Passing through Tongguan, a treacherous route “where only apes and monkeys dare compete for passage,” Bao Zhu’s party of four left the Guanzhong region and officially entered the Central Plains.
When crossing the pass, the entire journey was filled with deep valleys and sheer cliffs, with mountains connecting to peaks, and peaks reaching to the sky. One could imagine how during the Tianbao Rebellion years ago, General Geshu Han occupied the natural fortress of Tongguan. Suffering from suspicion and forced to lead troops into battle, he lost Tongguan in defeat. The corpses of two hundred thousand Tang soldiers actually filled these precipitous cliffs and deep valleys. The rebel army then broke into Guanzhong, bringing suffering to countless people, killing until the fields were filled with bodies, forcing Emperor Xuanzong to flee westward. From then on, the great Tang declined from prosperity.
After passing Tongguan and entering Lingbao County, the terrain gradually became gentler, refreshing the spirit. They could see endless peach groves on both sides of the road. It was autumn fruiting season, and the trees were full of peaches—red and white against the backdrop of emerald leaves, utterly charming.
Shisan Lang exclaimed in wonder: “How did this place come to have so many peach trees planted?”
Yang Xingjian sat cross-legged on the ox cart, leisurely driving the ox while recounting history: “The origin of Lingbao County’s name is quite interesting. It was formerly called Taolin County and has been planted with peach trees since the Shang Dynasty. During the Kaiyuan era, Chen Prince’s Staff Officer Tian Tongxiu memorialized Emperor Xuanzong, saying he dreamed that the Supreme Mysterious Prime Emperor spoke to him from Danfeng Tower: ‘In the place where I wrote my scripture, there is a spiritual talisman. Whoever obtains it can seize control of the realm.'”
Shisan Lang interrupted: “Who is the Supreme Mysterious Prime Emperor?”
Yang Xingjian patiently explained: “That’s the founding ancestor of the Tang Li clan—Laozi, who ‘rode a green ox through Hangu Pass with purple qi coming from the east.’ Before leaving the pass, he was detained by the pass commander Yin Xi, who asked him to write down the eternally circulated ‘Dao De Jing.’ So ‘the place where he wrote his scripture’ refers to this Taolin County.”
He continued: “Emperor Xuanzong immediately ordered people to search and excavate in Taolin County. They dug up a spiritual talisman at the former residence of Pass Commander Yin Xi. The memorial stated: ‘The Hangu treasure talisman corresponds mysteriously to the reign title; it does not contradict the Former Heaven. Please add the two characters “Tianbao” to the honorific title.’ Xuanzong then changed the Kaiyuan era name to Tianbao and renamed Taolin County, where the spiritual talisman was discovered, to Lingbao County. So this place full of peach trees has been called Lingbao ever since.”
Although some details were hard to understand, the main story was very interesting, and Shisan Lang was quite satisfied. However, Wei Xun, who was leading the reins, voiced his doubts: “He was already emperor—why would he still need to search for some mystical thing that could ‘seize control of the realm’? Could he plot against himself?”
When Yang Xingjian heard him point out the fatal flaw in this historical tale, his face showed some embarrassment. He thought this young man was truly annoying—why did he have to contradict everything he said?
Old Yang said with displeasure: “Something so closely related to the nation’s destiny, even if it’s just mystical pretense, must be firmly held in one’s own hands. Otherwise, if obtained by someone with treacherous intentions, wouldn’t it become a calamity that could overturn the Tang and throw the realm into chaos?”
Upon hearing the words “overturn the Tang and throw the realm into chaos,” Wei Xun immediately scoffed: “Emperor Xuanzong also obtained this spiritual talisman, yet not long after, he was thoroughly beaten by An Lushan and chased to Sichuan, losing his dragon throne instead. So what exactly was the effect of this Laozi talisman—to throw the realm into chaos or to seize control of it?”
When Bao Zhu heard these two arguing again, her ears buzzed with annoyance. She raised her riding whip and lightly poked Wei Xun’s shoulder: “I’m thirsty. Go pick some peaches for me.”
