Chapter 377: She is just my sister...

Sitting idly in the bamboo grove, Li Changshou savored the perfectly balanced spiritual energy around him, enjoying the fragrant tea he had brewed himself. In the distance, he could hear faint voices from other peaks, while nearby, the pavilion echoed with the songs of warblers and the vibrant colors of greenery. Life in this mountain retreat for cultivation was truly serene, comfortable, and...

Well, one shouldn't be too indulgent like the Dragon King—things like shoulder rubs or back massages could be skipped.

After all, as a disciple of Renjiao, he needed to maintain a simple and austere lifestyle. The great mage was still sleeping on a straw pile, so he couldn't just leap straight to luxury.

Though Li Changshou appeared relaxed, his paper avatar was busy across Nanzhou, repairing damaged temples and comforting mortals affected by disasters.

Following this incident, Li Changshou decided to establish an emergency protective squad for the Sea God Cult within the next hundred years.

Since those causing trouble in the Sea God Cult's territory were likely to be mostly from the Yao Clan in the future, Li Changshou planned to recruit the Wu Clan as the main force for this squad. Once he resolved the key issue, he would negotiate the details in Beizhou.

The key issue—how to partially lift the oath sworn by the Wu Clan.

Originally, Li Changshou thought today would be a peaceful and fulfilling day, until...

His immortal sense detected the ship sailing toward Du Xian Men and spotted the charming fox woman standing at the bow.

Aran? Or was it Xiao Lan?

This fox from Qingqiu just wouldn't give up...

After a moment's thought, Li Changshou stood up and rode a cloud toward the pavilion.

Last time, he had used a two-pronged approach—asking Yue Lao for help and employing some less honorable tactics—to curb the fox woman's misguided infatuation.

For that, he had felt a twinge of guilt.

According to the Marriage Hall's revelation, the fox woman's red string was tied to his own master, Qi Yuan. But in the dungeon, the one who appeared before her was actually himself, disguised as Qi Yuan...

If the fox woman had truly fallen for that version of Qi Yuan, the red string should have pointed to him, Li Changshou.

Clearly, what she liked was just the persona she imagined, which happened to wear his master's face.

Now, here she was again...

No rush—first, he needed to gauge how things were progressing between his master, the Zhu Xian, and her.

The cloud landed in front of the newly renovated "Royal Poker Room." Li Changshou coughed twice outside the array, and the three beauties inside, who were playing a board game, suddenly bustled about.

"Shiniang! Quick, change your clothes! Don't let Changshou see!"

That was the utterly wicked Jiu Jiu.

"Yushi, tidy up the room! We don't want your senior nephew to think we're sloppy!"

That was the outrageously fierce Shizu.

The one quietly and efficiently cleaning up the mess inside was, of course, Li Changshou's target for this visit: Jiu Yushi.

She had been on the mountain for quite some time, and Qi Yuan often came to see her here.

Logically, with the foundation of feelings from their previous lives, Qi Yuan and Jiu Yushi should have a good chance of forming a bond in this life. But matters of the heart were unpredictable...

By now, it was clear what Jiu Yushi's true feelings were toward Qi Yuan.

Li Changshou had come to test her thoughts; otherwise, handling what came next could easily lead to mistakes.

As a disciple, if his master—a Zhu Xian with a somewhat tragic fate—could find a companion, that would be ideal.

The door creaked open, and a light fragrance wafted out. Jiu Jiu, dressed in a hemp shirt and short skirt, pounced like a hungry tiger, her hands like claws as she exclaimed:

"Hand over the wine!"

Li Changshou casually shifted his stance, using immortal power to steady his little shishu, and from his sleeve, he produced two thumb-sized wine flasks, tossing them precisely into her palms.

He also quickly slipped two fourth-grade elixir candies into her mouth.

Li Changshou chuckled, "Three hundred jin of spiritual brew!"

