"Was this Five Thunder Talisman consecrated?" someone asked.
Hui Bin instinctively tightened his grip on the talisman paper.
Daoist Master Yihong nodded. "Yes, but its effectiveness is already waning. I estimate it will cease to work in another month or two. That is why I assumed some expert had given it to him one or two years ago."
Hui Bin breathed a sigh of relief, though he also felt somewhat disappointed.
"A consecrated Magic Artifact can only last one or two years?" someone else asked.
Daoist Master Yihong pointed at him. "The human heart is never satisfied, like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. One or two years is already quite good. Peachwood, jujube wood, bronze, jade, and the like may last longer, but consecrating them also takes more time and effort, delaying one's cultivation."
The man lowered his head in shame and did not dare ask any further questions.
Even so, quite a few people's thoughts began to stir.
Although this protective talisman could only remain effective for one or two months, that did not mean the young man was not formidable. After all, he had merely drawn it casually before giving the talisman paper to Hui Bin.
If he seriously consecrated one, would it not be effortless for him to make a protective talisman last one or two years?
Daoist Master Yihong had grown wise with age. One sweep of his gaze told him what everyone was thinking, and he regretted having explained things too thoroughly and praised that young man too highly.
"I have been lonely for too long." Daoist Master Yihong sighed inwardly, then instructed them, "That young man is close to nature, yet his Dao is profound despite his youth. He is a naturally gifted seedling for cultivating the Dao. If you find him, be sure to notify me immediately."
"Of course, of course."
"Certainly, certainly."
"A young man like that may well be a disciple of some renowned school."
"Seeing how adeptly he drew the Five Thunder Talisman, perhaps he is a Daoist priest ordained at Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain."
"If he comes to Yuanfa Palace again, we will definitely call you right away."
Some people did think of checking the surveillance footage, but they quickly abandoned the idea.
There was no other reason. Even if they checked the footage and learned what he looked like, they lacked the manpower, resources, and information channels to continue tracking him down. Were they supposed to tell the Security Officers that this person could consecrate Magic Artifacts and was a natural talent for cultivating the Dao, then ask them to help find him?
At this point, even religious figures spoke of traditional culture and believing in science. They could not spread feudal superstition, could they?
"That is good." Daoist Master Yihong chuckled. "Now that the tea has been drunk and the story has been told, let us go to the Scripture Repository and read some books."
"Alright, alright!"
"After you!"
Gu Zhao naturally knew nothing of what was happening at Yuanfa Palace, much less that his ineffective Five Thunder Talisman, lingering within cinnabar and yellow paper, had actually been mistaken for a protective talisman.
After speaking with Zhang Hang on the phone, he had been preparing to cross into the other world and continue cultivating when he received another call from Mother.
"Son! Have you found a job yet?"
"No."
"Are you still looking?"
"No."
"Wonderful!" A cheer came from the other end of the phone.
Gu Zhao:???
"Come back to Rong City with me this weekend." Gu Zhao's mother, Li Man, was the decisive, no-nonsense sort.
Gu Zhao could not help asking, "Did something happen with Grandpa and Grandma?"
"No." Li Man replied, "The son of one of my best friends is getting married, and she invited me back for the wedding."
"Isn't Dad going with you?" Gu Zhao asked instinctively.
"If your dad were going, would I still bring you?" Li Man snorted. "Wouldn't it be nice for us to enjoy our own little world for two?"
Gu Zhao, "..."
"Clean yourself up and look sharp. Make sure you outshine the groom!" Li Man instructed. "She flaunts that her son is tall, fair, handsome, and married a rich, beautiful girl all day long. Look at how pleased she is with herself!"
"But she's your best friend..."
"A plastic best friend! My son is far better than hers—taller than him, fairer than him, and more handsome than him. It's just..."
At this point, Li Man could not help sighing. "It's just that you spend all day cultivating some Dao or other. If I had not found normal study materials on your computer, I would have thought you were led astray during those summer vacations in Rong City."
Gu Zhao was dumbfounded. "You went through my computer? How did you know my password?"
"79531—metal, wood, water, fire, earth. What is so difficult about that?" Li Man said unconcernedly.
Gu Zhao: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ
Ignoring Gu Zhao's embarrassment, Li Man continued, "Oh, right. Aren't there hired girlfriends online these days? Why don't you make time to interview a few over the next couple of days? Pick a particularly pretty one and bring her back. If you're shy, I can help you choose."
"If you choose for me, I'm not going!" Gu Zhao snapped.
"Then you'll choose one yourself?" Li Man asked.
"What if I don't bring a girlfriend and seduce the bride at the wedding instead?" Gu Zhao said viciously.
"Hiss—" Li Man was stunned as well. "I think I saw a similar topic in your study materials!"
Gu Zhao felt his face smoking and his hands trembling. "You read all of it?"
"Not yet." Li Man spoke honestly. "There's too much."
At this point, a faint thread of worry hid beneath Li Man's joking tone. "I noticed that there were more 2D topics than 3D ones in your study materials. You must not turn into one of those shut-in nerds from Sakura Country!"
Gu Zhao drew a deep breath and said honestly, "Mom, I'm perfectly normal. I will definitely find you a normal daughter-in-law."
"That's good. I knew it—your grandfather and your old man both married normally, so this sort of thing isn't forbidden in your family line!" Li Man also sighed in relief, but did not forget to add, "Remember to hurry. I can hardly wait to go shopping and get manicures with my daughter-in-law."
After hanging up, Gu Zhao could not help wiping the faint cold sweat from his forehead.
Talking to Mother had felt even more nerve-racking and thrilling than fighting those ghosts a few days ago.
"No wonder Dad is wrapped around her finger." Gu Zhao sighed. "These days, even living off your parents isn't easy!"
After lamenting for a moment, Gu Zhao checked the time, then went to the tea restaurant downstairs to buy a pound of braised beef and pack up a soy-braised pork knuckle.
Gu Zhao had discovered that perhaps due to their long-term lack of rich food, Elder He's family and the white fox both had relatively strong tastes. They preferred northern-style meat dishes; five-spice roast chicken was more popular than plain poached chicken.
Perhaps influenced by Mother's hometown tastes, however, Gu Zhao was particularly fond of Sichuan Cuisine and Hunan Cuisine.
Gu Zhao crossed into the other world, carrying the two portions of food out of the mountains, and saw Xiuniang standing beside the large tree at the village entrance. From time to time, she stood on tiptoe and looked expectantly in his direction.
A snow-white fox lay sprawled across her shoulder, its tail swishing back and forth through the young girl's hair as it gave a bored yawn.
The sun behind the village was slanting westward, spilling down ten thousand rays of golden light. Passing through the curling cooking smoke rising from the scattered houses and through gaps in the branches and leaves of nearby trees, the light fell upon the young girl, wrapping her in a warm orange glow like a cozy, colorful two-dimensional illustration.
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