Chapter 434: You Ming and Ning Shuang

In just over half a year, Li Changshou could clearly sense that these seven teenagers were becoming increasingly difficult to teach.

That afternoon, while Li Changshou was explaining some well-known articles from the mortal world, he was bombarded with questions that nearly stumped him. Fortunately, he had prepared thoroughly in advance with Bai Ze, anticipating all the possible queries from these little ones.

As dusk fell and the sun dipped westward, Li Changshou left Hua Youming and Xia Ningshuang to clean the academy before drifting back to his own residence. This pair of bickering rivals had been squabbling for the past half-year, but their relationship had improved significantly. At the very least, during their fights, Xia Ningshuang no longer targeted Hua Youming's weak spots with full force—specifically referring to his ribs.

Shifting his focus back to Xiaoqiong Peak, Li Changshou followed the conversation he detected with his immortal sense and rode the clouds toward the thatched cottage by the lake.

"...Master, please don't ask where this fruit came from. Just eat it, and you'll be fine."

"Is this some kind of evil artifact? It looks just like a baby! Ling'e, where did you get such a sinister thing?"

Ling'e quickly replied, "It's not evil at all, Master. Just sense it carefully—it's a ginseng fruit. It's naturally shaped like this and can extend your lifespan by nearly fifty thousand years!"

"Then I don't need it. You can have it yourself!"

"Master!"

"No, no need," Qi Yuan said, waving his hands repeatedly as he shooed Ling'e out the door. "I truly don't want such a sinister thing!"

"Ah, Master!"

The wooden door slammed shut with force, kicking up a bit of dust. Ling'e held the ginseng fruit steady with her immortal power, looking somewhat helpless.

Inside the cottage, Qi Yuan set up several layers of barriers with his immortal power before sighing softly to himself, murmuring, "As a turbid immortal like me... I'm not worth it..."

Li Changshou frowned slightly. His master's Dao heart was truly troublesome.

Ling'e puffed out her cheeks, staring absentmindedly at the ginseng fruit for a while. When she noticed Li Changshou's presence, she quickly reverted to her usual lively demeanor and turned to fly toward her senior brother.

"Master said it's an evil thing and won't use it. What should we do?"

"It's fine," Li Changshou said with a smile. "Master still has plenty of lifespan left, and he's currently serving in the Heavenly Court, having already consumed a flat peach. Seal the ginseng fruit in a jade bottle for safekeeping."

"Okay," Ling'e responded obediently, then whispered, "How about we knock Master out and force it down his throat?"

"That would go against Master's wishes and make it hard for him to accept," Li Changshou whispered back. "Let's keep that plan in reserve and discuss it later."

"Yes! As you command, Water God!" Ling'e curtsied playfully, but remembering what had just happened, her ears turned a bit red.

Li Changshou cleared his throat and said seriously, "Earlier, we never had a proper talk about this, but today, could you answer me as your senior brother? What are your aspirations for your path of cultivation? Or do you have any plans?"

Ling'e thought carefully for a moment and said softly, "Just cultivating in the mountains... It would be even better if I could achieve immortality, as long as you don't drive me away, Senior Brother."

"If you want to go out and explore now that you're familiar with the outside world, just let me know in advance." Li Changshou took a paper effigy from his sleeve and handed it to Ling'e. "The human heart is treacherous and hard to fathom. I've also brought some dangers to Xiaoqiong Peak, so you need to be extra careful."

"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Ling'e happily took the paper effigy, wanting to say something more, but she just hummed lightly twice.

"What's wrong?" Li Changshou asked gently, which was rare for him.

"Nothing, I'm going back to cultivate." Ling'e hugged the paper effigy to her chest, lowered her head, and turned away, walking past Li Changshou toward the thatched cottage.

Li Changshou hesitated for a moment, considering mentioning the "Stabilizing Scripture," but then he chuckled to himself. Forget it; I'll write it myself this time, as a reminder. It's worth noting that the thousand recitations of the Stabilizing Scripture ended up being done silently.

After Ling'e returned to the mountain safely, half of the worries weighing on Li Changshou's mind lifted, and his days became even more leisurely. He handled Heavenly Court affairs in the Tian Court and oversaw the mortal tribulations of the two Heavenly Court bigwigs in the academy, playing matchmaker for them.

