Chapter 130 Master, Disciple Did His Best
"Um..." Looking at Dongmu Gong in front of him, the Matchmaker furrowed his brows, feeling slightly awkward. "This... um..."
At this moment, the two were sitting in the flower hall of the side hall of the Matchmaker's temple. Dongmu Gong leaned forward, taking the initiative to move closer.
The Matchmaker was quite familiar with this kind of gesture. Generally, when someone came to him for help but didn't want others to know, they would subconsciously make such movements. Not only that, but Dongmu Gong's actions of handing over the treasure pouch and the evasive look in his eyes while speaking... The Matchmaker was all too familiar with them.
However, the request Dongmu Gong made today was truly unheard of, and it left the Matchmaker in a dilemma. If it were just a matter of tying a red string, based on Dongmu Gong's status, position, and qualifications, the Matchmaker would definitely not dare to refuse. He would accept it even if it cost him some merit points.
But...
"Matchmaker, can you give me a definite answer?" Dongmu Gong asked in a low voice, his eyes showing a hint of helplessness.
"Dongmu Gong," the Matchmaker clasped his hands and said seriously, "to be honest, I have indeed helped people tie red strings before, but those were situations where the two people were already somewhat connected, implying mutual interest. That's the only way the red strings could be tied. I have also indeed helped people sever red strings, but that was when both sides of the relationship were struggling, and cutting the red string would give them relief. However, I absolutely cannot do what you're asking for, which is to sever all the fate clay figurines related to marriage. That would go against the destiny of those marked by the stars!"
Listening to the Matchmaker's sincere words, Dongmu Gong pondered for a moment, but in his mind, he recalled the words of the "old man".
"If the first plan fails, then Dongmu Gong can consider changing his mind, choose a suitable partner, and get married as soon as possible. Then find an excuse to ask His Majesty for a plaque or something similar, to wish you and your wife a harmonious union. After that, Dongmu Gong should often be seen publicly showing affection with his wife. Wouldn't that help to dispel suspicion?"
Of course, Dongmu Gong had no idea that the "old man" who gave him this idea was actually several times more complicated than what he currently thought...
Dongmu Gong pondered for a moment and said, "Then, Matchmaker, could you take me to see... my marriage fate? This matter is of great importance. If the Matchmaker could lend a hand, there will be a reward in the future."
The Matchmaker smiled bitterly and said, "As you wish, Dongmu Gong, I dare not disrespect. Please follow me."
With that, the Matchmaker led Dongmu Gong to the back hall, summoned Dongmu Gong's marriage fate clay figurines, and brought over all the clay figurines that could potentially be his partners.
Dongmu Gong's eyes lit up when he saw several marriage fate clay figurines floating around him. These figurines all had red threads extending towards his own clay figurine.
"Am I usually this popular?" Dongmu Gong joked.
"Dongmu Gong, His Majesty trusts you deeply, and you are also a male immortal..." the Matchmaker started but was interrupted by Dongmu Gong.
"Don't say such things, Matchmaker!" Dongmu Gong interrupted the compliment, pondering for a moment as he carefully examined the figurines reaching out to him.
Suddenly, as if blessed by providence, a thought flashed through Dongmu Gong's mind...
Some time ago, when he first met the Sea God with His Majesty, the Sea God had presented His Majesty with twelve pieces of advice. The last piece of advice contained the phrase "borrowing mediocrity to seek stability".
Dongmu Gong pondered for a moment...
"Borrowing mediocrity" meant appearing as ordinary as possible, so as not to arouse others' vigilance.
"Seeking stability"... seeking stability...
"Matchmaker!" Dongmu Gong suddenly looked up, his eyes sparkling, as he grabbed the Matchmaker's arm, startling him.
"Dongmu Gong, how do you want to proceed?" the Matchmaker asked nervously.
Dongmu Gong extended his left hand, and his five fingers slowly clenched into a fist.
"I want... all of them!" he declared.
The Matchmaker shuddered.
What was wrong with Dongmu Gong? He had previously expressed his intention to remain single, to avoid marriage, and now he suddenly...
Truly a remarkable individual!
