Lan He felt as though he saw Master Budong’s lips twitch as if he swallowed some words back. He couldn’t help but think, “The old monk may be fierce, but he’s still civilized.”
“Don’t talk nonsense,” Lan He warned, pointing at Hu 79.
He hadn’t expected Hu Sect to be this boastful, which also explained something: why some self-proclaimed powerful exorcists, with some minor abilities, were only effective in rural areas. Perhaps it was just like this—demons borrowing a prestigious name.
Hu 79 blinked. “Why? I’ve already calculated everything, and I didn’t even use a temple to incite worship.”
—Some immortals would possess abandoned temples to perform miracles and attract worshippers. This required a certain level of skill. Such practices were now rare, especially since the number of temples in the capital had dwindled from thousands to only a handful.
Lan He said, “So, in other words, we didn’t disturb him. He isn’t in secluded cultivation here. Then why would he want to destroy the bridge? Otherwise, the capital would flood… Could it be that he specifically came for the Zhenwu Bridge?”
“Then there’s no need to hold back,” Hu 79 mused. “I think this is extortion—asking for the sky! The Four Animal Spirits love to ask for the sky!”
Lan He: “…”
He still wanted to save some face for the Four Animal Spirits, but Hu 79 clearly didn’t care.
Master Budong laughed. “That’s about right. So we also plan to negotiate down. It seems we’ll need Wuchang’s help. Your incense offerings are extremely popular among the spirits.”
Lan He: “Fine. If it’s incense you want, I still have a batch in stock.”
The old monk sighed deeply and muttered to himself, “No one told me that coming here to see a dragon would cost me incense.”
No dragon was seen, and incense was lost.
Hu 79 folded his arms. “Heh… Monk, you don’t really understand the Four Animal Spirits. Incense can be offered, but the best way to ‘negotiate’ with any of the Hu, Huang, Bai, or Liu Sects is to first beat them into submission. You can’t prioritize peace just because they’re powerful. Otherwise, they’ll keep pushing, and you’ll never satisfy them. Also, as you mentioned, this Liu immortal has likely been in seclusion for a long time, meaning his mindset might be quite outdated. Lastly, Liu Sect is the most combative among the Four Sects.”
What does “outdated” mean? It refers to being stuck in an era when the Four Animal Spirits’ faith was at its peak, a time when they even had temples dedicated to them and were universally revered.
Master Budong had consulted an incense master who said something similar but admitted he couldn’t fight them. The relevant authorities had also advised prioritizing harmony.
Each of the Four Animal Spirits had its own cultivation techniques, previously explained: Hu Sect cultivated inner elixirs, Huang Sect sought official seals, Bai Sect tested death to cross thresholds, while Liu Sect was the most mysterious, known to typically choose “avoiding lodging”—secluding underground for cultivation.
Master Budong said, “You have a point… Sigh, I’ll need to discuss this with my peers. After all, I’m bound by chanting duties, and First Miss Hu can’t disengage right now either…”
Otherwise, why had he handed his staff over to Lan He?
Lan He asked Hu 79, “If it were you, how confident would you be?”
Master Budong had a substantial group here, yet they hadn’t managed to quickly handle this, letting it rain over the capital for so long. Lan He wanted to gauge the Liu immortal’s level by comparing him with Hu 79.
The ever-arrogant Hu 79 chuckled twice and cautiously replied, “It depends on uncovering his background.”
Lan He: “Then tell me, between Liu Sect and Hu Sect, which is more combative?”
Hu 79 thought for a moment. “Uh, Hu Sect, being Hu Sect, still uses its brain—relying on illusions. Liu Sect, however, engages purely in brute force. So, perhaps the latter. But it ultimately depends on individual cultivation levels. Being combative doesn’t necessarily mean being good at fighting.”
“The Four Animal Spirits of the capital—most of the renowned immortals of the older generation have either attained enlightenment or fallen. For instance, the Liu Sect’s Zhenren Changzhen, worshiped on Miaogan Mountain, and the two famous Liu immortals of Tanzhe Temple, Lord Da Qing and Lord Er Qing, both attained enlightenment. Then during the Republic era… Anyway, the highest-ranking Liu immortal currently alive in the capital has been in seclusion under the Northern Peak Temple for over a decade. No one’s disturbed him since.”
“I know that one,” Master Budong nodded. According to the capital’s plans, this Northern Peak Temple, like the Golden Peak, was dedicated to the Lady of Mount Tai and was supposed to be demolished.
That Liu immortal had been inactive for years, leading many to believe he had attained enlightenment and left. But that time, he became angry, forcing the plans to be changed—not only was the temple spared from demolition, but funds were allocated for its renovation. Otherwise, he remained unperturbed and uninvolved.
