. The decree was passed down to the lower realm.

  Di Ku was startled by the strange phenomenon and came, seeing Qing Dou staring blankly at the sky, speechless. He was shocked in his heart, hurried forward to wake up Qing Dou, and asked: "Just now, I saw a divine dragon fall into the house, but it is unknown where it went?"

  Qing Dou regained her composure, curtsied slightly and said: "Your subject's wife dare not deceive Your Majesty. That divine dragon just now actually entered your subject's wife's belly!"

  Di Xin was shocked at first, then immediately delighted: "But this is a joyful event! The Empress has been possessed by the divine dragon. In the future, she will surely give birth to a divine being. This is truly a blessing for our clan!"

  Qingdu heard this and smiled slightly, like a lotus flower blooming in June. She said: "I wish Heaven to bless me with a dragon son, who can assist Your Majesty in the future and bring blessings to our clan!"

  The Emperor gently stroked the abdomen of Queen Chengdu, as if he had already felt the unborn child. He smiled warmly and said: "My beloved queen is indeed a virtuous and gentle person!"

  Qingdu smiled softly. She leaned gently on Emperor Di's shoulder. Her eyes gazed into the night sky, as if waiting for something!

  Qingdu Shendragon entered the belly. Felt and became pregnant. After ten months, gave birth to a unicorn child. This child was born with unusual signs. His hair was as long as his shoulders. His face was like wax. A pair of eight-shaped eyebrows showed seven colors. There were three pupils in his eyes. His eyes shone brightly!

  The Emperor was about to hold the child, but heard that his mother had just passed away. He didn't have time to hold the child and hurriedly rushed to handle the aftermath of Chen Feng's death. After handling it, he no longer liked the child because Chen Feng died soon after the child was born. The Emperor considered this inauspicious and refused to see the child. Qingdu had no choice but to take the child back to his former home to raise him alone. He named the child Fangxun, taking his mother's surname, as Yin Qi's family name. It wasn't until Fangxun was ten years old that he brought him back to the Emperor's side. Fangxun was young and intelligent, born with benevolence, and all the officials praised him without end.

  After fifteen years, Emperor Ku died. Because he had previously disliked Gong Yun, he abdicated the throne to his son Zhu. Emperor Zhu then enfeoffed Gong Yun in Tang territory and called him Yao. Yao led the people of Tang territory in farming and labor, handling government affairs in an orderly manner. As a result, all the people of Tang territory loved and respected him, and people from far and near praised his virtues.

  Emperor Zhi was in power for nine years, but his governance went astray. The people all drew near to Yao and distanced themselves from Zhi. Emperor Zhi had no choice but to personally lead the hundred officials to Tang's land to abdicate the throne to Yao. From then on, Yao ascended to the position of common lord of mankind and diligently handled the affairs of state, bringing even greater prosperity and flourishing to mankind. As a result, all the people under heaven bowed their heads in submission, and the ten thousand citizens praised him!

  In the land of the nine states, there is a mountain called Gushan Mountain. On this mountain, there is a cave called Xiangongou Cave. A fairy named Lüxianzi lives in this cave with a deer as her companion. She was originally a female immortal by the side of the Jade Emperor in the Heavenly Realm and had attained the Golden Immortal Dao fruit. Several years ago, she descended to the mortal world and came to Xiangongou Cave.

  To the east of Xiangongou Cave, about 100 miles away, there is a pool called Heilongtan Pool. In this pool lives a black dragon that often uses its magical powers to stir up winds and waves, harming travelers. Moreover, it swims upstream to Lügou and devours deer calves, causing great harm. The people are suffering and cannot speak of their grievances!

  The deer fairy's heart was kind and benevolent, and she couldn't bear the nearby villagers and living creatures to suffer at the hands of the black dragon. So, she came out of her cave, rode on a cloud, and arrived at the Black Dragon Pool. She took out her precious sword and released a stream of sword energy that hit the pool. A loud dragon roar echoed, and from the pool flew out a hundred-foot-long black dragon with four claws and two horns on its head. The black dragon swung its tail, looked down at the deer fairy with disdain, and spoke in human language: "Who are you? How dare you disturb my sleep!"

  Lu Xianzi looked at the young dragon who had not yet attained the Tao of immortality, and smiled to herself. She said sternly: "I am a Golden Immortal from the Upper Realm, and I have come to subdue you because I know you are causing harm here!" As soon as she finished speaking, she shot out a stream of immortal energy from her hand, which quickly struck the black dragon's body, knocking it down from mid-air with a loud crash. The black dragon was thrown to the ground, sending up a cloud of dust and smoke everywhere. The black dragon writhed in pain on the ground, knowing that it could not defeat Lu Xianzi. It struggled to get up and bowed, saying: "The young dragon knows its mistake! I beg for forgiveness!"

  Luoxianzi nodded and said: "From now on, you will be the mount of this immortal!"

  The black dragon did not dare to disobey, and hastily kowtowed on the ground. After Luoxiaozi got on its back, it rose into the air and carried her back to the Xian Dong Gou.

  The black dragon has been subdued and the surrounding area is now peaceful. The people know that Lu Xianzi has subdued the black dragon, so they spread the news far and near, and everyone respects him!

  Tang Yao also heard the rumors of the mortal world, so when he was touring the world, he came to Xiandong Gou Pasture Slope, hoping to catch a glimpse of the immortal's demeanor. One day, he was discussing animal husbandry with the herders, when suddenly a fairy flew over from the edge of the sky, only to see that she stepped on auspicious clouds, wore seven-color silk, and had skin as white as ice and snow, with a delicate and beautiful figure. The immortal aura was fleeting, it should be in heaven, not in the mortal world!