Wei Xun immediately abandoned his argument with Yang Xingjian, handed the reins back to her, and went to the roadside peach grove to find suitable targets.
The peach trees along both sides of the road had long been stripped clean by passing travelers, leaving only unripe astringent peaches the size of walnuts. Only at the very tops of the trees, where no one could reach, remained ripe large peaches. This naturally posed no difficulty for him—he leaped up from the ground with ease, picked them effortlessly, wiped them with a cloth, and brought them back.
Knowing she wasn’t accustomed to biting into whole fruits, Wei Xun drew the black iron dagger from his waist and was about to cut the peach into sections when Bao Zhu’s face paled with alarm as she loudly stopped him: “Wait!”
Wei Xun paused, asking in confusion: “What’s wrong? Didn’t you say you wanted to eat peaches?”
Bao Zhu asked with a terrified expression: “This dagger… is this the dagger you used to cut off Bao Lang’s head?”
When Wei Xun heard this, he knew she minded, and could only sigh as he explained: “I’ve already washed it clean with strong liquor.”
Bao Zhu firmly refused: “No! You can’t use a killing blade and an eating knife together—it’s absolutely disgusting. I didn’t pursue it before when you used it to slice fish and cut meat, but from now on, whenever we encounter a market, immediately go buy a new eating knife to use. Otherwise, I absolutely won’t touch any food you bring me!”
Wei Xun had no choice but to sheath the blade and break open the peach by hand to give to her, muttering quietly: “Where could there be any eating knife better than this one?”
The group ate the peaches as snacks. Bao Zhu’s hands were sticky with peach juice, and seeing a small stream flowing slowly through the peach grove in the distance, she ordered everyone to stop and rest for a moment to wash off the dust.
Getting down from the donkey, Bao Zhu first took Shisan Lang to wash their hands in the stream. Seeing the clear, shallow water, lovely as transparent silk scarves on a lady’s body, winding through the lush peach grove and reflecting the surrounding beautiful scenery, it filled one’s heart with joy. Shisan Lang had already removed his shoes and socks, rolled up the hem of his monk’s robes and tied it at his waist, wading in the water to cool off.
Although it was already autumn, the summer heat hadn’t completely faded, and the ice-cold stream water was refreshing to the soul. After washing her hands clean, Bao Zhu’s playful nature arose greatly. She also removed her shoes and socks and went in, walking barefoot on stones and catching fish, splashing water playfully with the little novice monk.
At some distance away, Wei Xun tied the reins to a peach tree, unloaded all the luggage from the donkey’s back to let it rest, fed it a couple handfuls of beans, and only after arranging everything did he dust off his hands and prepare to go find Bao Zhu and the others.
Yang Xingjian sat on the ox cart without getting down. Observing that Wei Xun worked quite efficiently, when he saw him about to walk toward the stream, he quickly called out: “Wait! You can’t go over there!”
Wei Xun turned back in surprise: “Why?”
Yang Xingjian said angrily: “The princess has removed her shoes and socks—we naturally must keep our distance to avoid impropriety. This is proper etiquette and rules. How can you not know better than to go over and be presumptuous?”
Wei Xun asked in puzzlement: “Didn’t you see my junior martial brother is also beside her?”
Yang Xingjian thought that explaining etiquette to these martial arts people was truly exhausting, but for the princess’s sake he couldn’t refrain from speaking. He could only patiently explain: “Master Shisan Lang is a monk, and moreover a child, so there are no restrictions.”
Wei Xun frowned in thought, then answered in an indifferent tone: “I’m also a child.”
With that, he left Yang Xingjian behind and strode quickly toward the two of them.
Yang Xingjian was struck speechless, his eyes wide as copper bells, stammering as he shouted: “That—that’s not the same thing! Come back quickly!” But no one paid him any attention.
At this moment, Bao Zhu was having great fun playing in the water when she suddenly glimpsed a green snake more than three feet long slowly swimming from the grass into the stream, undulating toward her direction. She immediately became panic-stricken and shrieked: “Shisan Lang, quickly get my bow and arrows!”
