Chapter 421: Ling Xiao Meeting

In the teahouse, Jiu Jiu was utterly shocked upon hearing the news, while Jiu Yushi beside her was also caught off guard.

Meanwhile, Jiang Lin'er, the true grandmaster of Xiao Qiong Peak, scoffed at Xiong Lingli, who had come to deliver the message:

"You all don't use your Xian Shi to scan the surroundings?"

Jiu Jiu and Jiu Yushi shook their heads obediently, and Xiong Lingli tilted her head...

"What's that?"

"Yuan Shen Zhi Chu! The perceptual ability that all Qi Lian Shi possess!"

Jiang Lin'er rubbed her forehead in exasperation, truly at a loss for how to scold these sheltered flowers cultivating in the mountains. Jiu Jiu hadn't gone out wandering in recent decades, and it seemed she had lost all her vigilance.

"Huh?" Jiu Jiu muttered in confusion, "I can only see Ling E and Li Changshou. There's a cloud of mist opposite Ling E."

"That's an incredibly advanced illusion technique, you fool!"

Jiang Lin'er shook her head, speechless.

Jiu Jiu quickly asked, "Shifu, what does that woman look like?"

Jiang Lin'er snorted dismissively: "As if I could see through it."

Jiu Jiu couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"Oh, she's stunning," Xiong Lingli chimed in from the doorway. "I was mesmerized when I went to serve tea... That kind, that sort, I don't even know how to describe it.

Li Changshou is being so gentle with this Xianzi, and Ling E is calling her 'sister'."

"What?"

Jiang Lin'er's tone sharpened, and she straightened up from her relaxed position in the armchair, gritting her teeth:

"Isn't it about first come, first served? How can Li Changshou let Ling E call someone else 'sister' when Ling E was first?

Hmph, I wasn't planning to pry into their private matters, but as their grandmaster, I can't stand it anymore!

Watch this!"

With that, Jiang Lin'er waved her hand lightly, and two fallen leaves drifted in from outside, landing on her fingertips.

She cast the "One Leaf Obscures the Eye" technique, and the leaves attached to her eyes, glowing with green light. Suddenly, Jiang Lin'er could see through the dense forest to the three people drinking tea by the lake.

The Xianzi, who had been invisible to Xian Shi before, now revealed her true appearance.

"Oh... she's so beautiful..."

"Right? Right?" Xiong Lingli excitedly agreed, though she wasn't sure why she was so excited.

Jiu Jiu and Jiu Yushi leaned in closer, and Jiang Lin'er waved her hand again, drawing in a few more leaves and casting the spell for them. The three women watched from afar.

Jiu Jiu first whispered in admiration, then muttered, "Ling E looks great today too, even better than usual."

"This Li Changshou, keeping quiet while trying to have it all?" Jiang Lin'er grumbled through gritted teeth. "If he wrongs Ling E, I'll chop him with a knife!"

Jiu Jiu frowned and muttered, "But Ling E seems pretty happy."

"They’re arguing," Jiu Yushi's gaze suddenly turned sharp. "Look at Ling E's neck... She's wearing that most precious undergarment, the one she saved for her wedding!"

Jiu Jiu stroked her chin: "Really, it looks so elegant.

And take a close look at Li Changshou's expression—he seems a bit tense. The atmosphere there must be pretty tense too."

"Ah, what a foolish girl Ling E is," Jiang Lin'er said with a world-weary expression, mimicking a poetic tone: "Mistaking her heart for one unworthy, yet wishing to never fail him in this life."

Jiu Jiu suddenly exclaimed: "Ling E is about to lose ground! That Xianzi said something, and Ling E's face is turning a little red."

Jiu Yushi hummed softly and suggested: "Should we help Ling E out?"

"How could we help?"

Jiang Lin'er countered:

"This is their private matter, after all. If Ling E doesn't mind sharing, then Li Changshou can have his way, and we can't interfere.

But speaking of which, what’s that woman's cultivation level?

Why did I feel a surge of warning in my spiritual senses, like facing a life-or-death crisis, just from thinking of teasing her?

Lingli, did you hear Li Changshou and Ling E call this Xianzi by name?"

"Li Changshou just called her Xianzi, and Ling E called her sister..."

"I've got a plan!"

Jiu Jiu clenched her fist, stepping one foot shod in a soft straw shoe onto a stool, her pretty face full of determination.

