Wielding the Thunders Across Two Worlds-Chapter 55: Love Scammer

White cut chicken, braised pigeon, honey-glazed barbecue pork, and boiled prawns... all famous Cantonese dishes.

As the four of them ate and chatted, Zhang Hang learned that the two women were from Yandu. They had first met Gu Zhao at Yuanfa Palace in Yangcheng, officially gotten to know him at Cyan Yang Palace in Rongcheng, and become friends on Qingcheng Mountain.

"Famous mountains and great temples have this function too?" Zhang Hang was amazed. "I’m going to Yuanfa Palace tomorrow to try my luck!"

Gu Zhao reminded him, "Remember to donate a lot of incense money."

"The incense money isn’t the problem. The problem is, what’s the deal with your Martial Arts?" Zhang Hang looked at Gu Zhao in shock. "How did I never know you were this incredible?"

With an excited tone, Jiang Shishi vividly recounted the scene of Gu Zhao leaping through the air to save someone. However, both women tacitly agreed not to mention the Celestial Spirit Protection Talisman.

Judging by the abilities of Taoist Yan Song and Gu Zhao, there couldn’t be many people in the country with such miraculous skills. Naturally, they wouldn’t just blab about it. Besides, ordinary people who hadn’t seen it for themselves would never believe it anyway.

Zhang Hang didn’t even know the true extent of Gu Zhao’s skills, so he obviously had no idea that Gu Zhao had already cultivated miraculous Taoist True Qi.

"I’ve always been practicing Martial Arts with my grandpa. It’s not like you didn’t know," Gu Zhao said as he picked up a piece of pigeon. The skin was crispy, the meat smooth, and the bones tender and juicy. The fragrant aroma that filled his mouth was utterly satisfying.

"I knew you practiced Martial Arts, and that your forms were very elegant, but I had no idea you were this skilled! A parkour master, too? How come you never showed off at school?" Zhang Hang was astonished. "And here I thought you were just doing it to stay healthy, that it was no different from morning calisthenics."

"Low-key, low-key," Gu Zhao said humbly. "In these peaceful times, there’s never been an opportunity for me to make a move."

Both of their families were well-off, and they attended good schools, so they had never been bullied. The biggest conflicts they ever had were slamming desks and arguing with classmates, but it never came to blows.

That’s why Zhang Hang had only ever seen Gu Zhao practicing his forms in the air and never knew he was actually quite formidable.

"So, can you actually fight?" Zhang Hang asked, his interest piqued.

Gu Zhao shot him a sidelong glance. "You want to find out?"

"No need!" Zhang Hang refused righteously. "We’re friends. I believe you!"

"But if you can fight, you could be a Martial Arts influencer!" Zhang Hang suggested. "Show some real skills, then do a few videos debunking fake Martial Arts, and you’d probably get famous."

Jiang Shishi nodded repeatedly and said to Gu Zhao, "We could make videos together! After changing into traditional costumes, I could play an instrument while you practice your Martial Arts. It should be quite effective."

Zhang Hang looked at Gu Zhao, then at Jiang Shishi.

A handsome guy and a beautiful girl, both with real skills. If they entered the short-video scene, it might actually have some potential.

However...

Gu Zhao asked, confused, "I’m in Yangcheng, and you’re in Yandu. One’s in the south and the other’s in the north. How could we make videos together?"

Zhang Hang desperately wanted to smack Gu Zhao on the back of the head three times. ’Can’t you even read between the lines? Do you really want to stay single your whole life, spending it with nothing but your Tao Scriptures and Martial Arts!’

But Jiang Shishi just smiled. "Maybe I’ll be in Yangcheng in the future!"

Gu Zhao was taken aback. "Huh?"

"The Yandu National Orchestra is too hard to get into. I submitted my resume to the Yue Province National Orchestra. Besides coming to surprise you, I’m also here for an interview." Jiang Shishi lifted her pretty face. "If I get in, I’ll build my career in Yangcheng from now on."

Zhang Hang was dumbfounded. He subconsciously glanced at Xiao Ya, only to see her give a gentle smile, though her eyes revealed a hint of stubbornness. "I submitted my resume too. I’m interviewing with Shishi."

