Lao Tzu is Ji Gong

The Shangsi Festival, also known as the Third Day of the Third Lunar Month, is a festival commemorating the Yellow Emperor. Legend has it that the Yellow Emperor's birthday is on the third day of the third lunar month, and there's an ancient Chinese saying: "On the second day of the second lunar month, the dragon raises its head; on the third day of the third lunar month, Xuanyuan (the Yellow Emperor) is born."

The third day of the third month in the lunar calendar is also the birthday of Zhenwu the Great, a Taoist deity.

In this world, the third day of the third lunar month is indeed the Qingming Festival, one of the most important festivals for ancestor worship and tomb sweeping.

Li Xiuyuan and Bai Suzhen came to West Lake for a visit. The saying goes, "Those destined to meet will meet even if they are thousands of miles apart. They must go to the high places of West Lake to find each other." This is the place they were referring to.

The time and place are right now, all that's missing is for the person to come!

At this time, many people from Qiantang County went out of the city to sweep the tombs on the mountain, and the continuous stream of people created a unique sense of tranquility.

The beauty of West Lake is best described by the saying, "West Lake is like Xi Shi, beautiful whether lightly or heavily adorned."

“I remember that 1,700 years ago, I was in danger of being killed one day. Fortunately, a shepherd boy saved me. I cannot forget his kindness and cannot fail to repay him.”

The two were enjoying themselves on West Lake when Bai Suzhen recounted her past. Back then, she was just a little white snake who had just gained sentience and was almost captured and killed, but a shepherd boy saved her.

Seventeen hundred years have passed, and the shepherd boy could no longer be alive. The act of repaying the debt of gratitude refers to the shepherd boy's reincarnation.

Li Xiuyuan smiled and said, "Of course, it's a good thing to be grateful."

Although she couldn't stand the pretty boy Xu Xian, she had no choice but to comply if he wanted to repay a debt of gratitude.

Meanwhile, among the people from Qiantang County who were sweeping tombs on the mountain, a woman in her thirties or forties was asking a well-mannered young man, "Hanwen, where are you going?"

"Sister, look how beautiful this scenery is! West Lake is just ahead! Let's go explore!"

The young man, known as Hanwen, pointed behind the mountain and spoke with great interest.

High on the Broken Bridge, a handsome young man with a dignified appearance and a refined demeanor was carrying an umbrella, looking around at the scenery.

Meanwhile, Li Xiuyuan and Bai Suzhen were on a small boat they had already rented, drinking fine wine and enjoying delicious food, with Bai Suzhen pouring wine for them.

Suddenly, a torrential downpour began outside the cabin. What had been a light drizzle turned into a sudden, unexpected rain, startling Xu Xian on the bridge. He looked around and saw a fishing boat ahead.

There was nowhere to take shelter from the rain, so I had no choice but to go over and ask for shelter!

Rumble!

A loud clap of thunder rang out, and then a torrential downpour began!

Xu Xian rushed down and called out, "Boatman, boatman, could you please stop here?"

As he spoke, he grabbed the oil-paper umbrella with both hands and called out loudly.

Chapter 167 The Pretty Boy Xu Xian

Both of them were experts at the Earth Immortal level, and they had already noticed the situation around them. Bai Suzhen even mistakenly thought that Xu Xian was just passing by, but when he ran over quickly, she had a vague premonition that this person was the one she was waiting for!

Li Xiuyuan's lips curled up. Having watched the original TV series, he naturally knew that Xu Xian was on the bridge, and at this moment, he rushed down because of the heavy rain, which could be considered to be in accordance with the original plot!

Bai Suzhen said solemnly, "My lord, I think that man is the one I'm waiting for. Let's go over there quickly!"

As she spoke, she waved her hand, and a surge of magic propelled the small boat toward the shore.

Xu Xian stood on the shore. Although he had bright eyes and a handsome face, he was not particularly handsome. He had a dignified and upright demeanor, but also a rigid and pedantic air about him, and his sleeves were already soaked through by the rain.

