Drive to the Tang Dynasty, where supplies are refreshed daily!

Li Lizhi wiped the little princess's sweat.

"The young master went fishing over there."

After wiping her sweat, the little princess ran towards Xiao Ran.

"Little Nangjun~" The little princess's sweet voice came from afar.

Just then, Xiao Ran finished reeling in his rod.

"Sizi's here! Look, these are the fish I caught. Shall we give Sizi some grilled fish later?" Xiao Ran held a string of fish skewered on grass in his hand.

"It's a fish~"

The little princess reached out and touched the fish. The fish opened its mouth, which startled the little princess, who quickly withdrew her hand.

"It moved!" the little princess said, pointing at the fish.

Xiao Ran lifted the fish high, saying, "It's alright, it won't move in a bit."

With the fish and his little tagalong, Xiao Ran returned to the bamboo forest.

"Let's grill these fish in a bit."

There weren't many fish, so after grilling them, everyone could only have a taste. However, the fish, which were just caught, were very fresh after grilling.

The little princess was crying out for food.

Xiao Ran tore off a piece of meat from the fish's belly and fed it to the little princess.

This piece of meat is tender and has no fish bones, making it perfect for the little princess.

"Good, good, Seven Ducks~" The little princess squinted her eyes, savoring the taste in her mouth.

Xiao Ran fed her another piece.

The fish belly meat was given to the little princess, and Xiao Ran finished the rest in just two or three bites.

By the time they finished eating, the mouths of the younger children were all black.

"Let's go, let's set off."

Xiao Ran and his group continued walking towards Jing'an Temple.

By the time we arrived, it was almost noon.

The little princess skipped and hopped to the stone archway in front of the temple, looked up, pointed at the three large characters "Jing'an Temple," and asked, "Little Nang~ what's this 'An' (安)?"

Xiao Ran said, "These are the three characters 'Jing'an Temple,' which is the name of this place."

The little princess nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Li Lizhi walked over and gently patted Sizi on the back: "Sizi, don't run around. You have to follow the rules in the Taoist temple."

Although his tone was somewhat reproachful, his eyes were full of doting affection.

The little princess stuck out her tongue.

"Woji Island~"

As they were talking, a group of Taoist priests walked out of the temple gate. The leader was a Taoist priest who was over fifty years old and had white hair and beard, named Xuanqing.

"It seems my calculations were correct; indeed, we have distinguished guests at our door today!" Master Xuanqing said with a smile.

The little princess tilted her head to look at his Taoist robe and asked curiously, "This robe is different!"

Master Xuanqing smiled upon hearing this, his eyes becoming even gentler: "This is a Taoist robe. As a practitioner, I wear it to remind myself to be pure of heart and free from desires. This young lady is quite lively and lovely."

Then, Master Xuanqing looked at Xiao Ran, said nothing, and just smiled.

This smile was quite something; Xiao Ran felt his hair stand on end.

Could this person actually be able to predict something?

However, Master Xuanqing did not speak, but simply turned slightly to the side and said, "Please come in, distinguished guests."

Master Xuanqing led everyone up the stone steps. The ancient pine trees on both sides of the steps had intertwined branches and leaves, and moss covered the trunks, exuding the tranquility of time.

The group walked to the Tranquil Pavilion halfway up the mountain, where Master Xuanqing suggested they rest for a while.

Beside the Lingquan Well outside the pavilion, disciples from the temple were drawing water. The well water was crystal clear, reflecting the vegetation on the bank.

Princess Yuzhang asked softly, "Daoist Master, this well water looks so clean, is it safe to drink directly from it?"

Master Xuanqing nodded: "This spring is called the Spirit Spring. It is formed by the spiritual energy of the mountains. It is sweet and refreshing, and drinking it can clear the mind and brighten the eyes."

The little princess didn't understand what "clearing the mind and brightening the eyes" meant; she only heard Master Xuanqing say "sweet," and quickly said, "I want some!"

Helpless, Xiao Ran had no choice but to take the wooden bucket from the disciple, fill a small bowl with spring water, and carefully feed it to her.

"You little glutton, drink slowly, don't choke," Xiao Ran said.

The little princess took two sips and didn't forget to share some with the other little princesses from Chengyang.

After finishing all the drinks, the little princess smacked her lips, still wanting more, and said, "So delicious~"

Master Xuanqing stroked his long beard and said, "Everyone, please have a taste."

Xiao Ran simply made some more and handed them to Li Lizhi and the others.

Li Lizhi took the spring water from Xiao Ran, took a sip, and praised, "It's indeed refreshing and sweet. Young man, do you think this spring really has spiritual energy?"

Xiao Ran smiled and said, "Perhaps it is the nourishment of the vegetation in the mountains that makes the water quality so good. The Taoists say, 'Mountains have spirits, and water has charm,' which is probably the meaning of this."

