Chapter 143: Chapter 142: The Celestial Spirit Talisman Strikes Again

"Female Ghost... Yellow-skinned... River Demon..."

Sitting in the Guest Reception Building, savoring this world’s specialty dishes, Gu Zhao reflected on things as he contacted Yunyang through the Five Thunders Order.

"Have you made any progress on your end?"

"Last night, I took out an old cat-faced lady who was in Harmony with a wildcat and specialized in eating young children. Didn’t you collect any Evil Qi?" Yunyang asked.

"Huh?" Gu Zhao blinked, looking a little lost. "In the middle of the night? I just thought it was a few old folks who couldn’t sleep. I can’t believe it was you."

"So single dogs really don’t sleep, huh?" Gu Zhao said, shaking his head and sighing.

"I might be a single dog, but you act like you’re not..." Yunyang trailed off, unable to continue. He then changed the subject. "I’m going to find a Female Ghost for a wife too!"

"You’re a Quanzhen Disciple!" Gu Zhao stressed.

"Quanzhen Disciples can get married too!" Yunyang retorted, then ended the call. "No more talk. I’ve just run into another citizen who died in a very strange way. There was a fluctuation of Demon Power nearby just now. I’m going to investigate."

After ending the call, Gu Zhao felt that the scallion-steamed mutton made by the master chef here smelled even more fragrant.

’With you guys working so hard, I’m about to lose all my motivation to strive!’

Gu Zhao thought back to when he first transmigrated. When he’d first learned about the effects of the Five Thunders Order, he had been full of excitement, ready to start Exorcising Demons and Evil Spirits in this world and make a name for himself.

’No, I can’t keep enjoying myself like this. They say it’s easy to go from frugal to extravagant, but hard to go from extravagant to frugal. I need to get moving too, and take the lead!’

Just as Gu Zhao made his resolution, he heard Zhuo Qingyan say, "There’s a maple forest in the east of the city. In autumn and winter, the entire mountain turns red. I used to go sightseeing there. I wonder what it’s like now."

The Silk Embroideress said expectantly, "The whole mountain turns red? That must be so beautiful, right?"

Gu Zhao nodded. "We’ll go take a look this afternoon."

As for exorcising ghosts and demons, well, that could start tomorrow!

...

Just as Gu Zhao’s life was gradually getting on track, the Southeast Asia tour for the traditional Chinese orchestra Jiang Shishi and Xiao Ya were in reached its final stop.

"Oh my, we’ve been out here for over a month now. It’s finally over."

Siam. In a banquet hall, Jiang Shishi and Xiao Ya had changed out of their Hanfu into evening gowns and arrived at the celebratory banquet hosted by the organizers for the orchestra.

"I’m starving, I’m starving! Let’s hurry up and get something to eat!"

Jiang Shishi pulled Xiao Ya over to the buffet table, grabbed two plates, handed one to Xiao Ya, and then they began picking out their favorite foods together. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"There’s a lot of seafood, so it’s nutritious enough, but it doesn’t hit the spot!" Jiang Shishi complained. "I want to eat fried sauce noodles and roast duck!"

"Then you’ll have to go back to Yandu for that," Xiao Ya teased.

"Hmph, they have it in Yangcheng too," Jiang Shishi huffed. "Don’t even think about getting rid of me."

Xiao Ya pouted and subconsciously took out her phone to glance at it again. "How many days has he been in seclusion?"

"Four or five days, I guess." Jiang Shishi scooped up a spoonful of seafood fried rice. "What, getting antsy? Weren’t you the one who told me yesterday that he was going into seclusion and that I shouldn’t be impatient?"

Xiao Ya didn’t reply. She just put her phone away, picked up a piece of bread, and changed the subject. "We’re staying another day tomorrow and not flying back until the evening. Want to go shopping?"

Jiang Shishi thought for a moment. "Sure. Brother Wang and Sister Li have been with us for a month. We should get them some gifts tomorrow too."

Xiao Ya glanced back at a man and a woman eating in a corner of the dining hall, gave them a wave, and then said, "President Wang is really too courteous."

Jiang Shishi shook her head. "It’s because Gu Zhao is too amazing."

After the hotel incident, they had looked up information on Hengta Group and learned that although Wang Runheng wasn’t one of the top ten in Port City, he was still a very influential real estate developer in Southeast Asia. He had ridden the wave of the new century, and his business was doing very well.

