Elder He indeed did not know much, but the information he shared was not scarce either. After all, he had lived in Xiu Yue County for over a decade and had picked up plenty from opera performances, storytellers, and street gossip.
The Imperial Court he spoke of was called the Great Ning Dynasty. Naturally, he did not know how vast its territory was or how long it had stood. He only knew that this small mountain village belonged to Xiu Yue County, Changping Prefecture, within a radius of two or three hundred li.
This world had ghosts and demons, gods and spirits. It was said that the Great Ning Dynasty had nation-protecting divine spirits, as well as the Nation-Protecting Divine Church. There were even mages of every stripe patrolling the land, subduing demons and exorcising ghosts.
"Back in the early years, life was still fairly peaceful." Elder He sighed. "But starting more than thirty years ago, trouble began cropping up in the county again and again. There were even several hauntings. This old man was timid, so I returned to the village. After that, I rarely went out."
"Didn't you say mages patrolled the land?" Gu Zhao asked.
Elder He shook his head. "How many mages could the Imperial Court possibly have, and how many demons and ghosts are there in the world? Thirty years ago, they said a river demon caused trouble in neighboring Wuhe County and nearly turned the place into a blank wasteland."
As he spoke, Elder He still seemed shaken by the memory. Clearly, what happened in Wuhe County had played a decisive role in his decision to return to the mountain village.
As the two chatted idly, the time reached mid-morning. Xiuniang set out fragrant white rice and a clear-braised casserole of cabbage, radish, and cured meat on a low table in the courtyard. She also cut two apples into small pieces and placed them to one side.
"Young Master, this fruit is so sweet! It looks like a nai fruit, but it's bigger and sweeter than a nai fruit!" Xiuniang had just eaten the trimmings from cutting the apples. She had never tasted fruit this sweet before.
Xiuniang's smiling face was wonderfully healing. Gu Zhao could not help smiling as well. "As long as it tastes good."
"The food is ready! Come eat!" Xiuniang laid out the dishes, bowls, and chopsticks, calling Gu Zhao and her grandfather over for the meal.
After the meal, those children from yesterday came running over again to have Elder He teach them. He Xiuniang also brought out some bamboo strips from the side room. She listened casually while beginning to weave bamboo.
Gu Zhao looked at the bamboo hats, baskets, sieves, and other items beneath the surrounding eaves, then asked Xiuniang, "How do these things sell?"
Xiuniang raised her little face. "Second Uncle Zhang goes to the county once every ten days. He sells all the village's bamboo weaving, then trades for food and household goods. Sometimes there's even money left over, and everyone gets a share."
From what Xiuniang said, this mountain village was not truly cut off from the world. Other than farming, everyone had some skill to rely on—carpentry, stonemasonry, bricklaying, and one family that knew bamboo weaving. They had taught the craft to the villagers, allowing the women of the village to help support their households as well.
"The official road is not far outside the village. Traveling merchants and guests who miss their lodging often come into the village from time to time," Xiuniang explained.
Gu Zhao shook his head. "Aren't they afraid of running into mountain bandits?"
Xiuniang did not smile. Instead, she said with a hint of worry, "Mountain bandits rarely used to appear on the official road. But when Second Uncle Zhang came back last time, he said he saw two dead people on the road. Then, less than two days later, bandits came to the village."
Xiuniang looked at Gu Zhao with gratitude filling her eyes. "If it hadn't been for you, Young Master, perhaps we would have been harmed by those mountain bandits."
"That shouldn't have happened..." Gu Zhao shook his head with a smile. "If they killed everyone in the village, who would they rob in the future?"
Xiuniang could not help laughing. "Young Master, you're so kind. Those bandits barely know where their next meal is coming from. How could they care about so much?"
At this point, Xiuniang truly felt lingering fear. Those bandits might not necessarily have slaughtered the entire village, and that bandit leader had only been concerned with the female ghost in green—but she had noticed that several bandits had looked at her in a very wrong way.
"Didn't that female ghost kill them all afterward?" Gu Zhao spread his hands with a grin.
Xiuniang did not know whether to laugh or cry. "The female ghost was even scarier!"
Thinking of how the villagers had reacted when they learned that the female ghost wanted to absorb Gu Zhao's vital essence, Gu Zhao could not help wanting to laugh as well. When people faced an unknown power, their fear was magnified to its greatest extent.
Even Elder He's speed had broken past its limits.
Speaking of the female ghost reminded Gu Zhao of what he had accomplished yesterday. He reached into his clothes, took out two yellow triangular paper talismans, and stuffed them into Xiuniang's hands.
"These are two protective talismans. Give one to your grandfather, and keep the other close to your body. If you encounter demons or ghosts, they can protect you and save your life in a crisis," Gu Zhao said.
Xiuniang was startled and instinctively wanted to refuse. "These are too precious..."
Gu Zhao stopped her. Holding Xiuniang's hand, he closed her fingers around the two talismans, then reached out with his other hand and patted her head. He teased with a smile, "Keep them. There are so many demons and ghosts in the world. If you really run into one next time, at least you won't be frightened into rabbits."
These were Heavenly Dipper Talismans from the Upper Clarity Heavenly Heart True Method. They were also talismans that could activate on their own without Mana. Worn long-term, they strengthened the body and kept all illnesses at bay. At critical moments, they could slay vicious evils and protect one's life. However, they mainly targeted yin and evil auras and offered no defense against blades or weapons.
There was no helping it. Among the Taoist Scriptures Gu Zhao had learned, there were no talismans or spells of that sort for the time being.
"It is said that cultivating a Golden Core can forge an Indestructible Vajra Body, and the Orthodox Unity Sect possesses the Vajra Profound Talisman." Gu Zhao pondered. "Never mind the Indestructible Vajra Body, but as for the Vajra Profound Talisman... should I make a trip to Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain and exchange pointers with the Taoists there?"
Although the Tianxia Daoist Canon could be found online, its versions varied greatly. Some were missing illustrations or characters, and the editions were inconsistent. Who knew whether the various sects had held something back when they presented their secret arts to the Imperial Court?
For example, the three Taoist Scriptures Gu Zhao had learned differed substantially from the contents of the online Tianxia Daoist Canon. They also contained many additional details, such as breathing methods, hand seals, and Mana circulation.
So, if he wanted to learn the Vajra Profound Talisman, he would probably have to go to Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain.
Gu Zhao was not worried that he would fail to learn it, because...
At that thought, Gu Zhao could not help smiling dreamily. If I publicly cast a Palm Thunder at Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain, would they immediately drape me in a Purple Robe and invite me to become the current Celestial Master?
Things like ghosts taking detours, vanquishing demons and devils, and flying on swords were all just internet jokes. But if someone could truly wield thunder magic in reality, it would absolutely shake the entire nation.
Gu Zhao was smiling, but Xiuniang could not smile.
With Gu Zhao holding her hand, Xiuniang's face flushed red. She was both shy and delighted, but as soon as Gu Zhao spoke, her complexion turned somewhat pale.
It was not that she found his words unfunny, nor did she mind his teasing. Rather, she had heard another meaning beneath his words.
Xiuniang forcibly suppressed the panic in her heart. When she raised her head, she wore a bright, happy smile. "I'll carry it with me. I'll always carry it with me!"
Gu Zhao nodded. He did not notice the stiffness at the corners of Xiuniang's lips, because he suddenly realized that he had not gone back all day.
He needed to travel back quickly, or he would become a missing person.
"I'm going to cultivate in the back mountain. I'll return tonight," Gu Zhao told Xiuniang, then hurriedly turned and left.
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