Chapter 60: The Scripture of Stability

What other methods could there be, what methods...

Bathing in the morning light, Li Changshou rode the clouds, drifting leisurely toward the mountain gate of Du Xian Men.

Today was a day of gentle breezes and warm sunshine, with birds singing and flowers in bloom—truly a perfect day to return to the sect...

On the second day after entering the "reasonable return period," he had eagerly flown back.

The outside world was just too dangerous.

It was better to bask in the protection of the Ren Jiao's glory, which brought him a sense of inner peace...

He presented his travel jade token at the mountain gate and bowed to the guarding immortal, saying:

"Disciple of Xiaoqiong Peak, Li Changshou, has settled his mortal ties and returns today."

The immortal smiled and took the jade token from Li Changshou's hand, asking, "Did you gain anything from your trip?"

Li Changshou replied, "Not much, really. I just feel that one less worry weighs on my heart, allowing me to focus entirely on the immortal path."

"Good," the immortal said with a chuckle and a wave of his hand. "Go back and cultivate properly."

"Yes, this disciple still needs to report to Bai Fan Dian."

Li Changshou bowed again, kept his cloud at a suitable height, and headed toward Bai Fan Dian on Potian Peak.

The guarding immortal nodded with a smile, thinking to himself that this was a promising young disciple.

Upon reaching Bai Fan Dian, he found the elder on duty that day, finally putting a close to his journey home.

Thus, this outing for the heavenly tribulation was considered successfully concluded.

Successfully... what a joke...

Li Changshou secretly calculated with his fingers and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

That made one hundred and thirty-two sites—overnight, two more villages had started worshiping the Sea God...

He hadn't done anything at all, really.

With a sigh in his heart, Li Changshou asked the elder on duty at Bai Fan Dian, "May this disciple pay respects to the ancestral image in the hall?"

"Of course," the elder laughed. "The ancestral image is there for the disciples to pay their respects. We're part of the Ren Jiao lineage in Du Xian Men. You disciples have many rules to follow, but in essence, we pursue wuwei and freedom, as long as you show respect and don't offend the ancestors."

"Thank you, Elder. This disciple understands."

Li Changshou replied with a serious expression, then carefully straightened his robe and inner garments before walking to the round platform in the center of the great hall and looking up at the painting above.

In the painting, an old Daoist with a blurred face sat on a green ox, with baoguang radiating behind him.

This was the image recorded from the manifestation of Tai Qing Sheng Ren.

The face was blurred because no one dared to depict the true appearance of a saint—doing so would alert the saint and might bring down punishment.

Li Changshou first cupped his hands and bowed slowly, then took two steps forward to offer incense and tribute, retreated three steps, lifted the hem of his Daoist robe, and knelt on the cushion.

Two attendants and an elder happened to see this and nodded slightly.

It was rare to see a disciple come to pay respects to the ancestors on an ordinary day.

A moment later...

"Why is this disciple still kneeling there?"

"Perhaps he's sincere and seeking the ancestors' blessing for a peaceful immortal path."

After a while longer, more than a dozen elders and attendants emerged from the various partitioned areas in the hall, curiously watching the scene.

"Do you think this disciple has run into some trouble?"

"We've enjoyed quite a few of his spirit fish—should we ask if he needs help?"

"Ah, if he doesn't come to us for help, we shouldn't pry too much. Everyone has their own troubles, after all."

Half an hour later.

"Everyone, go back to your duties. Don't stare anymore.

This disciple has just returned after settling his mortal ties, so his state of mind is likely unsettled. He's probably using this to calm himself."

The people around gradually dispersed.

Several elders thought to themselves that later, when Li Changshou came for his monthly allowance or to ask about cultivation, they would secretly give him some benefits...

This disciple had probably encountered some difficulties, but how could the ancestors—being who they are—bother with such trivial matters for a minor disciple?

Finally, after kneeling for a full hour, Li Changshou slowly rose, feeling much more at ease in his heart.

To stand against a saint, the only way was to cling tightly to the thighs of other saints!

This was the only method he could think of.

Even if it drew a little attention from within the sect, it was worth it to come here and pay respects to the Ren Jiao leader, gaining even the slightest bit of presence in the eyes of that venerable one.

—The sect rules forbade privately hanging images of the ancestors for worship, so the only place to find such an image was here.

Leaving Bai Fan Dian, Li Changshou rode the clouds toward Xiaoqiong Peak.

On second thought, he might be overthinking it.

How could a mighty saint lower themselves to target a minor immortal from Ren Jiao?

After attaining sainthood, they were immune to great calamities and only cared about face and the fate of their teachings.