Jiu Jiu, hugging the small flasks to her chest, blushed, her mouth crunching away as she mumbled, "No problem!"

At the corner gaming table, Jiang Lin'er rolled her eyes and sighed:

"You two, always up to some shady business!"

Jiu Jiu grinned and played with the tiny flasks, pretending not to hear the question.

It was under a confidentiality agreement, after all.

Li Changshou bowed forward, "This disciple greets Shizu."

"You child, we agreed to drop the formalities here—there's no outsider around," Jiang Lin'er teased with a tsk.

Having married Wang Fugui, she had adopted a more mature style, with her hair pinned up loosely and wearing a light yellow long skirt. Her fair skin glowed even more radiantly.

But from top to bottom, it was still as lush as ever, with strands of hair falling front and back, hard to tell which was which...

Li Changshou coughed and turned to Jiu Yushi, who stood quietly in the corner, saying gently, "Yushi Shishu, if you're not in the middle of cultivation, would you mind taking a walk with this disciple around the mountain?"

Jiu Yushi was clearly taken aback.

In her impression, Li Changshou, the true head of Xiao Qiong Peak, had always kept a proper distance from her and rarely spoke much.

"Of course," Jiu Yushi replied with a slightly awkward smile.

Jiu Jiu winked at Li Changshou, but he just smiled without responding.

Jiang Lin'er seemed to catch on and sent a voice transmission:

"Shou Xiong, isn't this a bit premature? Yushi hasn't even become an immortal yet."

What on earth was "Shou Xiong"?

No, how was this premature?

The Qingqiu fox demon was already at the door—if he didn't clarify things now and let Yushi misunderstand, what then?

"The details will be clear soon, Shizu," Li Changshou replied via voice transmission, then gestured politely to Jiang Lin'er.

"Shishu, after you."

"Understood," Jiu Yushi agreed softly, lowering her head as she stepped out of the pavilion.

Li Changshou followed at a distance of six chi, to avoid any misunderstandings.

They strolled along the edge of the spirit beast garden, where Xiong Lingli was busy tending to the young spirit beasts and curiously glanced at them before returning to her work.

'Sea God Daren and Yushi alone... they must be discussing serious matters.'

Li Changshou didn't use immortal power to block their conversation. Once they were a hundred zhang from the pavilion, reaching a scenic forest by a stream, he said warmly:

"Shishu, how has your cultivation been since coming to the mountain?"

"It's been quite stable," Jiu Yushi answered earnestly. "Today, is this about Qi Yuan Shixiong?"

Li Changshou was slightly surprised, then chuckled.

Clearly, Jiu Shishu wasn't as innocently naive as she was after a few drinks...

"When did you figure it out?"

"In the first few years of my cultivation, I often had dreams," Jiu Yushi said softly. "By then, I had a rough idea of the past. Later, when Ling E hinted at it, I wasn't too shocked.

But I am Yushi, not Jiang Yu...

I'm sorry."

"Why apologize?"

Li Changshou replied gently, "We treated you as Yushi, not Jiang Yu, from the start.

The past life is the past; there's no need to avoid it.

Though it's not exactly karma, it's a connection we can't shake off.

You don't need to worry— in your previous life, you were just Wan Jiangyu, the eldest disciple of Linjiang Sanren Jiang Lin'er, and a promising talent of the Xiao Qiong Peak lineage. My master was merely your shidi back then."

A touch of emotion flickered in Jiu Yushi's eyes as she whispered, "Thank you..."

"I was worried you might hesitate to speak your true feelings out of courtesy," Li Changshou said. "Since that's not the case, I'll go and discuss this with Master."

"Actually..."

Jiu Yushi hesitated.

Li Changshou raised an eyebrow. "Shishu, feel free to speak."

"I think Qi Yuan Shixiong is quite good. He's always taken care of me, patiently explaining all sorts of cultivation problems, big or small..."

Jiu Yushi sighed lightly. "I've tried to convince myself to rekindle those feelings for Qi Yuan Shixiong.

