Immortal Father

The flat boat crosses the forest sea, a tall figure standing between heaven and earth.

Wen Ling guides a brown wooden boat, a zhang in length, taking Li Ping'an on a hurried journey to the spirit mines hundreds of miles away.

At the moment, Wen Ling is indeed lamenting profusely.

As a registered disciple like her, who actually serves as a menial worker running errands, with not a thousand then hundreds of masters, she now faces a task that looks doomed to fail, uncertain of how Master will punish her afterward.

'Is our disguise really this bad?'

Suddenly, Wen Ling feels like crying.

After all these years blending in the mixed crowd of the town, how could she fail to withstand even two rounds facing a disciple who had only cultivated for a few years...

She is probably ruined.

Wen Ling carefully recalls the details of her two encounters with Li Ping'an, and soon lets out a resigned sigh in her heart.

Her own cultivation is simply insufficient.

This fellow has been toying with her from the very beginning.

Therefore, whatever punishment Master imposes later, she has no grounds for complaint, and will accept her punishment.

Wen Ling cautiously turns her head to glance at Li Ping'an standing at the stern of the boat, seeing him sweep his gaze her way, she quickly turns back and, with her finger as a sword, forms hand seals to make the wooden boat ride even more smoothly.

Li Ping'an, although appearing quite relaxed on the surface, is actually continuously maintaining his Spiritual Sense spread all around his body.

Every strand of Wen Ling's hair fluttering in the wind is under his surveillance.

It is simply that he cherishes his life so.

He is also quietly pondering, thinking about how he should 'invite' Xiaoyue, the manager, to show herself later.

[Xiaoyue, a member of a minor faction within the Wanyun Sect led by Vice Sect Leader Moyi, who was once a candidate for Sect Leader and directly competed with Li Ping'an's own father.

Vice Sect Leader Moyi, with his extremely deep schemes, never expresses any dissatisfaction in the sect, yet the several Heavenly Immortal elders often seen around Moyi, have voiced their discontent with the 'merchant Dazhi' over the past two years.

Although Xiaoyue is only a True Immortal within the sect, her capabilities are quite outstanding, managing the sect's businesses with great order, and her master is also one of the three Golden Immortal ancestors.]

If he could make contact with Xiaoyue during this opportunity, it would be extremely beneficial for his father's path to becoming the Sect Leader, not to say persuading her to his father's side but even to forge a good relationship.

Now, Li Ping'an must figure out the simplest way to draw this manager Xiaoyue out and how to make her have a better impression of his father...

It's really not easy to handle.

Li Ping'an sighs inwardly.

Everyone knows that even if his external door trial fails, the sect would still let him cultivate at the sect's gates, simply treating him like a layabout at worst.

However, if his trial affects Master Chen and even endangers Master Chen's safety, then he will not rest until he's made amends.

An hour later, the wooden boat has covered roughly three hundred li, and Li Ping'an's Spiritual Sense at the fringe has already detected the spirit mine enveloped by clouds and mist.

Looking at the glass mirror in his palm, Li Ping'an laughs softly:

"The clouds that ignore the wind direction have changed from two clusters to one."

Wen Ling is puzzled and continues to pilot the boat dutifully.

Humble and aggrieved, yet not daring to express it.

...

Above the clouds over Li Ping'an's head.

Three immortals from the Wanyun Sect gather, without any sense of awkwardness.

Elder Yansheng sits on a cloud stool in the center, puffing on a dry pipe; the smoke from his pipe slightly increases the thickness of this white cloud.

Wei YanzI smiles as he sets up a square table, places fine immortal wines on it, and then retreats to Elder Yansheng's side, not daring to speak to the beautiful manager.

It's not that Wei YanzI feels his cultivation is too inferior to Xiaoyue's; rather, he knows how formidable this manager Xiaoyue is.

Xiaoyue appears to be at ease.

She sits behind the square table, draping layers of her gauze skirt over the cloud, resembling herself sitting within a blooming peony. In her hand, she carefully observes a Jade Talisman recording accounts, occasionally casting a covert glance at Elder Yansheng.

The only thing that could concern Xiaoyue is the attitude of this external gate's elderly elder.

Suddenly, Wei YanzI says, "The wooden boat is only twenty li from that spirit mine."

Xiaoyue nods gently, not uttering a word.

Elder Yansheng taps his pipe, squeezing out a gentle smile: "Elder Xiaoyue."

Xiaoyue's mouth reveals a beaming smile, "Elder Yansheng, please enlighten me."

"Enlighten is too much to say, we are all sect members cultivating the way, I am just older by some years," Elder Yansheng stated.

Then, Elder Yansheng sighed,

"Do you think young friend Ping'an can be called a talented prospect?"

Xiaoyue nods gently, her fair crystal skin reflecting the sunlight, her white bodice nearly bursting, and her waist tied with soft bands barely grips.

Xiaoyue, full of mature charm, has actually never been wed; several True Immortals within the sect had attempted to become her Dao companion, only to be shamed by her ridicule and scorn.

Then we hear Xiaoyue laugh:

"This youngster is indeed quite interesting. I used to think he was just a pedantic and foolish disciple, who spent all day hiding in the Liuyun Temple cultivating. He was even asked to go to the main peak of the sect but declined, saying he wanted to avoid suspicion, which is truly laughable.

"After interacting with him this time, I found he does have some cunning, much stronger than his father who only knows how to frolic and drink with others.

"It's just a pity, his aptitude is always a bit lacking, I wonder if he can reach the immortal domain."

Elder Yansheng smiles and nods, then says, "It's not inappropriate for the external gate elder to adjust the external disciples' trials on the fly, but friend Ping'an's father has personally requested for me to ensure his son's safety on his journey. Please, Elder Xiaoyue, for my sake, spare him the hardship of this maze, shall we?"

Xiaoyue covers her mouth with a light laugh: "Look at how solemnly you speak. If you give a lesson, how could I, Yue'er, not listen? However, since I have already laid the maze, I can't very well just dismantle it so easily."