"I almost thought you got hauled in for getting caught washing your feet yesterday!" Zhang Hang's voice came through the phone. "I knocked on your door at noon and didn't see you. I was just about to go bail you out at the public security station!"
Gu Zhao had slept in a mountain village in another world yesterday. He had not seen the messages Zhang Hang sent last night, nor had he replied to anything from this morning or afternoon, so naturally Zhang Hang had gotten worried.
Gu Zhao was scrolling through his phone and was in no mood to joke around with Zhang Hang, so he casually made up an excuse. "Erlang Shen refused to log off. We played until nearly dawn before going to sleep, and I never checked my phone."
Fortunately, he had called Mother only yesterday morning, and she had not looked for him again today. His relationships with his other classmates were merely ordinary, so no one would even notice if he disappeared for a day.
Only Zhang Hang, that lousy friend of his, had actually asked him to accompany him tonight to film a restaurant-review video.
"You're so rich. Can't you just hire someone to go with you?" Gu Zhao asked.
"Aren't I hiring you right now? You come help me film, and I'll feed you," Zhang Hang replied. "I'll send you the address. Hurry over."
Before hanging up, he added temptingly, "I've created a brand-new restaurant-review format. There are perks today~"
Gu Zhao looked at the disconnected call and could only sigh as he packed up to leave. Then he casually snapped his fingers, and a glimmer of purple light flickered at his fingertips. "If there aren't any perks today, I'll let you experience the exquisite pleasure of being electrocuted."
One hour later...
"Babies, a master read my fortune and said I was suited to starting a business—perfect for making new-media food-review content. He said I could build a career and find love while reviewing restaurants!"
"I have to say, this hot pot restaurant is way too high-quality. The men are handsome, the women are gorgeous. Could I find my one true love on my very first day?"
"Beautiful lady, do you believe in love at first sight?"
"You don't? Then please bring me a red-oil soup base. A yin-yang pot doesn't suit me."
"Fortune-telling? Of course I believe in it. One of my childhood friends is an Orthodox Daoist Successor. Not only is he good at martial arts, but his fortune-telling is frighteningly accurate."
"He said that once I got rich, I'd be bad at studying, and I really did become bad at studying. He said I wouldn't find true love in nightclubs, and I really couldn't find it."
"Which master? Of course it's [@Guang Zhao Ri Yue]. He practices some Three Lights Daoist Method and can draw lots, tell fortunes, interpret dreams, and read feng shui. Zi Wei Dou Shu, Bu Yi Shen Xiang... Alright, alright, I'll stop..."
"The red-oil pot is here. Miss, do you know why I ordered red-oil broth? Because I'm hot and fiery, and I need a clear spring—hey, miss, why are you suddenly speaking Sichuan Province dialect? Don't think I don't know what 'Laozi Shudao Shan' means."
Gu Zhao never would have imagined that Zhang Hang's new track was picking up girls in restaurants.
But he had to admit that Zhang Hang was young, possessed seventy percent of Gu Zhao's own good looks, and had honed his gift of gab in nightclubs thanks to having money and leisure. After making arrangements with the restaurant, he would flirt with the girls, only to be ruthlessly rejected by them. It really did make for entertaining content.
Elsewhere, at the beginning of the you hour, He Xiuniang once again arrived at the village entrance behind the mountain village that led toward the back mountain, gazing expectantly into the depths of the forest.
Yet until the sun was nearly setting, she did not see the figure she had been waiting for.
"But Young Master said he would return tonight," Xiuniang murmured.
She frowned and thought for a moment, then could not help lightly biting her lower lip. After glancing back at the village with some hesitation, she headed into the forest in small, quick steps.
Normally, as long as one did not venture too deep, the forest behind the village was not dangerous. Hunter Li Erping entered the mountains by this route, and the village women used it to gather wild fruit and pick mushrooms. Xiuniang had even gone into the mountains to gather flowers in spring.
However, the villagers always entered the mountains during the day and left at dusk. They never spent the night in the forest.
Xiuniang kept to little paths and sparse grass, avoiding possible snakes and insects. Before long, she entered the woods. When she looked back again, the village she had come from was already hidden by dense trees and could no longer be seen.
Xiuniang looked up at a small hill in the distance. She wanted to go there and take a look. Perhaps she might see Gu Zhao returning from afar?
She recalled the huge, crimson mountain flower she had picked on that hill in spring. "I wonder whether Young Master Gu will stay here until next spring?"
A strange anticipation flashed through Xiuniang's little mind when a sharp rebuke suddenly rang out nearby. Though the voice was not loud, it carried from afar without weakening.
"You can't escape. Hand over the divine statue!"
"Don't you just want to take human form? I'll take you to meet the cult leader. Perhaps the cult leader can help you transform, then reward you with a seat as a Divine Consort of the cult."
"Ying ying ying!"
Xiuniang jumped in fright and abruptly turned around. She saw a white shadow darting through the forest toward her, rapidly drawing near.
"Ying—"
A piercing cry rang out. The white shadow seemed to have only just noticed Xiuniang, and it slammed into a large tree several zhang away.
Bang!
The large tree exploded, and the white shadow shot out from the splintered wood. It clearly changed direction, veering away from Xiuniang from the side.
"Hm? Where did this little girl come from? Get the hell out of this god's way!"
Behind the white shadow, a rolling mass of black qi surged forward. With the trees blocking the light, the forest had darkened even earlier than outside, and Xiuniang had not seen it at all just now.
Facing the black qi rushing toward her, Xiuniang's entire body had already gone rigid. Forget moving—she could not even scream.
She could only feel a wave of cold as her entire field of vision was about to turn black.
"Ying ying..."
The white shadow gave a mournful cry, but it showed no intention of turning back.
But just as the black qi came within three chi of Xiuniang, seemingly about to swallow her whole in one bite, she suddenly felt her chest grow hot.
The next moment, a warm aura surrounded Xiuniang, instantly driving away the cold, calming her heart, smoothing over her fear, and restoring vitality to her body.
"Hm?"
At that very moment, a Gang Qi containing Sun Moon Heavenly Light abruptly rose from Xiuniang's body and charged toward the oncoming black qi with a speed too swift to cover one's ears.
The black qi was only three chi away from Xiuniang. It had not even managed to react to the white shadow's sudden change of direction, so how could it evade the Gang Qi rushing straight at it?
Whoosh!
The Gang Qi and black qi collided soundlessly.
The black qi was instantly scattered to the four winds by the Gang Qi.
"Aah!"
A miserable scream rang out. Xiuniang, who had been frozen stiff only moments ago, shuddered in fright. When she raised her head, she saw a flickering black human figure revealed amid the dispersed black qi.
"Aah!" Xiuniang screamed.
"Aahhh!" The black shadow screamed as well.
The Gang Qi was still striking forward, and the black qi shrouding the figure kept collapsing. It had clearly struck the black shadow that had been rushing ahead at full speed as well.
The black shadow exerted all his strength and finally stopped his forward momentum, switching to a full-speed retreat. Then, to his horror, he discovered that the Gang Qi, which had not yet been exhausted, had actually followed him and continued its assault.
"What is this thing?"
The black shadow was both shocked and furious. He could only gather the black qi once more and charge toward the Gang Wind.
Thanks to fellow Daoist Rogotariveros for the 100 reward
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