Young people love to show off and tend to be self-centered. When Hui Bin was a boy, he learned a little Tai Chi Fist and tried to challenge a martial arts gym, only to be effortlessly put in his place.
He was only in his thirties now, so he naturally understood a young man's desire to show off. It was rare to run into someone like this, and he found it rather interesting.
"Junior Brother, did you run into something nasty?" Hui Bin asked, playing along.
"Hm?" Gu Zhao looked at Hui Bin abruptly, thoroughly shocked. 'Could there really be Demons and Ghosts in the modern world? Does modern society actually have a hidden, supernatural underground?'
But seeing the amusement in Hui Bin's eyes, he knew he had misunderstood. Not only had he misunderstood Hui Bin, but Hui Bin had also misunderstood him.
'This Daoist has a surprisingly good personality, to actually play along with me.'
Gu Zhao was amused. He decided to tell the truth again, this time with a perfectly straight face. "I ran into a Female Ghost yesterday. I managed to destroy her, but I'm worried I might run into something stronger, so I want to draw some Five Thunders Talismans to be prepared."
The surrounding tourists went, "Ooooh—"
The quicker-witted ones started looking around for a camera, wondering if someone was filming a skit.
The even quicker-witted ones had already taken out their phones and opened their video apps, ready to record.
Hui Bin laughed too, but he was also a little disappointed. 'He's still young,' he thought. 'He spilled everything at once. There's no suspense, and it sounds completely fake. It's such a cliche.'
'Even if you'd said someone was using an Evil Technique to curse you with an effigy and you needed to counter it with a Thunder Technique, it would've been more believable than running into a Female Ghost!'
'If there really were Female Ghosts, you think you'd get a turn?'
'All the unmarried Daoist brothers from every sect would be howling and tripping over themselves to get to her!'
Since Gu Zhao had laid it all out so plainly, Hui Bin lost interest in playing along. Still, the young man was at least interested in the Taoist Sect, and some Yellow Paper and Cinnabar weren't particularly valuable.
"I see. In that case, you'll need some talisman paper. Wait here, I'll go get you some." Hui Bin smiled and turned to leave.
Gu Zhao's eyes lit up. He cupped his hands in a salute. "Many thanks, Senior Brother!"
'The man clearly doesn't believe a word I'm saying, but as long as he sells me the Cinnabar and Yellow Paper, he's a good Daoist in my book.'
The staff member looked at Gu Zhao as if he were a con man, but since Taoist Hui Bin had spoken, he naturally kept his mouth shut.
The young man snorted, "Just for show," but his girlfriend tugged his arm. He stopped bothering Gu Zhao and went back to picking out a Talisman with her.
However, the cheerful Miss Shuo Guo struck up a conversation with Gu Zhao. "What does a Five Thunders Talisman look like? And what are the Five Thunders?"
Gu Zhao turned and realized she wasn't alone. Standing beside her was a long-legged young woman with hair down to her shoulders. She looked a little shy and was trying to suppress a smile, but she also seemed quite curious.
"There are several different interpretations of the Five Thunders."
Miss Shuo Guo was bright and cheerful, while the long-legged young woman was gentle and beautiful. Gu Zhao didn't mind explaining. "One version is Celestial God, Dragon, Water, and Society. Another is Wind, Fire, Mountain, Water, and Earth. There's also Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. But no matter the variation, the core principle remains the same: they all correspond to the five directions, the Five Elements, the five viscera, and the Five Qi."
Miss Shuo Guo nodded, looking completely lost. She didn't really get it.
Seeing Gu Zhao seemingly bamboozle Miss Shuo Guo, the young man scoffed. "Tch. Memorized a few concepts and now you're out here flexing. A Five Thunders Talisman? If you're so great, why don't you cast a Thunder Technique right now!"
Miss Shuo Guo shot him a glare and retorted, "I'm talking to him. What's it to you?"
People who are willing to speak up in a crowd aren't the type to put up with others' nonsense.
The young man pouted, glanced at the two women with a flash of jealousy in his eyes, but ultimately said nothing more.
