By the lakeside cottage, beneath blue skies and white clouds.

Old Daoist Qi Yuan had just landed after being called by his senior disciple. Li Changshou and Lan Ling’e immediately stepped forward, blocking Master’s path.

This scene instantly reminded Qi Yuan of the last encounter in the pill room;

The old Daoist unconsciously stepped back half a step, looking seriously at his two dear disciples…

“What do you two want to do now?”

“Master, don’t worry, this time my junior sister and I absolutely won’t drug you,” Li Changshou showed a kind and humble smile.

Lan Ling’e then said: “Master, this Master Aunt gave you no news for so many years, then suddenly sent two letters in a few months, even asking to meet you, isn’t this too…

too sudden?”

Old Daoist Qi Yuan sighed and said: “Your Master Aunt was just angry that I wasn’t capable back then.”

Li Changshou hurriedly said: “Master, a man must never say the words ‘not capable.'”

Qi Yuan didn’t understand, while Ling’e at the side glanced at her Senior Brother, smiling meaningfully… and shyly.

Li Changshou continued: “Master, this Master Aunt of ours is also from Little Qiong Peak’s lineage. If she wants to see you, why not return to the sect?

When Master Aunt left back then she hadn’t become an immortal, using the excuse of going to find Master Grandfather who was traveling.

But not returning for nearly a thousand years, according to sect rules, should be considered betraying the sect.

Master, if you rashly go find this Master Aunt, how will you explain to the sect?

If the sect elders ask, how can Master answer with a clear conscience?”

Old Daoist Qi Yuan immediately frowned in thought, holding his fly whisk and clasping his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth on the lakeside grass.

At the side, Ling’e secretly gave Li Changshou a thumbs up, but Li Changshou just kept his eyes lowered, not saying much.

Li Changshou also knew that occasionally he had a slight problem with considering things too complexly and thinking too much.

But thinking more was always better than not thinking;

Moreover, this matter of Master’s indeed seemed suspicious at every turn.

Although he had just said he wouldn’t drug Master, if he couldn’t persuade with words, using some confusion formation wouldn’t count as breaking his word.

Just as Li Changshou was about to continue reasoning with Master, he heard Master sigh:

“That’s also true. When your Master Aunt left back then, the sect already removed her name from the disciples register.”

Qi Yuan looked at Li Changshou, and though it was somewhat difficult to say, still asked:

“Changshou, what do you think should be done?”

Li Changshou used voice transmission to say:

“Why doesn’t Master write a letter, telling disciple where you agreed to meet, and disciple will use a paper puppet to deliver this letter?

Just like when the disciple went out to buy medicinal herbs before, which the Master had seen.

In any case, we can’t look at this matter only from our perspective. Master, you can first urge Master Aunt in the letter to return to the sect and admit her mistakes.

Though our sect rules are strict, the punishments aren’t too severe – at most just closed-door reflection for a thousand years.

Master, don’t you think this makes sense?”

Qi Yuan pondered silently, already somewhat moved;

Li Changshou then transmitted to Ling’e, telling her what to say, and the two spoke alternately, playing their parts.

Before long, Old Daoist Qi Yuan nodded, convinced by the two;

The old Daoist hurriedly returned to his cottage, wrote a letter using a communication jade talisman, repeatedly revised it, weighing each word, busying himself for two hours before solemnly handing the communication talisman to Li Changshou.

“Don’t you peek!”

“Rest assured Master,” Li Changshou smiled, “I already read it while you were writing.”

“You!”

“Just joking, joking, Master don’t be angry.”

“Sooner or later you two will anger me into having heart demons!”

Then, Old Daoist Qi Yuan also told the meeting place—

In the mortal world of South Continent, by the East Seashore, a great mortal city called ‘Lin Dong’;

The appointed time was two months later, on the eastern city wall, the two would meet after sunset…

Li Changshou advised Master to cultivate in his cottage during this period, and strengthened the formations around Master’s cottage, blocking external probing.

“Senior Brother, what are you going to do?”

Ling’e sneaked over, whispering a question. Li Changshou didn’t say much, just told her not to wander around during this period.

“I won’t go to the pill room these two months either, just cultivate in the cottage,” Li Changshou’s gaze remained very calm.

Ling’e tidied her hair ends, asking softly: “Then, do you need me to send the paper puppet out the mountain gate?”

