I became an immortal in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 16 Zhuang Zhou Mengdie
They then snapped out of their dream and remembered the divine being and the mountain god beside them, whose every move exuded holiness and were the rightful masters of the land's mountains and rivers.

Ordinary people seek immortality and enlightenment, searching for it their entire lives.

It's rare to meet a deity in person.

Not to mention the karmic connection they share.

Reminded by these words, everyone realized what was going on, and instantly all eyes turned towards the table. Wang Anlan stood up abruptly, brushed aside the servant's hand that tried to help him, and walked over.

He bowed deeply, then bowed again.

"Thank you, God..."

“There’s no need for that,” Jiang She said.

"That's how it is, I must thank the immortal..." He suddenly stopped, his throat seemed to be constricted, and he couldn't say anything. He just couldn't bring himself to say the word "immortal".

Wang Er's back was sweating.

He suddenly realized that the person in front of him was different from the strange people who roamed the martial arts world.

This is a true deity.

If the gods dislike it, then they truly dislike it.

This person clearly dislikes being called a "deity"; it's a bit petty, so it's best not to say it that way.

"Ahem... I don't know how to address you, esteemed senior?" After a few breaths, Wang Anlan was finally able to speak. He let out a long breath, his tone becoming increasingly respectful.

“Just call him by his name, or call him ‘sir’.”

"Mr. Jiang!"

Jiang She smiled.

I wanted to tell him he didn't need to be so reserved and reverent. If we treat people with such utmost respect, shouldn't we build temples to worship them? What's the point of having to receive kneeling and bowing all the time?

The clay statue can withstand it, but a living person cannot.

But I noticed that the other person's forehead was slightly damp, indicating they were already sweating and very nervous.

Jiang She did not correct him further.

"No need to thank you."

Seeing the awe and longing in the eyes of everyone in the courtyard, and the three swindlers cowering like quails, he smiled and glanced over them.

Jiang She asked with a smile, "What have you all gained today?"

"I would like to hear your insights."

When everyone met his gaze, they thought of their experience in the dream.

Whether they are rich and powerful, or enjoy glory, or serve as officials to protect a region, or stay in a Taoist temple to practice Taoism for forty years, or engage in business in the market, or find a good marriage.

Meng Haoran and Yuan Danqiu had met him before, and their connection was formed by a spring rain on the mountain.

They became more familiar with each other.

Yuan Danqiu blurted out, "This humble Taoist will never be an official again."

In that ancient country of locust trees, he served as an official for forty years, managing agriculture and sericulture, encouraging the planting of grains, and spending forty years calculating with an abacus. His head was throbbing, and he didn't even have time to spend the money that his subordinates gave him as tribute.

Finally, he was pierced by a stray arrow and died from a wound.

Jiang She couldn't help but smile.

Meng Haoran sat on the ground and pondered for a long time.

After a long sigh, he asked, "The affairs of the ancient Huai Kingdom seem so real. Forty years of official service have all been a dream... Young Master Jiang, I have a question to ask you."

"Does the Ancient Locust Kingdom really exist?"

Jiang She replied.

"some."

Everyone who heard this was shocked.

"Really?" County Magistrate Cheng Zhili asked instinctively as he stood to the side.

Jiang She smiled.

The Lu family planted several locust trees; two in front of the house and one in Lu Da's courtyard. It's unknown if there are any elsewhere. Over the years, these trees have lived for many years and are now somewhat hollow, with their roots and trunks visibly withered, yet their branches and leaves remain lush and verdant.

He led everyone to see the tree.

There were many insects and ants under the tree, rustling and crawling on the soil.

"This is the ancient Huai Kingdom."

This is what a traveler who has walked the world for ten years and whose appearance remains unchanged said.

Yuan Danqiu and the medicine boy craned their necks to look, only to see many insects and ants crawling around on the ground, busily working. Everyone looked around, then stared at the tree, but couldn't see anything different about the locust tree in Lu Da's courtyard.

"Yes."

"The locust tree, the ancient locust kingdom," Luo Langzhong murmured to himself repeatedly.

He seemed to have realized something.

Wang Erlang and Wang Anlan stared wide-eyed at the tree. Some parts of the locust tree were hollowed out by borers, exposing the roots and stems; they looked rather strange. "Could this be...?"

