Chapter 76: Mystery of Jingmei

What does it mean to 'accomplish a deed, brush off one's clothes, and deeply conceal one's identity and fame'? In Youqin Xuanya's eyes, Li Changshou's actions this time perfectly embodied this sentiment.

Senior Brother Changshou had seemingly expended immense effort, endured countless hardships, and narrowly secured a victory against the Jie School disciple and Ao Yi, the Second Prince of the East Sea Dragon Palace... yet he was incredibly modest, sought no recognition, and quietly departed.

However, in reality...

Li Changshou first personally helped Ao Yi to his feet, apologizing for any offense he might have caused. This was to defuse potential animosity, lessening the ill will of the Jie School disciples and Ao Yi towards him. Next, Li Changshou apologized before the hall, stating that his victory was unfair, merely achieved by exploiting the sect's inherited escape and talisman techniques. He admitted this tarnished the sect's reputation and expressed willingness to accept any punishment. This further reduced animosity, brought glory to the immortal sect, and subtly hinted to Uncle-Master Jiuwu that he wished to return to Little Qiong Peak. Afterwards, Li Changshou bowed to the group from Golden Ao Island, looking regretful. With a few simple words and two or three gestures, Li Changshou subtly provided everyone with a gracious way out.

Among the Immortality Sect elders, some were understanding. Realizing Li Changshou wanted to avoid conflict with Golden Ao Island and the Dragon Palace, they deliberately put on stern faces, reprimanded him a few times, and ordered him to return to Little Qiong Peak for solitary reflection. This elder was merely putting on a show; the unspoken message was for Li Changshou to return to Little Qiong Peak and await his reward. However, Youqin Xuanya, who was nearby, kept frowning. Had her master not held her back, she would have certainly stepped forward to defend her close friend, Senior Brother Changshou.

Watching Li Changshou's receding figure under the starlit sky, Youqin Xuanya sighed softly. "When will I be as outstanding as Senior Brother?"

After Li Changshou left Broken Heaven Peak on his cloud, he too sighed inwardly. *Finally, that period is over; it was truly troublesome.* No matter how he handled it, the fact remained that Little Qiong Peak had drawn attention from throughout the sect. Once the paper avatar returned from its excursion, he would quietly resume refining pills, aiming for ten to eight years of peace before continuing his wealth accumulation plan. No, ten to eight years wasn't enough; at least twenty years to start!

*That young dragon, judging by his expression, might come to Little Qiong Peak later to offer apologies.* Li Changshou pondered, then hid all his "Beautiful Maiden's Charm" from his treasure pouch, to avoid accidentally pulling it out later. Moreover, "Beautiful Maiden's Charm" wasn't something only he could refine; countless Qi Refiners in the Primordial World enjoyed drinking. Based solely on this, the "East Sea Dragon Cleansing Case" wouldn't trace back to him.

Broken Heaven Peak was bustling at the moment, with various Heavenly Immortals already lecturing and debating the Dao. Those who had watched the earlier battle remained to listen to both sides' Heavenly Immortals. However, Li Changshou noted that the Golden Ao Island group seemed to be simmering with anger, probably anticipating a confrontation with the sect's Heavenly Immortals later. This didn't concern him; he had simply fulfilled the mission assigned by the sect.

Upon returning to Little Qiong Peak, Li Changshou first walked a few laps around his alchemy lab, pondering if he had overlooked anything, and if so, how to remedy it. *If his master's enemy was also watching today... what would they think?* If he could provoke this enemy into attacking him, that would be even better. He could create an opportunity, deliberately venture out, find a place, and 'scatter' them. Before acting, he could even use a sound-image orb to record proof that the enemy had attacked him, an innocent disciple, and that he had only survived thanks to the protective poison bestowed by Elder Wan Linjun. Afterwards, even if sect rules dictated he be confined to Little Qiong Peak for several centuries, it would be no problem at all, as his true body had no desire to go anywhere.

Li Changshou chuckled, knowing this was merely wishful thinking on his part. A nascent immortal seedling at the seventh stage of the Void Refinement Realm was, after all, just a young disciple; the enemy likely wouldn't perceive him as a threat yet. He'd see how things unfolded.

Although Li Changshou wanted to ask his master who the enemy from back then was, firstly, he feared bringing up painful memories for his master, and secondly, he considered his master's dignity. If he asked others, he might be suspected later if something happened to that enemy. This matter required careful planning.

His unexpected 'exposure' this time wasn't due to any failing on his part. There was no need to be self-deprecating; Li Changshou had already done his utmost in all his self-preservation efforts. But who could have imagined... while he was happily strolling through Linhai Town, buying herbs and selling pills, he shifted his consciousness back to his main body and opened his eyes, only to find Jiuwu and Ao Yi—two people completely unrelated to each other—wandering aimlessly within the confining array around his alchemy lab. What on earth? Although there had been a premonition—his unexpected encounter with the Golden Ao Island group in Linhai Town—he genuinely hadn't anticipated events unfolding this way.

