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

The one who died was Old Man Tian, ​​who collected night soil in the town.

He was over fifty, so old he was curled up in a ball. When he died, he was standing straight, his spine broken, and he was urinating and bleeding.

Today is the birthday of Guo Chenshi, the mother of Master Guo. Most of the people in the town were invited, including Old Man Tian who collects night soil. However, they ate at the entrance of the town.

Little did he expect that the rare moment of enjoying good food and drink would become his death knell.

Taoism emphasizes "life and death are intertwined," so the death of one or two people is viewed with indifference. Taoism also does not concern itself with cause and effect, so whether a murderer goes to hell or is reborn in the Pure Land is none of their business.

Besides, the immortals and Buddhas have not yet manifested their power, so I absolutely cannot panic.

Immovable as a mountain, sitting quietly to cultivate one's inner energy.

"Binjiang is handling official business; all unauthorized personnel must leave!"

"This is solely for revenge. If there is no cause and effect involved, do not interfere!"

Before the person even appeared, the thunderous sound reached everyone's ears.

The front gate opened by itself without any wind.

With a shout, the guests rushed towards the main gate, wishing they had been given an extra leg. The gate swept them away like autumn leaves in the wind.

In no time, all the guests at the Guo residence had left.

Zhang Zhengdao also mingled with the crowd and ran out.

He mingled among the crowd again, watching from afar.

This was the first time I had witnessed a feud in the martial arts world. In such matters, right and wrong, small acts of kindness and great acts of evil were all unclear. The cause and effect, good and bad, were not something an outsider like myself could easily interfere with.

Shouts of killing, angry shouts, and screams of agony were mixed with the whooshing sounds of fire, burning, and collapse.

The county officials couldn't come at this time, and even if they did, with such a large commotion, they could only watch from the sidelines and never directly charge in.

Don't you die?

Even the lives of yamen runners matter!

Finally, the curtain fell with a tremendous roar from Grandpa Guo Chengjin, who angrily declared, "I'll fight you to the death!" Apart from the crackling sounds of the fire, there was no further movement.

"The Binjiang Gang settles its scores and grievances, and it has nothing to do with others. Fellow members, the journey of the martial world is long, farewell!"

A loud shout came from the Guo residence, and dozens of figures fled far away, disappearing without a trace.

The fire at the Guo residence burned for a day and a night.

The officials finally arrived late the next day at dusk.

They surveyed and inventoried the ruins.

The final conclusion was that the entire family was wiped out. The cruelty of the methods and the ruthlessness of the actions made the people of Linbin Town afraid to go out for several days.

The name "Binjiang Gang" became known for its ominous reputation in Linbin Town for stopping children from crying.

The government officials collected the remains and returned home.

In Linbin Town, some daring individuals ventured into the ruins, hoping to find something valuable. Even after the government officials had searched the area thoroughly, there was likely still some items left in the corners.

The Binjiang Gang is a gang in Lingzhou Prefecture.

While they were merely a third-rate gang within Lingzhou Prefecture, they were a formidable force in Linjiang Town. Moreover, the massacre of an entire family instantly earned them a fearsome reputation, quickly elevating them to second-rate status.

Half a month later, news came from Lingzhou Prefecture. It said that this case was all due to mutual revenge killings, so only Peng Xiaoji, the deputy leader of the Binjiang Gang, the ringleader, was to be arrested.

His wanted posters were painted all over the city.

The massacre of an entire family has now come to an end.

However, after receiving this news, Zhang Zhengdao didn't stay idle. The government requisitioned him to perform a Buddhist ceremony for the Guo family members who died in the feud.

He gave them three taels of silver.

Three taels of silver sounds like a lot, but Hu Lie, the son of the well-informed butcher Hu, quietly told him that it was originally allocated according to the population, five qian of silver per person.

Guo Chengjin's family of thirty-eight people died, so they should pay out nineteen taels of silver.

Damn, that's really shady!

After the ritual was completed, the ashes of all thirty-eight people were buried in a large pit, without even a tombstone.

Sixteen taels of silver were embezzled, but since only one religious ceremony was performed, there was nothing to argue about. He washed his hands, bought some braised dishes and wine, and returned to the Taoist temple.

There was a young woman in the Taoist temple.

Dressed in pure white, with flowing skirts and a tightly cinched belt, a sword hanging at her waist, and blue leather fish-head boots, she stood ramrod straight, like a javelin before the statue in the main hall.

Business is in!

Zhang Zhengdao stepped forward, placed the braised pork wrapped in lotus leaves aside, and bowed.

"Does the female layperson wish to offer incense?"

The woman turned her head. She was a very pretty girl, with a face so delicate and youthful, probably only seventeen or eighteen years old. However, her face was terribly gloomy and devoid of any color.

