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

After the court session ended, Qingyangzi followed Zhang Zhengdao all the way.

Mainly a report:

How much money has been spent? What is the progress of the Taoist temple's construction? What are the daily expenses of the Taoist temple?

"I am currently preparing to establish a set of rules for the Taoist temple and am drafting the relevant documents. I will ask my master to review them when the time comes."

Zhang Zhengdao looked at him: "Imperial inspection? You want the emperor to confiscate our Taoist temple?"

Qingyangzi chuckled: "Master, our Peach Blossom Mountain has already been granted to us by the emperor, so it doesn't matter what we call it. But Master's reprimand is correct; I will be more careful in the future."

After the master and disciple talked for a long time, Zhang Zhengdao said, "As the senior disciple, you naturally have to take on these responsibilities. After I'm gone, the Taoist temple will still be left to you. Don't worry, you are the senior disciple and the founding senior disciple of Peach Blossom Temple. When the temple is completed, I will accept you as my direct disciple."

Qingyangzi was overjoyed and was about to kneel down and kowtow when Zhang Zhengdao stopped him.

"Our Taoist temple doesn't have the custom of kowtowing all the time. From now on, a cupped-hand greeting will be enough. Do as you please!"

"Master, the rules cannot be followed..."

"Rules are made by people; you can't do without rules, but you can't do everything according to rules. For those who cultivate the Tao, too many rules will only restrict their heart for cultivation..."

"I humbly accept your instruction!"

Qingyangzi bowed in response.

Judging from his posture, Zhang Zhengdao felt that he wouldn't be able to change it in a short time.

Two days later, the sun shone brightly and the breeze was gentle; Linbin Town returned to its peaceful state.

Life didn't change just because a real person in the town got married. The women washing clothes by the river dock were still the same aunties and grandmas, and Xiao Hua still went to the winery. She didn't just talk the talk after becoming the mistress of the house.

However, the patrons at the wine shop all addressed her as "Madam".

Now, almost half of the population relies on Zhang Zhengdao's project for their livelihood.

Life doesn't seem to be any different.

But the people of Linbin Town have gained more confidence.

This confidence stemmed from the miracle that occurred during Zhang Zhengdao's wedding, which made the townspeople realize Zhang Zhengdao's abilities for the first time.

Whenever there's a family emergency and they need to invite a Taoist priest to pray for blessings, the first person they think of is someone from the Taoist temple.

Although Zhang Zhengdao no longer personally does these things, with Qingyangzi's arrangements, it can be considered a continuation of the past and a connection between the future. This prevents the town's most simple sense of ritual from being severed just because he has a higher status and more money.

On this day, everyone in the Taoist temple came to see off Qingxuanzi Yang Shengtian and Qingweizi Su Tang.

"Speak nicely to people outside."

Zhang Zhengdao held Su Tang's hand and gave her some instructions.

"Fight if you can win, run if you can't. It's not shameful. Our Taoist temple doesn't care about such things. Face isn't important. Only by surviving can you earn back your face later."

With tears in her eyes, Su Tang nodded heavily.

Yang Shengtian quickly reached out his hand as well...

Zhang Zhengdao patted him on the shoulder and said, "Don't be so sentimental. You're a grown man. Take good care of Su Tang. May she rest in peace..."

Yang Shengtian: ...

Lu Xiaohua smiled with her lips pursed.

The relationships among the people in the Taoist temple are strange. There are obvious factional struggles, yet they can coexist harmoniously in this peculiar way.

She was the matriarch, but she didn't display the domineering nature often associated with matriarchs, because that wasn't appropriate in a Taoist temple. After all, the master was also like that, and the disciples naturally followed suit.

The two looked back every few steps, reluctant to part.

Once they turned the corner of the town and could no longer see their master and the others, Su Tang suddenly jumped up and down happily.

"Junior brother, do you think we should go on a killing spree this time we go out?"

Yang Shengtian: "I was just saving people, not killing them."

Su Tang pouted: "How come you're more righteous than the righteous sects? You're not like the demonic sects at all."

Yang Shengtian: "If saving one person while killing ten is considered a meritorious act, then what's wrong with that?"

Su Tang burst into laughter.

"As expected, it's still the same Yang Shengtian, the young master of the Demonic Sect, that I know!"

Yang Shengtian: "I heard that the Lotus Sect will also send people to support Qingmu Cliff this time. You, the Holy Maiden of the Lotus Sect, have been missing for so many days. If you go, will you be able to come back?"

Su Tang smiled arrogantly: "If I want to come back, who can stop me?"

"Even Master Dorje of Tianshan Temple isn't suitable?"

"OK?"

As Su Tang spoke, she suddenly pulled out the hairpin from her hair, a golden phoenix hairpin.

"If anyone makes me unhappy, I'll make sure they never be happy again."

This is her confidence.

Yang Shengtian, like her, also possessed his own treasure, the Ruyi Fan, which gave him confidence.

There was nothing to worry about for the two of them on their journey.

"master--"

Guo Lanying watched them leave with longing eyes, then looked at Zhang Zhengdao with a wronged expression.

"Want to venture out into the martial world?"

