"Hurry, hurry, hurry!" Li Changzhou carried the fish basket in his right hand and grabbed Yang Qinglan with his left, taking to the clouds to flee.
Amidst Li Changzhou's roaring laughter and Yang Qinglan's light and bell-like laughter, the green gale was spinning above the forest, cursing the two of them profusely.
It was only upon reaching the Tongtian River that the two ceased their laughter.
"That bamboo spirit is just too petty—what's the big deal with taking a few of its bamboos?" Li Changzhou said, laughing.
"You steal two today, I'll take two tomorrow, Qian Xia goes after tomorrow to take two more, and if Turquoise Pool goes the day after that, will it even grow bamboos anymore?" Yang Qinglan laughed as she took over the fish basket.
The Emerald Bee Sword turned into a ribbon, tied to the fish basket, and as they descended the clouds, stopping twenty meters above the water's surface, they tossed the fish basket into the Tongtian River as if drawing water from a well in the eighties and nineties.
"Hey, don't think I didn't hear that—you're the only one using 'steal,' while all three of you say 'take.' Bullying me?" Li Changzhou laughed again, leaning in with a look as if he would kiss her, but not quite.
"It's because we're bullying you—I like you," Yang Qinglan said, still laughing.
"I like you, too," he said, and his lips took their advantage.
"Get away!" Yang Qinglan dodged with a laugh, only letting him kiss her hair, "Don't interfere with my chanting of the spell."
"The dead shall leave, the living shall stay! The dead shall leave, the living shall stay! The dead shall leave, the living shall stay!"
The odd spell was uttered this way purely to prevent others from guessing its purpose.
After chanting the spell seven times, she lifted the fish basket, which was empty; then it was cast into the river again, and after another seven chants, it came up adorned with the scales of a goldfish; a third cast and seven more chants later, a golden carp was jumping vigorously inside.
"Quick, quick, quick!" Yang Qinglan shouted in urgency.
The fish was about to leap out of the basket!
"Keep it for yourself!" Yang Qinglan laughed, then suddenly gave Li Changzhou a light kiss, mounted the Golden Cloud and rose directly to the Nine Heavens to attend the Flowers Conference.
Li Qianxia and Turquoise Pool were also attending the Flowers Conference—any female Immortal with a bit of connections, a bit of power, or a bit of beauty was basically there.
Li Qianxia was a new Child recently taken in by Supreme Lord Lao Zi from the royal family of Li Tang, replacing the previous Golden and Silver Children who were tasked with guarding the golden furnace and had descended to the mortal world to become kings (the Golden Horned King and Silver Horned King).
Turquoise Pool's status was even more domineering: she was directly adopted by the Queen Mother as a righteous daughter and named the Wushan Goddess. The name "Turquoise Pool" itself was given by the Queen Mother, and all the Immortals respectfully called her "Yao Ji."
Compared with Turquoise Pool, Li Changzhou, who hailed from Penglai Immortal Island and had his fortune and longevity maxed out, still fell short.
As for Yang Qinglan, she remained aloof and pure, her beauty known throughout the Three Realms as the Gu She Divine Woman.
[What should I do next?] Li Changzhou asked Guanyin.
["I" should start focusing on Yang Qinglan. She might attend the Flowers Conference, but don't worry, even if she does, at most she will just give her a hard time and take her on as a disciple.]
—This carp is a disciple of Guanyin; she might go to the Flowers Conference to trouble you, so be careful on your own.
Li Changzhou sent this message to Yang Qinglan, then plunged headfirst into the Tongtian River.
The Great King of Numinous Power was driven away by the fish basket, and while the water demons were panicking, Li Changzhou walked straight into a pavilion marked "Water Turtle Mansion" and boldly settled himself on the throne.
"Where did this wild—"
Old Madam Gui didn't finish her cry, as a very familiar-looking golden carp was thrown at her feet.
"Roast this for me! And bring some wine!"