Beside Beijing's Linglong Park, down a hutong preserving the style of traditional old residences, stands a siheyuan courtyard house worth hundreds of millions. This courtyard was purchased by Gu Yuanbai's son during his investments in Beijing.
At the time of purchase, it cost tens of millions. Now, over a decade later, in the densely populated and precious Beijing, such a courtyard house is valued at hundreds of millions. It was originally intended for sale, but unexpectedly, Gu Yuanbai was to come to Beijing for work, and thus took up residence in this siheyuan.
This siheyuan occupies a vast area, with an oversized central courtyard facing north. The main Guangliang Gate is located in the southeast. While not as grand as a royal mansion gate, it is nonetheless imposing, with two large lantern towers on either side and stone drums flanking the vermilion gates…
The layout of such traditional siheyuan is meticulously designed. In total, there are thirteen rooms of varying sizes within the entire courtyard. Gu Yuanbai resides in the master bedroom, while Gu Luotang and Qi Miaomiao occupy rooms in the back courtyard…
“Luotang, Xiao Wan will be here later. Can you order some appetizers for us?”
At this moment, Gu Yuanbai, dressed in a bathrobe, arrived at his granddaughter’s doorway and called out to Gu Luotang, who was sitting at a desk inside, painting.
Upon hearing that a man was coming tonight, Gu Luotang’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. Qi Miaomiao, who had been lying on a sofa in the living room scrolling through Douyin, also blinked in surprise. She looked towards Gu Luotang in the study, and her already upturned lips quickly called out, “Okay, Grandpa, I’ll have Miaomiao order takeout…”
Gu Yuanbai then turned and headed back to his study to continue writing teaching materials…
“Miaomiao, quickly order some appetizers for Grandpa and Brother Yunting.”
Gu Luotang quickly put down her brush, stood up, and asked Qi Miaomiao, who was lounging on the living room sofa, to order takeout. Qi Miaomiao nodded and opened the food delivery app to order the appetizers. She also asked, “Why is Brother Yunting suddenly coming to see Master so late?”
Gu Luotang, with a smile, naturally knew the reason and replied, “Perhaps to discuss matters.”
The carefree Qi Miaomiao didn’t pry further. Gu Luotang smiled and said, “Hurry up and order, I’m going back to tidy up the room…”
Qi Miaomiao’s pretty face froze. Seeing Gu Luotang leave excitedly, she knew that Wan Yunting was staying the night, which made Qi Miaomiao feel quite down…
About half an hour later, there was a knock on the main gate. The old housekeeper, Lu Hong, opened the door. Wan Yunting stood at the entrance, carrying two bottles of good wine, and said with a smile, “Steward Hong, sorry to bother you.”
Lu Hong smiled and replied, “Mr. Wan, you’re too kind. Master is waiting for you in the study. Please come in…”
“Alright.”
Wan Yunting stepped in, carrying the wine. After Lu Hong closed the gate again, he led Wan Yunting into the siheyuan and guided him towards Gu Yuanbai’s study, where a light was on…
Gu Yuanbai sat at his desk, wearing glasses, holding a pen and diligently writing materials. The door was open. Lu Hong knocked and announced, “Master, Mr. Wan has arrived.”
“Xiao Wan is here.”
Gu Yuanbai came back to his senses, turned to look at Wan Yunting entering with two bottles of wine, put down his pen, took off his glasses, and stood up, saying with a smile, “Come, sit here…”
“Certainly, Old Gu.”
Wan Yunting walked over and placed the wine on the table. Seeing the many books on the desk, he asked, “What are you writing, Old Gu?”
Gu Yuanbai smiled and replied, “I’m writing some textbooks for the middle school section of our Chinese medicine education!”
Wan Yunting’s eyes lit up. Without waiting to sit down, he asked, “Can I take a look now?”
“Of course.” Gu Yuanbai walked back to his desk, picked up the textbook he had written, and handed it to Wan Yunting. He smiled, “Since you’re here tonight, I also have a few academic questions about acupuncture to discuss with you…”
Wan Yunting, while looking at the textbook, nodded and walked with Gu Yuanbai to the chairs over there to sit down. He seriously read the textbook in his hands. When he finished and reluctantly put it down, he looked up at Gu Yuanbai with admiration in his eyes and said with a smile, “Old Gu, you truly live up to your reputation as an educator. I am truly impressed by these textbooks you’ve written. It even makes me want to pick them up and teach my classmates.”