"If I don't help, and you don't help, then Ling E falls alone!

If you won't aid, and I won't aid, Ling E's heart will be in turmoil!

Think about it—if Xiao Qiong Peak had a new leader, could we still live so carefree?

We have to let Ling E know that she has supporters behind her!"

"Hah!"

Jiang Lin'er couldn't help but laugh: "If you want to get involved, go ahead. Why drag us in? Don't let that Xianzi misunderstand."

"What would I get involved for? I'm from a different generation than Li Changshou," Jiu Jiu huffed. "Shifu, are you in or not? If not, I'll tell Master about those things you said when you were drunk..."

"In, in! Fine, I'm in."

Jiang Lin'er smiled helplessly. "Your master has thinner skin than paper. If he found out I accidentally spilled those bedroom stories, he'd probably go into seclusion for a few millennia and never come out.

What a shame—he's more bashful than a woman, even after cultivating for immortality!

Alright, Jiu'er, what's your idea?"

Jiu Jiu stroked her chin in thought, then said smugly: "Heh, the Wine Immortal has a clever scheme."

And so, moments later.

A white cloud carried four figures from the teahouse toward the lake.

The three figures chatting and drinking tea under the trees by the lake all turned to look.

The cloud descended a few yards away and dispersed gently on the grass, revealing the four women—each with their own unique charm, like spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums.

They moved in unison, each holding a tray, and approached gracefully.

Li Changshou had black lines on his forehead, wanting to complain but holding back, only raising a hand to rub his eyelids.

Jiu Yushi, first in line, was fresh and elegant, demure and graceful. She bowed slightly to Yun Xiao and placed the tray on the low table, setting down a plate of pastries in front of Ling E.

Each stacked pastry was inscribed with the character "Ling."

Jiu Yushi bowed and stepped back. Jiang Lin'er, wearing the same style of Du Xian Men immortal skirt, stepped forward next, placing a plate of pastries inscribed with "E" on the table, also bowing before retreating.

Yun Xiao nodded with a smile in acknowledgment, while Ling E's cheeks flushed red, and she couldn't help covering her face.

Then, Xiong Lingli, like a moving mountain, in her tight immortal skirt, squatted down by the table. She pinched the tiny pastry plate with her fingers, chuckled, set it down, and scampered away.

This plate was inscribed with the character "Bi," meaning "must."

As Xiong Lingli withdrew, Jiu Jiu, rarely wearing the same style of immortal skirt, stepped forward and placed the final plate with "Sheng," meaning "win," saying softly:

"Please enjoy. Let us know if you need more."

Yun Xiao nodded gently and replied softly: "Thank you."

The shimmering light from the lake's reflection fell on Yun Xiao's flawless skin, highlighting her naturally beautiful face that was neither seductive nor overly alluring, leaving even Jiu Jiu staring in awe.

"N-no problem, Xianzi... Eat well and drink well..."

With that, Jiu Jiu turned quickly, smacked her forehead, and hurried away in small steps.

She hadn't said a word of what she had prepared!

Ling E couldn't bear to look at the scene on the low table. She hadn't figured out how to explain and smooth things over when she heard a voice transmission from her grandmaster, and she looked up toward the nearby woods.

The four "fairies" of the Xiao Qiong Peak retirement group were now raising their hands high, swaying like water weeds in the exact order they had delivered the pastries, and turning to reveal large characters on their backs:

"Shi" "Mei" "Wen" "Ying!"

Meaning: Ling E must win, junior sister steady victory?

Due to Xiong Lingli's large build, the "Wen" character stood out the most.

Ling E nearly burst into tears at the sight...

Don't they even check who the opponent is?

"Ahem," Li Changshou introduced from the side, "The ones who just passed by include my close senior uncle, my grandmaster from Xiao Qiong Peak, and another senior uncle who was Master's childhood friend and has returned to the sect after reincarnation."

"Sister, please don't overthink it. Everyone, everyone is just..."

Yun Xiao's eyes held a hint of amusement as she said softly: "Everyone is quite interesting."

"Junior sister, Xianzi," Li Changshou picked up his teacup and took a sip, "Why don't we go to the nearby Black Pool Peak? I'll prepare a meal today."

Yun Xiao replied gently: "Could I have a moment alone with Ling E to speak? I have a few words to say to her."

Li Changshou frowned. "Xianzi?"

