Surviving in the Demonic Sect, one begins cultivation by retrieving corpses.

Gu Zhao had already pricked up his ears, but he didn't move.

The stableman chuckled from the side, "Brother Zhao, don't misunderstand."

"The second floor of Shuiyuanju is a place for massage and acupressure."

"Don't worry, go up there."

Gu Zhao blinked. "Old Ma, you didn't sell my pure yang body for money, did you?"

The stableman immediately panicked, patting his chest and saying, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

"I'm not that kind of person in my stable. Besides, I've already given up since I had Yao Mei."

Gu Zhao remained skeptical, "Can you really quit?"

Ma Fang said sincerely, "Right now, I only have Yao Mei in my heart, and I have no interest in any other women."

Gu Zhao asked curiously, "Who is Yao Mei?"

Ma Fang grinned, looking completely captivated: "She is the fairy in my heart, the white moonlight shining in my heart."

"Speak human language?"

The stableman patted her head. "Sister Yao, she's a female cultivator who does odd jobs at Xiaguang Tower."

Xiaguang Tower!?

Gu Zhao finally understood. Xia Guang Lou was one of the top-tier high-end restaurants in the lower courtyard. The female cultivators who served there did not have to do the hard work like they did in the corpse retrieval room. Instead, they were female cultivators who accompanied the guests in the restaurant.

Hmm... the "princess" in a karaoke bar.

Gu Zhao looked at this seasoned veteran who had worked in the morgue for six years with suspicion.

"What if she's a good girl?"

The stableman said firmly, "She's different from others."

The waiter stepped forward and urged, "Two Taoist priests, please go upstairs to the second floor."

Gu Zhao was skeptical, but followed the stable up the steps.

The stableman casually asked, "Is number eighty-eight here?"

"The Taoist priest arrived early today; number eighty-eight is still available."

As soon as I went upstairs, a waiter handed me a number plate.

Gu Zhao looked around. The place was dimly lit, elegant, and had an antique feel.

I don't know what kind of magic device was used, but all the noise and commotion on the first floor was shut out, and only the clear sound of wind chimes could be heard.

Carved screens stand on both sides of the corridor, dividing it into individual small rooms.

"This scene... seems familiar."

The stables have long since disappeared.

Gu Zhao was led into a room.

The room contained a bed, above which hung a magical lamp emitting a faint purple glow, creating an ambiguous atmosphere.

Is this really serious?

Gu Zhao already had the urge to run away.

There was a sound outside the door, and someone knocked.

"Master Dao, may I come in?"

It was a woman's voice, sweet and delicate.

Before Gu Zhao could react, the door had already been pushed open.

There stood a burly man at the entrance, holding a steaming wooden bucket in his hands.

Gu Zhao: ...

The burly man had thick hair on his chest, well-developed muscles, bulging arms, a full beard, and a pair of striking, large, round eyes.

Upon seeing Gu Zhao, their faces were filled with surprise and delight.

"Master Dao, you are so handsome..."

Gu Zhao, however, believed that this was a legitimate massage.

The burly man said somewhat shyly, "Daoist, lie down and take off your shirt."

Gu Zhao took off his shirt.

The burly man turned around and rummaged through the box, pulling out several ointments and powders. He laughed and said, "I originally prepared a low-grade body wash for you, but I happen to have some high-grade ones left today. I'll use them on you."

He was clearly a burly man, but when he spoke, he was incredibly charming and soft-spoken.

Gu Zhao thanked him, saying, "In our hometown, someone like you would be considered a loli."

The burly man looked bewildered: "Loli?"

As he spoke, he had already applied the ointment evenly to Gu Zhao's back, and a cool and refreshing sensation instantly spread to his waist and back.

Then he exerted force with all ten fingers, rubbing and pushing with steady strength.

"hiss--"

A gentle, soothing force slowly seeped in, yet with a firm, pressing pressure that made my whole body feel relaxed.

