Chapter 440: No, You Are Not Happy

On a mountaintop east of Fengdu City in the Underworld, beside the mighty One-Line-Sky Pass. This was the secret garden where the two Soul-Reaping Marshals slacked off during their duties, a place that witnessed their deepening brotherhood since ancient times. A brotherhood that remained pure.

A gentle breeze brushed over Horse-Face's soft mane, and gray clouds drifted past Ox-Head's black, gem-like eyes. The two were lying on the cliff top, their arms as pillows, with no pressing worries on their minds. Days when they didn't have to lead teams out to carry coffins were simply boring, leisurely, and... lonely.

"Horse, what's wrong with the Great Desolation lately?"

"For the past ten years, the Underworld has been shaking daily, Moo."

"The Great Witch Priest said a great tribulation is coming, didn't he? Neigh."

"Let's recruit some people in advance. Who knows when the tribulation will erupt, and we'll be too swamped again."

Horse-Face scoffed, "Who would we find? Being a Soul Reaper isn't easy; you have to be able to frighten mortal souls."

"Sigh, if only the Water God could give us some ideas... I heard the Water God was injured; I wonder if he's recovered."

As Ox-Head spoke, he suddenly blinked, adjusted his headpiece, and sat up. "Why did I only think of this now! Quick! Let's get some Underworld specialties and go visit Lord Water God!"

Horse-Face calmly shook his head. "Is the Water God that easy to meet? He's a powerful Heavenly Court deity, a disciple of the Human Teaching Saint. I heard that His Majesty the Jade Emperor, in a fit of rage over the Water God's injury, almost directly annihilated the demon race..."

"That's not necessarily true," Ox-Head chuckled. "If we visit in the Underworld's name, surely the Water God will meet us? The Heavenly Court can't stop us, can they? Just imagine, when the Water God is most in need of comfort after his injury, we'll choose five hundred—no, fifty—beautiful female vengeful spirits! What if the Water God finds a little happiness he never had before, hehehehe! After this, won't we be like this?"

Ox-Head waggled a raised thumb, and Horse-Face immediately looked disgusted.

Suddenly...

"Two Marshals, I trust you've been well."

That gentle voice, that familiar aura, that scent etched into their bones!

Ox-Head's and Horse-Face's headpieces simultaneously trembled. They stood up and looked towards the distant horizon, seeing the young Daoist approaching on a cloud... Li Changshou, a disciple of the Du Xian Sect.

Ox-Head and Horse-Face exchanged glances, their eyes frantically communicating.

Seeing this, Li Changshou smiled helplessly and sent a voice transmission from afar: "I didn't hear anything just now. Have you two been short on seasoning lately?"

Hearing this, Ox-Head and Horse-Face were overjoyed. They stood up and leaped off the cliff, signaling the 'listless' underworld officers below to perk up. Gongs were beaten, drums were struck, and their long-unused sign was proudly displayed.

"The Underworld Welcomes You, Yin and Yang are One Family!"

Li Changshou: ...

True Lord Taiyi felt somewhat offended.

From Li Changshou's sleeve, a small head peeked out. It was Ling'e, who had transformed into a three-inch-tall figure, with cloud-like hair, a silken skirt, and a pretty face. Her small hands clutched the edge of her senior brother's sleeve as she curiously looked around. Her senior brother had told her he was taking her to a good place. This was...

Ling'e was suddenly startled!

"Senior brother, isn't this the Underworld? Did Master really!?"

"Mmm..." Li Changshou raised his hand, tucking it into his sleeve, and gently pressed Ling'e back inside with his fingers. "Behave. Master was decided to be reincarnated early. What happened here is quite complex. We can only come here to see Master this one time."

Ling'e was stunned. But hearing her senior brother's calm words, for a moment, not many emotions welled up... After all, Ling'e had already sensed something was wrong a few years ago and had done a lot of mental preparation. She just hadn't expected that Master had truly reincarnated. Since Master decided to reincarnate, then as a disciple, she could only wish... wait a minute!

"Was *reincarnated*?"

