Chapter 49: My Senior Brother's Troublesome Personality

"Huh?"

"Ah, I don't know why, but I suddenly feel so repulsive..."

"Eh, this is so revealing... Isn't it just a piece of cloth with two more pieces added to the back? Wearing this out would scandalize people!"

"This one is even more outrageous—it doesn't even cover the essential parts! Does Si Shijie really wear this for Wu Shixiong to see?"

"Wait, it seems like it's meant to be worn as a set..."

Rustling and giggling sounds filled the air;

From early morning, Jiu Jiu had been bustling around in her small pavilion, and it wasn't until noon that she finally stood at her door. Her slender hand pressed against the latch, but for a moment, she couldn't bring herself to pull it open.

Just going out for a stroll!

Yes, just a quick stroll...

Taking a light breath, Jiu Jiu slowly opened the wooden door and stepped out with her feet in a pair of azure-blue embroidered cloth boots.

In an instant, the mountain forests and fields under the great array's cover gained a splash of color.

Several gazes turned toward the sound...

There was a clatter as a handyman disciple carrying water to the alchemy room dropped his shoulder pole; another handyman weeding the flower beds let his hoe fall; and a young girl holding a tray of pills tossed it into the air...

"Ahem!"

Jiu Jiu cleared her throat, clasped her hands behind her back, took half a step forward, and instinctively straightened her posture, her gaze calmly sweeping over everything.

The male disciples quickly lowered their heads, not daring to look further, though they stole a few glances; a boy who had recently arrived on the mountain had his face inexplicably flush with red.

'It's not a big deal, right? Clothes are just clothes. This doesn't go against propriety; it covers more than my usual short skirts and tops anyway.'

Jiu Jiu licked her lips with the tip of her tongue, her gaze hesitant, but she quickly made up her mind. She summoned the large gourd she had nearly forgotten, which grew to about a zhang in length.

She was about to straddle it as usual, but remembering her current outfit—a light pink, lightweight long skirt of some material—she realized straddling it would be awkward.

So, she gathered her skirt, crossed her jade-like feet gently, and sat sideways on the front of the gourd, rising into the air...

As soon as she flew out of Po Tian Feng, she spotted a short Daoist with dark circles under his eyes, stepping on a white cloud and holding a book scroll, drifting along leisurely.

Jiu Jiu immediately stopped her gourd and used her xian li to amplify a deliberate cough:

"Ahem! Ahem!"

Jiu Wu, passing by, looked up at her, gave a polite smile, hugged his book scroll, and cupped his hands in greeting before descending toward the midway point of Po Tian Feng.

Jiu Jiu was stunned for a moment, then rolled her eyes and continued flying forward on her gourd.

Meanwhile, Jiu Wu, who had already entered the array, suddenly turned his head.

"Was that... Little Shimei just now?"

"No, that can't be right. Little Shimei has worn the same few outfits for centuries; she wouldn't change to something like that."

"Must be my eyes playing tricks. Oh well."

"Sigh, I've been losing a bit too much lately, but thankfully Shijie is finally in seclusion, so I can recover some energy."

With a sigh, Jiu Wu continued studying the scroll in his hands, "Pei Yuan Gu Qi San Shi Er Fa," and walked toward his small pavilion.

As soon as he entered the room, the short Daoist caught a faint lingering fragrance of an immortal, which made him shiver involuntarily.

It was just a physical reaction, purely physical.

He was deeply devoted to his Si Shijie, his love as firm as gold—absolutely no fear involved!

Thinking about his heroic efforts over the past few days, Jiu Wu couldn't help but smile knowingly...

Ever since drinking the Du Long Jiu that his nephew Li Changshou had prepared, his back had softened, but his confidence in front of Shijie had grown, making their dao companion interactions even more harmonious. Their life of cultivation and seeking longevity now had more fun and color.

Still, that guy had pranked him once last time, and it left a bit of dissatisfaction.

Jiu Wu pondered for a moment, sitting at his desk lost in thought.

