Primordial World: Big shots are all my friends

"Let me ask you, I had Golden Horn relay three messages to you, did you hear them?"

"Disciple heard them. Disciple has acted completely in accordance with Master's wishes and safely brought Aunt over."

Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad couldn't help but say, "When did I ask you to bring her here? What exactly is your understanding?"

Bai Jin raised a finger, saying earnestly, "Master, was your first phrase not 'Blossoms bloom resplendently, wither and fall; children laugh merrily, old folks approach dusk; what's past is forever past, but the future is already different.'?"

Lord Lao Zi nodded his head, "That's correct!"

Bai Jin suddenly clapped his hands, exclaiming, "That makes sense~

Master's intent is very clear to me!

'Red petals are not heartless, they turn into spring mud to nurture more flowers'—the blooming and falling of flowers represent a cycle of reincarnation.

Children and the elderly from birth to death, from youth to old age and then from old age back to youth, that too, is a cycle.

Thus, the disciple realized, Master means to say that love is also a cycle: picking up and letting go, and now it's time to pick up again."

Bai Jin looked at Lord Lao Zi with serious eyes, saying proudly, "Master, my understanding isn't wrong, is it?"

Lord Lao Zi looked at Bai Jin, murmuring, "My meaning is that what's past should remain in the past, the future should have no intersection, where's this cycle you speak of?"

Bai Jin's expression stiffened as he spoke uncertainly, "Master, could it be I've misunderstood?"

Then, righteous and emboldened, he argued, "No! Master, your second phrase was also very clear!

'The Great Tao is nameless, thus endlessly vast; The Great Tao is unfeeling, thus profoundly loving', doesn't that illustrate your profound love for Aunt Xiyu? Such an obvious meaning, I couldn't have misinterpreted."

Lord Lao Zi couldn't help but shout, "Unfeeling, didn't you hear 'unfeeling'?"

Bai Jin, a bit baffled, replied, "Master, isn't the implication of your words 'The Great Tao is unfeeling, but people have feelings'?

The Great Tao is nameless, but I remember only your name.

The Great Dao is unfeeling, because I have given all my feelings to you.

Because the Great Tao is nameless, it's all-encompassing; because the Great Tao is unfeeling, love is grand; I am not the Great Tao, but I will remember your name, my love as deep as the ocean.

Such a profound declaration of love! I was moved at the time too."

Lord Lao Zi was speechless, managing only to say weakly, "The best relationship is when both parties are well. Isn't that clear enough?"

"In my understanding, this phrase should be divided into two parts.

The first part is 'the best relationship.' This conveys a feeling of something not yet fully expressed, lingering and emotive. I wondered, what would be the best relationship? Then it occurred to me that it's spending a lifetime together with Aunt, and immediately, I understood your intent, Master. The best relationship is to accompany you until old age. The meaning is truly profound.

The latter phrase, 'both parties are well.' At first listen, it simply seems like a well-wishing, but upon further thought, how can Master's words be so straightforward?

Thus, I racked my brain, thought for a long time, and combining it with the previous part, I realized: Master's last phrase is actually a summary of the previous three phrases. The simple 'both parties are well' is actually Master's sigh about this relationship, expressing 'Having you by my side is wonderful.'

Master's words are truly meaningful, especially the last phrase. It's wonderfully said, companionship is the longest confession of love, 'If you are well, it is a sunny day.'

I was profoundly moved and immediately brought Aunt here to find Master."

Lord Lao Zi listened with a dazed expression. If these hadn't been his own words, even he would've doubted their meaning as Bai Jin interpreted. Where did such an interpretation come from? It was purely nonsensical, yet there was some convoluted logic.

Looking at the sincere Bai Jin, Lord Lao Zi couldn't help but sigh, "Bai Jin, you really do have great comprehension!"

Bai Jin chuckled with pride, "That's what I believe too, how else could I have become a Quasi-Saint?"

"Perhaps Heavenly Dao has gone blind!"

Eh~ Bai Jin said speechlessly, "Master, by saying such things about Heavenly Dao, aren't you afraid of being noted in its ledger? And it pains my heart! ╭(╯ε╰)╮"

Lord Lao Zi coughed and said, "Bai Jin, I have a very, very important task for you."

Bai Jin immediately responded, "Please command me, Master!"

"Send Xi Yu back to Qingqiu." Lord Lao Zi couldn't help but add another sentence, "Don't misinterpret this time; take it literally."

Bai Jin, puzzled, said, "Master, why? Aunt Xiyu is so deeply devoted, why would you disappoint her?"

Lord Lao Zi said sternly, "I am an incarnation of a Saint; I oversee the entirety of the Primordial World. Where have you seen a Saint with a Daoist couple? Don't be foolish.

Saints govern the rules of Heaven and Earth, suppressing the endless past and future.

Saints do not possess constant hearts, they take the hearts of living beings as their own. Saints do not harbor enduring love; they regard the affections of Heaven and Earth as love. Should Saints have personal affections, it would not benefit Heaven and Earth, nor the living beings.

For the sake of Primordial Beings, Saints must not have personal affairs. These are the rules!"

"Who established these rules?"

"They are the default."

"Master, have you decided?"

"My decision is made!"

Bai Jin bowed, saying, "Master, then I will now take Aunt Xiyu back."

Lord Lao Zi's expression wavered, saying, "Wait one more day! Return now, come back at this time tomorrow."

"Yes!" Bai Jin stood up and walked towards the exit.

Lord Lao Zi let out a sigh of relief, a slight smile appearing on his lips, then the smile faded and his figure grew faint and disappeared.

In the back garden of the Doushuai Temple, Tushan Xi Yu was rowing a lotus flower boat on a lake, picking lotus seeds, her face aged but with a kind and natural beauty.

The figure of Lord Lao Zi materialized on the boat, becoming solid from vapor.

Tushan Xi Yu revealed a gentle smile, asking, "Where did you go?"

Lord Lao Zi sat down, saying with a cheerful laugh, "Just now someone came looking, and I went out to deal with it."

Tushan Xi Yu, curious, asked, "What kind of official are you as Lord Lao Zi in the Heavenly Court? Why have I never heard of you in the outside world?"

"Ha ha~ It's just an idle position; I'm not responsible for specific affairs. I mostly spend my days making elixirs."

Lord Lao Zi has rarely gone outside since joining the Heavenly Court. Moreover, with a respected status, the gods don't dare to invite or discuss him behind his back, so even many of the Immortal Gods outside of the Heavenly Court are not aware that there is an alchemy role held by Lord Lao Zi.

Tushan Xi Yu, smiling, said, "Pick out some good elixirs for me later."

"What for?"

"To give to Bai Jin! If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be able to see you!"

Lord Lao Zi chuckled, "Before you came, I had just finished crafting a batch of good elixirs. Later, I'll have Golden Horn deliver them to him to express our gratitude."

"Okay~" Tushan Xi Yu smiled and nodded, gazing at Lord Lao Zi, perhaps this is happiness.