Lan He, unaware of this, thought, “The capital truly hides dragons and crouching tigers.”
Hu 79 said, “If we use that Liu immortal as the benchmark, this Liu immortal causing trouble now would be difficult to handle if he’s even half as capable. The combined strength of all these monks might just barely suffice.”
Indeed, this Liu immortal had already caused enough headaches for the monks.
Lan He glanced at the prefab house and asked, “Can I go investigate? If he’s not in seclusion here, why has he come out? They say you should plan before acting, but we know too little about this force that dares to pose as the Dragon King.”
Master Budong understood his concern and nodded.
This Zhenwu Bridge was established at the cost of Song Futan’s Cloudback, now encased in cement. It was crucial to the entire geomantic setup. If the Liu immortal caused trouble and the plan failed, it would all be for naught, and Song Futan’s sacrifice would be in vain.
“I’ll accompany you,” Hu 79 offered. “Let’s see if we can extract some information from him.”
Song Futan, given his unique constitution, naturally could not enter. Instead, he affixed a talisman onto Lan He, inscribed with the words “Attain Omniscience.”
Hu 79 stared at it and remarked, “Is Little Song suggesting you’re not smart enough? Otherwise, why would he add wisdom to you?”
Song Futan: “…”
Lan He: “That’s a unique perspective you’ve got there…”
Hu 79 chuckled mischievously.
Lan He gave her a light smack on the back of her head. “Stop sowing discord!”
—
Lan He entered the prefab house directly this time. He floated in the middle of the room, while the worker lay in a corner on the roof, half his body hanging off the edge, enveloped in shadows. Though the worker’s physical body wasn’t large, he exuded an imposing, massive presence.
Once inside, Lan He noticed that the floor was covered in shadows, and standing within them felt like being in a predator’s hunting zone, triggering a sense of danger.
Pretending to negotiate, Lan He called out, “Excuse me? Could we have a chat?”
The other party didn’t reply, only shifted his body slightly.
Hu 79 swaggered over to the central table, pulled out some incense, and lit it. However, it wasn’t offered to the other party but rather for her own enjoyment.
Yet, the worker suddenly darted down at incredible speed, stopping in front of Hu 79. His eyes gleamed faintly green as he greedily eyed the incense smoke. Just from his appearance, he didn’t look like a Dragon King at all.
Hu 79 scooted forward slightly, letting him take a drag. After a deep inhale, he sighed with satisfaction. “…Good.”
Judging by his tone, he resembled a male snake, and his self-restraint seemed decent—unlike Hu 79, who practically lost herself when enjoying incense.
Without missing a beat, Hu 79 retracted the incense and asked, “Elder, are you from the Liu family, the Chang family, or the Python branch?”
The Liu Sect had its branches, with pythons being distinct from ordinary snakes.
The Liu immortal sneered disdainfully. “Get lost, I’m the Dragon King!”
With that attitude, claiming to be the Dragon King? Hu 79 cursed inwardly, “All immortals here, who are you trying to fool?”
Liu Immortal: “I’m the Dragon King!”
Hu 79: “Be honest. I can already tell.”
Liu Immortal: “Oh. A dragon.”
Hu 79: “…Be even more honest!”
Liu Immortal: “A flood dragon.”
Hu 79: “……”
Lan He: “……”
This Liu Immortal truly embodied shamelessness. Lan He asked, “May I inquire, Immortal, will you return to secluded cultivation afterward?”
The Liu Immortal scrutinized Lan He. “The incense is yours, huh?”
Impressive, he could tell just by looking. Lan He acknowledged with a simple “Mm.”
The worker possessed by the Liu Immortal casually perched on the table, gazing out the window. “Baldie—my conditions have changed. In addition to a grand ritual lasting forty-nine days, you must also send him”—he pointed at Lan He—“to cook for me. Otherwise, I’ll flood the capital.”
Just as Hu 79 had predicted, the Liu Immortal was indeed pushing his luck.
Before Lan He or Master Budong could respond, Hu 79 and Song Futan outside simultaneously burst out, shouting, “Shameless!”
Hu 79 went further, pointing at him and cursing, “Stop bluffing! Flood the capital? Do you even know how much the city’s expanded? Can you even reach the Fifth Ring Road?!”
The Liu Immortal gave a sinister smile and turned abruptly. Instantly, an unseen force seemed to sweep across, carrying an oppressive weight.
Although it was invisible, Lan He could feel it. The overwhelming pressure nearly rendered him unable to lift his hands. He quickly hooked Hu 79 with a Soul-Hooking Rope, pulling her just in time to dodge. The table was smashed to splinters, and a cylindrical mark appeared on the ground.
