CHAPTER 447: CHAPTER 389: THE QUEEN MOTHER OF THE WEST, A 3-YEAR AGREEMENT

The western expedition army relentlessly advanced forward.

The barbarian army was utterly defeated, helmets and armor strewn everywhere in their flight.

The Great Zhou’s accumulated strength over the years was unparalleled, and though the barbarians were formidable, they had their limits.

Song Lin rode atop a golden chariot, illuminating the earth like the sun.

Wherever he went, divine demons fled in fear, vanishing into the horizon, leaving endless legends behind for the Emperor of Zhou.

In front of the golden chariot, Lvu Gong rode a unicorn to pave the way, while the nine-tailed yellow dragon parted the clouds to guide the path. The Thunder God drummed the skies with thunder, the Rain Mistress summoned winds and rains, the Ghost Marquis led the ghost soldiers, and the King of Chu lit the way with fire.

The heroic army served as the spear, while the common people of the land stood as the shield.

Sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, and lands of the realm all revolved around the Emperor.

Song Lin, dressed in an emperor’s crown and robes, gazed upon his brave warriors, feeling a sense of wonder.

"This is what it means to be Emperor!"

The emperors of the real world are nothing but puppets; if the Emperor of Wu possessed such prowess, perhaps the Human Clan wouldn’t be in such dire straits.

Of course, despite Song Lin’s thoughts about the absolute control of an emperor, it didn’t mean he wished to recreate this domination in reality.

To be Emperor was too troublesome; being "Heaven" itself was the path to true freedom.

Let others be Emperor.

Wherever the army passed, demons and monsters within a thousand-mile radius either fled or were vanquished.

Even ancient great demons dared not reveal themselves.

Along the journey, there was surprisingly little conflict.

The chieftains of various tribes, though arrogant and unruly, were no fools. They knew that their mere tens of thousands of old, weak, and sick tribesmen wouldn’t be enough to even wet the teeth of the Zhou army.

Thus, they brought offerings and livestock, bowing in submission.

Song Lin, ever magnanimous, chose not to hold them accountable for their past disrespectful acts. Instead, he hosted banquets and bestowed titles upon vassals.

Passing by rivers, he conducted rituals to honor the River Lords; passing by mountains, he held audiences with the Mountain Gods.

Within just three months, countless idioms and myths were born from these events.

In the distance, towering mountains appeared, rising and falling like a giant dragon sprawled on the earth.

At their center, one peak stood pure and white like jade. Upon closer inspection, it was indeed a Jade Mountain.

Among its countless treasures were white jade, green jade, black jade, red jade, silver iron... and strange, enchanting trees and flowers bearing names like Gan Hua, Xuangui, Gan Zha, Yaobi, White Wood, White Willow, Miracle Fruit, Lang Gan, White Pill, and Green Pill.

Above the white clouds flew swarms of birds.

Legendary phoenixes sang, phoenix birds danced.

Among them, three peculiar green birds caught the most attention.

"The Sanqing Birds? Kunlun Mountain’s Queen Mother of the West?"

Seeing this mountain, Song Lin realized he had arrived at Kunlun.

At that moment, the green birds noticed the approaching group.

The central bird transformed into a goddess clad in a flowing green dress.

The goddess was breathtakingly beautiful, her skin as pristine as snow. Gazing at the group below, her red lips parted slightly as she spoke, "Who among you is the Emperor of Zhou?"

"I am!"

Song Lin replied.

"The Queen Mother of the West has summoned you."

"Very well, let me select an auspicious day for the visit."

Rather than heading there immediately, Song Lin set a date.

The army set camp at the mountain’s base, while Song Lin centered his spirit, bathed, and changed into fresh robes.

Three days later, he went alone, carrying the white jade and black ornament.

The green bird descended to escort him, and Song Lin mounted the mystic bird. The green bird sang a clear tone and ascended swiftly, soaring ninety thousand miles high.

The Queen Mother’s domain turned out to be in a realm beyond this world.

On Kunlun Mountain stood a copper pillar, known as the Heavenly Pillar. One man and one bird ascended along its surface, passing by immense birds whose wings spanned ten thousand square miles.

After a long while, the green bird carried Song Lin past the clouds, where the Nine Heavens Gang Wind blew fiercely, forcing him to close his eyes.

When Song Lin regained his composure, he found himself standing beside a vibrant green lake.

The lake’s surface mirrored the boundless azure sky above.

Beside the lake stood a colossal tree with lush, expansive foliage. Its branches bore countless fiery red peaches.

No one else was around.

Suddenly, the serene water rippled.

Song Lin looked up to see a young maiden, no older than sixteen, rowing a small boat. Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, her snow-white clothes fluttering gently, with her hair casually tied at the end with a red ribbon. In the light of the lake and mountains, she resembled an immortal queen.

