Chapter 245: Chapter 244: Tasting Tea and Playing Go, Full of Ancient Charm
When Gu Zhao traveled back to Daluo Palace and saw Bai Ke, the Silk Embroideress, He Cailian, and Bi Yingying gathered around Zhuo Qingyan, he was just wondering how to send them on their way when he noticed Taoist Jing Hong and Taoist Jing Fa coming up the mountain with yet another young woman.
Gu Zhao: ???
"This is Landlord Chen’s daughter, from Hongliu County in Bai Shi Prefecture. A fine young lady," Taoist Jing Hong said with a smile.
Taoist Jing Fa added, "An evil cultivator in the county who was in Harmony with a ghost wanted to force her into marriage, but we rescued her."
Chen Zhi gave a graceful curtsy. "Gossip is a fearsome thing, and my family affairs are in disarray. I pleaded to join Daluo Palace, and fortunately, the two Elders graciously granted my request and brought me up the mountain."
Chen Zhi had been taken away by Master Fang’s wedding procession. Although she returned the very next day, wagging tongues made some things impossible to explain clearly. That was why Chen Zhi had begged the two old Daoists to let her come up the mountain to study the Dao.
Taoist Jing Hong saw that Chen Zhi had a good character and a look that tugged at the heartstrings, so he brought her up the mountain.
"You’ll start as a Registered Disciple. If you have the talent, you can practice Daoism; if not, you can train in martial arts," Taoist Jing Hong arranged for her. "There are plenty of female disciples in the palace. We won’t be short one bowl of rice for you."
Gu Zhao glanced back at Changyi, only to see him staring straight ahead. His gaze didn’t linger on any of the female disciples in Daluo Palace; instead, he was admiring the surrounding scenery, murmuring in constant praise.
Gu Zhao asked Taoist Qingyuan, who had been guarding Daluo Palace, "Has anything happened in the last two days?"
Taoist Qingyuan nodded. "That friend Yunyang and the others met at Yongning River last time has come to visit the mountain. You were all busy over there, so we didn’t inform you. Senior Brother Yan Song and Senior Brother Shen Hao went to receive him."
"Oh?" Gu Zhao was surprised.
That day, Yunyang had taken four old Daoists to exterminate a demon and encountered a Spirit Monarch with profound Dao Practice. They became friends after a fight, and Yunyang had even invited him to visit the mountain.
Gu Zhao had assumed they were just being polite with each other. After all, the other party was a demon from the water who wouldn’t come ashore unless necessary. He never expected the visitor to arrive just a few days later.
"I’ll go meet him." Gu Zhao nodded. He then used his Divine Sense to ask Taoist Yan Song and learned that they were on the back mountain of Daluo Palace, brewing tea, playing chess, and discussing the Dao.
’This is really starting to feel like a classic cultivation story,’ Gu Zhao thought, shaking his head with a smile. Then he beckoned to Changyi. "Come on, I’ll take you to see something."
Changyi asked curiously, "Are we going down the mountain?"
"Up the mountain." With a casual gesture, Gu Zhao lifted Changyi with his True Qi. A White Cloud coalesced beneath their feet, and they leisurely ascended into the air, flying toward the summit.
Even though it wasn’t his first time experiencing this, Changyi’s heart still surged with excitement. From his bird’s-eye view, he saw the magnificent Daluo Palace, Cui Mountain Town at the foot of the mountain, several surrounding villages, the faint outline of Xiuyue County, and the endless expanse of mountains and rivers.
Before he could get his fill of the view, Gu Zhao brought him to a small peak behind Cuiluo Mountain.
This place was actually still within the planned boundaries of Daluo Palace, on the edge of the Northern Xuanwu Pool. The mountaintop had been renovated: a small clearing had been made, the grass and trees were trimmed, stone slabs were laid out, and several stone tables were set up, one of which had a chessboard with intersecting lines carved on its surface.
The chess of this world was similar to Go. Although the rules were slightly different, the old Daoists learned it quickly. At this moment, Taoist Shen Hao was playing a game against a burly, bearded man whom Gu Zhao had never seen before.
Seeing Gu Zhao and Changyi descend from the sky, Taoist Yan Song, Taoist Shen Hao, and Huang Yuan and He Feng, who were also present, all rose to their feet.
"Greetings, Sect Leader!"
"Hello!" Gu Zhao returned the greeting with a smile, then cupped his hands in a salute to the large man, who had also stood up and clasped his fists.