But after more than twenty years of effort, I just feel..."

"What is it?"

Jiu Yushi murmured so softly it was almost inaudible, "It would be nice if he were my blood brother."

Ding! On behalf of Master, one "brother card" acquired.

Li Changshou glanced down at the sensing stone on his waist, which was flashing purple light. Clearly, more than one or two were using immortal sense to eavesdrop here...

The local mountain god probably knew all about it by now.

Half a shichen later,

In the lakeside thatched hut.

Qi Yuan, the old Daoist, kept bringing the wine cup to his lips, gulping it down in one go, while the side dishes on the table remained untouched.

Just moments ago, he had been the smiling Mountain God Daren, claiming everything was fine!

A hint of melancholy music drifted from the side, as Ling E played the erhu with reddened eyes, producing a sorrowful melody.

Jiu Jiu, who had come to comfort Qi Yuan, now watched heartbroken as... those fine immortal brews that should have been her reserves were being guzzled.

Jiu Jiu tried several times to speak, wanting to suggest that this Zhu Xian, who sought only drunkenness, switch to something ordinary, but held back.

Li Changshou sat nearby, looking helpless.

He could scheme for anything except matters of the heart.

"It's not like we didn't consider this outcome," Jiu Jiu said. "No matter what, we should respect Yushi's choice."

"This must respect Yushi's choice!"

Qi Yuan's face flushed as he declared firmly, "Changshou, you must not interfere in this!

No, wait, I don't have those intentions anyway—I don't!"

"Master, I know you're troubled," Li Changshou picked up a jar of wine and took a swig himself.

It was just a paper avatar, so he wouldn't get drunk.

Li Changshou sighed, "A fated love across three lives, but reincarnation changes the person.

Master, let it go."

"I will treat her like a dear sister—no, even better than a blood brother—I must take care of her a hundred times more thoughtfully!

Later, I'll go and form a sworn sibling bond with her, so she won't face any criticism if she seeks a Dao companion in the future."

Jiu Jiu muttered, "Well, Yushi is truly devoted to the Dao, so you don't need to worry about that, Qi Yuan Shixiong."

Li Changshou glanced at the ship now floating five hundred li from the mountain gate, from which a dozen streams of immortal light were flying toward Du Xian Men.

"Master, do you still want a Dao companion?"

Qi Yuan nearly spat out the wine he was drinking and scolded, "You child, what nonsense!"

Qi Yuan glared at Li Changshou and sighed, "As a teacher, my heart has long been dead. In this life, I only wished to reunite with Shijie. Today, that final hope is gone.

In this life, with a disciple like you to protect me, I can live freely—what more could I want?

Perhaps in another thousand years, once my feelings fade, I'll reincarnate and cultivate again!"

Li Changshou frowned, about to advise him, but Jiu Jiu stepped on his foot under the table.

Jiu Jiu laughed, "Shixiong, you're so open-minded. Let me toast you!"

Qi Yuan waved it off, saying he didn't deserve it.

With that, the incredibly tolerant Jiu Jiu took charge, and in no time, she had Qi Yuan, the old Zhu Xian, passed out under the table.

Li Changshou sighed lightly, carried his master to the straw bed, and set up an immortal barrier.

Ling E, who had been playing the erhu, put away her instrument and hurried over, grabbing Li Changshou's sleeve and whispering:

"Shixiong, if I don't achieve immortality and have another life, I absolutely won't forget you."

"Can you have some ambition?" Li Changshou said with a forehead full of black lines. "You're just in the Tianxian realm now, with so much lifespan ahead, and you're already thinking about not reaching Jin Xian?"

Jiu Jiu snorted with laughter, sitting in the doorway and sipping from her wine gourd as she continued enjoying the brew.

"Shixiong," Ling E asked again, "if Master's lifespan ends and he reincarnates as someone else, is he still our master?"

