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

The news that Master Zhang was asked to pray for rain could no longer be kept secret in Linbin Town.

Then, when Sun Changxiang, the youngest daughter of the Sun Town Supervisor, went to the Taoist temple to offer incense, she specifically talked to Zhang Zhengdao about this matter. It could be considered that she came to pave the way for the Sun Town Supervisor.

Sun Shangxiang: "The Taoist priest has the appearance of an immortal, and seems to have real abilities. Why not help the people of Linbin Town solve their problems? I will definitely reward you handsomely afterward!"

Zhang Zhengdao was about to decline when he heard the words "generous thanks," and finally swallowed the words of refusal.

"How many?"

Swallowing hard, Zhang Zhengdao asked a question before pretending to drink tea to hide his emotions.

“It was all decided by my father and the village elders. We had also asked a high-ranking monk to pray for rain before,” Sun Changxiang said. “It was a donation to the high-ranking monks for the repair of the Buddha’s statue, or perhaps it was money for incense offerings to the Buddha. In total, it cost no less than this amount!”

Sun Shangxiang held up two fingers.

This sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl could talk about these mundane matters with ease and fluency.

No wonder they sent her to pave the way.

Last time I accompanied the old lady to offer incense, I didn't realize she was still this kind of woman.

"Twenty...twenty taels?"

Zhang Zhengdao regretted it as soon as he said it.

"Two hundred taels!"

Sun Shangxiang smiled, but didn't take the opportunity to swindle money from Zhang Zhengdao.

Zhang Zhengdao breathed a sigh of relief, nodded, and asked, "How was the payment settled in the end?"

Since we've already brought this up, let's speak frankly. There's nothing shameful about discussing money; what's shameful is not having the ability to earn it. What's there to be ashamed of in earning money through your own abilities?

"It's not worth spending so much money to do something practical for the people of Linbin Town!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Hu Yunying behind him hurriedly tugged at the back of his shirt.

"However, in order to repair the golden statue of the Taoist patriarch in this Taoist temple, I can only reluctantly accept the villagers' kindness." Zhang Zhengdao was very satisfied.

Two hundred taels!

I almost cried because I was so stupid.

With the matter settled, Sun Shangxiang got up to take her leave.

When the Great Jin was about to leave, Zhang Zhengdao naturally saw her off at the door, watching her get into the sedan chair and depart before reluctantly returning to the Taoist temple.

"Get rich, get rich!"

Hu Yunying had already started jumping around in the Taoist temple.

Hu Yunying was not short of money. Just the monthly allowance that Lingying gave to Old Zhang was twenty taels of silver every month. She didn't spend much money, so after saving for so many years, she could be considered a small-time rich woman.

But she was especially happy with the money she earned with her own hands.

Zhang Zhengdao glanced at her.

"Although you'll be working this time too, your wages will remain the same as before; I'll keep them for you!"

Hu Yunying nodded happily.

She simply enjoys the pleasure of making money.

Praying for rain is recorded in Taoist classics. Zhang Zhengdao studied rain-praying rituals when he was on Earth. He just didn't know if they would be effective in this world.

Zhang Zhengdao wasn't worried about this.

Moreover, he wasn't afraid that he wouldn't be able to get rain. He had only been told to pray for rain, so he would only pray for rain. As for whether it would rain or not, that was God's business. What did it have to do with Zhang Zhengdao?

Two hundred taels of silver!

Zhang Zhengdao has been a Taoist priest at Peach Blossom Temple for so long, yet he hasn't saved up two hundred taels of silver. This silver is too easy to earn! Otherwise… with a drought like this every year, wouldn't I be able to stop taking any business?

One order and you can eat your fill for a year!

God feeds us!

That day, Zhang Zhengdao took out the wine he had hidden in the cellar, and also bought a roast chicken, a roast goose, and two catties of braised meat. He set up a feast in the peach blossom forest with one man, two women, and a ghost.

Hu Yunying ate a chicken leg while rubbing her belly.

"My lord, it's all your fault, you've gotten so fat."

Shu Baimei, who was inhaling the fragrance nearby, sneered.

"If it gets too fat, do what I do: take out the intestines, straighten them out, and remove the fat!"

He actually opened his stomach, took out his intestines, and shook them.

Suddenly——

A joyous banquet ended in discord.

Zhang Zhengdao was in the middle of a good time drinking when he was suddenly interrupted and poked her forehead with his finger.

Are you fucking crazy?

"I just can't stand her green tea bitch behavior!"

Having heard so many stories from Zhang Zhengdao these days, Shu Baimei finally understood what "green tea" meant and immediately applied it to Hu Yunying.

"My lord—it's all your fault—"

The girl's affectedly sweet voice made Zhang Zhengdao's hair stand on end.

"roll!"

