Chapter 183: Against Scamming, Bravely Say No

This Yunxiao Niangniang is truly hard to meet...

And this Bixiao Xianzi is certainly a handful.

Another paper person suddenly popped out from under the first one. Bixiao instantly wiped the smile from her face and let out a cold scoff:

"Bold thief! How dare you use an incarnation to trifle with me!"

With that, Bixiao raised her hand and casually flicked out a "weak" beam of immortal light. Before Li Changshou could say anything more, she directly knocked down his paper person.

Li Changshou was quick; just before the immortal light struck, he had already tossed out a scroll.

Bixiao hadn't actually intended to hurt him; she merely knocked over Li Changshou's paper person, which was disguised as an old immortal, and was about to continue her teasing...

But...

"Huh?"

The fabric scroll quickly unfurled. Bixiao glanced down and couldn't help but blink.

The painting depicted a scene of Zhao Gongming, Qiongxiao, and Li Changshou meeting in the back hall of the Nanhai Sea God Temple.

The figures in the painting were lifelike: Zhao Gongming's heroic and bold demeanor, Qiongxiao Xianzi's gentle expression mixed with a touch of slyness, all perfectly captured...

This was the result of Li Changshou's refined brushwork skills, honed while creating the treasured series for his sect!

Bixiao couldn't help but softly murmur, "Uh, are you really my big brother's friend?"

Then, looking at Li Changshou lying on the ground, she slightly furrowed her brow and sighed:

"I've already struck you, and to avoid getting scolded by my big brother and sisters...

Ah, well, I'll just have to find your true body, give it a beating, and then destroy the evidence or something.

You won't blame me, right?"

"Xianzi, there's no need to take it so seriously, none at all," Li Changshou quickly replied.

Although he knew Bixiao was probably just joking, he still had to be careful.

After all, these were the Sanxiao sisters—hot-tempered, sharp-eyed, and quick to anger; they'd even dare to strike at a Sheng person, so what wouldn't they do?

As he spoke, Li Changshou's paper person first reverted to its paper form, tearing off the outermost layer to lose only a bit of immortal power, thereby breaking Bixiao's restriction.

—This was a minor technique for using paper people.

The paper person wobbled unsteadily, then transformed back into the form of an old immortal, holding a fly-whisk and smiling at the young girl before him.

Li Changshou said warmly, "Xianzi, you were just greeting me earlier, so how could that count as striking me?"

Bixiao's eyes narrowed with a smile. "You, old immortal, are quite the slick one."

"You're too kind, Xianzi. I came with an incarnation, which was already somewhat disrespectful," Li Changshou sighed. "It's just that I have some hidden troubles, and bringing my true body would be far too dangerous."

"Hidden troubles?"

Bixiao's lively eyes blinked gently, and she perked up. "What hidden troubles? Tell me all about it, won't you?

I'm so bored on the island; my big sister won't let me go out, and it's terribly dull!"

Li Changshou: ...

He felt like she was up to something, but he had no concrete evidence.

"Xianzi, let's save the chit-chat for later if there's a chance.

I'm here today because of matters involving Gongming Daoist and Qiongxiao Xianzi. Could you please show my earlier greeting card to Yunxiao Xianzi?"

Bixiao huffed, "Why not just tell me? Wouldn't that work the same?"

Tell you?

And add another fierce member to the extortion gang?

From what Bixiao had shown since appearing, if she knew Zhao Gongming and Qiongxiao were out causing trouble, she'd surely rush over and join in instantly!

Of course, he couldn't say that outright; he had to be tactful...

Li Changshou said warmly:

"It's true that consulting you, Xianzi, could resolve it, but this involves your big brother and your sister.

If you acted rashly, wouldn't they blame you later and accuse you of bullying the younger?"

The young girl smiled with narrowed eyes. "You really know how to talk.

But, you know, I tossed your greeting card into the sea just like that."

"No problem, no problem," Li Changshou said, pulling another rolled-up fabric scroll from his sleeve. "I prepared a few extras just in case."

Bixiao: ...

"You're quite the character."

Bixiao murmured in praise, her figure swaying lightly as she turned into a puff of cloud and vanished.

At that moment, Li Changshou heard a voice transmission:

"Wait here for a bit; I'll check if my big sister is in seclusion. I didn't actually lose your greeting card."

Li Changshou was speechless; he hadn't realized at all that the Bixiao standing before him earlier was also an incarnation.

In the end, this was just a conversation between a paper person and a cloud person...

Ah, the schemes in Honghuang run deep—who can you truly trust?

Li Changshou didn't have to wait long.

Though Bixiao loved to tease others, she wasn't irresponsible.

Seeing the painting of Zhao Gongming and Qiongxiao, she knew Li Changshou was indeed Zhao Gongming's friend.

—Even an ordinary Daluo Jinxian couldn't see through Qiongxiao's concealment techniques;

The fact that he could paint Qiongxiao's true appearance so meticulously meant she must have shown her real face to this old Daoist.

