Unintended Immortality

“Daoist priest, is today the New Year?”

Even after returning home, the calico cat still hadn't figured things out. It jumped onto the table, tilted its head, and stared at the Daoist in confusion.

“No.”

“Then why aren’t people going to sleep at night?”

“They still need to sleep, at least most people do,” the Daoist answered patiently. “It’s just that people came home late.”

“Why are they walking on the road?”

“There are people walking around in Yidu at night too.”

“That’s Yidu.”

“So, you can tell the difference between Yidu and Changjing?” Song You showed a pleased expression.

“There’s no need to repeat things that everyone already knows.”

“Things that everyone already knows!”

“Yes.”

“Then won’t these people who are out tonight get caught by the imperial guards on the road?” the calico cat continued to ask.

“Previously, people weren’t allowed out at night because of the demons and ghosts in Changjing. Now that the demons and ghosts have been caught, it’s naturally fine to go out, and they won’t get caught,” Song You answered seriously, then asked, “Lady Calico, do you think it’s more fun when people can go out at night, or when only cats can go out?”

“It’s more fun this way.”

“More fun this way…”

“The fish at night is very delicious!”

“Is it better than raw fish?”

“Both are good.” The calico cat paused, then asked, “Am I more like a human if I eat roasted or cooked meat?”

“Yes.” The Daoist also paused for a moment, then smiled and replied, “But Lady Calico, you only need to be yourself.”

“Oh…”

The Daoist went upstairs, and the calico cat followed.

The Daoist sat on the long couch by the window while looking outside, while the calico cat jumped up onto the couch and then onto the tea table, occasionally glancing outside and then back at the Daoist.

Even though the room was pitch black, sitting by the window still offered a view of Changjing, which had changed from before.

Tonight, the lights were much brighter. If one were to transform into a swallow and fly into the sky at this moment, Changjing would surely appear as a city lit up from end to end.

The Daoist showed a hint of a smile. Nightlife and night markets were not only a way of life but also an attitude toward life.

The development of this era was naturally far less advanced compared to later times. The abundance of material goods and people’s experiences fell short of what came later. Even though every household here might have a pair of lanterns, the combined light of these lanterns still fell short of the streetlights of the future.

Store signs and lightboxes on the streets were less striking compared to the neon signs of later times. Yet, people’s attitudes toward life and living were quite similar.

***

With a clanging sound, Song You opened the lid of the jar. He then carefully used chopsticks, which had been boiled in hot water, to pick out some rapeseed flowers.

The green part of the rapeseed flowers was no longer fresh, and the bright yellow had faded, becoming soft. Other than that, there was not much change. When he had eaten them in Southern Art County, it was already quite dark, so he couldn’t tell much of a difference at that time. He first drained the water from the picked flowers.

He put a little into his mouth.

“Hmm…” It wasn’t bitter. That met his minimum requirement. The saltiness was also just right.

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Having lived on Yin-Yang Mountain for twenty years and taken care of an elderly lady who was nearly unable to care for herself, Song You had prepared quite a bit of pickled vegetables every year, so he was quite adept at seasoning with salt.

Although the taste wasn’t as refreshing as when he had them in Southern Art County, it was still quite good.

“Not bad…” Glancing over, he saw that the cat was watching intently, so he picked up a bit and offered it to her.

The calico cat wasn’t picky anymore; she just ate whatever was given to her. She chewed a few times and then swallowed.

“Is it good?” Song You asked with a smile.

“I don’t know…” The cat answered honestly, then looked up at him and down at the pickled vegetable jar with curiosity in her eyes. “So, if you put something in this jar, it will turn into this kind of flavor?”

“Pretty much.”

“And it won’t spoil?”

“Pretty much.”

“Can you pickle rats in it?”

“…” It seemed the cat also wanted to improve her quality of life.

“Probably not.”

The cat tilted her head in confusion.

Just as she was about to ask why, a knocking sound came from outside, causing both she and the Daoist to turn their heads.

“...”

A carriage was parked outside the door.

A richly dressed woman stepped out of the carriage, standing at the door with both a coachman and a maid by her side. As Song You approached to greet her, she immediately returned the courtesy.

“Please come in!”

“Thank you, sir.” The woman, not daring to be presumptuous, said, “I’ve heard that you have skills in exorcizing evil spirits and warding off demons?”

