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

This is outrageous, but it's true.

The beauty and charm of the white peony can even captivate women.

The long-bearded Taoist priest didn't care and looked at the madam, saying, "What if I insist on taking her away today?"

The madam nodded: "Sure!"

The long-bearded Taoist priest was taken aback. He hadn't expected the madam to be so agreeable. Did she know his abilities and dare not resist? So he nodded and said, "Seeing how agreeable you are, you can come to me if you need anything in the future, and I'll help you solve it."

The madam nodded, then stretched out her hand: "Ten thousand taels of gold."

The long-bearded Taoist priest was taken aback, then became furious, realizing that the madam was harassing him. He angrily retorted, "Do you think you can stop me from taking this peony flower fairy away?"

The madam sneered, "Who would dare to covet the property of Master Qiu in Jiangning?"

He clapped his hands, and immediately more than a dozen guards jumped out of the painted boat, holding swords and knives, and surrounded the long-bearded Taoist priest. With a shout, they raised their swords and spears, creating a powerful and imposing scene.

The long-bearded Taoist priest laughed heartily.

"You don't think these people can stop me?"

"What if you add me?"

At that moment, a person suddenly appeared from the darkness on the roof of the painted boat, without even the long-bearded Taoist priest noticing.

The long-bearded Taoist priest was startled, took a step back, and looked up at the man.

A man dressed as a scholar in blue robes was looking at him with a cold smile.

The long-bearded Taoist priest asked, "Who are you?"

The scholar in blue said, "Who I am is not important. What is important is that I cannot stand people who seize by trickery and force. I presume you are not an unknown person either. Why not state your name?"

The long-bearded Taoist priest loudly proclaimed, "I do not change my name or surname, I am Lü Yan."

Lü Yan?

Zhang Zhengdao, who had been idly watching the commotion, was taken aback and couldn't help but laugh out loud. So it was a Taoist priest named Hua. Lü Dongbin had indeed come to find Bai Mudan.

Zhang Zhengdao's loud laugh drew the attention of everyone, especially Bai Mudan, who rolled her eyes and looked quite charming.

"You guys continue, I'll stay here and keep quiet!"

Zhang Zhengdao quickly tried to smooth things over.

"However... I've booked Bai Mudan for tonight, so... if you're going to fight, don't interfere with my business with the madam!"

Lü Dongbin angrily retorted, "Shameless!"

The scholar in blue robes laughed loudly: "Does Immortal Lü also find this shameless? Why do you resort to such trickery and force? Is it because you covet the Peony Fairy's pure Yin Immortal Body?"

Lü Dongbin said coldly, "Don't slander me. State your name. We'll have to have a fight. If I lose, I'll leave without a word. If I win, I'll definitely take Bai Mudan away tonight."

The scholar in blue robes said, "I am Jia Desheng, a disciple of Master Xiyi, also known as Master Fire Dragon."

Upon hearing this, Lü Dongbin felt a surge of respect, realizing that the man was a disciple of Master Xiyi.

This Master Xiyi is a true disciple of Taoism, whose great name I have long heard of. However, Master Xiyi has recently gone into seclusion and has not appeared in public, so it has been difficult to meet him. I never expected that his disciple would be here today.

So she started speaking more politely.

Lü Dongbin: "Since you are a disciple of Master Xiyi, I should naturally show you some respect. However, this white peony is a peony flower demon, and it cannot be allowed to wreak havoc on the human world. I ask Master Huolong to be more tolerant."

Mr. Fire Dragon was getting a little impatient.

"You Taoist priest, you neither fight nor leave, what exactly do you want? I've said it before, I'm here today, you can't take Bai Mudan away."

Lü Dongbin also felt that this battle was unavoidable, so he said, "Alright, then I'll have to offend you. You and I will go over there to fight, but let's not hurt the innocent people on the river."

With a light touch of the toes, the whole person vanished as if carried away by the wind into the night.

"go!"

With a flick of his sword, Mr. Fire Dragon vanished from his spot.

As soon as the two left, Bai Mudan immediately clutched her chest, rushed towards Zhang Zhengdao, pressed her hand to her chest, frowned, and spoke in a soft, delicate voice.

"Master, my chest hurts. That Taoist's sword energy injured my chest just now..."

Zhang Zhengdao: "Did that Taoist priest draw his sword just now?"

Bai Mudan said weakly, "I didn't draw the sword, but its aura hurt me. Daoist, you don't mind, do you? Could you heal my wound first?"

Zhang Zhengdao nodded: "I couldn't be happier!"

The madam said with a forced smile, "Taoist priest, how about we pay the overnight fee?"

Zhang Zhengdao waved his hand, and two more plates of gold were laid out.

