“Immortal Lady Yun? Who’s that? Little Shoushot is bringing someone through the mountain gate?!”

In the card room, Master Jiujiu was shocked at this news, while Alcohol Rain Poem beside her was also caught off guard.

However, Little Qiong Peak’s true grandmother master, Jiang Lin’er, just snorted at Bear Lingli who had come to deliver the news:

“Don’t any of you use immortal sense to scan your surroundings?”

Jiujiu and Alcohol Rain Poem honestly shook their heads, while Bear Lingli tilted her head…

“What’s that?”

“Spirit touches! The perception that all cultivators have!”

Jiang Lin’er helplessly patted her forehead, truly not knowing how to scold these mountain-dwelling flowers. Jiujiu hadn’t gone out in several decades and had lost all sense of vigilance.

“Eh?” Jiujiu asked puzzled, “Why can I only see Ling’e and Little Shou? There’s just a cloud of mist opposite Ling’e.”

“That’s an extremely sophisticated eye-concealing technique, stupid!”

Jiang Lin’er shook her head, expressing her speechlessness.

Jiujiu quickly asked: “Master-mother, what does that woman look like?”

Jiang Lin’er couldn’t help but snort: “As if I could see through it either.”

Jiujiu couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

“She’s very beautiful,” Bear Lingli added from the doorway, “I was stunned when I went to serve tea earlier… that kind of, that kind, I don’t know how to describe it.

Cousin is also very gentle with this immortal lady, and it seems Ling’e even called her Elder Sister.”

“What?”

Jiang Lin’er’s tone rose sharply. She had been slouching in her armchair, but now suddenly sat up straight and said through gritted teeth:

“Doesn’t this disregard the order of arrival? How could Little Changshou let Ling’e call another woman Elder Sister when Ling’e was first?

Hmph, I wasn’t planning to peek into others’ private affairs, but this ancestral master can’t stand it anymore!

Watch this!”

With those words, Jiang Lin’er’s delicate hand waved lightly, and two fallen leaves floated in from outside the door, drilling into her fingertips.

Using the ‘One Leaf Blinds the Eye’ technique, the two leaves stuck in front of Jiang Lin’er’s eyes, flashing with green light. Jiang Lin’er immediately saw through the dense forest’s obstacles the three people drinking tea by the lake.

The immortal lady who couldn’t be detected by immortal sense finally revealed her true appearance.

“Wow… so beautiful…”

“Right, right!” Bear Lingli enthusiastically agreed though she didn’t know what she was excited about.

Beside them, Jiujiu and Alcohol Rain Poem crowded over. Jiang Lin’er’s delicate hand waved again, drawing several more tree leaves to perform the technique for them both. The three began their remote observation together.

Jiujiu first softly praised, then muttered: “Ling’e looks quite good today too, even better than usual.”

“This Little Changshou, quietly trying to have multiple companions?” Jiang Lin’er gritted her teeth, “If he dares wrong Ling’e, this ancestral master will take a knife to him!”

But Jiujiu frowned and muttered: “Ling’e seems quite happy though.”

“They’re competing,” Alcohol Rain Poem’s gaze suddenly became sharp, “Look at Ling’e’s neck… she’s wearing that most precious inner collar, the one she was saving for her wedding day!”

Jiujiu pinched her chin: “True, it looks so exquisite.

Look carefully at Little Shou’s expression, he seems a bit nervous now, the atmosphere there must be somewhat frozen.”

“Ah, such a foolish girl is our Ling’e,” Jiang Lin’er showed an expression of having seen through worldly affairs, speaking in a pinched voice, “Wrongly giving her heart to an unfaithful man, only wishing in this life not to fail you.”

Jiujiu suddenly said: “Ling’e is about to lose! That immortal lady said something that made Ling’e’s cheeks slightly red.”

Alcohol Rain Poem hummed softly and suggested: “Should we help Ling’e?”

“How can we help?”

Jiang Lin’er countered:

“This is their private matter after all. If Ling’e doesn’t mind having two dao companions, let Changshou take advantage if he wants, we can’t interfere.

By the way, what cultivation level is this visitor?

Why did my spiritual sense jump as if facing a life-or-death crisis when I had just a slight thought of playing a trick on her?

Lingli, did you hear what title Changshou and Ling’e called this immortal lady?”

“Cousin just called her Immortal Lady, and Ling’e called her Elder Sister…”

“I have an idea!”

Jiujiu clenched her fists, one delicate foot wearing soft grass sandals stepping onto the chair, her pretty face full of fighting spirit.

“If you don’t care and I don’t care, Ling’e will fall!

If you don’t help and I don’t help, Ling’e’s heart will be anxious!

Think about it, if Little Qiong Peak changes its master, could we still live so carefree?

We must let Ling’e know that she has support behind her!”

“Tsk!”

