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

Bathed in the warm winter sun, a large flag fluttered in the wind.

Zhang Zhengdao rode a donkey, and the two women also rode donkeys. Guo Lanying led the way, carrying the large flag on her shoulder, which was not a strenuous task for her.

He's a master from the beginning; what's a big flag compared to that?

Zhang Zhengdao rode a donkey alongside Hu Yunying.

The donkey was a gift from an elder of the Qingcheng Sect.

Because Zhang Zhengdao had saved several members of the Qingshan Sect during the earlier fight. In particular, the young man who vomited blood at the very beginning was said to be Liu Yunfei, the son of Liu Yishou, the leader of the Qingcheng Sect.

He said at the time, "There will be a generous reward," and he really did.

In Jinzhou City, they met three people who were about to leave. Seeing that it was not easy for them to travel such a long distance, they spent money to buy three donkeys and gave them to them.

It's not that I don't want to give away horses, but in a small city like this, it's really difficult to buy three horses immediately. Especially since there are so many people in the martial arts world, there's no market for them even if they're available.

Zhang Zhengdao really liked young people who kept their word.

Once outside Jinzhou City, we were back on the official road. Along the way, many chivalrous figures from powerful families and sects rode past us on tall horses, galloping past our little donkeys.

The dust that rose up seemed to be telling those poor, wandering martial arts practitioners who relied on their own two legs two words: "eating dust."

Not only will you end up eating dust on the roadside, but even if you go to Mount Hua, you'll still be destined to eat dust.

The prestigious sects monopolize high-level martial arts training resources and techniques.

To defy fate, besides having exceptional talent, one also needs the aura of jumping off a cliff and acquiring divine skills.

Unfortunately, in this world, falling off a cliff can result in either broken arms or legs if you're lucky, or, if you're unlucky, occasional meals from the hyenas below.

"Take another look!"

Hu Yunying, sitting sideways on the donkey, asked for Sacred Heart Lotus Seeds.

I watched it once before, but I didn't see anything.

"no!"

As they were talking, a monk suddenly flew past them, followed by a girl in a yellow dress who landed in the air, touched the ground with her toes, and then rose into the air again to follow the monk.

"Tsk tsk tsk"

Zhang Zhengdao smiled happily.

"What is love in this world that makes people willing to die for it?"

Hu Yunying's eyes lit up, and she looked at Zhang Zhengdao with eyes that seemed to be brimming with tears.

"Master, how do you know it's because of love between them?"

Guo Lanying also rode sideways on the donkey, and with a turn of her head she could see Zhang Zhengdao's face, and asked curiously.

"Monks may have high lightness skills, but girls have even higher lightness skills. It's the feeling of pursuing but not being able to get what you want. Though you're slightly annoyed, you're smiling. Though you're gently scolding, you're coquettish. Tsk tsk tsk... The love between men and women is quite interesting."

Upon hearing this, Guo Lanying blushed, seemingly having made some connection to something. She turned her head away, not daring to look at Zhang Zhengdao, and silently raised the banner high.

"Smooth-talking!" Hu Yunying nodded. "It sounds good, so feel free to say a few more words!"

Zhang Zhengdao: "I won't talk!"

Hu Yunying: "Rare!"

Guo Lanying: "The Peach Blossom Sword Sect will last for a thousand generations!"

Zhang Zhengdao: ...

Hu Yunying turned to look at Zhang Zhengdao.

"Did you teach it?"

Zhang Zhengdao shook his head; there was a familiar smell.

Back in the day, Ding Chunqiu, the old monster, was fond of it.

The words "Unify the martial world, for all eternity" still seem like they came from yesterday.

Guo Lanying is such a little genius!

Guo Lanying's voice was clear and resonant, possessing the unique penetrating power of a young girl. Coupled with the added advantage of being a master of innate skills, it was immediately heard by people from several sects traveling nearby.

"Ha ha--"

Someone behind them laughed loudly, and then someone rode up quickly on horseback. As they passed their little donkeys, someone turned around and laughed at Guo Lanying.

"Hey girl, how old are you? Shouting so loudly, looking for a man? Haha... Holy crap, who the hell patted my butt... Senior Brother... I... I knew you were up to no good, you're so mean..."

The handsome young man who had been teasing Guo Lanying suddenly became shy.

Guo Lanying's eyes widened.

"Puch"

Hu Yunying covered her mouth and laughed, giving Zhang Zhengdao a sidelong glance!

So awful!

We traveled at a leisurely pace.

When you're in the martial world, the most important thing is the act of traveling. Zhang Zhengdao has truly stepped into the martial world this time, so he doesn't have the kind of urgency that comes with rushing.

On the contrary, I encountered many people from the martial arts world along the way.

Their savvy, quick-tempered, and prone to arguing and fighting, evokes a strong sense of江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) culture, reminiscent of the various triads in Kowloon City, Hong Kong.

