Chapter 183: Confronting Fraud, Bravely Saying No

Goddess Yunxiao is indeed hard to meet. Fairy Bixiao, on the other hand, is truly mischievous.

As another paper figure darted out from beneath the first, Bixiao immediately dropped her smile and let out a cold snort. “You audacious scoundrel, how dare you use an avatar to toy with me!” With that, Bixiao raised her hand and flung out a ‘faint’ immortal light. Before Li Changshou could utter another word, she instantly knocked down his paper avatar.

Li Changshou, quick-witted and agile, had already thrown out a scroll before the immortal light could strike him. Bixiao hadn't truly harmed him; she had merely knocked Li Changshou's paper avatar, disguised as an old immortal, to the ground, intending to continue her teasing.

But…

“Eh?”

The cloth scroll quickly unfurled. Bixiao looked down at it, blinking in surprise. It depicted the scene of Zhao Gongming, Qiongxiao, and Li Changshou meeting in the back hall of the Sea God Temple in the South Sea. The figures in the painting were lifelike: Zhao Gongming's heroic and gallant demeanor, and Fairy Qiongxiao's gentle yet mischievous smile, perfectly captured their true essence. This was the exquisite Gongbi painting technique Li Changshou had refined while creating the 'Hundred Beauties of Old' series, intended as cornerstone treasures for his sect!

Bixiao couldn't help but murmur, “Uh, are you truly my elder brother's friend?” Then, looking at Li Changshou still lying on the ground, she frowned slightly and sighed: “Well, since I've already struck you, to avoid being scolded by my elder brother and my two sisters... Sigh, I suppose I'll just have to locate your true body, kill you, and then destroy all traces. Please don't blame me for this.”

“Fairy, there's truly no need to be so serious,” Li Changshou quickly interjected. Though he knew Bixiao was most likely joking, he still had to remain cautious. After all, these are the Three Xiao. With their hot-headed tempers, rage-filled eyes, and maxed-out anger, they'd even dare to strike a Saint Lord. What could they not do?

As he spoke, Li Changshou's paper avatar first reverted to its basic paper form, tearing off its outermost layer. This cost him a small amount of immortal power but simultaneously broke Bixiao's restrictive spell. This was one of the minor practical tricks of the paper avatar technique.

The paper avatar wobbled, then transformed back into the guise of an old immortal, holding a whisk and smiling as he gazed at the young woman before him. Li Changshou said gently, “Fairy, you merely greeted me just now. There was no talk of striking me, was there?”

Bixiao immediately narrowed her eyes into a smile. “You old immortal, you're quite sharp.”

“Fairy, you jest. My appearing here in an avatar is already somewhat disrespectful,” Li Changshou sighed. “It's just that I genuinely have some unspeakable difficulties, and it would be far too perilous for my true body to appear.”

“Unspeakable difficulties?” Bixiao's lively eyes blinked, and she immediately perked up. “What unspeakable difficulties? Would you care to tell me more in detail? I'm so bored on this island; my elder sister doesn't allow me to leave, and it's usually quite dull here!”

Li Changshou: ...

I had a strong feeling she was hinting at something improper, but there was no concrete evidence.

“Fairy, please let's discuss these casual matters later, when the time is more appropriate. My true purpose for coming today concerns Daoist Gongming and Fairy Qiongxiao. Would you kindly present my previous visiting card to Fairy Yunxiao for her consideration?”

Bixiao snorted, “Isn't it the same if you just tell me?”

Tell you? Add another formidable member to the 'hit-and-run' scam group? Given Bixiao's temperament, which she has displayed so far, if she knew Zhao Gongming and Qiongxiao were messing around outside, she would undoubtedly rush over and join them in an instant!

Of course, these thoughts couldn't be voiced directly; one had to master the art of subtle communication.

Li Changshou said gently: “Seeking your assistance, Fairy, would naturally resolve the issue. However, this matter involves both your elder brother and your elder sister. If you were to act rashly, wouldn't they blame you later, perhaps even using their seniority to admonish you?”

The young woman's eyes immediately crinkled into a smile. “You certainly have a way with words. However, I casually tossed your previous visiting card into the sea.”