Zhang Zhengdao rolled up the chicken and duck meat, wrapped it up, and carried the wine jug towards his room. Although he couldn't share the joy with others, enjoying it alone wasn't out of the question.

The next day, Magistrate Sun sent his accountant, accompanied by a guard, to pay a deposit of fifty taels of silver.

Zhang Zhengdao confessed to some things.

For example, they might set up a platform, plant a few flags, and offer sacrifices and wine. The more elaborate the requirements, the more they seem to value this rain-making ritual. The stricter the requirements, the more they appear to be a highly accomplished and knowledgeable person.

For example, the water must be the first basin of water flowing upstream of Linbin Town at midnight; the three sacrificial animals must be of pure white color, without any impurities; and the hooves must be shaped like the character "品" (pin).

……

He went on and on, giving a long, rambling explanation.

The accountant and guards left.

On the day of the rain-seeking ceremony, Zhang Zhengdao got up very early. After washing up, he enjoyed the process of the two women dressing him in his Taoist robe. Then he carried a peach wood sword on his back, while the two women carried the prayer utensils and food.

Since she's a martial artist, she wouldn't act like a weak woman.

Upon reaching the mountainside, they saw the people of Linbin Town lining the road to welcome them. Local elders and gentry, led by the town's supervisor Sun Gaoyi, also greeted them with clasped hands and respectful greetings.

This old man has some ideas!

If they make a big fuss about this, aren't they afraid that I won't put in the effort to pray for rain for him?

Zhang Zhengdao bowed respectfully to the villagers, then flicked his whisk, his wide sleeves fluttering, displaying the demeanor of a sage. Coupled with his generally good reputation in the town, this otherworldly air immediately drew applause and cheers from the people of Linbin Town.

The sun was setting over the mountain, casting scattered shadows. The Taoist priest descended the mountain, and the crowd followed.

As we were walking, we suddenly heard someone shout from ahead.

"Start—Music—"

It sounded like an old man chanting.

Immediately, the sounds of suona horns, gongs, drums, and flutes rang out from the front. The sounds shook the heavens, mingling with the shouts of the crowd and the whistling of the banners fluttering in the wind.

Zhang Zhengdao: ...

Sun Zhenjian, you've gone this far!

It's understandable, though. The people of Linbin Town are now pinning their hopes on Zhang Zhengdao. They don't care if the scale is large, if it's lively, or if the conditions are complicated, as long as it rains.

Zhang Zhengdao grasped Sun Zhenjian's hand with one hand and pulled an elder's hand with the other. He looked around and said, "Gentlemen, please come with me to invite the gods!"

With lightning speed, they pulled the two old men along, leaving them panting and barely touching the ground.

By the time they arrived at the rain-praying platform set up in Linbin Town, the two old men were practically falling apart.

You dared to swindle me so brazenly? I'll make you suffer half to death first, and you won't dare utter a single word of dissent.

Praying for rain is now the top priority.

Sun Zhenjian can only be considered second.

Everyone rushed to the front of the stage, looking eagerly at Zhang Zhengdao.

Sun Zhenjian caught his breath and finally came to his senses. He had been dragged along by Zhang Zhengdao at breakneck speed, and his soul had been left in his head. It took him a while to recover.

"Taoist Master, has the auspicious time arrived?"

Sun Zhenjian asked.

"Eat first!" Zhang Zhengdao waved his hand. "After you finish eating, it will be about time."

I was a little hungry after coming down from the mountain.

"Bring out wine and dishes!" Town Supervisor Sun shouted without hesitation.

So someone set up a table under the stage, and then a row of chicken, duck, fish and meat covered the table.

As the two assistants for this rain-praying ceremony, Hu Yunying and Guo Lanying also took their seats and ate with Zhang Zhengdao, their mouths greasy with food. It felt great to be surrounded by so many people watching you eat!

After a satisfying meal, we also had a cup of tea.

Zhang Zhengdao instructed Hu Yunying and Guo Lanying to spread out the items, light candles and incense. Then, Zhang Zhengdao leaped up and floated gracefully onto the rain-praying platform.

Everyone applauded.

That one move alone is worth half of the price.

Zhang Zhengdao, dressed in a bright yellow Taoist robe and holding a peach wood sword, chanted incantations on the rain-praying platform. Then, he took a mouthful of water and forcefully sprayed it onto the peach wood sword.

Peach wood sword: ? ? ?

Zhang Zhengdao started jumping around on stage again, acting like someone had died and someone was performing a ritual in the middle of the night. It was incredibly flashy, but the audience loved it.

The more elaborate the decoration, the more powerful the magic; this is the most basic perception among the people.

Then Zhang Zhengdao stopped, raised his peach wood sword high, pointed it at the sky, and shouted.

"Hurry, hurry, as the law commands—the wind rises!"

Everyone looked up at the sky.

Suddenly, the banners planted beside the rain-praying altar were unfurled and fluttered in the wind!