A Tale of Encounters with Immortals: A Peach Blossom Temple in the Martial World

On the first day, Zhang Zhengdao was still able to glance at it from time to time.

The next day, I couldn't be bothered to look anymore. Someone came up the mountain, saying that Lao Liu's son from Handuo Village in Linbin Town was badly burned and was dying. They wanted Zhang Zhengdao to go to his house to prepare a ritual.

Zhang Zhengdao carried his tools and prepared to go down the mountain.

This time, he didn't let Hu Yunying and Guo Lanying come with him. Just before leaving, he thought for a moment, then went back to the pond. With a light tap of his peach wood sword, a lotus leaf fell into his hand, and he casually scooped up a clump of pond mud.

The person who came was very anxious, saying that he was about to die.

The child who died a violent death will not be kept for three days; the memorial service will be held today, and the burial will take place tomorrow.

The man walked in front, and Zhang Zhengdao followed behind.

Upon arriving in Linbin Town, we drove all the way to the house at the far east end of the town.

The funeral hall is being set up.

When Zhang Zhengdao went in, he saw that the child's face was okay, but his body was so badly burned that no healthy skin could be seen.

He glanced at it and quickly called for help.

"Her belly is still heaving, why are they already setting up a funeral hall?"

Han Tuo Lao Liu crawled over, crying and howling, and hugged Zhang Zhengdao's leg, snot streaming down his face.

"I've seen it; the doctor in town said it's no use."

Zhang Zhengdao glanced at him, then dragged Lao Liu forward, squatted down, touched the little boy's hand, and looked at him again. If this were on Earth, he might still be able to save him.

But it's still pretty tough.

In ancient times, the town doctor was right; he was no longer of any use.

He sighed and said to Han Tuo Lao Liu, "Let's try anything, even if it's a dead end."

People around him also tried to persuade him.

"Sixth brother, just agree, what if it works out?"

Old Liu from Hantuo hesitated for a moment.

For a craftsman like him who sells wooden and bamboo crafts every day, even if he saves a person, it's still a hardship, and he has to take care of and support the person, so he can't work.

How will I earn money in the future? My child will suffer too.

"Try it!"

At this moment, Sister-in-law Gui also squeezed over.

This woman likes to join in the fun and has an overflowing sense of compassion. She helps many people and runs a winery. She earns a lot of money, but her expenses are also high. Over the years, she hasn't saved much money.

"At least it's a life."

Upon hearing this, Han Tuo Lao Liu gritted his teeth.

"Master, just do your best. It's not your problem if things go wrong."

Zhang Zhengdao nodded and walked over to the little boy. He asked Han Tuo Lao Liu for a tattered cloth, washed it clean, and wiped the child dry.

Take off all of the little boy's clothes.

The mud dug out of the pond was mixed with water to make muddy water.

"Sister-in-law Gui, Lao Liu, help me out!"

Zhang Zhengdao shouted.

The two went over.

“Cover his whole body with mud and water, and cover all the wounds with mud and water.”

Zhang Zhengdao said.

Old Liu, holding back his tears, said, "Taoist priest... can you let him go in peace and not make him suffer... my son..." As he was making the paste, the man started wailing again.

Zhang Zhengdao shouted, "What nonsense are you spouting? Hurry up and paste it!"

He then unfolded the lotus leaf he carried with him.

This lotus leaf doesn't look very big, but when unfolded, it can completely wrap up the child.

Seeing that the two men had almost finished covering the mud with mud, Zhang Zhengdao shouted, "Bring it up!"

The two of them worked together to lift the little boy onto the lotus leaf.

Zhang Zhengdao continued wrapping the lotus leaf with his hands.

The child's body was completely wrapped in lotus leaves.

"Disperse the people first."

Zhang Zhengdao instructed Han Tuo Lao Liu.

"Sister-in-law Gui, light two incense sticks and three candles in front of the hall."

Sister-in-law Gui quickly went to light incense and candles.

Actually, all you need to do is cover the burn area with pond mud and wrap it with lotus leaves, but Zhang Zhengdao was afraid that he was making things too simple and that it would make Han Tuo Lao Liu and Gui Da Sao lose confidence.

This also made Han Tuo Lao Liu and Gui Da Sao feel involved, so they were instructed to do this and that.

He sat cross-legged to the side, chanting scriptures and striking a wooden fish.

The scriptures are merely for purifying and calming the mind.

As Zhang Zhengdao chanted, Han Tuo Lao Liu's emotions gradually calmed down. He cautiously watched his son, who was wrapped in lotus leaves, from afar, tears streaming down his face.

Sister-in-law Gui comforted him and asked him a question.

Where is Auntie?

"He's dead inside the house!"

"Old Liu from Hantuo wiped away his tears and said."

