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

"Hmph—" Zhang Zhengdao refused righteously, "You vixen, what nonsense are you spouting? When did I ever want to fight you? Drain my life force? Wishful thinking! Bah!"

Bai Mudan rolled her eyes and turned to go into the room.

The remaining men stood in the courtyard.

Standing on the rooftop, sitting in the yard, lingering under the shade of the trees—several people were staring at each other, but now the victims are all gone.

"I have a suggestion. We've become friends through a misunderstanding, so how about we have a meal together? I'll make the arrangements."

Mr. Fire Dragon has a real vision.

"Alright... White Peony, come out and have some fun—" Zhang Zhengdao called out into the house.

White Peony: "Go to hell—"

Zhang Zhengdao looked at everyone and spread his hands: "It's not that I don't want to, it's just that she's unwilling."

In fact, this question and answer was a way of telling everyone present that Bai Mudan was his favorite, and they should stop trying to seduce her.

These words were perfectly clear, yet Lü Dongbin ultimately said nothing, and everything became a settled matter.

The so-called cauldron is nothing more than a cauldron. It would be absolutely not worth it to damage the relationship between master and disciple for the sake of the cauldron. One can only swallow one's anger.

However, he still had some doubts about Zhang Zhengdao's abilities.

Although Tieguai Li and Zhang Zhengdao addressed each other as fellow Daoist, he had never seen Tieguai Li display his true abilities. Cultivators of his age often preferred to show off their prowess in public and engage in fierce competition.

"Let's go, don't be impulsive in the future."

Tieguai Li tugged at Lü Dongbin's sleeve.

Although Lü Dongbin was somewhat unconvinced, Zhang Zhengdao had saved him after all, so he had no choice but to accept his fate. He prepared to leave with Tieguai Li, but as he took a step, his foot slipped, and he almost fell.

A stench wafted up from beneath my feet.

I almost threw up, and when I looked at the ground again, it turned out to be a pile of runny poop.

Lü Dongbin jumped up and cursed, "That immoral, heartless, and shameless scoundrel, that filthy slut who doesn't even use the latrine to defecate..."

Tieguai Li quickly tugged at his sleeve: "Let's go, don't embarrass yourselves."

The two of them disappeared into the courtyard in an instant.

He slipped out of the courtyard and arrived at a City God Temple in the city. Tieguai Li leaned to one side, half-lying down, took out his gourd, and took a sip of wine.

Lü Dongbin continued to curse and swear.

He cast a dust-removing spell and sat down right next to her.

Tieguai Li moved a little further away and said, "You stink, don't come near me."

Lü Dongbin said, "I used the dust-removing spell!"

Tieguai Li pointed to his feet: "Smell them yourself."

When Lü Dongbin looked down, he saw that there were still some yellowish-white things sticking to the ground, and a sour, rotten stench hit him so badly that he almost passed out.

"No way, I already used magic!"

Lü Dongbin was surprised, so he used another dust-removing spell to increase his magical output.

then……

The soles were still stuck together in that same lump; it looked disgusting.

He looked at the soles of his shoes in surprise, then at Tieguai Li, and exclaimed with wide eyes, "Master...this...this doesn't make sense, how could this be..."

Tieguai Li poked his forehead with his cane and said with exasperation, "Why do you say that?"

Lu Dongbin said, feeling wronged, "I don't know either. Something's strange. Could this pile of shit have been left by some... powerful being? Aren't powerful beings supposed to be detached from worldly affairs...?"

Tieguai Li sighed: "This is clearly a lesson Zhang Zhenren taught you. Don't think he has no temper; he only didn't make things difficult for you because of our relationship."

Lü Dongbin: "I know he has some skills..."

Tieguai Li chuckled: "Some skill? More than just some skill. Let me put it this way, either you throw these shoes away, or you can use the dust-removing spell ten thousand times and still not get rid of the poop on the soles."

Lü Dongbin was unconvinced: "That can't be right, I have to try!"

Tieguai Li moved away a bit to avoid smelling the stench and affecting his drinking. Even though he was a beggar, there were still smells that beggars couldn't stand.

For the entire night, Lü Dongbin kept chanting the dust-removing spell over the boot.

yard.

Mr. Fire Dragon bowed to Zhang Zhengdao: "I didn't expect to have such a master by my side. I'll be hosting a banquet tomorrow, please do me the honor of attending!"

Zhang Zhengdao said, "Definitely, definitely."

Mr. Fire Dragon clasped his hands in farewell and took his leave.

After he fled, Zhang Zhengdao entered the room.

Bai Mudan looked at Zhang Zhengdao with seductive eyes, leaned closer, and poked Zhang Zhengdao's chest with one hand: "You're so annoying! I didn't know you were so capable!"

"I've already seen how capable I am, haven't I? You're not convinced!"

"If you're not convinced, then come at me!"

