Peach Blossoms in Chang'an

Chapter 247 The Temptation of Dreaming Back to the Tang Dynasty

The moonlight poured like water on the path in the garden. Wu Tao and Hu Bugui walked side by side. Their shadows were stretched out long and intertwined, as if telling of the intricate connection between them.

"Taotao..." Hu Bugui's voice broke the silence, with a hint of hesitation and expectation, "I... I was thinking... should we... go back to the Tang Dynasty to have a look?"

His words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples, and Wu Tao's heart couldn't help but tremble slightly. Back to the Tang Dynasty, this thought was like a seed buried in the bottom of his heart, quietly sprouting at this moment.

"Let's go back and take a look..." Wu Tao murmured to himself, his eyes a little blurred, his thoughts drifting to that distant yet familiar time and space.

They had fought side by side in the Tang Dynasty, experienced ups and downs, and left many beautiful memories. There, they had their common friends, the cause they fought for, and their inseparable concerns.

"I know this may sound crazy..." Hu Bugui held Wu Tao's hand, his tone full of apology, "We have a good life now, a successful career, and a happy family, but..."

"No, I don't feel crazy." Wu Tao interrupted him, with a firm light in her eyes, "I understand how you feel, and I have always been concerned about everything there."

They have achieved success in the modern world, founded their own companies, brought the culture and skills of the Tang Dynasty to this era, and realized their dreams. However, deep down in their hearts, they can never forget the place they once fought for.

"But what about Mom and Dad? And our careers..." Wu Tao asked worriedly.

"I will explain it to them clearly." Hu Bugui said firmly, "I believe they will understand us."

The next day, Wu Tao and Hu Bugui told their father and mother about their idea. At first, the two elders were shocked and reluctant to hear the news.

"Taotao, have you really thought it through?" Mother Wu held Wu Tao's hand, her eyes full of worry. "After we go back, everything will have to start all over again. Are you really ready?"

"Mom, we understand your worries." Wu Tao held her mother's hand and said firmly, "But we have decided that we want to return to where we belong and complete our unfinished mission."

Father Wu was silent for a moment, but finally nodded: "Since you have made up your mind, then do it bravely! Mom and Dad will always support you."

With the support of their parents, Wu Tao and Hu Bugui strengthened their determination. However, when they told their entrepreneurial partners about this news, they encountered unexpected opposition...

"What? You want to go back to the Tang Dynasty?"

"What? You want to go back to the Tang Dynasty?" The entrepreneurial partners looked at each other, disbelief written all over their faces.

"Taotao, Mr. Hu, are you kidding me?" Marketing Director Li Ming was the first to react, with a hint of surprise and confusion in his tone. "Our company is developing so well now, why do you want to give up everything and go back to that backward era?"

"Yes, Taotao, Mr. Hu, there are more opportunities and life is more convenient in modern society. Have you really thought it through?" Technical Director Wang Qiang couldn't help but persuade.

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui had anticipated the doubts and confusion of their partners. They looked at each other with determination in their eyes.

"We understand everyone's concerns." Hu Bugui said calmly, "However, we returned to the Tang Dynasty not to escape reality, but to complete our unfinished mission."

"Mission?" Li Ming frowned. "What mission?"

"We want to pass on the culture and skills of the Tang Dynasty so that more people can understand that glorious era." Wu Tao took over the conversation with a determined light in his eyes. "Besides, we still have many concerns there, and we want to go back to see them."

The companions looked at each other in silence. They understood Wu Tao and Hu Bugui's feelings, but they still couldn't understand their choice.

"Taotao, Mr. Hu, I know you have deep feelings for the Tang Dynasty, but have you ever thought that after you go back, everything will have to start all over again. Are you really ready?" Financial Director Liu Li asked in a worried tone.

"We have made up our mind," Wu Tao said firmly, "We will overcome all difficulties and achieve our goal."

Seeing how determined Wu Tao and Hu Bugui were, their partners knew that it was futile to persuade them. In the end, they could only choose to respect their decision and expressed their full support for them.

After seeing off their companions, Wu Tao and Hu Bugui began to secretly prepare for their return to the Tang Dynasty. They collected a large amount of historical data about the Tang Dynasty and studied the political, economic, and cultural aspects of the Tang Dynasty in order to better adapt to life in the Tang Dynasty.

They also learned the language, etiquette, customs and habits of the Tang Dynasty in order to better integrate into the Tang Dynasty society. They knew that they would face various challenges after returning to the Tang Dynasty, but they were fully prepared.

One night, when Wu Tao was sorting out the items she brought back from the Tang Dynasty, she accidentally found an exquisite wooden box. She opened the box and saw an ancient jade pendant lying quietly inside.

"What is this?" Wu Tao picked up the jade pendant and looked at it carefully.

"Let me see." Hu Bugui came over, took the jade pendant, and observed it carefully. Suddenly, his pupils shrank suddenly, as if he had discovered something incredible, "This... Could this be..."

Hu Bugui didn't say anything, but just held the jade pendant tightly, his deep eyes filled with complicated emotions. Seeing this, Wu Tao became even more curious, "What's wrong? Is there something wrong with this jade pendant?"

"If I'm not mistaken, this should be a magic weapon that can travel through time and space." Hu Bugui's voice was low and hoarse, as if he was suppressing some excitement.