In that moment, Song Lin felt as though he’d been ensnared in a gentle dream.

The willow-leaf boat approached slowly. The young maiden, with skin as white as jade and an impossibly delicate beauty, smiled softly and said, "Do you still remember the Moon Cultivator?"

With those words, her smile radiated like blossoms in full bloom, inviting Song Lin onto the boat.

"Moon Cultivator?"

Song Lin pondered for a moment, then felt a cool sensation on his forehead.

The young woman’s jade-like fingers lightly tapped his brow, where a silver moon-like emblem materialized.

The Moon Cultivation Great Witch’s blessing?

Suddenly, Song Lin recalled.

Her eyes curved into crescent moons as she laughed, revealing two sharp little canines. Looking once more at her, Song Lin realized she was barefoot, and beneath her green dress, he could faintly see a leopard’s tail.

"Greetings, Queen Mother of the West!"

Song Lin bowed deeply.

"No need for formality. You are now an Emperor; our statuses are comparable."

The Queen Mother of the West smiled sweetly.

Sitting at opposite ends of the boat, the two silently gazed out over the shimmering water.

The Queen Mother of the West?

Song Lin discreetly studied the young woman, noting her unremarkable appearance with no discernible aura of power. Yet, she was the revered Queen Mother of the West admired by all.

"She certainly doesn’t look as unkempt as the myths claim."

Legends described the Queen Mother of the West with disheveled hair, leopard’s tail, and tiger’s teeth, making her seem wild and untamed.

"Do I seem unkempt to you?"

The Queen Mother of the West suddenly asked.

"Ah, no," Song Lin quickly diverted, "Is this lake water the undying water?"

"Indeed. Drinking it grants longevity, and the peach tree bears similar powers."

The two continued rowing, admiring the scenic beauty along the lakeshores.

Song Lin spotted numerous mutant beasts from the Shan Hai legends and inhabitants of the Undying Country.

They possessed features like snowy feathers on their abdomens, emerald-green eyes, and rectangular pupils.

The majority were ancient true immortals, with very few acquired immortals.

Later, the Queen Mother summoned her court by the Turquoise Pool for a grand feast, filled with songs, drink, and merriment.

Countless spirit pills and immortal treasures were displayed.

Song Lin spent three days with the Queen Mother, sharing music, poetry, and intimate companionship.

He found himself deeply enchanted by this extraordinary, passionate woman.

One night, beneath the peach tree.

Her face slightly flushed from wine, the Queen Mother of the West leaned against the tree trunk, supporting her delicate face with her jade-like hand. After closely observing Song Lin, she suddenly spoke:

"Could you stay in the Turquoise Pool? I’ll grant you immortality."

"Why me?"

Song Lin asked.

"You possess Pure Yang Qi and are an acquired immortal true. In the ages to come, the realm will belong to acquired immortals. By then, I shall be the Golden Mother, and you the Wood King. One as Taiyin, the other as Pure Yang; innate and acquired together, ruling over Kunlun."

"Stay?"

Song Lin sensed a hint of danger.

Agreeing to this might mean surrendering his consciousness and being trapped here forever.

This land was too primitive, too strange.

The Queen Mother’s Kunlun Mountain was antiquated, the true immortals all emanated an air of weariness, as if nearing decay.

Here, cultivation techniques were nonexistent, relying solely on innate gifts and spirit treasures like the undying medicine.

Such a place didn’t seem ideal; it remained stagnant for thousands of years, while the outside world continually evolved. Eventually, it might face obsolescence.

Perhaps the Queen Mother recognized this and sought to keep him here for that reason.

Seeing Song Lin hesitate, the Queen Mother seemed to understand his reservations. She began singing softly:

"White clouds in the sky, hills rising. Paths stretching far, rivers winding through. If you do not die, will you still return?"

The implication was clear: would Song Lin someday return?

Not wanting to refuse outright and risk stirring conflict, Song Lin offered an excuse.

"I must return to the Eastern Land to govern Zhuxia. When the people live in harmony, I shall return to see you. Within three years, I shall return to roam these wilds!"

He expressed his desire to return eastward to rule the nation while promising to revisit in three years.

He then discussed Yong State, Liang State, and the God of Rushou.

As Song Lin contemplated, he caught a fleeting look of sorrow in the Queen Mother’s eyes. When he turned to face her, she’d already brightened up again, smiling radiantly, revealing her pointed little teeth.

"It’s a deal! Three years later, we meet again! But first, stay for three months. After three months, I shall have Rushou surrender, and the two states shall become part of the Eastern Land."

(Requesting monthly votes, subscriptions, and all forms of support. Ahem.)