Fight fire with fire? Develop some pills similar to that wine and lure him into a trap?

That guy might actually hold back and not embarrass himself... Then, get Little Jiu to help fan the flames?

Uh, no, no—that would be giving him benefits more than tricking him. What if Little Shimei doesn't resist? That would be a huge loss!

Duelling wits with that guy is tricky, especially with the oath restricting so many options, but it's also more interesting.

"This little thief, just you wait—I'll find your weak spot eventually!"

...

"Seriously, all the people I met on the way were giving me these weird looks. Aren't they afraid of getting beaten for it?"

When she flew over Xiao Qiong Peak, Jiu Jiu pursed her lips and muttered to herself.

The large gourd descended slowly, and she scanned Xiao Qiong Peak with her immortal sense, discovering that Li Changshou was giving a lesson to Lan Ling'e.

Blinking lightly, Jiu Jiu deliberately concealed her aura fluctuations, wanting to see how the senior-junior siblings would react to her sudden appearance.

They wouldn't be scared, would they?

Jiu Jiu furrowed her brows slightly, feeling a bit helpless.

She crept quietly to the door of the thatched hut and could hear the clear, smooth voice from inside from a distance:

"The divine thoughts wander vast and ethereal, revealing the Dao within; qi returns to the central sea, condensing in the yuan hun.

The hardest part to understand in this line is 'qi returns to the central sea.' Here, qi doesn't refer to the magical power you've cultivated, nor to pure qi or turbid qi, but to that innate essence you've carried since birth.

This is a treasure from the womb, incredibly important for lian qi shi..."

Inside the hut, Li Changshou sat relaxed in a circular chair, while Lan Ling'e sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, listening attentively.

Jiu Jiu tiptoed to the door, turned around, raised her arms in a claw-like pose, and shouted "Ula!" as she burst in.

The Lan Ling'e, who had her eyes closed, couldn't help but burst into laughter. Li Changshou simply put down the scripture in his hand with a helpless expression and smiled at the newly attired Jiu Jiu...

Jiu Jiu glared and said, "Why aren't you scared?"

"Ah! I've been scared by Shishu!"

Lan Ling'e feigned panic with a light exclamation, but as she turned her head, she couldn't suppress a gasp of admiration. "Little Shishu, why did you suddenly... suddenly wear a long skirt?"

"What's wrong? Can't I?"

Jiu Jiu sneaked a peek at Li Changshou's reaction, twirled once in front of Lan Ling'e, her skirt and hair swaying gently, filling the room with a faint fragrance.

At that moment, Lan Ling'e was also stealing glances at her senior brother and noticed him nodding with a smile, which made her feel slightly relieved.

As long as Senior Brother isn't dazzled.

Lan Ling'e chuckled lightly, "Of course you can! Shishu is always very pretty, and now you're even more radiant. I wouldn't dare fly with you on the clouds, Shishu."

Jiu Jiu winked at Li Changshou, "What about you, Little Changshou... hmm?"

"Very nice," Li Changshou nodded in praise.

When women he got along well with, like his little shimei and little shishu, suddenly changed into a new skirt or added a new accessory and looked at him expectantly for compliments, as a gentleman, he shouldn't be stingy with praise.

But thinking about the possible misunderstanding from yesterday...

Li Changshou added, "It's just that seeing it suddenly might take some getting used to."

"Is that so?"

Jiu Jiu looked down at the outfit she had carefully selected for half the day, her expression slightly disappointed.

Beside her, Lan Ling'e sighed inwardly;

Senior Brother is still the same...

With Senior Brother's personality, always trying to cut off all karma, getting close to him is truly difficult.

It really is troublesome.

Lan Ling'e quickly put on a faint smile and leaned in close to Jiu Jiu's ear, whispering, "Is this your first time dressing like this, Shishu?"

Jiu Jiu replied hurriedly, "Yes, I just suddenly wanted to change my style, that's it."

