Early the next morning, Wen Ning was squatting by the entrance, brushing Big Yellow's fur.
The shop door swung open.
Zhang Siyu was crouching beside a large tub inside, scrubbing the Squirrel Spirit's back. When she looked up, the towel in her hand dropped into the water.
"Dad?"
Zhang Qingxuan stood in the doorway. This time, he wore a suit rather than the Taoist robes of Dragon-Tiger Mountain.
His gaze settled on Zhang Siyu for a moment before sweeping across the shop.
Three large tubs, the row of essential oil bottles on the coffee table, the two little birds cuddling on the electric fan, and the Squirrel Spirit soaking in a tub with a blissful expression.
His brow furrowed.
"The place you work is this run-down?"
Before Zhang Siyu could explain anything to her father, his attention shifted.
Zhang Qingxuan was already looking at Wen Ning.
One simple glance was all it took.
He froze as if rooted to the spot. How was this possible?
Zhang Qingxuan looked at Wen Ning and said,
"You have immortal energy."
He watched Wen Ning warily.
"You're not mortal."
Wen Ning saw that Zhang Qingxuan had figured out his identity at once.
He put down the brush.
Brushing the dog hair off his hands, he stood up.
"Yeah, I'm not. What about it?"
"In this day and age, there are only two explanations for someone possessing immortal energy: they cultivated to immortality, or they were already a deity.
"At your age, cultivating to immortality would be impossible."
Zhang Qingxuan's gaze swept over him twice.
"That leaves only one possibility. You're an immortal."
"That's right. With the Heavenly Court's Thunder Department."
Zhang Qingxuan's brow knitted even tighter.
An officially appointed Thunder Department Heavenly Official was running a Bathhouse in an urban village, with a sign