When Li Changshou first infiltrated Chaoge City, he carefully deliberated his choice among the Six Ministers’ positions, comparing several options before finally deciding to take the position of Grand Historian.

Of course, his main reason for choosing to become Grand Historian was not because it was ‘the most leisurely position.’

He would swear on Bian Zhuang’s chastity – if he was being dishonest, Bian Zhuang could maintain his pure yang state for life.

As a regular minister of the Heavenly Court, His Majesty the Jade Emperor’s chief strategist, an unremarkable old immortal of the primordial chaos, and the one and only junior brother to the Grand Master of the Human Dao, how could he be constrained by mortal royal authority?

The Historian was a rather special existence in mortal dynasties, though most of the time, whatever the royal family wanted the historian to write, the historian had to write it.

The Shang Kingdom had a rule that ‘the King does not punish the Historian’ – at most, they might arrange some assassination or sudden death.

The position of Grand Historian didn’t require too much actual work, with a group of clerks under him responsible for recording major events like the Shang’s sacrificial ceremonies, military campaigns, and celebrations.

Li Changshou’s main responsibility in Chaoge City had been researching human history, occasionally making appearances to tell everyone stories about human civilization, like tales about the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan and his three thousand consorts, earning him considerable prestige.

The Yellow Emperor’s harem – an inexhaustible spiritual wealth of the primordial human race.

Those who understood would understand.

Emperor Yi’s death and Emperor Xin’s ascension, the rainy night had seen many events – chaos and fighting, corpses filling the palace gate. But under Li Changshou’s brush, it became just one line:

[Emperor Yi passed away, and eldest legitimate son Zi Shou succeeded to the throne as Emperor Xin.]

After writing this line at the Grand Historian’s office, Li Changshou placed his pre-prepared resignation letter on the desk and called over his several deputies, giving them gentle instructions.

“My Lord, why are you suddenly resigning?”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “I’m advanced in years, my strength fails me, and my eyes grow dim.”

With these words, he stood up. Several people hurried forward to support him, but he raised his hand to stop them.

In the Shang Kingdom, resigning from office didn’t require going to the royal palace – even for the Six Ministers or Three Dukes, leaving a letter was sufficient.

For resignation reasons, advanced age was commonly used. If one said [My heart yearns for the outside world, seeking freedom], then in the eyes of Shang’s literati, that would make one a truly ‘noble scholar.’

Li Changshou didn’t care about reputation and used the simplest reason for resignation.

Walking out of the Grand Historian’s office, he sat in the ox cart he had called earlier, comfortably reclining on soft cushions, watching the drifting white clouds as they headed toward the city gate.

No citizens were seeing him off, no onlookers.

Just as when he arrived, his departure was quiet.

He hadn’t taken away a single cloud, nor any young maiden’s dreams.

There was little meaning in staying longer in Chaoge City – Emperor Xin had ascended the throne, and the wheels of killing tribulation had begun spinning rapidly.

Although he had changed many things, the fundamental script of Heaven’s Way hadn’t changed.

What had he done during these years in Chaoge City?

In truth, he had done many things, but relative to the great trends of Heaven and Earth, they were all trivial matters.

But in the end, with no one coming to see him off, it was a bit…

“Grand Historian! Grand Historian, my Lord!”

A familiar shout came from behind, making Li Changshou’s mouth twitch several times.

Well, this farewell visitor might have been better not coming at all.

The ox cart swayed to a stop outside the city gate as Wen Zhong led a group of soldiers galloping over, continuously calling out from behind.

Li Changshou jumped down from the ox cart, putting both hands in his sleeves as he waited for a moment.

Wen Zhong rushed up, dismounted, and came forward to cup his hands in greeting, asking somewhat anxiously: “Grand Historian, with the new king just enthroned, is there something that displeases you?”

“Well, there’s no displeasure,” Li Changshou smiled and said, “But I can’t always play around in the mortal realm. The strife in Chaoge City has temporarily concluded, so I should return.”

Wen Zhong frowned in thought, wanting to try to keep him, but feeling the difference in status between himself and Li Changshou was too great, he could only say:

“Without hearing more of your teachings, your departure is truly Wen Zhong’s lifetime regret.”

“Hahaha,” Li Changshou waved his hand, “Junior Tutor, oh no, Grand Tutor is too polite. Come sit over here, let’s share a drink and chat a bit.”

With that, Li Changshou turned and walked toward a nearby grove.

Wen Zhong hurriedly followed, then stepped ahead, saying: “Let your disciple make some arrangements.”

