Chapter 125: Chapter 124: The Heaven-Reaching Treasure Light Cures Myriad Ailments

On the third day, after politely declining Chang Ning’s offer of company, Gu Zhao and Yunyang took a stroll around town. They had breakfast, bought a stack of red paper, and then made their way to the Celestial Master’s Mansion.

"Senior, we’re back!"

"Welcome, welcome!"

Taoist Ming Yu greeted them with a wide smile, inviting them to sit. He had the young Daoist beside him, Chang Le, take the red paper and store it inside the house.

"You two should walk around more and mingle with other young people. You don’t have to come keep an old man like me company," Taoist Ming Yu said with a laugh.

"But you’re the only one who can answer my questions!" Gu Zhao sat down next to Taoist Ming Yu and started fishing for gossip. "Yunyang and I are both young, and there isn’t much opportunity for us to use our skills in the country. Why don’t you tell us some stories from the old days?"

"I’ve noticed you young people all love hearing about this stuff!" Taoist Ming Yu laughed heartily. Then, he added with a grin, "Actually, I love telling these stories too!"

Chang Le, standing nearby, also smiled. As Taoist Ming Yu’s Daoist Child, he had heard plenty of these stories.

"Zhang Province has many mountains, rivers, and Wizards. It used to be a place where many ethnic minorities lived, so of course there are lots of stories," Taoist Ming Yu said. "What do you want to hear about? Corpse-fishing, corpse-herding, corpse-raising, corpse-worshipping? Or perhaps inviting gods, exorcising ghosts, and delivering the souls of the dead?"

Yunyang and Gu Zhao’s eyes lit up. "Is all of that real?"

"Some of it’s real, some isn’t. It’s all just bad feng shui, mischief caused by Yin Qi, and crooked sects playing tricks to deceive people." Taoist Ming Yu shook his head. "Those who don’t know the inside story would naturally find it mysterious and strange, but once you expose it, it’s all worthless."

Taoist Ming Yu spoke of it lightly, but in reality, without having cultivated the Taoist Sect’s True Qi, an ordinary person would be completely helpless against such yin and evil energies.

Taoist Ming Yu casually recounted two incidents from his youth. In one, he had encountered an old Wizard who had achieved significant Cultivation before the founding of the nation. However, he defeated the wizard in Magical Combat using his Taoist True Qi and then had him hauled off to the public security bureau.

"Hauled off to..."

"The public security bureau..."

Gu Zhao and Yunyang looked at each other, speechless. It just didn’t have the same feel as the folktales they had heard before.

"This is a society ruled by law. Killing people at will is illegal," Taoist Ming Yu stressed, leaning back in his bamboo chair. "Besides, that old fiend took human lives. His crime warranted the death penalty anyway. It was fine to just let the public security bureau give him a ’peanut’."

Gu Zhao felt that Taoist Ming Yu had experienced far more than Taoist Yan Song and Taoist Yi Hong. One of them was quietly cultivating on Qingcheng Mountain, while the other was in the Capital City, the most civilized of places. It would be difficult for either of them to encounter any supernatural incidents.

But Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain was different.

Although all sorts of evil and bizarre entities would certainly steer clear of the Celestial Master’s Mansion, Zhang Province itself was vast, with high mountains and long rivers. It bordered Min Yue to the south and the Xiang and Han regions to the west, and was home to many practitioners of unorthodox paths.

The Celestial Master’s Mansion had established its foothold here by asserting its authority over these individuals, achieving fame and glory that had been passed down for a thousand years.

So, Gu Zhao asked, "Do Fairies and ghosts really exist in the world?"

Taoist Ming Yu chuckled. "Of course not. We always seek truth from facts. If ghosts really existed, Yandu would have certainly built an ancestral temple for them."

Gu Zhao asked with a smile, "But what if Fairies and ghosts do exist?"

"Then that would be a good thing for me!" Taoist Ming Yu laughed, a hint of anticipation and curiosity in his eyes. "Tell me, when I die, do you think I’ll go to heaven or hell? Will I drink Meng Po Soup, be reincarnated, and get to be a kid all over again?"

Chang Le tried to console him, "The clinic prescribed you medicine. You’ll get better slowly."

Taoist Ming Yu waved his hand dismissively. "I know."

Just then, a Daoist came in holding a thermos. "The Martial Grand-uncle’s medicine."

