The bustling streets of Yu Hang were teeming with life.
A man and a woman walked side by side.
The man had handsome features, his presence exuding an undeniable air of nobility. The light green bamboo forest on his long robe fluttered gently in the breeze.
The woman’s eyes sparkled with vivacity as she held the man's hand, her steps light and carefree.
“So, you thought I was upset?”
Xiao Qing, with a candied hawthorn skewer in her mouth, looked at Ao Qing with a mischievous grin.
Ao Qing glanced at her, nodding.
“A young girl, sitting by the lake, not saying a word, doing nothing.”
“Anyone would think the same.”
Xiao Qing chuckled happily, her voice bright and melodious.
“Not at all. I was simply lost in thought, and then a more absent-minded fellow came to find me.”
Ao Qing reached back and tapped Xiao Qing’s head. Xiao Qing stopped laughing, her face puffed up in anger as she glared at Ao Qing, clutching her head.
But before she could speak, a strange commotion broke out.
Ao Qing looked in the direction of the noise, seeing a raggedly-dressed Taoist blocking a peddler selling pears.
From the whispers of the surrounding crowd, he seemed to be asking for a pear to quench his thirst, but the peddler was refusing to give him one.
Xiao Qing, intrigued, pulled Ao Qing into the crowd, getting closer to see what was happening.
This scene was a classic in countless tales of the strange and extraordinary.
Ao Qing, without even needing to think, could already picture most of the stories in his head.
Sure enough, after some arguing.
A waiter from a nearby shop, unable to bear the sight any longer, took out a copper coin and bought a pear for the Taoist.
The Taoist took the pear, looked at the onlookers, and laughed loudly.
“As a monk, I have transcended material possessions and would not be stingy with my belongings. Today, I shall treat everyone to a pear.”
He then devoured the pear in three bites, not bothering to wipe the juice from his face. He untied the shovel on his back and began to dig a hole in the ground.
The crowd, filled with curiosity, waited to see what would happen next.
Soon, the Taoist had dug a hole. He threw the pear core into the hole and then asked for boiling water to pour in.
As the boiling water poured, a sprout began to emerge from the hole.
The sprout grew rapidly in the wind, soon becoming a large tree with branches full of pears.
The Taoist, with a smile on his face, exuded an air of otherworldly wisdom as he bowed to the crowd.
“Everyone, please don't be shy. The Taoist invites you all to taste his pears.”
Xiao Qing suddenly nudged Ao Qing with her elbow and whispered.
“Those pears seem to be from the peddler’s cart.”
Ao Qing signaled for Xiao Qing to remain calm and enjoy the show.
The crowd, seeing this unexpected opportunity to gain something for free, immediately surrounded the tree and began picking pears.
Xiao Qing scanned the crowd, noticing the peddler watching from within the crowd, his face filled with amazement.
She pursed her lips and whispered.
“The peddler doesn’t seem to realize what’s happening. He's still beaming.”
“Indeed, these are ordinary people who cannot see through this Taoist’s magic. Should we intervene?”
Ao Qing put his hands on Xiao Qing’s shoulders and said warmly.
“What do you think we should do?”
Xiao Qing frowned, pondering for a moment, then said thoughtfully.
“The peddler was a bit stingy, but there is no law in the land that forbids being stingy.”
“Therefore, I think we should help the peddler, at least not let him lose everything. What do you think?”
Ao Qing rested his chin on Xiao Qing’s head and chuckled.
“I think this peddler is quite amazing, actually. He even managed to make our Xiao Qing girl remember the rules of the law.”
Xiao Qing, annoyed, turned to bite Ao Qing’s hand, which rested on her shoulder.
It wasn't a real bite, just playful teasing.
Ao Qing did not dodge or flinch, allowing Xiao Qing to play, and said softly.
“This magic has traces of the teachings of the Lao Shan Taoists. No need to rush. Let’s watch and see what happens next.”
It didn’t take long before all the pears on the tree were gone.
The Taoist bowed to the crowd once more, saying with a smile, “Everyone, are you satisfied? Then the Taoist must cut down the tree.”
As he spoke, he pulled out an axe and began chopping the tree, the sound echoing in the air.
Once the tree fell, the Taoist carried it on his shoulder and swaggered away.
Xiao Qing glanced at the departing Taoist and then at the bewildered peddler, reminding him.
“Go and check your pears.”
The peddler looked up, startled, and then seemed to awaken, looking at his pear cart.
Seeing his empty cart, the peddler cried out in pain and chased after the Taoist.
Having witnessed the final act of this little drama, the crowd dispersed.
Xiao Qing, holding Ao Qing’s hand, leaned closer to observe and discovered that the tree was actually the cart's handle.
She looked at Ao Qing, hesitant.
“Should we follow them?”
Ao Qing frowned in thought.
“Don’t worry, I find this a bit strange. Let’s go back to the Water Palace first.”
Xiao Qing, casting one last longing look at the direction the Taoist and peddler had disappeared in, finally followed Ao Qing back towards the Water Palace.
Not long after.
Bai Su Zhen pushed open the door and entered the room, looking at Ao Qing with surprise.
“You wanted to see me?”
Ao Qing glanced at Xiao Qing, who was sitting there looking sullen, and motioned for Bai Su Zhen to come outside.
The two of them went outside.
Ao Qing first recounted the story of the Taoist and the peddler, then looked at Bai Su Zhen.
“That Taoist’s magic seems to be from the Lao Shan School, but that sect rarely descends from the mountains, let alone argue with a pear peddler.”
Bai Su Zhen also frowned, lost in thought.
“You think something is amiss?”
Ao Qing nodded, looking into Bai Su Zhen’s eyes.
“I intend to go to Lao Shan and ask about this. Hopefully, nothing is amiss, but if there is any trouble, it’s best to deal with it early.”
Bai Su Zhen met Ao Qing’s gaze, her young face filled with seriousness.
“So, you called me back because you wanted me to watch Xiao Qing, to keep her from doing anything rash, right?”
That was exactly what Ao Qing had in mind. He explained with a smile.
“She wants to help others, which is a good thing, but that Taoist has magic. I don’t feel comfortable leaving her alone.”
“As you know, she may not always listen.”
Bai Su Zhen, of course, knew her younger sister's personality. She nodded in agreement.
“Then you go quickly and come back soon. I’ll watch over Xiao Qing.”
Ao Qing agreed, turned around, and walked towards the entrance of the Dragon Palace.