After walking to a place beyond mortal sight, Wen Zhong set up a barrier, conjured a table and chairs, drove away the forest mosquitoes, and laid out two jugs of fine wine.

As Li Changshou sat down, Wen Zhong had already filled the wine cups.

Li Changshou smiled and said: “No need to be formal, sit together.”

“Yes,” Wen Zhong maintained disciple etiquette, sitting properly opposite Li Changshou. His white-haired appearance transformed into that of a middle-aged man.

Wen Zhong sighed softly and said quietly: “I must seem laughable to you, Uncle Master. These mortal affairs must seem like children’s games to you…”

“Now you’re underestimating humanity.”

Li Changshou turned his head to look toward Chaoge City and said slowly:

“Mortals don’t cultivate, so their private thoughts and desires are heavy. The complexity of mortal hearts surpasses that of the Middle God Continent by tens of times, especially in these mortal courts.

Though there’s much corruption, it’s a good place to temper one’s dao heart.

By the way, Wen Zhong, how did Emperor Xin deal with his two elder brothers?”

“He didn’t deal with them,” Wen Zhong smiled and said, “Zi Shou has done well in this regard. Though his two elder brothers used every means against him, he’s only given them idle positions and confined them to their mansions.”

Li Changshou asked curiously: “Could Emperor Xin be seeking a reputation for benevolence?”

Wen Zhong pondered for a moment before saying: “In court, those officials previously allied with the two princes will have their entire families executed tomorrow.”

Li Changshou: …

“Alright, I suppose that’s some kind of royal artifice.”

“What does Uncle Master think of Zi Shou?” Wen Zhong asked softly.

Li Changshou smiled and said: “I dare not speak freely about this to you now, lest you take it to the Severing Sect, saying I commented on Emperor Xin in such and such way.

Nephew, between being Grand Tutor of the Shang Kingdom and disciple of the Severing Sect, which weighs more heavily for you?”

“Being a disciple of the Severing Sect weighs most heavily,” Wen Zhong said seriously. “Without Master’s nurturing, how could there be today’s Wen Zhong?”

“And then?”

“It’s just that our Severing Sect is also seeking ways to break through the great tribulation,” Wen Zhong said. “If the tribulation corresponds to changes in the Southern Continent’s royal authority, wouldn’t that correspond to Great Shang?

Our Severing Sect has won another round, and the fellow disciples of the Enlightenment Sect have retreated again.”

Li Changshou asked: “Do you think the Severing Sect won both times?”

Wen Zhong was stunned for a moment before asking: “Uncle Master, could it be that we lost?”

“I won’t say more about this,” Li Changshou shook his head. “I can’t take sides, I must treat both the Enlightenment and Severing sects equally.”

Emperor Xin’s smooth ascension brought no benefit to the Severing Sect itself.

But as Wen Zhong’s relationship with Emperor Xin grew closer and the Severing Sect’s ties to Great Shang became stronger, the Enlightenment Sect might well be pleased to see it.

Simply put, from the perspective of the great sects, the possibility of Great Shang’s dynasty changing remained highest.

In other words, though Zi Shou won today’s small game in the palace, he might not win the greater game of Heaven and Earth.

The initiative in this greater game was held in the palm of beings far beyond Emperor Xin’s imagination.

“How is Fire Spirit lately?”

“She became a general at the border,” Wen Zhong said with a bitter smile. “I wanted to help Senior Sister, but she said she wanted to make a name for herself and told me not to interfere.”

“Hahaha!”

Li Changshou clapped and laughed lightly, “Fire Spirit niece is quite stubborn at heart.”

“Ah…”

Wen Zhong sighed somewhat dejectedly and said: “Previously many fellow disciples had already pressed me to arrange some positions for them in the mortal realm, letting them show off a bit.

Now at the time of great tribulation, losing Wen Zhong alone wouldn’t matter, but if I involve the fellow disciples, Wen Zhong truly feels uneasy in his heart.”

“Is that so?”

Li Changshou squinted and smiled lightly, saying: “Nephew, you couldn’t be trying to sound me out, seeing if more Severing Sect disciples could enter Great Shang?”

“Well…”

Wen Zhong immediately became somewhat embarrassed, stood up to make a ceremonial bow, and hurriedly said: “Uncle Master, you truly have penetrating insight. This disciple’s little thoughts cannot escape your notice.”

Li Changshou’s smile gradually faded as he said flatly: “Wen Zhong, just for what you said, I could beat you to death on behalf of Master Tongtian and it wouldn’t be excessive.”

