Visiting Qingyang Palace

Miss Shuoguo is named Jiang Shishi, and Long-legged Miss is named Xiao Ya.

Both are fourth-year students in the traditional music department at Yandu Conservatory of Music. Jiang Shishi plays the pipa, and Xiao Ya plays the guzheng. Currently, both are interning with the Yandu National Orchestra, touring the country with the group. Last time they were in Yangcheng, this time they are in Rongcheng.

"Amazing, so you're musicians!" Gu Zhao exclaimed. "The Yandu National Orchestra is very impressive!"

Gu Zhao didn't even need to investigate. A name directly associated with Yandu, without any strange intermediary terms, meant it was directly under the government – a stable, iron-rice-bowl job.

"What musicians? We're just trying to make a living," Jiang Shishi said, shaking her head. "The competition at the Yandu National Orchestra is too fierce; we might not be able to stay."

Gu Zhao explained things to the two women while chatting casually.

"Xiao Ya's grandfather isn't well. Wherever Xiao Ya goes, she visits the local famous Taoist temples to pray for him," Jiang Shishi said, counting on her fingers. "We've already been to Baiyun Temple in Yandu, Bixia Yuan Temple in Quancheng, Baopu Yuan in Lincheng, and Yuanfa Palace in Yangcheng, plus Qingyang Palace this time."

Gu Zhao couldn't help but ask, "Just Taoist temples?"

Jiang Shishi smiled. "Because Xiao Ya's grandfather is a Taoist priest."

"He's not exactly a priest; Grandpa says he never formally entered the order," Xiao Ya added.

"Close enough. Last time I visited your home, I saw your grandpa wearing a Taoist robe talking to an old Taoist priest," Jiang Shishi said, linking arms with Xiao Ya.

Xiao Ya nodded, then let go of Jiang Shishi and knelt on the cushion in the Three Pure Ones Hall. She formed the Zi Wu Hand Seal with her hands and respectfully bowed to the Three Pure Ones Patriarchs. Her posture was standard, and her expression was devout.

Gu Zhao watched from the side, then heard the chime of a censer. The female Taoist priest who struck it looked at Xiao Ya with a gentle gaze.

Then her gaze turned indifferent as another middle-aged woman knelt beside Xiao Ya, hands clasped.

"Wow, the Twelve Golden Immortals! I know them, there's Guangchengzi, and Nezha's master, Taiyi Zhenren!" Jiang Shishi whispered in admiration.

The Three Pure Ones Hall in Qingyang Palace was the largest. Besides the Three Pure Ones Patriarchs in the center, there were six golden divine statues seated on each side of the hall, representing the Twelve Golden Immortals from Investiture of the Gods.

Gu Zhao told the story of the Twelve Golden Immortals to the two women, introducing their disciples and magical artifacts, such as Guangchengzi's Fan Tian Seal and Taiyi Zhenren's Nine Dragon Divine Fire Cover.

Compared to Journey to the West, where even Zhenyuanzi was schemed against, the Taoist deities in Investiture of the Gods, with their titles and magical artifacts, sounded incredibly powerful.

After visiting Doumu Hall, Jade Emperor Hall, and Tang King Hall, Xiao Ya also drew a fortune slip in Jade Emperor Hall. The three of them then went to the tea garden east of Tang King Hall to rest.

"Having you as a guide is much more interesting than visiting temples on our own," Jiang Shishi said, ordering three vegetarian meals and a pot of tea.

Gu Zhao didn't stand on ceremony. "Because I'm also something of an unofficial Taoist."

Jiang Shishi remembered the previous incident and couldn't help but tease, "Have you encountered any more female ghosts? Did the Five Thunder Talisman work?"

Gu Zhao sighed. "More than just female ghosts; I even saw a child ghost and an old man ghost. If my cultivation wasn't decent, I might have died."

The two women laughed at this. Jiang Shishi said earnestly, "Next time you encounter a ghost, bring me along to see! I've never seen a ghost in my life!"

Xiao Ya worried that Jiang Shishi's teasing might become inappropriate, so she changed the subject. "Just now in Jade Emperor Hall, I felt like you interpreted the fortune slip better than that Taoist priest did."

Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi had drawn and interpreted fortune slips in Jade Emperor Hall earlier. The Taoist priest had been somewhat impatient and dismissed them quickly. It was Gu Zhao who took the slips and explained them to them.

Gu Zhao looked at the papers in the women's hands. "Many Taoist temples use Lu Zu Spirit Lots. I remember Yuanfa Palace did too. This should be a special spirit lot for Quanzhen Dao. I'm very familiar with it."

