What solutions could he possibly think of...
Bathed in the morning light, Li Changshou rode his cloud, lazily drifting toward the Du Xian Sect's gate.
Today was fine and pleasant—gentle winds, fragrant flowers—truly a good day for returning to the sect...
On the second day after entering the "reasonable return window," he had eagerly flown back.
The outside world was simply too dangerous.
It was far more comforting to be bathed in the protective radiance of the Human Teaching...
He produced his travel jade token. Arriving at the gate, Li Changshou performed a Dao salute to the immortal guarding the entrance:
"Junior Disciple Li Changshou of Xiaoqiong Peak returns today, having severed all mortal ties."
The immortal smiled, collected the jade token from Li Changshou's hand, and asked: "Did your journey bring any gains?"
Li Changshou replied: "In truth, there were no great gains. I simply feel that a burden has been lifted from my heart. Henceforth, I can pursue the Dao with undivided devotion."
"Excellent," the immortal said with a smile, waving him on. "Return to the sect and cultivate well."
"Yes. I must also report to Baifan Hall."
Li Changshou performed another Dao salute, controlled his cloud to fly at an appropriate height, and headed toward Potian Peak's Baifan Hall.
The gate-guarding immortal smiled and nodded, thinking that this was indeed a fine young disciple.
At Baifan Hall, he found the elder on duty that day and finally drew a line under his journey of returning home;
Thus, his tribulation-taking excursion had also reached a satisfying conclusion.
Satisfying...
Li Changshou secretly counted on his fingers, and a soft groan escaped his heart.
One hundred and thirty-two now. Overnight, two more villages had established Sea God worship...
He truly had done nothing at all.
He sighed inwardly, then asked the elder on duty: "Disciple wishes to pay respects to the Patriarch's portrait in the hall. Is that permitted?"
"Of course," the elder smiled. "The Patriarch's portrait hangs there precisely for the sect's disciples to venerate. Go ahead.
Our Du Xian Sect is part of the Human Teaching. Though disciples must observe many rules, what we truly pursue is non-action and freedom—so long as one shows proper respect and doesn't offend the Patriarch."
"Thank you, Elder. Disciple understands."
Li Changshou answered solemnly, then carefully adjusted his robe and inner garments, walked to the circular platform at the hall's center, and looked up at the portrait above.
In the portrait, an old Daoist with indistinct features sat astride a blue ox, radiating treasure light behind him.
This was the portrait recorded when the Higher Pure Sage had manifested.
The reason his features were indistinct was that no one dared to paint a Sage's true likeness. To do so would draw the Sage's attention, and might even invite punishment.
Li Changshou first clasped his hands forward, slowly performed a Dao salute, then took two steps forward, lit incense and made offerings, stepped back three paces, lifted the hem of his robe, and knelt upon the prayer cushion.
Two Du Xian Sect stewards and one elder happened to witness this scene and all nodded slightly.
A disciple who would come to venerate the Patriarch even on ordinary days was truly rare these days.
After a while...
"Why is that disciple still kneeling?"
"He's sincerely seeking blessings. He must wish for the Patriarch's protection and a smooth path in the Dao."
After another while, over a dozen elders and stewards emerged from the various "partitioned rooms" throughout the hall, watching with curiosity.
"Could this disciple be in some kind of trouble?"
"We've eaten quite a few of his spirit fish. Should we ask and offer help?"
"He hasn't主动 sought help, so we shouldn't pry. Everyone has their troubles."
Half an hour later.
"Everyone, please return to your duties. Don't keep staring.
This disciple has just returned from severing mortal ties. His mind is likely unsettled—he's using this to regain his composure."
The crowd gradually dispersed;
Several elders silently noted that when Li Changshou came to collect his monthly stipend or ask about cultivation, they would secretly give him some benefits...
This disciple must be facing some difficulty, but the Patriarch was "that sort of being"—how could He bother with the trifling concerns of a minor disciple?
Finally, Li Changshou had completed a full hour of kneeling. He rose slowly, feeling considerably more at peace.
To resist a Sage, one's only option was to cling tightly to another Sage's thigh!
This was the only solution he could think of.
Even if it meant drawing a modicum of attention from within the sect, the tradeoff of prostrating before the Human Teaching's leader was worth it—ensuring he had at least a tiny speck of presence in the Patriarch's awareness.
—Sect rules prohibited privately hanging a Patriarch's portrait for worship. The only likeness of the Patriarch he could find was here.
Exiting Baifan Hall, Li Changshou rode his cloud toward Xiaoqiong Peak.
Actually, upon reflection, perhaps he was overthinking it;
How could a grand Sage truly lower Himself to target a minor immortal of the Human Teaching?
