Wearing a Jade Pendant Around the Neck Sneaky Wanying and the Unreliable Matchmaking Department

While the Incense and Divine Path research team was conducting investigations in the Divine Land, the plan for the Flying Star cultivators to ascend to the Purple Star Immortal Realm was also progressing steadily.

Chen Yi served as the chief commander, responsible only for proposing feasible plans, while the Purple Star Heavenly Dao acted as the deputy commander, overseeing the overall coordination. The actual implementation and settlement work fell to the various heavenly officials across departments.

Among them, the Fate and Reincarnation Bureau bore the greatest pressure.

This department was primarily responsible for managing the fate and destiny of all living beings across the continent.

Originally, the workload had been quite light. After all, the destiny of every being on the Purple Star Continent was predetermined at birth. The bureau only needed to classify and categorize them, then monitor those whose fates were entangled with variables, collecting and archiving relevant information.

In short, it had been a leisurely department, essentially a place where officials could sit back and watch the drama unfold. In fact, the entire Fate and Reincarnation Bureau was practically held up by its chief deity, Liu Xiaofeng, alone!

Of course, with manpower shortages, it made sense to keep things simple in less busy departments and allocate more personnel to busier ones.

But today, with a single decree from above, the bureau was flooded with a massive influx of cultivators from the Flying Star Continent, instantly transforming it from a laid-back office into a frenzied workplace!

Since these Flying Star cultivators hailed from another world, their fates and destinies were completely blank slates, requiring the bureau to compile and organize everything from scratch. The workload was enormous—absolutely staggering!

"It's impossible to finish! There’s just too much, way too much!!"

"Send more people! Can’t our brother departments lend a hand?!!"

The anguished cries of Liu Xiaofeng, the chief deity of the Fate and Reincarnation Bureau, echoed throughout the grand hall, with the nearby Matchmaking Bureau being the first to hear the commotion.

Mu Chen, who happened to be strolling by with a jade token hanging around his neck, shuddered at the sound.

"The Fate and Reincarnation Bureau... wasn’t this department supposed to be super relaxed? Why does its chief deity sound like he’s about to lose his mind? Is it really that busy?"

"Brother Yi sent me here for training. Since they’re short-handed, maybe I should check it out..."

Having made up his mind, Mu Chen, who had just reached the entrance of the Matchmaking Bureau, immediately turned and headed toward the Fate and Reincarnation Bureau.

But just then!

Qingqiu Wanying, the deputy deity of the Matchmaking Bureau, who had been out on business, sneaked back in like a guilty dog.

Catching a glimpse of someone standing outside the Matchmaking Bureau’s gates, she nearly jumped out of her skin, assuming it was yet another troublemaker coming to stir up drama. She immediately spun around, ready to bolt.

However, when she saw the jade token hanging from the stranger’s neck, her eyes lit up with excitement!

"Fellow Daoist, wait!"

Wanying called out to Mu Chen with a sweet, harmless smile. "Might you be the envoy sent by the Calamity-Resisting Sage?"

Mu Chen was momentarily stunned, but after confirming her identity, he couldn’t help but suppress a smirk. "Ah~ So it’s the Matchmaking Bureau’s esteemed deity. Yes, Brother Yi sent me here for training."

Hearing this, Wanying’s smile widened. "Just now, I noticed you lingering outside our bureau. Were you planning to join us for work?"

Mu Chen scratched his head, about to reply.

But Wanying didn’t give him a chance. She grabbed his arm with enthusiasm and began pulling him inside. "Come, let’s go in. My apologies—our bureau is quite busy, and everyone’s out on assignments, so no one was home to receive you earlier."

"Wait, no, I—" Mu Chen sensed something off about her but couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He wanted to resist, but as a mere early-stage Unity Realm cultivator, he was no match for Wanying, who had already reached the early-stage Pseudo-Immortal Realm after undergoing the Heavenly Dao’s tempering.

He could’ve used the authority granted by Brother Yi’s jade token to order her to let go, but... was it really worth abusing his privileges over something so trivial?

Wouldn’t that just prove he was useless?!

For now, he could only play along and see how things unfolded.

Soon after being dragged into the Matchmaking Bureau, Mu Chen received a harsh lesson.