“Haha, don’t praise me too much.”
Gu Yuanbai smiled and pointed at him, but Wan Yunting shook his head, saying that his words came from the heart.
Wan Yunting had only admired one person in his heart before, and that was his master, Gongsun Xiuliang, because he selflessly made outstanding contributions to traditional Chinese medicine, fully embodying the spirit of "healing the world."
Now, Wan Yunting has added another person to his admiration: Gu Yuanbai!
Because he dared to innovate, sought truth from facts, and broke new ground in the reform of traditional Chinese medicine education, making outstanding contributions to traditional Chinese medicine. In Wan Yunting’s eyes, Gu Yuanbai is a master and a titan of Chinese medicine academia!
“Regarding knowledge in acupuncture, I must ask you to write a textbook on acupuncture when you have time.”
Gu Yuanbai pointed at Wan Yunting and smiled, “Don’t be modest. In terms of acupuncture, there really is no one in the Beijing traditional Chinese medicine community who can match you!”
Indeed, his mastery of the Thirteen Needles of Ghost Gate alone was enough to be admired by the entire Chinese medicine community in China. While saying no one could match Wan Yunting was a slight exaggeration, achieving such high medical skills at his age was truly exceptional, with him being the only one in the past hundred years.
“Alright, I’ll write it when I have time.”
Wan Yunting naturally did not refuse. To promote traditional Chinese medicine and cultivate the next generation of talent, he also needed to learn from Old Gu and dedicate all his energy to this endeavor. This was also his future pursuit.
“Brother Yunting is here…”
At this moment, Qi Miaomiao ran in. The girl was wearing a thin gauze nightgown with a small jacket draped over it. Her eyes sparkled when she saw Wan Yunting. Her delicate and embroidered bra was full. Seeing the girl excitedly bouncing in, Wan Yunting couldn’t help but glance at her twice, thinking that this girl seemed to have grown up…
“Where is your senior sister?”
Wan Yunting asked curiously when he saw Gu Luotang didn’t follow her in. Qi Miaomiao came over and directly rested her arm on Wan Yunting’s left shoulder, completely disregarding the concept of physical separation between men and women. She lowered her head, glanced at Wan Yunting, and said, “Senior sister is putting on makeup for you.”
“Miaomiao, what are you talking about.”
At this time, Gu Luotang’s cheeks were slightly flushed, and with a shy demeanor, she playfully chided Qi Miaomiao. However, seeing her dressed in a purple gauze long dress, her long, dark, and silky hair cascading down her chest and waist like a waterfall, perfectly embodying the elegant posture of having hair down to one’s waist.
Coupled with Gu Luotang’s dignified and intellectual temperament, her face like a peach blossom, her cherry lips moving, and every stroke exuding an otherworldly fairy aura, she was so beautiful it made one want to scream from the bottom of their heart…
“You’re still saying you’re not wearing makeup, look how moist your lips are…”
Qi Miaomiao pointed at Gu Luotang’s soft and moist little mouth, playfully teasing her. Wan Yunting, sitting beside them, found it amusing. Gu Luotang felt embarrassed in front of her grandfather and quickly stopped the mischievous girl…
“Alright, stop the fuss.”
Gu Yuanbai also smiled and stopped them, but he was accustomed to the lively bickering between these two girls. He then asked, “Did the appetizers you ordered arrive?”
“Yes, they’re almost here. I’ll go get them.” wΑp.kanshu伍.net
Qi Miaomiao ran out, and the deliveryman arrived shortly.
Gu Luotang sat next to Wan Yunting. Gu Yuanbai looked at them and then asked, “Xiao Wan, I heard from Luotang before that you plan to go into seclusion for a period of time to practice at the Wuliang Daoist Temple?”
Wan Yunting nodded and said, “Yes, I came to tell you about this, Old Gu. And I also plan to bring Luotang with me.”
Gu Yuanbai had heard about it from his granddaughter. He said, “The school semester is starting soon, and all arrangements have been made. However, there’s the sports meet in three months, and our medical team has been assembled but is still in the process of integration. These are minor issues. You won’t need to be in seclusion for three months, will you?”