Zhang Hang: ???

...

「Meanwhile, in a high-end residential complex in Yandu.」

"DING DONG!"

"Taoist Yi Guan is here!"

An elegant middle-aged woman, who bore some resemblance to Xiao Ya, opened the door to find two Daoists with graying hair and beards and kind smiles standing at the entrance.

"Taoist Yi Hong is here too!"

"My Senior Brother was away for three years and only just returned," the first old Daoist said with a nod. "Younger Brother Xiao is suffering from Qi deficiency and physical weakness, so I asked my Senior Brother to come and help clear his Qi and blood circulation." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"That’s very thoughtful of you, Taoist Yi Guan. Dad’s health has improved quite a bit recently. He can even walk on his own now." Su Lei stepped aside, inviting the two Daoists into the room.

"He can walk on his own?" Taoist Yi Guan was stunned. "Wasn’t he unable to last month? In fact, hasn’t it been getting worse this year?"

"Perhaps it’s because he’s been resting well lately. And with the weather improving, he’s been getting more sun," Su Lei speculated.

"Is that so?" Taoist Yi Guan nodded. Just then, he saw an old man walk out of the bedroom, leaning on a cane with one hand and supported by a caregiver on the other side. Although he still looked very weak, his complexion was much ruddier.

"Younger Brother Xiao." Taoist Yi Guan took a step forward.

"Senior Brother Yi Guan!" Xiao Yanhua said with a smile, greeting the two old Daoists. "And I’m sorry to trouble Senior Brother Yi Hong to make a trip as well."

"We’re old friends. If I had known you were sick, I would have come back sooner," said Taoist Yi Hong.

"It’s not an illness, just Qi deficiency and physical weakness, restless sleep with many dreams, and low energy, which has taken a toll on my body. But these symptoms are quite normal at my age," Xiao Yanhua said with a laugh. "How could I let that interrupt your journey of collecting rare volumes of the Daoist Canon?"

"Nonsense. This isn’t the old days. Air travel is very convenient. To be honest, I spend most of my time sightseeing," Taoist Yi Hong teased.

Seeing that Xiao Yanhua was mostly all right, Taoist Yi Hong felt relieved.

The three men then went to the study to chat, with Su Lei accompanying them, occasionally refilling their tea.

"Ever since I came back from abroad three years ago, my body just hasn’t been the same. It seems that when you get older, you should travel less. It’s even more draining than physical exercise," Xiao Yanhua said, taking a sip of tea.

Taoist Yi Guan nodded. "To have spent three years recovering... you’ve really been through it."

Taoist Yi Hong added, "The important thing is that you’re getting better."

"A good mood also plays a big part in recovery," Taoist Yi Guan said, looking at the many Health Talismans and Peace Talismans hanging in the study. "Younger Brother Xiao has a good granddaughter. No matter where she goes, she never forgets to ask for blessings and Talismans for her grandfather."

Xiao Yanhua chuckled and nodded.

Hearing this, however, Su Lei frowned. She said to Taoist Yi Guan, "It’s a good thing that Xiaoya is a pious and filial believer in the Dao, but lately she’s become a bit obsessed and has been taken in by a scammer. She’s been fighting with the family. Taoist Yi Guan, could you perhaps help me talk some sense into her?"

"How was she taken in by a scammer?" Taoist Yi Guan asked curiously.

"She came back from Qingcheng Mountain last month with a Protective Talisman. She claimed it was a truly Enlightened talisman and insisted it would definitely help Dad’s health."

Su Lei continued, "But the main point is, she said a young man drew it. She also claimed this young man could save people on a cliffside and had cultivated something called Inner Breath True Qi."

"Lately, she’s had a strange look in her eyes when she’s on her phone. Under my questioning, she admitted she has feelings for that young man," Su Lei said worriedly. "Isn’t it obvious she’s been scammed?"

"I tried to reason with her, but she wouldn’t listen and even had a fight with me," Su Lei said indignantly. "These romance scammers nowadays are too clever! They actually went to the trouble of finding out about our family’s situation to tailor their scam perfectly!"