Chapter 309: Chapter 309: The Little Witch Descends Again for Trials (Grand Finale)
As soon as Qi Manman appeared, everyone knelt down in unison, shouting "Master State Preceptor."
Qi Manman was initially stunned, but quickly reacted and raised her hand, "Everyone, please rise!"
Following Qi Manman’s words, a guard shouted out the same, ensuring that everyone heard it.
After the crowd stood up, Qi Manman stepped down from the carriage and went directly to the Qi Family.
Everyone was naturally happy, but they didn’t show it too obviously at that moment.
Qi Manman held onto her grandmother Mrs. Qi with one hand and her mother Yi Meng with the other, walking alongside her family back to the Qi Family Mansion.
The Qi Family Mansion, which originally consisted of two rows of houses front and back, had now become a truly grand estate.
A yard with three entrances front and back, and separate small courtyards on the sides.
Surrounding it were tall walls.
Apart from the Qi Family, there were quite a few maidservants and pages.
As everyone entered the main hall of the courtyard, Qi Manman immediately knelt before her grandfather, grandmother, father, and mother, kowtowing earnestly, "Grandfather, Grandmother, Father, Mother, Manbao is back!"
"Good, good! My dear treasure! Quickly stand up!"
Mrs. Qi hurriedly stood up again, without even needing the support of the maid beside her, rushing a few steps ahead to personally pull up her precious darling.
After greeting the other elders in the family, it was time to answer questions from the younger members.
After exchanging gifts once more, Qi Manman heard someone cough, reminding her of a very important task she’d forgotten.
"Grandfather, Grandmother, Father, Mother, my master has returned with me this time."
Qi Manman only referred to her master with that title when there was a third party present.
If Grandpa Jade Emperor hadn’t been unable to find a reliable successor when he descended to the Lower Realm, he wouldn’t have turned the grandparent-grandchild relationship into a master-disciple one.
When the Qi Family saw the old State Preceptor, naturally, they went through another round of greetings and courtesies.
The master and apprentice settled down at the Qi Family Mansion.
On the third morning, the old State Preceptor left a bottle of elixir and departed.
Qi Manman fed each of her grandparents and parents a pill, but no one else.
Others only needed to live safely and have a long life; becoming an immortal was not something to be indulged in.
The Qi Family was unaware of these matters.
Even the four who ate the pills thought they were merely ordinary health boosters.
After staying at home for ten days, Qi Manman predicted heavy rain would soon fall in the south and rushed back to the Capital City.
Before the storm arrived, all the people Qi Manman predicted would be hit by floods were relocated.
The storm came, fields were destroyed, but people’s lives were saved.
This event made Qi Manman, the new State Preceptor, famous far beyond all her previous honors.
Master Manman served as State Preceptor for a hundred years, through the reigns of four emperors.
In the year Qi Manman turned one hundred eighteen, she passed away within the State Preceptor’s tomb.
It is said that on the day Master Manman passed, dark clouds covered the skies everywhere, with frequent thunder and lightning.
However, there was no wind, nor any rain.
When the door of the State Preceptor’s tomb fell shut, all the clouds dispersed, instantly returning the weather to a clear day.
The people everywhere said that the heavens mourned the passing of Master Manman.
Master Manman ascended to immortality, combating the heavens, and brought bright and clear skies for all.
The incense at the State Preceptor temples across the land never ceased.
In the Thirty-Three Heavens, Qi Manman, dressed like a young girl, sat on the Jade Emperor’s desk, holding a Flat Peach in one hand and tugging the Jade Emperor’s beard with the other, "Grandpa Jade Emperor, didn’t you say you’d be back in the Heavenly Court in three years? But why did I just hear you’ve only recently returned?"
Being tugged by the beard, the Jade Emperor turned his head sideways, looking helplessly, "You little girl, you’ve been playing in the Mortal World for a hundred years. I, your Grandpa Jade Emperor, have been up here in the heavens for countless millennia. Finally having such an opportunity, can’t I have a bit more fun?"
"You can have all the fun you want, but why not bring others to play with you? Instead, you tell others it was all for me. I’m just puzzled, what exactly did you do for me?"
Qi Manman, annoyed, threw the Flat Peach and quickly braided the Jade Emperor’s beard into a pigtail, "If Grandpa Heavenly Dao hadn’t been protecting me all these years, I might have been drowned by the people’s spittle long ago!"
"Oh, Ancestor, please take it easy! I’ve kept this beard for so many years, and just in a few tugs, you’ve pulled out several strands!"
The Jade Emperor truly couldn’t handle this little mischief-maker.
If it were a demoness from the Demon Realm, he could have punished her, but not this one; she could neither be scolded nor beaten.
Qi Manman huffed, waved her hand, and caught another Flat Peach in her palm, taking a bite, slurping the juice, she said, "I don’t care, Grandpa Heavenly Dao now wants to punish me and lock me up, you must find a way to rescue me, or else I’ll pluck all your beard hairs one by one!"
Saying so, she made as if she really would pluck his beard.
The Jade Emperor quickly covered his beard and moved aside, "What can I do! How about you go to the Lower Realm again, stretch your time as much as you can."
"Go down to the Lower Realm again?"
Qi Manman’s eyes lit up, "Can I?"
The Jade Emperor regretted it as soon as he said it.
Gods going down to the Lower Realm usually go through tribulations, but this little Ancestor here went to enjoy herself.
This time, as State Preceptor for a hundred years, the incense at those State Preceptor temples in the Lower Realm never ceased.
If this continues, the merit she accumulates might surpass even that of him, the Jade Emperor.
"Whether or not it’s possible, ask your Grandpa Heavenly Dao. Alright, alright, I still have a lot of official business to handle, so go on, do whatever you’re supposed to do!"
With that, the Jade Emperor waved his hand, and Qi Manman, who was originally sitting on the desk, was sent flying.
As for where she flew off to, he didn’t care, as he had taken a big stroll in the Lower Realm, he was satisfied.
As for how Grandpa Heavenly Dao would handle it, he didn’t care. At worst, he’d alternate turns and manage Grandpa’s official business for a few dozen days.
The Jade Emperor thought so, but didn’t expect it would actually happen.
The little witch from the Heavenly Realm disappeared; rumors said she went to the Mortal World to undergo tribulation again.
Upon hearing this news, all the deities heaved a long sigh of relief.
That little witch indeed needed more honing, and with this honing, they could have a dozen days of peace in heaven, it was truly blissful.
However, it wasn’t long before everyone noticed something was amiss.
Grandpa Heavenly Dao was also missing.
Then rumors arose in the Heavenly Realm, saying that Grandpa Heavenly Dao personally went down to watch over the little witch’s tribulation to ensure she learned a deep lesson.
In the heavens, only one was muttering angrily to himself.
"Heavenly Dao, you old crook, you actually went down with Manbao to play; it’s simply too much!"
Such a great loss! Such a great loss!
The Jade Emperor furiously cursed internally, but his hands obediently picked up the jade tablets originally managed by Heavenly Dao, dutifully doing double the work.
As for how the grandparent-grandchild duo was enjoying themselves in the Mortal World, only they truly knew...