Jiang Lin’er couldn’t help but laugh: “If you want to interfere then go ahead, why drag us in? Don’t let the immortal lady misunderstand.”

“What would I interfere for? I’m a generation above Little Changshou,” Jiujiu snorted, “Master-mother, will you help or not? If not, I’ll tell Master about those things you said when drunk…”

“I’ll help, I’ll help! Will helping be enough?”

Jiang Lin’er smiled helplessly, “Your master’s face is thinner than paper. If he knew I accidentally spoke about bedroom matters, he’d probably go into closed cultivation for several thousand years.

More easily embarrassed than a woman, what’s the use of cultivating the fruit of longevity?

Tell me, Jiu’er, what do you want to do?”

Jiujiu pinched her chin in thought, and soon said smugly: “Hehe… the Wine Immortal has a wonderful plan.”

And so, moments later.

A white cloud carried four figures, floating from the card room toward the lakeside.

The three figures chatting and drinking tea in the shade by the lake all looked over.

The white cloud landed several zhang away, gently dispersing on the grass to reveal four women, each truly a sight to behold in their way.

Moving in unison, each carrying a tray, they gracefully approached.

Li Changshou’s forehead was covered in black lines. Though he wanted to make a sarcastic comment, he couldn’t bring himself to speak, only raising his hand to rub his eyelids.

In front, Alcohol Rain Poem, delicate and pleasant, dignified and elegant, curtseyed to Immortal Lady Yunxiao, then bent down to place her tray before Ling’e, setting down a plate of pastries.

Each of the stacked pastries had the character ‘Ling’ written on it.

Alcohol Rain Poem curtseyed and stepped back, then Jiang Lin’er, wearing the same style of Immortal Ascension Sect formal dress, came forward and placed a plate of pastries with ‘E’ written on them on the low table, also curtseying before stepping back.

Immortal Lady Yunxiao smiled and nodded in acknowledgment, while Ling’e’s cheeks turned bright red, and she couldn’t help but cover her face with both hands.

Next, Bear Lingli, moving like a mobile rockery in her tight-fitting immortal dress, squatted before the low table, pinched the pastry plate that looked like a toy in her fingers, grinned, put it down, and ran.

This plate of pastries had the character ‘Bi’ (must) written on them.

After Bear Lingli retreated, Jiujiu, in a once-in-a-millennium appearance wearing the matching immortal dress, came forward and placed the final ‘Sheng’ (victory) character, saying softly:

“Please enjoy everyone, call us if you need more.”

Yunxiao nodded slightly and said gently: “Thank you for your trouble.”

The lake’s reflected light fell on Yunxiao’s crystalline, delicate skin, illuminating her face that was neither coquettish nor glamorous yet beautiful beyond description, causing even Jiujiu to stare.

“It’s… it’s nothing, Immortal Lady… enjoy your meal…”

With that, Jiujiu quickly turned around, then hit her forehead, and scurried away with small steps.

Not a single word of what she had prepared came out!

Ling’e truly couldn’t bear to look at the scene on the low table. Before she could think of how to help explain everyone’s actions, she heard a thread of her ancestral master’s transmitted voice and looked up toward the forest edge.

The four “immortal ladies” of Little Qiong Peak’s retirement group were now raising both hands high, swaying like water plants, and turning around in the same order they had delivered the pastries, revealing large characters pasted on their backs.

‘Junior’ ‘Sister’ ‘Steady’ ‘Win!’

[Ling’e Must Win, Junior Sister Steady Win?]

Due to Bear Lingli’s large size, the character ‘Steady’ was particularly prominent.

Seeing this, Ling’e almost cried…

Weren’t they even looking at who the opponent was?

“Ahem,” Li Changshou introduced, “Those who just passed by include my close master-aunt, my ancestral master on Little Qiong Peak, and a master-aunt who was Master’s childhood sweetheart in her previous life before returning to the sect after reincarnation.”

“Elder Sister, please don’t think too much, everyone is just…”

Yunxiao’s eyes contained traces of amusement as she said softly: “Everyone is quite interesting.”

“Junior Sister, Immortal Lady,” Li Changshou lifted his teacup for a drink, “Why don’t we go to Black Pool Peak next door? I’ll prepare a meal today.”

Yunxiao said gently: “May I walk with Ling’e for a few steps? I have some words I’d like to share with her.”

Li Changshou immediately frowned, “Immortal Lady?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t bully Ling’e.”

But Li Changshou still said: “This might not be appropriate…”

However, Ling’e interrupted her senior brother’s words for the first time: “Senior Brother, let me speak with Elder Sister Yunxiao alone.”

“Very well, come over soon.”

Li Changshou stood up, looking at the two with some concern before turning to ride his cloud toward Black Pool Peak, activating the paper person in Ling’e’s sleeve as he did so.

