The only way

Chapter 938 Interesting Anecdotes of the Mortal World, Discussing the Dao

It must be said that Xiao Zhenjun was a humorous person. With him around, the days when the three of them guarded the formation were not boring at all. Instead, it was like listening to a storyteller in a teahouse in the human world.

Xiao Zhenjun loved to travel around the world, and his life was full of wonderful experiences. In addition, he was humorous and witty, making him a truly remarkable person.

During the two weeks the three of them guarded the formation, Ling Chu heard a lot from Xiao Zhenjun about the unique customs, wondrous landscapes, and novel people and events in various parts of the Eastern Continent.

Later on, the three even set up a jade altar in the clouds, on which were spirit wine brewed by Lingchu, delicacies hidden by Xiao Zhenjun, and spirit fruits gathered by Jiang Yanzhi.

On this day, Xiao Zhenjun recounted an incident where, disguised as an ordinary person, he traveled to a small town and happened to encounter a wealthy young lady throwing an embroidered ball to choose a husband.

"On that day, the sky was clear and the breeze was gentle. I transformed into a mortal scholar in blue robes and strolled through a bustling market. To my surprise, the market was teeming with people, a sea of ​​onlookers, mostly men."

"Upon inquiring, I learned that the wealthiest family in town, the Qian family's daughter, is actually going to throw an embroidered ball at Ruyi Restaurant, the most popular restaurant in town, to choose a husband. This Miss Qian is eighteen years old and incredibly beautiful. She is the only daughter in the family, so the Qian family wants to find a son-in-law to live with them, following the example of the ancient custom of choosing a husband by throwing an embroidered ball, to add to the beautiful story..."

Xiao Zhenjun had changed to a new folding fan at some point. When he got to the point of speaking, he would hold the folding fan and slap it against his open palm, like a gavel. His rhythmic and cadent tone made the listener feel as if they were there.

After raising his jade cup and drinking the spirit wine to the brim, Xiao Zhenjun first praised the wine as excellent! Only then did he continue to tell the story in detail.

"Speaking of this mortal scholar who was transformed by me, upon hearing of this matter, I naturally had to join in the excitement and see what kind of interesting thing this so-called beautiful young lady of the Qian family was, and what kind of interesting thing this embroidered ball marriage proposal, which only appeared in storybooks and plays, was all about. So I followed the flow of people to Ruyi Tower. When I arrived at the foot of Ruyi Tower, I saw that the crowd was so big that it blocked half a street. The noise was endless, which made people curious and expectant, just waiting for the graceful beauty sitting behind the embroidered screen to appear."

"On this auspicious day, at the hour of Wei (1-3 PM), the Qian family's daughter finally appeared after much anticipation. She wore a silver-red gauze dress, her figure was exquisite, and her skin was fair. It was just a pity that her face was covered by a thin veil, truly like a pipa player half-concealing her face, which gave her a beauty like a flower in the mist. Her big, bright eyes glanced at the crowd below and immediately set their sights on several handsome young men in the crowd. I am not talented, but I am also among them, disguised as a scholar."

At this point, Xiao Zhenjun revealed a carefree and self-satisfied expression, even changing his form of address and adding a touch of humor to his tone.

Cultivators possess divine sense, so how could their vision be obscured by a mere mortal's veil? Clearly, when Xiao Zhenjun transformed into a mortal, he deliberately refrained from using his divine sense. However, cultivators' inherent sharp hearing and eyesight also make them highly sensitive to sight. As a Nascent Soul cultivator, Xiao Zhenjun would hardly go out of his way to enhance his own reputation in this matter.

Moreover, even if he were to transform into a mortal, with Xiao Zhenjun's appearance and the natural demeanor of a cultivator, it would be incredibly easy for him to stand out among ordinary people.

"At that moment, the embroidered ball came straight at the scholar I had transformed into, which was extremely dangerous! Fortunately, I acted quickly and dodged to the side, and the embroidered ball fell straight into the arms of the gentleman behind me. He was also a young man. It's a pity that with my brilliant example in front of him, the disappointment in the eyes of the Qian family's daughter was very clear. However, I think the young man who got the embroidered ball had clear eyes and a dignified demeanor. It might not be a bad match."

As a cultivator, Xiao Zhenjun would naturally not easily get involved with mortal women, especially in matters of the heart. However, he would not recklessly interfere with a young lady's life. Even without using spiritual power, Xiao Zhenjun had other ways to intervene in where the embroidered ball landed.

Even if it was just to help him stumble upon this rare opportunity to be chosen as a husband through a bridal bouquet, Xiao Zhenjun had already given him some guidance.

