Unintended Immortality

As they left Xu Mu's household, the calico cat trotted along and daintily sidestepped horse dung, yet with a tiny frown on her face.

The swordsman also appeared pensive.

But when Song You glanced over, the swordsman’s expression turned calm again as he clasped his sword and said to him. “Sir.”

“Yes?”

“I’d like to head into town to buy a saddle bag,” the swordsman said, glancing at the saddle bag on the jujube-red horse’s back. “I’ll also get a set of thin bedding and padding. It’ll be easier for northern travel.”

“Shall I come with you?”

“No need,” Shu Yifan replied, glancing down the path. “Just past here is the north gate. I’ve asked Xu Mu, and there’s a shop selling bedding only on the south side. You could wait for me at the north gate, or, if you’d rather avoid the wait, feel free to start ahead along the road. I’ll ask for directions after I finish and catch up shortly.”

Song You thought for a moment before replying, “Then I’ll head out from the north gate and follow the main road.”

“Good!”

In the quiet town, the swordsman mounted his horse and trotted away. Song You watched him ride off.

The swordsman had always traveled light, carrying only the bare essentials, as if moving with the wind. Even in the cold of winter, he’d only wear a simple thick coat, seemingly unaffected by any chill. And yet here he was, off to buy bedding and padding.

He was most likely influenced by Song You himself…

Song You turned around and looked down, only to find the calico cat squatting by the roadside ahead. Its little brow was furrowed as if troubled by some mysterious worry while it waited patiently.

Who could ever guess what a cat was thinking?

“Let’s go.”

Hearing this, the calico cat stood up. She glanced at him, and resumed her little trotting steps forward.

“What weighs on your mind?” Song You asked with a smile as he caught her eye.

“Hmm?” The calico cat paused briefly, turning back to look at him.

Meeting her gaze, he continued, “Do you have something on your mind?”

The calico cat kept watching him, her eyes steady. After a few moments, she looked away, saying nothing, her little head swaying as she walked ahead.

But her pace slowed a bit.

When Song You caught up and walked beside her, she turned her head and looked up at him, saying, “If my mother were still here, I would also treat her kindly...”

Her soft, delicate voice was lovely beyond words.

Song You considered her words and simply replied, “That goes without saying.”

Xu Mu's family lived near the north gate, and following this street all the way down would lead to the city exit. Song You exited through the city gate without stopping.

About fifteen minutes later—

Along a narrow path outside the city, a man, a cat, and a horse stood atop a small hill and gazed at the distant mountains as the wind swept by.

At the foot of the hill lay the official road—not particularly wide, yet notably different from the winding paths of the south. While southern roads often snaked around mountains with numerous twists and turns, this path ran straight, with only occasional bends. The mountains here were sparse and less obstructive, allowing the road to stretch onward without frequent diversions.

Lady Calico, with nothing on her mind, sat contentedly while grooming her fur. Meanwhile, Song You turned his gaze to both sides.

One side faced in the direction of the Leiqing Temple, though it was a day's journey away. Despite the clear view, it lay far beyond sight.

The other side looked back toward Zhijiang County.

The county was visible in its entirety—the protective river, the city walls with arrow towers, and the houses within the city. With a close enough look, one could even make out Xu Mu's family compound.

Song You, saying nothing, soon returned his gaze to the north. A straight road stretched out into the distance. After a few moments, he turned and retrieved a scroll case from the saddle of his jujube-red horse.

Moments later—

Sir Dou, now laden with his belongings, stood atop the hill while glancing around at his surroundings.

“This is Hezhou, specifically Zhijiang County. If you look back, sir, that city behind us is Zhijiang.” Song You stood beside him, his hair and robe tousled by the gentle wind. “From here, it’s a good eight hundred li from Changjing. If you depart here, the folks from the jianghu will likely not track you down.”

“Hezhou…Zhijiang...”

“Yes.” Song You patiently continued, “Since I left the capital, I’ve been headed north, but the north can be treacherous, with many demons and monsters. For you, sir, the south may be the safer option.”

“Your assistance, sir, is beyond what words can express,” Dou Xuan expressed gratefully.

“Sir Dou, once you leave here, it's best to head south and bypass Changjing,” Song You advised, before asking, “Do you have a specific destination?”

“I’m simply looking for a quiet place to settle down.”

“If you aren’t particular, I do know of a sparsely populated spot,” Song You replied, adding after a pause, “There's an old route from Xuzhou's Xiangle County toward Pingzhou’s Southern Art County. Spanning several hundred li of mountains, it’s difficult terrain with occasional demons and ghosts. Merchant travelers have gradually abandoned this once-shorter path over recent years, and few now pass through.

“Having taken it myself from Xuzhou, I found it surprisingly quiet. Though demons and spirits do inhabit the mountains, they are kept in line by the Mountain God, who maintains order so that they rarely bother the inhabitants. Some households still live there, and as long as they avoid venturing out at night, they remain safe.”

“Are you certain of this, sir?”

“I wouldn’t say so if I weren’t.”

“In that case, it does indeed sound like a suitable retreat.”

“The journey to Pingzhou spans several thousand li,” Song You noted. “If you truly intend to go, I have a small gift for you.”

