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Chapter 390: A Small Drink

"Ha ha ha ha! It's rare to see Ran Deng suffer a loss, why does my Dao heart feel so delightfully at ease?"

"This Ran Deng doesn't have any impressive divine powers, but that lamp of his is truly extraordinary."

In Dong Sheng Shen Zhou, inside a tavern in a certain market town, Zhao Gongming was stroking his beard and laughing heartily, his armor shaking with each chuckle.

The three of them sat around the round table in the center of the spacious private room, each with a distinctly different aura.

Kong Xuan exuded an untouchable purity and aloof transcendence, like a being from the primordial chaos before the world's creation, emerging from the chaos sea with an innate sense of sanctity and detachment.

Zhao Gongming still carried his usual heroic demeanor, and with his current cheerful mood, his constant smile added a touch of unexpected humor.

Li Changshou's paper avatar sat nearby, his white robe and white hair emitting a faint glow.

At first glance, he seemed like an ordinary heavenly official whose depths were fully visible, but upon second thought, he appeared as a vast ocean, profound and unfathomable.

The three of them were drinking and chatting here, having used great divine powers to conceal the heavenly secrets, ensuring their conversation wasn't overheard.

Kong Xuan asked, "Is Ran Deng really so unpopular in the Daoist schools?"

"Pretty much," Zhao Gongming clicked his tongue. "Originally, our Jie Jiao and Chan Jiao had differences because our master and the second senior uncle had conflicting views on accepting disciples, and some early senior disciples had built up grudges, leading to frequent conflicts.

"Every time something minor happened, Ran Deng would stir things up from behind, exaggerating matters and causing our Jie Jiao to suffer quite a few hidden losses."

Li Changshou said seriously,

"Ran Deng's actions may seem to suppress Jie Jiao on the surface, but in reality, they deepen the contradictions between Chan Jiao and Jie Jiao.

"This led some from the three schools to step forward, citing the need to prevent conflicts among the immortal sects of Central Divine Continent, and they held a Three Schools Origin Conference to mend the rift between Chan Jiao and Jie Jiao.

"But unfortunately, it only treated the symptoms, not the root cause.

"Ultimately, it's because their fundamental ideologies conflict."

Zhao Gongming sighed, "People have long predicted that there must be a great war between Chan Jiao and Jie Jiao, yet no one knows how to bridge the gap."

"Aren't we here with the Water God?"

Kong Xuan gestured toward Li Changshou with his chin, and Zhao Gongming chuckled wryly.

Li Changshou said seriously, "I can only do my best, and besides, Ren Jiao adheres to quietude and non-interference, avoiding entanglement in karma as much as possible."

"After teaching Ran Deng a lesson today, there will surely be some senior and junior brothers in Chan Jiao who have complaints about it," Zhao Gongming stroked his beard and sighed lightly. "I'm afraid they'll think this is Ren Jiao and Jie Jiao joining forces to squeeze out Chan Jiao.

"What do you think we should do about it, old brother?"

"It won't be too serious," Li Changshou said. "Everyone in Chan Jiao knows I lean toward Jie Jiao.

"Later, I'll ask Xuan Du senior brother to come out and visit Guang Chengzi senior brother at Jade Void Palace, and that should resolve the matter."

Kong Xuan suddenly asked, "When will he go?"

"That depends on how Xuan Du senior brother arranges it."

"No matter, I was just asking casually."

Kong Xuan replied calmly, then picked up the immortal brew he had previously ignored and took a light sip.

Seeing this, Li Changshou smoothly changed the topic and asked Zhao Gongming,

"Aren't you supposed to be accompanying someone on a trip? How did you get back so quickly?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gongming's expression darkened slightly. He tried to smile, but it turned into a long sigh.

"Matters of men and women are indeed a thousand times more troublesome than cultivation, sigh."

Kong Xuan perked up with interest and listened carefully.

It was pure curiosity.

Li Changshou thought to himself, "I knew it would be like this," but on the surface, he furrowed his brow in thought and said warmly, "What's wrong, old brother? If there's something bothering you, feel free to share."

Zhao Gongming shook his head, raised his cup, and drank some of the immortal brew Li Changshou had brought out, remaining silent.

Li Changshou asked with concern, "What's really going on, old brother? Did you have an argument with Jin Guang Shengmu?"

Zhao Gongming gave a bitter laugh, staring at the cup in front of him, and said,

"I don't even know how to talk about this with others, but the truth is, my junior sister Jin Guang and I aren't suited to be Dao companions.

"If this gets out, it might affect her reputation.

"Sigh."

Kong Xuan said, "Why bother with what others say? We beings should just focus on cultivating and comprehending the Dao."

"Your words are a bit one-sided," Li Changshou replied. "No one can completely ignore outside criticism."