Lan He glanced at the cylindrical mark on the ground and couldn’t help but wonder, *Was that a tail?* The sheer diameter sent a shiver down his spine. He quickly tried to smooth things over. “Children don’t know any better. Surely a great immortal like you won’t hold it against her. After all, there’s quite an age difference between you two.”
Hu 79 had come along to scout, playing a deliberate good cop, bad cop routine with Lan He. While half of her earlier antics were feigned ignorance, the sheer power behind that tail swipe genuinely startled her. She quietly assessed the marks on the ground, calculating its potential.
The Liu Immortal began circling them, his human form twisting unnervingly as he moved. “This dragon is already eight thousand years old. And you, little fox demon, have only cultivated for a few hundred years in the Autumn Mountain Cave. How dare you talk back to me?”
His words immediately revealed Hu 79’s origins, a clear sign his cultivation level was far higher than hers. This was the first step in the immortals’ conversations—establishing superiority.
Lan He, however, thought to himself, *Eight thousand years… wait a minute…*
He exchanged a look with Hu 79. “…?”
Seeing her subtle nod of confirmation, Lan He understood. Figures. Not only did this guy exaggerate his status, but he’s inflating his age too. If he really were eight thousand years old, he’d have witnessed the entirety of Chinese civilization—why would he need to come here to swindle people?
A faint hissing sound arose as the Liu Immortal dragged his human form, creating a scraping noise against the ground. Lan He stood still, sensing the cold gaze circling him. “Do you know of the Liu Immortal from the Northern Peak Temple? We were thinking of inviting him to mediate.”
The Liu Immortal suddenly laughed. “You’re even better at bluffing than I am. That grumpy old man’s been buried for years. Do you think he’d help you out?”
Lan He: “…”
The Liu Immortal was still laughing when he abruptly lunged forward!
The movement was so fast that Lan He couldn’t react in time. Just as the Liu Immortal was about to strike, the talisman on Lan He’s body ignited, creating a barrier of blue flames. The Liu Immortal halted abruptly, retreating as the talisman burned to ash.
Having failed his sneak attack, the Liu Immortal glanced outside at Song Futan, then slithered up the wall. “Tsk, tsk. Think it over—being my cook isn’t better than being a petty underworld official?”
*Hah, we’re a proper organization,* Lan He thought. He slowly retreated toward the door. “If you’re going to ask for the moon, there’s no point in continuing this discussion today.”
This time, the worker’s lips didn’t move, but the Liu Immortal’s voice echoed through the prefab house: “Fine. Let’s see if I can flood this ‘Fifth Ring’ of yours.”
—
Outside, Hu 79 cursed, “Idiot. Does he think the Fifth Ring is the end of the city?”
She spat on the ground before analyzing, “This one doesn’t seem to be from the Python branch. But to grow that big, his age must indeed be significant.” She gestured at the size of the cylindrical mark. “And judging by his tone, he seems familiar with the Northern Peak Liu Immortal’s temperament. Their periods of activity might have overlapped, or they may not be too far apart. I think we should consult some older folks—someone might know his origins.”
Lan He had deliberately mentioned the Northern Peak Liu Immortal to test him. Now it was clear that while this Liu Immortal could boast, he also had genuine power. This provided clues about his approximate age and identity, which were crucial for understanding his background.
“I think Hu 79 is right. Immortals like this one need a firm hand, not a soft approach. He barely let me probe him and already wants me as a cook. If you keep negotiating, Master, he might demand you build him a temple,” Lan He said. The good news was that this Liu Immortal seemed straightforward and not as cunning as someone like Hu Si.
Master Budong nodded in agreement. “Precisely. I’ll also ask the incense master to investigate further. When the time comes, with the collective strength of many, we will certainly subdue him.”
*If we can’t handle him in the capital, there’s no hope of managing him elsewhere.*
“Let us know if anything comes up. We’ll all lend a hand,” Lan He offered.
Old Bai chimed in as well. “Can’t speak for everyone, but we in the capital district have Little Lan’s back. Besides, this concerns the Five Zhen.”
Master Budong chanted a Buddhist mantra.
Lan He added, “There are so many people watching this place; you might as well explain the Zhenwu matter to them. I don’t think you can keep it a secret any longer.” He whispered something to the old monk.
Master Budong rubbed his bald head. “Hmm, I have no choice. I’ll consider how to approach this.”
As Lan He was leaving, he spotted Ying Shao squatting by the roadside, talking on the phone while peeking inside. “Wait… I’ll go talk to him.”
Hu 79 casually ran her hand over Ying Shao’s eyes. He froze. “Ah, you…”
On the phone, Ying Shao quickly said, “President Yu, I’ll call you back later. Yes.”
