Official Yang, thank you for your hard work!

Chen Wei froze. She actually forbade it?

Yang Niansan also realized that the sharp cry she had blurted out had been far too extreme.

Before the atmosphere could turn cold, she turned her head and sent a voice transmission straight into Chen Wei's sea of consciousness: "Lord Chen! Do not be fooled by these female immortals' pretty faces! The Seven Fairies are old enchantresses who have lived in the Heavenly Court for untold ages, every one of them deeply scheming! Especially that Zi'er—she is extraordinarily dangerous!"

"You had best have absolutely nothing to do with them!"

"Don't speak. I'll handle them!"

"This situation is too perilous for you to handle, sir. Your subordinate... can handle it!"

Chen Wei blinked and quietly drew his foot back.

He came to his senses.

He understood.

Deeply scheming?

Too much for me to handle?

Clearly, Yang Niansan had quite a history with the Seven Fairies of the Jade Pool. Was she here on official business, or to visit old lovers?

As an outsider, wouldn't I just be asking for an awkward time by wedging myself into these romantic entanglements among immortal nobility?

Since Yang Niansan had taken this delightful assignment upon herself, he was happy to enjoy some leisure.

Chen Wei tactfully retreated half a step, lowering his eyes to his nose and his attention to his heart, posing like a statue of clay and wood.

Having hastily finished her voice transmission, Yang Niansan braced herself and stepped forward with great reluctance. "Ahem, fairies, Lord Chen has always devoted himself wholeheartedly to the Dao. He is reserved by nature and not much of a conversationalist. How about you ladies chat with your humble subordinate instead?"

"Pfft." Zi'er could not help covering her mouth and giggling. "Oh, Niansan, since you're being so eager, what are you still standing there for? Come into your big sister's arms!"

Before her words had even faded.

Zi'er flicked her flowing sleeve, sending a fragrant immortal gale sweeping straight toward Yang Niansan.

Yang Niansan's expression changed drastically. Immortal power surged through her body, and she was just about to use a divine ability to anchor herself in place.

Suddenly, a voice transmission drifted into her ear: "You wouldn't want your male disguise exposed, would you?"

Yang Niansan went rigid, and the immortal power protecting her body dispersed.

In that brief instant of distraction, the flowing sleeve had already wrapped around Yang Niansan's waist and swept her into Zi'er's soft, fragrant embrace.

That really took the cake.

The other six fairies swarmed over as though they had spotted an amusing new toy.

"Oh, Niansan's cheeks are still so smooth!"

"This outfit is interesting. Let your big sister have a look at the fabric!"

"Don't dodge! Come here and let your big sister give you a pinch!"

"Let me touch her! Let me!"

Their voices chirped like orioles and swallows, their fair arms intertwining.

The seven fairies surrounded Yang Niansan so tightly that not a drop of water could have slipped through, some kneading and pinching, others teasing, all in a merry tangle.

Taking in the entire scene, Chen Wei cupped his hands. "Your humble subordinate will stand guard outside the hall for you fairies!"

With that, he turned and left.

In the final instant before the gap between the doors closed, Chen Wei sighed inwardly. Seven female immortals in all. Thank you for your hard work, Lord Yang. This kind of blessing really is more than an ordinary immortal official can handle.

Outside the Jade Pool's main hall.

Chen Wei stood before the White Jade Stairway, diligently performing his duty as a doorkeeper.

The hall doors blocked his view, but faint laughter and coy protests drifted out intermittently.

Chen Wei turned a deaf ear.

Suddenly.

Deep inside his sleeve pocket, the voice-transmission jade talisman grew slightly warm.

Chen Wei took out the talisman, and Ma Muzhi's voice sounded in his sea of consciousness. "Sir! Your subordinate has settled matters with the monkey elder who manages the fruit on Flower-Fruit Mountain. When the monkey clan heard we could make their fruit tribute offerings to the Heavenly Court, they were grateful beyond measure. Your subordinate dropped a couple of hints, and that old monkey caught on right away. We can take twenty percent of the merit earned from the tribute fruit!"

Twenty percent of the merit!

Chen Wei's heart leaped, joy welling up within him.

He was no clay idol of an immortal who had severed all seven emotions and six desires, wanting nothing.

He wanted to advance!

He wanted to improve his cultivation!

He wanted to climb higher in this rigidly hierarchical Heavenly Court!

According to the Heavenly Court's rules governing the Dao, above Heavenly Immortal stood True Immortal.

