"So this Five Thunders Talisman is one that's undergone Enlightenment?" someone asked.
Hui Bin instinctively tightened his grip on the talisman paper.
Taoist Yi Hong nodded. "Yes, but its effect has waned significantly. I estimate it will be completely useless in another month or two. That's why I assumed some grandmaster had given it to him a year or two ago."
Hui Bin breathed a sigh of relief, yet he was also a little disappointed.
"Magical Artifacts that have undergone Enlightenment only last for a year or two?" another person asked.
Taoist Yi Hong pointed a finger at him. "A person's ambition is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. One or two years is already excellent. Perhaps things like Peach Wood and Jujube Wood, or Bronze and Jade Artifacts, can last longer, but performing Enlightenment on them is also more time-consuming and strenuous, which would hinder one's Cultivation."
The man lowered his head in shame, not daring to ask any more questions.
Even so, this was enough to get the wheels turning in many people's minds.
The Protective Talisman's effects might only last for another month or two, but that didn't mean the young man wasn't powerful. After all, he had simply drawn it casually before giving the talisman paper to Hui Bin.
'If he had performed the Enlightenment seriously, wouldn't making the Protective Talisman last for a year or two have been a piece of cake?'
Taoist Yi Hong was old and cunning. He knew what they were all thinking with a single glance. He briefly regretted going into so much detail and praising the young man so highly.
'I've been lonely for too long.' Taoist Yi Hong sighed to himself. He then instructed, "This young man is in tune with nature. Despite his youth, his mastery of the Dao is profound. He's a natural-born prodigy for Cultivation. If you find him, you must inform me at once."
"Of course, of course."
"Absolutely."
"A young man like that might be the scion of a famous lineage."
"Given how skillfully he drew the Five Thunders Talisman, he might be a Daoist ordained at Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain."
"If he ever comes to Yuanfa Palace again, we'll call you the moment he arrives."
Some people thought about checking the security footage, but they quickly dismissed the idea.
The reason was simple: even if they checked the footage and found out what he looked like, they lacked the manpower, resources, and intel to track him down. Were they supposed to go to the police and say, 'This person can perform Enlightenment on Magical Artifacts and is a natural-born prodigy for Cultivation, could you please help us find him?'
In this day and age, even religious figures spoke of traditional culture and believing in science. Spreading feudal superstitions was a big no-no!
"Excellent." Taoist Yi Hong chuckled. "Now that we've had our tea and shared our stories, let's head to the Scripture Pavilion and do some reading."
"Yes, of course!"
"After you!"
...
Gu Zhao, of course, had no idea what was happening at Yuanfa Palace. He certainly didn't know that the inert remnant of a Five Thunders Talisman he had left on some Vermillion Yellow Paper was being treated as a Protective Talisman.
After his call with Zhang Hang, he was just about to cross into the Otherworld to continue his Cultivation when he received a call from Her Majesty, his mother.
"Son! Have you found a job yet?"
"No."
"Are you still looking?"
"Not anymore."
"That's great!" a cheer came from the other end of the line.
Gu Zhao: ???
"This weekend, you're coming with me back to Rongcheng." Gu Zhao's mother, Li Man, had a brisk, no-nonsense personality.
Gu Zhao couldn't help but ask, "Is something wrong with Grandpa and Grandma?"
"No," Li Man replied. "One of my best friends' son is getting married, and she invited me back for the wedding."
"Isn't Dad going with you?" Gu Zhao asked instinctively.
"If your dad were going, why would I take you?" Li Man huffed. "Wouldn't it be nice for us to have our own private time together?"
Gu Zhao: "..."
"Make yourself look sharp. I want you to outshine the groom!" Li Man commanded. "She's always bragging to me about how tall, fair, and handsome her son is, and how he married a 'pale, rich, and beautiful' girl. Good for her!"
"But she's your best friend..."
"A frenemy! My son is way better than hers. He's taller, fairer, and more handsome. It's just..."
Li Man sighed, unable to help herself. "It's just this whole 'Cultivating the Dao' thing all day. If I hadn't found your... *normal*... 'study materials' on your computer, I would've thought you were brainwashed during those summer vacations in Rongcheng."
Gu Zhao was stunned. "You went through my computer? How did you know my password?"
"79531. Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth. What's so hard about that?" Li Man said nonchalantly.
Gu Zhao: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ
Ignoring Gu Zhao's mortification, Li Man continued, "Oh, right. Don't they have those rent-a-girlfriends online these days? Why don't you take some time in the next couple of days to interview a few? Pick one with stunning looks to bring along. If you're too shy, I can pick one for you."
"If you pick one, I'm not going!" Gu Zhao said angrily.
"So you'll pick one yourself?" Li Man asked.
"I'm not bringing a girlfriend. How about I just seduce the bride at the wedding?" Gu Zhao threatened.
"GASP—" Li Man was taken aback. "I think I saw a similar plot in your 'study materials'!"
Gu Zhao felt his face burning and his hands trembling. "You watched all of it?"
"Haven't finished yet," Li Man said truthfully. "There's too much."
At this, a hint of genuine concern crept into Li Man's joking tone. "I noticed in your 'study materials' that there's more 2D stuff than 3D. You can't turn into one of those shut-in nerds from Sakura Country!"
Gu Zhao took a deep breath and said dutifully, "Mom, I'm perfectly normal. I'll definitely find you a normal daughter-in-law."
"Good. I was just saying, your grandpa and your dad both got married normally. It's not like your family line forbids it!" Li Man breathed a sigh of relief, but couldn't resist adding, "Just remember, make it quick. I can't wait to go shopping and get manicures with my daughter-in-law."
...
Hanging up the phone, Gu Zhao couldn't help but wipe the faint cold sweat from his forehead.
'Talking on the phone with Her Majesty is more stressful and thrilling than fighting that Ghost the other day.'
"No wonder Dad is so completely whipped," Gu Zhao sighed. "These days, even being a freeloader isn't easy!"
After another sigh, Gu Zhao checked the time, then went to the diner downstairs. He had them slice up a pound of braised beef and also got a braised pork knuckle to go.
Gu Zhao had discovered that, perhaps from a long-term lack of rich, oily foods, Elder He's family and the White Fox both had a preference for heavier flavors. They favored Northern-style meat dishes; five-spice roast chicken, for example, was far more popular than plain boiled chicken.
Meanwhile, perhaps influenced by the cuisine of his mother's hometown, Gu Zhao himself had a particular fondness for Sichuan and Hunan food.
Gu Zhao crossed into the Otherworld. Carrying the two containers of food, he walked out of the forest and saw the Silk Embroideress standing by a large tree at the village entrance. She would occasionally rise onto her tiptoes, gazing out in his direction.
A pure white fox lay draped over her shoulder, its tail flicking back and forth, teasing strands of her hair. It let out a bored yawn.
The sun was setting behind the village, casting out a myriad of golden rays. The light filtered through the wisps of cooking smoke rising from the scattered cottages and the gaps between the leaves of nearby trees. It fell upon the young woman, enveloping her in an orange halo, making her look like a character from a warm, beautifully colored anime illustration.