MSBITRS Chapter 67 V2

Yue Lao’s face showed a weary yet relieved smile. “At last, I’ve managed to summon you. No need for formalities, no need for formalities.

This is but a dream, so I can’t properly entertain you. Please, take a seat, and let us talk.”

Li Changshou smiled and nodded. The two exchanged ritual bows before taking their seats on opposite sides.

They shared a knowing glance, both quietly measuring each other.

Yue Lao thought: This young man should be easy to talk to.

Meanwhile, Li Changshou mused: This Yue Lao… he looks quite sturdy.

“Senior, please get straight to the point. I know you must be busy, and I wouldn’t dare take up too much of your time.”

“Ah, very well.” Yue Lao took a moment to choose his words carefully before clearing his throat. “Ahem… Have you noticed anything unusual with your body in the past year or two?”

Li Changshou chuckled. “Just a bit of itchiness. Nothing serious.”

Yue Lao’s brows furrowed. He asked anxiously, “And… have you experienced any surges of Yang energy? Any moments of an uncontrollable, burning desire?”

“Hmm… That, I am not sure of.”

“Hold on a moment.” Yue Lao waved his hand, and a potted Acacia Tree appeared before him. “This is a spiritual treasure—an Acacia Tree. I’ll prick you with a branch to see if you feel anything.”

Li Changshou nodded cooperatively, though his mind was already analyzing the situation.

This dream is truly extraordinary…

Now that he thought about it, some ancient texts did mention the ability to transfer objects through dreams…

A slender branch from the Acacia Tree extended toward Li Changshou, lightly pricking his skin. Immediately, a wave of strange, amorous thoughts rippled through his mind, and his breathing became slightly unsteady.

Yue Lao watched him closely. “Do you feel anything?”

“Well… yes, I do,” Li Changshou admitted with a small smirk, feeling the innate Yang energy within him surge wildly. However, he deliberately furrowed his brows. “But not much.”

“This, this…” Yue Lao’s face twisted into a troubled expression before he forced a helpless smile. “Let’s try pricking you a few more times, just to be sure.”

Li Changshou quickly coughed and waved his hand in refusal.

If he got pricked again, things might go wrong!

“It’s fine, Senior. I can adjust my condition on my own later. My junior sister is right beside me—it’s not convenient.”

Yue Lao’s face became even more distressed.

Li Changshou carefully chose his words and continued speaking with a calm smile…

Half an hour later.

Heavenly Court, in front of the Dream Sky Instrument.

Yue Lao’s body stirred as he awakened, stroking his beard with a satisfied smile, a wave of relief washing over him.

He patted his sleeve, feeling for the storage ring he had brought—but it was gone. At once, he let out a deep breath.

Perfectly resolved.

“What a fine young man, truly carrying the demeanor of a great sect’s disciple!”

“Ahem, ahem…” Beside him, the golden-armored celestial officer staggered slightly but quickly steadied himself, forcing a smile as he looked at Yue Lao.

Though he hadn’t entered the dream himself, he had used his celestial energy to maintain it.

Especially that act of transferring objects within the dream—it had nearly drained his very soul. Not to mention, he had already facilitated multiple dream transmissions in a row…

“Yue Lao, is everything settled?”

“My thanks, my thanks!” Yue Lao responded warmly, pulling out a brocade box from his robes. “A small token of appreciation, nothing too grand.”

The celestial officer, full of righteous integrity, immediately waved his hands. “Ah, we celestial officials don’t accept such things!”

“I simply cannot let you help me without any compensation. It would weigh on my conscience,” Yue Lao said smoothly, his words well-practiced.

A few moments of half-hearted refusal later, the brocade box had found its way into the celestial officer’s sleeve.

Yue Lao gave a deep bow of gratitude before leaving Shenwei Hall.

The celestial officer watched him go, then collapsed onto the steps of the hall, letting out a long, exhausted sigh…

He had noticeably lost weight compared to half a year ago.

