In a corner of the Chinese land, hidden among the surrounding mountains, there stood an ancient and solemn Taoist temple. The temple's halls boasted upturned eaves and richly carved beams and pillars. Despite having endured the vicissitudes of time, it still exuded a solemn and respectful aura, like a solitary sage recounting tales of the past. Towering pine and cypress trees filled the temple grounds, their green shadows swaying. Whenever a gentle breeze blew past, the rustling of the leaves seemed to chant ancient Taoist scriptures.

Inside the temple, there was a young Taoist priest named Xuanqing. He had delicate features and clear, autumn-water-like eyes that revealed a sense of liveliness and firmness. Since he was taken in by the abbot as a child, he had been studying Taoist doctrines and cultivating his moral character in this temple. Every morning when the first rays of the sun peeked out, Xuanqing, dressed in a blue-gray Taoist robe and holding a horsetail whisk, would walk steadily towards the main hall. Inside the hall, incense smoke curled up and candles flickered. The statues of the gods looked benevolent, gazing down upon all living beings. Xuanqing would reverently pick up three sticks of incense, light them, clasp his hands together, raise them above his head, and then slowly bow down, performing the three bows and nine kowtows to the statues. As he murmured his prayers, wishing for favorable weather, the well-being of the people, and the continuous burning of incense in the temple, every word was filled with his sincere heart. The prayers, along with the rising incense smoke, drifted away between heaven and earth.

On Xuanqing's chest, he always wore a talisman personally written by the abbot. The talisman was made of yellow paper with cinnabar markings. The strokes were powerful, like wriggling dragons. On the talisman were four mysterious runes that read "Avoid Water and Secure the House." Around the runes were painted strange patterns, including winding water ripples that seemed to flow and ancient cloud seal characters that appeared to conceal the mysteries of heaven and earth. After a period of seclusion, the abbot had painstakingly made this talisman and given it to Xuanqing. When presenting it, he only instructed Xuanqing to wear it close to his body and didn't elaborate on its secrets. Although Xuanqing was puzzled, he obediently followed his master's order and wore it day and night.

One day, the originally clear sky suddenly became overcast with dark clouds. A fierce wind howled and swept in, seemingly intent on devouring everything in the world. In an instant, lightning flashed and thunder roared, and large raindrops came crashing down like a torrential downpour. The river in the village quickly rose in a short time. The surging floodwaters, like runaway wild horses, roared and breached the embankments, rushing towards the village. All at once, cries for help and shouts of panic intertwined, shattering the former tranquility.

Where the flood raged, houses were easily swept away like paper, and furniture and debris floated on the muddy water. The villagers were panic-stricken, fleeing with their families in all directions, searching for high ground to take shelter. Standing on a high point in the temple, Xuanqing looked at the tragic scene before him, and his heart ached. Without a moment's hesitation, he turned and rushed into the floodwaters. Miraculously, when the fierce floodwaters approached Xuanqing, they seemed to encounter an invisible barrier and automatically parted to the sides. The water beneath Xuanqing's feet was as calm as a mirror.

As he hurried along, he saw an old man being swept down by the swift current, clinging tightly to a log, his eyes full of horror and despair. Xuanqing quickly deployed his movement skills, making several leaps to reach the old man's side. He reached out and firmly grasped the old man's arm, pulling him onto a patch of high ground. After surviving the disaster, the old man collapsed on the ground, repeatedly expressing his gratitude. Xuanqing just nodded slightly and said, "Elder, don't be afraid. I'm here." Then he turned around and plunged back into the rescue efforts.

Not far away, on the roof of a house, several children huddled together, crying loudly. The flood was almost submerging the roof, and the situation was extremely critical. Seeing this, Xuanqing murmured an incantation, waved his horsetail whisk, and a gust of wind rose up, helping him quickly jump onto the roof. He carried the children on his back one by one and used his lightness skills to struggle through the floodwaters, making his way towards safety. Every step was extremely difficult. The floodwaters constantly pounded his legs, trying to drag him underwater. But with his tenacious will and the protection of the talisman, Xuanqing managed to steady himself time and time again.

With Xuanqing's continuous rescue efforts, more and more villagers were out of danger. The people gathered on a high ground, looking at Xuanqing, who was still busy in the water, their eyes full of admiration and gratitude. At this moment, a villager asked curiously, "Reverend, the flood is so fierce. Why can you walk on it as if it were flat ground and save so many of us?" Xuanqing stopped what he was doing, raised his head slightly, looked at the talisman on his chest, and said slowly, "This is the power of the talisman given to me by my master. It says 'Avoid Water and Secure the House' on it. I suppose my master foresaw this disaster today and specially bestowed this talisman to protect me and help me save people." Upon hearing this, the villagers all looked at the mysterious talisman, their eyes filled with astonishment.

After the flood receded, the village was in ruins. But Xuanqing didn't stop. He led the villagers to clear the silt, repair the houses, and distribute the grain stored in the temple. Under his leadership, the villagers gradually regained their confidence and worked together to rebuild their homes. And the talisman on Xuanqing's chest seemed to have a more subdued glow after going through this flood, and the runes became even more mysterious. It was not only Xuanqing's protective charm but also a symbol of hope in the villagers' hearts, making them have a deeper reverence for the magical power of Taoism.

After that, Xuanqing's reputation gradually spread among the surrounding villages. People all knew that in that ancient Taoist temple, there was a young Taoist priest with Taoist skills and a heart for all living beings. On the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, many villagers would spontaneously come to the temple to burn incense and pray for blessings, and thus the incense in the temple burned even more vigorously. And Xuanqing still burned incense and prayed every day and delved into Taoist doctrines. He deeply understood that although the power of the talisman was miraculous, the true cultivation lay in the compassion of the heart and the dedication to helping the world. He was determined to inherit the Taoist spirit and protect this land and its people throughout his life, allowing the brilliance of Taoism to endure in the world.

As the years passed slowly, the pine and cypress trees in front of the temple grew even taller and straighter. Xuanqing had also grown from a naive young boy into a renowned Taoist master. His story was passed down from generation to generation in this land, becoming a legend on people's lips, inspiring future generations to uphold kindness and pursue the great way. Although the "Avoid Water and Secure the House" talisman had long since turned to dust with the passage of time, the spirit and power it carried were forever engraved in people's hearts, becoming an eternal witness to Taoism's protection of all living beings.