Chapter 76: The Mystery of Jing Mei

"When one has done much, they should retreat; their merits are hidden, and their reputation is obscured."

In Youqin Xuanya's eyes, Li Changshou had embodied this very principle this time around.

After exerting immense effort, enduring countless hardships, and facing extreme peril, he had barely managed to outmaneuver the disciples from Jiejiao and the second prince of the East Sea Dragon Palace, Ao Yi...

Yet he remained incredibly humble, seeking no recognition, and quietly slipped away...

However,

In reality...

Li Changshou first helped Ao Yi up with his own hands and apologized for any offenses.

—This was to dispel any potential hostility and reduce the ill will from the Jiejiao disciples and Ao Yi toward him.

Then, he addressed the hall, admitting his fault and saying that his victory was not honorable, as he had merely used the evasion techniques and talismans passed down by his sect, which might tarnish his sect's reputation. He was willing to accept any punishment from his sect.

—This further eased tensions, bolstered his sect's prestige, and subtly hinted to Elder Jiu Wu that he wanted to return to Xiao Qiong Peak.

Afterward, Li Changshou bowed to the group from Jin'ao Island, his face showing remorse...

With just a few words and a couple of gestures, he subtly provided face-saving steps for everyone involved.

Some of the elders from Du Xian Men were reasonable people. Seeing that Li Changshou did not want to create enmity with Jin'ao Island or the Dragon Palace, they deliberately scolded him sternly and sent him back to Xiao Qiong Peak for reflection...

In truth, the elder was just putting on a show, implying that Li Changshou should return to Xiao Qiong Peak and wait for his reward later.

Meanwhile, Youqin Xuanya stood nearby, frowning repeatedly. If her master hadn't been holding her back, she would have definitely stepped forward to defend her dear friend and senior brother, Li Changshou...

Watching Li Changshou's figure fade into the starry night, Youqin Xuanya let out a soft sigh.

When would she ever become as outstanding as her senior brother?

After leaving Potian Peak on his cloud, Li Changshou also sighed inwardly.

"That was finally handled— it was truly troublesome."

No matter how he managed it, the fact remained that Xiao Qiong Peak had drawn attention from the entire sect.

Once his paper daoist returned from this outing, he would focus on refining pills quietly and stay low-key for ten or eight years, then continue with his wealth-building plan.

No, ten or eight years wasn't enough—at least twenty years to start with!

"That young dragon, judging by his expression, might come to Xiao Qiong Peak to apologize later."

Li Changshou thought it over and hid the bottle of Meiren Mei in his treasure pouch, so he wouldn't accidentally pull it out.

Besides, Meiren Mei wasn't something only he could refine; there were countless cultivators in Hong Huang who enjoyed brewing wine.

Based on that alone, the East Sea Dragon Cleansing case wouldn't trace back to him.

Back on Potian Peak, the atmosphere was lively, with various celestial immortals beginning to discuss the Dao. Those who had watched the earlier fight stayed to listen to the immortals from both sides expound their teachings.

However, Li Changshou noticed that the group from Jin'ao Island was still simmering with anger, likely leading to a confrontation with his sect's celestials later...

But that had nothing to do with him; he had simply completed the task assigned by his sect.

Upon returning to Xiao Qiong Peak, Li Changshou first wandered around his pill room.

He pondered where he might have overlooked anything and, if there were oversights, how to fix them.

If his master's enemy had been watching today...

What would that enemy think?

If it prompted the enemy to act against him, that would be ideal. He could give the enemy an opportunity by venturing out under pretense and then eliminate them...

Before striking, he could even use a voice-shadow orb to record proof that the enemy had attacked him, a disciple, and that he had only survived thanks to the poison granted by Elder Wan Lin Jun...

Even if sect rules punished him with centuries of seclusion on Xiao Qiong Peak, it wouldn't be a problem—he had no intention of going anywhere anyway.

Li Changshou chuckled lightly, knowing this was just wishful thinking.

As a seventh-tier Hui Xu realm novice immortal, he was still just a young disciple, unlikely to be seen as a threat...

He would just have to wait and see how things unfolded.

Although Li Changshou wanted to ask his master about the identity of that old enemy,

First, he feared it would remind his master of painful past events; second, he was considerate of his master's dignity.

Asking others could lead to suspicion falling on him if the enemy met with an accident later...

This matter would require careful planning.

This time, he had been unexpectedly "exposed," but it wasn't because he hadn't done enough...

He didn't need to be too self-critical; Li Changshou had put his all into his self-protection measures.

Still, who could have predicted...

He was happily strolling through Lin Hai Town, buying herbs, and selling pills, only to return his divine sense to his body and find Jiu Wu and Ao Yi wandering around the trapping array near his pill room...

