Miss Shuoguo was called Jiang Shishi, and Long-legged Miss was called Xiao Ya.
Both were fourth-year students in the folk music department at Yandu Conservatory of Music. Jiang Shishi specialized in the pipa, while Xiao Ya played the guzheng. The two women were currently interning with the Yandu National Orchestra, following a troupe around the country for performances. Last time they had been in Guangzhou; this time, they were in Rongcheng.
"Impressive, so you're musicians!" Gu Zhao praised. "The Yandu National Orchestra is amazing!"
Gu Zhao did not even need to look into it. With Yandu directly in its name and no strange middle qualifiers, it had to be directly affiliated with the state—a secure public institution job.
"What musician? We're just scraping together a living." Jiang Shishi shook her head. "The competition at the Yandu National Orchestra is brutal. We might not even get to stay."
As Gu Zhao explained things to the two women, he casually chatted with them.
"Xiao Ya's grandfather isn't in good health, so whenever we arrive in a city, she visits a famous local Taoist temple to pray for him." Jiang Shishi counted on her fingers. "We've already been to Baiyun Temple in Yandu, Bixia Yuan Temple in Quancheng, Baopu Yuan in Lincheng, and also Yuanfa Palace in Guangzhou. This time, it's Qingyang Palace."
Gu Zhao could not help asking, "You only visit Taoist temples?"
Jiang Shishi smiled. "That's because Xiao Ya's grandfather is a Taoist priest."
"Not exactly. Grandpa said he never received ordination or formally entered the order." Xiao Ya added a comment.
"That's close enough. The last time I went to your place, I even saw your grandfather wearing Taoist robes and chatting with an old Daoist." Jiang Shishi linked arms with Xiao Ya.
Xiao Ya nodded, then released Jiang Shishi and knelt on a prayer cushion within the Three Pure Ones Hall. Her hands formed the Zi Wu Hand Seal as she reverently bowed and prostrated herself before the Three Pure Ones Patriarchs. Her posture was flawless, her expression devout.
Gu Zhao watched from the side, then heard the chime of a stone bell nearby. The female Taoist priest who had struck it looked at Xiao Ya with gentle eyes.
Then her gaze turned indifferent, because another middle-aged woman knelt beside Xiao Ya, pressing her palms together.
"Wow, the Twelve Golden Immortals! I know this—I recognize Guangchengzi, and Taiyi Zhenren, Nezha's Martial Father!" Jiang Shishi whispered in admiration.
The Three Pure Ones Hall was the largest hall in Qingyang Palace. Besides the Three Pure Ones Patriarchs seated at its center, six gilded divine statues sat along each side of the hall: the Twelve Golden Immortals from Investiture of the Gods.
Treating it as a story, Gu Zhao told the two women about the Twelve Golden Immortals, introducing their disciples and magical treasures as well—such as Guangchengzi's Fan Tian Seal and Taiyi Zhenren's Nine Dragon Divine Fire Cover.
Honestly, compared with Journey to the West, where even Zhenyuanzi got schemed against, the Taoist immortals in Investiture of the Gods sounded overwhelmingly formidable, whether in title or magical treasure.
After visiting Doumu Hall, Jade Emperor Hall, and Tang King Hall, Xiao Ya drew a spirit lot at Jade Emperor Hall. The three then went to the tea garden east of Tang King Hall to rest.
"With you as our guide, this is much more interesting than touring a Taoist temple by ourselves." Jiang Shishi ordered three Vegetarian Meals and a pot of tea.
Gu Zhao did not stand on ceremony. "That's because I can be considered an unofficial Taoist priest too."
Jiang Shishi recalled what had happened last time and could not help teasing him. "Have you run into any more Female Ghosts? Did the Five Thunder Talisman work?"
Gu Zhao sighed. "Not just Female Ghosts. I also saw a child ghost and an old man ghost. If my cultivation hadn't been decent, I might have died."
The two women both laughed. Jiang Shishi said solemnly, "Next time you see ghosts, take me along so I can broaden my horizons. I've grown up this long without ever seeing one!"
Worried that Jiang Shishi would carry the teasing too far, Xiao Ya changed the subject. "Back in Jade Emperor Hall, I felt that your interpretation was even better than that Taoist priest's."
Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi had drawn and interpreted lots at Jade Emperor Hall. That Taoist priest had been somewhat impatient and dismissed them after just two sentences. Later, Gu Zhao had taken their slips of paper and explained them properly.
Gu Zhao looked at the papers in their hands. "A lot of Taoist temples use Lu Zu Spirit Lots. I remember Yuanfa Palace used them too. They should be Quanzhen Dao's exclusive spirit lots. I know them very well."