“I have practiced Daoism since childhood and am skilled in warding off demons.”

Song You casually glanced at the woman and her maid’s attire and asked, “Madam, you must be from a wealthy family in the Eastern District. How did you find your way here?”

“Recently, our garden needed tending, so we hired a gardener who specialized in plants. The gardener mentioned that he had encountered a demon and was possessed. He said that a gentleman who had just arrived in Changjing had cured him with just a breath, like a divine immortal.” The woman said, bowing again and surveying the room, “I have come to seek out this immortal.”

“I don’t deserve to be called a divine immortal.”

“Even if you’re not a divine immortal, you must be a master of great skill. If you can alleviate my worries, I will certainly reward you handsomely.”

“Please sit down and tell me more about it.”

“Then, I’ll take a seat…”

The room had its own set of tables and chairs. The Daoist and the woman sat across from each other, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of the fortune-telling shops in Eastern District.

The coachman waited outside, and the maid stood by her side.

“What seems to be troubling you, madam?”

“Since you are new to Changjing, you may not know of a qin tavern here named Hexian Pavilion. The owner of Hexian Pavilion is also a qin master named Miss Wanjiang.”

“I’ve heard of it.”

“Have you been to Hexian Pavilion?”

“Not to hide anything from you, madam, I’ve heard that Miss Wanjiang is a renowned qin artist and is regarded as one of the ten wonders of Changjing. I have always wanted to visit and witness her skills, but due to various reasons, I haven’t had the chance.”

“Do you know much about Miss Wanjiang?”

“Not much.” Song You replied honestly, “I’ve only heard about her from storytellers in tea houses.”

“What did the storytellers say?”

“Well, storytellers in tea houses often have a tendency to exaggerate.”

The storytellers say that the women of Qinghong Courtyard and Lihua Garden were one of the wonders, while Miss Wanjiang was another.

The women of Qinghong Courtyard and Lihua Garden were known for their beauty and talent. They could sing, dance, and were skilled in qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Many of them, though they did not offer sexual services to men, there might still be a chance to experience their beauty up close if one’s fate and wealth aligned. It is said that a once exceptionally talented scholar lived in Qinghong Courtyard for a long time without paying a dime, and the ladies took care of him voluntarily.

Miss Wanjiang, however, was different. She was the owner of Changjing's most famous qin tavern.

Her qin skills were renowned and were considered highly refined. It was said that Miss Wanjiang’s beauty surpassed that of the most beautiful women in the world even without makeup. People claimed that if she was not a divine immortal or a demon in disguise, then how could she be so beautiful? Her qin skills were unparalleled, making even court musicians feel inferior.

Even the most famous guqin experts had said that the title of “guqin maestro” should belong to her. It was said that her qin was a thousand-year-old heirloom that once belonged to a divine immortal. Once, when she played the qin in her own Hexian Pavilion, the divine music attracted a gathering of birds. Cranes came to visit, rain fell on a clear day, and snow fell in summer.

How much of this was true was unclear.

“I can tell you that most of these rumors are true. I have personally seen Miss Wanjiang play the qin and attract cranes.” The woman paused. “But do you know if she practices any demonic arts?”

“I do not know…”

“If you don’t know…” The woman turned to her maid, “Xue’er, you tell him.”

“Yes, madam.” The maid then looked at Song You, first greeting him politely before speaking, “Miss Wanjiang’s origins and background are unknown, but since she arrived in Changjing six years ago and opened her qin tavern, she quickly became famous.”

At this point, the maid seemed a bit agitated.

“Although Miss Wanjiang’s qin skills are extraordinary, without her looks, would so many scholars and gentlemen be infatuated with her? The guqin master Mr. Ge also had exceptional skills and could attract birds, but why did scholars not pursue him as fervently?

“In my view, though Miss Wanjiang’s qin skills are remarkable, and many call her a qin master, she's not any different from the women of Qinghong Courtyard and Lihua Garden.

“There are also some women from there who do not entertain guests! She merely opened a small establishment on her own, calling it a 'qin tavern' by borrowing from the refined activities of the ancients. Adding her unparalleled qin skills honed through years of hard practice since young, the scholars and literati of Changjing praised it as a place of elegance.

“But in my view, there's nothing elegant about it. To me, it’s no different from selling beauty and youth. The storytellers should have included her with the women from Qinghong Courtyard and Lihua Garden in the rankings of Changjing’s top ten wonders.”

