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

The abbot of Peach Blossom Temple?

He was banished to the mortal realm and became a human.

Now, the power of Peach Blossom Temple has fallen into the hands of his eldest disciple, Qingyangzi, who is in charge of the temple. The former abbot, who advocated the righteous path, has been treated like an emperor emeritus.

Storytellers dare to say anything.

Anyway, it's easy to spread rumors, but it takes a lot of legwork to refute them.

If you're so capable, why don't you refute this rumor yourself?

Storytellers will tell whatever story can move the audience. Otherwise, the originally handsome Wu Dalang wouldn't have been portrayed as a short, ugly man. And the originally virtuous and kind Pan Jinlian wouldn't have been depicted as a woman of infamy.

Therefore, spreading rumors and creating trouble has been an essential skill for storytellers since ancient times.

"Aren't you angry?"

As Lu Xiaohua emerged from the storyteller's shed, she asked Zhang Zhengdao with a smile.

Zhang Zhengdao sat there listening to the story, and no one recognized him. When he wanted people to recognize him, they would, and when he didn't want them to, no matter how hard they looked, they wouldn't recognize him.

"What are you angry about?"

"Those people made up your story? And they even made money from it!"

Zhang Zhengdao said, "If they can still make money by making up stories about me, it means I have some value in their eyes. Once they stop talking about me, then I have no value and become someone who is dispensable."

Lu Xiaohua nodded: "You're always so right."

After walking for a while, the two looked up and saw a wine flag hanging in front of them, so they went inside.

Looking at Lu Tongsheng working on his abacus behind the counter, Lu Xiaohua couldn't help but feel tears welling up in her eyes. She couldn't understand why she, who already had memories of her past life and had become an immortal, would still shed tears.

Zhang Zhengdao didn't disturb her and walked into the store on his own.

At this moment, Lu Tongsheng raised his head and saw Zhang Zhengdao. He immediately cupped his hands and smiled, "My dear son-in-law is back. This is a great event in Linbin Town."

Zhang Zhengdao waved his hand, bowed, and said with a smile, "Greetings, Father-in-law."

"Sit down, sit down, we'll prepare some wine for you right away."

As he turned to call out to Sister-in-law Gui, he suddenly froze, his whole body stiff and motionless, as if he had been frozen in place.

Both father and daughter were frozen in place.

Zhang Zhengdao, being sensible, found a place to sit down. Gui Dasao, who was standing nearby, pulled Zhang Zhengdao aside, served him drinks, and also brought him a plate of braised pig's head.

"Master, now that you're back, does that mean the Taoist temple truly belongs to Qingyangzi?"

Zhang Zhengdao: "You listened to storytelling in town?"

Sister-in-law Gui wiped her hands, looking completely unfazed: "These days, who doesn't listen to storytelling? There are plenty of people in Linbin Town who listen to storytelling, and plenty of storytellers too."

They all have money to make trouble.

Since they became wealthy, the people of Linbin Town have become incredibly extravagant. People who drink tea, listen to storytelling, walk their birds, and enjoy operas have sprung up like mushrooms after rain.

As a result, there were also more storytellers and opera troupes.

It also spurred the emergence of some biographers, and several popular books circulating in the town recently are darker in color than the straw mat that Zhang Zhengdao read back then.

It is said that the author stayed with Widow Tian for five days and five nights before he finished writing the book. After finishing it, he fell seriously ill and it took more than a month for him to gradually recover.

Sister-in-law Gui kept pressing, "You really weren't banished from heaven?"

Zhang Zhengdao took a sip of his drink: "It really isn't."

Sister-in-law Gui asked in confusion, "So, after you're demoted, you're no different from an ordinary person?"

Zhang Zhengdao said, "Although I have been to the Heavenly Court, I am good friends with the Jade Emperor, and I have even drunk wine with the Queen Mother of the West. Laozi has given me gifts, and Buddha gave me a purple-gold alms bowl..."

Sister-in-law Gui laughed heartily.

"You're just talking nonsense. You think you can meet those important figures? You'd be more likely to get a chipped bowl than a golden alms bowl! Haha—"

Zhang Zhengdao retorted, "What do you mean by a chipped bowl? It's a genuine purple-gold bowl."

Sister-in-law Gui: "Is the broken begging bowl useful for begging? You beg in Heaven, right? Did you come down here because you couldn't make it in Heaven and thought the mortal world was better?"

This brain circuit.

Zhang Zhengdao asked in surprise, "From which storyteller did you hear this?"

Sister-in-law Gui said, "That storyteller in the east of the city has a sage-like air about him. He claims to be a banished immortal and knows a lot about your affairs!"

Zhang Zhengdao: ...

Sister-in-law Gui: "Which one did you hear that from?"

Zhang Zhengdao said, "The one in the west of the city is quite expensive; it cost five copper coins."

Sister-in-law Gui couldn't help but sneer: "You know, the storyteller there is known throughout the town for making things up, and he charges the same price as everyone else. Not many people listen to him, right?"

"There are still some people."

Sister-in-law Gui leaned closer mysteriously and whispered in Zhang Zhengdao's ear, "Are you going to take back your position as abbot or not?"