"That's not necessarily true. The one I drew at Baopu Yuan in Lincheng was a Baopu Spirit Lot," Xiao Ya said.

Gu Zhao could tell that Xiao Ya did have some knowledge of Taoism, but it was limited, much like the overall style of Qingyang Palace.

So Gu Zhao explained, "Baopu Yuan is a temple of the Lingbao School, which belongs to Zhengyi Dao. If they dared to use Lu Zu Spirit Lots, it would be considered betraying their ancestors."

"Ah?" Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi didn't understand. "Isn't Lu Dongbin a famous figure in Taoism?"

Gu Zhao explained, "But Lu Dongbin was a figure from the Tang Dynasty and is considered one of the Northern Five Patriarchs of Quanzhen Dao. Meanwhile, the Three Mountains Talismans of Zhengyi Dao in Jiangnan date back to the Jin Dynasty."

"Quanzhen Dao appeared later than Zhengyi Dao?" Jiang Shishi asked.

"Much later," Gu Zhao replied.

"But it feels like there are more Quanzhen Dao temples than Zhengyi Dao ones?" Xiao Ya asked.

"That's the advantage of being a latecomer," Gu Zhao chuckled. "Zhengyi Dao focuses on cultivating the spirit and using talismans, often sitting still. Quanzhen Dao cultivates qi to form an elixir, combining movement and stillness. Perhaps their physical health is better than Zhengyi Dao practitioners."

"Hahaha, you're so funny!" Jiang Shishi laughed charmingly and then asked curiously, "By the way, are you Quanzhen Dao or Zhengyi Dao?"

Xiao Ya understood a little. "The Five Thunder Talisman is from Zhengyi Dao, right?"

"The Southern School of Inner Elixir also has Thunder Magic," Gu Zhao explained, then clenched his fist. "As an adult, why choose? I'm both!"

Jiang Shishi raised an eyebrow at this. "So your body is also very good?"

Caught off guard by the suggestive remark, Gu Zhao didn't know how to respond. Before he could, Jiang Shishi continued, "Then will you accompany us to Qingcheng Mountain tomorrow?

"It'll save us on guide fees, and we'll treat you to a big meal," Jiang Shishi added, making a heart shape with her fingers.

"You two are truly devout!" Gu Zhao looked at the women and chuckled, sighing. "Don't girls usually go shopping, get manicures, and do skincare?"

Jiang Shishi put an arm around Xiao Ya. "Do you think we need skincare right now? As for shopping..."

The two women exchanged a look and said in unison, "We're broke!"

They were obviously joking. Gu Zhao could see that the clothes the two women were wearing were nice, indicating they weren't lacking money but had good upbringing and no desire for material comparison.

"Sure," Gu Zhao agreed readily. Although he wanted to go to Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain to seek the Vajra Profound Talisman, visiting Qingcheng Mountain first sounded good, especially with two beautiful young ladies.

"Then let's add each other as friends. We'll meet tomorrow morning!" Jiang Shishi took out her phone.

Since the girls had taken the initiative, Gu Zhao naturally wouldn't refuse. He added them as friends, and then they visited a few side halls together, took a photo with the Ginseng Fruit Tree, a filming location from Journey to the West, and then left Qingyang Palace, bidding each other farewell.

"This handsome young man is quite interesting. Even though his eyes keep glancing at our assets, his attitude is still proper."

"You're such a pervert, even watching where he's looking!"

"I think he's quite good. It's a shame Yandu and Yangcheng are too far apart, otherwise, I wouldn't mind giving him a chance."

"That's if he's even interested in you."

"I'm beautiful and well-endowed, why wouldn't he be interested in me?"

It was the height of summer, and Jiang Shishi's clothes were quite form-fitting. As she leaned forward, her ample bosom was quite a sight.

"Enough of that," Xiao Ya quickly interrupted Jiang Shishi. "The unattainable is always the most desirable. Several people in the orchestra are pursuing you, why don't you agree to any of them?"

"Don't you know what they're like? They all consider themselves artists and are notorious womanizers," Jiang Shishi snorted, then added with a lecherous grin, "Besides, none of them are as good-looking as this young man. He looks like a sweet, affectionate puppy."

Xiao Ya said softly, "Maybe he's a fierce wolf in private."

"Oh, yes, yes, I like that too!" Jiang Shishi nodded repeatedly.

Women's private conversations could be more intense than men's. Even Xiao Ya, who was shy in public, uttered words as fierce as a tiger or wolf. "I heard Taoists have the Art of the Bedchamber. Be careful he doesn't drain your yin to supplement his yang."

Jiang Shishi hugged Xiao Ya. "Then I'll have to rely on you. We'll go after him together, sister, and drain him dry!"