Wei Xun had already bent down and grasped the snake’s head, gently lifting it up. He didn’t crush the serpent to death—its tail coiled up in circles, wrapping around his arm.
Bao Zhu breathed a sigh of relief, her mood relaxing. Just as she was about to say something, she saw Wei Xun slowly smile, revealing two snow-white, slightly pointed teeth, his eyes overflowing with mischievous intent. Holding the green snake’s head, he walked slowly toward her.
Bao Zhu’s heart skipped a beat, her face gradually losing color as she thought: the mischievous devil is going to use the snake to prank someone. She wouldn’t just sit there waiting for doom—she immediately lifted her skirts and ran desperately toward the luggage where her bow and arrows were kept, determined that today she must shoot seventeen or eighteen holes in him to vent her anger.
But no matter how nimble her legs, she couldn’t outrun the world’s top lightness skill expert. With one leap, Wei Xun gained the advantage and seized her bow and arrows for himself. The blue-robed man held the snake in one hand and embraced the bow in the other, saying with a grin: “Remember not to let your weapons leave your side next time—when you want to use them, it’ll be too late to retrieve them.”
Standing barefoot on the grass, Bao Zhu trembled with rage, her hands clenched into fists. Looking around, she leaped up and broke off a straight three-foot peach branch, stripped it of leaves, gripped it with both hands, and held it before her like a horizontal blade with the furious air of someone ready to perish together with her enemy.
Wei Xun loudly praised: “Good adaptability! Good fighting spirit!”
Shisan Lang had also run over, naturally standing behind Bao Zhu to assist her. His face was ashen as he desperately waved and shook his head at his senior martial brother, his eyes indicating that he should quickly surrender his weapons to the commander-in-chief—there might still be some hope for clemency and amnesty.
Bao Zhu had already charged out wielding the peach branch like a horizontal blade, slashing and hacking with grand, sweeping movements. The three fought in a chaotic melee, battling from the shore to the water and from the water back to the shore. For a time, water splashed like flying pearls and jade, stirring up seas and overturning rivers.
Yang Xingjian stood dumbfounded, never imagining they could have such novel and unique methods of water play. Wanting to stop them but unable to keep up with their speed, he no longer cared about propriety and ran up with arms outstretched, shouting: “You can’t fight like this! Getting your clothes wet will cause you to catch cold! Princess! Princess, please listen to this old minister!”
This battle continued until they had exhausted their lunch energy, only ending when Bao Zhu was too tired to lift her arms. All three were soaked from head to toe as if they had taken a great bath. The Wei Xun martial brothers naturally weren’t afraid—they wrung out the hems of their robes and continued barefoot on the road.
But Bao Zhu wore a dripping wet jacket and skirt, the fabric clinging completely to her body with no room for maneuvering. She sat dejectedly on the donkey, deeply regretting her own petty temperament—how could she not withstand the mischievous devil’s provocation?
Yang Xingjian showed his anger openly, scolding them harshly: “How dare you two let the princess get so wet? If she catches a cold from the wind during the journey when medical care and medicine are scarce, that could be a life-threatening matter!”
Wei Xun remained unconcerned, saying lazily: “It’s just clean water—the sun will dry it in a while.”
Just as he finished speaking, Bao Zhu hugged her arms and sneezed.
Yang Xingjian looked at her with alarm, as if he could already see Yang Fangxie collapsed on a sickbed with her lamp oil exhausted. He immediately felt chills running down his spine, his hands and feet numb with fear, circling around the donkey in panic.
“How does the princess feel? Are you weak all over, with cold hands and feet?”
Bao Zhu shook her head, then immediately sneezed a second and third time.
This completely terrified Yang Xingjian out of his wits. He forcibly requested that she dismount the donkey and enter the ox cart, covering herself with brocade quilts and removing her wet clothes to warm herself properly and dispel the cold qi.
At this moment, Wei Xun also felt vaguely afraid in his heart, not realizing that people could be so fragile. He stared blankly as she crawled into the cart canopy and pulled the curtains closed, muttering to himself in a small voice: “It was just clean water…”