Wanying cheerfully shoved a thick golden ledger of marital destinies into his hands, claiming it was to familiarize him with the work. Then, she excused herself to fetch him tea—only to vanish without a trace, leaving him stranded!

A growing sense of unease settled over Mu Chen as he flipped through the ledger, its contents feeling increasingly ominous.

[Year 821 of the Calamity-Resisting Era, 24th day of the sixth month: Investigation confirmed that Yuan Qiyue, chief deity of the Rain Hall under the Celestial Phenomena Bureau, is entangled with variables, her mortal bonds unresolved. Matchmaking Bureau chief deity Bai Yujing immediately took action, with deputy deity Qingqiu Wanying assisting, binding her with a red thread of fate, altering her destiny. Reported to the Fate and Reincarnation Bureau for mortal tribulation, reported to the Celestial Patrol for supervision...]

[Year 821, 28th day of the sixth month: Rain Goddess Yuan Qiyue traveled to the East Sea’s shores to summon rain, where she encountered a man named Xi Feng singing atop the Sea Cliff. His voice, harmonizing with the sound of falling rain, enchanted even the fish to leap from the water and the cranes to shield themselves from the drizzle... Yuan Qiyue paid it no mind, completing her duty before moving on.]

[Year 821, 6th day of the seventh month: Yuan Qiyue returned to the East Sea’s shores to summon rain. Xi Feng was still singing in the rain. This time, she lingered, extending the rainfall by an extra quarter-hour and increasing the precipitation by three inches and eight drops...]

[Year 821, 13th day of the seventh month: Yuan Qiyue returned to the East Sea’s shores, this time recording Xi Feng’s song with a conch shell, carrying it with her...]

[Year 821, mid-seventh month: Clear skies. Yuan Qiyue went to the East Sea’s shores...]

[Year 821, 16th day of the seventh month: Clear skies. Yuan Qiyue went to the East Sea’s shores...]

[Year 821, 18th day of the seventh month: The red thread of fate had taken hold. Rain Goddess Yuan Qiyue, now smitten with mortal desires, refused counsel and persisted in her folly. Celestial Patrol chief deity Liu Xing reported to the Heavenly Law Bureau. White Tiger Enforcer executed her divine rank on the Soul-Severing Platform, stripping her of godhood and casting her into the mortal realm for one lifetime of tribulation!]

[Note: Yuan Qiyue’s elder brother is the chief deity of the Four Seas Hall, and her sworn elder brother is Ao Burang, chief of the Heavenly River Transport Bureau and the Water Virtue Star Lord.]

With just one glance, Mu Chen’s scalp tingled, and he felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles!

Forget the chief of the Four Seas Hall—Ao Burang, the Water Virtue Star Lord, was an outright terrifying figure!

He was one of the five ruthless survivors of the Immortal Ascension Tribulation!

How in the heavens did Bai Yujing, that old fool, dare to mess with him?!

Though both were Heavenly Dao immortals, if it came down to a fight, the infamous Black Dragon King Ao Burang could absolutely pummel him into the ground!

And now, Bai Yujing had stripped his sworn brother’s little sister of her divine status...

"Oh no, this Matchmaking Bureau is a den of trouble! That Qingqiu Wanying definitely has ulterior motives—she’s trying to make me take the fall!"

"No way!"

Without hesitation, Mu Chen stood up to leave.

But alas, he was a step too late.

BANG BANG BANG!

A series of violent knocks hammered against the door, followed by a rough voice.

"Damn it!"

"Bai Yujing, you %$#@!"

"Always playing with those stupid red threads, tying them left and right without a care! I say you’re too old for this—just retire already! Keep this up, and you’ll end up pairing men with men, women with women, and before long, cows with horses, roaches with pigs!"

"That’s right! Worst of all, ants with elephants!"

"Let’s get him!"

"Whoever’s inside the Matchmaking Bureau—bring your chief deity back here, or you’re not leaving alive!"

Mu Chen: "......"

Alright, alright. I was trying to keep a low profile, but you all just had to push your luck, didn't you?

Fine, no more pretending—I'm laying my cards on the table. The jade pendant hangs from my neck now!

Qingqiu Wanying, you just wait. You thought you could use me?

You’re going to regret this!