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

Since the monkey resumed protecting Tang Sanzang on his journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures, Tang Sanzang has become more profound.

Even their speech is very brief.

Occasionally, when Tang Sanzang and his disciples were resting at night, the monkey would somersault down to the foot of Qingcheng Mountain and quietly watch Wang Shi practice her sword under the moonlight.

Wang's sword dance under the moon was exactly the same as Bai Jingjing's.

The monkey felt as if it had traveled through time, recalling its days as a bandit.

But five hundred years later, he was no longer a bandit.

Because now he is no longer a rebellious monkey, nor is he a bandit leader who was suppressed by Guanyin Bodhisattva and forced to reincarnate.

"The fat monk is gone?"

Sun Wukong glanced at Zhang Zhengdao, who was sitting next to him reading a book.

Without the fat monk, Zhang Zhengdao rarely drinks alone.

One person doesn't drink alcohol, and two people don't gamble.

This is a custom from Zhang Zhengdao's hometown on Earth.

Zhang Zhengdao laughed and said, "Fat monk? Even your fiery eyes aren't enough!"

Sun Wukong chuckled: "It's not that it's impossible, it depends on the person. For example, I wouldn't be able to work with a Taoist priest."

Zhang Zhengdao said, "The fat monk is your enemy, he suppressed you for five hundred years, haha, how about it? You've been on brotherly terms with him for a while, hasn't that overturned your worldview?"

The monkey had some suspicions, but when Zhang Zhengdao said it, its eyes widened in surprise.

"The Tathagata Buddha?"

"Exactly!"

The monkey jumped up and cursed angrily: "That old bald monk, why didn't you just send the scriptures over directly? Why did you have to send a reincarnated monk to fetch them? Is it impossible to transmit the scriptures without doing it this way?"

Zhang Zhengdao laughed heartily: "It's just that we have to endure hardship when there's no suffering. Besides, if we don't go on the pilgrimage, how can we share the merits? If we don't share the merits, how can we bestow titles like Buddha or Arhat... Expanding the organization and strengthening our power requires an excuse, right? Otherwise, why would the Heavenly Court agree?"

"I regret!"

The monkey's gaze was unfocused.

"If you regret it, then don't go!"

Monkey: "But I have to go even if I regret it. I made a promise, and if I don't do it, I'll look down on myself."

Zhang Zhengdao: "That's true. It's not important whether others look down on you or not. What's important is that you have a foundation of mental fortitude. Otherwise, it's easy to lose your bottom line."

"After obtaining the true scriptures, do you plan to become an ascetic in Buddhism? I reckon someone like you would become a combat Buddha, boosting Buddhism's fighting power—it's a disguised form of recruitment expansion..."

The monkey laughed loudly: "If I become a Buddha, will I still be able to marry Bai Jingjing?"

Zhang Zhengdao: "You'll have to ask Buddha about that."

The monkey shook its head: "I won't ask Buddha. I will follow my heart. Goodbye, Taoist priest!" With that, it disappeared in a somersault.

Wang stopped her sword dance, then turned to look at Zixia, who in turn looked at Zhang Zhengdao and said, "The monkey is here?"

Zhang Zhengdao: "They came and then left."

Fairy Zixia: "Why did you leave so soon? Usually, my disciple would sit there all day long."

Zhang Zhengdao said, "I probably won't be coming back for a long time."

"what--"

A soft gasp escaped Wang's lips. Seemingly sensing that Zhang Zhengdao and Zixia were looking at her, she covered her mouth with her hand, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Zixia teased, "What's wrong? You're reluctant to part with it?"

For many days now, the monkey has been coming to visit Wang's house frequently.

Wang also learned that the monkey had once been a very capable hero, especially for his deeds of causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace, which she greatly admired.

She didn't know when it started, but she really looked forward to the monkey watching her practice swordsmanship.

I was somewhat surprised, but mostly disappointed, after hearing today that the monkeys might not be coming for a long time.

"Why... why?"

Zhang Zhengdao said, "He said he would fulfill his promise to protect Tang Sanzang all the way to the Western Paradise, and then he would decide where he would go next."

"Ah?" Wang exclaimed in surprise, "Then...did he say where we'd go after we got the scriptures?"

Zhang Zhengdao smiled: "Where do you want him to go?"

Wang blushed and ran into her room.

In fact, the two gradually developed feelings for each other, which was a natural progression. In ancient times, what woman could resist such feelings?

Zixia stared blankly at the western sky.

"Miss your sister?"

Zixia nodded and said, "Actually, I really want to go see my sister too. I wonder how she is now. Is she even more lonely without me by her side while she's cultivating with Buddha?"

"I'll take you to see it sometime, there's plenty of time."

Yes, there's still a long time to go.

Shu Baimei also felt that there was still plenty of time, so she went out to explore the world on her own. After wandering around for a while, she returned to accompany Zhang Zhengdao for some time.

