Chapter 7

I dressed up in a sharp outfit. I sprayed some hair wax on my head, combed it into a handsome side-part, and sprayed on some of the men's cologne Yao Wei had given me, turning myself into a slick, dapper young man. Looking in the mirror, I saw a fairly decent, handsome young man staring back.

I took a taxi to Jingzhou University, asked the guard at the gate for the location of the History Department, and headed toward that building.

It happened to be between classes, and many university students were in the hallways with their books, heading back to their dorms. Along the way, many girls saw me and had the star-struck look of someone who'd just seen a handsome guy, stealing glances at me in pairs and small groups, whispering among themselves. My vanity soared through the roof.

***
I cleared my throat slightly and said to Zhu Yun, "Actually, I've always been very interested in Taoist culture, and our city of Jingzhou has several famous Taoist temples, so I wanted to come and ask for your guidance, Professor Zhu."

"What you're talking about is too broad. Which specific aspect are you interested in?" Zhu Yun said, looking at me coolly.

I hesitated for a moment and said to her, "It's about that old building on campus that I saw last time. What was it used for in ancient times? I noticed the layout of its corners and angles, and it seems very much in the style passed down from Taoist traditions."

Zhu Yun's dark, deep beautiful eyes stared at me as she said, "That Tongyue Building does indeed have a history of 600 years. I heard it was originally built by a few Taoist priests a long time ago, which is why it has those architectural features. However, it has been renovated several times since and is now just barely maintaining its original appearance as a distinctive building. Why are you so interested in that building?"

"Oh... it's nothing, really. It's just that it stands out so much, surrounded by all these modern buildings," I fibbed. She had no idea that this was the very building marked on the 'treasure map' I had found at home.

"Taoist culture is profound and vast. Jingzhou does have several Taoist temples with a long history, but it has become increasingly distant from our daily lives. I usually enjoy doing research in this area and writing articles, it's a combination of personal interest and work. Is there anything else you'd like to know?"

Although Professor Zhu Yun appeared cold on the outside, she was quite generous with her words toward me. I took out some of the ancient texts and documents I usually read and asked for her guidance. I had always been quite passionate about history and ancient culture. I was able to meet an expert and learn a great deal of information on the subject that I normally wouldn't have access to. I gained a lot from our conversation.

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