Master Xuanqing nodded approvingly upon hearing this: "This young man has a good understanding of what Taoism says. The reason why this spiritual spring never dries up is because the mountains and water are in harmony and mutually supportive, and no one has ever taken too much from it. This is the principle of harmonious coexistence between man and nature."

Princess Yuzhang pondered for a moment: "So, in other words, we can't just destroy the plants, trees, mountains, and rivers around us, right?"

"That is exactly what I meant," Master Xuanqing replied gently.

After resting for a while, the group continued walking into the temple. Passing through the mountain gate, the forsythia in the courtyard was in full bloom, its petals glistening with morning dew and exuding a sweet fragrance.

Several butterflies, attracted by the fragrance of the flowers, are fluttering about.

"Wow~ It's a lucky butterfly~"

The little princess ran towards the butterfly and then reached out her hand.

Unexpectedly, after testing the waters, the butterfly didn't land on the little princess's hand, but instead landed on the tip of her nose.

Now the little princess didn't even dare to breathe. She could only hold her breath, focusing her eyes on the butterfly on the tip of her nose.

She also tugged at Xiao Ran's sleeve.

"Little Bag~"

The little princess spoke in a whisper, her voice filled with surprise and fear.

Xiao Ran turned his head and saw this scene, and immediately laughed.

"Sizi, does this butterfly mistake you for a flower?"

The little princess felt her nose was a little itchy, so she sneezed.

The butterfly was startled and quickly flew away.

Everyone around who witnessed this scene laughed. Master Xuanqing's eyes were full of affection as he said softly, "Young lady, you are pure and kind, with the heart of a child. You will surely have a smooth life ahead of you."

The little princess tilted her head, not understanding what Master Xuanqing meant. But Xiao Ran raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Then I'll take your kind words, Master."

No one knows the exact cause of the princess's death in history, and Xiao Ran was also afraid that the princess would not be able to survive the ordeal.

Master Xuanqing seems to have real skills. Since he was able to say these words, he might have predicted something.

In any case, Master Xuanqing's words made Xiao Ran feel much more relaxed.

Afterwards, the group continued walking forward and arrived at the Sanqing Hall.

The Sanqing Hall is solemn and dignified. The gilded statues of the Three Pure Ones have a benevolent expression. The disciples in the temple have prepared prayer items. Master Xuanqing personally explained the prayer etiquette: "First, you need to wash your hands and face to show your piety, then hold incense and kneel down to express your wishes."

The disciple brought over mugwort water infused with spiritual spring water, and Sizi rubbed her little hands in the water, washing them very carefully.

The prayer ceremony began. Master Xuanqing's chanting was melodious and sacred. Li Lizhi held a tall incense stick, bowed and knelt, and prayed softly. Then she stood up and said to Xiao Ran in a low voice, "I pray for peace in the world and happiness for the people. I also pray that Sizi and Yuzhang can grow up safely."

Xiao Ran's heart stirred slightly, and he said, "Fifth Sister has the world in her heart; your wish will surely come true."

When Princess Yuzhang knelt in worship, she didn't say much, but her eyes were sincere. When she stood up, she said to the two of them, "I only wish that everyone around me is well."

Xiao Ran nodded and said affirmatively, "Yes."

The little princess also put her hands together in a similar manner, muttering her wishes.

Then came Princess Chengyang, Princess Gaoyang, Third Sister Yan Yao, and Di Renjie.

Xiao Ran didn't hear what the younger ones said, and they didn't say anything either.

The little princess did share with Xiao Ran, but the long string of words was a bit too difficult for her, and Xiao Ran couldn't hear it very clearly either.

But he would find out sooner or later, so Xiao Ran wasn't in a hurry.

Finally, it was Cheng Chumo, Qin Huaidao, and their group who took turns praying and making wishes.

Whether it comes true or not, it's at least a beautiful wish.

As for Xiao Ran, he remained silent for a while before finally saying, "May you be in good health and may everything go smoothly."

After leaving the Sanqing Hall, it was almost time for lunch.

The lunch inside the temple was quite plentiful.

On the table were braised duck, roasted meat, sashimi, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, cold wild vegetables, and flatbread, all emitting a fragrant aroma.

Looking at the meat on the table, Xiao Ran remained silent for a moment before saying, "Didn't the Daoist Master say that one should be pure of heart and have few desires?"

Master Xuanqing smiled and said, "Purifying the mind and reducing desires is cultivation, and following one's heart is self-cultivation. Besides, we are not those monks."

When he said this, the Taoist priest did not look like someone over fifty years old at all.

The little princess knew nothing of spiritual cultivation or self-improvement; she was already drooling over the dishes on the table.

"Little Nangjun~ Seven Again~"

Xiao Ran smiled and said, "Alright, let's eat meat. What does Sizi want to eat?"

The little princess pointed at the roasted meat and said, "I want this duck~"

Xiao Ran placed a piece of roasted meat on the little princess's plate.