But, what if?

Saints were saints—adding "sheng" to "ren" still implied they had some human nature, right?

Of course, the saints weren't all from the ancient human race. The three Daoist leaders were incarnations of Pangu's primordial spirit, and the other three were innate beings with unknown origins.

What if those two big shots from Xi Fang Jiao suddenly got carried away for some reason and decided to bother with a small fry like him...

Hah, you little brat, still daring to cause trouble?

Li Changshou's mouth twitched a few times.

It seemed the composite great array on Xiaoqiong Peak needed some formations to conceal heavenly secrets!

But arrays like that— even the Du Xian Men sect leader might not have the diagrams, let alone the precious materials needed to set them up...

The world was full of hardships.

As he pondered, Li Changshou had already floated above Xiaoqiong Peak. Glancing down, he saw Lan Ling'e meditating under a tree.

'It's just a matter of probability. Just focus on cultivation.'

Li Changshou took a few deep breaths to steady himself, then slowly descended toward the isolating array below.

Soon, Lan Ling'e cheered from under the tree and ran over in a few steps.

But Li Changshou made a shushing gesture, signaling her to stand quietly. He then walked to the front of their master's thatched hut, bowed, and announced that he had settled his mortal ties and returned.

Laughter came from inside the hut as Qi Yuan, the old Daoist, encouraged Li Changshou a few words before resuming his seclusion and reactivating the arrays around the hut.

Their master was in the midst of comprehending the key points of the Wuwei Scripture.

With his immortal sense sweeping over, the scenery of Xiaoqiong Peak imprinted itself in Li Changshou's heart, and his unease faded considerably...

No matter what, cultivation had to continue, and life had to go on.

He had thought about going to the South Sea to smash his own idol statues.

But realizing that showing up might trigger more unknown events, he decided to just let things be...

"Senior brother!"

Lan Ling'e blinked her bright eyes and lifted her hands at her sides, fluttering them like a fledgling. "Hmm?"

Li Changshou, however, put on a stern face. "Come with me inside."

Lan Ling'e shuddered and immediately put on a pitiful expression, lowering her head and following her senior brother into her own thatched hut with a grievance.

She fetched a meditation cushion, sat cross-legged, bowed her head, and arranged her expression...

The routine was all too familiar.

Li Changshou sat in the armchair and activated the arrays around the hut.

Looking at his junior sister, whose appearance and figure were now fixed, he sighed softly:

"I've only been gone for three years, and you!"

Lan Ling'e instantly squeezed her eyes shut, grabbed her earlobes with her hands, and shouted:

"Senior brother, I know I was wrong!

The duel between Liu Sizhe and Wang Qi had something to do with me!

I never expected it to turn out like that. That day, I just casually gave an idea to get rid of them, but I didn't think it through, and things escalated!"

"Hmm?" Li Changshou paused. "I was asking about the spirit fish in the lake being reduced by a third..."

Lan Ling'e froze, then her body twisted and slumped where she sat.

It was over—she had confessed everything.

...

More than a year ago, after Liu Yan'er left with her two junior brothers, something happened the next day.

Liu Yan'er informed Wang Qi, reported to her master and peak lord first, then used a scheme, telling Liu Sizhe that she was pregnant. Her intention was to make him give up pursuing her, but instead, Liu Sizhe went straight to fight Wang Qi.

The fight left neither with serious injuries—it was evenly matched—but they were both punished under sect rules for private duels.

Liu Sizhe was confined to Dulian Peak for twenty years and forbidden from leaving.

Wang Qi had his monthly allowance suspended for three years and then formed a Daoist couple with Liu Yan'er, cultivating on Xiaoling Peak...

"Senior brother... I was wrong..."

"Where did you go wrong?"

"I shouldn't have... without considering their reactions, I gave that bad idea to Yan'er senior sister," Lan Ling'e said, head down. "In the end, it caused all three of them to be punished under sect rules."

Li Changshou smirked and scolded, "I've taught you for so many years, and in just a few short years, you've forgotten everything I taught you.

Fine!

Your personality is just like that—it's my fault for expecting too much of you. Ah, forget it."

"No, don't forget it! Senior brother, please keep expecting from me!"

Lan Ling'e panicked. "I won't cause trouble anymore!

I'll stay quietly by your side and cultivate. I won't say a word to strangers!"

"Then tell me again, where did you go wrong?"

Lan Ling'e's eyes reddened, and she became flustered. "I—I..."

"You shouldn't meddle in other people's affairs!"

Li Changshou tapped the table with his finger and sighed. "Do you know whether Liu Yan'er's destined partner is Liu Sizhe or Wang Qi?

