"I'm asking you: do you know what happened in my back garden? Why did my Ginseng Fruit Tree fall? Who was responsible?"
"Your humble servant... Your humble servant saw the Great Sage Equal to Heaven Sun Wukong here last night, stealing Ginseng Fruits. He picked every last one and stuffed them into his pockets. Then he used his Golden Cudgel to wrench your immortal's Ginseng Fruit Tree out by its roots. Your humble servant wanted to stop him, but that Sun Wukong was incredibly strong, with powers that reached the heavens. Your humble servant was no match for him, so I could only watch helplessly as he destroyed your immortal's treasure tree."
The Earth God spoke with a rueful expression, as if lamenting his own helplessness.
"Oh? Then you really have had a hard time, Earth God," Yao Yun said with a teasing grin.
"Ah, not at all. Failing to protect your immortal's Ginseng Fruit Tree was my fault. I had planned to come and confess to your immortal in the next day or two. Since your immortal has summoned me today, I'll ask you to punish me here and now." As he spoke, the Earth God fell to his knees again in sorrow.
Before Great Immortal Zhenyuan could say a word, Yao Yun rushed forward and grabbed the Earth God by the collar.
"Fine. Because you neglected your post, a thief toppled the Ginseng Fruit Tree. Today, on Great Immortal Zhenyuan's behalf, I'm dismissing you from your post here for good and stripping you of your cultivation. Don't worry: given your age, you'll receive a handsome sum of money when you leave. It'll be what you earned through all those years of hard work here.
"At least you won't starve to death."
Before the Earth God could react, Yao