What on earth?

Although there had been signs earlier—he had run into the Jin'ao Island group in Lin Hai Town by chance—

He truly hadn't anticipated things escalating like this.

"Later, I'll remind Master that Xiao Qiong Peak should decline all visitors."

Li Changshou sighed and briefly connected his divine sense to the paper daoist, confirming the area was quiet and safe, before switching back to his main body.

That "inn" was run by the Lin Hai Sword Sect, and even a small suite there was pricey,

But it was relatively secure, with Lin Hai Sword Sect celestials often stationed nearby and immortal patrols keeping a close watch.

Now, he just had to wait for the sect to settle down before resuming his wealth-building efforts.

Still uneasy, Li Changshou patrolled the mountain for a while, checking the concealment of the underground array foundations.

After busying himself for some time, his immortal sense suddenly detected a figure flying in from Dan Ding Peak, landing quickly by the lakeside hut...

Li Changshou hurried back on his cloud and, from a distance, saw a figure standing by the lake.

Ling E poked her head out of his hut and pointed toward the lake, where an old man with a copper staff stood...

The elder, Wan Lin Jun.

...

"Elder, what brings you here?"

Li Changshou quickly stepped forward and bowed.

Wan Lin Jun turned to look at Li Changshou, his eyes showing a hint of approval. His lips twitched slightly, forming a cold, unfeeling smile.

"I used my immortal sense to see you defeat that dragon prince, only to be scolded by the other elders, so I thought I'd come check on you.

You did well this time.

Evasion techniques are your own skill, your own ability—you don't need to worry about what others think.

If anyone in the sect criticizes you later, just show them this."

As he spoke, Wan Lin Jun extended his somewhat withered hand and used his immortal power to send over a black jade.

Li Changshou cupped his hands to receive it and glanced down, seeing a wisp of aura inside the jade, with a bold "Jun" character in the center.

"It's from me," Wan Lin Jun said gruffly. "From now on, your Xiao Qiong Peak lineage is under my protection—no one gets to scold or punish you arbitrarily!"

Li Changshou felt a warmth in his heart and thanked him profusely.

He knew this elder wasn't seeking anything in return; Xiao Qiong Peak had nothing of value anyway.

Wan Lin Jun was truly someone who had isolated himself for years, oblivious to social nuances.

—The words Li Changshou had said earlier to give face and put on a show had been mistaken by Wan Lin Jun as genuine reprimands from the sect.

His evasion techniques looked down upon; his poisons looked down upon...

Li Changshou pondered that Wan Lin Jun might be reminded of his own past, which was why he was so "agitated"...

Wan Lin Jun's leg injury had been inflicted by his own master, who accused him of straying from the true path and shaming the way of the Dan. This was because Wan Lin Jun delved into the study of poisons.

For tens of thousands of years afterward, Wan Lin Jun obsessively pursued the path of poison, aiming to prove to his master that poison was merely another aspect of medicinal properties—a line he wrote at the end of every treatise on poisons.

Yet, when Wan Lin Jun used his poisonous pills to save Du Xian Men from a horde of demons millennia ago, his master had already passed away...

Li Changshou gripped the jade tightly and bowed deeply.

"Disciple thanks the elder for his care."

Wan Lin Jun forced another stiff smile and said, "Rest up. I need to get back to refining pills."

"Disciple will visit the peak another day."

"Very well, come anytime."

Wan Lin Jun suppressed his smile—which could scare a baby into silence—tapped his staff, summoned a cloud from the ground, and headed back to Dan Ding Peak.

The old man had come simply to encourage Li Changshou.

If other elders wouldn't praise him, he would; if other seniors wouldn't protect him, he would.

It was that straightforward...

Holding the jade pendant, Li Changshou stood by the lake, gazing into the distance for a long time before his heart finally calmed.

Hong Huang might be perilous, but not everyone in it was wicked.

"Senior brother!"

Ling E poked her head out the window again and whispered, "There's someone else coming!"

"I see."

Li Changshou tucked away the jade and sighed softly, noting how many visitors he had today...

"You're being quite well-behaved today, junior sister," Li Changshou remarked with a smile.

Ling E, leaning over the windowsill, stuck out her tongue. "I'm just afraid of causing you trouble and getting scolded again!

By the way, senior brother, did you... lose earlier?"

"I won," Li Changshou replied via divine sense. "But in our own sect, we still have to mind these things.

Oh, and tidy up a bit later—come to my hut with some tea.

Prince Ao Yi from the Dragon Palace brought a female companion, so Xiao Qiong Peak needs someone presentable."

Ling E blinked, then covered her mouth and giggled.

She quickly activated the isolation array her senior brother had recently improved outside her room and busied herself changing clothes and freshening up...