"Don't worry, I won't bully Ling E."

Li Changshou still insisted: "This might not be appropriate..."

For the first time, Ling E interrupted her senior brother: "Senior brother, let me have a moment alone with Yun Xiao sister."

"Alright, come over soon."

Li Changshou stood up, glanced at them worriedly, then turned and rode a cloud toward Black Pool Peak, activating the paper effigy in Ling E's sleeve.

However, before he could hear a word, Yun Xiao pointed a finger at Ling E's sleeve, and Li Changshou lost contact with the paper effigy.

Li Changshou felt a headache coming on. He activated the paper effigies around Xiao Qiong Peak and suddenly saw that Ling E and Yun Xiao were drifting on a cloud boat on the spiritual lake, their area sealed off by Xian Shi, appearing as a misty fog that he couldn't hear or see through.

Li Changshou: ...

Fine, if she doesn't want me to hear, then I won't.

He landed on a cloud at Black Pool Peak, where Bai Ze was already stroking his beard and hurrying over from the pond, his earlier gloom gone. He circled Li Changshou twice, clucked his tongue more than ten times, gave a thumbs-up, and transmitted:

"Water God, just based on this, Emperor Jun is far inferior to you!

Yun Xiao Xianzi actually came to visit personally. Tsk tsk, I thought things between you and Yun Xiao might... heh heh.

Impressive."

Li Changshou transmitted back irritably: "Impressive how? What if this leads to a fight?"

"Ah, relax. A great power like Yun Xiao Xianzi wouldn't stoop to jealousy over Ling E."

Bai Ze continued transmitting with a smile: "She probably has something important to discuss with Ling E.

Don't worry.

But honestly, Water God, your romantic luck is truly something. Counting Qin Xuan Ya from our earlier discussions, and today's Jiu'er senior uncle, who also seems to have feelings for you."

Li Changshou shook his head and sighed: "Don't make up stories. If I say I'm devoted to the Dao, no one would believe me anyway."

"This poor Daoist believes you," Bai Ze transmitted seriously, "Otherwise, how could you have achieved such cultivation in just a few centuries?"

"Bai Ze!"

Li Changshou was deeply moved, about to call him a confidant, but Bai Ze smirked.

"Unfortunately, Lord Tong Tian doesn't believe it, and probably Lord Tai Qing doesn't either."

Li Changshou: ...

"Let's cook. I'll handle the kitchen today—come help me chop vegetables and wash the pots!"

"Water God, I'm on my way!"

"That..."

On the gently rocking cloud boat, Ling E looked at the Xianzi sitting beside her, just a foot away, and tried to break the silence but didn't know what to say.

Yun Xiao gazed at Ling E's face and asked softly: "Have I caused you any trouble?"

"Not at all!"

Ling E replied quickly, "When senior brother looks at you, sister, his eyes are always very gentle.

Senior brother must value you the most and won't be troubled by this..."

Yun Xiao's gaze shifted to Ling E's flustered face and she said gently: "Are you afraid I'll blame him?"

"How could it be blame? It's just... this, actually, it's a bit scary, but only a little, a very small part..."

"You're truly a silly girl, just as your senior brother said."

Yun Xiao gently took Ling E's wrist and sighed.

Ling E mustered her courage and asked softly: "Sister, do you have worries too?"

"Anything I don't want to say to others is a worry."

Yun Xiao stared at the lake and said slowly: "Before coming here, I wandered among mortals for a long time, seeking an answer about this matter."

Ling E blinked. "An answer?"

"About romantic feelings, the way of yin and yang, and the ties of living beings," Yun Xiao said softly. "I am a primordial spirit and never had such thoughts before being with your senior brother.

My elder brother and two younger sisters are the same—they barely understand mortal emotions.

To comprehend the Dao, one must first understand why.

So, I went to the mortal world to explore the way of matrimony, but in the end, I realized I was wrong.

The way of matrimony for post-heaven beings is closely tied to procreation, driven by mortal desires, which is what I lack."

She looked disheartened, her voice growing fainter:

"Your senior brother and I aren't yet at the stage of Dao companions. He started from not daring to refuse me and gradually developed affection, which has grown warmer.

But what he doesn't know is that after I fell into this emotional tribulation, my Dao heart changes every moment, to the point where I can't erase his figure, like a demonic obstacle.

