Unintended Immortality

After sending off the scholar ghost, Song You returned to the building. The cold wind howled outside, but the cat had opened a crack in the window, using one eye to focus on the night beyond.

“What are you looking at?”

“It’s snowing outside.”

“It’s Daxue today; it’s the right time for snow.”

“It didn’t snow when we were at the temple.”

“Most places in Yizhou rarely see snow.”

“Why is that?” The cat turned its head to look at him while asking.

“Because it’s not cold enough.”

“Oh…” The cat turned back to continue watching the snow.

The Daoist continued sitting cross-legged on the bed, eyes closed, as if in a state of cultivation or deep contemplation. The cold wind whistled through the gap in the window.

When he finally opened his eyes again, the cat was already in front of him, and the window had been closed. The night was silent in this era. The cat placed its right front paw on his knee, raising its head high to stare at him.

“What are you thinking about, Daoist Master?”

“Thinking about some aimless matters.”

“Are you wondering where to go next?”

“I’m not thinking about that anymore.”

“Why?”

“Just go with the flow.”

“Then let’s sleep…”

The calico cat retracted its paw and jumped aside, diving into the quilt like a whack-a-mole and curling up inside. Song You smiled and continued to close his eyes.

It was Daxue today, perfect for cultivation.

The Daxue in Changjing was not ordinary; it was different from the snow in famous mountains and beautiful waters or blessed caves and paradises.

The snow in Changjing represented the suffering of many people. It wasn't just those who had fallen onto the streets and had no home; even those with a place to stay might struggle because they couldn't afford charcoal or thick quilts and warm clothing. Recently, some might not have made enough money to eat, and if they fell asleep one night, they might not wake up.

Even families selling charcoal could be happy that their coal finally sold for a good price, yet they would still be reluctant to spend on food and clothing or to use coal for warmth. A moment's carelessness could lead to catching a cold, and once ill, they might not recover.

Fortunately, thanks to the spiritual rain in spring that nourished all living things, the harvest in Changjing was excellent this year, so perhaps the number of people freezing to death would be much lower.

Tonight’s snow was not heavy; it melted almost as soon as it hit the ground. Before dawn, the snow had stopped. The next morning, people woke up to see at most a bit of white frost on the rooftops, but no snow.

Song You continued to open his doors to guests, welcoming the myriad of life in Changjing.

Whenever he felt inspired, he would step outside for a stroll, appreciating the beauty of winter in the flourishing world.

If any impoverished people came seeking help, he rarely held back and often offered assistance. If acquaintances invited him for tea or to listen to music, he seldom declined, usually making an effort to visit.

Time in Changjing was growing short.

***

In late December, the autumn scenery in Mount Cang remained unchanged. On the vast plain at the foot of the mountain, a quiet yellow earth road lay stretched out.

Standing on the dirt road was a young Daoist dressed in an old robe, beside him squatted a calico cat with perfect posture. Behind them stood a small, thin jujube-red horse, while the reeds on either side bent with the wind. Mount Cang behind them seemed unchanging for thousands of years, and the trio—one person, one cat, and one horse—stood motionless.

If not for the reeds still swaying and the yellow-tinted clouds drifting in the sky, the scene seemed frozen in time. Opposite them was a table covered with drawing paper, where a middle-aged painter held a brush, capturing the moment.

“It’s ready, Immortal Master.”

The middle-aged painter looked up at them and said, “The painting is already in my heart; you don’t need to stand still anymore.”

“Thank you.” Song You smiled in response.

“Meow!” The cat stretched lazily.

Only the horse remained standing still; after all, when it usually stopped, it either grazed or stayed motionless.

Song You approached to watch Sir Dou paint.

Sir Dou’s painting technique indeed differed from the mainstream methods of the current Great Yan painters. Not only was the technique different, but the style produced also showed some variation.

He skillfully blended the background with ease, bending over to carefully depict the features. The wild wind rustled the reeds, yet it couldn’t disturb the paper on the table.

Gradually, a painting emerged on the paper, with a magnificent distant background and lifelike figures up close. It combined the essence of sketching with intricate details, making it a painting that anyone would recognize as excellent.

“It’s done!” Sir Dou applied the final stroke.

However, there was something unusual about the painting. In this realm, the depiction of heaven and earth should not be too realistic.

“Rustle…”

Song You gently touched the paper with his finger, and all the spiritual resonance and profound mysteries halted. He then blew a breath onto the paper, causing the ink to dry instantly.

At that moment, it seemed as if the wind had also stopped.

“Good painting.”

Only then did Song You remove the weight from the paper, lifting it to examine it closely. After a thorough inspection, he was quite satisfied. He then showed it to the calico cat on the ground and the jujube-red horse beside him.

“Your skills are superb. In this lifetime, you might even surpass your ancestors.”

“How would I dare think of surpassing my ancestors? I only wish to find a place to live in seclusion, to spend some peaceful days with this ‘Mount Cang Painting,’ and not be found by people from the jianghu. That would be enough for me.”

“You’re too humble, sir.” Song You carefully put away the painting and said to Sir Dou, “The outside world is now in late December, and the New Year is approaching. If you wish to experience the New Spring in Changjing, please come with me.”

