Chapter 487: Chapter 481: The Figure in the Dream

Du Youqian’s heart was already pounding, but having lived for a thousand years, he wouldn’t let his excitement show.

He maintained a gentle demeanor as he spoke with the Foundation Establishment Disciple, receiving the full report. After offering a few words of encouragement, he bestowed a Treasure upon him as a reward on the spot. Then, amid the disciple’s elation, he went to meet Lin Sha’s reincarnation.

~~~~~~

"Are you sure it’s her?" Du Youqian asked, looking at the stunningly beautiful woman. He couldn’t sense any familiar movements, expressions, or aura.

The Ghost Belly Cat Demon King said, "Of course. I wouldn’t be mistaken."

The Foundation Establishment Disciple also vouched from the side, "For the past seventeen years, I have not dared to be negligent for even a moment. I can guarantee that this woman has absolutely not been swapped out."

Du Youqian shook his head slightly, suppressing the faint sense of discord as he continued to observe.

They were in the rear courtyard of a wealthy merchant’s home. Many people were around—maids, old nannies, and a few family members—but none of them could see Du Youqian and his companions.

Lin Sha’s reincarnation was doing needlework, her expression serene. However, Du Youqian could sense the suppression and restlessness in her heart.

This merchant family had some connections, and their business had been doing well over the years. But as the fame of Lin Sha’s reincarnated beauty spread, the number of suitors grew, their family backgrounds and statuses climbing higher and higher, reaching a point where the merchant found them difficult to refuse.

For this reason, the merchant had sprouted countless gray hairs from worry.

The Foundation Establishment Disciple lowered his voice. "Supreme Elder, if you intend to take this... this senior away, it would be best to do so quickly. She will soon be eighteen. In the Zhao Kingdom, everyone, regardless of gender, must go to a location designated by the Government Office between the ages of sixteen and twenty to be tested for a Spirit Root. Her family has already tried to send her for testing several times. After all, she is so exceptionally blessed with talent and beauty that many suspect she has a Spirit Root. However, I sabotaged their departure each time—either by causing some trouble at their home or by making their carriage break down. But if this is delayed any further, I’m afraid the local Government Office will realize something is amiss and intervene."

When Du Youqian had visited last time, he had gained a general understanding of the Zhao Kingdom’s situation.

The Zhao Kingdom was a nation co-ruled by the Imperial Family and the Immortal Sect. Officials within the national administrative system were somewhat divided into "Affairs Officers" and "Immortal Sect Inspectors."

Immortal Sect Inspectors represented the Martial Force and generally didn’t waste time managing secular affairs.

But if an Affairs Officer encountered a problem that mortal power could not resolve, they would seek help from an Immortal Sect Inspector.

The Immortal Sect Inspectors in a single county were often a mix of Foundation Establishment Realm, Qi Cultivation Late Stage, and Perfection stage cultivators.

A large number of Low Tier Cultivators who had lost their potential and found it difficult to continue pursuing the Dao were dispatched to the grassroots level in the Zhao Kingdom.

Although Du Youqian wouldn’t spare a second glance for these Foundation Establishment Cultivators, or even the Core Formation Level Immortal Sect Inspectors in the county, he preferred to avoid trouble. He had no desire to confront the state apparatus.

So he nodded slightly, agreeing to take Lin Sha’s reincarnation away sooner rather than later.

The Foundation Establishment Disciple was pleased and suggested they simply use the methods of an Immortal Family to take away the senior who had not yet awakened her Past Life Memory, leaving a sum of money for the merchant’s family.

"Inappropriate," Du Youqian said with a frown. "To most families, a child is their parents’ flesh and blood. We can’t act like this."

In his second and third reincarnations, he hadn’t treated the families of his reincarnated bodies well, a fact he still regretted to this day.

He didn’t want Lin Sha to have similar regrets in the future.

’There’s no need to needlessly increase the difficulty of overcoming a Heart Demon Tribulation in the future, right?’

’It’s an easy problem to solve. I just need to have a proper talk with the parents of Lin Sha’s reincarnation. Why resort to acting like a bandit?’

So, Du Youqian turned and walked toward the merchant’s study.

As he walked, he mused nonchalantly, ’If I want to separate the identity of Master Sui Xiao from True Monarch Qingxu Tongxuan Guanmiao, Little Wukong is a huge liability.’

’Fortunately, True Monarch Zhaoxiang Guangde doesn’t know I have a Tier Four monkey. When I went to meet him, I sent Little Wukong off to play on another island.’

’The only other person who knows True Monarch Qingxu Tongxuan Guanmiao has a Monkey King by his side is Zhuge Qing.’

Du Youqian had other arrangements for this and would mitigate the impact in the future.

’As for Deng Maoyu and Ling Hua, while they know I have a monkey, they don’t know how strong it is and don’t pay it much mind, treating Little Wukong as a common pet.’

So, in the future, when Du Youqian appeared as True Monarch Qingxu Tongxuan Guanmiao, he would not bring Little Wukong with him.

Many years from now, people would no longer remember that True Monarch Qingxu Dongxuan Guanmiao once had a powerful Tier Four Monkey King by his side.

When Du Youqian appeared before the merchant, the man jumped in fright.

Du Youqian wasted little effort. Using Telepathy, he easily made the merchant roughly understand his power and his status among Cultivators. Then he stated frankly that he had taken a liking to the merchant’s daughter and wished to take her away for Cultivation.

How could the merchant dare to refuse? Besides, Du Youqian had made it clear that as long as the merchant lived, he would protect his family and provide them with other conveniences.

