After dealing with the gift-giving matter, Lu Zhao's gaze drifted to the photographer.
The photographer was still standing behind Pei Yubai, and hadn't moved from his position since the beginning.
Lu Zhao looked at him, then turned to Lu Zhao Qiguan Yuan, her tone tinged with belated worry. "Senior, won't anything happen if we use magic in front of an ordinary person like this?"
The photographer's back stiffened instantly.
Qiguan Yuan felt a bit tired. He had walked on sandy roads for an hour, climbed trees, and explored veins, which had taken a lot of energy.
He leaned against Pei Yubai, his back against Pei Yubai's chest, his head resting on Pei Yubai's shoulder, finding a comfortable position before speaking, "Theoretically speaking, it's not allowed. There are rules in the Heavenly Realm that mortals are not allowed to display magic in the presence of others, and violators will be punished."
Lu Zhao's expression tensed up.
"But you know," Qiguan Yuan yawned slightly, his fox-like eyes half-closed, his tone languid, "They can't control me."
Lu Zhao's shoulders relaxed.
Then Qiguan Yuan added unhurriedly, "But you have a problem."
Lu Zhao's shoulders tensed up again.
Qiguan Yuan tilted his head to look at Lu Zhao, a teasing look in his eyes. "You are the current Yue Lao, you have a celestial status, and the heavenly rules apply to you. To use your Power of Origin in front of an ordinary person, and for him to see the whole thing, is punishable according to the rules."
So, are you going to keep quiet?
Before the last word of that sentence had even finished, a desperate wail echoed through the courtyard.
"Don't kill me! Help!"
The photographer sprang out from behind Pei Yubai, clutching his head, nearly dropping the camera.
His face was deathly pale, his eyes were wide open, and his lips were trembling like a leaf.
"Sealing the mouth" means silencing someone, which means they won't be able to leave this monastery today.
Startled by his shout, Lu Zhao jumped back half a step, and the red thread she had just tucked away in her sleeve almost popped out again.
Seeing the photographer crouching on the ground with his head in his hands, he became so anxious his voice trembled. "Why would I kill you? Don't scream!"
Birds are easily startled; he was terrified.
"I don't know! I don't know anything!" The photographer crouched on the ground, clutching the camera to his chest, his voice trembling with tears.
"I promise I won't lie! I have elderly parents to support, young children to raise, and a mortgage to pay! I didn't see the red line! I didn't see the tree glow! I didn't see anything fly out of his sleeve! I didn't see anything at all!"
Lu Zhao stood helplessly to the side, wanting to pull him but not knowing how, wanting to speak but afraid of scaring him again.
A current Yue Lao was so frightened by a mortal's wailing that he almost lost his temper. If word got out, the old guys in the Heavenly Realm would probably laugh at him for hundreds of years.
Qiguan Yuan leaned against Pei Yubai, watching this scene without making a move.
He changed his position, curled up his legs, and snuggled into Pei Yubai, resting his chin on Pei Yubai's shoulder.
He yawned slightly amidst the increasingly loud cries of "Help!"
"I've never liked solving problems with violence; I prefer a gentler approach."
The photographer's wails abruptly ceased.
He raised his head, his eyes red-rimmed, and looked at Qiguan Yuan. Qiguan Yuan leaned against Pei Yubai, his silver hair scattered messily on Pei Yubai's chest, his peach blossom eyes veiled with a thin layer of mist due to drowsiness.
"How about this, we'll make a contract. You promise to keep quiet, and you can choose any one of your Thread of Wealth, Thread of Career, Thread of Life, or Thread of Fate. We'll extend it for you."
The courtyard fell silent for a moment.
The photographer's pupils contracted sharply, then he stood up, placed the camera on the stone bench beside him, dusted off his knees, and the fear on his face vanished, replaced by a deep-seated eagerness.
He took a deep breath and used all his strength.
I want to get rich!
This is incredible! We're going to make a fortune!
Qiguan Yuan nodded and said to Lu Zhao, " Lu Zhao."
Lu Zhao peeked out from behind Qiguan Yuan, his voice a little weak. "Senior, I can't manage the Thread of Wealth... that's under the jurisdiction of the God of Wealth. If I overstep my authority, I'll be impeached."
"Last time I messed with an ordinary person's Thread of Career, the God of Wealth complained to the higher authorities, and I was punished by having to burn a lot of incense."
"Just add it. I'll talk to the God of Wealth if there's a problem."
Qiguan Yuan so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open, and his voice grew softer and softer, "Remember to cast a silencing spell on him."
With Qiguan Yuan's words, Lu Zhao felt relieved.
If the senior says they can cover the worst-case scenario, then they definitely can.
He walked up to the photographer and touched the photographer's forehead with his finger.
The photographer felt a cool sensation on his forehead, followed by a very light and faint warmth that spread from between his brows and flowed throughout his body via his veins.
Lu Zhao made another hand gesture, and a golden light shone from his fingertip, which he then traced a line across the photographer's lips.
The golden light penetrated the skin, leaving a slight tingling sensation that quickly disappeared.
The photographer touched his lips, finding nothing unusual, but he vaguely sensed that something was locked away.
"Alright." Lu Zhao withdrew his hand, then took out the Marriage Register and red thread from his sleeve, sat down at the stone table, and began to check the records of today's predestined relationships one by one.
I began my arduous work.
Ah! Yue Lao is so tiring!
The photographer stood still, looked down at his hands, touched his forehead, and finally took out his phone to open his banking app.
The balance remained unchanged.
He thought about it for a moment, then figured that the money probably wouldn't arrive immediately, and put his phone back in his pocket with satisfaction.
He picked up the camera from the stone bench, turned it back on, pointed the lens at Qiguan Yuan and Pei Yubai, and continued his work.
Qiguan Yuan leaned against Pei Yubai's legs, his silver hair spread across Pei Yubai's knees, his breathing steady, he was already asleep.
Pei Yubai placed one hand on Qiguan Yuan's back, looked down at his sleeping face, and gently circled his thumb on Qi Guanyuan's shoulder blade.
The photographer is now in high spirits, frantically searching for the best angle.
Lu Zhao sat at the stone table, the Marriage Register spread out and taking up half of the table. He began to check the records in the register one by one with the red thread.
Compared to this, he felt somewhat exhausted.
The matchmaker's skills are superb, and she can easily handle all the daily matchmaking needs each time.
He, on the other hand, needs a whole day.
So, this is the power of a primordial god?
He tied a red thread to the left page of the book, making a standard three-loop knot, and then marked the time and direction on the corresponding position on the right page.
The work is very tedious. It takes about an incense stick's worth of time to sort and file each marriage match. There are at least seven or eight backlogged today. It will probably take until dark to finish writing them all.
He sighed, glancing miserably at the sleeping Qiguan Yuan one last time.
Then he met Pei Yubai's gaze.
Pei Yubai, remembering how he had misunderstood Lu Zhao, mistaking him for " Yun Yin," unusually spoke up, "Do you need any help?"