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

Many people actually have some misunderstandings about gods and immortals.

this is normal.

Having gained extraordinary power, the first thing that came to mind was transcending the law and doing whatever I wanted. Making money was a minor matter.

Various ways to make money were abundant in fantasy, martial arts, and even urban web novels in my previous life.

Sigh, but reality is reality!

Zhang Zhengdao also wanted to rob a government treasury and steal the gold and silver inside; he also wanted to kill a political enemy for some important person and receive a large reward; or even lazier, he wanted to turn stones into gold and spend it as he pleased...

To say more would only bring tears.

Look at the gods and immortals in serious novels.

In "Dream of the Red Chamber," the characters are either bald-headed monks or lame Taoist priests, dragging their disabled bodies, eating and sleeping in the open, and sometimes not knowing where their next meal will come from. "Ji Gong" goes without saying; the beggars everywhere use Buddhist teachings to get food and money. In "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," the Taoist priest Yu Ji has to make talismanic water to cure diseases and earn money, and he is also ordered around by Sun Ce to perform rainmaking rituals...

Zhang Zhengdao didn't want to cause trouble or have any accidents.

Especially since we don't know if there are any hidden immortals or powerful beings in this world, it's more reassuring to make money honestly than anything else. As long as people don't offend me, I won't offend them.

Anyone who stands in my way of making money is my enemy.

Back at the inn in Lingzhou City.

The inn was packed with people at this time.

Such a big thing happened in Lingzhou City, and everyone is so eager to come here to exchange information and tell everyone in Lingzhou City the first-hand information they have. Wouldn't that mean they've been living in the martial arts world for nothing?

The earlier and more authentic the news is released, the higher one's status in the underworld.

As soon as Zhang Zhengdao entered, he saw his old acquaintance, Blood Butcher... now known as Compassionate Hand Ba Tiannong.

Ba Tiannong now knew that Zhang Zhengdao wouldn't bother with him, so he felt much more at ease. When he saw Zhang Zhengdao come in, he immediately stood up and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Greetings, Daoist Master."

Zhang Zhengdao waved his hand: "Sit down, no need for formalities."

I found a seat and sat down.

He also came to hear rumors... gossip.

I must have missed a lot of exciting moments. After all, I only have one pair of eyes and two ears, and what I see and hear is not as much as what these people have gathered together.

Zhang Zhengdao's arrival did not attract much attention, because most people did not recognize him.

Besides, how could a Taoist priest who just came in be as exciting and interesting as last night's events?

"Qin Fangguan's body was found outside the city last night. It's said that the body was covered in green hair..."

"What? She cheated on me?"

"Bullshit, what person did they steal? They said he was beaten to death and his resentment is so great that he's going to turn into a zombie."

"Tsk tsk, what a pity! Did you burn it?"

"Of course we burned them! We kept a lot to smoke cured meat for the New Year!"

"It's just a pity, alas, Fangguan will never be seen again."

Just think about Qin Fangguan's performance last night, that borderline color...

For a moment, everyone was somewhat dazed. It was as if Fangguan from last night still lingered in their hearts, having no connection to the green-haired zombie, leaving only her beautiful image in their minds.

"Hehe, I'm telling you, you're all wrong."

A burly monk couldn't help but say, "Qin Fangguan was attacked simultaneously by four top-tier masters. Who in this world could withstand the combined attack of four top-tier masters? Even those at the Innate level wouldn't be confident, but Qin Fangguan escaped. Although she ultimately died, her strength was definitely at least at the Innate level... Do you really think an Innate level master would be performing on a stage?"

"But she sang it anyway!"

"Yeah, we saw it and heard it, so what?"

The monk laughed loudly: "You don't know anything. There's only one possibility that could get her on stage."

"What's possible?"

"That's because of a person or a thing, and that person or thing is very important to her..."

The monk spoke as if he were about to unveil an extremely mysterious event.

The crowd pressed, "Who is it? What's the matter?"

The monk then clasped his hands together facing west and said, "Naturally, it's for this humble monk, to spread the Buddhist path on stage, sacrificing my own interests..."

Zhang Zhengdao was stunned.

I've seen shameless people, but I've never seen anyone as shameless as a monk.

"Shameless!"

A girl dressed in a green dress and with a single braid in her ponytail burst into laughter.

"Monk, are you really a monk?"

The young people sitting around the girl also burst into laughter.

Zhang Zhengdao was taken aback and looked over.

This girl is pretty, with such fair and delicate skin, is she really a martial artist?

The monk put his palms together and said, "What I say is true, of course."

"Haha, I'll believe you if you can produce your ordination certificate," said a young man next to the girl. "If not, don't blame me for taking you to the yamen to collect a reward."

