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

Hanzhong Commandery, Yizhou.

In the courtyard of a large family, the master and servants formed a circle, while a Taoist priest danced with a sword in the middle, then sprayed a stream of water onto the makeshift altar.

Instantly, flames shot into the sky, and the yellow paper scattered in the air, spontaneously combusting without wind.

Everyone was shocked and involuntarily took a few steps back.

The Taoist sheathed his sword, then went to the basin of water beside him to wash his hands. After drying them, he said to the old man who was the host, "May you drive away bad luck and bring good fortune. From now on, may your family prosper and your descendants enjoy blessings."

The host was overjoyed and then presented the gold.

In fact, during the Eastern Han Dynasty, gold was a very rare currency in the market. It was very valuable and was collected by officials and wealthy families, so very little of it circulated in the market.

After receiving the two ingots of gold, Zhang Zhengdao had a simple meal with his host, consisting only of chicken, duck, goose, and mutton, before taking his leave.

Returning to his old business, Zhang Zhengdao became increasingly adept and skilled.

Since leaving Qingcheng Mountain, I've made money along the way using this business.

Although he is not short of money, he is happier spending the money he earns through his professional skills.

What makes rich people happiest?

That's when making money is the happiest thing.

What makes a Taoist priest happiest? Of course, it's doing things that utilize his professional expertise.

Praying for blessings is the easiest thing to do, and the reward is the most generous. On the contrary, those who save people from fire and water, and exorcise evil spirits, do not receive much reward.

The joy isn't in making money, but in the process of making money.

You have no idea what happiness is for the rich.

Nothing particularly unusual happened along the way.

After leaving Yizhou City, we traveled for about a month. The weather was very hot, and there happened to be a river next to a county town we passed through, so we went to bathe in the river.

Suddenly, a cry of surprise rang out.

A woman threw her clothes on the shore and ran away.

Zhang Zhengdao didn't take it seriously. After taking a shower, he continued preparing to continue his journey.

As he was walking along the road, a man suddenly rushed over, carrying a carrying pole in his hand, followed by a woman. The woman pointed at Zhang Zhengdao and said, "That's him."

Zhang Zhengdao: ...

"what happened to me?"

The woman angrily retorted, "You were peeping at me!"

Zhang Zhengdao: "I was spying on you? Were you taking a shower?"

The woman said, "I'm doing laundry."

Zhang Zhengdao said, "Looking at you washing clothes is considered peeping? I was bathing in the river and suddenly saw you; it's more like you walked right into my eyes. Besides, it wasn't you bathing, it was me bathing; isn't that peeping at me?"

The woman was taken aback and turned to look at the man: "He was peeking at me."

The man was actually very strong. He took off his shirt, revealing his thick muscles. His dark skin and bulging muscles clearly showed that he was demonstrating his strength to Zhang Zhengdao.

"Will you apologize or compensate me with copper coins?"

The man swung the carrying pole in his hand, making a "whooshing" sound as he swung it.

Zhang Zhengdao was stunned: "Your wife peeked at me while I was taking a bath, and I have to compensate her? That's ridiculous. Come on, come on, come on my head and see if I even flinch."

Feeling guilty, the man took a step back and pointed at Zhang Zheng, saying, "Don't do anything reckless."

Zhang Zhengdao then looked at the woman and said, "You're a perfectly good fairy, why do you have to come down to the mortal world and get involved in love? It's one thing to fall in love, but you also have to ruin mortal people's lives."

The woman was terrified and took two steps back.

The man was stunned. He looked at the woman, then at Zhang Zhengdao.

"Taoist priest, don't talk nonsense!"

Zhang Zhengdao said, "Whether I'm talking nonsense or not, you'll know in a couple of days. Your wife is of extraordinary birth, a fairy descended from heaven. You may not be able to see it with your mortal eyes, but you still can't hide it from my eyes."

The woman panicked and looked at the Taoist priest: "Were you sent by my mother to arrest me?"

Zhang Zhengdao said, "I was just passing by. If you hadn't accused me of peeping at you, I wouldn't have bothered with you. Whether you're a fairy or not, what does it have to do with me? You're not going to be my wife."

The woman blushed.

A fairy descended to earth; she was very beautiful, but she wasn't very bright.

Throughout history, marriages between people of unequal social standing have rarely been happy. How much less so a match made in heaven? It seems the Old Man of the Moon (the matchmaker god) is probably drunk again.

Zhang Zhengdao said, "That's all I have to say. I'm leaving now!"

With just one step, the person vanished without a trace.

The man was startled; this Taoist priest was indeed extraordinary, and he began to believe him a little more. He still couldn't quite believe it.

A fairy from heaven actually descended to earth and married me.

He was certain that he didn't know any fairy in heaven. They had never met before, yet she wanted to marry him as soon as she descended to earth. It was as if the fairy brought a big pancake with her when she came down to earth, and he was hit by this pancake.

