Miss Shuo Guo’s na was Jiang Shishi, and the long-legged young lady was Xiao Ya.
Both were seniors in the traditional music departnt at the Yandu Music Academy. Jiang Shishi specialized in the pipa, while Xiao Ya played the guzheng. Both were currently interning with the Yandu National Orchestra, touring the country with a performance troupe. Their last stop was Yangcheng, and now they were in Rongcheng.
"Wow, so you’re musicians!" Gu Zhao said admiringly. "The Yandu National Orchestra is incredible!"
Gu Zhao didn’t need to look them up. The na started with "Yandu" and had no other strange words in the middle, which ant it had to be a state-run institution—a secure governnt job.
"Musicians? We’re just trying to make a living," Jiang Shishi said, shaking her head. "The competition at the Yandu National Orchestra is brutal. We’re not sure we’ll even be able to stay on."
Gu Zhao continued his explanations for the two won, chatting with them casually as they walked.
"Xiaoya’s grandfather isn’t in good health, so in every city we visit, she goes to a famous local Taoist Temple to pray for him." Jiang Shishi ticked off the places on her fingers. "We’ve already been to the White Cloud Temple in Yandu, the Bi Xia Yuan Temple in Quan City, the Baopu Courtyard in Lin City, as well as the Yuanfa Palace in Yangcheng, and now, the Cyan Yang Palace."
Gu Zhao couldn’t help but ask, "You only go to Taoist Temples?"
Jiang Shishi laughed. "Because Xiaoya’s grandfather is a Daoist."
"He’s not technically a Daoist. Grandpa says he never went through the formal Transmission," Xiao Ya chid in.
"Close enough. Last ti I was at your place, I saw your grandpa chatting with an old Daoist while wearing a Daoist Robe," Jiang Shishi said, linking her arm through Xiao Ya’s.
Xiao Ya nodded, then released Jiang Shishi’s arm. She knelt on a prayer cushion inside the Three Pristine Hall, ford the ridian Technique hand seal, and bowed reverently to the Three Pristine Ancestors. Her form was flawless and her expression devout.
Gu Zhao watched from the side. He then heard the clear ring of a stone chi, and the female Daoist who had struck it cast a gentle gaze toward Xiao Ya.
Her expression then turned impassive as another woman, a middle-aged one, knelt beside Xiao Ya and pressed her palms together in prayer.
"Wow, the Twelve Golden Immortals! I know them! There’s Guang Chengzi, and Nezha’s master, Taiyi Master!" Jiang Shishi whispered in awe.
The Three Pristine Hall was the largest building in the Cyan Yang Palace. In addition to the Three Pristine Ancestors at the very center, six gilded Divine Statues sat on either side of the hall—the very sa Twelve Golden Immortals from *Investiture of the Gods*.
Gu Zhao took on the role of storyteller, recounting the tales of the Twelve Golden Immortals to the two won. He also described their disciples and Magical Treasures, such as Guang Chengzi’s Heaven-Overturning Seal and Taiyi Master’s Nine Dragon Divine Fire Shield.
It was true that compared to *Journey to the West*, where even an Immortal like Zhen Yuanzi was outwitted, the Taoist Immortals in *Investiture of the Gods* sounded unbelievably powerful, both in their titles and their Magical Treasures.
After visiting the Doumu Hall, Jade Emperor Hall, and Tang King Hall—where Xiao Ya even drew a fortune-telling slip—the trio made their way to a tea garden east of the Tang King Hall to rest.
"Having you as our guide makes visiting this Taoist Temple so much more interesting than doing it ourselves," Jiang Shishi said as she ordered three vegetarian als and a pot of tea.
Gu Zhao didn’t stand on ceremony. "That’s because I’m sothing of a freelance Daoist myself."
Jiang Shishi recalled their last encounter and couldn’t resist teasing him. "Have you run into any more Female Ghosts? Did that Five Thunders Talisman co in handy?"
Gu Zhao sighed. "More than just a Female Ghost. I’ve also seen the ghost of a child and an old man. If my Cultivation wasn’t up to snuff, I might’ve been a goner."
The two won laughed. With a perfectly straight face, Jiang Shishi said, "Next ti you run into a ghost, you have to bring along! I’ve never seen one in my entire life!"
Worried that Jiang Shishi’s teasing was going too far, Xiao Ya changed the subject. "Back in the Jade Emperor Hall, I thought your interpretation of my fortune was even better than the Daoist’s."
Just before, Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi had gotten their fortunes told in the Jade Emperor Hall, but the Daoist there had seed impatient, brushing them off with just a few words. It was Gu Zhao who took the paper slip afterward and gave them a proper explanation.
Gu Zhao glanced at the paper in their hands. "Many Taoist Temples use Lü Zu’s Divine Sign. I rember the Yuanfa Palace did, too. It’s probably the exclusive set of signs for the Quanzhen Dao. I know it well."
"Not always," Xiao Ya said. "The sign I drew at the Baopu Courtyard in Lin City was a Baopu Spirit Sign."