“I’ve spent a New Year in Changjing before. Being all alone without a place to stay, how could I call it celebrating the New Year?” Sir Dou chuckled. “It’s better to stay here; though quiet, I lose track of time. At least I have a hut of my own, and my wife and I have lived here for so long. This hut is my home.”

Song You nodded in understanding.

“Then I invite you to stay here a little longer. I’ve already arranged with Lady Calico that after the Spring Festival, by the latest the first month, we will leave the capital. After everything is set, I will invite you out.”

“Meow!”

“Thank you, Immortal Master! Thank you, Lady Calico!”

“Then I thank you, sir, for your wonderful brushwork. I shall now take my leave with Lady Calico.”

“Safe travels, Immortal Master.”

Song You turned and gave a few reminders to the jujube-red horse, bidding farewell. With a casual gesture, ripples appeared in the air, and he exchanged a glance with the calico cat before stepping outside.

Only Sir Dou and the jujube-red horse were left behind.

Sir Dou was somewhat astonished. It was only then that he realized that this master left the painting without using a brush; he simply made a gesture and walked out.

Upon further thought, it seemed that when he entered, it was the same; he neither carried a brush nor made any prior arrangements outside.

It was as if the realm depicted in the painting allowed him to come and go freely.

“…”

Sir Dou was stunned for a long time.

***

In a small building on the second floor of Changjing City,

The calico cat looked around. The sudden chill made her instinctively shrink her neck, and then she turned to the Daoist, softly saying, “It’s so cold outside.”

“Yes.”

Song You picked up the painting, paused for a moment, and said to Lady Calico, “We should mount the painting.”

“Mount it?”

“It means to treat the painting in a special way to protect it. This way, it can be preserved for a longer time, making it less prone to damage and dirt. Plus, we can roll it up or hang it up.”

“Mount it!”

“Exactly.”

Song You then looked up at the beams, where many coins were hanging. “Lady Calico, you’re too diligent. You’ve earned a lot of money. There are too many copper coins in the house. We should exchange them for silver. Silver is smaller and more convenient for us to continue our journey after the New Year; otherwise, we won’t be able to fit everything.”

“Will it decrease when we exchange it?”

“It will decrease a little.”

“…” The calico cat stared at him without blinking.

“That can't be helped,” Song You smiled at her, then continued, “The New Year is approaching. Once we exchange the coins for silver, we should have quite a bit. It’ll be just right for us to have a nice meal and invite the heroine. This will be the last meal we treat her to before leaving Changjing, to thank her for taking care of us.”

“Thank her for taking care of us!”

“Yes, she has helped us a lot. She even helped us find this house.”

“That's right! It’s only right!”

“Lady Calico, you’re very sensible...” As Song You spoke with a smile, he felt a surge of emotions.

It seemed that during certain periods of life, one would only realize how fleeting they were after they had passed. Just like now, when he recalled their encounter in Changjing at the beginning of the year, it felt as if it were just last month. At that time, who would have thought that he would soon have to bid her farewell?

“…”

After a brief discussion between the man and the cat, they headed out.

One had transformed into a young girl, carefully cradling the painting, while the other carried a bundle filled with copper coins, with more coins wrapped around his waist.

They first went to exchange the coins for silver.

Most of this money was earned by Lady Calico, with a small portion earned by Song You, and there was quite a bit, making it heavy to carry. Fortunately, there was a reputable money exchange not far away.

It seemed the silver price had dropped slightly.

Now, one silver exchanged for over eleven hundred coins, but the money exchange would take a commission. In the past, when exchanging coins for money, the exchange would always shortchange him. He had to count patiently, but now, when exchanging coins for silver, the clerk at the exchange counted slowly, refusing to miss a single coin.

In total, they exchanged for over thirty taels of silver. Song You asked for twenty taels in whole silver, and the remaining ten or so taels in small pieces for convenience.

They then went to find a master to mount the painting.

As they walked along, it seemed that the New Year spirit had already begun to settle over Changjing. The streets were noticeably busier, with children often playing and running about, having received pocket money from adults.

However, in stark contrast, the temperature in Changjing was colder now than during the Daxue. Beggars and homeless people could often be seen huddled in corners, motionless, unsure if they were alive or dead.

Occasionally, kind-hearted individuals would offer alms, causing a few to awaken. This was the foremost benevolent city in the world, indeed bustling with activity.

Yet, in the interplay of light and shadow, and with the times changing swiftly, not all of the over a million citizens of Changjing could enjoy the splendor of this moment. The contradictions and contrasts present were truly thought-provoking.

Song You originally just wanted to be a bystander, to first explore this vast world. However, as he walked through the streets, he found that he had spent a little too much of the silver coins he had just exchanged. He had not been able to give away much, leaving him uncertain of his merits.

“I originally wanted to invite Heroine Wu to a banquet at Yunchun Tower, but at this rate, it seems we won’t have enough silver,” Song You said, turning to the calico cat, who was trotting along beside him. “After all, we still need to keep some silver for the journey; we can’t just eat grass, can we?”

“Meow?” The cat looked up at him as she walked.

“We’ve already eaten the Jewel Set, and it doesn’t seem necessary to have it again. What do you think, Lady Calico?”

“Meow?”

“Fortunately, we still have some preserved meats at home, and I’m quite good at cooking. It wouldn’t be bad to invite Heroine Wu to dinner at my place, what do you think, Lady Calico?”

“Meow!!”

“Alright…”

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