Another few months passed peacefully, until Dongmu Gong arrived at the Water God Residence with a heavy heart. The heavenly general announced his arrival, and Li Changshou immediately focused his mind on the paper effigy there, welcoming Dongmu Gong into the study.

Once inside, Dongmu Gong hesitated several times, his expression troubled.

Li Changshou smiled and asked, "What's the matter, Dongmu Gong?"

"Well," Dongmu Gong shifted in his seat and looked at Li Changshou. His face, which had grown increasingly kind over the years, forced out an awkward smile as he said quietly, "Water God, have you heard any rumors floating around lately?"

Li Changshou replied seriously, "I haven't... Is there slander against you spreading in the Heavenly Court?"

"Ah, it's not exactly slander," Dongmu Gong said with a bitter smile. "What they're saying is true, after all. I'm just from an ordinary human background, and I only rose to a high position in the Heavenly Court because I joined early. It was you, Changgeng, who came up with that idea to help me gain His Majesty's trust. Changgeng, I'm here today just to tell you—and I can even swear a Dao oath—that I absolutely won't undermine or scheme against you behind your back..."

Li Changshou frowned and asked, "What exactly are these rumors, and where did they come from?"

Dongmu Gong explained, "It's about how you're eventually going to replace me, and once His Majesty returns to the Heavenly Court, the divine positions will be reshuffled..."

"These individuals have been quiet for so long, and now they've finally made their move." Li Changshou first comforted Dongmu Gong a few times, then stood up and paced back and forth.

Dongmu Gong was indeed the most vulnerable high-ranking god in the Heavenly Court at the moment, especially since he had no backing forces and limited influence, not to mention his cultivation...

"We can't rush into this," Li Changshou said. "Dongmu Gong, just focus on handling Heavenly Court affairs for now. Later, we'll go together to patrol various places. His Majesty and Her Majesty have only been in the mortal world for a little over a decade, and there are still many years ahead. The Heavenly Court needs you to manage things, so don't let trivial matters distract you."

"Changgeng, rest assured, I'm just worried you might hold a grudge," Dongmu Gong sighed.

Li Changshou shook his head with a smile. "We've been friends for many years and know each other well. It's just that because we serve His Majesty, we can't be too openly close. Dongmu Gong, if there's anything troubling you that I can help with, please don't hesitate to say so."

Dongmu Gong nearly teared up and sighed, "Thank you for your understanding, Changgeng! Without your help, I wouldn't be where I am today!"

Li Changshou continued to reassure Dongmu Gong and offered some psychological guidance. Dongmu Gong arrived worried and anxious but left with a flushed face, chest held high, as if he had regained his confidence as a male immortal in the Water God Residence.

"Was it the demon race or the Western forces?" After sitting back at his desk, Li Changshou quietly pondered countermeasures.

There wasn't much he could do about this—since they were trying to unsettle Dongmu Gong, he could only try his best to comfort him. It was natural for Dongmu Gong to lack confidence, but Li Changshou couldn't very well take him to Doushuai Palace to seek Laozi's support as a backer. If he did that, His Majesty Yu Di might become wary of both Dongmu Gong and himself.

What concerned Li Changshou more was figuring out which immortals or gods had started spreading these rumors in the Heavenly Court. He thought of the "Rumor Destruction Machine," Tianwei Stone, but after careful consideration, he decided not to escalate the matter before His Majesty returned, as it could destabilize the Heavenly Court and lead to more issues.

Tsk, the troubles of a high official.

Not long after Dongmu Gong left, Li Changshou summoned Ao Yi and Bian Zhuang, instructing them to secretly investigate the source of the rumors slandering Dongmu Gong and giving them a few strategies.

A few days later, a jade talisman and several Daoist titles appeared before Li Changshou, with four words that caught his eye. The master of Fuyuan Shrine: Fuyuan Xianweng.

"Brother," Ao Yi whispered, "should we bring in some experts from the Dragon Palace to the Heavenly Court?" His implication was that these experts would only follow Li Changshou's orders and could act against problematic immortals at any time.

"No," Li Changshou said. "This matter can only be decided by His Majesty; neither Dongmu Gong nor I can overstep our authority. Bian Zhuang, deliver this jade talisman to Dongmu Gong."

As he spoke, Li Changshou had already written eight large characters in it as advice for Dongmu Gong: Seek stability in all things, and wait patiently for resolution.

