Before Baize and Youqin Xuanya could react, Li Changshou bowed to the empty air and said clearly:

“Disciple understands.”

He then stood up and looked at Youqin Xuanya with apparent “emotion,” causing her to stand up as well.

Youqin Xuanya’s bright eyes held a hint of confusion, her delicate fair fingers intertwined with each other. The ice-blue hem of her dress swayed like rippling water as it fell, showing her slight discomposure.

Baize smiled and asked, “Did the Grand Pure One hear our conversation and give you orders?”

“Master Baize’s words are incorrect,” Li Changshou sighed. “Master plans within plans and calculates through the ages. He must have known about His Majesty the Jade Emperor’s matter long ago, and merely gave me a small reminder not to hesitate and miss the opportunity.”

Baize immediately frowned in contemplation.

So this was the difference between himself and the Water God… How despairingly far apart they were.

Several question marks appeared above Youqin Xuanya’s forehead, but since Li Changshou didn’t elaborate, she didn’t dare to ask more, completely unaware of what had transpired.

Then they heard Senior Brother Changshou and Master Baize begin discussing the division of tasks. It seemed Master Baize would constantly monitor Ling’e’s safety, while Senior Brother Changshou would split his attention to the Southern Continent.

Youqin Xuanya volunteered: “Senior Brother Changshou, is there anything Xuanya can do?”

“You cannot participate in these matters we’re discussing for now,” Li Changshou smiled. “When cultivating in the mountain, remember to practice those movements I taught you before.”

“Yes!”

Youqin Xuanya clasped her hands in agreement. Seeing Li Changshou and Baize continue their discussion about the teaching position, she summoned her Fire Scale Sword Case and went to a nearby clearing.

Taking a gentle breath, a faint golden light shone around Youqin Xuanya, making her frost-defying snow-white skin appear even more crystalline and translucent.

She created a water mirror in front of herself to reflect her form. Then, holding the hilt of the Fire Scale Sword Case with her left hand, she thrust it forward lightly. Her body tilted to the side, her slender form surging with dazzling light, her whole being radiating vigor like a Valkyrie.

“Path of Righteousness!”

After maintaining the pose for several moments, Youqin Xuanya’s cheeks reddened. She withdrew the great sword, pondering how she could further improve her bearing in the movement.

By the pond, Baize crossed his arms and bumped Li Changshou’s shoulder with his own, transmitting: “This Youqin Xuanya will surely become renowned throughout the Three Thousand Worlds. When does the Water God plan to have her ascend to the Heavenly Court?”

“Within three to five years,” Li Changshou took a sip from his teacup. “It still depends on her wishes. Though I’ve made so many arrangements, I don’t want to force her into anything.”

Baize’s mouth twitched slightly as he said calmly: “Water God, this isn’t quite right of you. The young lady has wholeheartedly prepared herself for this task, yet you speak this way. Sometimes the Water God subconsciously avoids certain responsibilities – while this indeed helps dodge karma, it’s somewhat unseemly. Since you’ve set her on this path, why not give her clear orders directly? She’s merely from the Orthodox Teaching lineage, while you’re already a disciple recognized by the Sage. Taking on some pressure for her would be no great matter.”

Li Changshou thought carefully and smiled: “Master Baize’s teaching is correct. I was indeed somewhat short-sighted. From now on, I’ll arrange things directly for Xuanya.”

“The Water God’s thoughts on matters are more than thorough, but thoughts on people sometimes fall short. Haha, just joking, Water God, don’t take it to heart.”

Li Changshou shook his head, turned to look at Ling’e’s situation, and began planning the next step.

Half a day later, Li Changshou’s paper avatars hidden beside the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother showed movement for the first time in many years.

Two paper avatars flew out from underground. One transformed into the appearance of a middle-aged scholar, changed into a brocade robe, and took up a folding fan, while the other paper avatar was kept in his sleeve as a backup.

Just like this, he strode confidently toward the prosperous city.

In his mind, he recalled the Queen Mother’s modified “script” regarding the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother’s mortal tribulation.

In this life, the Jade Emperor was born to wealth and nobility. His father was the garrison commander of this city, commanding mortal troops and famous throughout thousands of miles.

The Jade Emperor’s mortal incarnation was named “Hua Youming.” From childhood he was mischievous and domineering in the general’s mansion’s back courtyard – despising scholarly pursuits while favoring martial arts, careless in temperament, crude in his actions, hot-headed and petty.

These were just the script’s settings, not the Jade Emperor’s actual personality!

— said the serious-faced ordinary official.