One has loved her for a hundred years, the other for just a few years. Why did Liu Yan'er hesitate? Why couldn't she be harsh with Liu Sizhe? It's because she's uncertain in her heart.

Liu Yan'er is already one hundred fifty or sixty years old. Did she never think of other ways?

It's not that she couldn't, it's that she wouldn't!

By doing what you did, you essentially cut off one person's path and turned her undecided fate into something fixed.

If it aligned with their destiny, fine, but if you altered someone's fate, you've taken on the karma of three people with just one word.

How much of your own fortune have you damaged!

Don't always think you're the smartest or have the best ideas. No one is that much stupider than others—it's just that people like to act clever!

This is the best example of your unstable disposition."

Lan Ling'e pouted and said with a tremble, "Senior brother, how can I make up for it?"

"The more you do, the more mistakes you'll make. Later, go apologize to Liu Yan'er senior sister and ask for her forgiveness," Li Changshou said, leaning back in the chair and rubbing his brow. "It seems you still don't quite get it.

Let me give you a simple example.

If Liu Yan'er senior sister and Wang Qi junior brother break up in the future, who do you think she'll blame first?"

Lan Ling'e furrowed her brows and whispered, "Me, the outsider who gave the idea to help her reject the other one."

Li Changshou said with a bitter smile, "So, why interfere in other people's private matters?

The word 'love' has always been hard to define.

It's not essential for cultivating immortality and seeking longevity, yet it's what you think about most every day. If this continues, you'll just waste your talent and insight.

After apologizing to Liu Yan'er senior sister, reflect properly on the peak. When Liu Sizhe comes out of seclusion, that's when you can come out too."

Li Changshou stood up and added, "I won't punish you much this time. Just take a stone slab and copy the Wen Zi Jing three hundred times.

Once you truly understand where you went wrong, then go apologize to Liu Yan'er."

With that, Li Changshou turned to leave with a stern face and hands behind his back.

But Lan Ling'e called out, "Senior brother, there's one more thing."

Li Changshou couldn't help but turn back, placed his hand on her head, and rubbed it hard, his face full of frustration, messing up the hair she had carefully styled...

"How many more messes have you made? You're going to scare your senior brother into having a heart demon!"

"It's not trouble—this is more like an unexpected gain. I only caused that one mess, really..."

Lan Ling'e said softly, "It's about Master's injury from back then. Because of the Yan'er senior sister incident, I heard a rumor...

Senior brother, lean in closer."

She whispered it to him.

Li Changshou bent down to listen for a while, his brows furrowing slightly, but he quickly returned to normal.

"Don't get involved in this. First, go copy the Wen Zi Jing, and after the apology, come find me in the alchemy room."

"Oh," Lan Ling'e replied, watching as her senior brother floated toward the alchemy room.

It was over—her senior brother's goodwill toward her had probably dropped by at least ten years...

She let out a soft sigh, hugged the cushion, and went under the willow tree.

Taking out a stone slab and a ritual engraving tool, she wiped the tears from the corner of her eye, let her hair fall loose, and lay there copying the scripture her senior brother had written over a decade ago.

After finishing the first copy, she wiped away her tears again, erased the engraving on the slab, and started the second.

The willow branches swayed gently, brushing her wind-tousled hair, as if supervising her lesson.

...

Wen Zi Jing

Hong Huang · Anonymous

In life, mind your own, don't meddle in affairs; immortality is set, no need to rush ahead.

Face injustice, rely on yourself; encounter disasters, reflect inwardly.

If friends are many, troubles can't be avoided; if friends are few, disasters from outsiders are spared.

Don't make enemies, for it brings danger; strike first, and you'll end up as ashes.

Don't be overconfident, don't fear yourself; handle all things steadily, and you'll find peace.

On the forked path of cultivation, retreat to advance; seize opportunities, plan and decide.

Once, Hongjun, the kind old man, was schemed against—how tragic.

The great demon with many schemes was knocked out and thrown into an iron pot.

The ancient turbid race, cautious in weakness, couldn't defy heaven despite their efforts.

The former ancient race, discontent with fate, fought for destiny and ultimately fell into obscurity.

The two later heroes divided heaven and earth, but fell to provocation and both were defeated.

The new human race rose, praising rites and music, with saints and wise scholars in abundance.

For us now, avoid misfortune, complete the immortal path, and attain the Dao fruit.

Handle matters steadily, reject karma, avoid forceful seizures, and you'll find joy.

Evade heavenly disasters with transformations, avoid human calamities, and leave no traces.

Hear the Dao in the morning, clarify the immortal path; the Wen Zi Jing, ever by your side.