A network of black lines appeared on little Ling'e's forehead. "Isn't that just being killed!"

Before she could question her senior brother, she heard voices from outside. She tiptoed inside Li Changshou's sleeve and peeked out again, seeing Ox-Head, Horse-Face, and the Underworld's 'welcoming' grim reaper brigade...

After some polite exchanges, Li Changshou took out two jars of seasoning and a jade talisman, stating that he had come on the Water God's orders to request an audience with Empress Houtu. Ox-Head and Horse-Face dared not be careless. They took the jade talisman and glanced at it. Ox-Head summoned the ox-drawn carriage specifically for VIPs and slowly, leisurely took Li Changshou towards Fengdu City. Horse-Face, on the other hand, bolted away, to first seek instructions from Lord Yama.

In the North Continent battle twelve years ago, although Li Changshou's true appearance was exposed, the beings present were either obliterated or were allies like Uncle Zhao. So, he could still continue his act for now. A little extra assurance never hurts.

Li Changshou also had some confidence in bringing Ling'e to the Underworld. After all, with all the Saints now aware, and Saint Taiqing personally appearing to protect him, his 'insurance' had increased immensely. Furthermore, currently, the Xuanhuang Pagoda floated around Li Changshou's primordial spirit. He carried the Qiankun Ruler in his sleeve, and the Off-Ground Flame Light Flag was pressed against his chest. He could also summon some of the Taiji Diagram's power for support at any time... To put it safely, this was the most secure he had felt in five hundred years, both past and future!

At this moment, Li Changshou's mind was also bustling. Old Man Pagoda was drunkenly recounting his twelve years of close contact with Sister Gold Dou, while Aunt Off-Ground Flame Light Flag expressed her speechlessness. Brother Qiankun Ruler secretly gave a cold chuckle. As if he hadn't been there himself! Of course, the Qiankun Ruler didn't dare to say that out loud. After all, wasn't there a pecking order?

It's worth mentioning that the Taiji Diagram also began to send spiritual thoughts, joining their conversation. Clearly, after passing the test Old Man Pagoda mentioned, Patriarch Taiqing had completely recognized him as a Saint's disciple. The Taiji Diagram no longer regarded him as an outsider...

While he didn't have to return the Human Teaching's supreme treasures yet, Li Changshou left Three Immortals Island and decided to bring Ling'e to pay respects to his Master. As Qi Refiners, they should all view life and death lightly; otherwise, they wouldn't be able to endure the loneliness of long years...

Ordinary immortals paid respects at a grave by finding a mound, offering a Daoist salute, lighting incense, placing fruits, and reciting a few eulogies. Powerful Heavenly Court ministers, however, would directly pursue the soul to the Underworld's Six Paths of Reincarnation Disc, and the kind that actually enters.

Without any complications, Li Changshou arrived beside the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disc and was enveloped by a beam of light into it... This time, Empress Houtu did not show herself. She placed Li Changshou on a gentle slope. Beyond the slope was a small pool. Several golden orbs of light floated in it, and the soul of old Daoist Qiyuan was among them.

A hint of peace appeared in Li Changshou's eyes. He took Ling'e out from his sleeve. Threads of immortal light swirled around her. Ling'e's figure spun, returning to her normal size, and then... Her small mouth pursed, her eyes reddened, and large eyes shimmered with tears. Gazing at her Master's soul, she covered her mouth and nose and cried out: "Master, you died so miserably!"

Li Changshou: ... He didn't even vanish, soul and spirit.

Standing at the edge of the pool, Li Changshou watched his Master's soul for a while, then looked towards the distant horizon. His mood was less stifled than before. Ling'e, meanwhile, became busy. She didn't know why she had prepared them in advance, but she had yellow paper, an incense table, offerings, and fruits ready. She set up a small altar, put on a white cloak, and knelt there, burning paper for her Master.

Ling'e sniffled, her small nose tip swollen from crying, and whispered: "Master, have a safe journey..."

Li Changshou corrected her, "This is already the end of the road. He's starting anew."