Wen Zhong frowned deeply and asked: “If Uncle Master feels this disciple has done wrong, this disciple willingly accepts the punishment.

However, this disciple doesn’t know where the wrong lies.”

Li Changshou said: “The Heavenly Court strongly promotes the separation of immortals and mortals, yet you have otherworldly cultivators take office in the Southern Continent – this itself goes against Heaven.”

Wen Zhong argued forcefully: “But Uncle Master, with the great tribulation imminent, this is just an expedient measure. If cultivators take office in the Southern Continent without seeking pleasure, without extracting wealth, without oppressing mortals, what’s wrong with that?”

“You are not others – how do you know others will be like you?

If one immortal takes pleasure in mortals, how many mortal lives will be ruined?”

Li Changshou paused briefly before immediately continuing firmly: “Rules written down are just empty text – only rules carried through to the end are true rules!”

“Then why didn’t the Heavenly Court stand up to maintain such rules when this disciple and the fellow disciples of the Enlightenment Sect previously entered the mortal realm?”

“The great tribulation turns, requiring its pieces, and you’re already within the game,” Li Changshou said calmly. “Did you truly think the Heavenly Court was unaware?

What do you think I’ve been doing here?

Nothing more than watching over all of you!”

Wen Zhong fell silent, standing there with furrowed brows.

Li Changshou drained his cup in one gulp and sighed: “When paths differ, planning together becomes difficult. Wen Zhong, take care of yourself.”

“Uncle-Master… ah.”

Wen Zhong sighed softly, wanting to say more, but Li Changshou had already stood up, floating toward his ox cart, appearing at the grove’s edge in a single step.

The faint dao rhythms flowing during this moment startled Wen Zhong deeply, momentarily making him forget to give chase.

Then a thread of transmitted sound reached his ears – four lines of advice from Li Changshou:

“The immortal path leads to eternal peace, why meddle in mortal dust?

Don’t wait until things are beyond salvaging to look back and question your original heart.”

Clear enough, right?

There could be no misunderstanding, right?

This Wen Zhong had truly lost himself amid all those cries of ‘Junior Tutor,’ a third-generation disciple of the Severing Sect trying to arrange the destiny of the entire sect.

And even coming to him for favors!

If the Severing Sect’s way of facing the great tribulation was to huddle together like a turtle in its shell…

Then Wen Zhong had already become a handle for destiny to grasp.

Li Changshou truly wanted to berate Wen Zhong awake right there, but unfortunately, doing so would first offend Heaven’s Way, and second be unfair.

Jumping onto the ox cart, Li Changshou pretended to doze with his arm as a pillow. The ox driver sat to the side, calling out softly as the blue ox opened its stride, ambling unhurriedly toward the distance.

After Li Changshou left, Wen Zhong walked out from the grove, his eyes somewhat bewildered, his expression dejected.

Wen Zhong began to reflect on whether his actions were right or wrong, whether he had truly placed Emperor Xin and Great Shang in too heavy a position.

Gazing after Li Changshou’s ox cart, Wen Zhong stood lost in thought for a while, until the cart wound around a hillside and disappeared among the valley fields. Only then did he turn back toward Chaoge City.

‘Junior Tutor, today I learned three new literary compositions!’

‘Junior Tutor need not worry, since birth Shou has faced strange events and repeated tribulations. That I’ve lived till today is purely due to my hard fate – I’ve long since come to terms with it.’

‘Junior Tutor, do you think our Great Shang’s territory can still expand outward? Beyond that snow mountain range in the extreme north on the map, is there still a world beyond?’

‘Junior Tutor, are Great Shang’s ailments truly only within itself?’

‘Junior Tutor…’

“Grand Tutor, are you returning to your mansion or going to the palace?”

A sudden call from his ear disrupted Wen Zhong’s thoughts.

Wen Zhong came to his senses, having unconsciously returned to the city, not far from his mansion.

“Return to the… no, let’s go to the palace.”

Wen Zhong said softly, only now realizing that as Great Shang’s Grand Tutor, holding great authority, he could no longer call Zi Shou by name – he must say ‘Your Majesty.’

Your Majesty, this world is too vast, capable people too numerous, you and I are but drops in the ocean.

Perhaps only true masters like Uncle Master Changsheng could be called truly free and at ease, following their hearts’ desires.

But in the Southern Continent, in this land protected by Heaven’s rules, about to become a battlefield between two sects…

As long as I, Wen Zhong, stand unshaken, Shang’s rivers and mountains shall not fall for a day.