Yunxiao was indeed in seclusion.

But after thinking it over, Bixiao still woke her sister and reported the matter, presenting Li Changshou's greeting card...

A moment later, in the small courtyard where Li Changshou's paper person was, a faint mist arose.

Two figures emerged from the mist and stepped forward.

The first thing Li Changshou saw was the young girl in a light green dress, with a green hairpin in her hair and green cloth boots on her feet.

She had a beautiful face, somewhat similar to Qiongxiao Xianzi, but with a bit more innocence.

This might be Bixiao Xianzi's true appearance.

Of course, Li Changshou couldn't rule out the possibility that she was still toying with him...

But his gaze quickly shifted to the female immortal beside Bixiao and lingered there.

So, this was the renowned Yunxiao Niangniang?

At first glance, he simply thought she had a refined face, delicate features, and a slender figure, taller than Bixiao by a head;

Upon closer look, her features were impeccably perfect, with just the right amount of softness, free of any allure or flirtation.

She wore a plain white dress and had her three thousand strands of hair neatly coiled into a chignon.

Just standing there quietly, she was like a secluded orchid in a valley blooming, or a shadow atop the clouds, detached from the world, untouched by any worldly dust.

The words that involuntarily came to Li Changshou's mind were poised, pure, clear, and elegant...

She was like a pure flower stubbornly blooming in the bleak landscape of Honghuang.

This was the kind of immortal he idealized!

The differences among the Sanxiao sisters were evident just from their demeanors...

They absolutely couldn't be from the same mother!

—All three Sanxiao were innate spirits, just with the same origins, transforming and cultivating together, so they were sisters.

Li Changshou sighed inwardly, composed his inner thoughts, held his fly-whisk, stepped forward, bowed, and said:

"Renjiao Daoist Changgeng pays respects to Yunxiao Xianzi."

Yunxiao's delicate brows furrowed slightly, and as she spoke, her voice was like a clear stream, very gentle.

"I apologize for making you come all this way, Changgeng Daoist. My little sister was quite rude earlier—please don't hold it against her.

Is what you wrote in your greeting card true?"

"It is absolutely true," Li Changshou said. "I can swear a Great Dao oath."

"You mustn't do that; it would make me uneasy."

Yunxiao sighed softly, raised her hand to perform a divination, her brows furrowing deeper as she spoke gently:

"Little sister, stay on the island and keep watch. I'll go with this Daoist for a while."

"Oh," Bixiao Xianzi responded obediently.

Li Changshou pondered for a moment and said, "Though it might be presumptuous, I still want to ask:

This matter is quite serious—could Yunxiao Xianzi... verify that you are indeed Yunxiao Xianzi?

Earlier, it was really..."

Li Changshou was about to continue when Bixiao, behind Yunxiao, secretly made a throat-slitting gesture toward him.

Just then, Yunxiao turned and glanced at Bixiao, who quickly lowered her hand and looked down, appearing pitiful.

"Ah," Yunxiao sighed softly, her tone of reproach still gentle, "Little sister, you're teasing people again."

Bixiao acted coyly, "Sister, he started it first."

"Stay home and behave; don't go wandering off."

Yunxiao said this, then turned back to Li Changshou's paper person, pointed lightly, and a strand of Dao rhythm wrapped around Li Changshou's primordial spirit.

Soon, Li Changshou bowed and said a few words of apology, confirming Yunxiao Niangniang's identity.

There was no choice; without this precaution, he was truly afraid of being tricked by Bixiao again...

Yunxiao then conjured a white cloud, inviting Li Changshou to step on first, and the two stood at opposite ends of the cloud, swiftly flying out of the thousand-li cloud wall.

Yunxiao had already divined and sensed where Qiongxiao was.

The white cloud crossed ten thousand li in an instant, showcasing her profound cultivation. All the way, she maintained a slight distance from Li Changshou and didn't initiate conversation.

Before long, in the depths of Nanhai, Yunxiao spotted the traces of Qiongxiao, Zhao Gongming, and Hanzi...

Over the past few days, the three had circled West Sea and just returned here, tallying their gains as Qiongxiao divided the storage treasures one by one.

Still far away, Zhao Gongming and the others hadn't noticed Yunxiao.

Yunxiao sighed lightly and said with concern:

"Qiongxiao just loves to cause trouble and even drags our big brother into it.

I really need to have a serious talk with them—this will only create needless karma and bring tribulation later."

Li Changshou: ...

Even such words sounded so gentle from her...

Cough, if Yunxiao only lectured Zhao Gongming and the others, wouldn't his trip be in vain?

To stop this extortion trend and dismantle the Honghuang black force "Zhao Daye" gang, he needed Yunxiao to strike hard!

Li Changshou transmitted: "Xianzi, you probably don't know how much resentment, grief, and frustration one feels after being tricked by Gongming Daoist and the others.

