Water Margin: Gao Yanei is actually a Gal Genius

Chen Xizhen had not been active in the city for many years, and had been devoted to cultivating Taoism at home. Upon hearing that such a majestic man was nicknamed "Playboy Tai Sui," he felt a moment of disorientation.

Back then, they were called playboys, usually slick-haired, frail, lecherous young men.

Is there something wrong with the people in Tokyo? This kind of arrogant husband should be called "Tai Sui" directly, so what's the meaning of adding the word "Hua Hua"?

After carefully examining Gao Jin's features, Chen Xizhen noticed a resemblance to his childhood appearance. Gao Jin began to calculate, and after a moment, his brow furrowed as if he had encountered a difficult problem. He then ignored the three people in the courtyard, muttering to himself as he left.

Gao Jin was baffled. "What a strange old Taoist priest."

Lin Chong, who was standing next to him, introduced the old Taoist priest, saying, "That Taoist priest is named Chen Xizhen, courtesy name Daozi. He used to be the commander of the Southern Camp of Tokyo and the instructor of the 800,000 Imperial Guards. Now he has been retired for many years and is devoted to Taoist cultivation at home."

At this point, he shifted his gaze to Gao Jin and added, "He also taught the Grand Commandant spear and staff techniques. The Grand Commandant had repeatedly tried to promote him out of consideration for their past relationship, but Gao Jin had always politely declined."

"Brothers, come and have some wine!" Lu Zhishen urged the two men to come and drink. "Don't worry about them. Those old Taoist priests are good at pretending to be gods and ghosts."

Gao Jin and Lin Chong returned to their seats and began drinking and chatting. "Brother Gao Jin, you're incredibly skilled! Tomorrow we should have a good spar..."

"No problem, no problem, Brother Zhishen, just don't hit me too hard..."

During the meal, a thought occurred to Gao Jin. The skills given to him by the Flower Monk Lu Zhishen alone had completely transformed him.

If he joined Liangshan, where a hundred or so people would call him "brother" and he would gain a hundred or so abilities, would he have a chance to become an immortal?

His heart, which had been calm and undisturbed due to more than a month of martial arts practice, was stirred up again.

Thinking of this, Gao Jin asked directly, "Brothers, what do you think of Liangshan Marsh?"

"I have never heard of it."

"I have heard people mention it. Liangshan Marsh is a water town under the jurisdiction of Jizhou in Shandong, covering an area of ​​over 800 li, with Wanzicheng and Liaoerwa in the middle. Now some bandits have set up camp there. Brother, are you asking about this place because the Grand Commandant wants to wage war?" Lin Chong was secretly delighted. He had just become sworn brothers with Gao Jin, and he was already giving his brother a fortune. He was indeed generous.

"My cheapskate father hasn't thought about it yet. I just think that going there to live a carefree life might not be bad." Gao Jin saw the expectation in Lin Chong's eyes, but decided to put it more tactfully.

Lu Zhishen, without suspicion, said directly, "Brother Gao Jin, if you're tired of staying in this city of Dongjing and want to enjoy yourself for a while, that's fine too. I'll just take care of those petty thieves in the marsh."

Lin Chong pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment, and then refused, saying, "I hold an official position and dare not act without orders from above."

Although Lin Chong made an excuse to decline, Gao Jin saw that Lin Chong's "favorability rating," which had risen to 60 due to the sworn brotherhood and martial arts competition, had now dropped back to 50. He understood that Lin Chong had already understood the meaning behind his words.

Thinking about it, it makes sense. Without Gao Yanei causing trouble, wouldn't Lin Chong be content with a warm home with his wife and children in Dongjing? Why would he choose to become an outlaw?

Gao Jin realized he had been making assumptions, so he changed the subject to the masters in Tokyo and chatted enthusiastically with the two of them again, no longer mentioning Liangshan Marsh.

Meanwhile, the eccentric old Taoist priest Chen Xizhen returned home. As soon as he entered the hall, his beautiful daughter greeted him, "Father is back."

The old Taoist priest ignored him and walked straight into the back hall. Chen Liqing followed behind him and said, "My daughter doesn't really want to kill him! I just want to teach him a lesson."

Chen Xizhen turned around and sat down in her chair. Seeing her daughter still grinning, her face darkened, and she shouted, "What are you so happy about? Always shouting about fighting and killing, you have no manners at all!"

Chen Liqing couldn't help but act strangely, "Fine, fine, anyway, I was born of Father. If Father wants me to marry that playboy, then I will marry him. Father, don't be angry anymore. Just throw me into that cesspool. That way, Father can live out his old age in peace."

Chen Xizhen sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead. "My son, when you went to the Dongyue Temple to fulfill your vow today, did you run into that Gao Yanei?"