  Tang Yao's mind was greatly stirred. His eyes gazed in the direction where Lu Xianzi had disappeared, and he couldn't come back to himself for a long time. When he finally came back to himself, he hastily asked the herdsman: "Who was that fairy just now?"

  The herdsman replied reverently: "It is indeed the Goddess of the Elbow River, the Deer Fairy!"

  Tang Yao suddenly felt a pang in his heart! He reluctantly took another look at the direction where Lu Xianzi had disappeared, then turned back to Ji Zhou. There were still many official duties waiting for him to attend to, and even though he was reluctant to leave, he couldn't stay any longer!

  Lu Xiangzi's appearance flashed in his mind from time to time. He thought of the goddess he had only met once all day, and was distracted from government affairs. One night, Tang Yao suddenly dreamed that Lu Xiangzi rode on a cloud and came, and they rode together on the cloud, touring the vast land of the nine states, and the two poured out their hearts to each other, loving and admiring each other endlessly!

  Awakening from his dream, Tang Yao could no longer bear the torment of his thoughts and thus disguised himself to arrive at Gushan Mountain, searching for the traces of Lu Xianzi.

  As I walked to Xiandong Gou, I saw a beautiful woman dancing on the grassy clearing by the forest from afar. She was slender and elegant, sometimes leaping into the air, sometimes hiding in the ground. She seemed to be walking through rocks as if they were empty space, and stepping on emptiness as if it were solid ground. A small deer accompanied her, jumping and prancing around her, bleating softly.

  Tang Yao thought to himself, "This must be the Deer Fairy." He stepped forward and bowed respectfully. However, she didn't respond. She slipped behind a pine tree, her face flushed with shyness as she pretended to comb her hair with a wooden comb. When Tang Yao approached, she stuck the comb into the tree trunk and moved behind another tree, giggling. Tang Yao also laughed and chased after her, unaware that they had arrived at a secluded spot. Suddenly, a giant python emerged from the valley, spitting red saliva, its eyes gleaming, and its body emitting a foul odor. It lunged at Tang Yao with its head raised. Tang Yao retreated but tripped over the grass and fell to the ground. The Deer Fairy was startled and quickly turned around, drawing out her treasure sword to attack the python. A bolt of divine lightning shot out from the sword and struck the python, causing it to split open and bleed profusely! The python let out a painful hiss and swiftly retreated into the grass, disappearing from sight.

  Lu Xiangzi helped Emperor Yao up, asking with a fragrant breath: "Your Majesty is unharmed?"

  Tang Yao stood up, patted his dirty clothes, calmed down his frightened heart, and bowed to Lu Xianzi, saying: "Fortunately, the immortal saved me, otherwise I would have been in danger!"

  Lu Xianzi smiled and said: "As long as Your Majesty is well, that's all that matters! Shall I lead the way for you to visit Mount Gusha together?"

  Tang Yao was overjoyed: "Excellent!"

  The two of them strolled together on Mount Gusha, and saw: the sun scattered its golden light, shining on the pine forest on the mountain, as if the pine leaves were dotted with a touch of gold, like a layer of glory, dazzling and moving; the brook babbled, clear to the bottom, fish swam about, water grass danced, from time to time came the sound of deer calls from deep in the woods, breaking the stillness of the forest, startling the small birds on the trees, chirping and singing in unison on this mountain!

  Tang Yao was completely absorbed in the scenery of the mountains and the joy of being accompanied by beautiful women, forgetting all about time. Unbeknownst to him, the sun had already set, and the stars were twinkling in the night sky, serene and vast!

  Lu Xianzi said to Tang Yao: "Your Majesty, the sky has darkened, why not stay in a humble abode for one night and return tomorrow?"

  Tang Yao was also reluctant to part with Lu Xianzi, and upon hearing this, it happened to be in line with his intentions. After saying goodbye, he followed Lu Xianzi to her underground palace.

  As soon as they entered the cave, Lu Xianzi suddenly blushed and boldly looked at Tang Yao with her big eyes, saying: "I like this wonderful nature, I like to live freely, but since seeing Your Majesty, I admire Your Majesty's ambition to support the world. If Your Majesty doesn't despise me, Lu'er is willing to help Your Majesty make the empire prosperous."

  Tang Yao was taken aback at first, then overjoyed and exclaimed: "Yao has won the favor of the immortal maiden, truly a blessing for me! In this life, I wish to be with the immortal maiden as a pair of mandarin ducks, flying together in harmony, and not disappoint her feelings!"

  The two of them then fixed their marriage engagement and got married in a cave, taking the cave as their new home, becoming husband and wife!

  Yao and Lu Xianzi got married, sent troops to the south to pacify the rebellion of the three Miao in the south, and governed the country with great virtue. One year later, Tang Yao had just returned from the south and heard that Lu Xianzi had given birth to a son, overjoyed, he thought heaven was blessing him. Holding the young child, embracing Lu Xianzi, he laughed loudly and said: "Name him Zhu!" The three of them were happy and harmonious!

  The two of them lived happily and blissfully in the lower realm, but they didn't know that at this moment, a pair of fiery eyes was gazing down at them from above, as if wanting to incinerate all thirty-three heavens!

  It is: The fairy descends to the dust and grants people a prosperous country, but does not know that great disaster will soon befall their heads!