After achieving Sagehood, one was immune to great calamities. What they contended for was face and the fortune of their teachings.
But—what if?
Sages, Sages—in front of "person" was added "saint," which also implied they still possessed "human nature"?
Of course, the Sages were not human beings born in ancient times. The Three Pure Ones of the Dao Sect had been born from the primordial spirit of Pangu the Great God, and the other three were primordial beings of unknown origin.
If those two Western Sages, for some reason, suddenly lost their composure and truly decided to hold a grudge against a tiny shrimp like him...
*Hey, you little brat think you can cause trouble?*
Li Changshou's mouth twitched several times.
It seemed Xiaoqiong Peak's compound grand array needed some heaven-concealing formations!
But formation diagrams of that type weren't easily obtained—even the Du Xian Sect's sect master might not have one, let alone the materials required to construct them...
The world was full of hardships.
Lost in thought, Li Changshou had already drifted above Xiaoqiong Peak. Looking down, he saw Ling'e meditating beneath the tree.
*'Actually, it's also a probability issue. Just cultivate in peace.'*
Li Changshou regulated his breathing for a while, adjusted his state, then slowly descended toward the isolation formation below.
Soon, the girl beneath the tree cheered and rushed up with a few bounding steps;
But Li Changshou raised a finger to his lips, gesturing for her to stand properly. He then walked to his master's thatched cottage, bowed toward it, and announced his return from severing mortal ties.
From within came a hearty laugh. Elder Qi Yuan offered Li Changshou a few words of encouragement, then returned to his seclusion, reactivating the multiple layers of formations around his cottage.
His master was at a critical juncture in comprehending the Wuwei Scripture.
His immortal sense swept across Xiaoqiong Peak, taking in every scene and planting it in his heart. The unease in Li Changshou's chest faded considerably...
Regardless, cultivation still needed to happen, and days still needed to be lived.
He had previously considered making a trip to the South Sea to destroy all his statues;
But the thought that his appearance might trigger unknown consequences had led him to leave matters as they were...
"Senior Brother!"
Blue Ling'e blinked her bright eyes, raising both hands at her sides and flapping them like a fledgling bird. "Hmm?"
Li Changshou immediately put on a stern face. "Come inside."
Ling'e flinched, instantly adopting a bitter expression. She lowered her head and followed her senior brother into his thatched cottage, looking thoroughly wronged.
Fetching a cushion, sitting with legs together, kneeling with head bowed, arranging her expression...
The routine was still expertly practiced.
Li Changshou settled into the armchair and activated the formations around the cottage;
Looking at this junior sister before him—whose appearance and figure were now locked—he sighed softly:
"I was gone for three years, and you—!"
Little Ling'e immediately squeezed her eyes shut, grabbing her earlobes and hastily shouting:
"Senior Brother, I know I was wrong!
The confrontation between Senior Brother Liu Sizhe and Senior Brother Wang Qi was partly my fault!
I never expected it to turn out like that. That day I was just offering a casual suggestion—truly just trying to make them leave. I didn't think it through properly, and things escalated!"
"Hmm?" Li Changshou was taken aback. "I was asking about... the spirit fish in the lake—a third of them are gone..."
Ling'e froze, then slumped bonelessly onto the cushion.
It was over. She had confessed everything.
......
More than a year ago, the day after Liu Yan'er had departed with her two junior brothers, trouble had erupted.
Liu Yan'er had informed Wang Qi, obtained prior approval from her master and peak lord, then devised a plan—telling Liu Sizhe that she was already with child. She had intended to make Liu Sizhe cease his pursuit, but instead Liu Sizhe had gone straight to Wang Qi and challenged him to a fight.
The fight hadn't injured either party severely—they were evenly matched—but because the disciples had fought privately, they were punished under sect rules.
Liu Sizhe was sentenced to twenty years of solitary reflection, forbidden to set foot outside Duling Peak;
Wang Qi also had his monthly stipend suspended for three years. He then became Liu Yan'er's dao companion, cultivating on Xiaoling Peak...
"Senior Brother... I was wrong..."
"Where did you go wrong?"
"I shouldn't have... given Senior Sister Yan'er that foolish idea without thinking through how each of them would react," Ling'e answered with her head lowered. "It ended up causing all three of them to receive sect punishment."
Li Changshou's lips curled. "I taught you for so many years, and you managed to undo everything I taught you in just a few years.
Very well!
Your temperament has always been like this. I shouldn't have set such high expectations for you. Sigh, never mind."
"No—never mind! Senior Brother, please keep expecting things from me!"
Ling'e panicked. "I'll never cause trouble again!
Don't give up on me, Senior Brother!
I'll cultivate quietly by your side from now on. I won't say a word to strangers!"
"Then tell me again—where did you go wrong?"