"We just spent our entire lives in this land of insects and ants under this tree?" The guests, disregarding their reverence for the gods, subconsciously asked.

Meng Haoran stared at it for a long time, still finding it unbelievable.

"Excellent."

"Is this not... Zhuangzi's dream of a butterfly?"

Li Bai also looked at the ant hole, where insects were busy crawling on the ground. Dozens of ants were holding up the scraps they had just eaten, enjoying their harvest.

He never imagined that the ancient country of Huai would be where he had stayed for seven days.

That's the ant nest under this tree.

He looked at the insects carrying the crumbs, fell into deep thought, and sighed.

"Aren't the busy ants and insects just like the mundane people of this world?"

As everyone looked around the place where they had spent forty years, they were filled with mixed emotions.

Lu Sheng saw the tree that had grown in his yard for countless years. He had learned to walk under this tree and read books under this tree. For thirty years, this locust tree had seen him learn to speak, saw him marry a new wife, saw him fail the imperial examination, and saw him sell his possessions.

My heart was filled with mixed feelings, and I couldn't quite describe what I was feeling.

Everyone, even the magistrate's entourage and yamen runners, stared at him curiously.

Jiang She then turned to look at the three people who were committing fraud.

They were being scrutinized.

After a few breaths, he said, "Zhang Zhenmei, come here."

The county magistrate turned his head and whispered to his cousin-in-law, only to learn that Zhang Zhenmei, whom the master valued so highly, was the same immortal master that Lu Dacheng, the county magistrate, had been talking about meeting all the time. He was a swindler who, along with two younger men, had formed a gang and had already cheated six or seven families, extorting a considerable amount of money.

Zhang Zhenmei was filled with unease. He hadn't had time to change his clothes and was still dressed as the old Taoist.

He approached cautiously, his voice hesitant, and uttered a soft call.

"Mr. Jiang."

Jiang She sat at the table, raised his hand to brew tea for himself, and handed a cup to Old Deer Mountain God and Li Bai. The water boiled and the tea leaves swirled, but he didn't add salt or spices as was fashionable these days. Jiang She took a sip, washing away the strange taste of the tea that had been steeping for seven days, and relaxed his brow.

He asked slowly, "What do you think..."

“You have swindled five families and obtained several thousand in wealth.”

"How should we respond?"

Even with a true immortal present, the voice asking the question was calm and leisurely.

But Zhang Zhenmei and the two boys behind him trembled slightly, as if they had fallen into an ice cave in this late April spring.

"I……"

He stammered for a long time, unable to form a coherent sentence.

If he spoke lightly, he feared angering the immortal before him; if he spoke harshly, he worried about his future. Caught in a dilemma, Zhang Zhenmei lay prostrate on the ground, speechless for a long time.

Finally, he prostrated himself on the ground.

“I know my mistake and should confess my guilt. I beg the virtuous gentleman to punish me.”

Upon uttering these words, he once again displayed some of the backbone he had shown when Lu Sheng revered him as his master.

Jiang She picked up his teacup.

Looking at the "old man" lying on the ground and then at the two young boys behind him, he did not first announce the punishment for the three of them, nor did he discuss how to deal with the money.

Instead, he asked about something.

"What have you three gained from cultivating Taoism in the Ancient Locust Kingdom for forty years?"

I waited for more than ten breaths.

The young Taoist, Wang Shan, was always quick-witted and boldly replied, "This is my first time practicing Taoism in a temple. I'm learning the principles from my master and fellow disciples, and I find it very interesting."

Jiang She looked at the other person.

The other Taoist boy was named Song Baike, with the Taoist name "Qingyu," and was one year older.

He mustered his courage and said, "I think so too."

Jiang She picked up his teacup, took two sips, and his mouth was full of tea leaves. However, since he was sitting upright in front of others, he had no choice but to swallow them as well.

He asked leisurely.

"Is it more interesting to close the door and collect incense money from people, or to study the Tao?"

With the immortal in front of them, the two Taoist boys dared not argue as sharply as before, nor did they dare to act rashly.

"Just speak your mind."

The two hesitated for a long time, stammering, worried that the immortal could see through their thoughts, before speaking in very low voices.

"...They are all very interesting."

(End of this chapter)