Chapter 304: First, There Should Be a Small Plan

In Anshui Cheng's Haishen Da Miao, Ao Yi strode into the main hall, clad in shining silver armor.

He presented a striking image: a bright chainmail shirt on top, a traditional Dragon Clan battle skirt below, and a face as handsome as a young man, drawing many curious glances from female worshippers.

Most were simply wondering why this young general looked so much like the statue of the Great Protector.

It wasn't until the temple's divine messenger arrived to pay respects, and the True Dragon Protector rushed in calling him "Your Highness," that the worshippers realized this was indeed the Great Protector himself descending to the mortal realm!

This led to a flurry of bowing, kneeling, and crowding, causing quite a stir in the Haishen Temple.

Li Changshou: ...

His old immortal guise as the Paper Daoist had been active here for ages, and he'd even publicly revealed himself as the Sea God's incarnation. How could this be happening?

In this era, even immortals had to rely on their looks...

Just as Ao Yi felt overwhelmed and unsure how to handle the situation, Li Changshou's voice transmission reached his ear.

"Come to the back hall. The Da Fa Shi is here too, so don't forget proper etiquette."

Da Fa Shi?

Ao Yi immediately tensed up, glancing at his own attire before hurrying to the back hall. There, he saw a young Taoist sitting and sipping tea, with another figure standing nearby...

Li Changshou.

Ao Yi even forgot to greet the Da Fa Shi first and blurted out in surprise:

"Brother, how did you... come out like this?"

Li Changshou shot Ao Yi a stern look, prompting him to quickly recover. He stepped forward, bowed deeply to the Da Fa Shi, and said:

"Ao Yi, disciple of the Daoist path, pays respects to the Da Fa Shi!"

"Good," the Da Fa Shi nodded with a smile, saying no more.

Knowing the Da Fa Shi wished to avoid creating more karmic ties, Li Changshou took the initiative. He stepped forward and pulled a scroll from his sleeve, speaking earnestly:

"You handled the West Sea matter proactively this time, and that's commendable.

Ao Yi, you're now a mature Dragon Crown Prince, with a divine position in Heaven and your own karmic stains cleansed. You've also established a solid footing in the Jie Jiao sect.

Today, I'm passing this scripture to you. Study it carefully, stay humble, and avoid arrogance.

You have the ambition to aid the dragons, and one day you'll soar to great heights. No matter what the Dragon Clan faces in the future, use this scripture as your guide.

Do you understand?"

"Yes, I do!" Ao Yi replied.

He then extended both hands to accept the scroll. Seeing no title on it, he felt a surge of curiosity.

The Da Fa Shi glanced at the scripture but didn't inquire further, merely watching with a smile.

Li Changshou pondered for a moment, his expression turning serious.

Ao Yi whispered, "Brother, is something big happening?"

"This matter isn't set in stone yet," Li Changshou said. "His Majesty Yu Di is considering hosting a Pantao Yan in twelve years and inviting the Four Seas Dragon Kings to attend in Heaven.

There's deeper meaning in this—think it over carefully. You can inform the East Sea Dragon King, but keep it strictly confidential."

"Don't worry, brother!" Ao Yi assured him, already pondering the scroll in his hands.

Li Changshou deliberately omitted any mention of the Heavenly Emperor's threats and kept the details about the Pantao Yan vague to ease the pressure on the dragons.

In the coming twelve years, both goodwill and pressure needed to be applied simultaneously.

Given how shrewd and resilient the Four Seas Dragon Kings were, they should grasp Heaven's intentions.

Li Changshou instructed, "Head back to the East Sea Dragon Palace now. Read this scroll thoroughly—it will benefit you greatly."

Ao Yi asked if there was anything he could help with, but Li Changshou just shook his head and told him not to worry.

Then, Li Changshou hinted:

"Earlier, that expert from the Xi Fang Jiao attacked my incarnation. We need to settle that karma promptly."

Ao Yi caught on immediately. He bowed to the Da Fa Shi and said no more, quickly leading his dragon troops out of Anshui Cheng.

This was no matter for a minor Dragon Crown Prince like him to get involved in.

The Xuan Du Da Fa Shi chuckled and sighed, "Changshou, with just a few words, you've accomplished several things at once.

Passing on the scripture, guiding the dragons, and even spreading word of the karma with Jin Chan Zi.

I truly don't know how to praise you."

Li Changshou replied seriously, "I'm just handling some minor tasks. Without the protection of the Da Fa Shi and the Saintly Lord, these little schemes of mine would be useless."

"You!"

