Chapter 138: Who is the Puppet?

"Ahem!" The middle-aged man let out a cough that scared the child into shutting his mouth in a hurry.

Only to hear that middle-aged man say nonchalantly.

"No need to tell him; the predestined connection hasn't arrived yet. When it arrives, he will naturally remember!"

Then he walked up to Su Yuanshan and said slowly.

"You fellow still haven't made any progress at all! You haven't changed one bit!

No wonder that fellow tossed you aside like trash!"

At this moment, the child spoke up to defend Su Yuanshan.

"Second Master, aren't you and Eldest Master the same? The Old Master..."

"Shut up!" The middle-aged man let out a violent shout, again scaring the child into obediently closing his mouth.

"When adults are talking, where is there any room for a child like you to interrupt!"

After lecturing the child, the middle-aged man turned his face back and suddenly reached out to grab Mu Qingcao.

Seeing this, Su Yuanshan's face darkened and he was about to make a move, when he heard the child shout.

"Third Master, don't misunderstand; Second Master is saving that young lady!"

While Su Yuanshan was stunned, Mu Qingcao had already been snatched into the air by the middle-aged man, who then flicked his finger to shoot a pill into Mu Qingcao's mouth.

Subsequently, the middle-aged man clapped his palms together repeatedly, then flicked his hand casually.

Mu Qingcao fell directly in front of Su Yuanshan and was caught by him.

Mu Qingcao's originally scattered spirit body began to re-condense; only at this moment did Su Yuanshan truly believe the child's words, convinced that the middle-aged man was merely saving Mu Qingcao.

A spirit whose Yin lifespan was about to end had actually been saved by the middle-aged man, and what was even more absurd was that, apart from being older, he looked almost exactly like him.

Strange, truly very strange!

For a moment, Su Yuanshan did not know whether to thank the other party or directly demand, 'Who are you people? What is this all about? Why does the child call me Third Master!'

Who was the Old Master they spoke of? Judging by their tone, it was that Old Master who had abandoned the three of them!

However, it seemed he was not given a chance to ask, as the middle-aged man merely said to the child.

"Let's go, it's time for us to get to work; they have already arrived!"

After speaking, he vanished on the spot.

Seeing Su Yuanshan staring blankly at an empty space, the little white fox called out repeatedly.

"Prefect, Prefect!"

Su Yuanshan gave a light "Hmm" and asked.

"What is it?"

"Jiangling Jiejie has already woken up!"

The little white fox looked at him with an expression of admiration and said.

"You are so amazing, you actually saved her!"

Su Yuanshan smiled faintly.

"It was noth—, uh, wait a moment!"

He said to the little white fox.

"Wasn't Miss Qingcao saved by that person? Don't go attributing credit to this seat so casually!"

"That person?" The little white fox looked bewildered.

"Besides you and Jiangling Jiejie, what other person is here?"

Su Yuanshan: "........"

He thought to himself, it actually couldn't see them?

What on earth was the background of those two fellows! At this moment, he was in no mood to explain.

Mu Qingcao slowly woke up and discovered that she was actually still 'alive'; for a moment, she was stunned with joy, staring blankly at Su Yuanshan.

Su Yuanshan felt somewhat helpless, thinking to himself, not again!

Can you not attribute all the credit to me?

However, he was clearly no longer interested in explaining; besides wasting energy and mood, and establishing a hypocritical image for others, there was no other benefit to stubbornly arguing!

Let it be! If you think it was me, I'll just accept it, won't I?

Therefore, he did not give Mu Qingcao a chance to offer thanks, and said directly.

"Miss Qingcao, I have thought about it; keeping you here, even if you share incense with the Mountain God, seems... somewhat inappropriate! After all, you nearly lost your life helping me repair the Demon-Slaying Sword. Although this seat is the City God, there are some things that cannot be ignored.

I intend to take you back to the Huangliang Xian Chenghuang Yinsi; are you willing?"

