Chapter 40: Golden Wind Hall

Gu Zhao stopped, while the painter Lu turned back curiously, "Hong Xin?"

"Creak—"

The courtyard door latch jumped, then the main gate was pushed open. A burly man in black robes with golden patterns walked in. Seeing Painter Lu about to pick up his brush, he grinned, "I heard those two idlers muttering and knew you, Master Lu, were about to paint again."

Painter Lu narrowed his eyes, asking in surprise, "Why have you come?"

Hong Xin strode forward but stopped at the doorway of the side room. "Why couldn't I come?"

Painter Lu frowned slightly, feigning indifference. "Of course you can come, it's just a coincidence."

Saying this, he pointed at Hong Xin and told Gu Zhao, "This is my friend Hong Xin, bold and generous, who loves making friends."

Then he gestured toward Gu Zhao and introduced him, "Brother Zhang is new here, accidentally wandered into the alley. I happened to pass by and, itching to practice my skills, offered a hand. I invited him to my home as a guest and will now paint a portrait for Brother Zhang."

Hong Xin chuckled, "Of course I know. Whenever you meet a handsome youth, you can't resist the urge to paint."

A flash of anger crossed Painter Lu's eyes. He glanced sideways at Gu Zhao, who nodded knowingly, looking as if he had suddenly understood. "No wonder the youth in Brother Lu's painting was so handsome and ethereal, as if about to ascend to immortality."

Saying this, Gu Zhao touched his chin, looking slightly proud. "So, does that mean I am very handsome?"

"Brother Zhang is dignified and elegant, clearly a young master of extraordinary character and appearance!" Hong Xin praised loudly, then turned back to Painter Lu and emphasized again, "Your home has no good tea. Why not come sit at my place?"

Painter Lu frowned slightly, somewhat dissatisfied and questioning. "Do you have good tea at your home?"

Hong Xin smiled slightly. "Yes."

Painter Lu's pupils contracted. Instinctively, he said, "Could it be..."

A flash of severity appeared in Hong Xin's eyes. Painter Lu couldn't help but lick his lips. "In that case, I, Lu, might cough..."

Painter Lu coughed dryly twice, his eyes darted, then he covered his chest and coughed several more times.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Lifting his head, Painter Lu's face grew even paler. He said to Gu Zhao, "Brother Zhang, please forgive me. I might have caught a chill last night and contracted a wind-cold."

"In that case, I, Lu, cannot paint for Brother Zhang." Painter Lu frowned and said, "Brother Zhang might as well go with Brother Hong to his place to rest first. Wherever you wish to go afterwards, let him guide you."

"After Brother Zhang finishes his business, please come back again. Since I, Lu, promised to paint for Brother Zhang, I must fulfill it." Painter Lu said solemnly.

Hong Xin nodded satisfiedly, then asked Gu Zhao, "Brother Zhang has just arrived in Xiuyue County. Are you here to visit friends or to study?"

"I am here to gather inspiration." Gu Zhao said seriously. "I am currently writing a collection of poems, but my thoughts are dried up, so I travel everywhere seeking inspiration."

"So Brother Zhang is also a poet! Admiration, admiration!" Hong Xin immediately clasped his hands in respect and asked playfully, "May I ask about Brother Zhang's great work?"

"No problem, no problem! Green mountains high, piercing the sky; White clouds leisurely, circling the peaks. Climb halfway and catch your breath; Look up and see it's still ahead!" Gu Zhao shook his head and recited the poem. After finishing, he clapped his hands and smiled, quite proud.

Hong Xin, "..."

Painter Lu, "..."

"Good poem! Good poem!" Hong Xin gave a thumbs-up, then said to Gu Zhao, "Master Lu is ill. Brother Zhang might as well go to my place to rest and drink some hot tea. If you wish to gather inspiration, I can accompany Brother Zhang to walk around."

Gu Zhao looked at Hong Xin, touched the bulging pouch at his waist, nodded, and smiled. "Great!"