“Hya!”

Wen Zhong’s foot tapped his horse’s belly lightly, and his mount galloped forth on the open palace road.

Several days later, seven or eight hundred li north of Chaoge City, an ox cart slowly stopped before a magnificent temple. The recently resigned Grand Historian of Shang had calmly found his way here.

Looking up at the temple’s plaque, Li Changshou nodded with a smile.

Holy Mother Temple.

Mm, time to put in some effort sweet-talking, and try to get an honorary abbot position.

Thus it was:

Leaving Chaoge, coming to the temple, quietly awaiting the Shang ruler’s carriage to arrive.

When Emperor Xin comes, the great tribulation rises, counting no more than ten-some years.

And so, nine years later…

…

“Li Jing! This marriage is over!”

At Chen Tang Pass, in the Commander’s mansion’s rear courtyard.

A senior servant sat in a wicker chair in the shadow of an artificial mountain, with a maid holding a large oiled paper umbrella beside him, two servants fanning with palm fans, watching the drama unfolding in the pavilion.

Comfortable.

Pleasant.

Li Jing’s somewhat anxious voice carried over:

“My lady, my lady, please listen to your husband’s explanation!

Jin Zha is doing excellently in his cultivation, haven’t we seen through the image sphere?

He’s well-cared for in the Enlightenment Sect, has grown into a fine young man now, full of vigor, and sends us letters every year, doesn’t he?”

“I’m talking about Mu Zha! Mu Zha is only nine years old!”

“Yes, yes, it’s because Jin Zha performed so well, bringing honor to our Li family, that’s why another Enlightenment Sect master came seeking to take Mu Zha as a disciple.”

Li Jing sighed: “I miss our son too, but our sons’ masters are all great figures – these are all immortal destinies.

You saw that Compassionate Navigation Daoist yourself, clearly very kindly, certainly won’t beat or scold Mu Zha.”

“You! Ah!”

Lady Yin sighed softly, sitting on the bed’s edge and weeping gently.

Li Jing stepped forward to embrace his wife, offering some apologetic words, then joked: “My lady, now we’re missing three of the Five Elements, we still need to keep trying.

The next one, Water Zha, depends entirely on you!”

“Are our children just for you to collect the Five Elements?”

“Of course not, of course not,” Li Jing smiled and said, “My lady, you’ve also cultivated immortal arts now, we have long lives ahead – having more children will make our future livelier.

Think about it, my lady – when Jin Zha and Mu Zha return after completing their training, our whole family will be joyously together, isn’t that a beautiful thing?”

“Ah,” Lady Yin sighed, “Can’t we keep the next child by our side?”

“We can,” Li Jing quickly said, “I swear to you, we’ll teach our third son ourselves, won’t let him go out to cultivate.”

“That’s more like it.”

“My lady, shall we try now? We might get a daughter…”

“Pah! It’s still daylight, how can the dignified Commander be so shameless!”

Li Jing laughed lightly, embracing Lady Yin as they stood by the window, gazing at the clouds in the western sky.

Indeed, Mu Zha had just been taken away by Compassionate Navigation.

There had been a small complication when Mu Zha took his master – the previously ‘reserved’ True Person Universal Worthy also wanted to take him as a disciple, but in the end, the two True Persons debated, with Compassionate Navigation Daoist winning decisively.

Before Mu Zha took his master, Li Jing had again used his tried method, carrying out a ‘man-to-man’ education.

Li Jing’s three principles of child-rearing — military training, demon subjugation, and heart-to-heart talks.

The results were indeed not bad.

Li Jing’s side was already prepared to welcome Nezha’s arrival, though he didn’t know when Senior Brother Tai Yi would set out.

However, Li Changshou had checked the Earth Book volume he carried with him and found that Nezha’s reincarnation was not far off.

Though Li Changshou couldn’t directly bend the rules like His Majesty the Jade Emperor, ignoring destiny’s obstacles to directly calculate Heaven’s Way, he could still get much useful information through these ‘small items.’

Thinking it over, he still felt things weren’t quite secure enough.

Li Changshou pondered for a moment, having already formed a plan in his mind, and sent a paper avatar to Mount Qianyuan.

Better safe than sorry, try to consider all aspects.

The Spirit Zhenzhu, that is, little Nezha, though slightly less significant than Yang Jian in the ‘Disappearance of X’ plan, was still a young man he had ‘watched grow up,’ a core member of the Tai Bai Palace faction. He couldn’t let him suffer even slightly.