Unintended Immortality-Chapter 342: Why Are You Here?

“Flap, flap, flap...”

A swallow flew down from a nearby rooftop and landed on a tree branch not far from the group.

“Why is there a bird here?”

“Looks like a swallow!”

“In the dead of winter? How could there be a swallow?”

“Could it be a demon?”

“This bird has been following us since daylight, from Changjing all the way here,” Muyunzi remarked, pausing as he turned to the little girl. “Do you know this swallow?”

“This is my swallow!” Lady Calico replied crisply.

“I am an Anqing swallow, not a demon. Do not be alarmed,” the swallow on the branch said.

Hearing the bird speak, and at such a late hour, the group was startled. Muyunzi, however, only hesitated briefly before asking, “Anqing swallow? Are you of the Swallow Clan under the Anqing Swallow Immortal?”

“Indeed,” the bird replied.

“So, a descendant of the Swallow Immortal...” Muyunzi murmured, his eyes widening.

The Salvation True Lord of Anqing was a newly consecrated deity, having only been officially canonized within the past couple of years. Elevated to divinity due to his immense merit, he was widely revered across the Daoist temples. Countless Daoists, upon receiving the news, had brought him up in conversation during their leisure time over tea and meals.

It is said that before becoming a deity, he already possessed a millennium of Daoist cultivation. As soon as he was enshrined, his incense offerings flourished. Judging by the foundation of his deification, it could be predicted that in the years to come, his following would only grow stronger, and his influence would become increasingly extraordinary.

More importantly, he was a legitimate god of the Heavenly Palace, a figure directly worshipped by Daoist temples.

This little girl was a disciple of a deity?

“...”

Muyunzi turned his gaze to the little girl, unable to suppress his curiosity. “Could it be that you’re a disciple of the Swallow Immortal, little fellow Daoist?”

“Of course not.”

“Lady Calico travels the world with my master, learning the arts of Daoism. I merely follow my master to scout and guide paths,” the swallow explained in a timid but polite tone. Then it turned to Lady Calico. “Now that Lady Calico h-has successfully vanquished the evil spirit, I will return to report this good news to our master.”

“Go ahead and report the good news,” Lady Calico replied.

“Flap, flap, flap...”

The swallow flapped its wings and soared into the sky.

The group instinctively watched its silhouette disappear into the night. The moon's outline illuminated the sky, casting light on the clouds. The swallow shrank to a small dot in the sky, flying farther and farther away.

Lady Calico stared in the direction it had flown, her small brows furrowing even tighter.

“Little fellow Daoist,” Muyunzi’s voice brought her attention sharply back to reality. “It’s entirely thanks to your great power that the evil spirit has been eradicated. I contributed nothing and have no face to accept the reward gathered by the villagers. Upon reflection, I think it’s only fair to hand over the entire amount to you.”

The suddenness of his words snapped her focus back, almost forcibly.

She turned her head abruptly.

“Really?”

“By all rights, it should be so.”

“By all rights!”

“Heh,” Muyunzi chuckled, seemingly used to her way of speaking. “But though the evil spirit is gone, it’s already the middle of the night. We’ll need to inform the villagers tomorrow. For now, I suggest you find a place to rest for the night.”

“Find a place to rest for the night...” Lady Calico murmured, her recently relaxed brows knitting together again as she fell into deep thought.

“What’s the matter?”

“No! I have to go back!”

“Go back? Now?”

“That's right! My Daoist priest is at home waiting for me to return!” Lady Calico declared confidently, “He can't manage without me!”

“But it's the middle of the night...”

“I can see in the dark!”

“And it’s a long journey...”

“I know the way!”

“This...”

“You all can find a place to rest for the night here,” the little girl said with solemnity, though her words closely echoed what Muyunzi had said earlier. “Tomorrow morning, you can inform the villagers. As for me, I’ll take the same path back to Changjing. By dawn, I'll be there. Don’t forget to bring the money over to us.”