The merchant didn’t even have to think about it. Suppressing his reluctance, he agreed.

He knew very well in his heart that for this powerful Cultivator to take his daughter away was a heaven-sent opportunity for her.

It was even a promotion in class for the entire family.

’And if I refuse...’

’Refuse? Are you kidding me? How could I possibly refuse!’

’A personage of this stature wouldn’t even need to lift a finger. With a single breath, he could wipe my family from existence.’

’With a casual wave of his hand, he could wipe the entire Wangtao County off the map!’

So, just as Du Youqian had expected, the man didn’t even have the courage to haggle. The matter should have proceeded without a single ripple.

But a ripple did come.

When the merchant called his daughter in and made a simple introduction, Lin Sha’s reincarnation glanced quickly at Du Youqian. Seemingly captivated by his handsome and divine bearing, her cheeks flushed red. She curtsied gracefully and offered Du Youqian a blessing.

But Du Youqian keenly noticed that besides feeling a sense of attraction toward him, Lin Sha’s reincarnation also held a trace of fear.

Du Youqian didn’t mind. He nonchalantly explained his purpose, stating only that one of his disciples had seen what a natural talent Lin Sha’s reincarnation was and wished to accept her into his sect so she could walk the Great Dao and enjoy immortal blessings forever.

The merchant also tried to persuade his daughter from the side, "Go with the great Immortal Master. You’ll live a blessed life, and the whole family will benefit."

But Lin Sha’s reincarnation just lowered her beautiful head, not saying a word. The color gradually drained from her lovely face.

The merchant doted on his daughter and knew her well. Seeing this, he had a bad feeling. ’Is she trying to refuse?’

He quickly intensified his persuasion.

Lin Sha’s reincarnation twisted the handkerchief in her small hands so tightly that red welts appeared on her fingers.

"Father, your daughter wants to serve you for a few more years," she said, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, her face ghastly pale.

It was clear how much inner turmoil she had gone through just to utter those words of refusal.

Du Youqian’s brow furrowed slightly.

But it quickly smoothed out.

’What is this all about?!’

He used his Divine Sense to probe the mind of Lin Sha’s reincarnation and discovered a thought circling repeatedly in her head: ’It’s not him, it’s not him!’

Du Youqian was naturally puzzled, because when the Foundation Establishment Disciple had reported to him, he had sworn that Lin Sha’s reincarnation was not secretly involved with any man.

Du Youqian probed further and finally understood the whole story.

It turned out that ever since she was twelve or thirteen, Lin Sha’s reincarnation had often dreamed of a man’s figure. Over the years, she had become deeply convinced that this man was her future husband, the one she would rely on for her entire life. She had been waiting for him to appear.

And now, a handsome and powerful Immortal Master had appeared, saying he wanted to take her away. She was naturally happy, but also terrified.

If she left with the Immortal Master, what would happen to the man who repeatedly appeared in her dreams?

She weighed her options over and over in her heart. For some reason, a voice told her that she had to wait for the man from her dreams to appear.

And so, she had gritted her teeth and refused the Immortal Master...

She knew this act could potentially push her entire family into a perilous situation.

She also knew that if this Immortal Master wanted to take her, any resistance would be futile.

But she couldn’t just leave. She couldn’t betray the man from her dreams like this...

Du Youqian was speechless.

’So, my biggest love rival is myself...’

The blurry figure in her dreams was, of course, Du Youqian.

However, it wasn’t his appearance from this life, nor from his previous life as "Baili Jianxin," nor the one before that as "Yu Fei."

It was his appearance from the life before that, as "Qiu Yuanqing."

’What kind of situation is this?’

Du Youqian wasn’t flustered. He smiled faintly and said to the merchant, "In that case, why not let the young lady consider it for a while? This one shall return in a few days."

After speaking, he turned and left without any hesitation.

From behind him came the merchant’s panicked voice, "Daughter, what’s wrong with you? This... you’re going to get our whole family killed..."

Du Youqian took a few more steps, but then he heard a sweet, delicate voice from behind, "Immortal Master, please wait!"

Du Youqian glanced back to see Lin Sha’s reincarnation biting her tender, crimson lips. She curtsied gracefully. "I am willing to go with the Immortal Master."

"You’re not forcing yourself, are you?" Du Youqian’s expression was a half-smile.

"Not at all! To be able to go with the Immortal Master to a Pocket World Blessed Land for Cultivation is a blessing I couldn’t even hope for. I... I..."

She couldn’t keep up the pretense.

Even without using his Divine Sense to probe her thoughts, Du Youqian could feel the unwillingness and resentment in her voice.

"Then let’s go." Du Youqian nodded to the merchant. Lin Sha’s reincarnation found her body moving uncontrollably, flying to Du Youqian’s side.

Her heart hammered in her chest. She felt a powerful attraction radiating from the Immortal Master, intoxicating her and throwing her maiden heart into chaos.

But she quickly remembered the figure from her dreams and gritted her teeth, forcing herself to sober up.

Then, the two of them rose into the air and vanished from the room.

Afterward, the Foundation Establishment Disciple would naturally come to tie up the loose ends and provide the family with sufficient benefits.

Once Lin Sha broke through the Mystery of the Womb, Du Youqian would also send her back, allowing her to reunite with her family from this life periodically and put their minds at ease.

The merchant, utterly devastated, fell to his knees. "I respectfully see the Immortal Master off!"

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