“Yu Hangjia?” Lan He asked. “Quite ambitious, isn’t he? Even dared to come looking for a dragon.”
Ying Shao chuckled awkwardly. “The whole capital’s talking about it. President Yu insisted I come to see if there’s any chance for a bargain, maybe grab a dragon scale or something.”
Lan He replied, “Stop looking. There’s no dragon—it’s fake. The Zhenwu matter inside is about fixing the feng shui array, but a Liu Immortal has been causing trouble, bluffing that he’s the Dragon King.”
“Really?” Ying Shao’s tone betrayed his disappointment and lingering doubt.
Lan He: “Of course, why would I lie to you?”
Ying Shao: “…”
Lan He: “…”
Lan He: “Forget it. Just wait for the monk to speak. Monks don’t lie.”
.
The next day, Lan He and Song Futan had to report to the set again.
He was worried about the Liu Immortal causing trouble, sitting idly even during breaks. Sigh, this Feng Shui arrangement better turn out okay without major incidents…
“Lan He, why are you daydreaming?” Yu Mengmeng waved her hand in front of Lan He. “Did you hear what we were saying?”
Lan He: “Huh? What were you saying?”
“We were talking about a recent drama we watched,” Yu Mengmeng said, “It’s airing on XX channel. Have you seen it?”
“You actually have time to follow dramas?” Lan He sighed. “I haven’t watched it. What’s it about?”
Yu Mengmeng said, “Well, the protagonist is a single parent with three kids. The eldest son is a parasite, very ungrateful, only asks the family for money, and even gambles. The second daughter was sweet as a child but became rebellious as she grew up. Despite her excellent grades, she refuses to study properly and often bullies the timid youngest son.”
Lan He: “…?”
Another staff member joined in: “Yeah, but the single parent is quite capable. The career progression is satisfying to watch. In the earlier episodes, they endured a lot at home, but now they’ve risen above it. We were just discussing whether they’re being too harsh on the kids now. Honestly, I think the parent made some mistakes in the earlier stages…”
Lan He slammed the table excitedly: “What did he do wrong!!! As a father, hadn’t he done enough!!! What’s wrong with disciplining children!!”
Everyone: “???”
Yu Mengmeng was stunned: “Lan He, why are you so worked up?”
Someone else added, puzzled: “Father? It’s a single mother, and we haven’t even mentioned what she did earlier… Why are you so agitated…”
Lan He quickly sat back down, wiping his face: “Sorry, I think I got confused with another drama. Go on, go on.”
“Lan He, are you too tired? Maybe you should ask the director for half a day off,” Yu Mengmeng said worriedly. “You’re close with the screenwriter. If you’re hesitant, let them bring it up. Look at your mood swings; they’re so intense.”
“I’m fine, just a bit groggy from sleep.” Lan He dismissed it casually. “Oh, Teacher Xuangang is here. I’ll go talk to him.”
He pointed at Song Futan and ran over.
When Song Futan saw him, he stopped in his tracks. “Hu 79 and Bai Wu are here, and they’ve brought along a senior.”
Lan He perked up: “Where? How senior?”
Hu 79 really moved fast, and bringing Bai Wu along was indeed timely.
“I had them wait in the lounge,” Song Futan said, leading Lan He to the lead actors’ lounge. “I only asked a couple of questions. They call the senior ‘Grand Immortal,’ so he’s likely a generation above them. He used to cultivate deep in the mountains.”
Lan He nodded. Among immortals, generations are usually determined by those currently active. Each generation can be ranked, and people like Bai Wu, Hu 79, First Miss Hu, and Melonhead Immortal, despite slight age differences, all belong to the same active generation.
Given the longevity of immortals, the Grand Immortal must belong to an older generation. Many of his peers would either be long buried or have ascended. Judging by the title alone, he might be the oldest in his generation. Regardless of his cultivation level, his sheer age alone commanded respect. Living that long, he must have witnessed countless events.
“Do you know which sect this Grand Immortal belongs to?” Lan He whispered.
Song Futan had already pushed open the lounge door.
They saw Hu 79 and Bai Wu squatting nearby. An old man in a Taoist robe was shakily moving a chair to the corner. Once placed, he plopped down facing the wall. Hearing the door open, the old man coughed: “I… I’m here…”
Lan He: “…Say no more.”
Lan He sighed deeply: As soon as he spoke, I knew—definitely from the Bai Sect.
Author’s Note:
Lan He, unable to stop himself: How could a parent be wrong!!
Lol, a Bai elder dared to come out haha
Thank you for the chapter
LMFAO lan he is connecting with this single mother
Our Lan is a hardworking single(?) mother working two jobs to provide for her children.
Lmao elder hedgehog is here ;D