When I suddenly awakened, I realized that the coldness from my long years of cultivation had turned into a desire to be with him.

Yet, I was ultimately wrong."

"Senior brother... um, he is quite interesting."

Ling E said, feeling sympathy for Yun Xiao's increasingly downcast expression.

"Sister, what did you get wrong? As long as it comes from the heart, as long as you don't mind me..."

"I mean I entered the emotional tribulation wrongly. I should have overcome it first before meeting him."

Yun Xiao smiled lightly and rubbed Ling E's hand, sighing: "After our last meeting, two questions have been lingering in my heart.

If I overcome this tribulation and my Dao heart returns to clarity, will his figure still be there?

Can we truly form a matrimonial bond?"

Ling E blinked in surprise: "Is that even possible?"

"The higher the cultivation, the closer to the Dao. If the day we form that bond is the day I overcome my tribulation, wouldn't that hurt him deeply?

Anything unbeneficial to the Dao is like a demonic obstacle for me.

That's why I went to the human mortals, but I found I was wrong again."

"What was wrong this time?"

"For us primordial spirits in matrimony, I can't give him the response he deserves.

Human emotions involve protecting and supporting each other, relying on one another, but I can't provide that."

Ling E frowned in thought, trying to grasp Yun Xiao's meaning.

"Sister, do you mean... because your Dao heart is lacking, you developed feelings for senior brother, and now you're worried that when you reach the point of becoming Dao companions, your Dao heart will be complete and your feelings for him will fade? And after observing mortal couples, you feel as a primordial spirit, you can't offer the kind of shared hardships and mutual support that he needs?"

Yun Xiao smiled warmly: "You're incredibly clever."

Ling E smiled shyly, a wisp of white smoke rising from her head.

She was just a step away from being completely baffled!

"Moreover..."

Yun Xiao's eyes showed even more helplessness: "I've divined that a great tribulation may come, one close to him and drawing him into my ordeal. That's truly unfair to him.

Yet, I can't bring myself to cut ties..."

Ling E said softly: "Sister, you came today to see me, didn't you?"

"Yes, I wanted to see you," Yun Xiao placed Ling E's hand on her knee, "and to tell you that even if your senior brother and I become Dao companions, it would mostly be as fellow travelers on the path of cultivation...

You don't need to worry about that. The emotions he needs are something only you can give.

After today, I'll go into seclusion until the great tribulation arrives, trying my best to keep him out of it. If I can survive..."

"Senior brother actually knows about your tribulation, sister."

"Hmm?" Yun Xiao was slightly taken aback.

Ling E took a deep breath and said firmly:

"Although senior brother never told me, I'm sure he knows.

When he first gave me this jade hairpin and mentioned you, his mouth would turn down slightly, his nostrils flare a bit, and his eyes would show helplessness and frustration, with a hint of conflict in his words.

He must have fallen for you then, but something held him back!

At first, I thought it was because he felt his cultivation was too inferior to yours, but later that proved wrong. After mentioning you twice, he clearly made a decision and started planning something...

Each time he planned, he would sit in contemplation for years.

I caught glimpses of those planning diagrams he drew—a cluster of clouds probably represents you...

Later, I stayed in the mountains and don't know what he did outside, but from the traces of scrolls moved in his thatched hut, I can tell he's already putting those plans into action.

The key there must be those two copper coins with little wings. Before the underground chamber was rebuilt, their images were hung on the wall, and then senior brother took them down..."

Yun Xiao flipped her hand, and a copper coin appeared in her palm.

"Yes, yes! That's it!"

This belongs with you; I feel most at ease.

Yun Xiao was clearly startled.

Ling E suddenly realized something and turned away, pinching her own mouth hard.

How could she compete now? She'd basically betrayed her side!

Before she could react, two soft hands slid over her shoulders, and she was embraced by the Xianzi beside her.

Eh!?

"After I leave, help me convey this embrace to him."

"C-can this be conveyed?"

"We're not at that stage yet, so I can't be this intimate," Yun Xiao's eyes showed a trace of relief. "In the end, before him, I should call you Ling E sister.

After all, I've only been thinking about what I should do for him, while you haven't even considered yourself—that's where I fall short."

Ling E's ears turned red, and she flusteredly adjusted a strand of hair by her ear. "I'm younger than you by a few yuan hui... L-let's go over.

Senior brother's cooking is amazing!"