Chang Le explained to Gu Zhao, "The Martial Grand-uncle’s conservative treatment is being handled by the Taoist Medical Research Institute. They wrote him a prescription."

Taoist Ming Yu took the thermos, opened it, and drank it all down with a frown. "So bitter. Didn’t I tell them to add some sugar?"

The Daoist replied, "My Master-Uncle said that adding sugar would weaken its effects."

Taoist Ming Yu curled his lip. "What the hell does he know!"

The Daoist gave an awkward smile, not daring to reply. He took the thermos, bowed, and turned to leave.

Then, Taoist Ming Yu fell silent. He sat peacefully in his bamboo chair, circulating his Qi to dissolve the medicine’s properties and nourish his body.

Both Gu Zhao and Yunyang could sense that Taoist Ming Yu was circulating his energy, so they didn’t disturb him and simply sat to the side, waiting.

As someone always by Taoist Ming Yu’s side, Chang Le naturally knew about Inner Breath True Qi.

Taoist Ming Yu was ill and shouldn’t have been receiving guests, but Taoist Zhi Qing had brought the two of them to visit. Not only had they had a pleasant conversation, but they had also come again today, interacting with Taoist Ming Yu as if they were old friends reuniting.

Although nothing was said explicitly, Chang Le knew very well that Yunyang and Gu Zhao were both True Daoists who had cultivated Inner Breath. Seizing the opportunity, he couldn’t help but softly ask them for guidance.

Neither Gu Zhao nor Yunyang held anything back. One explained the Conserve Spirit and Qi Refining Technique from the Shangqing Heavenly Heart Righteous Method, while the other described the Breathing and Exhaling Technique from Zhong Lü’s Inner Alchemy Collection.

But on the path of Cultivation, knowing and understanding were one thing; insight and perception were another. Furthermore, innate talent and foundation were things one was born with, and there was nothing to be done about that.

After a while, Taoist Ming Yu finished his practice. His spirits seemed a little better, but Gu Zhao knew there was no fundamental change. Even with his Inner Breath and positive mindset, Taoist Ming Yu was only delaying the inevitable.

’In that case...’ Gu Zhao thought, then looked at Chang Le. "Brother Chang Le, would you please go and ask Taoist Zhi Qing to come here?"

Chang Le was confused. ’As a junior, if you have something to say to Taoist Zhi Qing, shouldn’t you go see him yourself?’ he thought.

But seeing Gu Zhao’s serious expression, he hesitated and glanced at Taoist Ming Yu.

Taoist Ming Yu saw the Divine Light glittering in Gu Zhao’s eyes and knew the young man had something to say to him privately, something he didn’t want Chang Le to hear. He decisively sent Chang Le away, "Go get Zhi Qing."

Once Chang Le had gotten up and left, Taoist Ming Yu said to Gu Zhao, "Young friend, speak freely."

So Gu Zhao did just that. "I’d like to invite you to come live in Yangcheng."

Yunyang, standing beside him, was completely baffled. ’Why is Gu Zhao trying to get everyone to move to Yangcheng?’ he wondered.

Taoist Ming Yu was also full of curiosity. "Why?"

"To help me with Exorcising Demons and Evil Spirits," Gu Zhao said frankly.

Yunyang: ???

Taoist Ming Yu chuckled, shook his head, and sighed. "I’d love to go. I hear there are still some Evil Skills being passed down in Southeast Asia, but unfortunately, my body is no longer up to it."

"What if I can cure your illness?" Gu Zhao asked.

Taoist Ming Yu was intrigued. "How would you do that?"

"Like this!" After speaking, Gu Zhao took a folded piece of Yellow Paper from his pocket.

Yunyang’s eyes instantly lit up. He then saw Gu Zhao give his right hand a slight shake and begin to chant, "Aiding Heaven’s will, I extend life and avert disaster. I cure all ills and banish all evil, bringing peace this very instant." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

The next moment, the Yellow Talisman turned to ash. Only a single point of light remained suspended in the air before instantly transforming into a streak of light and entering Taoist Ming Yu’s body.

Yunyang and Taoist Ming Yu were both stunned.

Taoist Ming Yu felt an incredible warmth spread through his body, as if he were soaking in a hot spring. Meanwhile, Yunyang could almost see a glow emanating from within Taoist Ming Yu’s body.

"What kind of Talisman is that?"

"The Heaven-Reaching Treasure Light Talisman!"