"What?!" Wu Tao exclaimed, covering her mouth in disbelief. "You mean, we can use it to go back to the Tang Dynasty?"

Hu Bugui nodded, but his brows were tightly locked. "In theory, this is true, but the power of this jade pendant is already very weak. It requires powerful energy to activate it."

"Then how do we get energy?" Wu Tao asked impatiently.

Hu Bugui was silent for a moment, his eyes fell on the jade pendant, and he fell into deep thought. He slowly said: "It is recorded in ancient books that this kind of magic weapon needs to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to work, and now..."

Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Wu Tao, "You mean, spiritual energy is thin in modern society, so we can't activate it?"

Hu Bugui nodded helplessly, his tone full of regret, "It seems that we can only think of another way."

Wu Tao suddenly collapsed on the sofa in disappointment, like a deflated ball. Are they destined to be trapped in this era and unable to return to the Tang Dynasty that they longed for?

Just when they were at a loss, Hu Bugui suddenly remembered something. He had seen in an ancient book that there was a formation called "Gathering Spirit Formation" that could gather the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. If they could find the diagram of this formation, perhaps they could solve the energy problem.

So, Hu Bugui and Wu Tao began to look through various ancient books, looking for records about the "Spirit Gathering Array". They went to various libraries and museums, consulted countless materials, and finally found the diagram of the "Spirit Gathering Array" in an ancient book that had been sealed for a long time.

However, when they studied the diagram carefully, they found that the arrangement of the "Spirit Gathering Array" required the use of many rare materials, among which a material called "Ambergris" was extremely rare.

"Ambergris? What is that?" Wu Tao asked in confusion.

"Ambergris is an extremely precious spice. It is said that it can only be produced by sperm whales in the deep sea." Hu Bugui explained, "Moreover, even if you find a sperm whale, you may not be able to get ambergris, because the conditions for the formation of ambergris are very harsh, and only a very small number of sperm whales can produce it."

Hearing this, Wu Tao's heart completely sank. It seemed that returning to the Tang Dynasty was harder than ascending to heaven!

Just when they were in despair, Hu Bugui suddenly remembered a person - a mysterious old man who lived in seclusion in the mountains and forests. It is said that this old man is proficient in the art of Qimen Dunjia, and perhaps he knows how to find ambergris.

"Let's go find that old man!" Hu Bugui took Wu Tao's hand and was about to go out.

"Wait," Wu Tao stopped him, "We know nothing about that old man. Wouldn't it be too abrupt to just go there rashly?"

"We can't care about so many things now," Hu Bugui's eyes flashed with determination, "For our dream, we must give it a try!"

So, they packed their bags and set out on a journey to find the mysterious old man...

"Can you really help us find ambergris?" Wu Tao asked anxiously.

The old man stroked his gray beard, and a gleam of light flashed in his cloudy eyes, "I do know the whereabouts of ambergris, but..." He paused, and glanced sharply at Wu Tao and Hu Bugui, "Why should I help you?"

"We can reward you with money!" Wu Tao said eagerly.

The old man shook his head and said, "I have lived in seclusion in the mountains for many years and have long regarded money as dirt."

"Then what do you want?" Hu Bugui asked in a deep voice.

The old man was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "I want you to help me find something."

"What is it?" Wu Tao and Hu Bugui asked in unison.

"The snow lotus on the top of Kunlun Mountain." The old man said word by word.

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui looked at each other in bewilderment. The Kunlun Mountains are steep, covered with snow all year round, have a harsh climate, and are guarded by legendary mythical beasts. Let alone finding snow lotus, even for ordinary people it is extremely difficult to reach the summit.

"What? Are you scared?" The old man seemed to see through their thoughts and a sarcastic smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"We promise you!" Hu Bugui answered without hesitation, his eyes firm, "As long as you tell us the whereabouts of the ambergris, we will agree to any conditions!"

The old man looked at Hu Bugui deeply, with a hint of admiration in his eyes. "Good! You have courage! However, I want to remind you that Kunlun Mountain is full of dangers. If you are not careful, you will lose your life. You must think carefully!"

"We have made up our minds!" Wu Tao and Hu Bugui said in unison, their tone firm and unwavering.

The old man nodded, took out a sheepskin scroll from his bosom and handed it to Hu Bugui, "This records the location of the snow lotus and the topographic map of Kunlun Mountain. Take it."

Hu Bugui took the scroll and opened it carefully. He saw complex mountain terrain and some strange symbols drawn on it. In a place marked with a red circle, there was a blooming snow lotus.

"Remember, snow lotus blooms only once every hundred years. Now is the flowering season. You only have one month. If you miss it, you will have to wait another hundred years." The old man warned in a serious tone, "Also, there are many dangers on Kunlun Mountain. You must be careful!"

"Thank you for your guidance, old man. We will keep it in mind!" Hu Bugui and Wu Tao thanked the old man solemnly, then took the scroll, turned around and left the old man's thatched hut.

What they didn't know was that behind them, a cunning light flashed in the old man's eyes, and he murmured in a low voice: "Kunlun Mountain is not so easy to enter. Let me see if you can come back alive..."

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui follow the mysterious old man's instructions and start looking for the legendary energy source, which is the key to activating the magic weapon of time travel...