The madam was overjoyed and immediately said to Bai Mudan, "Take good care of the master..."

Zhang Zhengdao: ...

Are you saying the wrong thing, you old madam?

Before she could finish speaking, Bai Mudan pulled Zhang Zhengdao into the room inside the painted boat, seemingly even more impatient than Zhang Zhengdao.

The cabin inside the ship was furnished with brocade quilts, embroidered couches, flowing mosquito nets, and red candles casting shadows—truly a haven of comfort and tranquility.

Zhang Zhengdao said, "I have a method for enduring battle, which we can try tonight."

Bai Mudan said shyly, "Oh no! Aren't you afraid that I really am a demon?!"

Zhang Zhengdao said, "As the saying goes, 'To die beneath the peony is to die a romantic death,' what am I afraid of? Isn't it good to be a romantic ghost? Come, let's have a drink first!"

After a glass of wine, the candlelight glowed red.

……

The madam listened intently for a long time but heard nothing. Somewhat unwilling, she leaned over the roof again, trying to peek down from above, but she couldn't see anything either.

All I could see was a vast expanse of white.

Did they succeed, or did they fail?

The madam was getting a little anxious.

Following the usual pattern, Bai Mudan should have succeeded by now, right? She should be coming out by now. But she still had a lot of faith in her little Bai.

So I waited and waited, peeking through the crack in the door!

My feet were burning from waiting, and they still hadn't come out.

Finally, sitting on the wooden board, her head bobbed up and down as she began to doze off.

"hehe--"

I woke up suddenly, wiped the drool from the corner of my mouth, and looked around in a panic. There were still many painted boats floating on the Qinhuai River.

It seems like only a short time has passed.

The white peony should be out by now!

But it still didn't come out.

There was no other way; I had to force my way in.

So she told the maid to bring over a plate of wine and dishes, then went to the room and knocked on the door.

"Peony, I've brought you wine and food. It'll be more fun for you and the Taoist priest to eat and play together!" With that, she pushed the door open gently.

Sure enough, inside, the Taoist priest and Bai Mudan were sitting at a round table in the middle of the room, having a drink. When they saw the madam come in, the Taoist priest smiled and said, "Thank you for your help!"

The madam secretly winked at Bai Mudan.

Bai Mudan lowered her head shyly, not daring to look at the madam.

When the madam approached Bai Mudan, she gave a soft hum and said in a low voice, "Watch your manners!" She even winked as she spoke.

Bai Mudan also lowered her voice: "Mom, don't worry, I know, don't worry about it!"

When the madam saw the Taoist priest looking at her, she forced a smile and said, "I won't disturb you any longer. You can eat first, and I'll get you more if you're not full."

The madam felt a little relieved after he left, and instead of lying there, she went to wait in the back room. She rested her chin on her hand, her elbow propped on a stool, lost in thought.

I wonder how the fight between Mr. Fire Dragon and that Taoist Lu Yan is going.

My vision is becoming increasingly blurry.

She didn't know how much time had passed when suddenly the madam's elbow slipped from her grasp, and she nearly fell to the ground. She steadied herself in a panic, stood up, and looked...

broken!

It was broad daylight.

She quickly ran to the room with the white peony on the painted boat. The door was still closed, so she pushed it open and went in. She was immediately dumbfounded.

Bai Mudan lay sprawled on the bed, her eyes swollen from crying.

"Mom...I don't want to live anymore!"

Hearing the mournful voice, the madam knew immediately that things were going badly; the Taoist priest had taken advantage of her. Anxious, she asked urgently, "Didn't you use any magic? What about your bewitching techniques?"

Bai Mudan said with a bitter face, "That Taoist priest pretended to be a pig to eat the tiger, I...I...Waaah..."

The madam, still somewhat unwilling to give up, asked, "Did he really succeed?"

The white peony nodded pitifully, tears still clinging to her face; she was a sight to behold.

"Hmm, that guy really does know some kind of war-wearing technique... Waaaaah..."

That means you've suffered a huge loss!

The madam's face paled, and she sighed deeply. After a long pause, she asked, "That Mr. Fire Dragon didn't come back last night? Doesn't he care?"

Bai Mudan said, "He never came back at all."

Mr. Fire Dragon did not return. He and Lü Dongbin flew to the mountains outside the city, where they fought fiercely, each using their own methods, and the battle was evenly matched.

Surprisingly, they eventually developed a mutual respect and appreciation for each other.

Lu Dongbin's long sword, like a silver dragon, clashed with Mr. Fire Dragon's sword, which was also like a fire dragon, in the air, and finally transformed into a sky full of silver flames that scattered.

The two men each took several steps back, then with a wave of their hands, their swords returned to their respective homes.