That young man was a rare find among the men crowding half the street, a man of clear conscience and upright character. As for what happened next, that was not something Xiao Zhenjun wanted to interfere with. This so-called embroidered ball marriage was nothing more than a way to gain a good reputation. If it really resulted in some ugly and undesirable person, any family that loved their daughter would have a thousand reasons to refuse.

In the end, this embroidered ball marriage proposal was nothing more than adding a touch of fun to Xiao Zhenjun's travels in the mortal world, and it became a topic of conversation among the crowd. There was no malice intended, it was just that it did not catch the eye of the cultivators.

Ling Chu and Jiang Yanzhi listened with great interest. Since the marriage proposal by embroidered ball was a public affair, there was nothing that couldn't be said. They treated it as a fun way for the group to pass the time.

"Speaking of Miss Qian, I met her once at Ruyi Tower and saw her in person. She was quite a beauty. I once learned the art of physiognomy from an old charlatan in the mortal realm. Judging from her face, the Qian family's daughter was destined for wealth and prosperity. It's just a pity that her marriage was quite complicated." Xiao Zhenjun seemed to remember something and turned his fan with some regret. He felt that his matchmaking efforts were unlikely to succeed.

Ling Chu smiled slightly, “For mortals, a life of wealth and honor is already a rare privilege. As long as one lives in this world, even the simplest meal and drink has its own flavor. Moreover, the world is vast, and the mountains and rivers are far away, which are full of wonders. As for marriage, having one is naturally the icing on the cake, but not having one is not a regrettable thing.”

In Ling Chu's eyes, love and affection are nothing more than that. As a mortal, they cannot compare to money and food; as a cultivator, they cannot compare to the freedom of the Great Dao. As she said, having them is like adding flowers to brocade, but not having them is nothing more than that. She has her own freedom of the Immortal Path, and the Great Dao is as high as a peak.

Hearing this, Jiang Yanzhi nodded approvingly, his eyes filled with undisguised approval and appreciation as he looked at Ling Chu. “For a woman in the mortal world, a life of wealth and honor, free from the constraints of love, is not necessarily a bad thing. Moreover, everyone in this world has different desires, whether it be freedom, wealth, the Great Dao, or the sword in hand and the wine in the cup.”

At this point, Jiang Yanzhi lightly tapped the sword case with one hand, the sword ringing out, and gently shook the jade cup with the other, the wine inside wafting a rich aroma. The frost and sharpness between his brows faded, replaced by a carefree and unrestrained spirit. "As for matters of love, if one is fortunate enough to have it, one is at ease if one does not. That is all."

Having said that, accompanied by the clang of a sword, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in one gulp, then praised, "It's been many years since I've tasted this, but Fellow Daoist Yu's spirit wine still tastes as good as ever; it can truly be called a divine brew!"

Xiao Zhenjun also laughed heartily, clapped his hands, and said loudly, "Absolutely right, absolutely right! In this world, people strive and struggle for nothing more than a few taels of silver and a few bushels of rice and flour. Even we cultivators who follow the creation of heaven and earth, in the end, are also striving and struggling, just for those rare treasures, longevity on the path of cultivation, and this wine in the cup. It's so delicious, so delicious! We are all a group of people seeking 'wealth and status'! There is no difference, no difference!"

"I am deeply honored to have met you two fellow Daoists today. Let us raise a toast to you!"

Now, Xiao Zhenjun truly wanted to befriend the two of them. It wasn't because of the immortal sects behind them, nor because they were both Nascent Soul cultivators, but because their Daoist hearts were enough to earn Xiao Zhenjun's respect.

After this discussion, Ling Chu and Jiang Yanzhi also had a good impression of Xiao Zhenjun, so they naturally didn't mind associating with him. The three of them sat on the jade table in the clouds, each picked up a jade cup, and drank the spiritual wine to the brim again. Their movements were unrestrained and carefree, and a sense of ease arose in their hearts.

After three rounds of spirit wine, before the three could discuss matters of the Dao again, their expressions suddenly changed, they abruptly stopped what they were doing, and looked into the distance in unison.

A thousand miles away, a pillar of light, ten thousand feet tall, rose into the sky, and an overwhelming power pressed down on the heavens and earth. The spiritual energy of the entire Yunzhou fluctuated violently, like a surging tide and a raging storm. In the divine senses of the three Nascent Soul cultivators, this world became even more terrifying, its power like the collapse of heaven and earth, magnificent and unfathomable, making people shudder.

That is the power of heaven and earth, the might of a divine being!