However, before Li Changshou could hear half a word, Yunxiao’s slender finger pointed at Ling’e’s sleeve, and Li Changshou’s paper person instantly lost contact.

This?

Li Changshou only felt his head aching. He immediately activated the paper people throughout Little Qiong Peak, only to discover that Ling’e and Yunxiao were already floating on a leaf-shaped cloud boat on Spirit Lake, their immortal senses blocked off—appearing as if in a mist, neither audible nor visible.

Li Changshou: …

Never mind, if they don’t want me to listen, then I won’t.

Landing his cloud on Black Pool Peak, he saw Baize stroking his beard as he quickly approached from beside the pond, his previous dejection swept away. He circled Li Changshou twice, clicking his tongue more than ten times before raising a thumb and transmitting:

“Water God, on this point alone, His Majesty Dijun was far inferior to you!

For Immortal Lady Yunxiao to visit voluntarily, tsk tsk, I had thought between you and Immortal Lady Yunxiao… hehe.

Impressive.”

Li Changshou transmitted back irritably: “What’s impressive about it? What if they start fighting?”

“Ah, don’t worry, how could a great power like Immortal Lady Yunxiao fight over jealousy with little Ling’e.”

Baize smiled and continued transmitting: “She probably truly has something to discuss with Ling’e.

Relax, relax.

But speaking of which, Water God’s luck with romance is truly remarkable. Counting the previously discussed Youqin Xuanya, and today’s Master-aunt Jiu, she also seems to have some interest in you.”

Li Changshou shook his head and sighed: “Stop arranging these matters. I doubt anyone would believe me if I said I’m solely focused on the Dao.”

“This poor Daoist believes you,” Baize transmitted back quite seriously, “Otherwise, how could Water God achieve such cultivation in just a few hundred years?”

“Sir White!”

Li Changshou was suddenly moved, about to call him a ‘kindred spirit’ when Baize’s mouth twisted.

“Unfortunately, Lord Tongtian wouldn’t believe it, and Lord Taiqing probably wouldn’t either.”

Li Changshou: …

“Let’s cook. I’m the chef today, come help me cut vegetables and wash the wok!”

“Water God, don’t rush, this poor Daoist is coming!”

…

“Um…”

On the cloud boat drifting with the waves, Ling’e looked at the immortal lady sitting beside her, separated by just a foot, wanting to break the silence but not knowing what to say.

Yunxiao gazed at Ling’e’s small face and asked softly: “Have I put you in a difficult position?”

“Not at all!”

Ling’e immediately answered, “When Senior Brother looks at Elder Sister, his eyes are always that gentle kind.

Senior Brother surely values Elder Sister the most, and wouldn’t… wouldn’t be troubled by this…”

Yunxiao’s gaze moved to Ling’e’s somewhat flustered face and said gently: “Are you afraid I’ll blame him?”

“How could it be blame, just… well, actually there is some fear, but just a little, a very small amount… that is.”

“Truly as your Senior Brother said, you are a silly girl.”

Yunxiao gently raised her hand and took hold of Ling’e’s wrist, sighing.

Ling’e gathered her courage and asked softly: “Elder… Sister, do you also have worries?”

“What one is unwilling to speak of are natural worries.”

Yunxiao gazed at the lake water and said slowly: “Before coming here, I walked among mortals for a long time, seeking an answer regarding this matter.”

Ling’e blinked, “Answer?”

“An answer about the feelings between men and women, the way of yin and yang, the fate of living beings,” Yunxiao said softly, “I am an innate spirit. Before meeting your Senior Brother, I never had such thoughts.

My sworn brother and two sisters are the same way, they only half-understand mortal emotions.

To comprehend the Dao, one must first know why.

For this, I went to walk among mortals, to explore the way of marriage fate, but in the end, I found that I seemed to be wrong.

The way of marriage fate for posterior spirits is closely tied to the reproduction of living beings, driven by mortal desires—and these are what I lack.”

Her face showed disappointment, her voice becoming more ethereal:

“Your Senior Brother and I haven’t yet become dao companions. His feelings for me gradually changed from initially not daring to reject me, to developing fondness, and that fondness gradually warmed.

But what he doesn’t know is that after I fell into the tribulation of emotion, my dao heart has been changing every moment, to the point where now my dao heart cannot erase his figure, like a demonic obstacle.

When I suddenly awakened, I realized it was the coldness of these long years of cultivation that transformed into a longing to be with him.

But I was ultimately wrong.”

“Senior Brother… mm, is indeed interesting.”

Ling’e said this while looking at Immortal Lady Yunxiao’s increasingly disappointed face, feeling inexplicably heartbroken for her.

“Elder Sister, what else were you wrong about? These matters come from the heart, as long as Elder Sister doesn’t mind me, I also… also won’t…”

“What I said I was wrong about was that I entered the tribulation of emotion wrongly—I should have broken through the tribulation first, then met him.”

