Chapter 53: Something Is Wrong With This World

Evening, the setting sun dips below the horizon.

Cuishan Village, Zitan Forest.

Bai Ke squats under a tree, a clay bowl before her containing a roasted chicken; she eats in small bites while watching Gu Zhao practice martial arts ahead.

The Embroidery Maid sits right beside her, yet her beautiful eyes never once leave Gu Zhao; this is her first time watching him practice.

Gu Zhao practices the Bai He Fist he learned from his grandfather.

Bai He Fist belongs to the Southern Fist styles; after over three hundred years of development, it has now evolved into four distinct forms: Zong Crane, Ming Crane, Fei Crane, and Shi Crane.

However, Gu Zhao does not practice any of these four forms, but rather the version their lineage evolved from the authentic Bai He Fist, which is not circulated outside; it emphasizes both form and spirit, as well as intent and Qi.

As Gu Zhao throws the punches, he imagines himself as an immortal crane; his feet are light and agile yet rooted when they land, while his hands flap and strike like wings and beaks.

At this moment, his neck is steady and shoulders relaxed, waist bound and legs moving, Qi sinking to the dantian, perfectly matching the Bai He's lightness and speed, the blend of hardness and softness, and the appearance of tightness within and looseness without; normally it looks relaxed and slow, but in motion it is as fast as lightning.

"It has a bit of the meaning of Tai Chi," Daoist Yan Song commented.

Gu Zhao finished his routine, "I'll take that as a compliment."

"Young Master, drink water!" The Embroidery Maid trotted over, handing him a bowl of clean water that had been poured and cooled long ago; once Gu Zhao took it, she pulled a silk scarf from her sleeve, intending to wipe his sweat.

However, after looking several times, she saw no sweat on Gu Zhao's forehead, yet the Embroidery Maid still seriously wiped the non-existent sweat from his temples.

Daoist Yan Song watched with a grin, then teased Gu Zhao, "Project an aura; be cold and stern, be aloof and proud, your eyes must be sharp, your tone domineering."

Gu Zhao rolled his eyes at Daoist Yan Song, "This is reality, not a novel; where in reality are there such blockheads?"

The Embroidery Maid pouted her small mouth and hurriedly comforted Gu Zhao, "Uncle Yan Song hopes Young Master you can project the aura of a sect master; we cannot lose face for our sect out there."

Gu Zhao was stunned, and Daoist Yan Song also looked slightly bewildered.

After comforting Gu Zhao, the Embroidery Maid immediately brought a cup of water to Daoist Yan Song and softly negotiated, "Uncle, do not be too strict with Young Master; Young Master has a kind heart and a gentle personality; how can he act aloof and domineering right now? Let's take it slowly."

Daoist Yan Song blinked and finally laughed, "What a clever girl, truly good at speaking; Gu Zhao having you is truly fortunate."

The Embroidery Maid's eyes curved into crescents, "Being able to serve Young Master is my own fortune."

Bai Ke scoffed from the side, "I am of the Celestial Fox bloodline; you have formed a pact with me, so your future achievements are limitless; he is merely a human mage, powerful now, but with..."

"I still have two five-spice roasted chickens for you," Gu Zhao said, holding up two fingers to remind her.

"With your magical inheritance, you probably won't be too weak in the future either; you are indeed qualified to be mentioned alongside me and the Embroidery Maid," Bai Ke nodded.

Gu Zhao and Daoist Yan Song exchanged a glance, each with their own thoughts.

Having obtained the Jade Token of the Spirit Law Court from Xu Kongting, they also extracted quite a bit of detail about cultivation in this world from Bai Ke.

The most powerful existences in this world are either ghosts, gods, demons, or Spirit Lords.

Although there are mages in this world, they are not at the top of the pyramid; moreover, slightly more powerful mages are either believers of ghosts or gods who can borrow divine power, or they have formed pacts with demons and spirits to borrow demonic power against enemies.

For instance, the two major powers of the Great Ning imperial court: the leader of the Xuanweishen Sect is a god, while the head of the Spirit Law Court is a Spirit Lord.

As for mages who rely solely on their own cultivation, they are at the very bottom of the food chain, merely one of the common masses; a pure mage capable of fighting a hundred-year-old ghost is already quite remarkable.

In private, Gu Zhao and Daoist Yan Song had once discussed this.

"This world is not dominated by humans."

"But this world and our world must have some connection; otherwise, the writing and culture would not be so similar."

"With such abundant spiritual energy of heaven and earth, why can human mages not cultivate to become immortals?"

"There is something wrong with this world!"

"Perhaps only after our cultivation deepens will we understand more of the situation."

After all, Bai Ke is still a white fox that has not yet transformed; although she always claims noble bloodline, she does not appear particularly powerful, and she only knows some conventional knowledge.

Being able to meet Bai Ke and learn the general outline of this world, Gu Zhao already felt very lucky.

Thinking of this, and glancing at the Embroidery Maid beside him, Gu Zhao took the green feather fan from his bundle, "This is for you."

The Embroidery Maid was startled and hurriedly waved her hands, "Impossible, impossible, this is too precious; Young Master should use it."

"I have no use for this thing," Gu Zhao shook his head.

The Embroidery Maid currently possesses only a Celestial Fox Nail as an offensive magical tool, lacking defensive means, whereas this green feather fan can fan out blade-like gusts of wind, suitable for both offense and defense, making it most fitting for her.

For Gu Zhao, the yellow talismans he uses for attack and defense could already fight a small-scale battle.

"Then let Uncle Yan Song use it," the Embroidery Maid turned toward Daoist Yan Song.

Daoist Yan Song stroked his beard, shook his head, and his face instantly changed to a blue opera mask; he joked with a smile, "Do you think I lack wind?"

Hearing this, the Embroidery Maid also laughed, "Uncle possesses the Great One Divine Wind, so of course you do not lack wind."

"So if the Sect Master gives it to you, just take it," Daoist Yan Song shook his head, withdrew the mask, and said with a grin, "You protect yourself well, so he can cultivate with peace of mind."

Those words made the Embroidery Maid's face blush red, yet she could no longer say she did not want the green feather fan.

Gu Zhao held the jade flute, feeling somewhat troubled, "This is indeed a very good auxiliary treasure, but who knows how to play this thing?"

Daoist Yan Song raised an eyebrow and directly transmitted sound to Gu Zhao using the Thunder Seed, "Go back and teach those two young girls to cultivate; aren't they learning traditional instruments? They surely know how to play."

Gu Zhao sighed helplessly, "We are just friends."

"Exactly, what are you thinking?" Daoist Yan Song winked at Gu Zhao, "Between friends, can't one teach another how to play the flute?"

Gu Zhao: ʕ(ⓛ–ⓛ)ʔ

"But speaking of which, I do need to return to Blue Star for a while," Gu Zhao changed the subject, transmitting sound to Daoist Yan Song, "I cannot miss the school's graduation ceremony, and I also need to find someone to design a Taoist temple based on the terrain."

Daoist Yan Song waved his hand, "Go ahead, go ahead; I'll leave this to you; I won't let your chamber maid encounter danger. If anything truly happens, contact me anytime; after all, we can communicate across realms."

The Five Thunder Token can connect the two realms, so although the Thunder Seed cannot cross alone, as an accessory of the Five Thunder Token, it has been tainted with a trace of the aura of both realms, at least allowing cross-realm communication.

Gu Zhao nodded, made an OK gesture, and said, "Good."