"Oh?"
Li Ping'an looked at the statue that Master Zhang Da worshipped in the center of the hall and could not help pausing in surprise.
The one he worshipped was neither a City God nor the Kitchen God, nor any patriarch of the Three Teachings, but a person.
More precisely, someone Li Ping'an knew.
Master Gu of the Anbei Four Garrisons.
Li Ping'an had a very good memory, even for people he had met only once decades ago, let alone this Master Gu...
Come to think of it, the story really was rather amusing.
Back when they were in the Anbei Four Garrisons, Master Gu had been a guest at Wang Yi's home.
Because Master Gu was proficient in divination, the Wang Family had treated him as an honored guest.
As it happened, Aliya had dragged Li Ping'an to Wang Yi's home to watch a martial arts performance.
Who would have known they would meet Master Gu? Master Gu had liked Li Ping'an's erhu playing and insisted on telling his fortune.
Then something unexpected happened.
Not only had Master Gu's magical implement shattered, but he himself had vomited blood and passed out on the spot.
The incident had left Li Ping'an feeling terribly guilty for a time. Before long, Master Gu had left the Anbei Four Garrisons.
"What is this man to you?"
Master Zhang Da froze. "...He is my master."
His master?
"Is your master still alive?"
"Of course he is! You... know my master?"
Master Zhang Da saw that the man wore blue robes and had a kindly face, as though he had known the smoke of mortal hearths yet bore none of the worldly stench of copper. He guessed that the man's identity was far from ordinary.
"You could say that."
No wonder people said Master Zhang