Under Painter Lu's reluctant gaze, Gu Zhao and Hong Xin left the small courtyard together and headed north.

Contrary to Gu Zhao's expectation, they did not walk deeper into desolation. Instead, they walked on a quite wide street. The number of passersby did not decrease; on the contrary, it seemed to be increasing.

Many people even recognized Hong Xin and greeted him.

"General Hong!"

"Director Hong!"

Hong Xin clasped his hands in return and laughed loudly, "Hello everyone. How are you feeling today?"

"Comfortable!"

"Full of energy!"

Hearing this, everyone laughed and then dispersed.

Gu Zhao watched them leave. Seeing their ruddy complexions, high spirits, and radiant appearance, he couldn't help but wonder if he had guessed wrong.

Then they arrived at their destination.

The main gate faced east. It had blue stone steps and red pillars. On the left and right stood not stone lions, but two stone warrior sculptures holding swords and spears. With the incense smoke drifting from inside the gate, they seemed like living creatures amidst the swirling mist.

Gu Zhao looked up and saw three large characters written in gold paint on the gate plaque: Golden Wind Hall!

Gu Zhao: (°ー°〃)

Compared to those mansions permeated with chilling yin energy, there was not a trace of ghostly aura inside Golden Wind Hall. Instead, the incense burning was flourishing, resembling a Buddhist temple or Taoist shrine in the modern world.

But Gu Zhao knew that inside the Golden Wind Divine Sect, everyone was a ghost!

Thinking of this, Gu Zhao couldn't help but look at Hong Xin beside him. So, is this guy a ghost too?

This time entering the city, Gu Zhao was relatively cautious and did not actively extend his divine sense to sense. Therefore, unless the other party unintentionally or intentionally released their aura, Gu Zhao would find it difficult to clearly sense their identity.

But even if he could not sense it himself, the Five Thunder Token was a treasure. Whether it was Painter Lu or Hong Xin, the Five Thunder Token had a reaction. Naturally, he would be on guard.

Seeing Gu Zhao look at him, Hong Xin smiled and gestured with his hand. "Young Master, please!"

Gu Zhao clicked his tongue. This time entering the city, he only wanted to secretly investigate the truth of the Golden Wind Divine Sect. He never thought he would directly enter their main base!

Hmm, it doesn't seem like their main base after all. This is just Xiuyue County, not Changping Prefecture. Since he came to investigate, coming during the day is better than at night. Besides...

"At worst, I'll plow the ground with artillery fire!" Gu Zhao felt a bit excited in his heart, then followed Hong Xin inside.

Golden Wind Hall occupied a large area. Inside, there were many sect members and common people. Some were offering incense in the main hall, some sect members were praying for blessings for the people in the side halls, and some common people were invited into the rear courtyard.

Passing the main hall, Gu Zhao saw a life-sized statue placed on the altar, identical to the wooden carving he had seized from the Green-robed Woman Ghost that day.

His gaze moved down. Gu Zhao raised an eyebrow because right below the statue, a wooden carving was placed.

Well, this time it is exactly the same...

Getting closer, Gu Zhao could feel that as the people in the hall offered incense and worshipped, faint threads of mental power were emitted and then absorbed into the wooden statue on the altar.

This mental power came from the people, so it carried the smoke and fire of the mortal world. If a ghost entity could absorb and refine it, it could stabilize its soul and ghost body, act under the bright sun, and even resist some powers specifically designed to suppress evil yin forces.

"So those Guardian Ghost Gods could withstand a few more of my Lei Ting." Gu Zhao thought. "No wonder they are called gods."

Perhaps the mental power a single commoner can provide is extremely faint, but small amounts accumulate; as time passes, the mental power stored within this wooden carving will certainly not be little.

Gu Zhao's eyes flickered, and a few more degrees of wariness toward the Golden Wind Divine King arose in his heart; then, following Hong Xin, he went around the main hall and arrived at the quiet chamber in the rear courtyard.