The man, flustered, asked the woman, "Was what that Taoist priest said true?"

The woman replied hastily, "Brother Dong, I really love you."

No answer.

But the answer is one that satisfies men.

What you ask isn't important; what matters is how the woman answers.

"Let's go, my wife, don't let that Taoist priest ruin our relationship," the man said proudly.

His wife was the most beautiful woman in the surrounding area; even the daughter of the county magistrate in the county seat was not as beautiful as her.

Back in their dilapidated house in the county town, the woman prepared dinner, watched the man finish eating, washed the dishes, and then sat in the yard looking at the moon and clouds in the sky.

Having lived in the mortal realm for several years, and now that I've been caught red-handed, I'm afraid I won't have many more days left to stay there.

Is it true, as the Taoist priest said, that someone will come from heaven in two days?

Two days passed.

That evening, as the woman sat restlessly in the courtyard looking up at the sky, a cloud suddenly descended from the sky and landed in the courtyard. A divine general, accompanied by ten heavenly soldiers, landed in the courtyard.

The man who was snoring was not disturbed.

"The Queen Mother of the West has specially ordered us to welcome the Seventh Princess back to the palace."

The Seventh Princess frowned and said, "My marriage to Dong Lang was predestined in a past life, arranged by the Old Man of the Moon. My descent to the mortal realm was also with the Empress Dowager's permission. Why should I be sent back?"

The general said, "This humble general is only acting under orders. Seventh Princess, please do not make things difficult for your subject."

The seventh princess sighed, "Alright, I'll go with you. But can we wait a few days?"

The heavenly general said, "We'll come back in three days. I hope the Seventh Princess won't have any more excuses." With that, he immediately disappeared into the courtyard.

The next morning, the Seventh Princess prepared breakfast and said to Dong Yong when he came out to eat, "Husband, I may have to go to the Heavenly Court."

Dong Yong: ...

"You...are you really a fairy?"

The seven fairies nodded: "Yes, that's me!"

Dong Yong nodded: "No wonder you're so good-looking."

Seven Fairies: ...

This man... isn't his focus on me going to Heaven?

Dong Yong asked, "When will you be back?"

The seven fairies said helplessly, "I may never be able to come back."

Upon hearing this, Dong Yong became anxious: "This won't do! I can understand you wanting to return to Heaven as a fairy. It's normal for you to go back to your parents' home. But if you go and don't come back, what kind of nonsense is that?"

"I didn't want to either. But I can't disobey the Queen Mother's orders."

"Let's think of a solution!"

The seven fairies' eyes suddenly lit up: "Let's go find the Taoist priest."

Dong Yong said, "He spied on you taking a bath... no, he spied on you washing clothes... He was watching you wash clothes while he was taking a bath, so I won't go after him."

The Seven Fairies: "Do you want me to be captured and taken to heaven?"

Dong Yong thought about it and felt a little reluctant. His wife had been taken away, and with his own circumstances, it would be difficult to find another wife as beautiful and capable as her, especially since she hadn't given him a son.

He gritted his teeth and said, "I'll go find him right now."

The seven fairies said, "This is useless. We just need to wait until the day the heavens come... and do this and that... and that will be fine."

Dong Yong's eyes lit up: "My wife is so smart."

The two had finalized their plans and made ample preparations, then waited for the day to arrive two days later.

Zhang Zhengdao ate at an inn in the county town.

Then I saw a man looking at me furtively.

"Dong Yong, it's you!"

The man felt embarrassed and came over to greet him: "Master, we've been looking for you for a long time."

Zhang Zhengdao said, "Now you know your wife is a fairy, right? Aren't you as happy as if you've won the lottery?"

Dong Yong said with a worried look, "Fairies are wonderful, but they still have to go back to heaven. With my circumstances, it won't be easy for me to find another wife."

"Then what do you want from me?"

Dong Yong knelt down in front of Zhang Zhengdao with a "plop" and said, "Please, Daoist, save my wife."

Zhang Zhengdao's eyes widened in surprise: "Do you think I can save her, or do you think the Queen Mother of the West is my subordinate? That she'll do whatever I say?"

Dong Yong tried to plead, but Zhang Zhengdao angrily said, "Get out! Don't force me to hit a man!"

This is what I said...

Dong Yong had no choice but to leave, glancing back at Zhang Zhengdao as he went, silently memorizing the place.

Two days flew by.

The heavenly general led his heavenly soldiers to Dong Yong's courtyard, only to find no one there.

Wasn't this just being played?

The general was immediately enraged. He had given the Seventh Princess face, but he hadn't earned anything in return. He immediately shouted, "Search her! Take her away immediately if you find anything!"

There was no one in the house, so the entire county was searched.

Suddenly, the heavenly general locked his gaze on an inn, sneered, and led his heavenly soldiers to fly towards the inn.