In the brilliant sunlight, Little Jade Peak, protected by layers of Formation Arrays, possessed its unique serenity.

Sitting leisurely in the bamboo grove, Senior Li savored the perfectly balanced Spirit Qi, enjoying self-brewed Spirit Tea while listening to distant voices from other peaks and the nearby chirping of swallows in the tower pavilion. Such was the peaceful and comfortable life of home cultivation, and yet…

Well, one shouldn’t live too much like the Dragon King – massages and shoulder rubs were out of the question.

After all, he was a disciple of the Human Dao School and needed to maintain simplicity. The Grand Master was still sleeping on hay bales – he couldn’t jump straight to luxury.

Though Senior Li appeared at ease, his Paper Avatar Clones were busy throughout the Southern Region, repairing damaged Divine Temples and comforting disaster-stricken mortals.

After this incident, Senior Li decided that within a hundred years, he would establish an Emergency Sea God Sect Defense Squad.

Since those causing trouble within Sea God Sect territory would likely be from the Demon Race in the future, Senior Li decided to hire the Shaman Race as the squad’s main fighting force. Once he resolved the key issue, he would travel to the Northern Region to discuss the relevant matters.

The key issue – how to selectively unbind the oath sworn by the Shaman Race.

Originally, Senior Li thought today would be peaceful yet fulfilling, until…

His Divine Sense detected that pleasure boat heading toward the Immortal-Crossing Gate, and saw that enchanting Fox Spirit standing at its bow.

A-Lan? Or was it Little Lan?

This Fox Spirit from Azure Hills still hadn’t given up…

Senior Li pondered briefly, then stood up and rode a cloud toward the tower pavilion.

Last time, he had employed a two-pronged approach – having the Marriage God intervene while also using some less-than-honorable methods to crush this Fox Spirit’s misplaced infatuation.

For this, Senior Li felt a twinge of guilt.

At that time, the Red Thread shown in the Marriage Palace had connected the Fox Spirit to his own Master Qi Yuan; while in the dungeon, the one who appeared before the Fox Spirit was himself disguised as his Master…

If the Fox Spirit had truly fallen for that version of Master Qi, the Red Thread should have pointed to him, Senior Li.

The Fox Spirit had only fallen for the ‘personality’ she imagined, which merely wore his Master’s appearance.

Now that the Fox Spirit had come again…

No rush. First, he needed to check on how his Master, that Mundane Immortal’s, romantic situation was progressing.

The cloud landed in front of the renovated ‘Royal Gaming Chamber.’ Senior Li coughed twice outside the Formation Array, causing the three beautiful ladies inside to bustle about.

“Senior Sister! Quick, change your clothes! Don’t let Changshou see!”

This was the heinous Junior Sister Jiu.

“Rain Poetry, clean up the chamber! Don’t let your Senior Uncle laugh at us!”

This was the fierce Ancestral Master.

The one who silently and efficiently cleaned up the mess inside was naturally the target of Senior Li’s visit – Aunt Rain Poetry.

She had been on the mountain for quite some time now, and Master Qi often came to meet her here.

Theoretically, with the foundation of their previous life’s feelings, Master Qi and Aunt Rain Poetry were likely to develop a relationship in this life, but matters of the heart were unpredictable…

By now, it was possible to roughly determine Aunt Rain Poetry’s attitude toward his Master.

Senior Li had come specifically to sound out Aunt Rain Poetry’s thoughts. Otherwise, handling the upcoming matters could easily go wrong.

As a disciple, if his Master – already a Mundane Immortal with a somewhat tragic fate – could find a life partner, that would be wonderful.

Creeak—

The chamber door was pulled open, and a gentle fragrance wafted out. Junior Sister Jiu, wearing hemp clothing and a short skirt, pounced like a hungry tiger with clawed hands, crying out:

“Give! Wine! Now!”

Senior Li’s form swayed casually, using Spirit Power to steady his Junior Sister while pulling two thumb-sized wine gourds from his sleeve, precisely tossing them into her palms.

He also swiftly placed two Fourth-Grade Spirit Pills that were candy into her mouth.

Senior Li smiled, “Three hundred jin of Spirit Wine!”

Hugging the two small wine gourds to her chest, Junior Sister Jiu’s face flushed red as crunching sounds continued from her mouth. She mumbled unclearly, “No problem!”