With Dongmu Gong's high status and authority, the Matchmaker dared not say much. Moreover, the marriage fate clay figurines that the Matchmaker had just summoned were indeed all potential partners for Dongmu Gong. It was just that Dongmu Gong's cultivation was profound, and if he didn't have such thoughts, the red threads of fate wouldn't have connected with his clay figurine.
"Um... um, I'll get started right away," the Matchmaker replied in a low voice, immediately getting busy.
...
At the Xian Gate, just a third of the way through the spiritual cultivation circle.
These three female Qi Refiners, who were several hundred or even thousands of months old despite being eighteen years old, finally realized that if they continued to play while cultivating, they might not finish this place in ten or twenty years.
So, Ling'e and Youqin Xuanya discussed it and decided to get their junior apprentice brother drunk and then take action...
Efficiency immediately increased by more than ten times!
In just three months, they had already completed one-third of the transformation here!
In recent days, Youqin Xuanya was urged by her master to return to practice for several months, so Ling'e was busy alone in various places in the Beast Circle.
One thousand six hundred more repetitions of the Stabilizing Scripture; at least another half year of work in the Beast Circle...
Thinking about this, Ling'e sighed softly, covering her skirt as she knelt on the grass next to the pond where the Lingfood Jade Frog was cultivated.
It was really...
If it weren't to open up her senior brother's emotional defenses as soon as possible, to make her senior brother have some thoughts about men and women, she wouldn't have to suffer with her junior apprentice brother and Youqin Senior Sister.
Ling'e was self-aware that she probably couldn't handle her senior brother alone.
"Ling'e?"
Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded in her ears, and Ling'e subconsciously jumped up, staring at her senior brother.
"Senior Brother! Why did you walk so quietly?" Ling'e complained, staring at him. "And why are you spacing out here? What if someone attacks? How will you respond?"
Ling'e stuck out her tongue, feeling wronged, and said, "I'm just too tired lately... And besides, Senior Brother, you've been on the peak all this time. How could anyone sneak up on you?"
Li Changshou's slightly furrowed brows relaxed a bit, and his gaze softened. "Help me later, then go cultivate. Let's leave the Beast Circle for Zhujiu to handle."
Ling'e suddenly pursed her lips and chuckled softly. "Oh... How can I help you, Senior Brother?"
Li Changshou thought for a moment and said, "Follow me."
With that, Li Changshou and Ling'e went to the side attic together.
The attic was finely crafted, with top-quality materials and paint chosen by Youqin Xuanya herself...
Truly befitting a princess of the mortal world, the decoration of this chess and card room exuded an air of royal gambling!
Li Changshou took out a portrait from his sleeve, showing a handsome man. It was the portrait he used to "dress up" the Paper Daoist.
Then, he secretly hung up the portrait and placed a sachet behind it, asking Ling'e to examine the portrait with her spiritual sense...
After a while, Li Changshou asked, "How is it?"
"What, how is what?" Ling'e blinked weakly.
Li Changshou said, "Did you have any images in your mind?"
"Huh?" Ling'e tilted her head. "It's just a portrait. What images would there be?"
Li Changshou frowned and said, "Continue to investigate."
"Okay," Ling'e obediently replied, sitting down and continuing to search the portrait with her spiritual sense.
Li Changshou carefully sensed it, but Ling'e didn't show any changes.
"This doesn't make sense," Li Changshou said as he put away the portrait and took back the sachet, planning to unlock the seal on it and seal the medicine inside...
At that moment, there was a soft sound, and Ling'e's face turned red. She exhaled lightly and bit her lip with force. "Senior Brother..."
Li Changshou immediately sealed the sachet and directly dissipated the medicinal power, turning it into mist and sending it into Ling'e's nose.
After a moment...
Ling'e let out a sigh of relief, looking at Li Changshou with some trepidation. However, her face gradually turned red again as she stuttered, "Senior Brother, what did you just do? If you... If you didn't need to use such methods..."
Li Changshou looked up at the sky and said, "Focus on cultivating well, stop overthinking. I was just testing out a pill for Master."
Then, Li Changshou, with a puzzled look on his face, walked away, holding the sachet.
Doesn't this pill work on those with someone in their heart?