Sister-in-law Gui was shocked. She slapped him on the head and yelled, "A son is a son, but a wife isn't? Why didn't you even glance at your dead wife..."

The simple-minded Lao Liu was stunned by the beating and scratched his head.

"She cried herself unconscious inside!"

Feeling embarrassed, Sister-in-law Gui turned around and awkwardly sat down next to Zhang Zhengdao, silently watching him chant scriptures.

He recited for quite a while before stopping to catch his breath.

While Zhang Zhengdao was taking a break, Sister-in-law Gui chatted with him.

"How did you get burned...? There was a wildfire on the mountain, it's so dry..."

"Going to gather firewood..."

"This is the only child in the sixth generation... Are you sure he'll be alright..."

Zhang Zhengdao: "It's definitely going to get better."

"You've done a good deed, right? Heaven will remember it, won't it? If you ascend to heaven, you might be able to get a minor position there..."

Zhang Zhengdao: "If you're going to be the land, you don't need to go to heaven."

Sister-in-law Gui: "Who did you learn your medical skills from?"

Zhang Zhengdao: "I figured it out myself, so I figured I might as well give it a shot!"

Sister-in-law Gui sighed, "I hope it will get better... You just said you were sure it would get better? Why are you trying something so desperate... Will it actually get better or not..."

I chatted with Sister-in-law Gui on and off.

"My son——"

Suddenly, a heart-wrenching cry erupted from inside the room, but before it could utter two more words, it fell silent again.

The simple-minded Lao Liu, who had rushed inside, returned and said, "He's fainted again."

As they were talking, Zhang Zhengdao checked the time and said, "Help me untangle the lotus leaves."

Sister-in-law Gui quickly got up and, together with Lao Liu from Han Tuo, separated the lotus leaves.

"Don't throw away the lotus leaves. Wash them clean and boil them into a decoction for the child to drink twice a day, morning and evening. Continue drinking it for three days."

As Zhang Zhengdao spoke, the little boy's body was revealed.

The mud was all over my body, dried, and even cracked.

It turned white and dried out, just like it had been roasted over a fire.

Zhang Zhengdao tapped the peach wood sword lightly with its hilt.

A crisp "snap" sounded.

A piece of dry mud fell down.

As the dried mud fell away, it revealed tender, pink flesh underneath, just like newly born skin.

Oh, my son!

The sixth brother, Han Tuo, was overjoyed and almost went crazy, reaching out with both hands to grab it.

Zhang Zhengdao said, "Slow down, be gentle. It's newly grown skin, don't hurt it."

In a flurry of activity, the mud was removed from the child's body. Sure enough, the entire body had healed with red flesh, and the skin that had been burned beyond recognition was now completely unrecognizable.

"Oh, Taoist priest... thank you so much, you've saved my family's lives!" The simple-minded Lao Liu knelt down and kowtowed, his head even cracking from the effort.

Although the little boy was still not awake, his breathing gradually became heavier and more even.

"Three days later, after you've finished drinking the lotus leaf decoction, go to Peach Blossom Temple to fulfill your vow."

After Zhang Zhengdao finished speaking, he got up and left.

Sister-in-law Gui quickly followed behind, saying happily as they walked, "Taoist priest, with this skill, why don't you open a clinic in town? That way, it'll be closer to Xiaohua's house..."

Zhang Zhengdao ignored her and went straight up the mountain.

Back on the mountain, Hu Yunying came over and said, "It's still a big callus, it's useless?"

Let's see tomorrow!

Zhang Zhengdao said.

The next morning, after Zhang Zhengdao finished breakfast, since business at the Taoist temple had been slow lately, he sat in the backyard and read for a while. After checking the time, he called for Hu Yunying and Guo Lanying.

"Go and see!"

The three of them went to the pond together.

Zhang Zhengdao sensed something in the pond, something that looked like a cocoon wrapped around a lotus leaf.

The white plum blossoms inside were incredibly vigorous.

There was no trace of ghostly aura in it.

Feeling that it was about time, he held the peach wood sword upright and uttered a command: "Imperial command—"

Go straight ahead a little.

Instantly, the cocoon was struck by this spiritual energy, and a crack appeared on its surface. The crack then slowly spread, making a cracking sound.

All three of them craned their necks forward, wanting to get a closer look.

Finally, a soft "click" sounded.

The large cocoon finally broke in two.

Inside, a person was lying on their side on a lotus leaf.

It was fair-skinned and chubby, and it even rolled over and opened its eyes.

All three of them stared wide-eyed.

Even Zhang Zhengdao didn't expect it to turn out this way.

A chubby, fair-skinned one- or two-year-old girl rolled over and landed right on the lotus leaf, raising her chubby face and giggling at Zhang Zhengdao.

"father--"

That sound was absolutely earth-shattering.

Zhang Zhengdao was immediately stunned!