Chapter 540: Come, Father and Son Face-Off

On the second day after Yu Lin had just settled in Qu Ren Li, an uninvited guest arrived.

After a light rain, the sun came out today.

The warm sunshine poured down, heating the ground to a toasty warmth, and the muddy dirt roads began to dry and feel crisp.

Yu Lin lay on a homemade lounge chair in front of the door.

The chair was made of bamboo, the slats polished smooth, and it was very comfortable to recline on.

He squinted his eyes, basking in the sun, utterly relaxed.

It would still be several decades before Lao Jun is born.

No rush.

First lie down for a few days, and after I've rested enough, I'll go find Li Shi to get acquainted. Instead

The upright person is right in the village, and can't run away.

He just lay like that for about half an hour.

Then, the sunlight in the sky was suddenly blocked.

It wasn't the kind of obstruction caused by drifting clouds; something else precisely blocked the sunlight above his head.

Yu Lin opened his eyes.

A white cloud hovered above him, neither large nor small, just enough to shade his whole body.

Then, footsteps sounded.

The cloud slowly dissipated, and the sunlight poured down again.

At the same time, a figure had already stood beside him.

It was a warm, gentle voice, with a hint of smile:

"Since you've come to this place, why not stay at my place for a few days?"

"Hm?"

Yu Lin sat up and looked at the newcomer.

It was a young man.

His face was handsome and dignified, with a natural aura of nobility in his brows and eyes.

His attire was splendid, but not made of mortal fabrics, nor the Heavenly Court's cloud‑brocade celestial robes; it was of another style.

Yu Lin scratched his head.

"Sorry," he said, his tone sincere:

"Who are you?"

The young man froze for a moment, then burst into a hearty laugh.

"Alright, alright," he patted his forehead: "You still haven't seen me at this time, hahaha."

After laughing, he gave a slight nod to Yu Lin and introduced himself:

"Taiyi."

Taiyi.

Donghuang Taiyi.

The people of Chu revere him as the "Supreme Emperor," the highest deity in Chu State's sacrificial system, a status equal to the Central Plains' "Haotian Shangdi."

Even during the later reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Empire, following the suggestion of the alchemist Miu Ji, he was incorporated into state rites, elevated to a nationwide supreme deity, becoming the central object of imperial worship.

Only later, when the worship of the Jade Emperor rose, did his cult gradually decline.

But regardless, his position in mythology is one of the original supreme beings.

Knowing Yu Lin's background, it is reasonable.

Yu Lin stood up, bowed to Donghuang Taiyi, and grinned:

"So you are the Supreme Emperor, I've long admired your great name."

He paused, then added:

"Just now I was a bit disrespectful, truly my apologies, my apologies."

Donghuang Taiyi looked at him, his smile deepening.

"Hahaha," he laughed heartily, his tone full of nostalgia:

"You are still this amusing."

His gaze passed over Yu Lin and fell on Li Shi's house not far away.

The house was ordinary, thatched roof, wooden frame, mud walls, no different from other homes in the village.

"Since he hasn't emerged yet," Donghuang Taiyi withdrew his gaze, looked at Yu Lin, and said with a smile:

"Why not come to my place for a visit?"

Yu Lin thought for a moment.

Anyway, there's nothing to do right now.

Lao Jun still has several decades before his birth, and the Human World has little excitement to see for a while.

Going to Donghuang Taiyi's place to take a look is fine too.

He nodded.

"Alright," he said, "then I shall trouble you."

Upon hearing this, Donghuang Taiyi's face showed a hint of wistful expression.

"You are still polite upon first meeting," he sighed:

"When you later go to my place, you'll eat and drink, and when you leave you'll have to take something away."

"Seems" you are the host.

Yu Lin: "............."

He spoke seriously:

"Actually I'm not that kind of person; who doesn't know that I, Yu Lin, treat others with sincere friendliness, am poised, flawless, a hundred flowers in full bloom................."

"Actually it's my second personality that occupies my body; I call it Evil Yu Lin, do you believe it?"

Donghuang Taiyi said nothing.

He just smiled and looked at Yu Lin.

That smile was warm and jade‑like, his face wrote——

"Do you think I believe you?"

Yu Lin felt a bit guilty under his gaze and cleared his throat.

"Let's not talk about this," he stood up, straightened his robes:

"Let's go, let's go."

"Fine." Donghuang Taiyi laughed heartily, turned and walked forward.

Yu Lin followed.

Sunlight poured over the two, warm and gentle.

Behind them, the simple Wooden House stood quietly, a lounge chair placed at the doorway, gently swaying.

Where does Donghuang Taiyi live?