The Da Fa Shi flicked his sleeve, placing a chair beside him, and said with a laugh:

"Come, let's brainstorm how to proceed.

Share any strategies you have—we'll refine them together. Since this is a task assigned by the teacher, we must give it our all, whether it succeeds or not."

"You're absolutely right, Da Fa Shi," Li Changshou said without hesitation. "In my humble opinion, the most crucial part of this operation is... the retreat."

The Da Fa Shi's mouth twitched slightly. "What kind of reasoning is that?"

"Thank you for the guidance, Da Fa Shi."

Li Changshou continued calmly: "In this action against Jin Chan Zi, he's a key piece in the Xi Fang Jiao's great expansion. Even if their two saints' divination powers are far inferior to our Saintly Lord, they're still saints.

From what I know, Jin Chan Zi is one of the most favored among the Hong Meng ferocious beasts they've tamed."

"Hahaha!"

The Da Fa Shi burst into laughter. "Go on, go on. Your phrase 'most favored' is quite amusing."

"Uh, I just said it for emphasis," Li Changshou said with an awkward smile, then continued his analysis.

He discussed the divine powers of the saints, Jin Chan Zi's own Kun Qian Escape technique, the general cunning and ferocity of Hong Meng ferocious beasts, and analyzed from various angles the possible life-saving trump cards Jin Chan Zi might have.

After half an hour, Li Changshou concluded:

"Plan for failure before acting, and you'll minimize the chances of it happening."

The Da Fa Shi nodded slowly. "You make a good point, Changshou. This involves saints' schemes, so caution is never excessive.

As for the retreat, how should we arrange it specifically?"

"Da Fa Shi, may I speak while I write it down?"

Li Changshou pulled out two blank scrolls from his sleeve. "That's how I think things through."

"Excellent!"

The Da Fa Shi was eager, conjuring a desk for Li Changshou on the spot, and they began discussing the upcoming "simple" plan together.

Two hours later...

"Excellent!"

The Da Fa Shi looked at the two scrolls filled with tiny characters and arrows, praising, "With this strategy, how can we fail? How can we fear retaliation from the West?"

Li Changshou smiled shyly and said, "But, Da Fa Shi, this is just our primary plan, and we've deliberately ignored a few variables for an ideal scenario.

In my view, we should prepare several backups and revisit those fundamental variables."

The Da Fa Shi pondered for a moment, about to say it wasn't entirely necessary, but Li Changshou bowed and added, "I believe there are no accidents in the world, only situations we haven't considered."

"Excellent!"

The Da Fa Shi found this reasoning sound and pulled up a chair to continue discussing contingency plans with Li Changshou.

Another two hours later...

"Changshou, I think these plans are sufficient. We're just going after one Hong Meng ferocious beast, not launching an assault on Ling Shan.

What do you say? If something goes wrong, I can always ask the teacher to step in."

"Well, if you say so, Da Fa Shi, then we'll stop here. I'm just offering some unworthy suggestions—the final decision is yours."

The Da Fa Shi visibly relaxed.

Li Changshou thought for a moment and said, "Da Fa Shi, may I dare to ask if you could introduce that chess piece we've placed in the West?

She has some connection with the Six-Winged Golden Cicada and might know his weaknesses.

That way, when I make my move, I'll have a better chance of success."

The Da Fa Shi leaned back in his chair and laughed, "Now I can truly rest easy and leave our Ren Jiao affairs to you in the future.

Go ahead, go ahead. Do you need me to help conceal her tracks?"

"You just need to cover this place with your divine powers, Da Fa Shi. She's quite clever and should have ways to hide herself.

But I can't reveal my true identity, so I'll need to disguise myself."

"Hmm," the Da Fa Shi said with a smile, "Your transformation technique seems quite unique. Show me."

Li Changshou acknowledged the order, silently recited the incantation, and turned halfway around, transforming into his usual Haishen Paper Daoist form.

The Da Fa Shi's eyes crinkled with amusement, but he didn't comment, just said, "Go make the arrangements."

"Yes," Li Changshou replied, then closed his eyes to activate the Paper Daoist.

This was a perfect opportunity to fulfill Wen Jing Dao Ren's long-held wish and let her meet the Da Fa Shi formally.

That way, he wouldn't be going back on his word to her.

Da—Da Fa Shi?!

In the southern part of Anshui Cheng, on a desolate beach, a fish leaped from the sea, its tail supporting it on the water as it stared at the girl holding a short flute.

The girl transmitted, "Don't rush. Stay steady—make sure not to reveal yourself."

The fish nodded vigorously, and a wave washed it away.