*Later, I'll tell Master that Little Qiong Peak should refuse all guests.* Li Changshou sighed, then actively sensed the primordial spirit energy of his paper avatar, instantly switching his consciousness to it. Finding the surroundings quiet and free of threats, he immediately switched back to his main body. That 'inn' was established by the Linhai Sword Sect, and the rent for even a small suite wasn't cheap. But it was relatively safer there, being near where Heavenly Immortal experts of the Linhai Sword Sect were regularly stationed, with patrolling immortal soldiers paying close attention. Now, he could only wait for the sect to completely settle down before resuming his wealth accumulation efforts.

Still somewhat uneasy, Li Changshou walked two more circles around the mountain, checking the concealment of various underground array foundations. After being busy for a while, his immortal sense suddenly detected a figure flying from the direction of Pill Cauldron Peak, quickly landing near the lakeside thatched cottage. Li Changshou quickly rode his cloud back. From a distance, he saw a figure standing by the lake. Ling'e peeked out from her thatched cottage and pointed to the lakeside, indicating an old man with a copper-skinned walking stick: Elder Wan Linjun.

"Elder, why are you here?" Li Changshou quickly stepped forward to bow.

Wan Linjun turned to look at Li Changshou, a hint of admiration in his eyes, and a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth revealed a trace of a merciless, cold smile. "I used my immortal sense and saw that you won against that dragon prince, yet were harshly criticized by other elders, so I thought I'd come over to see you. This time you... did well. Escape techniques are also your own skill, your own capability. You don't need to care too much about what others think. If anyone in the sect blames you later, just show them this."

As he spoke, Elder Wan Linjun's somewhat shriveled hand pushed forward, sending a black jade artifact over with immortal power. Li Changshou received it with both hands, lowering his head to examine it. Inside the jade, he saw a wisp of aura, and in the center, a flowing, powerful character '筠' (Yun).

"Just tell them I said so," Elder Wan Linjun said fiercely. "From now on, I will protect your Little Qiong Peak lineage. No one can reprimand or criticize you!"

Li Changshou felt a warmth in his heart and quickly expressed his gratitude. He knew this elder wasn't plotting anything; Little Qiong Peak had nothing worth plotting for. Elder Wan Linjun had truly been isolated for many years, lacking understanding of human affairs and social niceties. Earlier, when Li Changshou and several elders were giving each other face and putting on a show, Elder Wan Linjun had mistakenly believed that Li Changshou was being harshly criticized by the sect. Escape techniques were looked down upon by sect members; poisons were also looked down upon by sect members... Li Changshou mused inwardly that Elder Wan Linjun might have recalled past events, which was why he was so agitated.

Elder Wan Linjun's leg injury was inflicted by his own master; because Wan Linjun delved into poison scriptures, his master had cursed him as a heretic, disgracing the Dao of Alchemy. For tens of thousands of years thereafter, Elder Wan Linjun painstakingly researched the Dao of Poison, simply wishing to prove to his master that poison, too, was medicine – this very phrase was written at the end of every poison scripture authored by Elder Wan Linjun. However, when Elder Wan Linjun, with his unparalleled poisonous pills, saved the Immortality Sect from a horde of demons ten thousand years ago, his master had already passed away.

Li Changshou gripped the jade and bowed deeply. "Disciple thanks Elder for your concern."

Wan Linjun again displayed that stiff smile and said, "You rest. I still need to go back and refine pills."

"Disciple will visit the peak another day."

"Mm, just come whenever."

Wan Linjun put away his smile, which could stop a baby's crying, tapped his staff, and a cloud formed from the ground, carrying him towards Pill Cauldron Peak. This elder came here simply to encourage Li Changshou. While other elders wouldn't reward Li Changshou, he would; while other sect seniors wouldn't protect Li Changshou, he would. It was that simple.

Holding the jade pendant, Li Changshou stood by the lake, gazing into the distance for a while before his heart finally settled. Although the Primordial World was perilous, not all its inhabitants were evil.

"Senior Brother!" Ling'e poked her head out the window again, whispering, "Someone else is coming!"

"I see them." Li Changshou put away the jade pendant, clasped his hands behind his back, and sighed softly. "It really is a day for many guests..."

"Junior Sister, you've been very well-behaved today," Li Changshou turned his head to praise her.

Ling'e, leaning on the windowsill, made a face. "Isn't it just because I'm afraid of causing you trouble and getting scolded again! Oh, Senior Brother, did you... concede just now?"

"I won," Li Changshou transmitted mentally. "When you're within your own sect, you still need to consider these things. Right, clean yourself up later and bring some tea to my room. That Dragon Palace Prince Ao Yi brought a female companion; our Little Qiong Peak also needs to send out someone aesthetically pleasing."

Ling'e blinked, then pursed her lips and chuckled twice. She quickly activated the isolation array outside her room, recently improved by her Senior Brother, and swiftly began changing and dressing up.

