Unintended Immortality

“Sir, you mentioned there was one more matter?”

“There is one more,” Song You said, elaborating carefully. “After the chaos in the North, demons and ghosts have been appearing frequently. During my time here at the Grassland Festival with Lady Calico, I’ve already heard many accounts of minor demons and ghosts disturbing the people.

“Turtle City’s leading ghost general, the one causing trouble, has fled, leaving behind mostly heroic souls who sacrificed themselves for the nation. Though they’ve not been ghosts for long, they are quite capable. The life of a ghost is a lonely one, so I asked them to help patrol the grasslands. If they come across minor demons or spirits troubling the common folk, they are to step in and assist.

“I also told them that perhaps one day, the local people, moved by their virtue and deeds, might come to offer incense and worship them. If enough people do so, they might be able to use the power of such offerings to transcend their existence as wandering ghosts and become netherworld deities, like the city’s City Gods or their subordinate martial officers."

“This...” The young official almost asked, ‘Is this really true?’ but stopped himself before the words left his mouth.

After a long pause, he cupped his hands and bowed.@@novelbin@@

He took a deep breath and said, “Sir, this is a brilliant solution. You’ve given them something to do, which prevents further trouble while also allowing them to benefit the people. I’m deeply impressed. To be honest, there have been too many demons and ghosts plaguing Yanzhou for years.

“The major ones are dealt with by the Thunder Gods, but the minor ones are the real headache—they’re endless, with new ones cropping up every year.

“It’s been a constant source of frustration for me. If those heroic souls from the city can truly help the people, not only would the locals honor them with incense offerings, but even I would willingly do the same.”

“Oh?”

“I am not deceiving them,” Song You said while cupping his hands. “They were soldiers who gave their lives to protect the nation. If they fail to live up to this responsibility, then so be it. But if they succeed, Lord Han, as a court official, I ask that you not hesitate to reward them. Erecting a memorial tablet, setting up a clay plaque, or even casting statues in their honor—why not?

“If they prove effective, you and the locals could seek their help when demons and ghosts appear again. If their assistance is reliable, offer them more incense and prayers; if it isn’t, simply abandon them. There’s nothing to lose”

“...”

The young official listened, dumbfounded.

For a moment, an inexplicable feeling stirred in the young official’s heart—a sense that he was participating in the making of a god or taking part in the creation of a legend.

It was reminiscent of the local myths and tales he had heard in other places before coming to this land as an official—stories of how the local deities were said to be miraculous, their exploits recounted with awe.

If something similar were to happen here, if tales of these netherworld and earth deities were to spread across this land in the years to come, how many future generations would realize that he, too, had played a part in their story?

“Then I shall do as you suggest, sir!” The young official cupped his hand with a slight bow, exhaling a long breath.

“Thank you, Lord Han.”

“No, it is I who should thank you, sir!”

Song You smiled, bid him farewell, and returned with Lady Calico to the outer edge of the bonfire, resuming their seats.

The young official also returned to his place.

Yet his mind remained restless. His chest rose and fell, and his gaze frequently wandered toward the distant Daoist.

Lin Chang, seated nearby, grew curious as well. He occasionally glanced at the young official, keenly noticing the shift in his demeanor. Following the official’s gaze, he would sneak glances at the Daoist beside him, as if pondering what they might have discussed earlier when they stepped away. Ɽ𝔞Νộ฿Ёȿ

It was unclear whether he managed to piece anything together, but throughout the evening, he refrained from asking outright.

As the night deepened, Lin Le eventually returned from his play.

The Daoist turned to them and said, “It’s getting late. We need to head to the hillside over there, so we’ll take our leave first.”

Only then did Lin Chang speak up, “Sir, are you spending the night on the mountain as well?”

“Yes.”

“The mountain is cold at night. Why not rest in our tent for the evening?”

“Thank you for your kind offer, but the moonlight and starlight on the mountain are beautiful. From up there, you can overlook the camp, and when the tents are lit, they look like stars in the sky,” Song You replied with a smile. “Besides, we need to catch some wild rabbits tonight to sell down here tomorrow. We’ll be heading north for quite a while, so we need to save up some traveling funds.”

“Exactly!” The little girl beside him nodded eagerly. “We’re going to catch rabbits!”

“Oh? You catch rabbits, sir?” Lin Chang asked in surprise.

“How do you catch them?” Lin Le asked curiously.

“Naturally, I have a special method,” the Daoist said with a faint smile.

“A special method!” the little girl repeated, mimicking him.

“Alright then,” Lin Chang said, not pressing further. He stood up and cupped his hands in farewell. “In that case, let Lin Le escort you out of the camp.”

“Much appreciated,” Song You replied, cupping his hands in return.

“Much appreciated!” the little girl echoed, copying his movements exactly.

“Let’s go,” the Daoist said.

Lin Le was truly a lively young boy, possessing an exuberance rarely seen in most youths of this era. Cheerfully walking ahead, he led the Daoist and the little girl out of the camp.

In contrast, his sister was much more reserved.

The young boy was indeed full of energy. After witnessing Lady Calico’s magical performance that evening, he had rushed back, eager to boast about it to his younger siblings. His sister didn’t believe him, so he brought her along to see it for herself.

In truth, Lady Calico was not the kind of cat who listened to others or obeyed others’ commands. But as a former cat deity, she found it hard to refuse a mortal’s heartfelt requests. Flattering words like “immensely powerful,” “possess great divine abilities,” and “master of advanced magic“ left her no choice but to oblige.