The Queen Mother’s mortal incarnation was the eldest daughter of the local city lord’s family, gentle and virtuous, named “Xia Ningfrost.” Since the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother were incarnated with a touch of their divine souls, their adult appearances resembled their original forms, so Xia Ningfrost early on gained fame for her beauty.

According to the Queen Mother’s script, the Hua and Xia families were already close, and Xia Ningfrost had liked teasing Hua Youming since childhood. Every time they met, there would inevitably be some pranks.

Li Changshou originally didn’t want to come to the mortal realm himself…

Interfering with the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother’s tribulation was a thankless task.

But unable to refuse that single word “go,” he could only steel himself to arrive at this city and have an “unexpected encounter” with the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother.

Un… unexpected encounter with what?

Before Li Changshou even entered the city, his divine sense swept out, and discovered a youth shouting in a teahouse.

Look at this young man – sword-like eyebrows and star-bright eyes, unrestrained and romantic, wearing a black sable coat in the height of summer, his body slouched neither straight nor crooked on the couch.

Around him, sixteen people in military armor and eight in short servant’s robes occupied the front few tables.

On a wooden platform to the side of the teahouse, several young women were playing instruments and singing. They sang sensuous tunes and played gentle, lingering music, their skill quite remarkable.

The teahouse was almost full, with waiters rushing east and west, serving tea and snacks while collecting money and silver, their hands steady and their footsteps quick but silent.

When one song ended, an old man in the corner of the teahouse stood up to cheer, but was immediately pulled down by his companions who whispered harshly:

“Do you want to die? Did Young Master Hua say you could cheer?”

On the front cushioned seats of the teahouse, that young master wearing fur in summer cleared his throat calmly, raised his hand to applaud lightly, and said:

“Reward them.”

A servant immediately came forward with a tray, casually scattered some gold and silver to the other girls, then presented a pair of valuable bracelets to the young woman who had played the pipa.

The young woman’s face turned red as she stood and curtsied to the Young General of the Hua family, saying softly: “Thank you, Young Master.”

“Let’s end the performance here today,” the youth stood up. “Don’t tire yourself out. I’ll come see you again tomorrow.”

The young woman hurriedly replied: “Yes, Young Master.”

The group of armed guards and servants immediately stood up and formed ranks behind the youth, swaggering out of the teahouse.

As they were leaving, the teahouse owner ran over, repeatedly bowing to the youth before quietly asking:

“Young Master Hua, when will you take Yingying back to your mansion? Her master and master’s wife keep urging this humble one to ask you. You’ve given so many rewards already, they’re quite unsettled…”

“Come here,” the youth beckoned. His nearly adult-sized frame hooked around the owner’s neck.

Cold sweat covered the owner’s forehead as the youth stared unfocused at the street and said calmly: “Just because this young master watches some performances, I have to take the performer home? Then if I come to drink tea at your place a few more times, does that mean I have to buy your teahouse too?”

“This… this…” the teahouse owner’s mouth began to tremble. “Young Master Hua, please don’t misunderstand, this humble one just…”

The youth gave a cold laugh, patted the teahouse owner’s shoulder, and left with his entourage in grand style.

At the street corner, Li Changshou witnessed this scene, covering his face with his folding fan, truly finding it hard to watch.

He wondered what expression His Majesty the Jade Emperor would have when he recalled this period of “arrogance” after completing his tribulation.

Moreover, according to the Queen Mother’s script, Young Master Hua would experience great ups and downs around age seventeen or eighteen – the destruction of his family’s fortune, living in poverty, then marrying into the Queen Mother’s family, enjoying a few years of peaceful life before falling into hardship again…

— This was the result of merging two scripts.

Of course, these were predetermined fates, with the possibility of changing destiny. Even the tracks laid down in the Book of Life and Death were not completely unchangeable.

Uh, imagine His Majesty the Jade Emperor’s mortal incarnation standing on the city wall, raising his sword high and shouting at the sky:

‘Treacherous Heaven, I control my fate, not you!’

That scene would truly be classic!

However, considering the Old Lord of the Dao’s mood and His Majesty the Jade Emperor’s face after returning to normal, Li Changshou still needed to do some work to prevent such things from happening.

Li Changshou pondered for a moment, then followed behind to first better understand the personality of the Jade Emperor’s mortal incarnation, then learn about the Queen Mother’s mortal incarnation’s situation, before finally deciding how to arrange the next steps.

Tsk, just thinking about how he was arranging things for the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother under the orders of the Sage Lord…

It was quite thrilling.

…

Li Changshou tailed Hua Youming for half a month.