To attain the Dao as a True Immortal, one needed the blessing of a hundred thousand years' worth of pure merit before one could obtain that Dao fruit.

Yet Chen Wei's fixed annual immortal salary amounted to only a hundred years' worth of merit.

Even if he spent no spiritual power whatsoever, he would have to work diligently for a thousand years just to scrape together that hundred thousand merit.

Spending a thousand bitter years in the Heavenly Court was destined to be a path that left his thoughts tangled and frustrated.

What could he do without merit?

He could only find ways to earn it.

Of course, he could not use just any means. It had to be done with Taibai Jinxing's tacit approval. If it came with karmic debts he should not take on, he could not touch even a single Merit Gold Brick.

With a steady stream of merit coming in, the day he attained the Dao as a True Immortal would be within sight.

Still, Chen Wei kept a clear head.

He absolutely could not swallow the entire twenty percent himself.

Ten percent would be divided between him, Ma Muzhi, and Yang Niansan. The remaining ten percent had to be spent greasing the wheels.

The Heavenly Court had never been about fighting and killing to see whose magic was stronger.

The Heavenly Court was about immortal relationships and worldly etiquette.

Without spreading some benefits around, even if those above approved the tribute assignment, those below could drag it out until the earth grew old and the heavens fell to ruin.

Once he understood this, the smile on Chen Wei's lips grew all the more genuine.

With his thoughts flowing freely, the road of cultivation would be smooth and unobstructed.

About an incense stick's worth of time passed.

The hall doors were pulled open from within.

Chen Wei quickly gathered his thoughts, put on a respectful, concerned expression, and turned to meet her.

Yang Niansan's once-spotless moon-white satin robe was now thoroughly rumpled, its collar slightly open. The jade crown binding her hair sat askew, several lipstick marks of different colors adorned her fair, handsome face, and the scent of cosmetics clung to her entire body.

At the sight, Chen Wei was filled with solemn respect.

He clasped his hands, his gaze sincere. "Lord Yang, thank you for your hard work! You risked yourself without hesitation. Such dedication could move heaven and earth! As the official in charge of this assignment, I insist that you receive the foremost credit!"

Upon hearing this.

Yang Niansan rolled her eyes at Chen Wei and did not respond. She formed the hand seal for a garment-cleansing spell, and a wash of moon-white radiance poured down from above her head, like clear water washing away dust.

In an instant, her jade crown returned to its proper place, and her robes became crisp again.

A moment later, the handsome Lord Yang was back.

Standing nearby, Chen Wei studied her closely.

Such skin of ice and bones of jade, such pure, otherworldly beauty, was indeed rare on a male immortal.

"Lord Yang, your looks truly are extraordinary." Chen Wei clicked his tongue in wonder and offered an offhand compliment. "Never mind male immortals—even compared to those fairies in the Jade Pool, you lose nothing to them. You're even a little prettier!"

The speaker meant nothing by it, but the listener took it to heart.

At his words, a faint blush rose at the base of Yang Niansan's jade-white ears.

"Enough of that!"

Yang Niansan hurriedly cut him off, flicking her sleeve and thrusting the jade register into Chen Wei's hands.

To conceal the change in her ears, she lifted her chin and spoke with haughty pride. "I have fulfilled my mission. Here is the register. Our place has been secured, and the Jade Pool's official seal has been stamped. As for the quantity and quality of the fruit, we can fill those in ourselves!"

"Excellent!" Chen Wei received the jade register with both hands, his face lighting up as he voiced his approval again and again.

How was this an ordinary register? It was a ladder reaching to heaven, leading onto the great Dao of a True Immortal!

He had gained prestige, secured tangible benefits, and, most importantly, ensured that twenty-percent share of merit had somewhere to come from. A triple win!

Seeing that Chen Wei had eyes only for the register, Yang Niansan felt an inexplicable fire flare in her heart and secretly gritted her teeth. How nice for him. That wretched register is all he can think about or look at!

One breath.

Two breaths.

A long while passed without another word of concern for her well-being.

"Lord Chen!" Yang Niansan's lovely face darkened slightly as she raised her voice.

Chen Wei looked up, still gripping the jade register tightly. "Is there anything else, Lord Yang? Are there particular considerations regarding the quantity?"

"Your subordinate is feeling unwell and requests two days' leave!" Yang Niansan coldly tossed out the words. An Auspicious Cloud rose beneath her feet, and she vanished into the Cloud Sea without looking back.

Only Chen Wei remained, holding the jade register with a face full of bewilderment. "She... she's taking time off already?"