Taoist Yan Song made the introductions, and Gu Zhao learned that the man’s name was Lu Zhengtang. He lived in seclusion in the Yongning River, dedicated himself to ascetic cultivation, and rarely left the mountains.
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lu." Gu Zhao cupped his hands.
"Greetings, Sect Leader Gu," Lu Zhengtang returned the salute, his voice booming like a great bell.
"I’ve been occupied with matters these past two days and was not in the palace. Please forgive me for the poor reception."
"Sect Leader Gu, you’re too kind. Master Yan Song’s Dao Practice is profound, Master Shen Hao’s knowledge is vast, and Brother Huang and Brother He are sincere and welcoming. I feel right at home here in Daluo Palace."
Lu Zhengtang had a rough and rugged appearance, but his manners were refined and courteous, creating quite a contrast.
Gu Zhao gestured for them to continue the game. "I won’t stand on ceremony, so you shouldn’t either."
"Excellent, excellent!" Gu Zhao’s casual demeanor showed that he considered him a friend. Lu Zhengtang laughed and sat back down at the board. "Brother Shen Hao’s skill at chess is extraordinary. I’m having a hard time holding on."
Taoist Shen Hao stroked his beard. "Brother Lu, you’re too modest. We’re in the middle of a mid-game struggle. This old Daoist only has a slight advantage. It certainly doesn’t look like you’re about to collapse."
Gu Zhao didn’t understand chess, so he sent a voice transmission to Taoist Yan Song. "Does Martial Uncle Shen Hao have a big advantage?"
"It might not seem like much, but it’s enough," Taoist Yan Song nodded. "In the game of chess, an advantage of one or two pieces is decisive. As long as you don’t make a mistake, it’s very difficult for the opponent to turn things around."
Taoist Yan Song added, "This Lu Chess is similar to the Go from our world. Senior Brother Shen Hao is widely-read and experienced; this Mr. Lu shouldn’t be able to beat him."
Gu Zhao was thus reassured. He had Changyi greet Taoist Yan Song and then exchanged greetings with Huang Yuan and He Feng.
Taoist Yan Song chuckled. "You’re really getting a good deal, arriving even before your master and martial uncle."
Changyi scratched his head in embarrassment. Taoist Zhi Qing was his master and Taoist Zhi Xiu was his martial uncle. The two of them were still at the Celestial Master’s Mansion, cultivating diligently and waiting in line, while he had arrived first because of the matter in Huaqi Country.
Although Changyi was young, Huang Yuan and He Feng didn’t dare to look down on him in the slightest.
It was common knowledge that the Daluo Palace disciples who came from the Sect Leader’s place of seclusion, while not having very high Dao Practice initially, cultivated at an astonishingly fast pace—so fast that it far surpassed even Fairies and Demons in Harmony, which was truly shocking.
Although no one said it out loud, everyone guessed that the Sect Leader’s homeland was a miraculous Grotto Heaven Blessed Land that could lay the most solid foundation for its disciples. Therefore, the day they left the mountain was the day they began to shine.
Take Yunyang, for example. When he first arrived, he had a mere few decades of Dao Practice. But now, only a year later, his abilities were already comparable to Huang Yuan, the original Guardian Star Official, the Golden Dog of Bond. This alone was a testament to their potential.
However...
Gu Zhao looked at Huang Yuan and raised an eyebrow. "Your aura seems to be faintly suffused with a Daoist rhythm. Have you had success in changing your cultivation method?"
Huang Yuan’s face lit up with joy. "Elder Yan Song passed down a cultivation Dharma Gate to me, and I’ve started practicing again from the Supreme Meridian Breathing Technique. There’s hope for me to achieve a Realm Breakthrough and extend my life. It is all thanks to the grace of the Sect Leader and the Elders!"
Gu Zhao was very pleased. Daluo Palace was about to gain another expert, which was undoubtedly a good thing.
A short while later, Lu Zhengtang did indeed concede defeat by two pieces. Afterward, the group sipped tea and discussed the Dao until the sun set in the west, at which point they returned to Daluo Palace together for a meal.
Lu Zhengtang invited the disciples of Daluo Palace to visit his Water Mansion anytime before taking his leave.
After catching up on the recent situation at Daluo Palace, Gu Zhao also returned to his room to sleep.
When the moon was high in the sky, a white figure flashed leisurely past. Then, a sound-proofing barrier rose around the small courtyard, serving its intended purpose.