Guo Lanying nodded: "I want to go to Lingzhou to ask Prince Zhu Houhui of Lingzhou in person."

Zhang Zhengdao remembered that when the Binjiang Gang destroyed the Guo family, although it was ostensibly the Binjiang Gang that did it, Guo Lanying only killed a deputy gang leader, who was considered a small fry. However, the biggest culprit had been behind the scenes all along, escaping justice.

However, Guo Lanying's treasure has not yet been refined.

"It's time for you to settle your worldly affairs and grudges. You should go too!"

Zhang Zhengdao nodded solemnly.

This matter needs to be addressed.

Although the emperor could also handle the matter, they were of royal blood after all. What kind of punishment could be given to the dozens of lives in the Guo family?

The next morning, Guo Lanying left alone.

Without telling anyone, she quietly left Linbin Town alone, taking advantage of the morning mist.

The world of martial arts is a long and winding road; revenge should be taken for revenge, and kindness should be repaid for kindness.

She had thought about revenge before, but her abilities were limited, and her master was not yet married. She did not want to cause a bloodbath before the wedding and add trouble to her master's wedding.

She didn't even tell her master.

Alone with his sword, he quietly left Linbin Town. As he walked, he glanced back at Linbin Town and then at the direction of Lingzhou. He silently recited the names of his loved ones a few times before resolutely continuing on his way.

The official road leading to Lingzhou passed through layers of forests and then circled a river.

If you don't want to take a detour, you'll have to cross the river.

There's a dock here, but no boats; they're probably still on the other side and haven't come over yet.

Guo Lanying shouted loudly, "Boatman, we're crossing the river!"

This was what the locals told her: if she wanted to cross the river, she had to shout at the top of her lungs to the boatman on the other side.

At this time, the winter fog still shrouded the river.

Suddenly, a boat drifted in from the thick fog, with a person standing at the bow, dressed in flowing white robes, holding a sword in her hand, like a fairy descended to earth.

"Master——"

Guo Lanying shouted excitedly.

Standing at the bow was naturally Hu Yunying. As the boat approached the dock, Guo Lanying lightly leaped up and landed at the bow, standing shoulder to shoulder with Hu Yunying.

"You brat, you dared to go alone on such a big mission."

Hu Yunying poked Guo Lanying's forehead with her finger and cursed fiercely.

Guo Lanying was delighted and said with a smile, "I just don't want to drag you into these disputes. He is a prince, after all."

"So what if he's a prince? Even the emperor has to tremble before you, sir!"

Hu Yunying scoffed.

The two boatmen at the back, steering and punting the boat, were trembling with fear, their legs shaking.

Listen to this! What kind of outrageous and lewd words are these?

If the Qingfeng Guards were here, wouldn't they have executed the entire family? Although only the father and son on the boat remained of the entire family, it was still a complete family, wasn't it?

These two old ladies are tiger cubs!

That's how people in the underworld are. If it weren't for this woman threatening him with money, he wouldn't have rowed all that way to pick her up.

There were no outrageous or disrespectful remarks along the way.

Once they reached the shore, the father and son breathed a long sigh of relief. They took out a piece of silver, bit it, and realized that this was the most real thing, enough to sustain them for a while.

The two disembarked and traveled at a leisurely pace. The next day, they arrived in Lingzhou, entered the city, and found an inn to rest.

Inside the room, Guo Lanying asked, "Should I kill Prince Xiao and his son?"

She was still a girl who hadn't often ventured into the world of martial arts; no matter how ruthless she was, she was still soft-hearted.

Hu Yunying: "We are people of the martial arts world, and we believe in repaying kindness with kindness and taking revenge for wrongs. If it weren't for the kindness that the master did for you back then, I wouldn't have traveled all this way to deliver myself to your door."

Guo Lanying rolled her eyes at her master.

Hu Yunying continued, "Back then, he wiped out more than thirty people in the Guo family. Do you think killing him and his son was cruel?"

Guo Lanying nodded: "I understand, Master."

Hu Yunying sighed: "This time you do it yourself, and I'll keep watch for you. If anyone tries to stop me, they'll have to ask if the sword in my hand will agree."

With her master's words, Guo Lanying felt much more at ease.

It's impossible for a prince's mansion to be without martial arts masters to keep it in check.

However, these experts don't usually show their faces.

In the study in the backyard of the Prince's mansion, Zhu Ying, the heir apparent of the Prince, was writing.

"The Crown Prince's plot failed this time, but thankfully they didn't trace it back to you, Master. It's best not to contact them for a while. I heard that... the Emperor has also tightened control over them, sending the Tiger Guard from the Thirteen Guards to guard the west, plus the Qingfeng Guard to scout and investigate... We'd better lie low for a while!"

A pale-faced, gaunt middle-aged scholar dressed as a scholar spoke to the prince, who was engrossed in writing.

Prince Zhu Ying nodded, and after writing the last character, he turned to the maid beside him and said, "Look, how are these characters I wrote?"

The maid stretched out her long, white neck to look.

Suddenly, a flash of light appeared, and a red line appeared to split open on the outstretched neck.