Gu Zhao could tell that Xiao Ya did know a little about Taoist matters, but her knowledge wasn’t very deep—much like the general atmosphere of the Cyan Yang Palace itself.
So Gu Zhao explained, "The Baopu Courtyard is a Taoist Temple of the Spiritual Treasure Sect, which belongs to the Zhengyi Dao. If they dared use Lü Zu’s Divine Sign, it would be tantamount to betraying their own lineage."
"Huh?" Neither Xiao Ya nor Jiang Shishi understood. "But isn’t Lü Dongbin a famous Taoist figure?"
Gu Zhao explained, "But Lü Dongbin was from the Tang Dynasty and is considered one of the Five Northern Patriarchs of the Quanzhen Dao. anwhile, the Three Mountains Talisman sects of the Zhengyi Dao in Jiangnan have existed since the Jin Dynasty."
"So the Quanzhen Dao appeared later than the Zhengyi Dao?" Jiang Shishi asked.
"Much later," Gu Zhao replied.
"But it feels like there are more Quanzhen Dao temples than Zhengyi Dao ones, doesn’t it?" Xiao Ya asked.
"That’s a latecor’s advantage," Gu Zhao said with a laugh. "The Zhengyi Dao focuses on Conserving the Spirit and using Talismans, which involves long periods of sitting still. The Quanzhen Dao focuses on Qi Refining to form an inner Pill, combining movent and stillness. Their practitioners are probably in better physical shape."
"Hahaha, you’re hilarious!" Jiang Shishi’s laughter sent ripples through her fra. She then asked curiously, "By the way, are you Quanzhen Dao or Zhengyi Dao?"
Xiao Ya, who knew a little more, ventured, "The Five Thunders Talisman... that’s Zhengyi Dao, right?"
"The Inner Alchemy South Sect also has Thunder Techniques," Gu Zhao explained briefly before clenching his fist. "Why choose? I’m an adult. I’m both!"
Jiang Shishi’s eyebrows shot up. "Does that an you’re in great shape, too?"
Gu Zhao was caught off guard by the sudden innuendo. Before he could think of a coback, Jiang Shishi continued, "In that case, how about you co with us to Qingcheng Mountain tomorrow?"
"You can save us the cost of a tour guide, and we’ll treat you to a big al," Jiang Shishi added, making a finger heart at him.
"You two are certainly devout!" Gu Zhao looked at them and sighed with a laugh. "I thought when girls hang out, they’re supposed to go shopping, get their nails done, or go for skincare treatnts."
Jiang Shishi threw an arm around Xiao Ya. "Do you think we need any skincare right now? As for shopping..."
The two looked at each other and said in unison, "We’re broke!"
They were obviously joking. Gu Zhao could tell from their nice clothes that they weren’t actually broke, but were simply well-raised and had no desire to keep up with the Joneses in that regard.
"Sure," Gu Zhao readily agreed. Although he’d been planning to go to Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain to seek the Vajra Profound Talisman, a trip to Qingcheng Mountain first sounded good too—especially in the company of two beautiful young won.
"Great! Let’s add each other, then. We’ll go together tomorrow morning!" Jiang Shishi said, pulling out her phone.
Since she had taken the initiative, Gu Zhao certainly wasn’t going to refuse. He added both of them as friends. They then toured a few of the smaller side halls, took a group photo with the replica Ginseng Fruit Tree from *Journey to the West*, and finally left the Cyan Yang Palace after saying their goodbyes.
...
"That handso guy is pretty interesting. Even though his eyes kept drifting toward our... assets, he still acted properly."
"You’re such a pervert, staring at his eyes just to see where he was looking!"
"I think he’s a real catch. It’s a sha Yandu and Yangcheng are so far apart, or I wouldn’t mind giving him a shot."
"That’s assuming he’d even be into you."
"I’m gorgeous and stacked. Why wouldn’t he be into ?"
It was the middle of sumr, and Jiang Shishi’s clothes were quite form-fitting. As she spoke, she puffed out her chest, making for a rather spectacular view.
"Oh, stop it," Xiao Ya quickly cut in. "You always want what you can’t have. There are several guys in the orchestra chasing you, so why don’t you give one of them a chance?"
"You know what they’re like. They all think they’re so great artists, but they’re just a bunch of incorrigible playboys." Jiang Shishi snorted, then her expression turned sly. "Plus, none of them are nearly as cute as this guy. He looks like such a sweet, harmless puppy."
Xiao Ya said faintly, "Or maybe behind closed doors, he’s a ferocious wolf."
"Ooh, even better! I like that too!" Jiang Shishi nodded eagerly.
Won’s private chats could be even raunchier than n’s. Even Xiao Ya, who was so demure in public, was now spouting shocking things. "I heard that Taoists practice the Bedroom Skill. Be careful he doesn’t use you for Absorbing Yin and Nourishing Yang."
Jiang Shishi threw her arms around Xiao Ya. "Then I’ll be counting on you! We’ll go at him together, sister. We’ll drain him dry!"
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