Wan Yunting shook his head and smiled, “No, it’ll take at most a month, because the Martial Arts Convention is at the end of next month, and I have to attend!”
At this moment, Qi Miaomiao returned with the takeout in her hands. Gu Luotang got up to take it, began unpacking the food containers, and arranged several appetizers. Wan Yunting also brought out the wine he carried. Qi Miaomiao also got up to get wine glasses, and Gu Yuanbai called out, “Ask your Grandpa Hong to come in for a drink too.”
“Alright…”
Qi Miaomiao went out to get wine glasses and also to call the old housekeeper, Lu Hong, to come in. After all, he wasn’t an outsider. Everyone raised their glasses together. Wan Yunting continued, “For the Martial Arts Convention next month, I want to unite all the major sects to resist the Heavenly Eye Cult!”
“Hmm.” Gu Yuanbai was nibbling on spicy duck feet and, finding them too spicy, quickly took a sip of white wine, which only made his throat burn more. He discontentedly said to Qi Miaomiao, “Why did you buy such spicy food?”
Qi Miaomiao, who was diligently gnawing on a duck foot, looked up. Her spirited eyes met her master’s displeased gaze. The girl, unafraid, giggled and said, “Sorry, Master, I forgot you don’t eat spicy food.”
Gu Yuanbai had no choice but to glare at her, toss aside the spicy duck feet, and start eating peanuts. “I think these are all for you to practice with.”
“Hehe…”
Qi Miaomiao giggled. Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang couldn’t help but laugh. Even Lu Hong didn’t want to eat such spicy appetizers. Fortunately, there were peanuts, otherwise, they would have had to drink the wine dry.
“Xiao Wan, uniting the major martial arts sects is the right thing to do. However, I’m worried that those sects might fear the deity of the Heavenly Eye Cult and be afraid to step forward!” Gu Yuanbai raised an eyebrow and said worriedly to Wan Yunting.
“Society today is different from the old society. The distinction between righteous and evil paths is clear. Exterminating evil cults is also the duty of all major sects!”
Speaking of this, Gu Yuanbai raised his wine glass and clinked it with Wan Yunting and Lu Hong. He sneered and said, “But now, some people in the major sects have long forgotten the tenets of the righteous path, and some even wear the cloak of righteousness while secretly engaging in unspeakable evil deeds, just like the Hengshan Sect you eradicated last time. It’s common.”
Old housekeeper Lu Hong, sitting beside them, also added, “Being strong oneself is true strength. Relying on those people is useless!”
This statement was agreed upon by everyone present. Wan Yunting nodded, but he raised an eyebrow and said, “But the deity of the Heavenly Eye Cult has given me little time left!”
Gu Yuanbai’s old face stiffened, and he put down the wine glass he had raised. He had heard from Wan Yunting before that the deity of the Heavenly Eye Cult was not even a match for the old Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain, which showed how terrifying that person’s martial arts were.
“As long as the head of the Wudang Sect can take the lead, this matter will not be difficult!” Gu Yuanbai said.
Wan Yunting nodded and said, “After I come out of seclusion, I’ll first go to the Wudang Sect to discuss it with Sect Leader Zhong. After all, I inherited the sword path legacy of the Wudang Sect’s Sword Ancestor, and Sect Leader Zhong is the president of the Martial Arts Association. He is upright and righteous, and yearns for the right path. He will definitely unite the major sects to resist the Heavenly Eye Cult.”
“Moreover, when the deity of the Heavenly Eye Cult treads upon China, they will eventually seek out those major sects for retribution!”
Gu Yuanbai nodded. Lu Hong said, “I heard back then that the major sects united to resist the Heavenly Eye Cult and eradicated their roots in China, but their cult leader escaped to Chaoxian. I didn’t expect them to have taken root in H country now. The main god you mentioned should be that cult leader who escaped back then!”
“That’s right.” Wan Yunting nodded and said, “I heard from Sima Boyong that the main god has lived for over 150 years!”
“What, over 150 years? Is he an old turtle to live that long?” Qi Miaomiao, who was gnawing on duck feet next to them, immediately widened her eyes and said incredulously.
This remark made Wan Yunting, Gu Luotang, and Gu Yuanbai burst into laughter…