First Arrival in Xiu Yue County

Gu Zhao had a pot of tea with Daoist Yansong, and they added each other as friends.

Seeing that Daoist Yansong was quite fashionable, Jiang Shishi could not help asking, "Didn't you register for Doukuai?"

"No. I can watch without registering anyway." Daoist Yansong shook his head and said with a grin, "If people found out that all the Purple Robe Heavenly Masters I followed were that kind, where would this old face of mine go?"

Jiang Shishi did not understand. "Isn't it perfectly normal for a Daoist to follow Purple Robe Heavenly Masters?"

Xiao Ya silently handed over her phone. "This kind of Purple Robe Heavenly Master."

Jiang Shishi: Σ(дlll)

So this kind was not only called Female Bodhisattvas, but Female Heavenly Masters too. Buddhism had kept pace with the times, and Daoism had not been left behind either!

Seeing that it was about time, and that they had arranged to have dinner with Xuanxuan's parents that evening, they did not stay any longer.

Daoist Yansong handed Gu Zhao a card. "This is a secondary card for Qingcheng Mountain Daoist Palace. You won't have to pay admission when entering the mountain."

Gu Zhao did not stand on ceremony. This man was recognized by the Five Thunder Token, and he might really need to come looking for him someday. He had no income right now, so he would save on ticket money where he could.

Gu Zhao: (o▽)o

On their way down the mountain, Jiang Shishi and Xiao Ya still looked like two curious babies.

"Does Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth really exist?"

"Can people really cultivate? What does cultivation feel like? Can it grant immortality and eternal youth?"

"Are there really ghosts in this world? Female Ghosts, Child Ghosts, Old Man Ghosts?"

"Can you fly? Turn invisible? See through things?"

Gu Zhao shot Jiang Shishi a sidelong glance, and Jiang Shishi instinctively raised a hand to cover her chest.

Gu Zhao sneered. "If I could see through things, what use would covering up be?"

"That's true!" Jiang Shishi nodded, lowered her hand, then thrust out her chest and challenged him, "Does it look good?"

Gu Zhao did not look away, gritting his teeth as he held firm. "Passable."

"You two hooligans, that's enough!" Xiao Ya cut off their eye contact. "We still have things to do later!"

Jiang Shishi gave Xiao Ya a meaningful look, then said, "I was just asking whether cultivating the Dao was really that miraculous!"

Gu Zhao asked in return, "What do you think?"

"Of course it is. You actually managed to save that child in such a critical situation." Jiang Shishi praised him.

"And it can cure illnesses and preserve health too," Xiao Ya added.

Gu Zhao nodded without speaking. Judging from Daoist Yansong's situation, with the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth so thin, they could only accumulate such meager Mana. They likely could not even draw the simplest Heavenly Dipper Talisman in one go, so naturally its effects were limited to curing illnesses and preserving health.

Of course, Gu Zhao now had even more questions.

"Are there any places in this world where spiritual qi is relatively abundant?"

"Besides Daoist Yansong, are there other Daoists, or anyone else, who have cultivated Mana?"

"Are there people who follow evil paths? Are there..."

But there was no hurry for these questions. Gu Zhao buried them in his heart, contacted Xuanxuan's parents after descending the mountain with the two women, and then had an authentic Sichuan Cuisine meal in Rong City.

After bidding each other farewell with great reluctance, they agreed to chat more online and meet again when they had time. Jiang Shishi and Xiao Ya left Rong City early the next morning. They still had performances with their troupe, and would return to Yan Capital a week later.

Gu Zhao did not return to Guangzhou with Li Man. Instead, using the excuse that he missed his maternal grandparents, he stayed in Rong City for a while longer, delighting them immensely. That very night, they prepared a full table of proper Sichuan Cuisine, and Gu Zhao ate until he cried out in satisfaction.

"Xiu Yue County."

Gu Zhao looked at the stone stele standing before the earthen wall, upon which the name of the county town was carved.

A group of yamen runners in standard cloth armor guarded the city gate. Whenever someone entered the city, they collected two copper coins as an entrance fee, but did not search their goods or inspect travel permits.