After spending some time with someone, they get bored and will go off to explore the world again.

This is good for married life, as it helps maintain a sense of novelty in the long run.

After all, during the long years of cultivation, seeing the same face repeatedly can indeed lead to a feeling of weariness. It's like many couples who, being together every day, can't help but get tired of looking at each other.

Anyway, Zhang Zhengdao has a terminal infertility.

A person of the Great Way?

The great path is solitary; it has always been explored by one person alone.

Zhang Zhengdao was the same way. After staying at home for a while, he would say goodbye to Fairy Zixia and then go out to roam the world. Now, judging by the time, the Monkey King should have reached the Western Paradise by now.

Wang is now counting down the days on her fingers all day long.

Zhang Zhengdao didn't know if Monkey and Wang Shi really got together, or if he would have to leave this world again. If that were the case, what would he mean to this world?

Witness the experiences of the male and female protagonists, then have the woman who stole the male protagonist's heart put a certain color hat on the monkey? Is that all?

Actually, he still wanted to return to his own world on Earth.

That's the real world, at least that's how it is for me.

After all, in that world, I was a life form that developed from a fertilized egg, and my thoughts were gradually formed on Earth. My most basic values ​​were also learned on Earth.

Although one may learn some things in other worlds, the most basic inheritance ultimately comes from Earth.

Sigh, I don't want to think about it anymore, or I'll miss the courtesan performance in Jiangning City.

Zhang Zhengdao stood up, then stood on the deck of a large ship, raised his cup and shouted loudly, "White Peony, White Peony, I want to hear the Eighteen Farewell Scenes."

A woman in a white dress chuckled softly, "Taoist Master, would you like to hear about the Eighteen Aspects... and touch them?"

This woman is Bai Mudan, the most beautiful courtesan in Jiangning, aloof in front of ordinary people but skilled at playing the zither in front of dignitaries. Her eyes are very alluring, and her dancing dress is made of silk, very smooth, with a lining of underwear underneath.

As everyone knows, when dancing in this kind of clothing, it slides around and easily shows off long legs.

Zhang Zhengdao was in high spirits, drinking heavily, when he finished dancing and his mind went blank.

"another one!"

Zhang Zhengdao clapped.

"reward!"

So a plate of ten gold ingots was taken out and placed on a tray. When Bai Mudan looked at the plate of gold, her eyes turned a bright orange.

"Thank you, Master Xie! Thank you for your generous gift!"

Bai Mudan exclaimed with delight, "This humble servant will perform another thrilling aerial acrobatic act for the Taoist priest..."

Holy crap, how does she understand men's hearts so well!

If a person in the air were to tilt their head back, wouldn't their nose bleed?

Zhang Zhengdao's adventures in the martial world this time involve spending money like water; it's a different way of experiencing life. The money he earned at Peach Blossom Temple, the treasures he acquired in Journey to the West, and his use in A Chinese Odyssey—it all makes perfect sense.

I used to be stingy because money was an anchor for me in this other world, and also a source of emotional support. Now that I know it's another world, of course I'll earn money here and use it here!

It's time to experience a more extravagant lifestyle.

Bai Mudan immediately tugged at her silk skirt, preparing to perform a trapeze act.

"stop!"

Suddenly, a shout came from the sky. When everyone looked up, they saw a Taoist priest with a face like jade, a long beard that flowed, wearing a gray robe, carrying a long sword on his back, and holding a whisk in his hand. He descended from the sky, looking as ethereal as a celestial being.

She landed lightly on the deck, looking at Bai Mudan, then at Zhang Zhengdao and the other musicians, the madam, and the maids who served them.

"Get out of here!"

The long-bearded Taoist waved his hand arrogantly and flicked his whisk.

“Taoist, you’re being unreasonable. You seemed like a person with cultivation just now, so why are you speaking so arrogantly?” The madam, being knowledgeable and experienced, mustered her courage and stepped forward to speak.

The Taoist priest laughed loudly: "I'm saving you, but you're ungrateful. Do you even know who this White Peony in front of you is?"

The madam became proud, as if she had gained confidence, and said arrogantly, "Naturally, she is Bai Mudan, the most beautiful woman in Jiangning. I can see that you have come here because of her reputation. No woman will like you like this."

The long-bearded Taoist chuckled, "Nobody likes her? Heh, if you knew who she was, you wouldn't be asking me that."

The madam said, "Who are they? Do you think I don't know?"

The long-bearded Taoist said, "No, you don't know. This white peony is actually a peony flower demon in disguise. Today... I'm here to subdue her, understand?"

Upon hearing this, the madam burst into laughter, laughing so hard she nearly fell over.

"You know our White Peony is a vixen, don't you?" The madam looked at her as if she were an idiot. "Every man who says that about our White Peony, eleven out of ten, would say the same thing."

The long-bearded Taoist was taken aback: "Eleven?"

The madam puffed out her chest proudly: "Of course, there's also a woman."