As an example, Li Changshou said, "Suppose someone spreads a false rumor that Xuan Du senior brother has formed a Dao companion bond with some fairy."

"Hmph!"

Kong Xuan said coldly, "I'd like to see who dares spread such rumors behind his back! I'd make sure they suffer a fate worse than death!"

"You see, that's exactly it," Li Changshou spread his hands. "Old brother is concerned about how the Jie Jiao disciples will view this, just as you are about Xuan Du senior brother.

"It's just that different people care about different things to varying degrees."

Kong Xuan nodded thoughtfully, quickly understanding, and smiled. "Indeed, I've been a bit narrow-minded."

Zhao Gongming boasted, "When it comes to handling worldly affairs, no Daoist disciple can match my old brother!"

Kong Xuan agreed wholeheartedly and raised his cup to drink with Zhao Gongming.

Li Changshou: ...

Is that a compliment?

Well, at least it's better than saying he's worldly-wise or cunning.

After downing a cup, Zhao Gongming opened up and detailed the events from his years traveling with Jin Guang Shengmu.

In his own words, being with junior sister Jin Guang always felt... off.

They couldn't find the right topics to talk about and only maintained a surface level of intimacy through her enthusiasm and initiative.

Zhao Gongming had tried sharing interesting stories, but the conversation always stalled after a few sentences.

They visited several great worlds, sightseeing and lingering in beautiful spots for a while, but in the end, the result was...

"My state of mind inexplicably grew weary."

Zhao Gongming stroked his beard and shook his head. "Junior sister Jin Guang and I tried separating for a few months to see if we had anything to say to each other, but when we met again, the conversation still felt awkward."

Zhao Gongming sighed softly and whispered, "I feel like being with junior sister Jin Guang is less relaxing and enjoyable than being with you, old brother."

Li Changshou quietly shifted his stool to the side and said calmly,

"Please keep your distance, old brother."

"Tch! I was just making a comparison!" Zhao Gongming laughed and scolded.

Kong Xuan tilted his head, puzzled. "What do you mean? And why keep your distance?"

"Ha ha ha!"

Zhao Gongming was amused and stroked his beard as he briefly explained the ancient legends of the "Pure Yang Daoist" and "Heavy Yang Daoist."

Kong Xuan found his horizons expanded but didn't know how to comment.

Li Changshou smiled. "Old brother, do you know what kind of woman you like now?"

"I do."

Zhao Gongming laughed. "I don't really need a Dao companion, but now that my Dao heart has been stirred, it's destined to be a trial of emotions.

"If I must have one, I'd want her to have the gentleness of my second sister without her authority, the wisdom of my third sister without her mischief.

"She wouldn't need to give up anything for me, and I wouldn't have to change my nature for her. Our conversations wouldn't need to be forced; a simple smile would touch our hearts.

"Ideally, her cultivation and realm would be close to mine, so we could understand each other, and if we ran out of things to say, we could discuss the Dao."

Li Changshou picked up his jade chopsticks, took two greens, and placed them on Zhao Gongming's plate, reminding him, "Don't just drink; have some vegetables. How did you get so drunk?"

"Never mind," Zhao Gongming shook his head. "A woman like that is probably too hard to find."

Li Changshou smirked inwardly; there were a few in Jie Jiao who fit that description.

Kong Xuan couldn't help but sigh, "After the division of yin and yang, things have truly become so troublesome."

"But because of that," Li Changshou laughed, "the path of cultivation and seeking truth has become more colorful and interesting."

Kong Xuan retorted, "What benefit does romance between men and women bring to the Dao?"

Li Changshou replied, "The word 'emotion' should be integrated into one's nature; it can stabilize the true self and resist the erosion of the Dao on the heart."

"But if the true self isn't severed, it's hard to truly attain the Dao."

"If attaining the Dao means abandoning one's original heart and nature, then what's the point of transcendence?"

Li Changshou launched into a discussion:

"If one loses their emotions, and all words and actions align with the Dao, then they're merely becoming a puppet of the Dao. How can that be called attaining the Dao?

"If a being asks, 'Why do I seek truth and attain the Dao?'

"We can't just answer that it's for the sake of attaining the Dao.

"Attaining the Dao is for freedom without constraints, for being unharmed by anything. If the heart has no desires, why seek it?

"Thus, attaining the Dao isn't about being assimilated by the Dao, merging into it and no longer being bound by it.

"As the Daoist classics say, the three corpses represent good and evil aspects of the true self, but the true self isn't something to be severed—it's like shedding clothes.

"What you shed is the false and the deceptive; what remains is the genuine and the true. That's the true meaning of severing the three corpses for transcendence.

"Returning to this topic, if there's a trace of emotion or attachment in your heart, it might provide guidance back to your true nature when you're on the verge of losing yourself to the Dao.

"This is ultimately a good thing and not at odds with cultivation."

