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

The vast lake, resembling a sea, reflects the azure sky beneath its surface. A gentle breeze ripples across its surface, creating shimmering waves that reflect the sunlight.

The lotus flower opened, revealing a jade-like body enveloped in a layer of light.

Suddenly, his eyes opened, and they shone as brightly as a galaxy in a chaotic universe.

When the light dissipated, a girl in a white dress stood on the water-rippled paper, like a fairy on the water, and gently waved her hand.

The lotus flower then fell into her hands.

Walking on the waves.

One lotus flower appears with every step, but disappears after you walk through it.

Once she reached the shore, she looked up at the sky, somewhat lost in thought.

"lady!"

A voice came from behind her.

When she turned around, a Taoist priest in green robes was standing behind her, looking at her with a happy smile.

She smiled sweetly.

“I told you before that you were my wife, but you didn’t believe me then.”

She reached out and grasped Zhang Zhengdao's hand, saying, "I know, thank you for your hard work. In the chaotic universe, in this vast world, you actually managed to find me."

Zhang Zhengdao: ...

He really wanted to say that he wanted to find her, but coming here to find her wasn't something he could decide. Besides... finding her was just a thought; whether he could find her or not, he hadn't really cared that much.

Moreover, it seems he is more interested in finding the Chaos Tree that connects to the chaotic universe, which she took away.

"It's so good that you know how hard I work!"

Zhang Zhengdao then gripped her hand tightly and said, "So now... should I call you Lu Xiaohua or Gu Chunhua?"

"Call me Lu Xiaohua! I like this name."

Amidst the seamless blend of water and sky, the water birds were startled into flight.

An hour later, Zhang Zhengdao stood up with a blade of grass in his mouth, straightened his clothes, spat out the grass, and pulled Lu Xiaohua up with a grin.

"It's been so many years, why are you still in such a hurry?"

Even after all these years, Lu Xiaohua still blushes when doing this kind of thing.

Zhang Zhengdao led her through the reeds, and then, in a small house by the water, he said to Lu Xiaohua, "Do you want to go back to Linbin Town?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiaohua looked at Zhang Zhengdao in surprise.

"I thought that a great immortal like you wouldn't care about kinship in the mortal world. It is said that cultivating immortality requires severing the ties of the mortal world, but it seems that you have not done so!"

Zhang Zhengdao scoffed: "Then have I become an immortal?"

Lu Xiaohua: ...

"Also, don't act so mature. You don't look like a little girl at all. Actually... I still think you were the cutest when you were Lu Tongsheng's daughter in Linbin Town!"

When Zhang Zhengdao spoke, a hint of lingering affection flashed in Lu Xiaohua's eyes.

After being separated by the vastness of the chaotic universe and countless years of wandering and exile, Lu Tongsheng's face suddenly became clear in his mind again.

"Father... how are you?"

When she left, Lu Tongsheng was not dead, nor did he look very old, and he was in good health.

Although she secretly cultivated the path of immortality and wanted to sever all ties with the mortal world, she couldn't help but ask a question when Zhang Zhengdao brought it up.

"That's good, he just misses his daughter!"

Zhang Zhengdao spoke the truth.

Lu Xiaohua's eyes suddenly welled up with tears.

Zhang Zhengdao held her hand: "Actually... cultivating immortality doesn't necessarily mean severing all emotions and desires. Emotional ties only make us feel that the human world is worthwhile. After the vicissitudes of life, there are still people in the human world who have loved us and whom we have loved. We meet different people every day, and then we live different lives... The meaning of immortals cultivating immortality is not to turn themselves into cold, lifeless stones, but to become one with the mortal world. It is precisely because of the love, hate, and grudges of the human world that this world becomes richer, and it also allows immortals to feel the value of their existence..."

Lu Xiaohua listened quietly.

Zhang Zhengdao: "Can you understand what I'm saying?"

Lu Xiaohua rolled her eyes at him: "I'm not stupid!"

Zhang Zhengdao then said, "Alright, now answer me one question—do you want to go back to Linbin Town?"

Lu Xiaohua thought for a moment and looked at Zhang Zhengdao.

"Cultivating immortality, cultivating immortality, returning to simplicity and truth isn't bad. Returning to one's original place, one can see one's true self. Go back, go back to Linbin Town, that's also a place where one can see one's true self."

Sure enough, Lu Xiaohua is still the same Lu Xiaohua as before.

Zhang Zhengdao then asked, "Where is that Tree of Chaos?"

