I became an immortal in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 187 Three Years
The stars twinkled in the sky, and the leaves rustled. Even on the first day of the Lunar New Year, when people stayed up all night, the neighbors were all asleep. The Du family returned home and fell into a deep sleep.

Further away, a toddler could be heard pouting and talking in his sleep.

Everything is quiet.

Jiang She sat cross-legged under the tree, with the old man's wine pot placed not far away.

Listen to the soft rustling of leaves in the wind.

His heart gradually calmed down. With his eyes closed, he seemed to hear the wind in the distant mountains and forests, blowing through every blade of grass and every leaf.

I could hear the frozen stream on the mountain, and the sounds of fish moving beneath the ice.

Thus, the entire mountain was sketched out in his mind.

A cold wind carried the scent of incense, the incense burner of Puzhao Temple at the foot of the mountain, the incense burning at Dai Temple, and the prayers of the emperor and his ministers atop Mount Tai.

There are countless wishes, regardless of age, poverty, or social status.

Everything is interconnected.

I could hear voices nearby, faint and muffled, like an old man muttering.

The person was completely immersed in a mysterious state.

The starlight from heaven and earth fell upon him.

The bright moon rises and sets, sets and rises again.

For a time, Jiang She seemed to merge with the mountains, the river, the insects and fish, the wild animals, the birds, and even the land beneath his feet. He could hear the sound of raindrops falling on his body and the sound of dragonflies skimming the surface of the water.

Come and see this world.

Listen to the wind.

The sounds I heard at night: Confucian scholars, knights-errant, immortals; cicadas, mantises, and orioles.

I also gained more insights.

They are all sentient beings.

Before he knew it, a withered leaf landed on his shoulder.

……

……

In the early spring of the seventeenth year of the Kaiyuan era.

Pedestrians hurried along the road, holding umbrellas. The spring breeze was chilly. Adults held their children's hands tightly, avoiding puddles. But some children insisted on stepping in them, splashing raindrops. When they laughed, their elders would pinch their ears and scold them.

The child shrank back and cried loudly, tears mingling with the rain.

Li Bai is in a tavern.

Sitting by the window, watching the pattering spring rain, I witnessed this scene and couldn't help but smile. I picked up my wine cup and took a sip.

Sitting opposite him was Pei Ze.

Pei listened to the music downstairs; the sound of the pipa in the rain was quite delightful.

His wife controlled all the family's finances and gave him a considerable amount of money each month. However, Pei was fond of calligraphy, painting, and antiques, and was often short of money, with only a few loose silver coins left in his purse. Fortunately, he received help from friends, which allowed him to barely maintain the appearance of a nobleman.

Therefore, Li Bai treated him to this meal.

Pei listened to the pipa for a while, then turned his head to look at Li Bai.

The other person gazed at the drizzling spring rain outside, their expression unreadable.

"Does Li Bai have something on his mind?"

Li Bai withdrew his gaze, thinking as he said:
"The first time I met Mr. was during such a spring rain."

Yuan Danqiu nodded in agreement.

“Back then, we climbed Mount Lumen with Master Meng. Unexpectedly, a sudden downpour occurred, and we had to find shelter in a mountain temple in a sorry state.”

This was the first time Pei had heard them mention this matter; before, they had only talked about spirits and monsters, and wonders.

Thinking about how powerful that person was, Pei pondered.

"Is that Mr. Jiang's temple?"

"No, it's the mountain god of Mount Lumen," Yuan Danqiu said, picking up a piece of meat to eat.

"The gentleman was also in the temple at the time."

"I see."

Pei felt a little envious of the two people's good luck, but then he thought of the piece of paper enshrined in his family's ancestral hall, and felt much better.

He asked quipped:
"Taibai and Xiazi, didn't you say you were only passing through Yanzhou temporarily and would leave soon? Why are you still not leaving?"

"Could it be that you've fallen in love with the mountains and rivers of my Yanzhou?"

Yuan Danqiu laughed from the side.

Pei was puzzled.

He added, "I haven't seen Mr. Jiang in the past few years. Before Governor Luo was transferred, he wanted to visit him and asked me to inquire several times, but I never saw him."

