Chapter 45

“Of course not!”

Bai Ke shook his head and wagged his tail, “It’s not that I won’t teach you—you’re just a human, without celestial fox bloodline, no bond with me, and no ability to harness lunar energy. How could you possibly perform Moonlight Escape?”

“Just try,” Gu Zhao said, unconcerned.

Though he lacked that celestial fox bloodline, the Daoist cultivation of the Natural Way included in the Shangqing Tianxin Zhengfa began with the Three Lights True Qi cultivation method—lunar energy being one of the most standard sources of orthodox Daoist True Qi.

“Great, great!” He Xiuniang nodded eagerly.

Her entire family, including Bai Ke, had received immense grace from Gu Zhao; now that she had a chance to repay him, she would have given him the celestial fox nail herself—if he hadn’t refused.

He Xiuniang then explained in meticulous detail how to circulate spiritual power within the body, especially how to sense lunar energy, then merge spiritual power, self, and lunar energy into one, instantly burning spiritual power to protect the body and move at high speed.

Gu Zhao carefully memorized it and attempted it briefly, but failed.

Yet he wasn’t in a hurry; though he lacked celestial fox bloodline, he might still master it—even if the speed dropped by half, he’d accept it.

Not every math problem has only one solution—why not modify a spell?

Gu Zhao stopped testing and asked He Xiuniang, “Are there any others?”

He Xiuniang fell silent, her face flushing slightly, lips parting then closing, as if recalling something—her expression suddenly took on a faintly alluring quality.

“Of course there are—you think the legends of fox spirits are all false? He Xiuniang has another trick: Enchantment…”

He Xiuniang clamped her hand over Bai Ke’s mouth, then said to Gu Zhao, “I can temporarily borrow Xiao Bai’s spiritual power—whether it’s the celestial fox nail or Moonlight Escape, both become far stronger.”

“Oh!” Gu Zhao nodded, as if he hadn’t heard Bai Ke’s words, and said to He Xiuniang, “Good. You’ve got offense, evasion, and temporary burst—consider yourself a qualified foot soldier.”

Bai Ke: o(▼ Min ▼メ;)o

If the lady weren’t currently having her mouth clamped shut, I’d have bitten you already!

But He Xiuniang’s eyes lit up. “Then can I go out with you next time?”

Gu Zhao paused. “You want to go out with me?”

“You come from noble blood—you shouldn’t waste your mind on daily trivialities,” He Xiuniang said, her gaze hopeful. “I know a few characters—I can serve tea, pour water, make the bed, and now I’m a foot soldier too. I won’t hold you back.”

Gu Zhao chuckled, ruffling her hair. “I was joking—you’re not even a foot soldier. Among ordinary humans, you’re definitely a top-tier assassin.”

He Xiuniang gasped, shaking her head like a rattle drum. “I don’t want to be an assassin!”

“Of course not, of course not!” Gu Zhao understood. Meeting her hopeful gaze, he thought: since he’d be traveling to villages and counties to clear out minor demons and boost his cultivation—no real danger—bringing along a girl familiar with this world’s affairs wouldn’t hurt.

So Gu Zhao nodded. “Alright. After you’ve practiced a few more days, I’ll take you out—find a harmful ghost for you to practice on.”

He Xiuniang’s face lit up with joy, radiating a sense of refreshing clarity.

Bai Ke’s eyes flickered, and he wagged his tail. “I know a harmful ghost—perfect for He Xiuniang to practice on!”

…

Qingcheng Mountain, Tai Shang Lao Jun Pavilion.

“Ding!”

A clear, resonant, ethereal chime echoed through the hall. The morning tourist bowed again to the Lao Jun statue before rising to tour the side halls.

The middle-aged Daoist priest striking the bell noticed a young man enter behind the tourist—no bow, just three respectful bows to Lao Jun, then walking toward him.

“Has Daoist Yan Song risen yet?” Gu Zhao asked.

“Huh?” The middle-aged Daoist blinked. “You’re looking for Daoist Yan Song?”

“We made an appointment yesterday to meet today,” Gu Zhao nodded, then pulled out his phone. “I just texted him—he hasn’t replied.”

The middle-aged Daoist instinctively glanced at Gu Zhao’s phone screen—the profile picture was indeed Daoist Yan Song. He hurriedly said, “My uncle recites scriptures and practices fist forms every morning—he probably hasn’t checked his phone.”

At that moment, both heard a soft chime from Gu Zhao’s phone—it was Daoist Yan Song replying: “I’m coming right away. Have Ning Wen take you upstairs first.”

Gu Zhao looked up. “Who’s Ning Wen?”

The middle-aged Daoist pointed to himself. “Ning Wen is me.”

“Come on, I’ll take you upstairs.”

Though he didn’t know the relationship between this young man and Daoist Yan Song, since Yan Song had given the order, Daoist Ning Wen naturally led Gu Zhao upstairs and poured him tea before returning downstairs to resume striking the bell.

The tea was still warm when Daoist Yan Song pushed the door open, grinning. “Did your Tian Gang Talisman take effect so fast? Are you here to thank old man for matchmaking, or to invite me to your engagement banquet?”

Gu Zhao sighed. “Are you really so sure I’m interested in her?”

“Young men are drawn to beauty—your eyes were practically glued to her long legs. I’m doing you a favor,” Daoist Yan Song said solemnly.

Gu Zhao studied the old priest, utterly baffled: how had the Five Thunder Talisman judged this old rogue to have a pure soul and righteous qi?

He even watches "The Dominant Boss Falls in Love with Me"!

“Five Thunder Talisman,” Gu Zhao silently thought, “take another good look.”

The Five Thunder Talisman and the thunder seeds swirling around it vibrated with delight.

Gu Zhao, “...”

“Actually, the other girl isn’t bad either. I think her attitude toward you is even better than the one with the long legs,” Daoist Yan Song stroked his beard thoughtfully. “If you put in effort, she’d be easier to win over.”

Gu Zhao sighed. “I came today for something serious.”

“I know,” Daoist Yan Song said. “You said so. What’s the serious matter? About cultivation?”

Yesterday, Gu Zhao had messaged him saying he’d come early today for something—meet in person to discuss. So Daoist Yan Song had only practiced Baduanjin this morning, then glanced at his phone briefly—never expecting Gu Zhao to arrive so early.

As for the “serious matter,” Daoist Yan Song wasn’t curious.

A young man, an old Daoist—what else could they possibly talk about besides Daoist cultivation? Could he really be here to chat about Badaozongcai dramas and purple-robed Heavenly Masters?

“Do you find Qingcheng Mountain serene and tranquil? Thinking of becoming a Daoist here?” Daoist Yan Song smiled. “Don’t worry—times have changed. Religion is religion, law is law, work is work, life is life—even Quanzhen Daoists can marry and have children now.”

Gu Zhao raised an eyebrow. “What about meat and alcohol?”

“The Quanzhen precepts are strict—to purify the mind and body, to cultivate virtue, to avoid desire and devote fully to cultivation. These rules help most people—but for geniuses, a different standard applies.”

Daoist Yan Song grinned. “Lu Zu drank and chased women—why can’t his successors?”