[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-commanding-the-five-thunders-across-two-worlds":3,"chapter-commanding-the-five-thunders-across-two-worlds-commanding-the-five-thunders-across-two-worlds-chapter-55":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Commanding the Five Thunders Across Two Worlds",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2363183,4620,"Chapter 55: Chapter Fifty-Five: The Emotional Con Artist","commanding-the-five-thunders-across-two-worlds-chapter-55",55,"\u003Cp>White-cut chicken, braised pigeon, honey-glazed char siu, boiled prawns… all famous Cantonese dishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they ate and chatted, Zhang Hang learned the two women were from Yanjing, but they first met Gu Zhao at Yuanfa Palace in Yangcheng, formally got to know him at Qingyang Palace in Rongcheng, and became friends on Qingcheng Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can famous mountains and grand temples really do this?” Zhang Hang was astonished. “I’ll go to Yuanfa Palace tomorrow too!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhao reminded him, “Remember to donate plenty of incense money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Incense money isn’t the issue—the question is, what’s your martial skill like?” Zhang Hang stared at Gu Zhao in shock. “How come I never knew you were this strong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Shishi excitedly and vividly recounted Gu Zhao’s leap to save someone, but both women silently avoided mentioning the Tian Gang protective talisman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging from the behavior of Daoist Master Yansong and Gu Zhao, there couldn’t be many people in the country with such miraculous abilities; they naturally wouldn’t speak casually, let alone expect ordinary people who hadn’t seen it to believe them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Hang didn’t even know Gu Zhao’s true martial skill, let alone that he had already cultivated the miraculous Daoist true qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve trained martial arts with my grandfather all along—you know that,” Gu Zhao picked up a pigeon; its skin was crisp, flesh tender and smooth, bones soft and juicy, filling the mouth with fragrance and satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I knew you trained martial arts, and you even looked good doing it, but I never realized you were this strong—like a parkour expert. Why never show off at school?” Zhang Hang was baffled. “I thought you just trained for health, like radio calisthenics.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keep it low-key, keep it low-key,” Gu Zhao humbly said. “In times of peace, there’s no chance for me to act.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both families were well-off, and they attended good schools; they’d never encountered bullying. The biggest disputes were shouting matches with classmates, but never escalated to physical fights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Zhang Hang had only ever seen Gu Zhao perform empty-hand forms—he never knew he was truly formidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So can you fight?” Zhang Hang asked eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhao glanced at him sideways. “Want to try?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need,” Zhang Hang firmly refused. “We’re friends—I believe in you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if you can fight, you could become a martial arts blogger!” Zhang Hang advised. “Show real kung fu, then do some martial arts exposés—you’d probably go viral.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Shishi nodded vigorously and said to Gu Zhao, “We could film videos together—wear ancient costumes, I play an instrument, you practice martial arts. It’d be very effective.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Hang looked from Gu Zhao to Jiang Shishi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man was handsome, the woman beautiful, both with real martial skill—if they entered short-video platforms, they might actually have a shot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhao asked, “I’m in Yangcheng, you’re in Yanjing—one south, one north. How do we film together?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Hang wanted to tap Gu Zhao three times on the back of his head—can’t you even pick up on the subtext? Do you really plan to spend your whole life single, living with your Dao scriptures and martial arts?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jiang Shishi smiled. “Maybe I’ll be in Yangcheng too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Zhao froze. “Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yanjing National Music Ensemble is too hard to get into—I sent my resume to Guangdong’s National Music Ensemble. This trip wasn’t just to surprise you—I came for the interview.” Jiang Shishi lifted her chin. “If I pass, I’ll build my career in Yangcheng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Hang stared, instinctively glancing at Xiao Ya, who gave a gentle smile, yet her eyes held a stubborn glint. “I sent my resume too—I’m interviewing with Shishi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Hang: ???\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elsewhere, in an upscale neighborhood in Yanjing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ding dong!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Daoist Yi Guan is here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A graceful middle-aged woman, resembling Xiao Ya in appearance, opened the door to find two elderly Daoists with white hair and beards, smiling warmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Daoist Yi Hong is here too!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My senior brother returned from his three-year journey just recently,” the first old Daoist nodded. “Xiao Lao Di  has weak qi and frail health—I asked my senior brother to help unblock his blood and qi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Daoist Yi Guan, you’re thoughtful. Father’s health has improved a lot—he can walk on his own now,” Su Lei stepped aside to invite the two Daoists in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can walk on his own?” Daoist Yi Guan blinked. “Last month he couldn’t even stand—wasn’t his condition worsening this year?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe he’s been resting well lately, and the weather improved—he goes out to sunbathe often,” Su Lei guessed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?” Daoist Yi Guan nodded, then saw an elderly man hobbling out of the bedroom, one hand gripping a cane, the other supported by a maid. Though still weak, his complexion had noticeably brightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Lao Di ,” Daoist Yi Guan stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother Yi Guan!” Xiao Yanhua greeted the two old Daoists with a smile. “Thanks for making you, Senior Brother Yi Hong, come all this way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re old friends—if I’d known you were ill, I’d have returned sooner,” Daoist Yi Hong said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not illness—just weak qi and frailty, poor sleep, frequent dreams, low energy. These symptoms are normal with age,” Xiao Yanhua chuckled. “I wouldn’t want to delay your quest for rare Daoist texts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You say that like it’s the past—planes are convenient now. Most of my time’s been traveling and sightseeing,” Daoist Yi Hong teased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Xiao Yanhua was fine, Daoist Yi Hong relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three then moved to the study to chat, while Su Lei stayed nearby, occasionally refilling tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since returning from abroad three years ago, my health has declined. Seems age means avoiding long trips—traveling drains more energy than physical exercise,” Xiao Yanhua sipped tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daoist Yi Guan nodded. “You’ve been resting for three years—you’ve done well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daoist Yi Hong added, “As long as you’ve recovered, that’s what matters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A good mood helps healing too,” Daoist Yi Guan glanced at the many health and safety talismans hanging in the study. “Xiao Lao Di  has a filial granddaughter—she never forgets to pray and get talismans for Grandpa.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Yanhua chuckled and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Su Lei frowned at this, saying to Daoist Yi Guan, “Xiao Ya’s filial piety is good, but lately she’s been obsessed—she was scammed, and now she’s quarreling with us. Can you help me talk some sense into her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How was she scammed?” Daoist Yi Guan asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Last month, after returning from Qingcheng Mountain, she got a protective talisman, claiming it was truly consecrated and would help Father’s health.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Lei said, “But the key point is, she said a young man drew it—and claimed he could save someone from a cliff and had cultivated inner qi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lately, her eyes look strange when she uses her phone. Under my questioning, she admitted she has feelings for that young man,” Su Lei worried. “Isn’t this clearly being scammed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I tried reasoning with her, but she wouldn’t listen—we had a big fight,” Su Lei fumed. “Modern emotional scammers are ruthless—they even researched our family situation and tailored their lies perfectly!”\u003C\u002Fp>",1171,"2026-06-21T06:19:08.116Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","124857407ebe7f784b49ca28363b8bb5dcccb0699851f177ba6b55b5b27c4879","commanding-the-five-thunders-across-two-worlds-chapter-56","commanding-the-five-thunders-across-two-worlds-chapter-54",141,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fcommanding-the-five-thunders-across-two-worlds-cover.jpg"]