“No need,” Li Changshou looked at his junior sister, smiling, “You’re quite familiar with the process.

Focus on cultivation. After you pass the immortal ascension tribulation, when we encounter such things again, I’ll let you participate more.”

“Mm! Rest assured Senior Brother, I’ll work hard!”

Ling’e immediately agreed with full enthusiasm.

After Li Changshou returned to his cottage to cultivate, she came to her senses, holding her forehead and sighing softly.

Now even to be used as Senior Brother’s magical treasure, one needed immortal cultivation as a baseline…

Little Master Uncle!

Distorted Senior Brother’s understanding of size, and also raised Senior Brother’s threshold for ‘treasure people’!

Just as she was complaining in her heart, Ling’e suddenly heard a call from the sky, growing closer:

“Little Ling’e—”

Ling’e looked up to see a black shadow swooping down extremely fast;

She instinctively clutched two jade bottles, but then thought that with Senior Brother nearby, no outsider could ambush Little Qiong Peak…

In a flash, Ling’e looked up again;

Without even needing to see this person’s face clearly, one glance at that overwhelming evil was enough to know this was Little Master Uncle whom she had just been complaining about!

With a light cry, just as Ling’e put away the jade bottles, she was solidly tackled into an embrace, then lifted up by Jiu Yu, spun around several times as the two laughed, and played in front of the cottage.

“Master Uncle, you’re squeezing me so uncomfortably…”

“Hahaha, feel your Master Uncle’s loving care! Little Ling’e!”

“Master Uncle I was wrong, hahaha!

Don’t tickle me… Master Uncle, I was wrong…”

In the neighboring cottage, Li Changshou smiled slightly seeing this.

But in his heart, he was also somewhat worried about Ling’e’s cultivation.

Playing around with Jiu Yu like this every day would inevitably delay cultivation matters – this point he must remind her about.

Soon, unable to withstand Little Master Uncle’s attack, Ling’e could only divert the disaster, calling for Senior Brother to save her…

Jiu Yu’s eyes immediately lit up, “Eh? Your Senior Brother is out of seclusion?

Call him over to play cards together! I haven’t seen him for half a year!”

Li Changshou helplessly shook his head, walking out of his cottage.

The meditation cushion hadn’t even gotten warm.

…

Ling’e’s cottage quickly became lively.

Li Changshou brought out two jars of fine wine, Ling’e brought out snacks she had made for Master Uncle before, and the three played cards chaotically with paper cards Li Changshou had made.

“A pair of True Immortals!”

“Hmph! A pair of Heaven Immortals!”

“This round we’re both Lesser Immortals, Senior Brother is the Great Deity! Master Uncle why are you pressuring me!”

“Uh… just itchy hands, just itchy hands.”

“I think you should both surrender,” Li Changshou calmly shook his head, “Both Golden Immortal cards are in my hand, how could you turn it around?”

Ling’e immediately snorted lightly, “Nonsense, clearly the Lesser Golden Immortal card is in my… oh no, I fell for it!”

Jiu Yu hugged her feet laughing heartily, nearly falling over, “With skills like that, you dare mock your Master Uncle…”

Just then, an old Daoist wandered in from outside – it was ‘Qi Yuan.’

“Master!”

“Senior Brother Qi Yuan!”

Just as the three were about to stand, ‘Qi Yuan’ raised his hand indicating they needn’t rise, “You all play, you play, Changshou, Ling’e, keep Jiu Yu company well, Master has matters to attend to outside.”

Lan Ling’e immediately blinked, while Li Changshou had already risen to make a Daoist salute.

‘Qi Yuan’ waved his hand, smiling as he rode clouds upward, flying toward the mountain gate.

Seeming to remember something, Lan Ling’e winked at Li Changshou, who smiled slightly, calling for the two of them to continue playing cards.

Jiu Yu immediately became proud, “Did you hear? Your Master told you to keep your Master Uncle company well!

Quick, serve me with good wine and food, and go easy on me when playing cards!”

The senior and junior apprentices both smiled lightly, continuing to play with Jiu Yu.

Li Changshou was now using his mind in two places, yet this didn’t affect his continuous victories…

The Qi Yuan just now was naturally Li Changshou’s paper puppet in disguise, with Master’s permission.