Meanwhile, Yue Lao flew across the clouds, his mood light and cheerful.

“Changshou is truly an excellent junior.”

No wonder this disciple of Du Xian Sect had celestial blessings upon him. His demeanor was impeccable—respectful to elders, well-mannered, and even thoughtful of Yue Lao’s situation.

Most people, upon meeting Yue Lao, would immediately start talking about marriage and destiny.

But during their entire conversation, Changshou had not mentioned the word “marriage” even once!

This left Yue Lao feeling extraordinarily comfortable.

Changshou’s simple phrase, “Let nature take its course,” was far more insightful than the empty words of some Heavenly Court generals!

After all, isn’t that what marriage is all about? Letting nature take its course to find a good match?

Not only that, but Changshou had even taken Yue Lao’s concerns into account, solemnly swearing an oath to put him at ease…

Though, Yue Lao had to admit—the younger man’s oath was a bit long-winded.

Still, upon closer examination, it was exceedingly thorough, covering nearly all possible conditions and scenarios.

With a proper Dao oath in place, both parties agreed never to bring up the damaged clay figurine again. Yue Lao would no longer interfere in Li Changshou’s romantic fate, and Li Changshou would not speak of this dream encounter to anyone else.

In reality, Yue Lao had already examined the clay figurine in question. Wrapped in the power of the Heavenly Dao, it had suffered no real damage. It still functioned properly, able to form and grow its red string of fate.

It had merely been a moment of Yue Lao’s anxiety…

But he hadn’t expected Li Changshou to understand his difficulties so deeply—his words had struck Yue Lao right in the heart!

Was it easy for him, Yue Lao?

He had no real backing, and his cultivation level was nothing remarkable, and yet he had been placed in this position by the Jade Emperor himself. He had to constantly balance outward obligations while also serving the Heavenly Court and the Heavenly Dao.

He dared not offend those with higher ranks.

He dared not provoke those with lower ranks but stronger cultivation.

As for those with connections? He dared not cross them…

And to top it off, he worked in the sensitive domain of the Marriage Pavilion, where even the slightest personal bias could result in divine punishment!

“Senior, you truly have it tough.”

Yue Lao gazed up at the sky, hands clasped behind his back, his old eyes full of emotion.

“A thousand-year-old Yue Lao, and only now do I have someone who understands me—Li Changshou!”

This disciple from Du Xian Sect was someone worth befriending.

He even mentioned his master’s story…

Qi Yuan Daoist had endured countless hardships yet never cared for public opinion, bravely embracing his path to becoming a Turbid Immortal.

Changshou had shared this story to encourage him, Yue Lao, in his struggles…

If Qi Yuan Daoist ever wanted a comfortable position in the Heavenly Court, he, Yue Lao, would make sure to help!

Compared to what Li Changshou had gifted him, the compensation Yue Lao had provided was practically nothing!

If anything, he regretted not preparing more gifts!

Meanwhile, at Du Xian Sect, Xiao Qiong Peak, the Alchemy Room.

Li Changshou awoke from his dream, quickly scanning his surroundings. He immediately noticed his junior sister standing with her back to him, her cheeks flushed red.

Li Changshou glanced down at his robe…

Hmm.

There was no easy way to describe this scene.

Getting pricked by the Acacia Tree in the dream… Well, he was only human. He hadn’t severed his emotions completely.

Slowly rising to his feet, he adjusted his robes discreetly and collected the ring that had mysteriously appeared in his hand, smiling as he spoke.

“I’m awake now.”

“Sh-Shixiong!” Ling’e’s shoulders trembled slightly, her voice nervous as she stammered, “I-I’ll… I’ll head back first! I’ll come find you later!”

With that, she rode her cloud and fled without even looking back, wisps of white smoke practically rising from her head…

Li Changshou couldn’t help but chuckle as he closed the surrounding formations for her.

Deep down, he couldn’t help but grumble to himself—

Talk about pretending to like something but running away when it gets too real.