This roasted meat is very well made; it's soft and tender, and has no unpleasant smell at all, only the aroma of meat.

Take another bite of the sesame seed cake, and you'll find it even more crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

Xiao Ran picked up a piece of sashimi. "Sizi, try this. It's delicious too."

The little princess quickly put it in her mouth.

"Good seven ducks~"

After lunch, Master Xuanqing smiled and said to Xiao Ran, "Young master, there are quite a few fish in the pond in front of the temple. Why don't you come with me to fish for a few days as a pastime?"

Xiao Ran had the same idea. It wasn't just for fishing; he mainly wanted to test this Master Xuanqing to see if he really knew anything.

Li Lizhi could tell that they had something to say, so she took the little princess and the others to watch the rabbits being fed.

The pool in front of the temple is crystal clear, with lush vegetation on the banks and the occasional chirping of birds, creating a tranquil and pleasant atmosphere.

Master Xuanqing asked his disciple to bring two sets of fishing tackle. The two found a flat bluestone on the shore, sat down, baited their hooks, and slowly lowered them into the water.

Xiao Ran glanced at him and said, "I've heard that you can fish here, so I brought a fishing rod with me."

Hearing Xiao Ran say this, Master Xuanqing did not insist that Xiao Ran use his own fishing rod, but watched as Xiao Ran brought out his own carbon fiber fishing rod.

"This fishing rod is quite novel. I wonder where you obtained it, young master?"

Xiao Ran smiled. "I made this."

He then tentatively asked, "Haven't you seen this kind of fishing rod before, Taoist priest?"

Master Xuanqing shook his head. "I have never seen it before, but the world is vast and full of wonders. Especially since the young man is blessed with good fortune, it would not be surprising if he did something."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ran understood, and the mutual test ended there. Instead, they started discussing fishing.

Xiao Ran was quite experienced in fishing, but Master Xuanqing didn't care whether he caught any fish or not. Instead, he said, "Fishing is the best way to temper one's temperament. You can't be impatient or agitated, just like life."

Xiao Ran never expected that Daoist Xuanqing would suddenly start getting into philosophy.

However, he still agreed, saying, "What you say is absolutely right, Daoist. It seems that the principle of fishing is quite similar to the Daoist philosophy of life."

Master Xuanqing smiled slightly and nodded, saying, "That's right. When fishing, one must follow the current and understand the nature of the fish. One cannot forcibly drag them, otherwise it will only scare the fish away or even break the fishing line. Life is the same. One must follow the way of heaven and follow one's own heart. One cannot be impatient for success, let alone force things that do not belong to one. Everything in the world has its destiny. Excessive attachment will only increase troubles."

As he spoke, the float beside him moved slightly, but Master Xuanqing remained unmoved, sitting as still as a bell.

"Follow the way of Heaven and follow your heart," Xiao Ran murmured to himself.

He has indeed been thinking a lot about gunpowder lately. This technology is far ahead of its time, so sometimes he wonders whether it was right or wrong for him to let Sun Simiao develop gunpowder.

This is a question that is destined to have no answer.

Xiao Ran looked at the composed and calm Daoist Xuanqing, thought for a moment, sighed softly, and curled the corners of his mouth.

Since things have already come to this, let's go with the flow and follow our hearts. Let's leave everything to fate.

At this moment, Master Xuanqing's float moved again. Only then did he slowly raise his hand and gently lift the fishing rod, and a small fish a few inches long was caught. His disciple quickly stepped forward to take the fish off the hook and put it into the bamboo basket next to him.

Master Xuanqing looked at Xiao Ran and smiled, "Young master, how come you haven't caught a single fish? How about I help you?"

This is the greatest insult to a fisherman. Xiao Ran snorted lightly, "Daoist, aren't we supposed to calm down? Why the rush?"

Master Xuanqing hadn't expected his words to be returned to him, and immediately laughed and said, "Absolutely right!"

Afterwards, the two continued to chat while fishing, discussing everything from attitudes towards life to Taoist philosophy, from the various aspects of life to the way of governing a country. The more they talked, the more they clicked, and before they knew it, their bamboo baskets were filled with several plump little fish.

Just then, the laughter of the little princess could be heard from afar. She was seen holding a white rabbit, with Li Lizhi and Princess Yuzhang following behind her, walking quickly over.

"Little Nangjun~ Come on, come on~" The little princess struggled to lift the rabbit in her hand.

This rabbit looks like it's eating very well; it's very fat.

Xiao Ran looked at Daoist Xuanqing and asked, "This rabbit isn't raised for food, is it?"

Master Xuanqing shook his head. "Yes and no."

Under Xiao Ran's questioning gaze, Daoist Xuanqing said, "These rabbits are wild rabbits, not raised by anyone in the temple. I don't know when it started, but these wild rabbits seem to have made their home here, always gathering behind the temple. However, some greedy disciples will catch them to eat, but it's strange that they don't run away." (End of this chapter)