"Thank you, Taoist Priest!"

"You're welcome!"

Zhang Zhengdao made some guesses about the young woman's identity.

The young woman bowed to Zhang Zhengdao.

Zhang Zhengdao waved his hand, refusing the offer.

"The Taoist priest allowed the deceased of the Guo family to be laid to rest, and he deserves my bow!"

The young woman bowed to thank Zhang Zhengdao, then took out a silver ingot and placed it in front of the statue in the main hall.

Idols: ...

"I know it's not much, but this is all I have!"

Zhang Zhengdao: "I don't mind if it's too little."

"May I stay at your temple for the night?" the young woman asked again.

Zhang Zhengdao nodded.

Twenty taels for accommodation? That's outrageous! Even a five-star presidential suite is probably cheaper!

In the evening, the woman practiced swordsmanship under the peach trees in front of the Taoist temple.

swish

So beautiful!

Exhausted from practice, the woman plopped down on the ground and cried. She wept silently, her sorrow lingering long afterward.

Zhang Zhengdao had initially considered letting her sleep on the straw while he slept on the bed. It seems that's no longer necessary. The woman, exhausted under the peach tree, slept there for the night.

When I woke up in the morning, I was covered in peach petals.

She was dizzy and somewhat disoriented.

The peach blossoms at the foot of the mountain haven't bloomed yet, so the peach blossoms on the mountain are blooming so profusely. I felt a little strange, but I didn't think about it too much. I just tidied my clothes and went to the main hall.

Zhang Zhengdao was setting out bowls and chopsticks in the backyard when he called out.

"Girl, come here for breakfast."

The woman went over and bowed to Zhang Zhengdao, saying, "Thank you." Without being polite, she sat down, took a steamed bun, and started eating it with her porridge, munching away with gusto.

After eating four or five large steamed buns and drinking three bowls of porridge, the woman felt much better.

"Are you ready, young lady?"

The woman was taken aback, then nodded.

"Do you know what I'm going to do?"

Zhang Zhengdao nodded: "Old Master Guo Chengjin had a total of thirty-eight people, and not a single one is left. But it is said that Guo Chengjin's eldest son, Guo Shoukai, had a daughter who went to Mount Emei to learn martial arts when she was young and has not returned for a decade. Seeing you like this, I can guess why."

The woman suddenly smiled and said, "This humble woman, Guo Lanying, greets the Daoist Master."

Zhang Zhengdao nodded: "I have never heard of Guo Lanying, nor have I ever seen her."

The woman nodded: "I understand."

As the sky gradually turned blue, mist and rain unwittingly enveloped Peach Blossom Mountain.

"Since you have come to pray for blessings, I should offer you some. This is for you; keep it close to your body, and it may bring you good fortune. Sincerity is key."

Zhang Zhengdao handed the woman a talisman folded into a triangle.

The woman took it, nodded, hid it carefully, and bowed to Zhang Zhengdao.

"The journey through the martial world is long and arduous, and there may be no return. Farewell!"

The woman turned around, leaped into the air, and twirled and disappeared into the bushes, never to be seen again. Several birds in the distance took flight in fright.

The month of Wuchen, the day of Jiazi, is an auspicious time for burial and prayer.

Zhang Zhengdao descended the mountain.

Huang Dacai, the owner of a coffin shop, died.

The body was shriveled and completely black.

The coroner at the yamen couldn't determine the cause of death because the body looked as if it had been completely drained of moisture, almost carbonized.

He has a son who followed in his father's footsteps.

The coffin was already in place; it was left there for a day before being put inside.

Because Mr. Huang had a poor relationship with his neighbors, not many people came to pay their respects; they came in twos and threes and left. His son didn't hold a banquet; he just stayed alone in the main room, dressed in mourning clothes.

Zhang Zhengdao chanted sutras and held a ritual, but he paid no attention to it. He just knelt beside the coffin with a gloomy look in his eyes, and it was unknown what he was thinking.

Even though the master didn't care about the one tael and five mace of silver, Zhang Zhengdao didn't slack off. He went through all the required procedures, including jumping the five directions, forming the Yuandian lamp, visiting the ten palaces, crossing the golden bridge, and sending off the gods.

Then sit down and rest.

The host didn't offer him a meal, so he didn't say anything. He just took out a steamed bun and ate it with a bowl of water to fill his stomach.

When you're performing a ritual, you can encounter all sorts of things and meet all sorts of people.

It was already 3:45 AM.

The moon is crescent-shaped.

Riverside Wharf of Lingzhou Prefecture.

A white figure rose into the air under the moonlight, like a fairy floating in the sky.

A flash of sword light, reflecting the moonlight, illuminated the eyes of the burly man before him, and then pierced his heart. The sword light in his eyes had not yet dissipated.