Commoners, merchants, scholars, farmers, carts, and horses streamed past without end. Though the small city was not especially prosperous, it had no lack of worldly bustle. No wonder the bamboo-woven goods from the mountain villages could always be sold.

Gu Zhao watched for a moment, then stepped out from the roadside, paid the two copper coins as usual, and entered the city.

This small city perfectly matched Gu Zhao's image of an ancient county town. Inns, taverns, apothecaries, cosmetics shops, and other stores lined the somewhat broader roads, while the narrow alleys were filled with residential compounds and courtyards.

Gu Zhao wandered through the streets and alleys in ancient attire, blending into the surroundings. It felt rather fitting.

Yet no matter how he looked, this small city appeared to be an ordinary ancient county town. There were gentry dressed in brocade and beggars with disheveled hair, but most were ordinary common folk.

If Gu Zhao had been transported straight into this city without any cheat accompanying him, he probably would never have imagined that this world contained demons, monsters, and ghosts.

But once Gu Zhao possessed Mana and observed closely, he discovered that something was wrong with this county town.

He saw more than a dozen commoners whose Essence, Qi, and Spirit had clearly been drained. There was also a grand residence that, even in broad daylight, was shrouded by waves of eerie chill that sent cold seeping into the flesh.

When passing a butcher's shop and a teahouse, Gu Zhao sensed a faint smell of blood. They were clearly no good either.

On the other hand, there was not the slightest abnormality around the county yamen. But he would certainly not underestimate that place, especially since he had yet to find where the Golden Wind Sect's altar was located in the city.

"Anything I can sense should not be the strongest. Xiu Yue County is not a stable, peaceful place," Gu Zhao thought. "No wonder Elder He fled back to the village."

Compared to a remote mountain village, Xiu Yue County was indeed far more dangerous. As long as there was no threat of the entire village being wiped out, staying in the mountain village was actually safer than staying in the county town.

Gu Zhao was considering how to discreetly inquire about the Golden Wind Sect when he suddenly realized someone was following him.

It was not that he had eyes in the back of his head. Rather, after gaining Mana and spiritual awareness, he had naturally developed a keen sixth sense. So long as someone kept their gaze on him for an extended period, he would sense it.

Using the excuse of passing a vendor to buy a sesame flatbread, Gu Zhao spotted two men dressed like idlers. They were not far from him, pretending to be unconcerned, yet glancing at him every so often.

Their bodies swayed, weapons were tucked at their waists, greed gleamed in their eyes, and wickedness hid in their gazes.

If he encountered such people in modern times, Gu Zhao would swiftly take a vehicle away or seek justice from a security officer. But here...

Gu Zhao turned and walked into the nearby alley. Hadn't a source of information just come to him?

Yet to his surprise, the two idlers did not follow him in immediately. Just as Gu Zhao casually neared the end of the alley, a figure approached from the front—it was one of the two idlers.

The next moment, footsteps sounded behind him. The other idler finally entered and quickly came up behind Gu Zhao.

The pincer formation was complete, and cruel smiles appeared on both idlers' faces.

"You look unfamiliar, kid. First time in Xiu Yue County? Visiting friends, or traveling for study?"

"You're dressed pretty well. You must have quite a bit of traveling money on you. Today, we masters will teach you a lesson: even in broad daylight, don't go drilling into random alleys."

"Enough talk. Hand over all the money on you, or don't blame our blades for having no eyes!" The idler in front drew a short knife, while the one behind him bared his teeth in a vicious grin.

Gu Zhao pressed himself against the wall, putting on an innocent expression. "You... you aren't trying to rob me, are you?"

Gu Zhao gestured with both hands and warned them solemnly, "If you take one more step, I'm going to make a move. Let me tell you, this is called self-defense. Even if I beat you to death, I won't have to take responsibility."

Those who followed the Dao acted openly and uprightly; they never did things like punishing people without warning.

Seeing how adorably foolish Gu Zhao looked, the two idlers could not help laughing aloud as they closed in step by step.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

But before either side made a move, several soft knocks sounded. A man in white suddenly emerged behind the idler in front, carrying a bamboo basket full of scrolls on his back and holding a bamboo pole hung with paintings of people and landscapes.

"Excuse me, let me pass," the man said blandly.