After the small boat came along, Xu Xian called out loudly, "Boatman, could you please let me take shelter from the rain?"

As he spoke, he looked intently over, and at that moment, a man and a woman in the cabin came into view.

The man wore a black brocade robe embroidered with black dragons, their claws outstretched, giving him an imposing presence. His sword-like eyebrows reached his temples, and a sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth, drastically changing his appearance and giving him an unparalleled demonic aura.

Upon seeing this man, Xu Xian felt even more ashamed. People usually called him a pretty boy, but compared to Li Xiuyuan, he seemed to be far inferior.

Looking at the woman again, she was exceptionally beautiful, elegant and refined.

She wore a shimmering white silk robe, her face breathtakingly beautiful, with bright, expressive eyes and skin as smooth and delicate as cream. Pure and lovely, ethereal and otherworldly, she was like a celestial being, a lotus emerging from the water.

With her delicate features and arched eyebrows, she was as beautiful as a flower, exceptionally beautiful, and her eyes possessed a natural charm, beauty, and gentleness. She grew into an unparalleled beauty, more captivating than any famous flower that could topple a kingdom.

Xu Xian felt a sense of impropriety and lowered his head in shame. Just then, a soft voice came from inside: "Young master, if you need shelter from the rain, please come in!"

Xu Xian was grateful upon hearing this and quickly went into the cabin. There were three small stools inside, as if the cabin had known someone was coming. After putting down his oil-paper umbrella, he cupped his hands and said, "I am Xu Xian, and I greet this young master and young lady!"

He paused, then added, "Thank you both!"

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan's lips curled up and he chuckled, "I am Wutian, and this is my wife, Bai Suzhen. Young Master Xu, please sit down!"

As he spoke, he held Bai Suzhen's soft, boneless hand, as if warning her not to have any wicked ideas.

Xu Xian, whose courtesy name was Hanwen, was an honest man; how could he possibly have designs on another man's wife?

Xu Xian cupped his hands in thanks and said, "Thank you very much, Brother Wutian!"

After saying that, he sat down without ceremony. There was fine wine and delicacies on the table. Having not eaten for most of the day, he swallowed hard and moved his throat a couple of times.

Upon seeing this, Li Xiuyuan smiled and said, "Brother Xu, if you don't mind, you can have dinner with us!"

Since they already knew that Xu Xian would be coming aboard, and there were three chairs prepared in the cabin, and even bowls and chopsticks were provided for him, they couldn't very well drink and eat meat with Bai Suzhen while Xu Xian stood by and stared at them!

Upon hearing this, Xu Xian said awkwardly, "How could I possibly accept this?"

As he spoke, he pushed his hand away, trying to refuse, but his stomach betrayed him and started growling.

All that could be heard was a 'gurgling' sound. Even Xu Xian, a grown man, blushed deeply. He was already a pretty boy, but now his face turned bright red, making him look like a woman.

Upon seeing this, Li Xiuyuan smiled slightly and did not mock him, saying, "Brother Xu, you don't need to be so polite."

As she spoke, she extended the invitation to him again.

At this moment, Xu Xian, though embarrassed, agreed and said, "In that case, I won't stand on ceremony."

After saying that, he picked up his bowl and chopsticks and began to eat and drink.

Xu Xian went to sweep the tomb early in the morning, and now it was already afternoon. He hadn't eaten all day, and his stomach was growling loudly. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so embarrassed just now.

Li Xiuyuan, Bai Suzhen, and Xu Xian ate and drank in the small cabin. After drinking a little wine, Xu Xian became less reserved.

Xu Xian chuckled and said, "Young Master Wutian and your wife, why are you here in West Lake?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan smiled and said, "It's nothing. I was just passing by West Lake and saw that the scenery was beautiful, so I rented a boat to enjoy the view. I just didn't expect that a heavy rain would suddenly start falling from the sky. However, this situation has its own unique charm."

Even when it's raining, the scenery in West Lake is still beautiful.