They never expected that such a seemingly high-status capitalist would be so respectful to Gu Zhao. Gu Zhao had only mentioned it once on the phone, and the man had arranged for the two of them to be taken care of with meticulous attention.

After the hotel incident, he had even sent two people to follow their tour group, just to provide assistance in case anything happened.

But Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi had really benefited from it. After their short video went viral, all the sour gossip and rumors disappeared, and their status in the orchestra rose significantly. No one dared to treat them like newcomers anymore.

"Definitely. He must know what Gu Zhao is capable of," Xiao Ya agreed.

Jiang Shishi touched her phone. Her Talisman was inside her phone case, stuck to the back of the phone, so she always had it with her. "Maybe Gu Zhao drew a Talisman for him too?"

"It’s possible," Xiao Ya nodded. "At the very least, Wang Runheng must have personally experienced Gu Zhao’s abilities, or he wouldn’t go to such lengths."

"It’s just a little over the top," Jiang Shishi whispered with a giggle.

Xiao Ya couldn’t help but smile. "If it can cure illnesses, strengthen the body, and prolong life, it’s not actually that over the top. For rich people like them, the most important thing is whether they can live long enough to enjoy a few more days, right?"

"Well, we’re the ones reaping the benefits. I guess we’ll just have to offer ourselves in return," Jiang Shishi said, touching her face. "Speaking of which, I wonder if this Talisman also has Beauty and Skin Care effects?"

Xiao Ya couldn’t help but touch her own face too. "You know, now that you mention it, I also feel like my skin has gotten a little better."

As the two were chatting, they saw a commotion not far away. Turning to look, they saw a group of people crowding around a handsome, middle-aged man in his forties or fifties as he walked in.

"Who’s that?" Jiang Shishi asked.

"Don’t know him," Xiao Ya shook her head.

A colleague from the orchestra leaned over. "He’s a big shot here in Siam. I heard he has some connections to the royal family. He came to watch our performance too, from one of the VIP boxes."

The two women understood. "Then he really is a big shot."

Siam was still a constitutional monarchy. The royal family’s power was immense, followed by the military, then the various regional powers, and finally, the ruling government administration.

In Siam, you had to kneel when meeting the king.

"Good thing we’re not from Siam," Jiang Shishi said with a laugh.

With the big shot’s arrival, the locals went to fawn over him, and the orchestra’s leader also had to go over and exchange a few pleasantries. As mere small-timers, they naturally didn’t need to join in, so the two continued picking out food.

However, the two of them had just finished filling their plates and were looking for a place to sit when a local man and one of the orchestra leaders came over.

"Mr. Bansha would like to invite you two to join him."

"He said he really enjoyed your performance and has invited you over for a chat," the leader said in a low voice. "Just go over and make some small talk. Say a few words and then you can leave."

Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi glanced at each other. It was just a polite social obligation, so there was no need to be overly sensitive about it.

So, the two women followed the leader to a round table and sat down. The orchestra leader was quite reliable, sitting between the two women and Mr. Bansha.

Bansha didn’t seem to mind. He simply raised his glass to the two women. "My daughter is the same age as you. She also likes instruments from Celestial Xia, but she had extracurricular studies today, so she couldn’t come listen."

Hearing this, the two women and their leader all relaxed. They chatted with Bansha about music, the local customs of Siam, and the relationship between Celestial Xia and Siam. The conversation was pleasant for both hosts and guests.

After talking for a little while, Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi prepared to take their leave. But just then, Bansha extended an invitation. "It’s not too late tonight. How about I treat you to a late-night snack and a tour of the Mae Nam River? My daughter will be out of her class soon. I’ll call her to join us. She would be thrilled to meet you."

Before the two women could speak, the orchestra leader interjected, "Please forgive us, Mr. Bansha, but our orchestra has rules..."

Bansha waved his hand, interrupting the orchestra leader firmly despite his gentle expression. "That will depend on the two young ladies’ wishes."

Jiang Shishi was about to refuse when she saw Bansha’s gaze turn towards her. It was deep, like a vortex, and it made her feel a bit dazed. "We..."

The moment the word left her lips, Jiang Shishi felt her left hand, which was holding her phone, grow warm. A sudden burst of heat enveloped her, jolting her senses, and then surged forward.

PUFF!

The next moment, she saw Bansha, who was sitting one seat away, suddenly spray a mouthful of blood and fly backward. The spurting blood formed a brilliant rainbow in mid-air, while he himself rolled several times on the ground before coming to a stop.