Seeing that the old Taoist priest's complexion had improved, Chen Liqing came up behind him and patted his back and shoulders, saying, "I didn't encounter him, otherwise I would have killed him!"

Chen Xizhen said, "Tsk, tsk, tsk. My Chen family's daughter is quite imposing. I ask you, how many people have you killed in your life? You're sixteen or seventeen years old, yet you speak like a child without thinking."

"Killing him is just repaying him with a life, what's there to be afraid of?!"

"You're willing to give up your life, but I can't bear to give you up. I'm over fifty, and all I hope for is that you find a good husband so I can focus on my spiritual practice. You keep talking about repaying your life, not valuing your own. What am I supposed to do if something really happens to you?"

Chen Liqing remained silent for a while, then her big eyes darted around a few times. "Father, I have an idea."

"What method?"

"The best of the thirty-six stratagems is to flee. My daughter and I will find a good place to go and live a carefree life. We can come back in a few years."

"It's not that bad. The Grand Commandant has always respected me to some extent. He's only sent a matchmaker to inquire about marriage. If we run away without a reason, wouldn't we make a fool of ourselves?" Chen Xizhen was both amused and exasperated. He thought his daughter would have some good ideas, but it turned out she just wanted to find an opportunity to run away and play.

"Oh, Father, what a big piece of dough!" Chen Liqing said mischievously. "I've often heard that Gao Qiu has always doted on his adopted son, Gao Yanei, so he's committed all sorts of crimes and evil deeds in the capital, earning the nickname 'Playboy King.' Do you think he'll let my delicate flower go?"

Chen Xizhen thought of the three people in the courtyard and said with a strange expression, "You really didn't run into Gao Yanei outside the Suanzao Gate today?"

"Oh, Father, do you not believe your daughter anymore?" Chen Liqing couldn't help but increase the force of her patting and massaging his back and shoulders.

Chen Xizhen groaned in distress and slowly said, "That's really strange. I saw Gao Yanei near the Dongyue Temple today."

"My son, what do you think Gao Yanei should look like?"

"Father, have you gotten confused from reading the Taoist scriptures? What could a 'playboy' possibly look like? He must be a greasy-haired, lazy, and lecherous person."

Thinking of the imposing eight-foot-tall man in the vegetable garden of the Great Xiangguo Temple, Chen Xizhen fell silent. No wonder his daughter said she hadn't met Gao Yanei.

"Qing'er, if I said that Young Master Gao was eight feet tall and imposing, would you believe me?"

"Father, don't joke. Such a fine man..." Chen Liqing suddenly remembered something strange when she was halfway through her sentence. When she went to the courtyard where Gao Jin was rumored to be hanging out today, she only saw a tall and imposing man practicing martial arts, but he couldn't even wield the iron staff properly. What a waste of his impressive physique.

Chen Liqing bit her lip, her cheeks puffed out, and she uttered the words slowly and deliberately, "So! That silver-plated spearhead is Gao Jin!"

Chen Xizhen clicked his tongue in amazement. Although Gao Jin's martial arts skills were a bit sparse, he wielded the iron staff with great power. He couldn't possibly be described as a "silver-plated spearhead."

The old Taoist priest shook his head and sighed again, lamenting that his daughter was exceptionally talented, and that he had imparted all his martial arts skills to her. Now that his daughter had such high standards, he wondered which outstanding person could catch her eye.

Chen Xizhen frowned for a while, then changed the subject: "I have gained some insights into Taoist magic in the past two years, and I have quite a bit of knowledge in physiognomy."

"I saw Gao Yanei, Lin Chong, and a senior monk in that vegetable garden courtyard. That senior monk is blessed, but he has little to do with us, so we don't need to bother with him."

"Let's just talk about Lin Chong and Gao Yanei. I've done some calculations today, and Lin Chong will surely meet with misfortune in three to six months. There's no need for me to avenge your uncle."

"I saw Gao Jin as a child when he was teaching Gao Qiu. When the Grand Commandant came to propose marriage, I calculated his appearance based on my memory, and he looked like someone who would die a violent death. But when I saw him today, I couldn't understand it..."

"Father, you're just teasing your daughter. A face is either good or bad; it can't change, can it?"

"..." Chen Xizhen looked at his daughter in surprise. "Qing'er, do you also have a talent for cultivation? You weren't wrong, Gao Jin's appearance is changing!"

"I did my divination twice before I went there. The first time, he was an ordinary person, and the second time, he became a monstrous demon. Before I came, I tried to divinate his appearance several times, but each time it was different."

"Humans, demons, monsters, gods, saints... there have been nearly ten different outcomes."

"...Father, maybe we should stop cultivating the Tao..."