“No matter, no matter,” Li Changshou said, retrieving another rolled piece of cloth from his robe. “Just in case, I prepared several copies.”

Bixiao: ...

“You truly are a remarkable person.”

‘Bixiao’ murmured her admiration, her form gently swaying before dissipating into a wisp of cloud. Just then, Li Changshou heard a voice transmit into his ear: “Wait here for a while. I'll go see if my elder sister is in seclusion. I didn't actually lose your visiting card.”

Li Changshou was speechless. He hadn't realized until now that the Bixiao standing before him had also been an avatar. So, it had merely been a conversation between a paper avatar and a cloud avatar. Alas, the schemes of the Primordial Era run deep; one can never take things at face value.

Li Changshou didn't wait too long. Though Bixiao enjoyed teasing others, she wasn't completely unaware of the gravity of situations. Upon seeing Zhao Gongming and Qiongxiao in Li Changshou's painting, she knew he was indeed a friend of Zhao Gongming. Even ordinary Grand Unity Golden Immortals couldn't discern her sister Qiongxiao's spell that concealed her true appearance; to be able to paint Qiongxiao's face and figure with such detail, Qiongxiao must certainly have met this old Daoist in her true form.

Yunxiao was indeed in seclusion. However, after a moment's consideration, Bixiao decided to wake her sister, report the matter, and present Li Changshou's visiting card.

A moment later, faint clouds and mist reappeared in the small courtyard where Li Changshou's paper avatar was situated. Two figures emerged from the mist, stepping forward in unison. The first person Li Changshou saw was a young woman in a pale green gown, adorned with a jade-green hairpin, and wearing grass-green cloth boots. Her face was quite beautiful, bearing some resemblance to Fairy Qiongxiao, but with a touch more youthful innocence. Perhaps this was Fairy Bixiao's original appearance. Of course, Li Changshou couldn't rule out the possibility that Bixiao was still teasing him.

However, Li Changshou's gaze soon shifted to the female immortal standing beside Bixiao, and he found it difficult to look away. Was this the renowned Goddess Yunxiao?

At first glance, she appeared to have a beautiful face, delicate features, and a slender figure, standing a head taller than Bixiao beside her. Upon closer inspection, her features were truly exquisite, flawless, and perfectly soft and graceful, without the slightest hint of allure or coquetry. She wore a simple, plain white gown, and her long, dark hair was neatly coiled into a cloud-like bun. Simply standing there, she was like a secluded orchid quietly blooming in an empty valley, like a solitary figure poised on a cloud-capped peak, untouched by the mortal world, radiating an ethereal purity. At that moment, the adjectives that spontaneously surfaced in Li Changshou's mind were dignity, sanctity, clarity, and elegance. She was like a pure flower stubbornly blooming amidst the fallen artistic style of the Primordial Era. This was Li Changshou's ideal fairy!

The differences between the Three Xiao sisters, just by observing their temperaments, were clear. Definitely not born of the same mother! The Three Xiao are all innate spirits; they share the same origin and transformed and cultivated together, which is why they are sisters.

Li Changshou sighed inwardly, calming the stir in his heart. He stepped forward, holding his whisk, first performed a Daoist bow, and then spoke: “Changgeng, a Daoist of the Human Sect, greets Fairy Yunxiao.”

Yunxiao's graceful eyebrows furrowed slightly. When she spoke, her voice flowed like a clear stream, incredibly gentle. “I apologize for troubling Daoist Changgeng with this journey. My younger sister was quite rude just now; please don't take offense. Is what you stated in your visiting card true?”

“It is indeed true,” Li Changshou affirmed. “I can swear an oath upon the Great Dao.”

“Daoist, there's no need for that, or my heart will be troubled.” Yunxiao sighed softly, then raised her hand to perform a divination. Her graceful eyebrows furrowed deeper as she softly murmured: “Little sister, stay here on the island. I shall accompany this Daoist for a short while.”

“Oh,” Fairy Bixiao obediently replied.

