Unintended Immortality

At dawn, in front of the inn, the attendant leaned against the doorway.

Two horses, one black and one jujube-red, stood obediently at the entrance as the swordsman lifted his saddle bag and placed it on the horse's back.

Magistrate Liu stood nearby with two guards.

“Why did you come, Magistrate?”

“No need to worry, sir. I won’t be neglecting my duties. I’ve temporarily entrusted matters to my adviser,” Magistrate Liu said with the utmost respect. “You’ve done a great service for Pu Commandery, sir, and I have nothing worthy to repay you with. Now that you’re about to leave, I had to come to see you off.”

“Well then, let’s be off.”

With the saddle bag now secured, Song You turned and, addressing the inn’s attendant, bowed in gratitude.

“Thank you for your hospitality these past few days.”

“I don't deserve such thanks...”

The attendant, his suspicions about Song You’s identity confirmed by the magistrate’s respectful demeanor and words, stood there in stunned silence. When he heard this, he quickly returned the bow.

Just then, the white-robed swordsman took hold of the black horse’s reins. Magistrate Liu turned toward the scrawny jujube-red horse, as if intending to hold the reins for the gentleman. He even raised his hand but, noticing the horse had no reins, he awkwardly waved it, pretending to adjust his sleeve before lowering his hand.

The attendant’s gaze grew even more dazed.

He wasn’t thinking much at all; instead, memories surfaced of stories he used to hear at the teahouse next door before it closed down—stories he listened to during idle afternoons by the doorway.

One was the renowned minister of the former dynasty, who slew a god in his dreams. The storyteller at the time didn’t go into details, and it was said even the records only contained a few lines. No one knew exactly how that minister defeated the god; they only knew that this tale had been passed down for hundreds of years and might continue to be told for centuries to come.

The other tale, from the early days of the current dynasty, tells of a deity from the heavens who lost their virtue and descended to create chaos, only to be defeated by a Daoist. The Daoist was supposedly named Fuyang, who slew several of them in succession.

The storyteller didn’t elaborate on how the Daoist defeated them, as no one had witnessed it firsthand. How could such tales of gods being slain be so easily known by the common folk?

Who would have thought that something similar would happen right here?

No one knew how it was done, and the tale was shrouded in vagueness, just like those legendary tales of gods and immortals he’d heard before.

And this very kind of divine immortal resided in the room upstairs. It was like a dream, surreal, hard to believe.

What a pity though…

With the chaos in the north and the rise of demons everywhere, the teahouse next door had already been closed for years. Who knew when Pu Commandery in Hezhou might return to its former prosperity, or when he could once again slip into the teahouse during quiet times at the inn to hear the storyteller spin tales?

Sometimes, when the teahouse was slow, the tea server would even sneak him a cup. Maybe it wouldn’t take too much longer?

Perhaps, years from now, there would be a story in Jingyu County of a divine immortal who had slain a Thunder God. The storytellers would eagerly share it, yet when asked for details, they wouldn’t be able to say much.

“Clop, clop, clop...”

The attendant was jolted back to reality by the sound of hoofbeats.

The street was quiet and empty as a small group, with their horses, moved forward. The sound of hooves echoed on the cobblestone path.

The calico cat trotted back and forth in small, quick steps, its tiny frame always making people worry it might be stepped on by the horses.

“Jingyu borders Gui Commandery. If you travel north, sir, it’s merely a hundred li to reach Gui Commandery’s territory.” Magistrate Liu walked half a step behind Song You, explaining as they went.

“However, Gui Commandery is currently plagued by an epidemic, and the route there has long been blocked. The order is to restrict people from leaving, not entering, yet the situation at the checkpoint is unpredictable. Fortunately, I’ve had some dealings with the general guarding the pass. I’ve prepared a personal letter for you, though I’m not sure if it will be of any use.”

Magistrate Liu pulled a letter from his sleeve.

“Thank you, Magistrate,” Song You said as he accepted the letter.

“Not at all, not at all.” Magistrate Liu paused briefly before continuing, “Once you’ve passed through Gui Commandery, if you intend to keep heading north, you’ll have to cross the Snowy Plains to reach Yanzhou at the border. Since the great demon occupied the Snowy Plains, no one has ventured in or out.

“Who knows what lies beyond there? Even if there is a heavy military presence guarding the path, it’s likely not to protect against an epidemic.”

Magistrate Liu cautiously glanced at the Daoist ahead.

In his heart, he thought, given this gentleman’s personality and how he handled matters all along in Hezhou, it was unlikely he would simply pass through without incident if he really crossed the Snowy Plains.

As for this gentleman’s abilities, back when he was in Yidu, he’d thought he had a grasp of them. But now, it felt like he’d been a worm admiring a mountain, thinking he had seen its enormity, only to have seen but a tiny fraction of it.

Just a few days ago, he’d thought this gentleman might help him deal with the formidable Daoist Master Yongyang. Little did he know the gentleman would directly slay a Thunder God.

Once, he thought that only divine immortals could contend with the great demon of the Snowy Plains, but now, he wasn’t so sure.

Just then, he heard the young Daoist’s voice from ahead. “Magistrate, do you know much about the Snowy Plains?”

Magistrate Liu thought to himself, Just as expected, and then spoke truthfully, “To be honest, sir, though Pu Commandery lies just one Gui Commandery away from the Snowy Plains, we know very little about it. All we know is that, before the great demon occupied it, the Snowy Plains were once called He Plains.

“It stretched two hundred li from east to west and two hundred and fifty li from north to south—a vast, flat expanse of land without so much as a hill, let alone a mountain, filled with fertile fields.