Why not..."

He went on to suggest a plan.

Yunxiao first frowned gently, unwilling to scheme against her big brother and third sister.

But Li Changshou's persuasive words and emphasis on the consequences soon convinced her...

Yunxiao nodded, transformed herself, completely concealing her aura and Dao rhythm, and turned into an old Daoist.

This old Daoist held a fly-whisk and flew on a cloud toward the sea where Zhao Gongming and the others were.

Watching the old Daoist's back, Li Changshou felt a surge of emotion.

When the heavens created the three innate spirits of Sanxiao, they must have given all the gentleness, seriousness, poise, and beauty to Yunxiao, leaving the cunning, eccentricity, and mischief to Qiongxiao and Bixiao.

In this cold and dark Honghuang, encountering such an upright great power was truly rare...

Just then, on the island, Qiongxiao, Zhao Gongming, and Hanzi had just finished dividing the spoils and were planning whether to visit a few prosperous great chili worlds next or tour Zhongshenzhou.

Suddenly, Qiongxiao's eyes lit up as she spotted an old Daoist passing nearby on a cloud. Upon closer inspection, he was at the Jinxian realm.

Qiongxiao quickly divined that accosting him posed no danger and immediately waved her hand:

"Big brother, let's go—there's a big fish swimming right to us."

Zhao Gongming smiled calmly, hands behind his back as he rode the cloud, expertly intercepting the old Daoist flying by.

Li Changshou had already secretly instructed her not to speak, just to observe their performance without being recognized...

Unfortunately, Li Changshou was too far away to witness the scenes firsthand and could only imagine them.

Now, as Yunxiao flew along as the old Daoist, Zhao Gongming approached directly from the side and called out, "Daoist friend!"

Yunxiao, as the old Daoist, furrowed his brows in confusion and looked at his own big brother.

Zhao Gongming quickly flew closer, and from ten zhang away, he suddenly stumbled, collapsing onto the cloud and spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Yunxiao was stunned and about to rush over, but heard Zhao Gongming weakly say, "Daoist friend, why did you sneak attack and injure me?"

"Hmm?"

Yunxiao was clearly baffled.

"Big brother!"

A sharp cry came from the side as Qiongxiao rushed over on a cloud, her face full of urgency. "Big brother, what happened?"

Then, Qiongxiao glared at the old Daoist ahead with grief and anger. "What did you do to my big brother?"

Yunxiao: ...

Next, the well-practiced routine of extortion and coercion unfolded, with Zhao Gongming secretly activating his recording pearl and preparing the oath template.

Soon after, another female immortal hurried over from the side, exclaiming, "Oh dear, what's happened here? This is terrible!"

A moment later...

A thunderous shout echoed far across the Nanhai skies.

Though Li Changshou was quite a distance from the scene, he still heard this angry rebuke, the voice filled with rage, disbelief, and utter disappointment, which made even him feel a bit uneasy.

But before Li Changshou's paper person could react, a golden light flashed toward him, and everything went dark as he was pulled into a narrow, dark space.

A moment later, another golden light enveloped him, "escorting" him out...

Looking up, Li Changshou found himself back on Sanxian Island, in the same courtyard as before, facing Yunxiao with her lips pursed and an angry expression.

Li Changshou turned his head and saw a three-chi-tall golden pail behind him.

Yunxiao pointed at it, and three streams of light flew out, transforming into the bewildered Zhao Gongming, Hanzi, and Qiongxiao...

Qiongxiao's face was pale as she looked at Yunxiao, trembling with anger, and muttered subconsciously:

"It's over."

Yunxiao snapped lightly, "Kneel down!"

Qiongxiao and Bixiao, who was watching from nearby, both dropped to their knees with a thud, Bixiao instinctively covering her small ears, looking lost.

Hanzi's face was ashen as she knelt on the ground, not daring to move.

Even Zhao Gongming bent his knees at that moment, his beard quivering, hesitating as he knelt down, his face full of awkwardness...

Yunxiao took a deep breath, quickly stepped forward, suppressing her anger, and helped Zhao Gongming up.

"Big brother, why are you doing this? I was talking about my third sister...

Ah, big brother...

If you're short on cultivation resources, just tell your sister—why resort to such things?"

Zhao Gongming was at a loss, looking at this Yunxiao before him, his eyes darting around, unsure what to say.

"This was just... second sister, don't be angry; I was only..."

He glanced at the old immortal nearby and quickly understood, sighing, "Oh, Sea God, you've gotten me into such trouble—how could you!"

To avoid any karma and prevent Zhao Gongming and Qiongxiao from seeking revenge later,

Li Changshou pondered for a moment, his emotions swelling as he spoke with trembling hands:

"Daoist friend, do you still remember the original intention behind our scheme when we first started?

Now that things have come to this, it's best to confess and seek leniency."

Zhao Gongming was taken aback.