Chapter 206: Chapter 205: A New Agenda in the Little Notebook

The next evening, Gu Zhao picked up his parents at the airport, and they all went home together.

"So? How was it?"

The first thing she did when they got home was hand her and Gu Qi’s Golden Gang Bracelets to Gu Zhao. "How much did they use up?" she asked curiously. "Do they need a recharge?"

Gu Zhao took the bracelets, sensed them for a moment, and casually infused some Magical Power into them before handing them back. "All set."

"All set?" Li Man asked, surprised. "What do you mean?"

"’All set’ means I’ve recharged them for you," Gu Zhao said with a smile. "The blast from that explosion was weaker than I expected. It didn’t actually use much energy. They could handle another seven or eight explosions without any trouble."

"They’re that powerful!" Li Man exclaimed in amazement.

Gu Zhao nodded. "Yep, they’re that powerful."

To be honest, even though Li Man was amazed, Gu Zhao was rather unimpressed. If it weren’t for the overflow effect every time the Golden Gang Bracelets activated, protecting the target with a completely sealed barrier, they could withstand far more than just seven or eight blasts. You could add a zero to that number and it still wouldn’t be enough.

’It was no joke. This was a Protective Magical Artifact personally crafted by a high-level Daoist with several centuries’ worth of Magical Power. If a few ordinary explosions could drain its energy, then the abilities of an Immortal would be utterly worthless.’

"How was the trip?" Gu Zhao asked.

"If it hadn’t been for that accident, it was actually a pretty good time," Li Man said, taking the bracelets and putting them back on her and Gu Qi’s wrists. "As long as you watch out for pickpockets and don’t mind the prices, the place has its upsides."

Gu Qi added, "It’s a developed country, after all. The cathedrals and castles were quite beautiful."

Gu Zhao chuckled. "That’s not what you two were saying yesterday."

Li Man came out, having changed into her pajamas. "Yesterday was a special situation!"

Gu Qi added, "It’s the things in the museums that are upsetting."

The three of them chatted as they turned on the TV for their daily routine of watching the evening news.

They had just been talking about cultural relics when the TV began to report that Huaqi Country was returning two Warring States period silk manuscripts to Celestial Xia.

"Five Elements Order and Attack, Defense, and Occupation Return to the Motherland!"

The report then went on to detail the background of these two artifacts, the nation’s efforts in repatriating them, and the historical significance of the event.

"The only Warring States silk manuscripts... these are national treasures!" Gu Qi exclaimed, both impressed and pained. "I’ve never even heard of them before. I’ve only heard of things like the Lady’s Exhortation scroll and the Water Moon Guanyin."

"Those are national treasures too, and globally famous ones at that," Gu Zhao said, shaking his head. To be honest, he hadn’t heard of these two artifacts either, nor had he heard of the foreign museum that was returning them.

"Why do all these little museums have our national treasures?" Li Man asked curiously. "So, basically, our national treasures are supporting all the museums in the world, is that it?"

Gu Qi nodded and sighed. "More or less. I remember seeing a news report a while back that said a personal sword of Emperor Yong Le is in some kind of armory museum in Mi Qi."

The news broadcast continued, mentioning some agreement, some recovery rights, some international cooperation...

After listening for a while, Gu Zhao got the gist of it. If you wanted to get your lost artifacts back, besides your own efforts, you also needed the other party’s cooperation.

The return of these two national treasures was only successful because this small museum had published documents stating its willingness to return artifacts acquired through "unethical" means.

Gu Zhao mentally shrugged.

In other words, as long as the other side was shameless, there was nothing they could do.

That’s why countless artifacts, including even unknown national treasures, were still scattered around the world in obscure, second- and third-rate museums.

Gu Qi sighed. "If they’re shameless, there’s nothing we can do."

Li Man tried to console him. "Just wait. When we’re so powerful we’re in a league of our own, and returning our national treasures becomes a matter of public opinion for them, just see if they don’t return them voluntarily."

Gu Qi scoffed. "In your dreams. As long as we care about face, they can just play dumb."

Li Man threw up her hands. "Then there’s nothing to be done. Let them keep it over there. It can serve to spur us on and constantly remind all our countrymen that to fall behind is to be beaten down. It can function like a memorial."

Gu Qi was speechless. "You really have a way with words, don’t you?"

Li Man laughed. "What else can we do? We can’t just put a positive spin on a tragedy. We can’t say that the barbarians collecting our artifacts proves the beauty of our culture has conquered them, and therefore *we* conquered *them*. So I guess we just keep winning, huh?"

Both Gu Qi and Gu Zhao burst out laughing at Li Man’s words.

"You’ve really mastered that ’winning’ philosophy!" Gu Qi said, giving her a thumbs-up.

Li Man laughed too. "You don’t really see it when they’re ahead. You just think the one falling behind should do some self-reflection. But now I’m realizing, we’re the strange ones."

Gu Qi said proudly, "That’s why we’ve survived for thousands of years, watching opponent after opponent take a seat at the table, only to disappear into the river of history, while we’ve remained at the card table the entire time, never once leaving."

"Alright, alright, there you go again," Li Man said, calling to them. "Aunt Zhang has dinner ready. Let’s eat."

...

The conversation about the artifacts came to an end, and Gu Qi and Li Man started chatting about amusing stories from their trip. But Gu Zhao’s mind didn’t move on. He was still thinking about the wonderful things left behind by their ancestors.

When faced with this kind of historical problem, if the other party was shameless, Celestial Xia really didn’t have many options.

After all, Celestial Xia valued its reputation. Its goal was the sea of stars, and its gaze was always fixed on the future. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

But Gu Zhao was different. He now had the power to take those things back.

’Besides, all my skills were passed down from my ancestors. How can I let the treasures they left behind remain scattered abroad?’

Gu Zhao rubbed his chin. ’Cultivation is about cultivating the mind, about achieving a smooth and unhindered Dao Heart. The higher-ups may have all sorts of scruples, but what do I have to be concerned about?’

’If they want the barbarians to appreciate the beauty of Celestial Xia, or want our people to remember the lesson that falling behind means being beaten down, they can leave some ordinary artifacts out there. But the most exquisite national treasures, of course, must be brought back.’

Gu Zhao took out his small notebook and added "reclaiming our nation’s treasures" to his agenda.

He then spent the night at home with his parents. Li Man, as was her routine, started asking about his life and whether he wanted her to set him up on a blind date, making him want to flee in panic.

’What was Gu Zhao supposed to say?’

’That he was sleeping with two women?’

’That they were both top students from Yandu Music Academy, both gorgeous, and not only were they in a throuple, but they had all been in bed together?’

It wasn’t that Gu Zhao didn’t dare to say it, but the shock might be a bit much for his parents.

Not a shock for Li Man, but a shock for Gu Qi.

A smug thought crossed Gu Zhao’s mind.

He vaguely deflected her questions and, after spending the night, returned to Yangcheng the next day, passing through the Daluo Palace.