I became an immortal in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 69 All who enter this gate are my friends
Jixianfang.

I woke up to find it was broad daylight.

Jiang She lay on his bed, able to hear the gossip in the streets and alleys.

"It's unbelievable! I heard yesterday that the guy surnamed Qiu won so many games. I thought he just rented out houses for people all day and was moving into a new house today. But I never expected that he would start losing in the second half of the game."

"That's because the bookmakers couldn't stand it anymore."

"I can tell you, I saw it clearly. In the end, his face turned ashen. He kept searching through his clothes, but he couldn't find anything."

"Did you lose everything?"

"No, I estimate he has a few coins left. After losing like that, I don't think he'll dare to gamble anymore."

Someone muttered, "It's hard to say."

"I'm so blinded by gambling, I'm capable of anything."

"Will he still be able to do this job in the future? Which guarantor would dare to vouch for him?"

The neighbors were very concerned about what happened yesterday, and they all heard about it from somewhere, speaking as if they had witnessed it with their own eyes.

"Old Lady Wen is so happy, she got her money back, and she didn't wrong that handsome young man..."

If the gossip continued, the neighbors would start talking about the young people who had recently moved in.

Jiang She didn't listen anymore.

At this time, the old women and wives were known for their fierce and unruly nature, and the young ladies were no less so.

He pushed open the door and came out. The cat was jumping on the table, turning over and over, scratching at the pen holder with its paws.

With a flick of its claw, the calligraphy brush hanging above began to sway.

The morning light is just right.

Jiang She quickly washed up, then went out to a stall to eat a bowl of steamed buns with mutton flatbread.

It was already late when he got up; the morning stalls were about to close, and the meat the stall owner gave him was exceptionally generous. The steamed buns with cattail shoots were piping hot. Jiang She broke open a flatbread, and the juices dripped out, releasing a mouthwatering aroma of meat.

He asked the stall owner for an extra banana leaf so he could carefully place the cooled meat pie on it.

The cat jumped up in a few quick movements, buried its head, and ate with soft meows.

The stall owner found it interesting and put down his business. It was already past 9 AM, and he didn't have much business left.

He knew that this young man, who had only recently moved in and hadn't been seen at any of the stalls here before, was most likely there for Jixian Academy.

He moved closer to the cat, who was engrossed in its food.

"My lord is a cat lover."

"This cat is handsome, with black fur as black as satin. Wow, it really eats a lot."

Jiang She laughed.

"Young master, are you here in Luoyang to study?"

"They came from traveling."

"He's been to quite a few places! Can your family really trust you, young master?"

"They have passed away."

"Hey……"

The stall owner didn't know what to say for a moment. Realizing he had asked the wrong question, he lowered his head and busied himself with his work. After a while, he scraped the mutton filling and dough from the bottom of the basin, shaped them into meatballs, and steamed them in the pot.

The freshly baked flatbread steamed with heat as the vendor placed it on the table.

"This is an extra one..."

He stammered, not having finished speaking.

Two voices approached, one after the other, shouting and yelling.

"senior--"

"senior----"

Sanshui and Chuyi saw the senior sitting in the marketplace from afar, dressed in a clean blue robe, untouched by the ravages of war.

The two rushed over, startling the stall owner.

"Oh my, whose child is this? How come they're running so fast?"

The two, one in front of the other, performed the Taoist salute.

"senior!"

Jiang She showed no surprise; he had almost finished eating and put down his chopsticks.

"You are here."

Sanshui and Chuyi exchanged a glance. With the stall owners present, they spoke very softly: "A great king from the temple has come, saying he's here to ask for elixirs because he's not feeling well."

Jiang She counted out more than twenty coins from his sleeve and placed them on the table.

Jiang She glanced at the middle-aged man walking behind him, clasped his hands in greeting, nodded, and led the group back into the courtyard.

The stall owner tidied up the table and counted the money.

She suddenly looked up. "Hey, young man, you overpaid—"

The courtyard was very quiet.

Jiang She told the others to find a place to sit. He picked up the black cat and wiped its face and paws clean with a handkerchief. He had seen it earlier while eating; the cat didn't really like this kind of food and had smeared juice all over its face.

A damp handkerchief was placed on the wool.

The cat was reluctant and started meowing loudly and struggling desperately.

Sanshui watched from the side. He noticed that the cat utterly disliked water, yet it never scratched anyone with its claws. Several times it tried to dart out, but Sanshui gently stopped it with a raised hand. After drying itself completely, the cat immediately darted away and ran to the roof tiles, where it squatted down and licked its fur.

They looked this way warily.

It took them quite a while to look away.

On the first day of the lunar month, he recounted all the Taoist priests and servants he had seen that morning, voicing his doubts.

"Senior, can someone like this cultivate the Tao?"

"can."

Sanshui and Chuyi opened their eyes wide.

Look at this senior, then look at the master sitting to the side.

"That……"

Their master didn't say that. Why should ordinary people waste their time?

Jiang She brewed tea, pouring a cup for himself and the other three people.

Seeing their surprise, he probably realized that their elders must have said something different.

He smiled and said:
"Whether they are demons or ghosts, birds or beasts in the mountains, or mortals, whether they are kings or servants, no matter how old they are, whether they are good or evil, they can all cultivate the Tao."

Jiang She spoke leisurely:

"only--"

"Cultivating the Tao".

"Enter the Tao."

"Attaining enlightenment."

"They are different."

"All beings can cultivate themselves, but they may not necessarily enter the path. Even those who can enter the path may not necessarily attain enlightenment."

Sanshui and Chuyi only half understood what they were hearing, but the middle-aged man next to them seemed to sense something, so he leaned forward and respectfully asked.

"In your opinion, senior, how is cultivation? Is it too difficult?"

this problem……

Jiang She had considered this before: there are cultivators, mountain gods and earth spirits, demons and ghosts, city gods and judges, as well as cultivators and heretics.

Some people are ambitious and spirited in their youth, but when they face death, they are filled with fear and trepidation.

Some people, though seemingly ethereal and otherworldly, ultimately cannot escape the concept of lifespan. They kill evil people to seek nourishment from the spirits of the dead, gradually straying into unorthodox paths.

There were also two young children in front of me, who treated cultivation as mere play, enjoying their carefree youth.

There are also many people who cannot find a way out, or who do not want to find a way out.

Li Bai was one of them, as were Meng Haoran of Yuan Danqiu, the magistrate and governor of Xiangzhou County, Wang Wei, a group of officials, and the servants seen at the beginning of the lunar month in Sanshui today.

I've seen quite a few already.

Jiang She pondered.

"Those who enter this gate are all my friends."

As for the arduous path...

"The wind and snow add to the wine."

After saying that, he picked up his teacup, took a sip, leaned back on the armrest, and gazed at the cat on the eaves. The sunlight shone on its fur, making it appear glossy black. The cat had already found the most comfortable spot, curled up into a small ball, and was soundly asleep.

The middle-aged man was momentarily stunned by the implication of those words.

The hardships and trials of seeking the Way, served as a condiment for wine, what a delightful and serene experience!

Those who seek the Way in the world, once they enter this gate, become my friends; and this is such a grand and joyful experience.

They were momentarily shaken.

a long time.

The middle-aged man asked the question with a strained voice.

"What if one dies while seeking the Tao?"

Sunlight streamed down from the trees, falling upon those seated. Jiang She, holding his teacup, said:

"Let the green hills bury me."

　This chapter was written in a rush and may be revised later, but the general content will remain the same.

　　Thank you "Biological Comet" for the donation =v=
　　
　
(End of this chapter)