"Let me ponder this carefully."

Kong Xuan nodded slowly and sat there, deep in thought.

Zhao Gongming pondered for a moment and asked,

"Where did you read that from? I don't recall seeing it in any classics.

"Also, it's strange to hear you speak so seriously all of a sudden, old brother."

Li Changshou: ...

Do you have to poke fun at me?

This was just to remind Kong Xuan that matters between men and women aren't entirely pointless, and for an innate chaos body like his, cultivation to the end could easily turn him into a 'tool of the Dao,' losing his true self.

But if there's something beyond the Dao to hold onto, it can better resist the Dao's influence.

It's practically worrying myself sick for a certain senior brother in the Dou Shuang Palace backyard!

Li Changshou suddenly thought of something and asked seriously, "Old brother, how far have you gone with Jin Guang Shengmu?"

"What step? Advancing in realm?" Zhao Gongming was confused.

"Holding hands, embracing, kissing, consummation—which one?"

Zhao Gongming's face turned red, and he muttered, "The first one... occasionally."

"Then it's fine," Li Changshou nodded slowly. "If you'd gone through all four and still said your personalities don't match, I'd have to report you to Bi You Palace."

Zhao Gongming scolded, "As if I'd be that disgraceful!

"By the way, how far have you gone with my second sister?"

"It's based on genuine feelings but stops at propriety; we just chat and take walks when we meet, so I'd say we've gone about...

"Half a step."

Li Changshou explained calmly, erasing the pavilion scene that flashed in his mind.

Such private matters aren't for sharing; it's enough to inquire about others'.

Zhao Gongming thought for a moment and asked, "Does my second sister feel awkward when she's with you?"

Li Changshou recalled their times together and shook his head with a smile. "Even if we didn't speak for several days, we'd still feel quite harmonious."

"Ahem," Kong Xuan had snapped out of his thoughts by now. "If that's the case, I have an improper request."

He had just used "I" earlier, but now switched to "this poor Daoist," indicating how improper this request was.

"Please go ahead, fellow Daoist."

"Next time you meet with Yun Xiao fellow Daoist, may I observe from the shadows?"

Kong Xuan knew this was excessive and explained, "I want to learn more about these things.

"My mother has placed the last hopes of the Feng clan on me. Now that my realm is at a standstill and my innate chaos treasure body offers no more help, it's time to determine my yin and yang attributes."

Li Changshou said seriously, "Fellow Daoist, you should know that in matters of racial propagation, the human race is quite the expert in the great wilderness.

"Especially the first batch of humans created by hand by the Holy Mother Niangniang—they absolutely preserved the true essence of human rapid propagation!

"The human race is the protagonist of heaven and earth, so if the Feng clan can form ties with them, their destiny will naturally be influenced."

Kong Xuan couldn't help but ask, "Then where can we find that first batch of humans?"

"Isn't this perfect?" Zhao Gongming slapped the table. "Our Jie Jiao has two... wait... old brother, why are you looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong?"

Li Changshou said calmly, "Let's discuss how to handle the aftermath for you, old brother."

Zhao Gongming blinked, not understanding.

Kong Xuan smiled slyly and said, "If only I could see Xuan Du fellow Daoist again."

Zhao Gongming suddenly realized and awkwardly scratched his head.

Li Changshou raised an eyebrow, getting the hint, and decided to drop the topic for today.

In fact, Li Changshou had long prepared a plan to help Zhao Gongming with his issue.

At that moment, he took out a scroll and began outlining his ideas.

By now, Jin Guang Shengmu also realized the two weren't suited as Dao companions.

When they talked by the Dragon Treasure Pool on Jin'ao Island, they had agreed that if they didn't feel right, they wouldn't force it.

—This backup plan actually came from the advice Li Changshou had given to Huo Ling Shengmu years ago.

Now that Zhao Gongming and Jin Guang Shengmu had reached this point, Li Changshou's scheme could be considered a success.

In the world, not every couple can be one where both like each other and are compatible; half of relationships involve asking in youth if they like each other and in maturity if they're suitable—and the great wilderness is no different.

For many beings, lovers becoming family is just a beautiful wish.

"However, old brother."

Zhao Gongming pondered, "Is it a bit over the top to make such a big fuss about the separation? No one knows about me and junior sister Jin Guang yet."

Li Changshou calmly reminded him, "Don't forget Duobao senior brother's earth-burrowing divine power."

Zhao Gongming was stunned at first, then his forehead was covered in black lines.

Kong Xuan pinched his fingers to calculate and couldn't help but laugh, repeatedly saying, "How amusing."

In the Dou Shuang Palace, under the shade of the trees,

A certain young Daoist who had just put away the Tai Ji Tu, finished watching the show, and was about to cultivate, suddenly furrowed his sword brows.

Why does the wind today feel... so noisy again?

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