Soon, Ao Yi, Han Zhi, and Elder Jiu Wu, who was leading the way, descended slowly on their cloud.

Li Changshou went out to greet them. He exchanged a knowing glance with Jiu Wu, and the two understood each other instantly...

Li Changshou had guessed they might come and that Ao Yi would apologize, but he hadn't expected the young prince to bow deeply upon arrival.

"Prince Ao Yi, no need for such formality. Please, come inside. My humble abode is simple, and I hope you won't mind."

Li Changshou ushered Ao Yi and Han Zhi into his hut.

Before Ao Yi could bring up the day's events, Li Changshou steered the conversation elsewhere: "Does Your Highness know anything about painting and calligraphy?"

The topic shifted smoothly, and Ao Yi and Han Zhi were quickly drawn in by Li Changshou.

He pulled out many of the scrolls he had collected and created in his leisure time for them to appreciate.

Li Changshou completely controlled the flow of the discussion, and Ao Yi and Han Zhi, one dragon and one person, nodded along, finding it all quite engaging.

Jiu Wu had worried the atmosphere might be awkward, but soon even he was captivated and joined in the critique, sharing some of his own hidden treasures...

Half an hour later, Ling E arrived with the tea, freshly dressed, leaving the three guests pleasantly surprised.

There she was—Ling E, Li Changshou's junior sister:

In a plain silk dress, with elegantly styled hair, a jade hairpin slanted just so, and pearl earrings dangling.

Her bright eyes, delicate nose, and rosy lips; her graceful ears and fluttering lashes sweet as honey.

Her brows curved like a gentle crescent moon, her jade neck exuding a subtle fragrance.

Her skin outshone snow, her slender waist a picture of grace.

At first glance, she seemed a celestial maiden meant to dance to the qin in the heavenly palaces;

At second glance, she appeared as a beauty stepped straight from an illustration.

Ling E's demeanor and appearance subtly outshone the Jiejiao fairy Han Zhi.

And when Ling E sat beside her senior brother, her clear eyes sparkling, it made Jiu Wu ponder...

'Xiao Jiu probably doesn't have feelings for Changshou, right?

If she does, then this junior sister of his...

I might need to warn Xiao Jiu.'

—Such was the keen sense of someone with experience.

The discussion on painting and calligraphy stretched from midnight into the dawn, and Ao Yi and Han Zhi came to see Li Changshou as a refined soul untouched by vulgarity.

The hosts and guests parted on good terms, but when Li Changshou noticed they showed no sign of leaving, he shifted the topic to music...

Suddenly, Han Zhi received a message from her master and whispered a few words in Ao Yi's ear.

The young dragon prince frowned in thought, looking regretful, and stood to bid Li Changshou farewell.

There had been some trouble on Potian Peak, and Ao Yi's two so-called senior brothers were about to spar with two elders from Du Xian Men, so they needed to hurry over...

Li Changshou saw them out of the hut and escorted them to the lake's edge for a fond farewell.

Finally, they were gone...

The young Dragon Prince Ao Yi laughed and said, "Brother Changshou, if you have the chance, please visit Jin'ao Island. I will welcome you with open arms and we can chat at length."

"Of course, of course."

Ao Yi and Han Zhi rushed off to Potian Peak, while Jiu Wu gave Li Changshou a discreet thumbs-up before following on his cloud.

Li Changshou waved them off, thinking to himself:

'Farewell...

And hopefully, no more meetings.'

With that trouble seen off, Li Changshou stretched lazily and used his immortal sense to observe Potian Peak.

The Perfected One of No Emotion was about to make a move;

Although Li Changshou was curious, he felt today's events had been troublesome enough, so he simply watched the celestial "sparring" from afar.

Back in the hut, Ling E, in high spirits, had already started tidying up, clearing the cups and organizing the scattered scrolls...

Her gaze caught a partially visible scroll, and she tilted her head to look, spotting the title written at the top...

"My Beloved"

The handwriting was her senior brother's. His beloved?

'Hmph, I have to see what kind of woman he likes.'

Ling E sneaked a glance at Li Changshou's back as he stood by the lake and pulled out the scroll, slowly unrolling it.

This thing was actually...

A secret treasure for retirement;

It was an early version of Li Changshou's calming treasure that he had discarded years ago...

Named the "Hundred Beauties Aged" painting!

Due to its exquisite craftsmanship and superior quality compared to his usual work, Li Changshou had kept it as a backup secret treasure.

It had been tossed into the pouch with his finished scrolls and forgotten for decades, only to be mistakenly brought out this time without being shown.

As Ling E unrolled the scroll, she soon saw the procession of beauties, and her hands began to tremble. Her legs went weak, and she slumped beside the desk.

What...

Should she do?