Ling'e whimpered, mumbling, "Then, Master. When you were here before, your disciple didn't get to show much filial piety, although that was because you were always sleeping indoors and didn't come out. Master, it was you who brought your disciple back to the mountain and into the immortal path. Your disciple hasn't even been able to let you enjoy a peaceful life yet... Master, I'm burning paper here. You can use it here, without having to go through the hands of the big and small devils of the Underworld. Buy more in the Underworld... no, Master, you can't even get out of here. Master, you died so miserably."

"It's actually alright," Li Changshou said calmly. "Master's reincarnated body will be much more splendid than this life. He'll need to nurture here for unknown hundreds of years before he can reincarnate and be reborn."

Ling'e looked up at her senior brother, sighed, and continued to burn paper with her head bowed.

Half an hour later, Ling'e, with red-rimmed eyes, packed up her offering set. The Qiankun Ruler tapped her shoulder, and she instantly transformed into a three-inch-tall little fairy, who was then placed into her senior brother's sleeve... This was simply to prevent her identity from being exposed.

Li Changshou offered a Daoist salute towards the distance, and was then sent out of the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disc. The senior brother and sister also received a gentle voice transmission: "You can come here anytime you wish."

Ling'e transmitted a question: "Senior brother, is that Empress Houtu speaking?"

"Yes," Li Changshou replied, then offered a Daoist salute to Ox-Head and Horse-Face waiting ahead, and said with a smile, "Thank you for your trouble."

Ox-Head laughed, "No trouble at all, no trouble at all. We're family, family! Moo."

Horse-Face asked, "Has Lord Water God's injury healed?"

"He should be fine now. He'll soon return to the Heavenly Court to report on his duties," Li Changshou briefly explained, then left the Reincarnation Immortal Island above the Eighteen Layers of Hell with Ox-Head and Horse-Face, heading back the way they came.

Back at Little Qiong Peak, Li Changshou and Ling'e were busy for a while. Li Changshou tidied up his Master's thatched hut and sealed it with immortal power. From then on, it would remain incorruptible for a thousand years and preserved for ten thousand. Ling'e used the skills she had honed by repeatedly carving the "Scripture of Stability" on stone slabs to carve a small stone tablet for her Master, placing it in the center of the hut. Ling'e wiped away her tears in front of the tablet again and softly asked: "Senior brother, how should we tell Grandmaster about this?"

"Just tell him directly," Li Changshou chuckled. "You go tell Grandmaster, and I'll go to the Hall of Hundred Mortals to notify the sect. Actually, Ling'e..."

"Hmm?"

Ling'e looked up at Li Changshou, her eyes reflecting the relaxed smile on her senior brother's lips, and couldn't help but gently purse her own lips.

Li Changshou said, "For us Qi Refiners, if one's soul and spirit haven't scattered, it's not truly 'gone'. Master has reincarnated, and although he is no longer our Master, we can still know that he is actually still 'there'. Moreover, after reincarnation, Master will not enter the Turbid Immortal path again..."

"Senior brother," Ling'e interrupted Li Changshou, a slight smile appearing at the corners of her mouth. "I know all of this."

"Hmm," Li Changshou raised his hand, subconsciously wanting to ruffle her head, but then felt a moment of daze. She's already grown so big. Laughing wryly, Li Changshou said, "I'll go to the Hall of Hundred Mortals first," and turned to walk towards the door.

"Senior brother!" Ling'e called out. Before Li Changshou could turn around, he was gently embraced by Ling'e from behind. This usually bashful immortal showed no sign of blushing today. Clinging to Li Changshou's Daoist robe, her forehead rested on her senior brother's back, and she whispered: "You still have me."

"I'm fine. Don't let this affect your Dao Heart. Master's lifespan was originally limited. This day merely arrived a bit sooner." Li Changshou patted Ling'e's soft hand, responded gently, and hurried to the Hall of Hundred Mortals on a cloud.