Song You said, “Please calm down.”

“I’m not angry!”

“Anything else?”

“Yes!” The maid continued, “Miss Wanjiang has been in Changjing for six years, and her appearance has not changed at all. Her face is even more youthful than that of a girl in her teens. Do you think that’s possible, sir?”

“So…”

“There are some rumors going around that Miss Wanjiang is said to keep a gold-feeder ghost, which consumes gold every day and spits out elixirs,” the maid continued.

“If a virgin maiden eats this elixir, she will retain her youth and beauty forever. If not, she will give birth to a male child. If a man is a virgin and consumes it, he will gain immense strength and become invulnerable. If he is not, he will maintain unyielding stamina.” The maid paused. “This is not just gossip; there are records of such a minor ghost in certain books.”

“I have heard of it as well,” Song You remarked, finding the maid’s account quite coherent.

Miss Wanjiang, known for her extraordinary qin skills and unparalleled beauty, could have lived well without resorting to business. This explanation could account for why she opened the Hexian Pavilion and hosted guests daily by playing the qin and serving wine to amass considerable wealth. It also explained why her appearance has not changed at all over the past six years and why she remained so attractive.

Furthermore, it might explain why she had shown no inclination to marry despite her many admirers in Changjing.

“So, you mean…” Song You said.

“Miss Wanjiang has bewildered countless scholar-officials and literati in Changjing,” the woman said, “so much so that many have become infatuated with her, neglecting their own wives and concubines. Therefore, I wish to hire a master to deal with her, to rid Changjing of this threat.”

“I see…” Song You responded with a smile.

This was indeed a patriarchal era where having multiple wives and concubines was the norm for wealthy men. However, assuming that all women accepted this as natural and felt no jealousy was quite naive.

Miss Wanjiang was a prominent figure in Changjing, and this woman was likely not just the wife or concubine of an ordinary man. Seeking help from other masters or Buddhist masters at Tianhai Temple might not work.

No wonder they found their way here.

Song You felt somewhat helpless. “You’ve misunderstood,” he said.

“How so?” the woman asked.

“Please look at my sign,” Song You replied. “I specialize in exorcising evil spirits and demons. As for your personal issue, I’m afraid I can’t be of help.”

“What do you mean?”

“In this world, there are many demons and spirits, divided into good and evil. Even within Changjing, there are many hidden demons and spirits. The recent city-wide search didn’t uncover much, and even the court doesn’t indiscriminately destroy demons that haven’t harmed anyone or become tainted by evil energy. I only deal with evil spirits, not ordinary demons,” Song You explained patiently.

“…” The woman was stunned for a moment before asking, “Doesn’t Miss Wanjiang’s minor ghost count as an evil spirit?”

“If it hasn’t harmed anyone, it wouldn’t be considered an evil spirit.”

“But countless scholar-officials and literati are infatuated with her. How do you know Miss Wanjiang isn’t a demon using demonic methods to deceive and harm people?”

“That’s a valid point,” Song You agreed. After considering it, he decided not to dismiss them right away. “Since I’ve been wanting to see Miss Wanjiang’s talents for myself, I’ll go and check it out.”

“Thank you, sir!” The woman waved her hand in gratitude.

The maid behind her immediately took out twenty taels of silver and placed it on the table with a clink.

Initially, they were worried that this gentleman might be a swindler, and that the gardener who tended to the flowers and plants might be an accomplice. They wanted to test whether he truly had the skills before giving him any money.

But after hearing his words, they no longer felt this way. So, they decisively took out the silver. If they had misjudged, so be it.

The woman said, “Consider this my deposit. Once the matter is resolved, I will offer a much greater reward.”

“Please take it back.”

“Why?”

“I always do the job first before accepting payment, and this situation is not clear yet.” Song You paused. “If, after seeing Miss Wanjiang, it turns out she is indeed a demon and uses demonic methods to deceive and harm people, I will drive her away. You can then send the payment. If not, there will be no need for this money.”

“The drinks and tea at Hexian Pavilion aren’t cheap, and seeing Miss Wanjiang is even more expensive. Consider this amount as payment for the qin and wine there.”

“Thank you.”

Song You was already prepared to accept this money. Since it was meant for Miss Wanjiang’s qin music, it should be put to good use.