If you take the fake monk, you'll naturally get a reward.

One of the ways many people in the underworld make money is by becoming bounty hunters or capturing criminals on the street.

Zhang Zhengdao was also itching to make a move.

These people definitely can't compete with me.

The monk also pulled out his ordination certificate from his heavy satchel. It contained the seal of the Ministry of Revenue of the Imperial Court, the monk's Dharma name, and information such as the monastery he belonged to.

"Dengzhou Peiyuan Temple? Its Dharma name is Jianxing?"

The young man went over to take a look and found it seemed genuine. So he returned the ordination certificate to the monk, but still said disdainfully, "A monk who doesn't uphold the Three Refuges and Five Precepts, yet he's involved with a young opera singer—what a disgrace to Buddhism!"

The monk Jianxing said, "To see the true nature of the spirit is the great path of humanity; to see the nature of form is the great path of a monk. The relationship between men and women is the nature of form; form is the bridge to the great path. To see form and attain emptiness and clarity is the ultimate goal of the great path..."

"I'll fuck you, you son of a bitch..."

An impatient martial arts hero cursed, "What a spoilsport! Brother, buddy... come on, let's drink. I'm a womanizer, so what? I can achieve great things just by being lustful... haha... come on, tonight at Hongxiuzhao, it's on me..."

"Brother, you're so generous... bottoms up!"

"Yes, yes, tonight we'll all achieve the Great Dao and go to the Red Sleeve Pavilion to become immortals..."

Everyone laughed.

Only the monk put his palms together and said, "When you all go, could you please take this humble monk with you?"

The laughter stopped abruptly.

Everyone stared at the monk in a daze.

The monk quickly replied, "I have money!"

As he spoke, he actually took out a gold ingot from his satchel.

A full ten taels of gold!

It's so dazzling it's blinded all the heroes, heroines, and young warriors present; their eyes are practically glowing.

Among the people of the martial arts world present, very few are truly wealthy.

Wealthy martial arts figures usually establish their own power, either by opening a mountain gate and establishing a sect, or by building a mountain manor and constructing a castle. Who would want to wander the martial arts world, homeless and starving?

Those who can roam freely in the martial arts world are all looking for opportunities to make money.

Those who commit murder and robbery are ultimately a minority of outliers.

For example, the people of the Demonic Sect's Green Wood Cliff.

Look at what happens to these kinds of people. Once their identities are exposed, aren't they all hunted down and forced to hide everywhere? Who doesn't want a legitimate identity to navigate the world?

Zhang Zhengdao felt that this monk had some mental issues.

He actually took out ten taels of gold, intending to go to the Red Sleeve Pavilion. He must have been out of his mind. He wouldn't even part with ten taels of silver? Ha! Monks are so rich, but it's all ill-gotten gains.

That Peiyuan Temple in Dengzhou must have taken a lot of dirty money.

Zhang Zhengdao was somewhat jealous. Other people's businesses were doing so well that even a casual monk could bring so much funding on a business trip and display it so openly.

This means there was even more inside that heavy satchel.

Zhang Zhengdao wasn't the only one who thought of this; all the martial arts travelers in the inn had the same idea, their eyes fixed on the monk's satchel.

No wonder it looks so heavy.

Zhang Zhengdao finished his drink in a very unpleasant manner, ate his meal hastily, and then went upstairs to his guest room to rest.

A night without words.

The next day, he decided to set off back home.

This trip to Lingzhou has basically resolved the road construction issue.

We spent the morning at the inn before heading out.

Seeing the Four Heroes of Kunshan standing at the entrance, like four gatekeepers, made those who wanted to enter the inn suspicious and hesitant to approach.

"I've met the Taoist priest!"

The four of them bowed respectfully to Zhang Zhengdao.

"What? Are you seeing me off?"

Zhang Zhengdao said.

"No!" the four answered in unison.

Zhang Zhengdao said "Oh," and then asked, "What is that for?"

The Four Heroes of Kunshan said, "What we did last night earned us praise from the Prefect, who gave us some silver and granted us a two-day holiday. Therefore, we came here specifically to find you, Daoist, and planned to take you to the best restaurant in Lingzhou City for a drink."

"That's okay too!"

Since it was a drinking party, Zhang Zhengdao didn't refuse.

The one-eyed leader walked ahead with his head held high, leading the way. After turning several corners in the street, they arrived at a restaurant called "Drunken Immortal Pavilion".

The bartender came to greet them.

The one-eyed leader loudly ordered, "A private room on the third floor."

In the past, when we were struggling financially, we would have to pool our money to have drinks at Sister Gui's winery in Linbin Town, which required four people to share.

Looking back now, they really have become wealthy.