After handling that, Li Changshou sat quietly and thought for a while, several ideas coming to mind only to be dismissed one by one. It wasn't easy for him to move against such high gods, even with the authority to act first and report later—he still needed Yu Di to make the decision... And besides, he didn't have that authority.

What reassured Li Changshou was that after his reminder, Dongmu Gong immediately assigned an extra team of guards to Fuyuan Shrine. This move was quite clever, with deeper implications upon closer inspection.

From then on, the rumors in the Heavenly Court didn't stop, making it seem as if Dongmu Gong and the Water God were on the verge of turning against each other. Li Changshou just laughed it off and continued his role as a "minor matchmaker."

The story of Xia Ningshuang and Hua Youming grew more interesting as time passed. Especially after the academy had been open for over a year, Xia Ningshuang had blossomed into a graceful young woman, and Hua Youming often found himself zoning out in class, stealing glances at her.

Xia Ningshuang's attitude toward Hua Youming had shifted from constant teasing to something slightly gentler. At this stage of adolescence, young men and women were naive and half-aware, and Yu Di's mortal incarnation was quite prideful, often saying outrageous things that provoked Xia Ningshuang to launch ink attacks against him—the kind involving throwing ink and brushes.

Their relationship made significant progress when Hua Youming's younger sister, Hua Yun, was born, and the Hua family held a grand banquet. That day, Xia Ningshuang arrived in elaborate attire, leaving Hua Youming completely captivated.

It was also that day that the general's mansion and the city lord's mansion discussed a marriage alliance. Hua Youming instinctively wanted to object, but his mind was so full of thoughts of Xia Ningshuang that he forgot to speak. Xia Ningshuang calmly agreed and even sat next to Hua Youming, formalizing their engagement as a match of equal status.

The next day in class, however, Xia Ningshuang coldly said to Hua Youming, "The engagement was just their decision, and I already agreed to it. It doesn't matter who I'm marrying."

Hua Youming, who had been so excited he couldn't sleep the night before and had been pondering how to talk to Xia Ningshuang that morning, was suddenly doused with cold water. What followed was a cold war lasting three months.

Li Changshou watched it all unfold and felt... not particularly urgent. He discreetly advised Hua Youming a few times, telling him that the most delicate treasure in the world was a young woman's modesty, but Hua Youming only half-understood and didn't grasp the essence.

Until one day... After class at the school hall, Hua Youming deliberately stayed behind, standing before Li Changshou in the fading sunlight.

"Teacher, I want to break off the engagement with Xia Ningshuang."

"Oh?" Li Changshou, who was soaking his feet in the stream, smiled and asked, "Why?"

"I just feel," Hua Youming scratched his head, "it's not as free as it was before we were engaged..."

"An engagement isn't a game," Li Changshou said with a smile. "You can't just end it on a whim. Your relationship has shifted from that of classmates to future lifelong partners. It's normal to feel uneasy at first. Just talk to her more every day, or write her a letter. As a man, you need to take responsibility—she might be anxious about the future too."

Hua Youming pondered for a moment and sighed, not saying much more.

That very night, however, disaster struck the Hua family. Hua Youming's father fell gravely ill and died young while on an expedition, causing the Hua family's sky to collapse overnight. The military power was seized by other generals, and the general's mansion teetered on the brink of ruin.

This was the first time Yu Di's mortal incarnation experienced a family downfall.

When Li Changshou saw Hua Youming again two months later, he appeared in class with dark circles under his eyes, disheveled hair, and a gaze that had lost much of its spark.

That day, Xia Ningshuang acted as if nothing had changed, placing the articles and calculation methods that Li Changshou had taught over the past two months next to Hua Youming. The lunch she had prepared extra times—waiting for two months—was finally set before him.

"I made it," Xia Ningshuang said softly.

Hua Youming's hands trembled, but he sat there without moving.

Xia Ningshuang calmly picked up a piece of braised meat and brought it directly to his mouth.

Hua Youming's eyes reddened, and he raised his hand to push away Xia Ningshuang's hands, standing up and leaving the school hall.

"Hua Big Brother!"

Yang Tianyou immediately chased after him, and the other two young men ran out to stop Hua Youming.