Yunxiao smiled gently while rubbing Ling’e’s small hand, sighing: “After meeting with him last time, two puzzles kept revolving in my heart.

If I pass through this emotional tribulation and my dao heart regains its clarity, will his figure remain?

Can he and I truly cultivate the fruit of marriage fate?”

Ling’e blinked, truly surprised: “It can be like this?”

“The higher one’s cultivation realm, the closer one is to the Dao. If the day we cultivate the fruit of marriage fate is when I break through the tribulation, wouldn’t that deeply hurt him?

Things like me that are of no benefit to the Dao are all considered demonic obstacles.

This is why I went among human mortals, only to find I was wrong again.”

“Wrong about what else?”

“In marriage fate, an innate spirit like me actually cannot give him the response he deserves.

Human emotion lies in mutual protection and support, leaning on each other—I ultimately cannot give him these things.”

Ling’e couldn’t help but frown in thought, trying hard to understand the meaning of Yunxiao’s words.

“Elder Sister feels…

My Elder Sister developed feelings for my Senior Brother because of deficiencies in your dao heart, while my Senior Brother keeps opening his heart to my Elder Sister. Then Elder Sister worries that when you reach the step of becoming dao companions, if Elder Sister’s dao heart becomes complete again, your feelings for Senior Brother might fade.

Then Elder Sister observed how mortal couples live, and felt that as an innate spirit, you couldn’t give Senior Brother that kind of emotion of sharing joys and sorrows, weathering storms together?”

Yunxiao smiled gently, saying: “You are truly incomparably clever.”

Ling’e smiled shyly, a wisp of white smoke rising from her head.

Just a bit more and her mind would have been completely confused!

“Moreover…”

The helplessness in Yunxiao’s eyes grew deeper, “I’ve divined that there may be a great tribulation in the future, close to him—drawing him into my tribulation would truly be unfair to him.

Yet I cannot cut ties with him decisively…”

Ling’e said softly: “Did Elder Sister come today specifically to see me?”

“Yes, I wanted to see you,” Yunxiao placed Ling’e’s small hand on her knee, “And to tell you that even if your Senior Brother and I become dao companions, we would mostly be fellow travelers on the path of cultivation…

You need not panic about this. The emotion he needs, only you can truly provide.

After today, I will enter closed cultivation until the great tribulation arrives, trying my best to keep him outside of the tribulation. If I can survive the tribulation…”

“Senior Brother knows, Elder Sister, about your tribulation.”

“Oh?” Yunxiao was slightly caught off guard.

Ling’e let out a gentle breath and said firmly:

“Although Senior Brother has never told me these things, I’m certain he knows all of this.

When he first gave me this jade hairpin and mentioned Elder Sister, the corners of his mouth would turn slightly downward, his nostrils would flare slightly, his eyes show some helplessness and gloom, and several times his words contained some inner conflict.

Senior Brother must have developed feelings for Elder Sister then, but something made him hold back!

At first, I thought it was because Senior Brother felt the cultivation gap with Elder Sister was too large, but later proved that wasn’t it. After Senior Brother mentioned Elder Sister to me twice, he made a decision and began plotting something…

Each time he plotted, he would sit lost in thought for several years.

I occasionally saw some of the strategy diagrams Senior Brother drew, and a cloud cluster probably represented Elder Sister…

Afterward, I stayed in the mountain and didn’t know what Senior Brother did outside, but judging from the movement traces of the scrolls in Senior Brother’s cottage, he had already begun putting these plans into action.

The most crucial part should be two copper coins with small wings—before the underground secret chamber was rebuilt, paintings of those two coins once hung on the chamber walls, but were later taken down by Senior Brother…”

Yunxiao’s delicate hand turned over, revealing a copper coin in her palm.

“Yes, yes! That’s it!”

[This item placed with you gives me the most peace of mind.]

Yunxiao froze for a moment.

Ling’e suddenly seemed to realize something and turned her head, forcefully pinching her mouth.

How could she fight now when she had betrayed the enemy?

Suddenly feeling two delicate hands brush across her shoulders before Ling’e could react, she was embraced by the immortal lady beside her.

Eh!?

“After I leave, help me pass this embrace on to him.”

“This… this can be passed on?”

“At this point, he and I haven’t reached such intimacy, it wouldn’t be proper to be so close,” Yunxiao’s eyes revealed some relief, “In the end, regarding him, I should be the one calling Ling’e Elder Sister.

After all, I only thought about how I should treat him, while Ling’e never thought about herself—this is where I fall far short.”

The tips of Ling’e’s ears turned slightly red as she nervously smoothed the hair by her ears, “I’m so many great cycles younger than Elder Sister… let’s… let’s go over.

Senior Brother’s cooking skills are amazing!”