At the foot of Ling Shan, in a certain cave...

The figure that had been lounging on the bed sat up abruptly. With a light wave of her hand, her gauze sleeves fluttered.

'He's going to meet me?'

Wen Jing Dao Ren's phoenix eyes shimmered, but she quickly huffed, tilting her chin slightly upward.

'This queen is just gracing him with her presence. Does he think being a saint's disciple means he can order me around?

Hmph, I'm only doing this for the Haishen... but the Haishen answers to him anyway.'

Wen Jing Dao Ren sat there in a daze for a bit, then let out a soft chuckle, a touch of pride in her voice, as she drifted toward a clear pool.

Her gauze robe swayed like mist as she bathed and groomed, a hint of shyness in her movements.

She changed into a set of garments she'd prepared long ago, but felt they were too "conservative" compared to her usual style. Panicking, she conjured a few more outfits.

After trying them on, she settled on red attire, but hid her shoulders, kept the skirt unslit, retained only a quarter of her typical allure, and added a touch of ethereal grace.

Her jade feet, usually bare, were now covered by embroidered shoes.

She normally disliked inner linings, but today she added one.

She carefully considered her makeup, styling her hair into a cloud-like bun, and turned gently in front of the water.

'Hmph, I'll make sure he loses his senses! Make him bow at the hem of this queen's skirt. Ha, ha, hahaha...'

Right then!

"Is something troubling you? If it's inconvenient to come, don't force it."

This was Li Changshou speaking to the blood mosquito puppet.

"No problem, no problem. This servant just dealt with a few Xi Fang Jiao disciples," Wen Jing Dao Ren replied hastily in her mind, then pouted, raised an eyebrow, rolled her eyes, and with a flick of her sleeve, vanished.

She was an expert at evading detection.

Moreover, with no suspicions on her and the Xi Fang Jiao saints unaware, no one would pay special attention to her movements.

For extra caution, Wen Jing Dao Ren used several methods to hide her tracks. She headed to a gathering spot where Xi Fang Jiao experts often hid, then midway used a divine ability to send an incarnation there while her true body slipped away toward Anshui Cheng.

Half an hour later, in the back hall of the Haishen Temple...

Wen Jing Dao Ren appeared outside the door, sensing the aura of an innate treasure that made her heart skip a beat.

She had intended to stride in confidently, but after two steps, her eyes caught sight of the dozing figure on the main seat, and she instinctively switched to a more graceful gait.

As she walked, her path veered slightly, and almost unconsciously, she ended up at the left side of the inner hall's entrance, one hand on the doorframe as she peeked inside.

Such an overwhelming presence!

Such a familiar, intimidating feeling that made mosquitoes tremble...

It was just like when she was a naive little mosquito in the Blood Sea, first laying eyes on that powerful leader—her heart had raced.

—For the record, she later smashed that leader.

Hmm...

Her eyes grew dreamy, her gaze seductive, as she sent lingering glances his way.

It was him, it was him, it was definitely him!

She stood there, entranced.

"Cough! Cough cough!"

Li Changshou coughed loudly. The dozing Da Fa Shi sat up calmly, but Wen Jing Dao Ren, like a startled bird, quickly shrank back.

Outside, Wen Jing leaned her forehead against the doorframe, fingers twisting her clothing.

Inside, the Da Fa Shi tilted his head in confusion, frowning at Li Changshou in his Haishen form.

'Is this the Hong Meng ferocious beast you mentioned, the Black-Winged Blood Mosquito Queen, the ruthless slayer of countless lives?'

Li Changshou nodded helplessly.

She was indeed the queen, but today she seemed a bit... off.

"Cough hum!"

The Da Fa Shi cleared his throat and said, "Changgeng, is the person you mentioned here?"

"Yes, she's arrived," Li Changshou replied with a smile. "I'll go fetch her now, Da Fa Shi. Please wait a moment."

With that, Li Changshou held his duster in his left hand, lifted the hem of his robe with his right, and hurried out.

"Wen Jing, come on over!

The Da Fa Shi is inside. Why are you just standing there..."

But when he reached the door, Li Changshou paused, seeing Wen Jing Dao Ren covering her mouth with a handkerchief, tears at the corners of her eyes.

The handkerchief was soaked through.

What incredible obsession!

Li Changshou said gently, "Wen Jing..."

"My lord, please wait," Wen Jing Dao Ren transmitted, covering her mouth. "This servant saw the Da Fa Shi and couldn't stop drooling. I'll hold it back right away."

Li Changshou: ...

Ren Jiao slang, Xiong Village dialect.