“Your kindness is already more than enough; how could I accept more?” Dou Xuan replied.

“There’s no need for such modesty,” Song You said, shaking his head.

“As for kindness, I’ve received plenty of benefits from you. And as for friendship, each time I’ve entered the painting, you’ve graciously hosted me, for which I feel deeply grateful. Even if we disregard those reasons, you don’t have to keep refusing. And this isn’t a grand gesture—just something to help you settle more easily in Pingzhou and live comfortably in the mountains.”

“In that case, I humbly accept...”

Song You rummaged through the saddlebags on his horse, retrieving three talisman papers and a single pill.

“These two talismans—one wards off demons, and the other repels ghosts. Once you’ve settled in the mountains of Pingzhou, hang them on the walls to avoid unwanted encounters,” he explained. “If, however, you happen to make friends among the spirits or demons, simply take them down.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“As for this talisman and the pill,” Song You smiled, “I came across an extraordinary person on my way out of Changjing a few days ago. We had a delightful conversation, and I learned that he had the ability to travel a thousand li in a single day. Curious, I boldly asked for a talisman and a pill from him.”

“This...” Sir Dou looked at him, deeply moved.

“Don’t be anxious,” Song You reassured him. “I'm in no rush as I travel the world. I requested the talisman and pill not only to study their unique properties but also with you in mind.”

He continued, “I’ve examined them for a few days, though I couldn’t quite decipher their mysteries. However, since you’ll be setting off on a long journey, they’ll serve you well.”

Sir Dou, after a pause, gave a deep bow of gratitude.

“No need for such formalities.” Song You took out a coarse bowl, poured in half a bowl of water, and dissolved the pill in it. He held the talisman aloft and gave it a shake, setting it alight.

“The man told me that once the talisman and pill dissolve into a paste, applying it to the calves allows one to travel three hundred li a day for several days. I haven’t mastered the technique fully, but I can enhance it with some of my spiritual energy to extend the effect a bit—hopefully enough for your journey.”

The talisman burned, unfazed by the water, bubbling until it dissolved completely into a thick paste.

“Initially, it will feel cool on your skin, but it may sting shortly after. Bear with it, and it will pass,” Song You explained, handing the bowl to Sir Dou. “Go ahead.”

“Thank you,” Sir Dou replied, lifting his robes and rolling up his pants without hesitation.

At first, the coolness was soothing, like an ice compress. But soon, the sensation intensified to a biting cold. The mountain echoed with Sir Dou's sharp gasp, followed by silence as the cold slowly subsided.

Sir Dou suddenly felt as light as a feather. He took a few playful hops in place, finding it amusing, then looked back at Song You. Song You was already holding his travel bag, handing it to him with a smile. “Sir, it’s time we part ways.”

“...” The excitement on Sir Dou’s face faded, and he stopped. Taking the bag and the sword box from Song You, he looked at him, his expression complex.

“Our first meeting, at the Grand Commander’s residence, was due to my offense, and yet you didn’t hold it against me, nor did you covet my family’s inherited artwork. Instead, you have been of great assistance...” Sir Dou’s expression grew even more complicated. “Meeting someone as noble as you has been the greatest fortune of my life. Now, to part here… It may be impossible to see you again in this lifetime.”

“Meeting is fate, and so is parting.”

“Please accept my bow.” With his bag in hand, Sir Dou performed a deep bow. “Your kindness and grace, I will remember for the rest of my days.”

“Farewell, sir.”

“Goodbye.”

Though many words filled his heart, none were spoken aloud. Sir Dou slung his bag across his back, securing the two paintings in the sword box. With a step forward, he moved as lightly as a swallow, covering several times the distance of an average person’s stride. Soon, he descended the path down the hill, looking every bit the skilled martial artist with great qinggong[1]].

Song You remained, watching Sir Dou’s figure as he reached the footpath below, where he stopped, bowed, then disappeared onto the official road.

“Daoist priest...”

“Yes?”

“Shall we go as well?”

“I’ll do as you wish.”

Song You turned back and closed the painting case, then tucked the now-empty case into his saddle bag to avoid attracting attention from any jianghu martial artists along the way.

“I’ll do as you wish,” Lady Calico said.

“Alright, then I'll do as you wish first, and then you’ll do as I wish.”

“…” The calico cat lifted her head to stare at him before following him down the mountain.

The jujube-red horse obediently trailed behind as well.

The man, cat, and horse soon appeared on the official road below, heading in the opposite direction from Sir Dou, moving neither fast nor slow.

“Clip-clop!” Before long, the sound of hooves echoed from behind.

The man, cat, and horse all paused, glancing back to see a swordsman galloping toward them on a black horse. A new saddle bag, similar to Song You’s but a bit smaller, was fastened behind him. It was plump and clearly filled with a blanket and mat.

“Neigh…”

The swordsman dismounted and led his horse forward. “Sir.”

“Did you get everything?”

“Yes, ‘ve got it all here.”

“Then let’s go.”

A straight road lay ahead, with sparse trees lining the path.

1. Qinggong is a training technique for jumping off vertical surfaces from the Chinese martial arts. ☜