Liu Blindman shook his head and sighed, "Gao Jian, let me be blunt. With your 'bronze-root rusted-bone' constitution, pursuing the Dao will require a hundred times more effort than others. Otherwise…"
"Otherwise what?"
"Otherwise, with 3,000 paths to the Dao, you might consider seeking your fortune at the Golden Peak Temple on Nanshan. If your constitution hinders you from cultivating the Dao, maybe pursuing Buddhism will bring a turning point," Liu Blindman tactfully explained the harsh truth: my aptitude was so abysmal that cultivating the Dao was essentially a waste of time.
"I'll think about it." Asking me to become a monk? I'd rather die. Besides, in the hands of Hell Show, I probably wouldn't last much longer anyway.
Liu Blindman carefully packed the talismans from my body, along with the unburned incense, into his cloth bag. "No matter what you decide, if you encounter any problems, feel free to come to me."
Though he was stingy, meticulous, and old-fashioned, his character was genuine, and his actions always upright.
After sending Liu Blindman off, I pulled out the Hell Show phone: "Redeem points. I want to exchange for the Child Immortal Wine and the True Dao Techniques Compendium."
Liu Blindman had declared my talent hopeless, that cultivating the Dao would be an uphill battle. But I had no other choice. Three days later, a new livestream would begin, and I had to learn some Daoist techniques for self-defense before then.
"With six points left, what should I redeem?" Almost instinctively, I noticed the Red String of Fate: "Three points to get a wife? Not a bad deal."
Typing the words Red String of Fate into a text message, I couldn't help but chuckle at my plan—to use the red string on a ghost. It wasn't because I was a pervert, but because I desperately needed power.
Hell Show had a strict rule prohibiting bringing living beings into the livestream, so my only option was to target a ghost.
It sounded like a fantasy, but I thought it might actually work.
After sending the message, I took Bai Qi with me to the bank. This exchange cost me nearly all my savings, so I couldn't afford any mistakes.
Amid the bustling crowd, Bai Qi and I arrived at Jiang City's largest bank after a 40-minute walk.
"Sir, no pets allowed inside," the security guard said politely, blocking my way.
I gestured to Bai Qi to sit obediently outside the bank. "I'll just grab something. Five minutes, tops."
"Five minutes?" The security guard glanced at the crowded lobby. "You'd better take the dog farther away. Leaving it here will inconvenience others."
Unable to argue, I was about to move Bai Qi to a distant spot when a red convertible Ferrari pulled up in front of the bank. Its sleek, striking design turned heads, but the woman stepping out stole the spotlight even more.
Her golden curls cascaded over her shoulders, and her alluring eyes sparkled like autumn dew. Her oval-shaped face bore light makeup, with faint eyeshadow adding a touch of charm. Her glossy red lips exuded sensuality and allure, captivating every man who passed by.
Her red top accentuated her already fair complexion, and her long legs were wrapped in a pale yellow mini skirt. Between the red and yellow hues lay a delicate, slim waist, supple and inviting, making one crave to hold her close.
The woman was clearly accustomed to the stares—or rather, she relished the attention. "A bunch of losers," she muttered, her voice dripping with disdain.
Her luscious lips curved slightly upward as her high heels clicked against the ground, echoing in the hearts of the men around her.
"Princess!" she called out. From the convertible leaped a pedigreed Doberman, obediently following behind her.
"Excuse me, miss, pets aren't allowed inside the bank," the security guard, recovering from his trance, blocked her politely but firmly.
"Princess isn't a pet; she's better behaved than most humans," the woman retorted arrogantly, ignoring the guard and striding forward.
"I'm sorry, but it's the rule," the guard said, swallowing nervously.
Unmoved, the woman stopped and pulled out her phone. "Do you even know who I am?"
"Oh, Miss Jiang! Please, come in!" a front-desk clerk exclaimed, rushing over to scold the security guard. "Do you want to lose your job? This is Miss Jiang Fei, the daughter of the chairman of Jiangjin Real Estate!"
The guard and clerk both bowed and scraped, while Jiang Fei, already growing impatient, asked coldly, "Can I go in now?"
"Of course, please, come in," they stammered.
Jiang Fei huffed and stepped toward the VIP lane. But after a few steps, her so-called "Princess" froze, lying submissively before Bai Qi, too terrified to move.
I happened to be standing at the bank's entrance, with Bai Qi by my side.
"Bai Qi, behave," I said, stroking his head. "Stop scaring that imported dog."
Perhaps I spoke too loudly because Jiang Fei overheard. "Ha! Your mutt dares to claim it's scaring my Doberman?"
Ignoring the disturbance, she strode over, blocking the entrance. "Princess, get up!"
The Doberman didn't even glance at her, remaining as still as a statue.
"Princess, stand up!" Jiang Fei repeated, her face reddening with frustration. She clenched her hands tightly, nearly twisting them together.
"Bai Qi, stop playing," I said firmly. Bai Qi shook his head, barked playfully, and trotted to the shade of a nearby tree. Only then did the Doberman shakily rise to its feet.
"Sorry, my dog has a strange temperament," I said truthfully, not wanting any trouble. But the pampered Miss Jiang Fei wasn't used to being slighted.
She glared at me. "A man relying on his dog to act tough!"
I wasn't looking for a fight, but that didn't mean I was afraid of one. Since becoming a Hell Show streamer, I had become arguably the most reckless and fearless person in Jiang City.
"Miss, the saying is 'a dog relying on its master's power.' It refers to people who are useless on their own and only know how to throw their family's weight around."
"Who are you calling a dog?!" she snapped, her voice shrill yet oddly charming.
"Who do you think?"
We stood at the bank's entrance, bickering until the branch manager hurried over, sweating profusely. "Aren't these… distinguished guests?"
I flashed the Hell Show black card, silencing him instantly. "Which of us takes priority? You'd better choose wisely."
After a brief phone call, the manager returned with a deferential smile. "Mr. Gao, please follow me to the underground vault. Your business takes first priority."