Li Changshou pondered for a moment, then continued, “Though it may be somewhat presumptuous, I still wish to ask. This matter is of great importance, Fairy Yunxiao, could you... perhaps offer some proof that you are indeed Fairy Yunxiao? Earlier, it was truly quite...”

Li Changshou was about to continue speaking, but from behind Yunxiao, Bixiao secretly made a throat-slitting gesture at him. Just then, Yunxiao turned to glance at Bixiao, who quickly dropped her hand, bowed her head, and adopted a pitiful expression.

“Alas,” Yunxiao sighed softly, her voice still gentle even when reproaching, “Little sister, you've been teasing people again.”

Bixiao pouted, “Sister, he teased me first.”

“Stay home and be good; don't wander off indiscriminately.”

Yunxiao said this, then turned and casually pointed at Li Changshou's paper avatar. A wisp of Dao charm immediately entwined with Li Changshou's primordial spirit. Soon, Li Changshou performed a Daoist bow, apologized a few times for his 'presumption', and confirmed Goddess Yunxiao's identity. There was no other choice; without this precaution, he was truly afraid of being tricked by Bixiao again.

Immediately, Yunxiao conjured a white cloud, inviting Li Changshou to step on. She then stood at one end, with Li Changshou at the other, and they swiftly flew out beyond the cloud wall, which stretched for a thousand *li*. Yunxiao had just performed a divination, already knowing Qiongxiao's current location. The white cloud traversed tens of thousands of *li* in an instant, clearly demonstrating Yunxiao's profound cultivation. She maintained a slight distance from Li Changshou throughout the journey and did not initiate any conversation.

Before long, deep within the South Sea, Yunxiao discovered traces of Qiongxiao, Zhao Gongming, and Hanzhi. These past few days, the trio had circled the West Sea and had just returned to this location. They were currently tallying their gains, with Qiongxiao playfully distributing their storage artifacts, saying, 'One for you, one for me.' They were still quite far, and Zhao Gongming and the others had not yet spotted Yunxiao.

Seeing this, Yunxiao first sighed softly, then spoke with a troubled voice: “Qiongxiao just loves to cause mischief, even dragging our elder brother into such affairs. I really must have a serious talk with them. Aren't they simply inviting negative karma upon themselves, which will inevitably lead to future calamities?”

Li Changshou: ...

Even words of rebuke were spoken so gently.

Ahem, if Yunxiao merely lectured Zhao Gongming and the others for a bit, wouldn't his trip be in vain? To curb this insidious trend of 'hit-and-run' scams and dismantle the 'Old Master Zhao' criminal syndicate of the Primordial Era, Yunxiao had to strike with full force!

Li Changshou transmitted his voice, “Fairy, you likely don't know the depth of resentment, indignation, and frustration one feels after being pranked by Daoist Gongming and his companions. Perhaps...” He then proceeded to explain his intricate plan.

Li Changshou, acting as a 'strategist' beside Yunxiao, outlined his plan. Yunxiao initially frowned slightly, unwilling to scheme against her elder brother and younger sister. However, she couldn't resist Li Changshou's clever manipulation and persuasive articulation of the benefits and drawbacks. Soon, Yunxiao nodded, then transformed herself. Completely concealing her aura and Dao charm, she appeared as an old Daoist. The old Daoist, holding a whisk, flew on a cloud towards the sea where Zhao Gongming and the others were located.

Watching the old Daoist's retreating back, Li Changshou felt a surge of emotions. When the heavens and earth created the Three Xiao, these three innate spirits, it seemed they bestowed all the gentleness, decorum, dignity, and grace upon Yunxiao, leaving the cunning, eccentricity, and mischief for Qiongxiao and Bixiao. In this cold and desolate Primordial Era, to encounter such a genuinely proper and serious great being, it was truly a rare and fortunate occurrence.

Just then, Qiongxiao, Zhao Gongming, and Hanzhi, having just finished dividing their spoils on the island, were planning their next move: whether to visit some more prosperous Great Thousand Worlds or explore the Central Divine Continent. Suddenly, Qiongxiao's eyes lit up. She spotted an old Daoist flying past nearby and, upon closer inspection, realized he was also a Golden Immortal. Qiongxiao immediately performed a divination, confirming there was no danger in approaching this individual. She then waved her hand.