Great Sun?

No.

People often confuse Donghuang Taiyi with the sun god Dong Jun, seeing the character East and assuming a relation to Great Sun.

In fact, Great Sun is Dong Jun's domain.

The "Nine Songs·Dong Jun" writes: "Driving a dragon carriage, riding thunder, bearing cloud banners, winding like a serpent"; "The sun will rise in the east, shining upon my railing, the mulberry tree."

The origin of Donghuang comes from the Chu Ci annotations: Taiyi, a star name, the supreme deity of heaven; its shrine is in eastern Chu, paired with the Eastern Emperor, thus called Donghuang.

Therefore Donghuang Taiyi and Great Sun have no relation.

Taiyi, accurately speaking, is like the Dao, the primordial source of the Universe.

Even later Daoist texts directly state that Taiyi is the Dao.

As for where Donghuang Taiyi actually resides— the Huainanzi·Astronomy chapter clearly records:

"Tai Wei is the courtyard of Taiyi; Zi Gong is the dwelling of Taiyi."

Zi Gong is the celestial Zi Wei Enclosure.

The Book of Han·Astronomy records: "The central palace North Star, one of its bright stars, is where Taiyi constantly dwells."

Taiyi constantly resides at the center of the Zi Wei Enclosure where the North Star lies.

Then the question arises.

Isn't Zi Wei Emperor also residing in the Zi Wei Enclosure?

This actually does not affect it.

With their abilities, they can casually create a new world, a new space; it may seem the same, but actually different spaces and times.

Another point worth mentioning.

In Chu mythology, there is another deity who often appears together with Donghuang Taiyi in later ages and holds high status.

That is Di Jun.

In the Classic of Mountains and Seas, Di Jun is the father of the sun and moon, the Heavenly Emperor.

And in Chu mythology.

The excavated Chu silk texts of the Warring States record: Di Jun set the sun and moon's courses; Gong Kua boasted ten suns, the four seasonal deities intercalated the four seasons; lest the hundred deities, wind and rain, and the stars cause disorder.

It says Di Jun formulated the laws governing the sun and moon's motion; Gong Kua and the four seasonal deities refined the ten‑day and four‑season calendar, set intercalary months, so that the hundred deities, wind and rain, and the stars each kept their order without confusion.

Armor, it's all armor!

Still that saying, stay out of the affairs of immortals.

At this moment.

Yu Lin was sitting in Donghuang Taiyi's palace.

Saying it's a palace, it's actually more like a cluster of structures floating atop the Star Sea.

Countless stars flow beneath his feet, the galaxy like a luminous ribbon encircles all around.

The main hall is tall and spacious, without walls, only massive pillars carved with sun, moon, and stars supporting the dome; looking up, one can see the myriad constellations slowly rotating.

A banquet is underway.

The tables are laden with various delicacies, fragrance drifting, mingling with the Star Sea's scent, especially intoxicating.

There are many guests present.

Yunzhong Jun, dressed in white, ethereal as an immortal, sits at the leftmost seat, smiling gently.

Xiang Jun and Lady Xiang sit side by side, occasionally exchanging glances, eyes flowing with affection, very loving.

The Grand Minister of Destiny has a cold visage, playing with a black token in his hand.

The Lesser Minister of Destiny is much gentler, his gaze fixed on the Star Sea outside the hall, unknown what he is thinking.

Etc.

And the most surprising to Yu Lin was the one seated on the right—

Hou Tu.

This old familiar deity, with countless aliases.

In Chu mythology, they govern the Underworld.

In other mythological systems, they can be "Gong Gong's son named Ju Long, who is the Earth deity," also "Inheriting Heaven, emulating great virtue, the luminous great Earth sovereign deity," and "Majestic Emperor of Heaven, Majestic Earth," among other titles.

Anyway, they appear in every mythology, and any identity fits.

At this moment, seeing Yu Lin appear, the Earth deity slightly nods in acknowledgement, a greeting between acquaintances.

Yu Lin also nods in response.

The banquet is past its halfway point, and the wine has been poured three rounds.

Donghuang Taiyi puts down the wine goblet in his hand, looks at Yu Lin, a hint of mischievous smile on his face.

"Yu Lin, shall we make a bet?"

Yu Lin puts down his chopsticks and raises an eyebrow.

"What bet?"

"If you can get Lao Jun to call you 'father', then Lao Jun and I will call you that as well; if you cannot, then you call us that, how about it?"

"... Are you alright? Does Lao Jun know he agreed to you?"

"That doesn't matter; just tell me whether you accept or not."

"Well... I accept! Father‑son duel, we each draw!"