With a solemn expression, she stood on tiptoe, reached for the lantern hanging from the horse’s saddle, and held it up high. With a single breath, she blew softly on it.

“Whoosh...”

The lantern lit up instantly.

“Wow!” Both the boy and his sister exclaimed in awe.

The difference lay in their reactions. The boy’s face was full of joy, his eyes narrowing into delighted crescents, satisfaction written all over his expression. The girl, however, opened her eyes wide in pure astonishment, this being her first time witnessing such magic.

Lady Calico sneaked a glance at the girl.

The girl was as dark-skinned as her brother, small and petite, only slightly taller than Lady Calico herself.

Perhaps because they were attending the Grassland Festival, she had dressed in her best outfit. She was even wearing shoes with a delicately embroidered flower, lovingly stitched by her mother’s skilled hands.

Lady Calico held the lantern high, lowering her gaze to focus on the flower on the girl’s shoe. The light from the lantern perfectly illuminated her shoes.

Lady Calico glanced up at the young girl, then lowered her gaze to her own shoes. They were petite and delicate, simple yet elegant.

Her toes wiggled inside the shoes, causing the fabric to shift slightly. Unbeknownst to anyone, a small flower quietly appeared on her own shoes.

The little girl’s good mood lifted even further, though no one noticed this subtle change.

“We’ll head back now,” Lin Le said.

“Thank you both for escorting us,” Song You replied.

“No need to thank us, sir! Are you coming down tomorrow to watch the ritual?”

“It’s easier to see everything clearly from the mountain.”

“Oh...”

“Farewell, then.” Song You smiled faintly as he bid them goodbye.

Lady Calico, as always, mimicked him.

“Let’s go, Lady Calico.”

“Let’s go, Daoist priest.”

“Lady Calico, you seem very happy.”

“I’m indeed very happy.”

The little girl walked ahead with a lively spring in her step, carrying a lantern. With each step she took, it seemed as though her toes were about to tiptoe.

The Daoist shook his head slightly, a smile appearing on his face.

***

The next morning, white clouds hung low, as if they were about to descend.

Lady Calico, who had been busy all night, lay sound asleep in the grass. Beside her was a perfectly arranged row of wild rabbits, lined up from largest to smallest. Not only were their heads and tails aligned, but even the direction they faced was remarkably uniform.

When Song You got up and saw this scene, he could only sigh. After a simple wash, he gathered the rabbits and went down to sell them. On the way back, he brought back half a pot of milk, started a fire, and boiled it for breakfast.

He gently shook Lady Calico awake and gave her half a bowl of milk before letting her sleep again. Meanwhile, he sat cross-legged on the hillside, drinking milk and quietly watching the scene below.

The northerners had begun their ritual of worshiping heaven and earth.

The scene was both solemn and lively.

This was a very primal form of nature worship, accompanied by equally ancient rituals. Though Song You was too far away to hear the priest’s chants, he could see the priest’s dances.

Occasionally, the priest would raise a wooden staff, and everyone below would bow in unison. Their voices rose loudly, and their unified shouts merged into a river of sound echoing across the grasslands. Even from such a distance, Song You could feel their reverence and faith.

Having passed through this place and coincidentally arriving during the Grassland Festival, it was only fitting to witness the northerners’ grandest ritual.

Song You watched intently until the ceremony concluded. The crowd below gradually dispersed, returning to their tents.

Lady Calico woke up just then, crawling out of the grass. Still groggy, she looked at Song You and asked, “Daoist priest, where are the rabbits I caught last night?”

“I sold them.”

“You already sold them?”

“Yes,” Song You replied, glancing at her. “While you were sleeping, I took them down and sold them.”

“Did you make a lot of money?”

“Quite a lot,” Song You said with a calm expression. After a brief pause, he added, “Thanks to you, we now have enough money to last us forever. Without you, we’d probably only make it to Yuezhou before being forced to eat dirt.”

“...!”

Lady Calico took a deep breath, her expression turning serious. For a moment, she was at a loss for words.

“Why didn’t you ask me to go with you?”

“You were sleeping.”

“That’s true...”

Lady Calico nodded, accepting this explanation. After sniffing the air a few times, her gaze shifted to the small pot over the campfire aside. Standing up, she stretched her neck to peer inside. It was half-full of milk left over from breakfast, with a thin, pale-yellow layer of milk skin on top. She looked puzzled and turned to Song You again.

“Daoist priest, I just had a dream just now about drinking half a bowl of milk.”

“How was it? Tasty?”

“I forgot.”

“It seems you want some milk,” Song You said calmly. “Luckily, I saved some for you. Though it’s cold now, I hope you won’t mind and drink it anyway.”

“Oh...”

The Daoist poured her half a bowl of milk.

Lady Calico walked over, her steps slow and deliberate. She let out a small burp that carried a faint milky scent, which only deepened her confusion.

But she didn’t dwell on it, continuing to the bowl. Lowering her head, she began to lap up the milk one sip at a time.

Some movement came from nearby.

The calico cat lifted her head, her face covered in little beads of milk. Turning toward the sound, she saw the Daoist already packing up their belongings.

“Are we leaving?” she asked.

“We’ll leave once you finish your milk.”

“You’re not watching the ritual anymore?”

“I’ve already watched it until the end.”

“You’ve watched it until the end...”

“Finish your milk.”

“Oh...”

The calico cat lowered her head again to drink.

Strangely, after just a few sips—barely half the bowl—and with much of it still clinging to her face, she already felt full.