……

The next morning, Bai Mudan was in pain all over her body and stayed in bed, refusing to get up.

Zhang Zhengdao defied common sense.

There are oxen that never die from plowing, and fields that are ruined by over-plowing.

After getting up and washing up, Zhang Zhengdao ate the tea and snacks brought by the madam for breakfast. The madam was so attentive because her eyes had caught sight of a plate of gold on the table.

It was bright yellow, so bright it dazzled her eyes.

Zhang Zhengdao ate breakfast and went out; romantic feelings have never been his forte.

If traveling between different worlds is just for romance, then that's a huge waste.

The madam was delighted with so much gold, but seeing the girl lying in bed recovering from her injuries, she felt a pang of heartache and brought her some pigeon soup to help her recover.

"I told you to take it easy, but you wouldn't listen. Now look what happened, you've hurt yourself!"

The madam said.

The white peony, looking shy, propped herself up to drink the soup.

The madam continued, "Originally, we planned to lure Lü Dongbin into a trap so we could control him. But now things have gone wrong. Won't the master be angry?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Mudan's face paled, and she shook her head, saying, "I know that too, but I haven't even mentioned it to the Lord yet."

The madam said, "Our master isn't unreasonable. Just talk it out and say that a Taoist priest intercepted us. Or... how about we send this Master Zhang to our master?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Mudan became anxious.

"No, no, this Master Zhang is still useful..."

The madam rolled her eyes: "What's the use? You're using it yourself, aren't you? Is it because of that... method of enduring hardship?"

Seeing the madam staring intently at her, Bai Mudan nodded shyly.

"This method is truly miraculous. After just two attempts, my cultivation has already shown signs of loosening. It really can help with cultivation."

Upon hearing this, the madam did not believe it. She reached out and placed her hand on Bai Mudan's wrist, and immediately felt a force that shook her hand away.

Her eyes widened immediately in disbelief.

That power was indeed very strong, at least much stronger than the previous White Peony.

So scary?

No, no!

The madam suddenly became obsequious, smiling at Bai Mudan, "Little Bai, look at you! I've watched you grow up all these years. How can I keep such a good thing to myself? How about... you introduce me to the Taoist priest, give me a chance to drug him?"

Listen, do people say it?

White Peony immediately panicked!

"You toad spirit..."

Bai Mudan speaks without thinking.

"You want to eat swan meat, huh? The Taoist priest's cultivation is profound. How could he possibly hide the drug from you? In a fit of rage, he'll kill you, skin you alive, and eat your flesh, ensuring you never rise again."

The madam could only sigh; Bai Mudan was heavily guarded, and the Taoist priest was highly skilled, making it really difficult to make a move.

Normally, Bai Mudan would openly seduce people, lure them into her room, drug them, and then the madam would take over when they finally shared a bed.

This kind of trickery of substituting one thing for another is usually very sophisticated, but it doesn't work when it encounters a master.

Zhang Zhengdao went out and wandered aimlessly down the street.

Jiangning Prefecture was an important town and an ancient capital, its prosperity rivaling that of the capital. In particular, it had a pleasant climate and the world-famous Qinhuai River, a place where countless literati and scholars had devoted their aspirations.

Zhang Zhengdao remembered poems like "Singing girls know not the sorrow of a fallen nation, still singing 'The Flowers of the Rear Courtyard' across the river."

Brothel culture was very prevalent.

While there wasn't a direct correlation between prosperity and prostitution in ancient times, there was certainly an important one.

The white peony I encountered was the best and the most representative of them.

White Peony's roots are in Heaven; she was a celestial maiden who descended to earth, but unexpectedly gave birth to a demon's child, ultimately ending up being controlled and forced to sell her smiles here.

Originally, Bai Mudan was destined to become Lü Dongbin's furnace, but Zhang Zhengdao has now intercepted it.

This hijacking wasn't intentional on Zhang Zhengdao's part. It's just that when a man travels the world, it's like a heavy truck driver on a long journey; there are always long stretches of time that are hard to pass.

Men understand.

So Zhang Zhengdao and Bai Mudan had only known each other for two or three days, so where did this deep affection come from?

This White Peony wanted to work for the Demon King; that day on the pleasure boat on the Qinhuai River, she was preparing to offer him to the Demon King. Zhang Zhengdao was the victim.

As Zhang Zhengdao was wandering aimlessly through the streets after leaving home, he encountered Lü Dongbin again.

This time, Lü Dongbin was very polite: "Greetings, Daoist Master."

Zhang Zhengdao said, "If you spare Bai Mudan's life when you are exorcising demons, that would be a meritorious deed. As for whether she will become your furnace, you cannot force her. If I find out that you are forcing her to become your furnace, I will definitely skin her alive, tear out her tendons, and banish her soul to the deepest hell, where she will suffer every day."