In addition, the warm medicinal properties of the ointment slowly penetrate the skin, providing extreme relief from fatigue.

Gu Zhao was truly surprised that the big man's technique was so authentic.

The burly man softened his voice and said gently, "It will hurt a little at first, but bear with it, and it will feel very comfortable afterward."

Suddenly, a heavy force pressed down, and Gu Zhao felt a large tendon in his back being squeezed hard, and a sharp pain instantly spread throughout his body.

The burly man gently advised, "If it hurts, just shout it out."

Gu Zhao couldn't help but look up:

"Grass!"

Gu Zhao felt his skin being repeatedly stimulated by waves of force, and subconsciously began to circulate the "Corpse Water Azure Wave Scripture".

A warm current quickly arose within the body, slowly nourishing the dantian and causing the internal energy to rise steadily. Its effects were even ten times stronger than those of the spirit rice.

This benefit is equivalent to half a month of his usual ascetic practice.

Moreover, this body wash can also warm and nourish the meridians and expel accumulated cold.

If corpse retrievers could come for massage regularly, some of the cold and damp energy accumulated in their bodies could be dispelled.

No wonder the menial disciples in the sect all love to come to Shuiyuanju for massage and bone loosening.

Just this once is enough to dispel the yin and turbid qi that has accumulated in the body for a long time.

Just as the big man had said, there was pain first, then relief; after the pain subsided, one felt completely comfortable.

Gu Zhao felt warm all over, as if he were nestled next to a heater, an indescribable feeling of comfort.

Half an hour later.

Gu Zhao was already drowsy and lay limp on the bed.

The burly man tiptoed out and quietly closed the door.

Another hour passed.

Gu Zhao slowly woke up, feeling refreshed and clear-headed. The burly man was no longer in the room.

He looked inward and found that the internal energy in his dantian had grown even stronger.

The cauldron trembled, and characters appeared.

[Master of the Cauldron: Gu Zhao]

[Cultivation Level: Fourth Level of Fetal Movement (21% complete)]

[Cultivation Technique: Corpse Water Azure Wave Scripture (Minor Success)]

[Rare Item: A Wisp of Pure Yang Qi]

Gu Zhao saw that his cultivation level had increased from 12% yesterday to 21%.

Just then.

There was a knock on the door.

"Zhao-ge'er, have you rested enough?"

"It's time to go back, Shuiyuanju will be closing soon."

The stableman pushed open the door and came in with a mischievous grin, asking, "How's number eighty-eight's technique?"

"She's the top courtesan at Shuiyuanju."

"The body wash from Shuiyuanju is famous throughout the Lower House; it's truly high quality and inexpensive."

Gu Zhao casually draped a robe over his shoulders and uttered two words indifferently: "Very moist."

He secretly pondered: If I use this body wash cream for massage every day, won't my cultivation level skyrocket?

But just as the thought crossed his mind, the waiter came in with a number plate, bowed and smiled, "Gentlemen, please settle your bill."

"The Taoist priest has already paid for the food, but there are still 800 coins for the body wash cream."

Gu Zhao was taken aback: "What? Eight hundred?"

The waiter pointed to the price list on the number plate:

Inferior quality body wash cream, 800 coins.

Medium-grade body wash cream, 1300 magic coins.

Premium body wash cream, 2,100 taels of silver.

The stables were quite accommodating and paid right away.

Gu Zhao remembered that the big man had just told him that he was using a top-grade body wash cream.

No wonder it works so well; you get what you pay for.

The waiter looked at Gu Zhao, "Master Daoist, what do you think?"

Helpless, Gu Zhao took out the eight hundred coins he had just received as a reward.

I hadn't even had a chance to enjoy it before it was all spent like this.

The two walked out of the Water Source Residence, and the moon was already high in the sky.

The bright moon hangs high, casting its silvery glow.

Gu Zhao said helplessly, "Brother Ma, don't call me for any more events that cost more than five coins."