From the corner by the game table, Senior Sister Lin rolled her eyes and sighed:

“You two, always conducting these secretive dealings!”

Junior Sister Jiu giggled merrily, happily playing with the two delicate wine gourds while playing dumb, refusing to answer such questions.

They had a confidentiality agreement, after all.

Senior Li stepped forward and performed a Daoist bow, “Disciple pays respects to Ancestral Master.”

“Child, didn’t we agree to drop the formalities when it’s just us?” Senior Sister Lin chuckled.

Having married Brother Wang, she had begun adopting a more mature style, with her puffy hair tied up and wearing a light yellow dress, her fair skin increasingly radiant.

But straight hair was still straight hair, falling both front and back, completely indistinguishable…

“Ahem,” Senior Li looked toward Aunt Rain Poetry standing quietly in the corner, and said gently, “Aunt Rain Poetry, if you’re not urgently cultivating, would you care to walk with this disciple around the mountain?”

Aunt Rain Poetry was visibly startled.

In her impression, Senior Li, the true master of Little Jade Peak, had always maintained a sufficient distance from her, rarely speaking…

“Of course,” Aunt Rain Poetry smiled somewhat nervously.

Junior Sister Jiu winked at Senior Li, who smiled without speaking.

Senior Sister Lin seemed to think of something and transmitted it to Senior Li:

“Brother Shou, isn’t this a bit rushed? Rain Poetry hasn’t yet cultivated to Immortality.”

Shou!

What was with this “Brother Shou”?

No, how was this rushed?

The Azure Hills Fox Spirit was already at their doorstep – if he didn’t inquire about the specific situation now and let Aunt Rain Poetry misunderstand, what then?

“Ancestral Master will understand the specifics shortly,” Senior Li transmitted back thus, then made a gesture of invitation to Senior Sister Lin.

“Aunt, please.”

“Mm,” Aunt Rain Poetry acknowledged, walking out of the tower with a lowered head.

Senior Li followed behind, maintaining a six-foot distance to avoid any misunderstandings.

The two walked along the edge of the Spirit Beast Garden. Sister Bear, busy tending to young Spirit Beast seedlings, curiously observed for a moment before quickly lowering her head to continue her work.

‘The Sea God is alone with Rain Poetry… they must be discussing important matters.’

Senior Li didn’t use Spirit Power to shield their conversation. After walking a hundred zhang from the tower, reaching a scenic forest stream, Senior Li said gently:

“Has Aunt’s cultivation been stable since coming to the mountain?”

“It has been stable,” Aunt Rain Poetry answered seriously, “Today, you wish to ask about matters concerning Senior Brother Qi?”

Senior Li was slightly startled, then couldn’t help but laugh.

Few people were as adorably muddled as Aunt after drinking…

“When did Aunt realize?”

“During those first few years of cultivation, I often had dreams,” Aunt Rain Poetry said softly. “By then I roughly knew the past causes.

Later when Spirit Moth indirectly mentioned this matter to me, I wasn’t too surprised.

But I am Rain Poetry, not River Rain…

I apologize.”

“Why apologize?” Senior Li said gently. “When we first received you, we also saw you as Rain Poetry rather than River Rain.

The past life is the past life – there’s nothing to avoid. Though this isn’t karma, it’s still a connection that can’t be discarded. You needn’t worry about anything – in your past life, you were just Wan River Rain, First Disciple of the Wandering Immortal River Lin, a prematurely fallen Immortal Sprout of the Little Jade Peak lineage. My Master was merely your Junior Brother.”

Aunt Rain Poetry’s eyes flickered with emotion as she said softly, “Thank you…”

“I was worried you might feel constrained by everyone’s feelings and hesitate to speak your true thoughts,” Senior Li said. “Since that’s not the case, I’ll go discuss this matter with my Master.”

“Actually…” Aunt Rain Poetry seemed to struggle with what to say.

Senior Li raised an eyebrow, “Aunt, please speak freely.”

“I think Senior Brother Qi is quite good. He takes very good care of me, guides me through many cultivation problems, and patiently explains everything, big or small…”

Aunt Rain Poetry sighed softly. “I’ve tried to convince myself to develop those feelings again for Senior Brother Qi. But after trying for over twenty years, in the end, I felt…”

“What is it?”

