Chapter 173: Teacher Jiang Goes Viral
The photo spread across all the groups, and the Ningzhou fellow disciples actively responded to Gong Ziliu’s call. Seeing that it was getting late, the group dispersed first.
The Daoist Priests from Baoyi Temple returned to Baoyi Temple under Daoist Master Gong Ziliu’s lead, while Xuan Xia and the others went back to Changsheng Temple.
On the way back, Yan Wentao asked again about Ren Yaozhe’s situation.
He now knew that Ren Yaozhe was Changsheng Temple’s greatest enemy, but how did the enmity start? Plus, seeing that Ren Yaozhe could still use the Substitute Form Technique, he seemed quite capable, so of course he wanted to understand it clearly.
“You let Daoist Master Qin tell you.” After hearing Yan Wentao’s curious questions, Xuan Xia directly pushed the task of explaining to Daoist Master Qin.
Daoist Master Qin calmly recounted Ren Yaozhe’s background information, including his origins, being expelled from the Mystic Sect, and then Ren Yaokun in Jiangshi, as well as the possibility that the two were plotting something, all told to Yan Wentao.
After hearing it, Yan Wentao’s expression turned grave: “No wonder the boss said this man is Changsheng Temple’s enemy. Could it be that because the boss ruined his plans multiple times, he came to Ningzhou specifically for revenge?”
Daoist Master Qin said: “That’s possible.”
Xuan Xia had a different idea: “I don’t think it’s much like coming for revenge; otherwise, he shouldn’t have run when he saw me.”
“Could he be here to discard another bell? Just like the one thrown in the pond before? He just happened to run into me on the way?”
Or perhaps, back then he didn’t just discard a bell in the scenic area’s pond; he also discarded bells in other places in Ningzhou, and now he’s specifically here to retrieve them?
Daoist Master Qin also agreed with Xuan Xia’s speculation. Before truly catching Ren Yaozhe, no one could be sure what his purpose was in coming to Ningzhou.
But since he had appeared in Ningzhou, he wouldn’t be able to escape easily like he did in Yanjing.
Setting aside Ren Yaozhe for the moment, Daoist Master Qin turned to ask the two: “That lady surnamed Feng—has her family matter been resolved?”
Mentioning Aunt Feng’s family matter brought another long narration.
Without needing Xuan Xia to speak, Yan Wentao himself gave the long report. Originally, he had collected Li Qiaozhen’s soul and planned to perform deliverance for her on the Ghost Festival.
Of course, the trip to Aunt Feng’s house was unpaid, and Yan Wentao told Daoist Master Qin about it at the end.
Fortunately, Daoist Master Qin had never placed much importance on money, so he didn’t say anything about them working a full day without pay.
He also agreed to performing deliverance for Li Qiaozhen on the Ghost Festival.
After returning to Changsheng Temple, the group felt a sense of returning to a safe harbor.
That night, instead of continuing to read the script, Xuan Xia drew talismans all night, replenishing all the ones she commonly used.
The next day, messages started coming in successively from Gong Ziliu’s side.
According to the gathered information, Ren Yaozhe had been in Ningzhou for two days already, but his whereabouts were erratic, and even the city cameras couldn’t lock onto his movements.
Apart from knowing he was now in Ningzhou, there had been no reports of any unusual events in the place.
But this peaceful life didn’t bring relaxation; instead, it added a stifling sense of an impending storm.
Whether Ningzhou truly had a storm coming and when it would arrive, Xuan Xia didn’t know, but she had to leave for two days first.
Because it was time for her weekly work shift again.
For this trip to Jiangshi, Daoist Master Qin lent her Li Xinze again, the non-negotiable kind.
Xuan Xia saved her energy and didn’t refuse.
However, for taking Li Xinze away for two days, Xuan Xia had to explain to Yan Wentao as the boss.
“Daoist Master Yan, while I’m away these two days, you must take good care of Daoist Master Qin.”
Yan Wentao immediately thought, did Daoist Master Qin need his care?
But seeing Xuan Xia’s serious instructions, Yan Wentao could only nod along. “Alright, boss.”
“Also, you’ve seen what Ren Yaozhe looks like, so pay extra attention to people coming and going.”
“Got it!”
Xuan Xia gave a few more instructions, covering everything she could think of, and only stopped once she was sure there was nothing new.
……
Knowing that Xuan Xia was bringing a bodyguard on this Jiangshi trip, Ji Ziyao simply flew directly to Jiangshi with Yang Wanxiu, skipping the detour to Ningzhou.
The two groups met at Jiangshi Airport and then headed to the hotel.
As soon as they met, Ji Ziyao eagerly asked Xuan Xia: “You said before that you and that Jiang Feng are still in contact, right?”
“Yeah, what’s up?”
Ji Ziyao didn’t answer and continued: “How about recently? Still in contact?”
“Recently?”
The most recent contact Xuan Xia could think of was a couple of days ago when he sent her birthday wishes and suggested a meal, but since she had no plans to return to Yanjing during this time, she declined.
Now with Ji Ziyao repeatedly asking, Xuan Xia just found it strange.
“What’s going on? Why keep asking about Teacher Jiang?” He hadn’t shown much fondness for Jiang Feng before and avoided mentioning him, but today he was acting unusually.
Ji Ziyao chuckled twice: “Nothing, just checking.”
From his smile, Xuan Xia could only read sarcasm.
Fortunately, with Ji Ziyao unwilling to say, there was the loyal Yang Wanxiu who could tell her what was really going on.
Xuan Xia glanced at Yang Wanxiu, and the next second, Yang Wanxiu leaned in and said to her: “Xia Xia, you haven’t been online these past few days?”
“No, is there news?” Xuan Xia said.
Yang Wanxiu had a “no wonder” look, then said: “Teacher Jiang went viral.”
“Went viral?”
“Yeah.”
Summer vacation is always prime time for hit dramas and breakout stars.
A little over half a month ago, a new drama premiered with lukewarm response in the first week, but unexpectedly in the second week, with plot twists, it caught fire, and the ratings kept improving with further developments.
With the drama’s success, the lead actors naturally gained massive exposure. By regular patterns, the male and female leads had the best shot at leveling up.
But surprisingly, though the leads had some buzz, combined it didn’t match the heat of the role played by Jiang Feng.
Almost overnight, the soaring role popularity boosted the actor himself, and Jiang Feng unexpectedly blew up.
Ji Ziyao huffed twice: “Who would’ve thought. Just don’t know if it’s a flash in the pan or if it’s really his turn.”
“Of course it’s the latter,” Xuan Xia asked Ji Ziyao. “Don’t you remember what I told you after I first met him?”
Ji Ziyao thought for a moment and quickly recalled.
His red aura rising, his luck was about to come.
But stubborn as he was, at this moment he tossed Xuan Xia three words: “Dumb luck.”
“How is this dumb luck?” Xuan Xia said dissatisfied. “His red aura has arrived.”
Ji Ziyao huffed again: “It’s just a splash right now; any more hype is false prosperity. Let him get past the three-month drama fan phase first.”
On this matter, Xuan Xia was of course fully confident.
But arguing with Ji Ziyao about it was completely unnecessary.
Friends, false, vacation, emergency, over!