Mocking Gu Zhao was one thing, but arguing with a beautiful woman was another entirely.
Just then, Taoist Hui Bin returned, carrying a stack of Yellow Paper, a small bottle of Cinnabar Ink, and a new calligraphy brush.
It had been relatively quiet, so he had heard Gu Zhao's explanation from a distance. As he approached, he smiled and asked, "So, Junior Brother, which Five Thunders does your Five Thunders Talisman use?"
Gu Zhao replied, "The Celestial God Dragon Water Society."
Hui Bin nodded. "The Jade Pivot Five Thunders Technique."
The surrounding tourists looked from Gu Zhao to Hui Bin. Even if they thought Gu Zhao was putting on an act, the fact that he could chat with a Daoist from Yuanfa Palace without faltering proved he had some skill.
Hui Bin handed the items to Gu Zhao. "Here are the Cinnabar and Yellow Paper. And a brush, on the house."
"Thank you! Thank you!" Gu Zhao quickly accepted them with thanks. "Um, about the cost…"
"It's a gift, don't mention it." Hui Bin waved his hand, then said with a smile, "But if you feel bad about it, perhaps you could leave a Five Thunders Talisman for your Senior Brother?"
'Since this guy came here to flex and even mentioned drawing a Five Thunders Talisman, he must have practiced a lot in private. He's probably already prepared to draw one on the spot. I don't mind helping him fulfill this little wish.'
"Of course!" Gu Zhao agreed immediately.
Every time he went home for the New Year, he would review what he had learned over the years and draw some Peach Talismans for good fortune to hang on the door. The Five Thunders Talisman was a classic Talisman of the Taoist Sect; Gu Zhao was very familiar with it.
Seeing Gu Zhao agree, even more onlookers gathered to watch the fun.
Hui Bin thoughtfully asked, "Here, or should we go to the quiet room in the back?"
"Here! Here!" the surrounding tourists clamored.
"Here is fine, then." Gu Zhao didn't mind. He was a pro at drawing the Five Thunders Talisman and was certain he wouldn't mess up.
The staff member immediately cleared off the counter to make space for Gu Zhao and even offered him his own chair.
"No need." Gu Zhao refused with a wave of his hand and said with a serious expression, "Although the talisman paper isn't large, Drawing Talismans is not like writing. It requires power to flow through the entire body and Qi to circulate from top to bottom. It's not suitable to do while sitting."
The crowd looked impressed, as if he were a true professional. Only Hui Bin's face flushed slightly, because the Daoists of Yuanfa Palace always sat down when they were Drawing Talismans.
Seeing Gu Zhao pour a little Cinnabar Ink into the bottle cap and pick up the new brush, the crowd watched with anticipation. But the long-legged young woman next to him suddenly spoke up, "Aren't you going to prepare the brush first?"
Gu Zhao raised an eyebrow. Hui Bin also gave the long-legged young woman a surprised glance, then nodded with a smile. "My oversight."
As he spoke, he walked into the Scripture Pavilion next to them and quickly returned with another brush, which he handed to Gu Zhao.
Gu Zhao took the brush. With a light flick, he could tell it had just been moistened and was perfect for writing.
...
The tourists once again crowded around the counter, all eager to witness a Five Thunders Talisman being drawn.
Gu Zhao did not disappoint. He lightly dipped the brush in the Cinnabar Ink, and then his hand began to move across the Yellow Paper like a dancing dragon.
First, he drew the Eastern Celestial Thunder, nine dots on the paper. Next, the Southern Divine Thunder, three dots. Then, the Central Society Thunder, one dot. After that, the Western Dragon Thunder, seven dots. And finally, the Northern Water Thunder, finishing with five dots.
Using strokes based on the Five Elements Mutual Generation, he finished drawing the Thunder Runes of the five directions, then connected them with Cinnabar, and with a final stroke that dragged to the bottom, formed a stylized character for "Command" below.
As he drew the final stroke, Gu Zhao's expression changed. He couldn't hold back; his Magical Power channeled on its own, flowing through the tip of the brush.
SHWIIING!