“The grains grown there yielded abundant harvests, far surpassing those of other regions, and tasted exceptional. In fact, they were once tribute rice to the imperial palace. It’s said that the name of Hezhou originated from this.”

“Abundant harvests, exceptional taste...” Song You murmured, repeating the words. Perhaps it was due to the fertile soil and suitable climate—or perhaps the area was rich in spiritual qi.

Magistrate Liu said in a heavy tone, “Later, when the eighteen tribes of the northern grasslands launched an invasion southward, they swept through Yanzhou and ravaged He Plains, looting and killing without restraint. They slaughtered until nine out of ten families lay empty, staining the land with blood and filling it with the cries of spirits.

“Eventually, they clashed with the elite forces of our Great Yan empire in He Plains. For several months, the land saw brutal combat, with the battlefield changing hands many times and more than a hundred thousand soldiers lost. It’s said that the rice grown afterward was tinged with red.

“The following year, the climate of He Plains seemed to turn on its head. Strange winds blew, and bloody rain often fell, driving most of the people to leave. Those fertile fields across hundreds of li ceased to exist, and soon after, the great demon appeared.”

“Why was it renamed the Snowy Plains?”

“Because, from more than ten years ago, the land of He Plains underwent a transformation. Snow fell year-round, never melting, covering everything in ice even in the height of summer. It’s like a perpetual winter, with demons running rampant, making it impossible for anyone to enter or leave.”

“Fascinating,” Song You murmured, deep in thought.

“They say the plague in Gui Commandery also originated from the Snowy Plains.”

“Didn’t you say no one could enter or leave?”

“But demons can come and go as they please.”

“I see.” Song You nodded. “How much do you know about the plague in Gui Commandery?”

“The magistrate of Gui Commandery is named Lin Zhitong. Coincidentally, he shares a hometown with the magistrate of Jingyu here. If you trace it back far enough, they might even be distant relatives,” Magistrate Liu explained.

“There is frequent correspondence between Magistrate Lin of Jingyu and Magistrate Lin of Gui Commandery. Thanks to their connection, I’ve gained some insights about the situation over there. It’s said that this plague is similar to an ordinary epidemic, with the one difference that most usual remedies for handling plagues are completely ineffective against it.”

“Ineffective...” Song You nodded as he walked.

Plagues, after all, would typically spread and bring death, whether they originated from demons or natural causes. But when common remedies had no effect, it became a difficult problem.

This implied that the Central Plains' dynasties, which had accumulated methods for controlling plagues over thousands of years, now found these methods useless. It also meant that Great Yan, despite its prosperity and strength in all fields, had lost its medical advantage.

“However, I’ve heard that a divine doctor from Changjing—a doctor of extraordinary skill, almost divine—has been traveling in Gui Commandery for months despite the plague. It seems he’s recently made some progress.”

“A divine doctor from Changjing?”

“It’s only what I’ve heard. Apparently, this physician came to the north several years ago, specifically choosing places ravaged by disease. When the demonic plague broke out in Gui Commandery, he went there, moving about to treat people. While all the local officials have sealed their cities, they still permit him to pass, and the common folk everywhere eagerly await him,” Magistrate Liu said.

He closed his eyes with a shake of his head and a deep sigh, full of admiration. “Truly a divine doctor.”

“Indeed,” Song You couldn’t help but echo in awe.

It seemed that even in the darkest of places, someone was willing to carry a light and illuminate the path ahead.

He took another look at the magistrate beside him. From his early days as the magistrate of Yidu to his current role as magistrate of Pu Commandery, it seemed that aside from his changing rank, the events and people of the north had likely influenced him in other ways as well.

Ahead, the city gates were already in sight.

“That Magistrate Lin of Gui Commandery is indeed quite capable, someone I deeply admire. Under his governance, although they’ve yet to find a cure for the demonic plague, it hasn’t spread beyond Gui Commandery,” Magistrate Liu remarked, pausing briefly.

“As more people died and quarantine measures were enforced, the plague gradually came under control in many areas. Now, only Hansu County, closest to the Snowy Plains, remains severely affected.”

“Thank you for sharing this, Magistrate.”

“Not at all, not at all.”

The group had now passed through the city gates. The guards stationed there all hurriedly saluted as they saw them.

“Magistrate, you have official duties to attend to. Let’s part here,” Song You said, stopping and addressing Magistrate Liu.

“It’s only a pity that Jingyu is too small, with its streets too short and its affairs too many, preventing me from escorting you further. I can only hope that we might meet again in this lifetime.” Magistrate Liu bowed, then turned and took a small saddle bag from a guard behind him. “It’s nothing special, just some dried food and fruit to sustain you on your journey.”

“Thank you, Magistrate.” Song You accepted the saddle bag and returned the bow. “Please, Magistrate, you may return now.”

After they parted, Song You continued on his way.

The road ahead was still straight, the land flat and even, with the occasional low, gentle slope that seemed almost serene. Here and there, a few barren trees dotted the slopes, the only adornment in the landscape.

The Daoist and the swordsman, their two horses, and the busy little calico cat that darted back and forth gradually moved farther into the distance.

Once they set foot on the road, it was as if time ceased to matter. They walked straight on until mid-morning, under a vast, clear blue sky.

But the weather wasn’t as pleasant as it looked.

By now, it was late autumn. With winter fast approaching, the winds of Hezhou were something beyond the imagination of those from Yizhou, sweeping fiercely across the endless open plains. Invisible yet relentless, the wind could only be seen in the way it whipped at the scarves wrapped around the Daoist’s and the swordsman’s heads, covering their faces.

Even the calico cat, dressed like a recluse in a gray cloth robe with a hood, showed signs of the icy, brisk wind.

Yet the group seemed accustomed to it, striding steadily along the road without breaking their pace.

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