Aunt Rain Poetry’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz: “How wonderful it would be if he were my blood brother.”

[Ding! Received one ‘Brother Card’ on Master’s behalf.]

Senior Li looked down at the Emotion-Testing Stone hanging at his waist and saw it gleaming with purple light, indicating that more than just one or two people were using Divine Sense to observe this location…

The local Mountain Gods probably all knew by now.

Half an hour later;

Inside the lakeside cottage.

Old Daoist Qi held his wine cup, continuously bringing it to his lips with a series of big gulps, not touching any of the dishes laid out on the table.

Just moments ago, he had been a smiling Mountain God claiming nothing was wrong!

Melancholic music drifted from the side as Spirit Moth, red-eyed, played a plaintive melody on her erhu.

Junior Sister Jiu, who had rushed over to comfort Old Daoist Qi, now watched painfully… at those high-grade Immortal Wine that should have been her emergency rations.

Junior Sister Jiu wanted to speak several times, wanting to persuade the Mundane Immortal seeking only drunkenness to switch to regular wine.

Senior Li sat to the side, his face also showing helplessness.

Everything could be calculated, except matters of the heart between men and women.

“We’d considered this outcome before,” Junior Sister Jiu said. “No matter what, we should respect Rain Poetry’s choice.”

“We must respect Rain Poetry’s choice!”

Old Daoist Qi’s face was flushed red as he declared firmly, “Changshou, you are not to interfere in this matter!

No, that’s wrong, this old Daoist didn’t mean it that way, didn’t mean it at all!”

“Master, disciple knows your heart is troubled,” Senior Li picked up a wine jar and took a drink.

The Paper Avatar couldn’t get drunk anyway.

Senior Li sighed, “A destined love of three lifetimes, yet reborn as different people now.

Master, let it go.”

“I will be like a blood brother, no,” Old Daoist Qi threw his head back and sighed deeply, “I must be a hundred times more caring than her blood brother, taking good care of her!

Later I’ll form a sworn sibling bond with her, so this won’t cause people to gossip when she wants to find a Dao partner in the future.”

Junior Sister Jiu muttered, “About that, Rain Poetry is truly devoted to the Dao. Senior Brother Qi, you don’t need to worry about this.”

Senior Li glanced at the pleasure boat now floating five hundred li outside the mountain gate, where over ten streaks of Immortal Light were flying toward Immortal-Crossing Gate.

“Master, do you still want a Dao partner?”

Qi nearly spat out the large mouthful of wine he had just drunk.

“Child, what nonsense are you speaking!”

Qi glared at Senior Li and sighed, “This master’s heart is already dead. In this life, I only wish to gather with my Senior Sister. Today has also cut off that improper yearning in my heart.

In this life, having you as a disciple to protect me, I can already live freely and happily. What more could I want?

It’s just that, perhaps after hundreds or thousands of years, when my current heart has grown distant, I will reincarnate and cultivate again, walking another path!”

Senior Li frowned slightly and was about to speak words of persuasion when Junior Sister Jiu stepped heavily on his foot under the table.

Junior Sister Jiu smiled, “Senior Brother, you’re truly open-minded. Junior Sister toasts you!”

Qi waved his hand repeatedly, saying he didn’t deserve it.

At this point, the high-tolerance Junior Sister Jiu exerted herself, taking down Old Daoist Qi in three moves five divisions under the table.

Senior Li sighed softly, carrying his Master to the straw bed and using Spirit Power to create a barrier.

Spirit Moth, who had been playing the erhu nearby, also put away her instrument and bounced over, grabbing Senior Li’s sleeve and saying softly:

“Senior Brother, if I can’t cultivate immortality and must have another life, I will never forget you.”

“Can’t you have some ambition,” Senior Li’s forehead was covered in black lines, “You’ve just reached the Celestial Immortal realm with so much lifespan left, and you’re already thinking about not reaching Golden Immortal!”

Junior Sister Jiu snorted with laughter, sitting at the doorway and continuing to savor the fine wine from her gourd.

“Senior Brother,” Spirit Moth asked again, “if Master reaches the end of his lifespan and reincarnates as another person, would he still be our Master?”

“Factually speaking, no,” Senior Li said, “but from an emotional perspective, we should still show proper disciple etiquette to Master’s reincarnation.”