Li Changshou watched the scene, sighing softly in his heart, but didn't intervene... Just as the three-year period ended, Li Changshou withdrew from the story of Xia Ningshuang and Hua Youming.

In the year they turned sixteen, following the hints Li Changshou left in a brocade pouch, Hua Youming set aside his identity as the young master of the general's mansion and left a letter behind, enlisting in the military in a neighboring city. He proved himself brave in battle, skilled in strategy, and loyal to a fault, quickly gaining renown in the army and becoming a famous young general by age eighteen.

But soon after, he was targeted by mortal factions that didn't want the Hua family to rise again, forcing him to leave the military in frustration and return home disheartened.

When Hua Youming got back, his home was in chaos, with most servants and slaves gone, leaving the general's mansion deserted. As he dismounted and stepped toward the gate, a somewhat unfamiliar voice called out from the side.

Xia Ningshuang, veiled as always, walked over gracefully, just as she had two years before, seemingly unchanged, and said to him, "You're back?"

Hua Youming nodded with a smile: "Yes, thank you for your concern, Xia girl."

Xia Ningshuang adjusted a strand of her hair and asked softly, "When do you plan to marry me?"

"Our engagement..."

"It's still valid—I agreed to it back then."

"There's no need," Hua Youming shook his head and turned to leave, no longer the boy he once was, without looking back. "I'm not worthy of you anymore."

Xia Ningshuang said nothing more, standing in front of the general's mansion for a long time. The grass grew thick, her figure faint, until night fell, leaving only a lingering faint fragrance.

Perhaps Hua Youming's fate was too strong, influencing the destinies of countless beings. As Li Changshou pondered how to make Hua Youming aware of Xia Ningshuang's longing, disaster struck again...

A tribal cavalry rampaged, breaching dozens of cities and threatening the city of Quezhou where Hua Youming and Xia Ningshuang lived. Panic spread through the city, nobles fled with their families, and the defenses collapsed before the battle even began.

Hua Youming settled his mother and younger sister, then donned his father's armor and rode into the military camp. With one hand wielding ropes and the other a light sword, he executed several officers who intended to flee or shirk their duties. With a rallying cry, his father's old subordinates responded, and Quezhou City prepared for war.

On the day the enemy army arrived, Hua Youming devised a clever strategy, leading light troops to strike while the enemy was unsteady and engaging in a fierce battle. That day, Xia Ningshuang dressed in a full red outfit and led hundreds of guards from the city lord's mansion to the city walls, but she arrived too late—Hua Youming had already charged out the gate, leading the assault.

The general fought a hundred battles without dying, while on the walls, a woman in red beat the war drums.

The city held, the enemy retreated in defeat, and Hua Youming, covered in wounds, collapsed at the city gate and was carried back to the city lord's mansion.

What followed was a night of burning passion...

Thus, Yu Di's mortal incarnation ended up marrying into the family.

That year, they were both nineteen, and Li Changshou's task was complete. His paper effigy stayed hidden, protecting them without further interference.

For Yu Di and Wangmu Niangniang to have this lifetime was truly good—it made up for the emotional gaps in their original lives as innate spirits.

When Li Changshou looked back at the script Wangmu Niangniang had arranged back then... it seemed she also wanted to fill those gaps with Yu Di.

What about Yunxiao Xianzi, then? Li Changshou couldn't help but fall into a brief reverie...

Out of nowhere, his eyelid twitched lightly twice.

Li Changshou performed a quick divination, but as usual, he gave up... After carefully sensing for a while, he felt a subtle anomaly in his primordial spirit. At his level of cultivation, though not yet a great power or divine being, such a sensation was definitely not unfounded—something must be happening.

Was the great calamity approaching?

To investigate, Li Changshou immediately sought out Bai Ze, grasping Bai Ze's long feather and having him sense carefully. The conclusion was: everything was normal; the Water God himself faced no disasters.

Li Changshou asked, "Can you divine if there are signs of a great calamity?"

"Very well," Bai Ze agreed with a smile and slowly closed his eyes.

Soon after, Bai Ze furrowed his brow, and a thin purple thunderbolt, no thicker than a strand of hair, appeared out of nowhere and struck in front of him. Sweat beaded on Bai Ze's forehead as he opened his eyes and looked at Li Changshou.

"What is it?"

"The secrets of heaven... have suddenly become chaotic."