Tao Mian stretched out his hand for a long time, but the young man under the tree didn't respond.

"Stunned?"

He changed his sitting position, letting his legs dangle in the air, making it easier to extend his arm forward.

Tao Mian waved his hand in front of the young man's eyes. The young man blinked twice and gasped, as if waking from a dream.

"That was terrifying. I felt like I died just now. Why is this place so eerie..."

Tao Mian was about to climb down the tree with his peaches when he heard the young man mumbling, and he almost burst out laughing.

"You're from the Demonic Realm, right? This Peach Blossom Mountain is an immortal mountain, how could it be eerie?"

Su Tianhe felt a bit embarrassed and scratched the back of his head with a sheepish smile.

Tao Mian could tell at a glance that he was a demon, but he seemed friendly. Thinking it was fate that they met, he gestured for him to climb up the tree.

"Isn't this a bit inappropriate..." Su Tianhe glanced worriedly at the tree. "What if it breaks..."

"Don't worry about it. This tree is older than you by several cycles, it's sturdy. Are you coming up or not? If not, forget it."

If Tao Mian had urged him, Su Tianhe might not have cared. But since Tao Mian said "come if you want," Su Tianhe felt compelled to climb up.

Young people are naturally rebellious.

Tao Mian shared two peaches from his arms with him, then pulled out a water flask from his sleeve, rinsed off the dirt, and took a big bite. Su Tianhe, a young master accustomed to luxury, had never eaten peaches like this before. Initially, he was disdainful.

But after the first bite, he changed his mind.

The peaches from Peach Blossom Mountain were large, sweet, and fragrant. Everyone who tasted them praised them.

The two of them sat on the tree eating peaches.

By the end of August, the summer heat had slightly subsided, and the autumn chill was setting in. The temperature in the mountains was slightly lower than outside, making it particularly pleasant.

Su Tianhe was quite talkative. He had been traveling since his teenage years, wandering between the Demonic Realm and the human world. He told Tao Mian about the beautiful scenery outside the mountains, about high peaks and deep valleys, tranquil waters, bustling cities, and the lights of ten thousand homes.

Tao Mian listened with great interest.

As the conversation continued, Su Tianhe patted Tao Mian on the shoulder and said, "Little Taoist, what's the fun in being cooped up in the mountains by your master all day? Why not come with me and enjoy life?"

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Tao Mian nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly, blaming his strict master.

Su Tianhe truly believed Tao Mian was a naive country boy, good-looking but inexperienced, oppressed by his master at the temple, forced to study boring lessons every day, with no joy in life.

He even began to pity him.

"That Tao Mian at your temple is really something."

"...?"

Tao Mian, who was busy eating peaches, was puzzled.

The conversation was going well, so why the sudden insult?

Su Tianhe, recalling his father's broom, grew angry. He said that Taoist Tao not only kept the young Valley Master confined but also mistreated innocent young people like Tao Mian, worse than any demon, truly inhuman.

He repeated it for emphasis.

Only then did Tao Mian realize that Su Tianhe hadn't recognized his true identity.

He thought to himself that the Demonic Realm was indeed a magical place, with madmen like Shen Bozhou and fools like Su Tianhe.

Little Tao Immortal stifled his laughter and began to fabricate a story, tearfully accusing Taoist Tao of mistreating him, making him cook before dawn while he himself stayed in bed, and then scolding him when the food got cold.

He made it sound quite convincing.

...

Well, it was somewhat true. These were actual experiences of their young Valley Master.

Before dawn, Chu Liuxue would be cooking, while Tao Mian stayed in bed.

When the food got cold, Chu Liuxue would scold him.

He just secretly changed the names, so no one would know that at Peach Blossom Temple, it was the disciples who constantly urged their master to improve.

Hearing this, Su Tianhe felt even more sympathy.

He slapped the tree branch in indignation.

"Just as I thought! That Tao Mian is utterly shameless—"

At this point, he suddenly remembered something and lowered his voice.

"And someone privately reported to me that there's something unusual about the relationship between Tao Mian and the young Valley Master!"

It turns out that even after becoming an immortal, the urge to gossip is hard to suppress.

Tao Mian perked up his ears, eager to hear even if it was gossip about himself.

"Oh? What's so 'unusual' about it?"

"I heard," Su Tianhe's voice dropped even lower, "that the young Valley Master is infatuated with Tao Mian, but he betrayed her! He fell for someone else!"

"......"

"The young Valley Master refuses to return to the Demonic Realm to inherit the position of Valley Master because she wants an explanation from Tao Mian! The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Little Taoist, if I can get justice for the young Valley Master and make her go back to take her father's place, then maybe I won't be kicked back to the human world by my father every time! It's fine to visit occasionally for the scenery, but it's no place for demons to stay long."

Su Tianhe had his own unique logic, and amazingly, he managed to weave it into a story he firmly believed in.

Even the well-traveled Little Tao Immortal was momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

The key was that after concocting his story, he turned to ask the person involved.

"Little Taoist, do you think this plan could work?"

"I..." Tao Mian couldn't tell if he was genuinely naive or just pretending, "I think it's worth a try."

The two of them chatted away, and before they knew it, half the day had passed. Just as Su Tianhe was about to delve deeper into how to implement this plan, Chu Liuxue returned.

"Yin Piao, if you've picked enough, come down."

The girl saw the yellow chicken pecking at rice and knew the immortal wasn't far away.

Sure enough, when she looked up, there he was.

...

And an extra person.

"Who are you?"

Chu Liuxue didn't recognize Su Tianhe, but Su Tianhe had seen the young Valley Master's portrait.

He quickly climbed down the tree, as if seeing a savior.

"Young Valley Master, you're back! Where is your master Tao Mian? I want to demand an explanation for you!"

Chu Liuxue had no idea what play they were putting on.

She glanced at the tree, her chin slightly raised.

"Isn't he right there?"

"Where, where?"

Su Tianhe's gaze circled around and finally landed on the little Taoist on the tree.

?

Tao Mian tossed the last two peaches to Chu Liuxue, then looked back at Su Tianhe with an amused expression.

"I am Tao Mian. Hmm... I've heard everything you wanted to say. If you'd like to denounce me again, go ahead."

"......"

He was first stunned, then speechless, as if he had suffered a great blow.

"You, you, how can you be so young?"

Tao Mian was puzzled too.

"I'm an immortal, isn't it normal not to age?"

Su Tianhe pulled out a portrait from his sleeve.

"I was looking for someone based on this picture! How does this look like you?"

"...The drawing is a bit old, can't blame you."

Tao Mian examined it seriously.

Chu Liuxue watched the show from the side, and when it seemed enough, she stepped forward.

"Now that you recognize him, go back to the Demonic Realm. I won't leave Peach Blossom Mountain."

"No, no, I can't," Su Tianhe was still recovering from his earlier shock, speaking with a slight stutter, "You must come back with me!"

"Is this your first time coming to Peach Blossom Mountain to find me? Ask your predecessors, some of them have wasted half a year here with no success. Don't waste your time."

Su Tianhe seemed to be hiding something, and although Chu Liuxue told him to give up, he didn't insist on taking her away.

But he proposed another condition.

"Then I want to stay."

"Why bother? Judging by your expression, you don't seem very willing."

Su Tianhe sighed, as if resigning to his fate.

"The people in the valley are forcing me to marry you. How can I go back and explain? I'm not going back either!"