Spirit Moth appeared lost in thought.

Senior Li took out a paper figure from his sleeve and transformed it into Old Daoist Qi’s appearance.

Just then, Uncle Jiu Wu was flying from Immortal-Crossing Hall toward Little Jade Peak. Senior Li took the lead, wearing his Master’s appearance, and stepped out to meet him.

Junior Sister Jiu asked puzzled, “What are you doing?”

Senior Li smiled calmly, “Helping Master deal with some troublesome matters.”

“Hmm?”

Junior Sister Jiu blinked, saying almost in unison with Spirit Moth: “Take me/us along!”

Senior Li: …

The traditional skill of Dao Sect disciples – the art of old gossip.

…

Jiu Wu rode a cloud to Little Jade Peak and briefly explained the situation. This time, an elder with profound cultivation from the Azure Hills Clan, known as ‘Grandmother,’ had come to visit the Human Dao Sect.

Previously, when the Heavenly Court’s Water God had ambushed those great karmic demons in Immortal-Crossing Gate, he had personally praised their Azure Hills Clan.

For this reason, the Azure Hills Clan came to return the courtesy. Additionally, a fox woman from the Azure Hills Clan wished to meet a certain Mundane Immortal in the mountain.

Senior Li, disguised as Old Daoist Qi, brought his left and right guardians – his dear Junior Sister and Grand Uncle – following behind the short Daoist Jiu Wu, hurrying toward Immortal-Crossing Hall.

Entering the great hall, Senior Li immediately felt a pair of burning eyes;

Different from last time, Senior Li slightly changed his attitude this time.

Rejection was certain, but it would be most stable to let Master himself speak the words of rejection.

It was hard to guarantee this wouldn’t become another version of Zhao Gongming and Golden Light Holy Mother, after all – a woman pursuing a man was separated by a mere gauze, while a man pursuing a woman was separated by a mountain.

Senior Li steeled himself, bearing the puzzled gazes of the various elders and over ten demon race experts in the great hall, stepped to the center and made a Daoist bow to the Sect Leader:

“Little Jade Peak Master Qi Yuan greets the Sect Leader and various elders.”

Junior Sister Jiu and Spirit Moth each paid their respects.

Today Season Worryless wasn’t coughing, and smiled, “Qi Yuan, we called you over because your old friend has come to visit.

First, sit in the back, and after we finish discussing official business, you can catch up on your own.”

“Yes,” Senior Li acknowledged, ignoring a certain beautiful woman who could barely sit still, and went to the lowest table in the corner, settling in calmly.

That fox woman ultimately couldn’t wait even a moment longer. She stood up directly, her eyes full of longing, her heart burning like fire, disregarding where this was and who was present, walking straight to the side of Senior Li disguised as the old Daoist…

“Daoist…”

However, two figures suddenly attacked from left and right, seizing the low tables on either side of Senior Li.

On the left was the sect’s rising star Golden Immortal sprout, Blue Spirit Moth!

Her face was beautiful- no, how could mere words like ‘beautiful’ describe her? This was far too shallow.

Spirit Moth, who had entered the Celestial Immortal realm, was already far different from before. The charm that hadn’t had a chance to bloom previously was now mostly revealed.

Her eyebrows were like dark mists, her eyes clear and spiritual, her delicate features and graceful figure – adding or subtracting even a bit would have missed this naturally gifted spiritual beauty.

On the right was naturally the sect’s renowned Wine Immortal Jiu Yu. She just sat there somewhat boredly, head held high and chest out, making the fox woman step back, not daring to advance.

This was deterrence.

However, Senior Li turned his head to look at Spirit Moth.

Right now he was disguised as Master…

“Spirit Moth, why are you causing trouble here? Come sit in the back!” Jiu Wu called softly from behind.

Spirit Moth blinked, looking at her Senior Brother’s disguise, then at this fox woman whose charm had leveled up again, feeling somewhat depressed but could only lower her head and stand up…

But the fox woman quickly said: “It’s fine to sit here, let Spirit Moth sit here.”

After speaking, the fox woman walked in front of Senior Li, and across the low table, her phoenix eyes revealed a hint of shyness.

“Daoist, could Lan’er… sit by your side?”

I can’t move aside, next group.

Senior Li truly wanted to say this…