The temple fair was bustling with people, a vibrant spectacle.
If Shen Yun hadn't held Su Xiaoqi's hand tightly, she felt she might have been lost in the crowd.
Unexpectedly, Shen Yun was still able to find someone he knew in such an environment.
At that moment, Zhang Daozong was sitting cross-legged on the ground, dressed in a tattered grey Daoist robe.
His sparse hair was tied into a Daoist topknot. With his eyes closed, he proclaimed "Wu Liang Tian Zun" to everyone who approached him.
However, very few people were willing to pay him any mind.
This was a Buddhist ceremony, a temple fair held at the foot of a Buddhist temple.
While not every attendee was a devout disciple of Buddha, they at least believed in Buddhism rather than Laozi.
Therefore, his preaching of the Daoist Ancestor's teachings here was naturally unwelcome.
Even so, some people still tried to approach him.
Seeing someone step in front of Zhang Daozong first, Shen Yun tightened his grip on Su Xiaoqi's hand and flickered them into hiding behind a corner.
Su Xiaoqi turned her head to look and immediately recognized the person squatting in front of Zhang Daozong as their old acquaintance – Zhao Xiaohua.
"What is she doing here?" Su Xiaoqi muttered softly.
Shen Yun frowned, signaling Su Xiaoqi not to come out yet. He also wanted to know why Zhao Xiaohua was seeking out Zhang Daozong.
"Daoist Zhang, I was right, you are indeed here." Zhao Xiaohua, dressed in a pink outfit and accompanied by two maids and two older women, squatted in front of Zhang Daozong with a smile.
Hearing the familiar accent of Bashu, Zhang Daozong opened his eyes to look. The young woman before him had rather ordinary features, but her eyes sparkled with intelligence, suggesting she was full of ideas.
He stroked his beard and sighed.
Zhao Xiaohua's heart tightened, and she couldn't help but tentatively ask, "Why is Daoist Zhang sighing?"
"I sigh because encountering an old acquaintance in a foreign land should be a joyous occasion, yet it turns out to be with the wrong person."
These words were too hurtful. Zhao Xiaohua said unhappily, "Daoist Zhang, why do you say that!"
Since receiving that great opportunity from heaven, she had been victorious everywhere she went, except for the minor setbacks she had experienced with Shen Yun and Su Xiaoqi.
Whatever she desired, she could obtain with just a little effort.
Even when she entered the Marquis Yong'an's estate as an adopted daughter.
However, due to her abilities, she was quite favored and thrived within the marquis's household.
When had she ever been so directly slandered?
Moreover, it had been a long time since she had heard anything that made her uncomfortable.
She glared at him, but Zhang Daozong smiled calmly and shook his head.
"Hey, old Daoist, you don't know my abilities at all, yet you speak of me like this. Everyone says you're powerful, but I don't see it."
Zhao Xiaohua, unable to bear the shattering of her long-held pride, became enraged and forgot her original purpose for seeking him out, instead pointing at him and engaging in a verbal spat.
"You possess divine abilities, you are not an ordinary person. Alas, you lack virtue in your speech, you do not consider the welfare of the people, but only your own self. Hahaha..." Zhang Daozong laughed wildly for a moment, then suddenly fell silent.
Even after Zhao Xiaohua, stunned by his words, then begged him for an explanation out of fear and worry, he ignored her, only stating that they were not fated and that their conversation had already violated the heavenly dao.
Zhao Xiaohua found him as stubborn and unyielding as a rock in a privy, truly difficult to communicate with. She could only get up, stomp her foot, and leave.
As she walked away, she glanced around and, seeing that no one was paying attention, finally felt relieved.
Fortunately, no one paid attention to that odious Daoist, otherwise, she would have been the subject of public amusement just now.
Shen Yun and Su Xiaoqi, having watched the spectacle from their hidden corner, then elegantly stepped forward.
Shen Yun did not stop, but Zhang Daozong spoke, "An old friend meets again, Scholar Shen has become successful. Will you not treat this old Daoist to a drink?"