Blue Ling'e's eyes reddened. "I... I..."
"You should never have involved yourself in other people's affairs!"
Li Changshou tapped the table with his finger and sighed. "How could you possibly know whether Senior Sister Yan'er's destined fate was with Liu Sizhe or Wang Qi?
One had harbored secret love for a hundred years; the other had known her for just a few years. Why had Liu Yan'er hesitated? Why couldn't she bring herself to say harsh words to Liu Sizhe? Was it not because she still harbored some doubt?
Liu Yan'er was already one hundred and fifty or sixty years old. Could she not have thought of other solutions?
It wasn't that she couldn't—it was that she didn't want to!
What you did was essentially blocking one person's path, turning an undecided fate into a determined one.
If you had simply顺应 someone's Heavenly Fate, that would have been one thing. But altering someone's Heavenly Fate means you bear the karmic consequence for three people with a single word!
How much of your own fortune did you just sacrifice!
Never assume you are the cleverest, the one with all the answers. No one is that much stupider than anyone else—only people who think themselves clever!
This matter is the clearest reflection of your unstable temperament."
Blue Ling'e's lips trembled. "Senior Brother, how can I make amends?"
"The more you try, the worse it gets. Later, go apologize to Senior Sister Yan'er and ask for her forgiveness," Li Changshou leaned back in the armchair, rubbing his brow. "It seems you still don't quite understand.
Let me give you the simplest example.
If in the future Senior Sister Yan'er and Fellow Apprentice Qi's relationship falls apart, who would she blame first?"
Ling'e's delicate brows furrowed. She whispered: "The outsider—who had suggested the idea to help her reject the other person..."
Li Changshou smiled bitterly: "And that's why you should never meddle in other people's personal affairs?
The matter of love—who in history has ever been able to explain it clearly?
This isn't an essential element of cultivating the Dao or seeking immortality, yet it's what you think about most. If this continues, you'll simply waste your aptitude and comprehension.
After you've apologized to Senior Sister Yan'er, spend some time in reflection on the peak. When Liu Sizhe emerges from his seclusion, you may emerge as well."
Li Changshou stood and added: "I won't punish you too harshly this time. Take a stone slab and copy the Scripture of Stability three hundred times.
When you truly understand where you went wrong, then go apologize to Senior Sister Yan'er."
With that, Li Changshou, face dark, turned to leave with hands clasped behind his back.
But Ling'e called out once more: "Senior Brother, there's one more thing."
Li Changshou couldn't help but return. He reached out, pressed his palm on Ling'e's head, and rubbed it vigorously several times, his face a portrait of frustration. He tousled the carefully arranged cloud-like bun she had so meticulously styled...
"How much trouble have you caused this time? Can't you just tell me all at once?
Your senior brother could easily develop a heart demon from the shock!"
"It's not causing trouble—this was more of a windfall. I only caused the one incident this time, really..." Ling'e said softly. "It's about what happened to Master all those years ago. Because of Senior Sister Yan'er's matter, I heard a rumor...
Senior Brother, lean in close."
She whispered in his ear—so it went.
Li Changshou leaned down to listen for a while, his brow furrowing briefly before quickly returning to normal.
"Don't worry about this matter. Go copy the Scripture of Stability first. After you've apologized, come find me in the pill chamber."
"Oh," Ling'e answered, watching her senior brother drift away toward the pill chamber.
It was over. Her senior brother's good opinion of her had regressed by at least ten years...
Then she let out a long, soft sigh, gathered her cushion, and went to sit beneath the willow tree;
She took out a stone slab, produced a mana-imbued carving knife, rubbed the corner of her eye against the back of her hand, then lay prone with her hair cascading down, silently transcribing a certain scripture her senior brother had penned over a decade ago.
After finishing one round, she wiped away her tears, erased the carving on the stone slab, and began a second.
The willow branches hung low, gently brushing her wind-tousled black hair, as though supervising her studies.
......
*The Scripture of Stability*
*The Primordial · Anonymous*
*In life's coming and going, meddle not in others' affairs. Once the immortal foundation is solid, competing for precedence is fruitless.*
*When you encounter injustice, rely on yourself. When hardship strikes, look inward.*
*With many friends, trouble finds you. With few friends, disaster is averted.*
*Never make enemies—enemies are certain death. Strike first, or you'll turn to ash.*
*Do not be arrogant; do not be fearful. When all is stable, peace follows.*
*On a divergent path, retreat becomes advance. Seize opportunity through planning.*
*Once upon a time, a certain Hong—good-hearted to a fault—was ultimately betrayed. How tragic.*
*A demon with great ability, scheming endlessly—was knocked senseless and tossed on a grill.*
*The old turbid clan...*
*(The final hundred characters omitted)*