Because of previously operated multiple paper puppets simultaneously, using his mind in two places now had no burden;

While his true body here kept Master Uncle company playing cards and talking, that side had already easily mixed out the mountain gate, riding clouds southward…

A moment later, Li Changshou looked at the sensing stone carried by this paper puppet in Master’s form – the sensing stone was flickering with some light.

A divine sense was continuously probing the paper puppet.

Li Changshou remained composed, continuing to fly south, this paper puppet’s facial expressions immediately becoming quite complex;

There was emotion, urgency, and also some timidity of wanting to see yet not daring to see – truly more like Master… than Master…

That divine sense followed for over four hundred li before gradually weakening.

Though he didn’t know who was secretly probing, based on these circumstances, the other party’s cultivation level was likely mid-True Immortal Realm.

This did corroborate his previous speculation.

But this was just speculation – Li Changshou wouldn’t make any judgments based on this, as the information known was still too little.

Master’s Turbid Immortal aura was very difficult to simulate, difficult in those few traces of turbidity;

Li Changshou had also thought of a ‘crooked idea,’ taking Master’s fly whisk often used to discipline disciples, concealing most of the paper puppet’s own aura, using this to confuse true and false.

This fly whisk – Li Changshou planned to help Master replace it with one with softer ‘fur’ when he returned…

Leaving the mountain over a thousand li, taking the road toward the South Continent.

Flying birds and light clouds play, laughing at my many worries.

As this paper puppet disguised as Master was riding through the void, Li Changshou’s divine sense discovered several Degree Immortal Gate immortals on a white cloud three hundred li to the east…

It was Jiu Wu and Jiu Shi returning from business outside, along with two other sect stewards.

Jiu Wu also discovered ‘Qi Yuan’s’ figure.

The short Daoist showed a worried expression, said something to Jiu Shi at his side, and then let the three return to the mountain gate first while he made a turn on his cloud, pursuing this direction.

However, Jiu Wu didn’t come directly forward, but frankly followed three hundred li away, using divine sense to lock onto ‘Qi Yuan,’ wanting to see what Qi Yuan was going to do.

Li Changshou: …

Could it be that Senior Uncle Jiu Wu had taken Master for a spy…

Now he was disguised as Master – Master’s divine sense range definitely couldn’t discover Senior Uncle Jiu Wu.

Li Changshou thought briefly, also not bothering with Senior Uncle Jiu Wu, letting him follow.

While keeping Master Uncle company chatting and playing on one side, controlling the paper puppet riding clouds slowly toward the South Continent on the other.

Jiu Wu was quite patient, maintaining a three hundred li distance, occasionally stroking his chin thinking about something…

This following continued for half a month…

Li Changshou even began to suspect whether Senior Uncle Jiu Wu might be related to Master’s enemy;

But thinking carefully, Senior Uncle Jiu Wu just happened to encounter this, and had no intersection with Master – they had met face to face several times with nothing unusual.

Walking and stopping like this, ‘Qi Yuan’ arrived a month and a half early at the meeting place with his senior apprentice sister – Lin Dong City the northeast of South Continent by the East Seashore.

Transformed into a common wandering Daoist, the paper puppet held a fly whisk and frowned, mixing into this great city through the city gate.

Jiu Wu landed outside the city, scratching his head there for a while, obviously finding this junior apprentice brother’s movements quite strange.

‘Could it be related to the sect’s great tribulation last time?

It’s Long Shou’s Master again, I can’t care…’

Just as this thought arose in Jiu Wu’s heart, his divine sense captured that ‘Junior Brother Qi Yuan’ who had just entered the city was stopped by another old Daoist in Daoist robes, who said something in a low voice.

“There’s a problem, sure enough, there’s a problem.”

Jiu Wu then concealed his aura, secretly sneaking toward the great city, wanting to investigate carefully.

This short Daoist had naturally misunderstood.

When Li Changshou’s paper puppet entered the city just now, that old Daoist in Daoist robes with Divine Transformation Realm cultivation who came directly to meet him was neither connecting with him nor speaking about the ‘Wan Jiang Yu’ matter.

This old Daoist’s face was proper, his aura peaceful. After coming forward he first cupped his hands in greeting, then simply said:

“Friend, have you heard of the South Sea God Religion?”