Chapter 119: The Meeting

As expected, he had truly become a god, possessing both divine office and divine authority.

Everything unfolded exactly as Shen Shi had anticipated. In a world where the sages no longer existed, many positions became unstable and vacant. If that were not the case, there wouldn’t have been so many emperors able to confer divine offices. Later on, even city gods became exclusive to Confucianism.

There was only one reason for all this: the true great powers of Heaven and Earth had vanished.

Seeing Shen Shi remain silent, Feng Yao—now known as Xiao Qing, the City God of Guobei—asked, “Young master, do you have any further instructions?”

“Not exactly instructions. It’s just that these villagers hope the Lanruo Temple can compensate them,” Shen Shi replied. This had always been the purpose of his intervention.

“Rest assured, young master. I will take care of it,” Xiao Qing promised.

…

That night, everyone slept soundly, although it felt somewhat strange. The thousand-year-old tree demoness had transformed into a city god. This… should be considered a good thing, right?

No one could voice their thoughts, only the little Gulu accompanied Shen Shi, watching him yawn lazily and appear utterly at ease. Perhaps this was why Shen Shi never truly regarded her as the tree demoness.

“Young master.” In the deep silence of night, Xiao Qing came alone.

“Yes? What is it?” Shen Shi asked.

Xiao Qing said, “Young master, as you journey to the capital, I should accompany you. However, having just received divine office, I am not yet stable enough to travel. Please forgive me.”

“No offense taken. It’s just that I gave you this divine office and lost your freedom,” Shen Shi said.

“You misunderstand, young master. I was originally a demon; no matter how much cultivation I undertook, without guidance, I would remain a wild demon. Without you, I would have inevitably become a demon fiend.” Knowing her inner demons well, Xiao Qing spoke as she took out a fragrant sachet and handed it to Shen Shi. “Young master, this is a small token from me.”

“What is this?” Shen Shi took it and saw it contained some soil.

“This is earth essence cultivated by a little demon over a thousand years. I know you are a true disciple of the Dao, and one day you will establish your own cave abode. This earth essence can serve as capital for that.”

There was one unchanging truth in cultivation: one must establish their own cave abode.

But establishing a cave abode was not merely about finding a hole to squat in. The location must connect to the earth’s veins below and receive the flow of qi from above.

It need not be unique in the world, but it must never lack the spiritual energy necessary for cultivation.

During the primal age, such cave abodes occurred naturally, but later, they had to be artificially created.

For example, the Great Immortal Zhenyuan’s cave abode was arranged with the Earth Book.

…

“Thank you very much, Divine Lord.”

This earth essence was absolutely valuable. If Shen Shi needed to arrange the earth veins, this was the finest earth to use.

Xiao Qing then explained how to use the earth essence and discussed some changes in Heaven and Earth. As a plant spirit, she was especially sensitive to such transformations.

They talked throughout the night, touching on cosmic shifts as well as the evolution of Buddhist teachings and divine titles.

Meanwhile, Bao Zheng was grinding ink and writing down the events of the day to submit to the court. Considering it a curious matter, he made only a brief mention and left the rest unreported.

…

Early the next morning, everyone set out, heading straight for the Eastern Capital.

Shen Renfu in the Eastern Capital soon received the news, sent ahead swiftly by the Shen family’s servants.

Of course, the Shen family’s branch in the Eastern Capital was not just Shen Renfu’s. Many had remained there since the old days. After all, it was the capital of the Song Dynasty. Few were willing or ready to leave. If the main family hadn’t insisted, even fewer would have departed.

However, life in the Eastern Capital was not easy. Although they stayed, only Shen Renfu had truly prospered.

Yet when the main family arrived, the first to come greet them was not Shen Renfu but the eldest elder of the Shen family there, Shen Wanlin.

Respecting the old and cherishing the young was a longstanding Chinese tradition. Shen Renfu’s modest official position meant little when it came to welcoming family; even he had to stand aside.

“Grandfather, when will Aunt and the others arrive? You should rest in the parlor,” said Shen Renfu’s daughter, Shen Yuejiao.

“No trouble at all. These old arms and legs practice Tai Chi every day; standing a while is nothing,” Shen Wanlin waved his hand. “Our Shen family has been separated for so many years. Now the main family is back, I wonder how they’ve been and whether they’ve fared well.”

The old man rambled on. The older one grew, the more prone to nostalgia and cherishing kinship. Knowing the main family had arrived, he longed to see them at once.

Shen Yuejiao smiled gently, listening as the elder spoke to himself.

Shen Yuejiao was a young woman—how to put it—a very ambitious one. For a girl in this era, ambition usually meant marrying a good husband.

Recently, she had indeed met a good man, the son of a minister. From him, she even learned about the chamber pot.

Honestly, she held no affection whatsoever for the main family, unlike the elders.

In her eyes, if the main family hadn’t gone to the countryside—Eastern Capital residents considered anywhere outside the capital as countryside—how could the Shen family have fallen into such hardship? They lacked anyone to uphold the family’s reputation, forcing her, a dignified young lady, to chase after men.

Yes, Shen Yuejiao was deeply dissatisfied with her current life. She believed she deserved to be cherished, just like the great ladies of the Eastern Capital—reciting poetry and writing prose alongside talented gentlemen—not living like a servant girl in a small household.

Today was the day Shen Shi and his party arrived in the Eastern Capital. Upon entering, Shen Shi parted ways with Bao Zheng and the others; Bao Zheng needed to report first to the Ministry of Personnel, while Shen Shi accompanied his family back to the Shen estate.

Servants who arrived first led the way.

“Madam, this way.”

The Eastern Capital, as the national capital, had changed little in appearance; what changed most were the people.

The old Shen family mansion had once been a general’s residence but now belonged to someone else. The Shen family had long since moved to the suburbs, as living within the city was too costly.

“Older brother.”

“Uncle.”

Shen Wanlin was the elder here, so even the matriarch called him “older brother.” Shen Shi’s father and mother were “uncle and aunt,” so Shen Shi could only address him as “grandfather.”

Shen Wanlin nodded, and Shen Shi stepped forward to greet him, calling him “grandfather.”

Though Shen Shi belonged to the main family, in terms of seniority, the branch family ranked higher. Shen Shi naturally did not act arrogantly as the main family member and respectfully addressed him as “grandfather.”

At that sound, the elder’s face blossomed with joy.

To be honest, he had some worries. After all, when the branch family split years ago, it had not been amicable.

Not just in ancient times— even in later eras, if a family in the capital suddenly said they would leave for the countryside, few would be happy. Arguments and bitter disputes often erupted.

Fortunately, many years had passed, and ancient times valued kinship deeply; the longer they were apart, the stronger the longing.

Shen Wanlin had always waited and hoped!

Finally, he had awaited this moment, though he feared being turned away at the door or unrecognized upon meeting.

Now, all was well. A heartfelt “older brother,” an “uncle,” a “grandfather”—everything was resolved!