Then, why did Senior Uncle Jiawu react that way when he took the Mind-Clarifying Pill I gave him earlier? Is it because the medicine is unstable, or is it because of Senior Uncle Jiawu himself...
Hmm...
This is bad, really bad.
"Senior Brother!" Ling'e chased after him from the attic, holding onto the door frame, softly calling out, "Do you want me to take that thing and let you use your 'spiritual sense' to test it? You'll only know the effect if you experience it yourself~"
Li Changshou paused, raised his hand, waved it, and then flew away on a cloud towards his grass hut.
"Hmph! I knew you wouldn't dare! I knew you'd choose to be cautious!" Ling'e snorted, rolled her eyes, and walked back to her room in the attic...
However, at this moment, Li Changshou was already starting to ponder how to improve the two types of pills he had just created.
The Immortal Sense Poison Pill should be considered Elder Wanlin Jun's innovation. Li Changshou was just standing on the strong branch of a giant tree, creating a side branch...
He had already made two types of Immortal Sense Pills, using a large batch of precious herbs and treasures he had earned, but the results were obvious. The arsenal had once again been slightly expanded.
The type of pill Li Changshou directly put away was the orthodox Anti-Immortal Sense Surveillance Pill, named the "Anti-Surveillance Pill" by Li Changshou. This was a precious pill that Li Changshou didn't intend to give to anyone else. Otherwise, if such pills were circulated, they might be used on him as well.
When he wore the Anti-Surveillance Pill, if someone used their Immortal Sense to probe him, a faint, almost invisible aura would appear around him, allowing Li Changshou to lock onto the person probing him.
The second type of Immortal Sense Pill was named "Heartfire Burn".
Li Changshou was inspired by the charm techniques he had learned. Using charm stones and charm wine as the main ingredients, he had tried hundreds of times over the course of several months, and by chance, he found the "correct" recipe.
Elder Wanlin Jun's Immortal Sense Poison Pill actually relied on the "Biocrystal Sting Ghost Worm," which could use its unique poison to pierce the soul of the one being probed by Immortal Sense.
Li Changshou's "Heartfire Burn" was essentially a transformation of the "Biocrystal Sting Ghost Worm" into the "Love Insect," combined with a bit of charm technique.
By the way, with Master's permission, Li Changshou specifically used Master's image to secretly visit the real Immortal Fox trapped in the Earth Vein Array several times for research on charm techniques.
He observed and summarized several times, cleverly resolving the cause and effect between the Immortal Fox and his own Xiaoqiong Peak.
As for the process...
That wasn't important. After all, the other party had made a grand oath.
After adjusting the properties of the "Heartfire Burn" for two months, Li Changshou put a Paper Daoist, a "Heartfire Burn" pill, and an "Anti-Surveillance Pill" into a specially treated sachet.
Later, as long as Master wore the sachet and wandered around, if he encountered an Immortal Sense probe, Li Changshou would judge the other party using the Paper Daoist. If he felt that the other party was acceptable, he would then open the ban on the Heartfire Burn.
The reincarnation body of Senior Brother was definitely someone Master wanted to find;
But to help Master come out of his self-imposed isolation as soon as possible, greetings and recognition from unfamiliar female Qi Refiners would surely lift his spirits.
As a disciple, this was the only step he could take for his Master.
After arranging the sachet, Li Changshou flew towards Master's grass hut.
Glancing at the three figures, who were once again busily working together near the Beast Circle and much more serious than before, Li Changshou couldn't help but smile slightly.
However, before Li Changshou could fly back to the grass hut, he suddenly had a whim.
Calculating with his fingers, why did Dongmugong always wait in that Sea God Temple...
Speaking of which, he now had... he had... cough, 6692 temples. Why did Dongmugong always go to that one?
Wouldn't it be better to go to other more hidden temples?
Stealing sheep's wool, pulling it from just one sheep — sooner or later, someone would notice.
Li Changshou complained in his heart, deciding to remind Dongmugong later to hide his tracks next time.
He took a turn in the clouds and headed back to his own grass hut.
Meanwhile, multitasking like crazy, he had his paperman take a quick look, checking out Wan Linjun, the old man searching for venomous creatures within the Northern Continent. Finding that Poison Elder Wan was doing just fine, he then activated the paperman underground in the Sea God Temple...