“Elder brother, come on, a plump fish has willingly delivered itself to our doorstep.”

Zhao Gongming smiled calmly, ascended on a cloud with his hands behind his back, and with practiced ease, moved to intercept the old Daoist flying past. Li Changshou had already secretly instructed Yunxiao not to speak. As long as she wasn't recognized, she was to simply observe their performance in silence. Unfortunately, Li Changshou was too far away to witness the ensuing events firsthand; he could only imagine them.

So, as Yunxiao flew on her cloud, Zhao Gongming approached directly from the side, calling out, “Daoist!” The old Daoist, Yunxiao's transformation, frowned slightly, looking at her elder brother with a puzzled expression. Zhao Gongming swiftly flew closer. Still ten *zhang* away, he suddenly stumbled, collapsed onto his cloud, and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

Yunxiao was stunned and was about to rush forward when she heard Zhao Gongming weakly state, “Daoist, why did you sneak attack and injure me?”

“Hm?” Yunxiao was clearly dumbfounded.

“Elder brother!” A shrill cry rang out from the side. Qiongxiao, flying on her cloud with an anxious expression, rushed over. “Elder brother, what's wrong? Elder brother!” Then, Qiongxiao, filled with indignation, stared at the old Daoist. “What have you done to my elder brother!”

Yunxiao: ...

Next, the well-rehearsed routines of extortion and coercion were unleashed in succession. Zhao Gongming secretly activated his record-keeping pearl, having prepared oath templates. Not long after, another female immortal hurriedly flew in from the side, muttering, “Oh my, what happened here? This is dreadful, dreadful!”

A moment later...

A resounding cry of 'Enough!' echoed far across the South Sea. Li Changshou, though very far from the incident, heard the angry rebuke. The fury, disbelief, and heartbroken despair in that voice made him feel a little guilty. But before Li Changshou's paper avatar could react, a golden light suddenly flashed, his vision went black, and he was pulled into a dark, confined space. A moment later, another golden light enveloped him, 'inviting' him out of that space.

Looking up, Li Changshou found himself back on Three Immortals Island, standing in the very courtyard he had been in earlier. Before him stood Yunxiao, her lips pressed thin, her face etched with anger. Li Changshou turned his head and saw a three-foot-tall golden container behind him. Yunxiao raised her hand and pointed. Three streams of light flew out from the golden container, transforming into a bewildered Zhao Gongming, Hanzhi, and Qiongxiao.

Qiongxiao's small face turned pale as she looked at Yunxiao, who was now trembling faintly with anger, and instinctively whispered, “It's over.”

Yunxiao lightly rebuked, “Kneel!” Qiongxiao and Bixiao, who had been watching the commotion from nearby, both dropped to their knees with a thud. Bixiao even instinctively pinched her small ears, looking bewildered and helpless. Hanzhi's face was pale, and she remained prostrate on the ground, not daring to stir. Even Zhao Gongming, at this moment, bent his knees, his beard quivering, and hesitantly knelt down, his face a picture of embarrassment.

Yunxiao gently took a breath, then quickly stepped forward, suppressing her anger as she helped Zhao Gongming to his feet. “Elder brother, what are you doing? I was talking about our third sister... Alas, elder brother... Elder brother, if you are truly short of cultivation resources, you could have told your sisters. Why resort to such actions?”

Zhao Gongming was instantly at a loss, his eyes darting about as he looked at Yunxiao, unsure how to respond. “I was just... Second sister, please don't be angry, I was just...” He then saw the old immortal standing nearby, immediately understood something, and sighed, “Oh, Sea God, you've utterly ruined me! How could you!”

To avoid incurring karma and ensure Zhao Gongming and Qiongxiao wouldn't seek him out for revenge later, Li Changshou mused for a moment, then, pouring emotion into his voice and with slightly trembling hands, uttered the words he had been carefully preparing throughout his journey: “Daoist, do you recall the original intention behind our first use of this scheme? Since things have come to this, it's best to confess.”

Zhao Gongming was momentarily stunned.