Upon hearing this, Xu Xian smiled and replied, "That is indeed true!"

As a native of Qiantang County, near West Lake, a famous scenic spot within a thousand miles and a tourist destination, he felt proud.

Li Xiuyuan asked casually, "But Young Master Xu, why did you come from the bridge?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Xian replied, "Alas! Today is the Qingming Festival on the third day of the third month. My sister and I were going to sweep the tombs, but we were delayed on the way back. Unexpectedly, it started pouring rain. Fortunately, the two of you took us in, otherwise we would have been soaked to the bone."

As he spoke, he recounted the whole story, which showed that he was a person without any guile.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan laughed heartily and said, "Come on, Brother Xu, let's continue drinking!"

As he spoke, he waved his hand again, and both of their wine glasses were already full.

Xu Xian wasn't a drinker to begin with, but under Li Xiuyuan's pressure, he drank quite a bit and became a little confused.

Moreover, the decision to repay this debt of gratitude was entirely made by Li Xiuyuan, who believed that every human being has desires.

If Xu Xian is made drunk, he will reveal his wish. If Li Xiuyuan and Bai Suzhen help him fulfill it, it can be said that he has finished repaying his debt of gratitude!

Chapter 168 Black and White Impermanence

Before long, Xu Xian was so drunk that his face turned red. If his sister Xu Jiaorong found out, he would definitely get a beating.

As the saying goes: An elder sister is like a mother!

Xu Xian and his sister have relied on each other for decades, and even after she got married, their relationship remained good.

But Xu Xian, whose face was flushed from drinking, didn't care about any of that!

Seeing Xu Xian's face flushed from drinking, Li Xiuyuan smiled and thought to himself, "Even the most ordinary person will eventually express their wishes. Once I use my abilities to help them come true, Bai Suzhen will have finished repaying her debt of gratitude."

Li Xiuyuan chuckled and said, "Brother Xu's wife was originally a white snake. Seventeen hundred years ago, you were a shepherd boy who saved a white snake. Now, the white snake has cultivated into a spirit and has come to repay his kindness by finding his reincarnation..."

As he spoke, he looked at Xu Xian's expression, and after a long pause, he was stunned.

Xu Xian asked doubtfully, "Is it true or not? Is it Brother Wutian who is drunk, or am I drunk? Indeed, alcohol is a harmful thing. No wonder my sister doesn't let me drink it."

belch!

As he spoke, Xu Xian let out a burp, his mouth reeking of alcohol.

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan's lips curled up. He knew in his heart that anyone who heard this would find it a bit unbelievable, or even unwilling to believe it, and Xu Xian was no exception.

Li Xiuyuan pondered for a moment and said, "Brother Xu, is there any need for us to lie to you?"

Could it really be true?

Xu Xian was somewhat lost in thought upon hearing this. In this world, there is no shortage of legends about gods and monsters, and gods even appear from time to time. For example, Guanyin Bodhisattva of the South Sea often appears to relieve the worries and troubles of all living beings.

Li Xiuyuan said calmly, "Of course. Why don't you let my wife reveal her true form? If you get scared then, don't blame us!"

As he spoke, the corners of his mouth turned up, revealing a faint smile. He remembered that in the original story, Xu Xian had seen the true form of a snake and was so frightened that he died.

Now, Li Xiuyuan has made it clear beforehand that if the other person gets scared later, he shouldn't blame him. He can also say that he's repaying a debt of gratitude by rescuing the other person later.

Upon hearing this, Xu Xian raised an eyebrow and exclaimed, "A thousand-year-old snake demon! Although terrifying, I, Xu Xian, have never seen one in my life! If what you say is true, why not show your true form and let me see it?"

As he spoke, his vision blurred, perhaps from the alcohol, which emboldened him to want to see the snake demon.

This must be what they call drinking to bolster courage! Xu Xian's situation at this moment is remarkably similar!

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuyuan's lips curled up, and he chuckled, "Alright! This is what you wanted to see, so don't blame us."