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

Lu Xiaohua will turn fifteen on the sixth day of the eleventh lunar month.

He was dark-skinned, thin, and short.

Standing in front of Zhang Zhengdao, she cowered like a quail, hiding behind Sister Gui, only sticking out her head to look at Zhang Zhengdao.

His face was dark, as if he hadn't washed it properly, and his two little braids swayed. His eyes, however, were very round and darted around.

He seemed quite satisfied with Zhang Zhengdao, even nodding slightly and tugging at Sister-in-law Gui's hand.

The little girl was the one who darted out from the doorway next to the winery when Sister-in-law Gui introduced Lu Xiaohua.

They definitely came prepared.

Zhang Zhengdao's face was also dark.

I was so angry with Sister-in-law Gui.

Seeing Zhang Zhengdao's unfriendly expression, Sister-in-law Gui chuckled, "Even if you buy her back to be a maid, it'll be fine! She's good at doing chores, chopping wood, feeding the horses..."

"Travel the world..."

Zhang Zhengdao responded irritably.

"I'm not buying, I'm leaving!"

He walked towards Peach Blossom Mountain without looking back.

"Taoist priest... saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda..."

Sister-in-law Gui's voice followed me everywhere.

"I am a Taoist priest, and I brew a special pagoda."

Zhang Zhengdao decided to stop buying wine from Sister Gui's distillery and start brewing his own. He figured that using spring water from Peach Blossom Mountain would make the wine taste pretty good.

Maybe they'll even build a pavilion then, copy a passage from "The Drunken Old Man's Pavilion on Peach Blossom Mountain," and then...

Let's forget about building a pavilion; it's too expensive.

Making money is not easy these days, and all industries are experiencing a downturn. The overall climate in the imperial court is not good, which indirectly affects the local climate in Linbin Town.

It's already the beginning of autumn, a time when autumn winds and rains should be melancholic, but it hasn't rained for two months.

The sky was yellowish.

However, when the young wives and girls by the river were washing clothes and vegetables, they would laugh like silver bells and tease Zhang Zhengdao.

"Taoist priest, let me introduce you to a beautiful young lady!"

The young wife deliberately smiled and nudged the older girl next to her.

The young woman, feeling shy, turned around and punched the younger woman instead.

"What a young lady!"

Zhang Zhengdao responded.

"A sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl, would you be interested in her?"

The young wife laughed heartily.

The young woman turned her head away shyly, not daring to look at Zhang Zhengdao.

What a damn charm!

"If you like her, I'll have my wife come and propose marriage to you!"

Zhang Zhengdao waved happily.

The eldest daughter is Feng Yaogu, the daughter of blacksmith Feng.

At the age of youth, you're beautiful no matter how you grow up.

"Haha, you stinky Taoist priest, dream on!"

The young wife laughed even more heartily.

Upon hearing this beautiful, clear laughter, Zhang Zhengdao felt as light as a feather as he walked.

It's been relatively quiet these past few days.

A message came from the Lingying Sect of Mount Emei, saying that the day of the sect competition was approaching and that Hu Yunying was to return to the sect to serve as a referee. The sect had ordered that Hu Yunying, as one of the ten elders, could not neglect her duties because of her beauty.

Early in the morning, with tears in her eyes, she ate four large meat buns, drank a large bowl of porridge, half a bowl of pickled vegetables, and two ladles of water before bowing to Zhang Zhengdao.

"Keep a close watch on the door and don't let the vixen break into the house. I'll be right back."

Hu Yunying gave Shu Baimei many instructions and advice.

Shu Baimei: ...

"Don't worry, I'll take care of everything!"

The human and the ghost parted with tears in their eyes.

Zhang Zhengdao found their act utterly boring. These two women were always scheming against each other; neither of them would believe what he just said. It was just something he was telling himself, done on purpose.

Hu Yunying left, waving her sleeves, without taking a single tael of silver with her.

However, Hu Yunying is gone, and when it comes time for the blessing ceremony, he'll have to prepare all the necessary equipment himself. But tomorrow he can go down the mountain to the town's supervisor Sun's residence for the blessing ceremony and see the famous actor Qin Fangguan, who is renowned throughout Lingzhou Prefecture. The Taoist priest is somewhat looking forward to it.

Entertainment options were scarce in ancient times, especially in small towns and places like this.

At night, all we can do is try to conceive while lying in bed.

The birth rate is excellent, but the survival rate is terrible.

"Keep a close watch on the gate, don't let anyone break into our house."

When Zhang Zhengdao left, he repeatedly reminded the female ghost Shu Baimei that there was still silver hidden in the house.

Shu Baimei nodded: "Don't worry, my husband, I'll take care of everything."

Zhang Zhengdao was slightly relieved. Carrying a peach wood sword and his dipping utensils, he drifted down the mountain. He truly looked like a hermit, his robes fluttering in the wind.

The town magistrate was celebrating his mother's birthday, and the whole town came to watch the spectacle.