Lu Xiaohua rolled her eyes at him.

"I see now. They're not really looking for me; they just want this tree."

Zhang Zhengdao said, "Look at what you're saying, I only looked for this tree because of you."

Lu Xiaohua couldn't help but punch Zhang Zhengdao: "A man's mouth!"

Men's words are indeed not very reliable.

Not only are men's mouths unreliable, but even monkeys' mouths are unreliable. The monkey told Wang that her junior sister had been forcibly taken by the Bull Demon King to be his concubine.

Enraged, Lady Wang drew her sword and prepared to storm the Bull Demon King's mansion.

The news spread quickly.

The news that the Bull Demon King wanted to marry Zixia Fairy's little apprentice as a concubine spread much faster than the news of the Bull Demon King's escape. This angered Zixia.

That damned Bull Demon King! He used to want to take me as a concubine, and now he even wants to take his own disciple as a concubine.

Not only these people knew, but the entire fairy realm and the immortal realm also knew.

Stories have sprung up everywhere, circulating wildly in teahouses and taverns. Storytellers spit as they go, embellishing and adding details to the plot, hoping to prolong the story and earn more money.

On their way back, Zhang Zhengdao and Lu Xiaohua walked back. When they passed a teahouse in a small town, they heard this story.

Gu Xiaoxian accidentally entered Moyun Cave, where the Bull Demon King subdued his aunt.

This is absolutely outrageous!

"I'll fucking kill him—"

Zhang Zhengdao rolled up his sleeves, abandoned his tea, and was about to go beat up that old bastard who pretended to be blind storyteller.

Lu Xiaohua burst out laughing.

She enjoyed watching Zhang Zhengdao feign righteous indignation to vent his anger for her.

Perhaps this is what Zhang Zhengdao meant by the worth of life!

"Let's go!"

Feeling embarrassed, Lu Xiaohua laughed and grabbed Zhang Zhengdao, then ran away.

Just like when Lu Xiaohua was in Linbin Town, she ran quickly through the streets like an ordinary person.

The two of them were laughing and joking, which attracted some attention.

They ran to a secluded spot, where Lu Xiaohua laughed so hard she bent over, and pointed at Zhang Zhengdao.

Zhang Zhengdao's expression suddenly hardened.

"What's wrong?" Lu Xiaohua asked.

"I forgot to pay!"

Lu Xiaohua opened her mouth wide: "Huh?"

Although she is an immortal, her moral standards are not high enough to allow her to eat in the mortal world without paying and to think it's no big deal.

"Then...what should we do?"

Zhang Zhengdao: "I gave it to you, I was just kidding!"

Lu Xiaohua laughed and punched Zhang Zhengdao a few more times.

Actually, there's nothing to it in the rumors.

The two didn't mind, and continued playing and walking until they arrived at the town.

By this time, almost a month had passed.

The inn's door was closed.

Lu Xiaohua went to knock on the door.

"Squeak!"

The door opened, and it was the fifth senior brother among the six ghosts who opened it. Originally, it was the junior sister who was in charge of opening the door, but the fifth senior brother volunteered to do it in her place.

"Who are you looking for?"

Lu Xiaohua's face has changed back to how it looked in Linbin Town, so it's normal that Fifth Senior Brother doesn't recognize her.

"I am Gu Chunhua!"

As Lu Xiaohua spoke, she turned around, and when she faced her fifth senior brother again, she was already resembling Gu Chunhua.

The fifth senior brother suddenly turned around and shouted loudly inside, "Fairy, fairy, Miss Chunhua is back."

His howl immediately attracted five other ghosts, who all gathered around to see what was so strange.

Zhang Zhengdao, who was walking behind, was not even noticed by them. They all crowded around Lu Xiaohua and led her into the courtyard.

Zixia came out of the room and immediately saw Zhang Zhengdao.

She glared at him fiercely before looking at Lu Xiaohua and saying, "You've become the Bull Demon King's concubine?"

Zhang Zhengdao exclaimed, "How could that be!"

Lu Xiaohua said with a smile, "Master... I'm afraid it will be difficult to assign this title in the future."

Zixia was taken aback.

Lu Xiaohua turned around again, revealing her true form. She said, "The Bull Demon King's Samadhi True Fire did burn me, but it also burned out my true form."

Zixia suddenly realized something and pointed at Zhang Zhengdao, speechless.

"He...he...is he really your husband?"

Lu Xiaohua nodded apologetically.