“Um...” Muyunzi turned to look at the two constables, exchanging uncertain glances.

“Very well.”

“Then we wish Lady Calico a safe journey.”

“Understood.” The little girl picked up her chicken and left the village, retracing the path she had worked hard to memorize earlier, heading toward Changjing.

Tonight, the moonlight was exceptionally bright, illuminating the sky and everything beneath it. The distant mountain slopes, the village behind her, and the verdant mountain path flanked by lush greenery were all clearly visible under the moon’s glow. Despite her small stature and walking alone in the night, Lady Calico showed no fear at all, carrying her chicken as she steadily made her way forward.

However, as she walked, she suddenly stopped.

Turning her head, she looked toward the distant mountain.

Her brows furrowed, her expression thoughtful.

She couldn’t shake the curiosity clawing at her heart, like a cat desperate to find out more.

***

On the mountain opposite Peach Blossom Village, far in the distance...

The Duke of Thunder hovered in mid-air, shrouded in divine light, his gaze cold as he looked down at a Daoist below. “Heir of Hidden Dragon Temple, why are you sneaking around here like a skulking thief?”

“Duke of Thunder,” the Daoist replied, raising his head to the heavens. “Congratulations on your promotion to Chief Officer of the Thunder Division.”

“It’s all thanks to you.”

“That’s indeed true.”

“You’re not exactly humble.”

“Duke of Thunder, why not come down to talk? Standing up there is a bit too conspicuous.”

“Oh? Worried someone might see you here?”

“Alas...”

Song You sighed in mild exasperation and clasped his hands together respectfully toward the sky. “To be frank, my cat took up the county’s exorcism bounty today and came here alone to deal with the demon. You may not know, but my cat is fiercely independent. I had no choice but to...”

“Interesting.” The Duke of Thunder sneered mockingly. His figure flickered, and though he didn’t land, he appeared farther from the mountain’s peak, lowering himself slightly—ensuring he was entirely out of sight from anyone in the village below on the opposite side.

“So, there’s indeed something I have to ask of you.”

“Speak!”

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“While traveling in the north, I encountered demons meddling in human warfare, aiding the tribes of the northern frontier. Naturally, I intervened to subdue them. In the final battle, one of the northern demons exploited the terrain and weather to unleash a massive flood. Its power came from a weapon called the Water-Splitting Blade,” Song You explained.

He added, “After defeating the demon, I obtained the blade. Its design struck me as peculiar—unlike the daggers typically used in the northern frontier. Instead, it bore elements of Central Plains craftsmanship. I grew curious about it. I hope that you can investigate its origins.”

the Duke of Thunder’s expression shifted. At first, he seemed to brace for an accusation against the gods. Midway through, he relaxed slightly, but by the time he heard the latter part of Song You’s explanation, his brow furrowed deeply.

“The Water-Splitting Blade?”

“That’s what they called it.”

“You suspect it’s from Great Yan?”

“Not just that. This blade is extraordinary. It can harness the elements, conjure waves, and stir lakes to their depths. It’s immensely powerful. From what I’ve seen, no ordinary magical artifact could possess such power.”

“You think it might be a divine artifact?”

“Exactly.”

“...”

The Duke of Thunder’s eyes flickered with uncertainty before he finally said, “Many years ago, some river and water deities in the Central Plains did integrate their divine authority into artifacts. At the time, mortal emperors also loved to create such items to symbolize themselves. I recall hearing of a great River God who chose a dagger as their divine artifact.”

“Do you know which one?”

“That was over a thousand years ago, at least. I only heard about it secondhand and don’t remember clearly. Furthermore, this is a matter of great significance. I’ll need to return and investigate thoroughly.”

“Indeed,” Song You replied.

This matter was clearly of great importance.