"For this kind of outfit, a light makeup would suit it better," Lan Ling'e whispered a few words in Jiu Jiu's ear, and Jiu Jiu's eyes lit up. She pulled Lan Ling'e behind a screen nearby.

Seeing this, Li Changshou shook his head slightly, picked up his bamboo slip, and continued reading, listening to the murmurs from the side while pondering something in his mind, his expression unchanged.

Not long after, amid Lan Ling'e's continuous admiration, Jiu Jiu emerged from behind the screen, looking pleased as she gazed at Li Changshou.

"How about it!"

Li Changshou looked up, and his smile grew warmer.

At that moment, Little Shishu seemed like a different person. With subtle powder on her face, finely drawn brows, a touch of blush on her cheeks, and gloss on her lips, her robe and jacket in a flowing style with a phoenix-tail updo, she appeared more refined and added a touch of natural feminine charm compared to before.

"Not bad," Li Changshou gave a thumbs-up. "Among the women I've seen, your beauty absolutely ranks in the top three!"

"Really?"

Jiu Jiu blinked, and for some reason, the strange and subtle feeling that had been lingering in her heart over the past two days quietly dissipated, leaving her feeling happy and relaxed.

"Of course it's true. Does Shishu doubt your own charm?"

Li Changshou laughed, "You don't dress up normally, and you're already the object of admiration for many male disciples in the sect."

"Tch, as if," Jiu Jiu rolled her eyes, though the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve up slightly. She said casually, "I'm not really bothered by that stuff anyway. After all, cultivating for longevity is the proper path.

Let's not talk about that. Do you still have your lesson?

If not, let's play Fight the Gods!"

Li Changshou said, "The lesson is important, after all..."

"Shishu rarely comes by!" Lan Ling'e immediately hugged Jiu Jiu's arm from behind. "Let's play Fight the Gods!"

Li Changshou couldn't help but press his hand to his forehead. She comes seven or eight times a month on average—how is that 'rarely'?

Jiu Jiu chimed in firmly, "Fight the Gods!"

"Alright, since you're both in the mood, I'll make time later to give Ling'e her lesson."

Li Changshou shook his head, and the two beside him were already cheering and celebrating, skillfully setting up the low table and cushions.

When they sat down, Jiu Jiu felt a bit uncomfortable, so she borrowed the neighboring thatched hut from Li Changshou, changed back into her most comfortable linen shirt, short skirt, and soft, specially made straw shoes, and removed the light makeup from her face.

These straw shoes weren't ordinary—they were made from immortal grass that Jiu Wu had carefully cultivated...

This is so much more comfortable.

Before leaving the hut, Jiu Jiu's mind echoed with Li Changshou's earlier words...

'Your beauty absolutely ranks in the top three!'

The corners of Jiu Jiu's mouth unconsciously turned up, and she muttered, "That guy is really bold, saying things like that."

She pulled open the door and dashed like the wind to the next thatched hut, where soon sounds of scrambling erupted...

"Grab the Gods!"

"Double it!"

"Super double!"

"This round, the Gods are with Ling'e. Shishu and I are the little immortals. Super double—now it's twelve spirit stones."

"Heh, go ahead, Little Ling'e!

I've got seventeen cards—think you can instant-kill me today?"

...

In the dead of night, Li Changshou walked out of the hut with his hands behind his back.

Little Shishu and Little Shimei had both had a bit to drink and were now snoring away on the bed; he was responsible for closing the door and activating the array to spare them the embarrassment of being seen in the morning.

Back in the alchemy room, he entered the underground chamber and sat on the cushion in the corner, closing his eyes and focusing his mind, his hands forming the yuan unity seal.

Between his palms, an orange-red flame slowly condensed, then was drawn into his body, beginning to wander and refine his yuan hun and dao body...

Clusters of nine-petal lotus flowers rotated slowly around him, now about the size of a fist, with clear patterns and nearly perfected Dao principles, their profound rhythms ethereal and elusive.

Yet, he still felt it wasn't quite enough...

He was in no hurry to step into the Gui Dao Ninth Realm.