Soon, Ao Yi, Hanzhi, and Uncle-Master Jiuwu, who was guiding them, slowly descended on a cloud. Li Changshou stepped forward to greet them. He exchanged a glance with Jiuwu, and the two immediately understood each other. Li Changshou had already guessed they would come and that Ao Yi would apologize, but he hadn't expected the young prince to bow so deeply upon meeting.

"Second Prince, there's no need for such formality. Please come in quickly. My humble abode is crude; I apologize if it makes you laugh." Immediately, Li Changshou led Ao Yi and Fairy Hanzhi into his thatched cottage. Without waiting for Ao Yi to mention the day's events, Li Changshou immediately asked, "Does Your Highness have any understanding of the art of painting?" Steering the conversation towards unrelated matters.

Ao Yi and Hanzhi quickly had their attention diverted by Li Changshou; and Li Changshou also brought out many scrolls of paintings he had collected and created in his leisure time, offering them for appreciation. The direction of the conversation was completely controlled by Li Changshou. Ao Yi and Hanzhi, one dragon and one human, continuously nodded beside him, finding it exceedingly interesting. Jiuwu had initially worried the atmosphere would be awkward, but soon, the short Daoist was also drawn into the conversation, joining the ranks of those appreciating and even bringing out his own private collection.

Half an hour later, Ling'e, who had meticulously dressed up, brought tea, making the three 'guests' eyes light up. Li Changshou's junior sister—wore a plain silk dress, with artfully arranged cloud-like hair, a slanted jade hairpin, and dangling white pearls. Her enchanting eyes, delicate nose, and lightly powdered lips; her clever ears, upturned lashes, and teeth like honey. Brows like a crescent moon, a fair neck exuding fragrance. Skin surpassing frost and snow, a slender waist of unparalleled grace. At first glance, she seemed like a fairy from a heavenly palace, dancing alongside a zither; on a second look, one might feel she was a beauty stepped out from a painting.

Ling'e's temperament and appearance, in all aspects, subtly overshadowed Hanzhi, the Jie School fairy. And when Ling'e sat neatly beside her Senior Brother, her clear eyes sparkling, Jiuwu couldn't help but ponder... *Xiaojiu, she shouldn't be interested in Changshou, right? If there really were feelings there, then this junior sister next to Changshou... I'd really have to warn Xiaojiu.* —The keen sense of impending crisis from an experienced person.

The topic of painting continued from midnight until dawn. Ao Yi and Hanzhi both felt that Li Changshou was a person of "refined taste, detached from vulgarity." Hosts and guests were all enjoying themselves. Seeing that they still didn't want to leave, Li Changshou could only steer the conversation towards music. But Hanzhi suddenly received a message from her master and whispered a few words into Ao Yi's ear. The young dragon prince frowned and pondered for a few moments, then, with a look of regret, stood up to bid Li Changshou farewell. Some changes had occurred at Broken Heaven Peak. Ao Yi's two "convenient" senior brothers were also going to spar with two Immortality Sect elders, and they needed to rush over to watch.

Li Changshou saw them out of the thatched cottage, accompanying them all the way to the lake, before finally "reluctantly bidding them farewell." Finally, he had sent them off. The young-looking Second Prince of the Dragon Clan smiled, "Brother Changshou, if you ever find free time, please do come to Golden Ao Island for a visit. I will certainly roll out the red carpet to welcome you, and we can have another heart-to-heart talk."

"Certainly, certainly." Ao Yi and Hanzhi hurried towards Broken Heaven Peak. Jiuwu subtly gave Li Changshou a thumbs-up, then followed them on his cloud.

Li Changshou raised his hand and waved, thinking inwardly: *May we meet again if fate allows... Of course, preferably not.*

Having sent off the trouble, Li Changshou stretched, his immortal sense observing Broken Heaven Peak. Revered Master of Forgetfulness was about to make a move again; although Li Changshou also wanted to watch, he ultimately felt he had enough trouble for one day, so he merely observed this Heavenly Immortal 'spar' from a distance.

In the thatched cottage, Ling'e, in good spirits, diligently began tidying up, putting away cups and plates, and organizing scattered painting scrolls. Her gaze was drawn to a scroll that had slightly unrolled, and she tilted her head to look, seeing a line written at the top: "My Beloved." The handwriting was Senior Brother's. Senior Brother's cherished? *Hmph, I want to see what kind of woman you like.* Ling'e secretly glanced at Li Changshou's back as he stood by the lake, then pulled out the scroll and slowly unrolled it.

This item, in fact, was a 'retirement secret treasure'—precisely Li Changshou's early discarded, initial version of a 'mind-calming secret treasure,' named "A Hundred Beauties Grow Old." Because its artistry was exquisite and its painting quality surpassed his average level, Li Changshou kept it as an emergency backup secret treasure. It had been tossed into the treasure pouch containing finished painting scrolls for decades, and had previously been mistakenly taken out by Li Changshou, though it hadn't been displayed.

Ling'e continued to unroll the scroll, and soon she saw the multitude of beauties. Her small hands began to tremble uncontrollably, her slender legs gave way, and she collapsed by the writing desk.

This... What to do?