When Qiyuan died, the Du Xian Sect Master decided to hold a grand funeral for Little Qiong Peak, but Li Changshou stopped him. Elder Wan Linyun proposed taking Li Changshou and Ling'e into Dan Ding Peak, but Sect Master Ji Wuyou quickly denied it. If Elder Wan hadn't looked so fierce, Ji Wuyou would have almost clapped a hand over Elder Wan's mouth on the spot! But all in all, Master's presence in the Du Xian Sect wasn't particularly prominent, and it didn't cause much attention.

Jiang Lin'er shut herself in Qiyuan's thatched hut for half a month, then emerged with a smile, and told True Lord Wangqing, who had waited outside with her for half a month, "I'm fine." Life, death, and separation, these great matters of emotion, also offered many insights for Qi Refiners. Whether these insights are useful or not is another matter for now; people always have to look forward.

Li Changshou collected himself and gradually began to resume his duties. He first reactivated his paper effigies one by one, and also went to Black Pond Peak to drink and chat with Bai Ze, planning for future affairs. The Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods should be in eight or nine hundred years. Li Changshou had now formally entered a tribulation, but it wasn't the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods. His tribulation wasn't one of death and Dao dissipation, nor one of entering the Investiture of the Gods List. Firstly, he would not become an object of Investiture. The three sects currently undergoing the tribulation were the Jie, Chan, and Western Teachings. Secondly, he was now a powerful Heavenly Court minister. His situation was quite different from that of the future Yang Jian. Erlang Shen Yang Jian, not yet born at this time, although he held a Heavenly Court divine position during the Investiture, was also a Chan Teaching disciple. He entered the Great Tribulation of Investiture to block disaster for his master, and eventually ascended to heaven physically, with his divine position promoted. Li Changshou didn't need to enter on behalf of the Human Teaching, having already extricated himself. But at that time, to kill Lu Ya, he used the Way of Balance to draw Lu Ya into the tribulation, causing Lu Ya to be controlled by the great tribulation. This counteracted Lu Ya's 'Heavenly Dao protection'. He himself was thus tied to the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods. Only by using tribulation to attack tribulation could Lu Ya be directly killed on the spot. For this, Li Changshou had no regrets. If given another chance, he would still choose the same.

Li Changshou entering the tribulation himself was supposedly to perfect his Dao within the great tribulation. If he successfully passed through the tribulation, he would gain immeasurable benefits. If he lost... His immortal Dao Fruit could still be preserved, but he would surely become merely a tool of the Heavenly Dao thereafter, with no room for him to struggle at all. The Heavenly Dao needed to be balanced, which was actually tacitly allowed by the Heavenly Dao itself. The relationship here was extremely subtle, requiring careful consideration.

In these twelve years, while Li Changshou was comprehending the Great Way of Balance, he also repaired his Ethereal Dao Heart. Because he had strengthened and upgraded his Ethereal Dao Heart, Li Changshou renamed this divine ability: Sage's Moment! Vivid, evocative, and profound.

"Let's return to the Heavenly Court tomorrow." Under the starry night, Li Changshou looked up at the sky, his mind clear, following the Dao of Nature.

Meanwhile, in the card and chess room.

Several figures quietly gathered here, activating the arrays around the card and chess room and setting up layers of immortal power barriers. Ling'e, Jiu Jiu, Youqin Xuanya, Jiu Yushi, Jiang Lin'er, and Xiong Lingli were currently gathered in a secluded corner, employing the Human Teaching's traditional skill—'face-to-face voice transmission'.

Jiu Jiu mumbled, "I think Changshou is quite normal right now. Although Senior Brother Qiyuan unfortunately perished, and we are very saddened, Changshou's Dao Heart shouldn't be shattered."

Ling'e pinched her chin and said seriously, "No, he's not truly happy."

Youqin Xuanya stated firmly, "For Senior Brother Changshou to move past this shadow, I am willing to do anything."

Jiang Lin'er wondered, "Why would Changshou have a shadow?"

"Well..."

Jiu Jiu waved her small hand. "He doesn't need to know. Let's start discussing what to do: The 'Save Changshou from Unhappiness' plan!"