"Not necessarily. The lot I drew at Baopu Yuan in Lincheng was a Baopu Spirit Lot." Xiao Ya said.
Gu Zhao could tell that Xiao Ya truly knew a little about Taoism, though not much—much like Qingyang Palace's overall style.
So Gu Zhao explained, "Baopu Yuan is a temple of the Lingbao School, which belongs to Zhengyi Dao. If they dared use Lu Zu Spirit Lots, that would practically be betraying their master and destroying their ancestors."
"Ah?" Neither Xiao Ya nor Jiang Shishi understood. "Isn't Lu Dongbin a famous Taoist?"
Gu Zhao explained, "But Lu Dongbin was from the Tang Dynasty and counted as one of Quanzhen Dao's Northern Five Patriarchs. Zhengyi Dao's Three Mountains Talismans in Jiangnan, meanwhile, had existed since the Jin Dynasty."
"Quanzhen Dao appeared later than Zhengyi Dao?" Jiang Shishi asked.
"Much later," Gu Zhao said.
"But it feels like Quanzhen Dao has more temples than Zhengyi Dao?" Xiao Ya asked.
"That's the latecomer advantage." Gu Zhao smiled. "Zhengyi Dao practices Spirit Cultivation and uses talismans, sitting still for long periods. Quanzhen Dao refines qi into an inner elixir, combining movement and stillness. Maybe their health is better than Zhengyi Dao's."
"Hahaha, you're so funny!" Jiang Shishi laughed with a rippling lilt, then asked curiously, "By the way, are you Quanzhen Dao or Zhengyi Dao?"
Xiao Ya knew a little. "The Five Thunder Talisman belongs to Zhengyi Dao, right?"
"The Southern School of Inner Elixir also has thunder arts." Gu Zhao gave a brief explanation, then clenched his fist. "What kind of multiple-choice questions do adults make? I'm both!"
Jiang Shishi raised an eyebrow. "Then your body must be very good?"
The sudden innuendo caught Gu Zhao completely off guard. Before he could figure out how to answer, Jiang Shishi continued, "Then will you come with us to Qingcheng Mountain tomorrow?"
"Save us some guide fees, and we'll treat you to a huge meal." Jiang Shishi even made a heart gesture at him.
"You two really are devout!" Gu Zhao looked at them and laughed. "Shouldn't girls be going shopping, buying things, getting manicures and skincare treatments?"
Jiang Shishi put an arm around Xiao Ya. "Do we look like we need skincare right now? As for shopping..."
The two women exchanged a glance and spoke in unison, "No money!"
They were naturally joking. Gu Zhao could tell from their clothes that both women were well dressed. They clearly were not poor; they simply had been raised well and lacked any urge to compete in such things.
"Sure." Gu Zhao had no objection. Although he wanted to visit Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain to seek the Vajra Profound Talisman, taking a trip to Qingcheng Mountain first sounded nice too—especially with two beautiful young women.
"Then let's add each other as friends. We'll go together tomorrow morning!" Jiang Shishi took out her phone.
The girl had taken the initiative, so naturally Gu Zhao did not refuse. He added both women as friends, then toured several side halls with them. They took a photo with the Ginseng Fruit Tree from the Journey to the West filming location before finally leaving Qingyang Palace and saying their goodbyes.
"That little handsome guy was pretty interesting. His eyes kept drifting toward our best features, but his attitude was still fairly proper."
"You're such a female hooligan. You were even watching where his eyes went!"
"I think he's quite good. It's a pity Yandu and Guangzhou are so far apart. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind giving him a chance."
"You should first see whether he likes you."
"This lady is pretty with big breasts. Why wouldn't he like me?"
It was midsummer, and Jiang Shishi's clothes clung tightly to her figure. As she thrust out her abundant fruits, the sight was rather spectacular.
"Enough." Xiao Ya hurriedly cut Jiang Shishi off. "The unattainable is always the best. Several guys in the troupe are chasing you—why don't you agree to any of them?"
"You know what they're like, don't you? Every one of them calls himself an artist and is promiscuous by nature." Jiang Shishi snorted, then said with a lecherous grin, "Besides, none of them is as good-looking as that little handsome guy. He looks like such a warm little puppy."
Xiao Ya said quietly, "Maybe privately, he's a fierce big wolfdog."
"Great, great! I like that too!" Jiang Shishi nodded repeatedly.
Women's private conversations could be even wilder than men's. Even Xiao Ya, who appeared shy in public, uttered words of tigers and wolves. "I hear Taoism has the Art of the Bedchamber. Be careful he might harvest your yin to replenish his yang."
Jiang Shishi wrapped an arm around Xiao Ya. "Then I'll have to rely on you. We sisters will take him together and suck him dry!"
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