From the morning onwards, there were lion dances, dragon lantern performances, and stilt walkers. Lanterns were hung on every street, creating a festive atmosphere.

The children ran happily through the town and crowded around the entrance of the Sun family mansion. The steward carried several handfuls of wrapped malt candy and scattered them all over the ground.

The children rushed to the ground and scrambled for it.

The steward and servants burst into laughter, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Zhang Zhengdao set up an altar in the main hall and began the ritual.

The matriarch of the Sun family was seventy years old and in good spirits. After offering her blessings, she personally handed Zhang Zhengdao a sum of silver as an extra reward.

Zhang Zhengdao happily took his leave, squeezing the silver envelope; it was hard and heavy, weighing at least five taels.

This trip was definitely worth it.

After the dipping was finished, the town supervisor, Sun Gaoyi, invited them to a banquet set up in the garden. Three tables were set up there, all for close relatives. As for the high-ranking officials and nobles, they were invited to dine in the inner hall.

Fortunately, you can also see the opera troupe performing on the stage not far away from the garden.

Singing in a soft, incoherent way.

It was an old woman singing, and she sang for a long time, sometimes standing and sometimes sitting, which made Zhang Zhengdao impatient. He thought he would sit and drink slowly and wait for Qin Fangguan to come on stage, but he waited for a long time and she didn't come out.

However, there was a greasy middle-aged man at the same table, with a fat head and big ears, who was wearing a brocade robe, giving him a bit of the look of Zhu Zhishan from "Flirting Scholar".

"After Qin Fangguan finishes her meal and drinks in the evening, the old lady will personally sit in front of the stage to watch."

Zhang Zhengdao pondered that the dipping sauce would require two sessions, but after dinner, it wouldn't be appropriate to stay any longer. He couldn't see Qin Fangguan today.

What a pity!

After finishing the dipping in the afternoon and having dinner, I looked towards the stage but didn't see anyone come out. I figured I really wouldn't be able to see it, so I settled my wages with the town magistrate's accountant and went out.

Looking back at the Sun family mansion, it was brightly lit, what a magnificent and opulent family background!

Although it was a pity, at least I earned eight taels of silver on this trip.

I was in a pretty good mood, humming a little tune as I walked back.

Climbing Peach Blossom Mountain at night, even walking in the dark, is not something Zhang Zhengdao fears; money is his courage. With four ingots of silver and eight taels in his pocket, he's practically a ghost guarding his own door.

After dinner at the Sun residence, the matriarch and her entourage went to the stage to watch a play.

Although the old matriarch was the main character today, she sat in the first seat next to her. The person in the main seat was a young man, dressed in embroidered robes, holding a teacup in one hand, sipping tea and watching the play.

The tables were laden with melon seeds, peanuts, pastries, and fruits.

Qin Fangguan is indeed the top courtesan in the police force.

The moment she opened her mouth, her voice made the men in front of the stage swoon. Coupled with her graceful figure and swaying movements, the temperature in the audience seemed to rise three or four degrees.

The young man glanced at a composed middle-aged man beside him.

The middle-aged man leaned closer and said, "Hai Gong has been gone for two hours. I reckon he'll be back soon."

The young man nodded slightly.

The middle-aged man took two steps back, still guarding behind the young man, his eagle eyes scanning the surroundings, showing no sign of letting his guard down just because this was the town warden's home.

Many people are out and about in Linbin Town tonight.

The sounds of laughter and playfulness carried far on the night breeze.

As Zhang Zhengdao walked along the mountain path, he looked back at the brightly lit Linbin Town in the distance and couldn't help but smile. This is what life is all about!

Although life wasn't one of great wealth and luxury, it was at least free and easy.

Without the blessing of working 996, it seems that traveling back to ancient times wouldn't be an unacceptable thing.

Suddenly, I felt a sense of belonging from the warmth of everyday life.

He used to feel like he was detached from this world, always seeming a bit out of place. But now, he really wants to say: I'm going to take root and flourish here.

Make the Taoist temple bigger, and build more houses in the backyard...

Things that are unthinkable in modern society can be tried here.

As long as you earn a lot of money, you don't have to worry about not having a wife in your few rooms.

Thinking of this, he smiled knowingly and walked briskly towards the Taoist temple on the mountain.

Peach Blossom Mountain, Peach Blossom Temple.

The moonlight shone on the pale face in the peach grove in front of the Taoist temple.

Hai Tianfu watched the white-clad woman floating in the air with suspicion.

He knew this woman.

He was waiting for the woman to fall from the sky.

But after almost an incense stick's time, the woman was still floating in the air. This was outrageous! Even if Shu Baimei was famous for her lightness skill, could she float for this long?

He became increasingly vigilant, channeling his energy into his palms.

The Grandmaster of the Innate Realm also represents the strongest combat power on Earth.

He never underestimates any opponent, and when he makes a move, he goes all out.