Zhang Zhengdao also whispered, "I was originally the abbot, wasn't I?"

……

Why do I have to speak so quietly? I am the abbot, not someone who plots to usurp the throne or schemes to seize power...

I was led astray by Sister-in-law Gui.

"Sister-in-law Gui, bring me five catties of peach blossom wine."

Suddenly a rough voice came from the doorway, followed by a "Huh?"

"lady!"

The four voices shouted together.

It turned out that the Four Heroes of Kunshan had come in for a drink and saw Lu Tongsheng and Lu Xiaohua, who were still gazing at each other as father and daughter, at the door. They all recognized Lu Xiaohua and immediately called out to her.

Zhang Zhengdao has returned, but they haven't had time to visit him yet because the whole town of Linbin is in an uproar. They'll have to wait until things settle down and the town is peaceful before they can pay him a visit.

I never expected to run into Lu Xiaohua here.

Lu Xiaohua naturally remembered that the four people had fallen into the water to save her, and her initially sad mood suddenly turned cheerful.

He smiled and said, "Greetings to the four esteemed heroes."

She did not address them by their official titles, but rather as "Great Heroes," which pleased the Four Heroes of Kunshan greatly.

In their minds, a chivalrous hero is more valuable than an official.

This is also the ultimate goal of people in the martial arts world.

“My husband is drinking inside, why don’t the four of you join us?” Lu Xiaohua suggested.

Upon hearing that Zhang Zhengdao was inside, the four were overjoyed. They immediately clasped their hands in greeting and then hurried towards the winery.

"You've suffered!" Lu Tongsheng invited Lu Xiaohua in to sit down.

They moved a bench for her and sat her down next to the counter. The father and daughter had a lot to talk about.

However, as he spoke, Lu Tongsheng could not hold back his tears. Although he managed to restrain himself from wailing, he still couldn't control his tears because of the myriad emotions in his heart.

"Master Daoist—"

The moment the eldest brother saw Zhang Zhengdao, he knelt down with a "plop".

Seeing that the eldest brother had knelt, the second brother quickly knelt down as well, but for some reason, the eldest brother suddenly knelt down as well. The third brother saw this and quickly knelt down as well, followed by the fourth brother.

The men drinking in the distillery were so frightened that they hurriedly stood up and tried to run away, but Sister-in-law Gui shouted, "If you dare to run away and don't pay, I'll chop you up!"

So the group obediently returned to pay, and said to the four heroes of Kunshan kneeling on the ground, "Lord Commander, we didn't mean to skip out on the bill, we were just scared..."

"It's alright!" the eldest brother said in a strong voice.

Zhang Zhengdao helped him up: "Why are you kneeling? You said you wouldn't kneel!"

The eldest brother chuckled sheepishly, "I was just so excited, my legs were a little weak." He quickly stood up.

The other three brothers quickly stood up as well.

The eldest brother said, "Master, it's good that you're back. My brothers and I have discussed it and we're ready to wait for your order. We, the Four Heroes of Kunshan, will lead our men and chop that little brat to pieces."

Zhang Zhengdao quickly asked, "What's going on? Who are they going to chop?"

The eldest looked at Zhang Zhengdao in surprise: "No, Daoist, you've already had Qingyangzi seize power, how can you not take it back? That's your foundation!"

I've been misled by storytellers again these past few days.

"What do you mean, 'seize'? I asked him to manage it. I'm too lazy to get involved; it's too much trouble." Zhang Zhengdao decided to explain, otherwise, with the rumors spreading, his tragic life story would circulate in Linbin Town for quite some time.

The eldest brother asked tentatively, as if he didn't believe it, "Really... you told him to take charge?"

Zhang Zhengdao nodded: "Yes!"

The second brother said, "Then... about your being banished to the mortal realm by the Heavenly Court..."

Zhang Zhengdao: "It's fake. There's no such thing as being banished to the mortal world. It's all nonsense made up by the book collector."

The third brother said, "That's good, that's good. Daoist, we'll treat you to a feast today, and drink until we drop!"

Fourth Brother: "How about I go and get the imperial wine that the Emperor bestowed upon us last time?"

Zhang Zhengdao said, "There's enough wine here. Come, let's have a drink together!"

……

After finishing their drinks, Zhang Zhengdao prepared to return to the mountain. Lu Xiaohua did not go back with him, but stayed to keep Lu Tongsheng company, planning to stay there for a few days.

When they returned to the Taoist temple, they saw Qingyangzi kneeling on the ground in the main hall, holding a ruler high in his hands. Jian Zhangzhengdao entered and loudly said, "Disciple is unworthy and has tarnished Master's reputation. Please punish me, Master."

The group of junior brothers and sisters around Qingyangzi all stared intently at Zhang Zhengdao.

Zhang Zhengdao: "You stole my money?"

Qingyangzi said loudly, "I would never dare."

Zhang Zhengdao said, "Then it's alright. Let's call it a day! Come to my room tonight and pay me the bill."

After saying that, he drifted away and headed straight for the inner palace.