Shen Yun did not turn back but pointed to a two-story building not far ahead.
Zhang Daozong looked up and saw the banner on it read: Drunken Haven. He immediately burst into laughter, gathered his meager belongings, and left.
In a private room at the wine house, Su Xiaoqi and Shen Yun had already called the waiter and ordered ten jars of fine wine. Four cold dishes had also been served.
It was then that Zhang Daozong came upstairs swaying.
Shen Yun went to greet him and cupped his hands, saying, "Daoist Zhang, you are late. You should probably punish yourself with three cups."
"Hahaha, if you want to punish me for my wine, let's see what kind of wine you have prepared for this old Daoist, whether it's good enough."
Shen Yun smiled, "Daoist, you'll know when you try."
As he spoke, he was about to open a jar of wine.
However, Su Xiaoqi, already understanding the situation, had opened a jar and handed it to Daoist Zhang.
"Hahaha, you kid are even more alert than your wife." Zhang Daozong did not miss Shen Yun's momentary lapse and couldn't help but laugh heartily.
Shen Yun also laughed, "Thank you for the compliment, Daoist."
"Hey, you kid, you've changed. Your aura has changed, and your whole person has changed." Zhang Daozong's gaze was sharp, and he could see that Shen Yun's fortune above his head was different from before.
Previously, it was entangled with dark energy, but now, purple qi was coming from the east, gradually devouring the dense dark energy.
"Thank you again, Daoist." Shen Yun's smile remained serene.
"I praised you, and you thanked me, which is fine. But why are you thanking me when I praised your wife?"
Zhang Daozong was displeased. He held the wine but didn't drink, staring at Shen Yun, urging him to explain properly.
Shen Yun explained good-naturedly, "My wife is my wife. Praising my wife is like praising me." Shen Yun said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Zhang Daozong rolled his eyes at him, as if to say, 'You're quite shameless.' Then, ignoring him, he turned directly to Su Xiaoqi and said with a gentle smile, "Girl, what do you say?"
Su Xiaoqi looked at Zhang Daozong and Shen Yun interacting, and she didn't know how to describe the feeling, but it was very comfortable.
It seemed Shen Yun had finally shed the mask he usually wore, living his true self here.
She liked it very much and couldn't help but develop a good impression of this seemingly slovenly and dirty Daoist.
Seeing him ask her, she respectfully bowed and then sincerely said, "My husband and I are husband and wife, and we are one. Whatever my husband says is correct."
Su Xiaoqi always gave Shen Yun face in front of outsiders.
"Hahahaha..." Zhang Daozong said no more, letting out a laugh.
This laughter was free and unrestrained.
It made Su Xiaoqi's mood lift as well.
Sometimes laughter is infectious and healing; she unknowingly cast aside all her worries.
"On the road, I encountered a stink bug that tried to follow me, but an old Daoist shook it off, delaying my drinking time."
Before taking the first sip of wine, Zhang Daozong uttered what seemed like nonsensical words.
However, Su Xiaoqi understood that he was explaining to Shen Yun the reason for his lateness.
Someone was following him, but who could it be?
Su Xiaoqi and Shen Yun exchanged a glance, remaining silent, but they both arrived at the same answer in their hearts: Zhao Xiaohua.
Su Xiaoqi smiled and said, "It seems some people are difficult to deal with. She actually had the audacity to try and send someone to follow the Daoist. Why don't we also send someone to follow her and play along?"
"Good, good, this sounds fun." Zhang Daozong clapped his hands while drinking.
He didn't invite Shen Yun and Su Xiaoqi to drink.
He entertained himself, drinking with great relish.
Meanwhile, Su Xiaoqi wasn't just speaking in jest; she genuinely asked Shen Yun to send someone to keep an eye on Zhao Xiaohua.
Shen Yun also deeply felt that Zhao Xiaohua, who came from the same place as them, was completely different from before and that they should indeed be vigilant.