He saw Hua Youming’s playboy side, wandering freely through the city, north and south, browsing stalls and drinking tea, chatting and boasting with other noble young masters, then being convinced by an older young master to visit a brothel.

But he was caught and brought back by a vice general of the Hua family with soldiers.

He also witnessed the scene of Hua Youming being mocked by other companions because of this incident—

When Hua Youming walked onto the upper floor of a wine house, all the drinking young masters looked at him and laughed some shouting:

“Young Master Hua, caught and dragged back by your mother again?”

Hua Youming’s eyes widened. He tucked up the hem of his long robe into his belt, strode over quickly, and gave the few who had spoken and laughed a thorough beating, leaving them black and blue, crying for their parents.

Then Hua Youming grabbed the purses of those young masters and casually tossed them to the nearby waiters who wanted to break up the fight but didn’t dare come forward:

“All expenses in the wine house today will be paid by these young masters.”

The entire wine house immediately burst into cheers and jubilation, filled with an atmosphere of merriment both inside and out.

Along the way, Li Changshou also figured out why those red threads had appeared.

A year ago, when Hua Youming had just left the Hua mansion and made friends with young masters from noble families, he had boasted during their conversations.

Hua Youming had reached that age where his heart was naturally stirring with desire, and when his fair-weather friends were boasting, one shouting “I’ll marry ten!” and another “I’ll marry twenty!”

Hua Youming snorted coldly, pulled open his collar to reveal the characters for “great ambition” written inside, and said calmly:

“This young master will bring happiness to even more women!”

Thus he became famous in one stroke, becoming a renowned new noble in this small circle.

It was in this atmosphere that Hua Youming began to become somewhat frivolous and irritable. As time went on, he took a fancy to several girls, but between his confusion and his mother’s strict supervision, he didn’t dare to do anything.

Yearning can be deep love, or it can be simple desire.

Hua Youming belonged to the latter category, which was reflected in the marriage clay figures, resulting in the scene in the Marriage Palace.

How should he guide this situation?

Li Changshou didn’t rush to the Hua mansion but instead began investigating the situation inside and outside this city, mapping out the relationships between mortal powers within thousands of miles.

Since it concerned His Majesty the Jade Emperor, he had to be somewhat cautious.

At this point, Li Changshou didn’t want to become the “teacher” of the Jade Emperor’s mortal incarnation. After much consideration, he decided to infiltrate the Hua mansion as a study companion…

Hua mansion? High-ranking study companion?

He seemed to have watched this episode in his previous life somewhere.

Li Changshou chuckled and began his first attempt.

He transformed into a youth carrying a travel pack, travel-worn, and approached the back door of the Hua mansion. Just as he was about to get close, two guards blocked him:

“Stop! What’s your business?”

“I’m a student of letters and strategy. Due to family misfortune, I can no longer support myself, so I came to ask if the mansion needs a study companion?”

“No.”

“Sirs…”

“Release the dogs.”

Li Changshou’s eyes widened. Before he could say two more words, the back gate opened and several puppies four or five inches tall rushed out, chasing him for three streets.

The coldness of these two gatekeepers truly earned the respect of an ordinary-ranking god of the Heavenly Court.

Li Changshou quietly snuck back to the back gate, contemplating the Hua mansion.

Just then, a middle-aged man wearing a long gown with mutton chops approached and whispered to Li Changshou:

“Brother, you want to get into the Hua mansion too?”

“Oh?” Li Changshou smiled. “Does brother have a way in?”

“Of course, we specifically help heroes like you who want to work in the Hua mansion but have no connections.”

The middle-aged man jerked his thumb behind him, “We brothers will play dead bodies, and you can push us to the back gate later, crying pitifully. The lady of the house has a soft heart, she’ll take you in when you cry… Hey, brother, where are you going? Aren’t you going to ask about the price? We only want your first year’s wages, you can pay over two years! Brother… Bah! Go figure it out yourself!”

Li Changshou walked away quickly, and after a few steps couldn’t help but laugh out loud, finding it quite amusing.

Well, better to use the more effective backup plan discussed with Baize.

Pretend to be a great sage.

Li Changshou took two months to prepare.

He first chose the appearance of a middle-aged scholar and mixed into the mortal world with the identity of a teacher.

Then, he first stirred up a reputation as a “contemporary talent of humanity” in a nearby large city, letting his fame spread within a thousand miles.

This had the same clever effect as the Sea God Church’s “Little Stories of the Sea God,” being novel and interesting, something people could spread by word of mouth.

Like how:

When admonishing young people, a golden light appeared behind his head; when persuading gamblers to start new lives; sitting in front of a brothel lecturing for two days and two nights until the brothel collapsed, the brothel owner had a change of heart, and half the courtesans redeemed themselves and left.