"Technically, no," Li Changshou replied, "but emotionally, we should still treat his reincarnated self with the respect of disciples."

Ling E nodded thoughtfully.

Li Changshou took a paper figure from his sleeve and transformed it into Qi Yuan's appearance.

Just then, Jiu Wu Shibo was flying from Du Xian Hall toward Xiao Qiong Peak. Li Changshou acted first, taking on his master's form and stepping out to meet him.

Jiu Jiu asked curiously, "What are you up to?"

Li Changshou smiled calmly, "Helping Master deal with some annoyances."

"Huh?"

Jiu Jiu blinked, and she and Ling E said in unison, "Take us along!"

Li Changshou: ...

The traditional Daoist skill—gossiping.

Jiu Wu rode his cloud to Xiao Qiong Peak and briefly explained the situation: a highly cultivated "grandmother" from the Qingqiu Clan had arrived, saying she wanted to visit the Renjiao immortal sect.

Earlier, the Tian Court Water God had personally praised the Qingqiu Clan while ambushing those karma-heavy great demons in Du Xian Men.

Thus, the Qingqiu Clan came to return the courtesy, and incidentally, a fox woman from their clan wished to meet a certain Zhu Xian in the mountains.

The disguised Qi Yuan—Li Changshou—led his two "protectors"—his shimei and dashu—and followed the short Daoist Jiu Wu toward Du Xian Hall.

Entering the hall, Li Changshou felt a pair of intense gazes upon him.

This time, he slightly adjusted his approach.

Rejection was definite, but it was safest to let his master say it himself.

There was no guarantee it wouldn't turn into another Zhao Gongming and Jin Guang Shengmu situation—after all, when a woman pursues a man, it's just a veil apart, but the reverse is a whole mountain.

Steel yourself, Li Changshou thought, maintaining his disguise as he bowed in the hall amid the puzzled stares of the elders and over a dozen Yao Clan experts:

"Xiao Qiong Peak's peak master, Qi Yuan, greets the sect leader and the elders."

Jiu Jiu and Ling E each offered their greetings.

Ji Wuyou wasn't coughing today and smiled, "Qi Yuan, your old friend has come to visit, so we called you here.

Go sit in the back for now. Once we finish the formal matters, you can catch up."

"Yes," Li Changshou replied, ignoring the beautiful woman who was already fidgeting, and headed to the most inconspicuous seat in the corner.

The fox woman couldn't wait any longer and stood up, her eyes filled with longing, her heart like a burning flame. She didn't care about the setting or the company as she walked straight to Li Changshou's disguised form...

"Daozhang..."

But suddenly, two figures appeared, one on each side, snatching the seats next to him.

On the left was the sect's rising star, the Jin Xian seedling, Lan Ling E!

Her face was exquisite— no, how could "exquisite" suffice? That would be too simplistic.

Having entered the Tianxian realm, Ling E was utterly transformed. The charm she hadn't fully shown before was now on full display.

Her brows were like dark ink, her eyes clear and lively. Her delicate features and graceful figure were perfectly balanced—if altered even slightly, it would diminish her natural elegance.

On the right was the well-known Jiu Xian, Jiu Jiu, who simply sat there with a bored expression, chest out, making the fox woman hesitate to approach.

That was sheer presence.

However, Li Changshou turned to glance at Ling E.

He was disguised as his master, after all...

"Ling E, why are you causing trouble here? Go sit in the back!" Jiu Wu called softly from behind.

Ling E blinked, looked at her shixiong's disguise, then at the fox woman whose allure had clearly upgraded, feeling a bit down but having no choice but to stand up...

The fox woman quickly said, "It's fine, let Ling E sit here."

With that, the fox woman stepped in front of Li Changshou, across the low table, her phoenix eyes showing a hint of shyness.

"Daozhang... may Lan Er sit beside you?"

No, absolutely not—move along to the next.

Li Changshou truly wanted to say that...