"Ah, what a pity."

Governor Luo's term had expired two years ago, and he was transferred to another place. He suppressed the matter of Luo Liulang back then, punished him by making him copy the Book of Rites for half a year before he allowed his son to go to Chang'an to study.

Before leaving, Governor Luo repeatedly tried to find the wise man who had predicted the fate of Prince Qi years ago, but he could not find him.

They even asked Pei Ze about it, several times.

How could Pei possibly know to go?
He himself could not even see Mr. Jiang.

Occasionally, when asked, Li Bai and Yuan Danqiu would give vague and ambiguous answers.

Pei had a vague suspicion that Mr. Jiang had probably already left. Such a person wouldn't stay in one place for long.

The group finished a pot of wine.

Pei suggested that they go check out the stalls in front of the City God Temple, where he had seen people selling calligraphy and paintings last time.

Yuan Danqiu was surprised.

"Zezhi, didn't you say you had no money on hand for the past two months?"

Li Bai also looked over.

He paid for the meal.

Pei smiled, somewhat smug.

“A few days ago, I accompanied my wife to her parents’ home for her birthday banquet. When my mother saw my youngest daughter, she was coaxed into eating a whole bowl of rice.”

"The lady was in a great mood. She knew that I had bought a painting some time ago and gave me three taels of gold."

Pei Ze's youngest daughter was born in the winter of the fourteenth year of the Kaiyuan era. She is now three years old (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning). She is beautiful and lovely, and she is also talkative and charming. She is the kind of grandson that the old man likes the most.

The old lady ate with much more relish when she saw her young son.

Li Bai raised his eyebrows.

"Then why are you making me pay?"

Pei took out his money pouch, emptied it, and showed it to them. Inside, besides a piece of gold, there were only a dozen or so coins that clattered out.

He pushed more than a dozen Kaiyuan Tongbao coins to Taibai.

He kept the gold for himself.

Pei chuckled awkwardly, "I can't afford to pay for the drinks."

"You, Pei Shiyi, are something else."

Li Bai chuckled, and the group took the rain gear from the Pei family servants, then left the restaurant and headed towards the City God Temple.

The City God Temple remained bustling with activity, incense burning continuously. There were many stalls nearby, doing business every day. The business was small, and the government didn't pursue such a trivial matter.

Pei stood before the calligraphy and painting stall that had haunted his dreams, unable to move.

Li Bai and Yuan Danqiu strolled around the temple. The incense seller was a middle-aged woman. Business was slow because of the rain. When she saw them, she called out to them with a friendly smile.

"Three coins a bunch, five coins for two bunches—"

"The incense is all handmade, made with high-quality ingredients, and it doesn't get damp even on rainy days, so it burns very strongly."

Would you two like to buy one?

Li Bai raised his eyes and suddenly remembered that when he and his teacher came to the City God Temple to offer incense, the incense seller was an old man. Where was he? He asked curiously.

The old woman said, while arranging the incense.

"You're asking about Old Li? I don't know what he did to offend the City God, but every time he offers incense, it breaks. Many worshippers come to him demanding refunds, so he can't do business anymore and is now selling flatbread on the street."

Li Bai asked.

"Have you offended the City God?"

The old woman muttered, "That's right, who knows what he did? He won't tell me when I ask him."

"His stammering doesn't seem like a good sign. I ran into him last time; his pancake business wasn't doing well either. Everyone else's pancakes are the same size, but his are two sizes smaller, yet he sells them for the same price."

Who can buy it?

"Don't you agree, my lords?"

After listening to the old woman's explanation, Li Bai felt it wouldn't be right not to buy her incense.

He handed over five coins, bought two bundles, and he and Yuan Danqiu each held three incense sticks, dipped them in kerosene, and offered them to the incense burner.

Thinking absentmindedly.

I wonder when the gentleman will wake up...

Li Bai lowered his head, watching the smoldering fire burning in the incense burner.

Above them.

From the high platform, a dignified figure in official robes stepped down from the statue.

The City God looked at them.

He said it with a laugh.

"We've met you two again. It's been three years. How have you been, sir?"

【Ask for monthly ticket】

(End of this chapter)