Besides this, wherever he walked, dead fish came back to life, dry wells sprouted water, flowers grew where he sat, and with a wave of his hand, he could summon flocks of birds to circle overhead.

When his fame was at its peak, Li Changshou seized the moment to visit the most famous academy in the area. In one debate, he made several white-haired old scholars call him teacher, yet he drifted away…

Building fame was only the first step; the second step was making a grand entrance.

Li Changshou announced he would travel to study, wondering which city wanted to host him. Messengers from various city lords came bearing gifts, forming a long line in the street.

With just one statement about “not wanting to travel too far,” he chose three nearby cities, raising his reputation another notch.

He deliberately put his true destination, the city with the Hua mansion, last in his itinerary. He spent ten days passing through two cities, held several “enlightenment” gatherings, and finally arrived at the Hua mansion’s city bearing full honors.

On the day Li Changshou arrived, soldiers welcomed him from ten miles out, men and women, young and old lined the streets to welcome him, hundreds of pounds of flowers were scattered, and the city’s nobility held feasts to receive him.

During the feast, Li Changshou said a few more words:

“Life is too short, the world too vast. Though my heart holds infinity, my feet cannot bear much use. This city has outstanding people and spiritual land, the scenery is quite nice too. I will stay here for three years, open a small academy, teach seven or eight disciples, then continue my journey to explore the boundaries of heaven and earth.”

The nobles were overjoyed and crowded forward, each speaking of how outstanding their children were.

Li Changshou smiled and shook his head, saying he wouldn’t charge tuition or accept gifts, only taking clever and quick-witted disciples;

Once the academy was built, they could bring their children for his consideration.

In the city’s prosperous district, this contemporary great sage bought a large mansion, spending very generously.

In just one night, the mansion’s original buildings vanished. Li Changshou arranged within it a bamboo grove, a pond, and several artificial mountains, with only two bamboo houses dotting the grounds.

When mortals tried to force their way in, they would get lost in the mansion, emerging confused from wherever they had entered.

Immediately, anyone with any insight knew a “master” had come to the city. Young masters were sent to the academy’s front gate, led by their elders in line.

Li Changshou then announced he would accept four male disciples and three female disciples, matching the number of the Northern Dipper.

The city’s nobility became excited again, and another large group of girls and young women rushed to the academy’s front.

The order in line was quite realistic – those whose families had higher status stood in front.

Hua Youming and Xia Ningfrost met again at the academy’s front gate. Originally, Hua Youming as the son of the city’s garrison commander was steadily first in line; but when Xia Ningfrost came wearing a veil, she directly stepped gently in front of Hua Youming, turning her head to show a pitiful expression.

Hua Youming had just started feeling touched when he heard Xia Ningfrost say softly:

“Go, get to the back.”

Hua Youming’s sword-like eyebrows rose as he recalled all the ways this girl had tormented him since childhood!

At age three, getting water poured in his bed during naps; at five, being pushed into a mud pit while catching crickets; at seven, being chased around the courtyard by bees; at nine, having the ladder removed while he was on the roof; at eleven…

At this point, hatred rose in Hua Youming’s heart and evil surged in his gallbladder. He stepped forward half a step, eyes widening and fists clenching.

Xia Ningfrost blinked gently, her face behind the veil full of fragility.

“Are you going to hit me, little Mingming?”

“This young master won’t stoop to your level!”

Hua Youming snorted coldly and stepped back twice, several light laughs immediately spreading through the crowd behind.

Ding, ding-ling…

Bell sounds came from behind the academy gate, and the main gate opened on its own. A voice came from inside:

“The first twenty to enter may listen to my lecture. Whether you stay or go will be decided by your classroom performance.”

The youngsters and children immediately tried to rush in, with Xia Ningfrost and Hua Youming having the advantage of being in front.

But after Xia Ningfrost jumped through the wooden gate, Hua Youming turned to glare at the crowd rushing up behind, his still somewhat childish face full of authority.

He shouted: “What are you pushing for? What are you rushing for? Don’t you know your worth? Those who usually don’t study, stay outside! Anyone who dares rely on their family’s power to rush in and blindly take up spots, this young master will beat you every time I see you!”

After speaking, Hua Youming didn’t enter himself, which rather surprised Li Changshou.

Just as Li Changshou was wondering how to get Hua Youming inside, Hua Youming casually shouted:

“Let those who know more than a hundred characters go in first!”

The dozen or so youths and children who had been rushing at the front couldn’t help but stop in their tracks.

They… couldn’t do that!