Mu Qingcao was stunned upon hearing this, unable to believe her ears. After being dazed for a full few seconds, she finally reacted and bowed deeply to Su Yuanshan, yet said nothing—she was trembling all over, too moved to speak.

As a wild spirit of the mountains, how could she have ever dared to imagine such immense fortune?

Previously, having received Su Yuanshan's promise to set up a body for her and confer upon her the title of Grass-headed Minor God to share incense with the Mountain God, she had already felt it was the greatest luck.

She never expected that Su Yuanshan would actually take her back to the County Chenghuang Temple; this was something she hadn't even dared to think of before.

Seeing this, Su Yuanshan nodded slightly.

"Very well, this seat has understood your heart!

You may rise now!"

After Mu Qingcao stood up, Su Yuanshan looked at her and nodded slightly, saying.

"I see the wreath on your head seems to be woven from winter jasmine; this seat shall confer upon you the title of Winter Jasmine Fairy, are you willing? Although this Winter Jasmine Fairy is only a minor grass-headed immortal, the number of believers will be far greater than that of a blacksmith."

Mu Qingcao was moved to tears.

"Thank you, Prefect! This humble woman... is willing!"

"Good!"

Su Yuanshan smiled slightly and reached out to summon the City God's Mountains and Rivers Seal, holding it in his palm. He held the City God's Mountains and Rivers Seal in his left hand and flicked his right index finger against Mu Qingcao's forehead; his divine voice rang out like a great bell.

"Mu Qingcao, hear my decree!

With Heaven and Earth as witness, may spiritual virtue follow!

Mu Qingcao has protected the artisan folk and rendered meritorious service to the local community.

In the name of the County City God, I enfeoff you as a Grass-Head Lesser Immortal, bestowing upon you the office of Spring-Welcoming Spirit Immortal, to forever enjoy incense offerings; you shall be the Spring-Welcoming Fairy!"

Suddenly, a brilliant floral shadow descended from the sky, landing on Mu Qingcao and bursting open with a 'pop', just like fireworks.

It flew out from her body, transformed into a stream of light that soared into the sky, and finally dove into the spirit tablet of that tiny Shennikan, 'hissing' as it wiped away the characters for Craft Spirit Lady and finally forming the shimmering characters 'Spring-Welcoming Fairy' before fading away.

At the same time, a bright red winter jasmine mark appeared between Mu Qingcao's brows; this mark was the manifestation of Su Yuanshan's divine power and the proof of her status as a Grass-Head Lesser Immortal under Su Yuanshan's command, and from this moment on, a bond was formed between her and Su Yuanshan!

The spiritual light on Mu Qingcao's body shimmered for a long time before dissipating, and her entire temperament had undergone a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering change; her originally ethereal body appeared even more ethereal, and she had finally become a true immortal, albeit only an insignificant Grass-Head Lesser Immortal!

Even her pale green dress and the flower crown on her head had changed, becoming more elegant and beautiful!

Mu Qingcao could simply not hide the excitement in her heart, and the smile on the corners of her lips was so radiant.

She bowed gracefully.

"For the Prefect's great kindness, Mu Qingcao offers her thanks once more!"

The little white fox also watched with a face full of joy, circling Mu Qingcao twice before looking up and saying.

"Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations to Jiangling Jiejie for taking her place among the immortals!"

As he spoke, Su Yuanshan chanted a divine incantation to summon the mountain gods; this time, not only did the Long-horned Mountain God appear, but the Green-robed Mountain God also manifested.

Upon hearing of Mu Qingcao's experience, the Long-horned Mountain God said with no small amount of envy.

"Congratulations to Craft Spirit Lady on your promotion; the incense offerings in Huangliang Xiancheng are far more prosperous than in our remote little mountains!"

However, the Green-robed Mountain God snorted coldly.

"Incense? You only speak nonsense with your eyes open; our incense was cut off a hundred years ago, so where would any incense come from? If not for the blessing of Earth Mother, how could we have possibly existed until now?

How much longer do you want us to keep playing along with their charade? Ghost-slayer! Answer me!"