"Heroes rise and fall with the times, once you enter the world of martial arts, time flies by..."

"Brother Dao, what a fine poem!"

A wandering swordsman bowed to Zhang Zhengdao and gestured for him to go first.

Zhang Zhengdao also cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards him.

We drove leisurely along the way, but it was getting late and we had no choice but to spend the night by the roadside.

In fact, there are quite a few people who make do with sleeping outdoors by the roadside.

Most of them were wandering figures in the martial arts world.

Those with horses had already gone to nearby towns to rest and have a meal.

Zhang Zhengdao and his two companions tied the donkey to the roadside, adding some hay and beans. Guo Lanying went to find branches nearby for firewood. Hu Yunying prepared to take out the dry rations from her backpack.

"Hey buddy, wanna have a drink?"

A voice came from the side.

Not far away, a girl sat under a big tree with a fire burning in front of her and a makeshift grill set up to roast rabbit meat.

Zhang Zhengdao leaned closer.

This girl is the one in yellow who was chasing the monk earlier.

With a flick of his wrist, he tossed a leather wine flask to Zhang Zhengdao.

Zhang Zhengdao took it, tilted his head back and gulped it down, his mouth facing the mouth of the wine sac. He took a big gulp and then threw the wine sac to the girl in yellow.

The girl in the yellow dress smiled at Zhang Zhengdao and drank from a distance, feeling a bit of affection for him.

"Eat meat!"

The girl in the yellow shirt tore off a rabbit leg and handed it to Zhang Zhengdao.

Zhang Zhengdao took it, took a bite... and immediately felt that this girl had a very good personality.

After exchanging drinks, each taking a sip of wine and a bite of meat, the girl asked...

"Master, I just heard you recite poetry; you seem very learned."

Zhang Zhengdao: "Has a basic understanding of poetry and literature!"

The girl in the yellow dress: "What is love in this world that makes people willing to die for it?" That speaks to my very heart; it's as if, with my eyes closed, I'm experiencing a poignant revival...

Zhang Zhengdao: ...

Are you reminiscing about it?

"Is there more?" the girl in the yellow dress asked expectantly.

Zhang Zhengdao shook his head.

Reading the rest aloud doesn't really make much sense. Poetry, after all, often only has one or two lines that are passed down through generations. The essence has been revealed; the rest is unnecessary.

"It's a pity... but not a pity either..."

The girl in the yellow dress said forlornly, "These two lines have already fully expressed the tortuous love and hate of lovers. To force a continuation would be a poor choice!"

Zhang Zhengdao said, "Having seen the snow plum, why break off a branch? Having seen the flying birds, why build a nest? Having seen the monks, why build a temple?"

Girl in yellow: ...

"Could you... explain it more clearly?"

Sigh, such a teenage girl, only high school age, is already out in the world, chasing after love.

"Liking someone doesn't necessarily mean you have to be with that person."

The girl in the yellow shirt scoffed.

"The Taoist priest doesn't understand love!"

Zhang Zhengdao: ...

I kindly advised you, and you said I didn't understand love... It seems... I do have love, but it's very short-lived, rising and falling with the passing of time, coming and going as quickly as the wind!

"But you're a good person!"

The girl in the yellow dress smiled.

"Many people in the martial arts world look at me wrongly because I am a girl, but what am I afraid of? The martial arts world belongs to the martial arts people, not to those evil and crooked people, nor to the righteous sects."

At this point, she took another sip of wine and tossed it to Zhang Zhengdao.

"Monk, I'll buy you a drink, but you better watch me!"

As she spoke, the girl in the yellow shirt leaned against the back of a big tree and closed her eyes.

"I am a Taoist priest!"

The girl in the yellow dress closed her eyes and softly murmured "Mmm".

"I know, my heart is full of monks now, so I see everyone as a monk."

Zhang Zhengdao: ...

The girl in yellow slept soundly, seemingly certain that Zhang Zhengdao was a virtuous gentleman. Or perhaps the girl in yellow was so skilled and daring that she wasn't afraid that Zhang Zhengdao was some kind of heretic.

The fire crackled and popped.

Hu Yunying and Guo Lanying exchanged glances, then looked at Zhang Zhengdao.

This Taoist priest is very unruly. He doesn't care about his two young daughters tending the fire; instead, he runs off to join in the fun with other wild women.

What is the nature of men?

"Don't run, monk..." the woman in the yellow dress murmured in her sleep.

Zhang Zhengdao sighed, "If one could have both in this world, one would be worthy of both the Buddha and you! May the Heavenly Venerable grant you boundless blessings and longevity."

As soon as these two lines of poetry were recited, the yellow-clad woman, who had been talking in her sleep, began to tremble slightly with her eyelashes.