A deity interfering in mortal warfare was already improper. For a citizen of Great Yan to commit treason and collude with enemies was equally unacceptable. But if the Water-Splitting Blade truly originated from a Great Yan deity, it would mean that a god, worshipped and sustained by Great Yan’s incense offerings, had aided foreign enemies, helping the northern frontier tribes slaughter Great Yan’s soldiers and civilians.

This would be utterly intolerable. The motives behind such actions would warrant further investigation.

The Duke of Thunder, understanding the gravity of the situation, became equally serious.

“Where is the Water-Splitting Blade now?”

“I’ve given it to my cat. It’s currently in her possession.”

“You mean to say...”

“Today isn’t convenient.”

“Are all Hidden Dragon Temple disciples like you?”

“Each has their quirks.”

“But I must get hold of the Water-Splitting Blade to verify if it’s truly connected to a Central Plains deity, don’t you think?”

“Duke of Thunder, in a few days, you can come to Willow Street in the Western District of Changjing to retrieve it.”

“...”

The Duke of Thunder’s expression remained stoic, but he turned his head to the side.

Song You followed his gaze.

On a nearby mountain peak, a small figure had appeared at some point. Bathed in the clear moonlight, her petite form was visible. She wore a tricolored outfit, with a pouch slung across her body, holding an old hen in her arms. Her face was expressionless as she stared directly at the Daoist below.

“...” Song You’s expression remained calm. “You’ve come, I see. I was just about to look for you.”

“...” The little girl didn’t speak, merely stepping forward.

Quietly, she walked up to the Daoist, adjusting her grip on the hen that was slipping slightly. She reached into her pouch with her free hand and pulled out a dagger, handing it silently to Song You.

“So you heard everything,” Song You said as he accepted the dagger. “Thank you, Lady Calico.”

“...” The little girl remained silent, nodding once.

Her small, fair face looked serious.

Song You tossed the Water-Splitting Blade into the air.

“Boom!”

“Sizzle...”

A bolt of lightning struck down, yet it did not dissipate. Instead, it connected with the dagger, halting it in midair before the blade flew into the Duke of Thunder's hand.

The Duke of Thunder examined the dagger closely, his brows furrowed.

While he had little knowledge of the northern frontier, and the stylistic differences of their artifacts from those of Great Yan, as a deity, simply holding the blade was enough for him to discern its origins.

This was indeed not a magical artifact. The water-controlling power within it indeed stemmed from divine authority. Unfortunately, this ceremonial vessel was from a tradition of many years ago, and the associated deity had likely long since changed. If it were a creation of a current deity, he would only need to touch it to discern which water system it belonged to and which deity had crafted it.

The Duke of Thunder lowered his gaze to Song You and asked, “What are you trying to uncover?”

“I'm merely curious about its origins and how it ended up in the hands of the northern frontier demon.”

“I can take it back for investigation, but I must warn you—the original deity is most likely no longer around. We may not find its true source,” the Duke of Thunder replied. “Once I’ve looked into it, I’ll return it to you.”

“Thank you, the Duke of Thunder.”

“This is a matter concerning deities—it’s my responsibility to investigate. No need for your thanks.”

“Safe travels, the Duke of Thunder.”

“Off I go—” the Duke of Thunder began to speak, but he abruptly paused. His gaze shifted back to Song You, scanning him carefully as his eyes narrowed.

“Where’s my incense?” he asked pointedly.

“Duke of Thunder, you must be mistaken,” Song You replied with a polite bow. “This time, it wasn’t I who summoned you, but the elder Daoist from Qingxiao Temple in Donghe County, currently down the mountain. Moreover, that elder invoked you before I even arrived. Our meeting here is purely coincidental. How could I have known to prepare incense for you?”

“...”

It made sense.

the Duke of Thunder nodded reluctantly, his expression sour. “Next time.”

“Boom!”

A bolt of lightning lit up the night sky, its brilliance flooding their vision. For a moment, the light consumed everything, and when their sight returned, the Duke of Thunder was gone.

“Haha...”

Song You let out a dry chuckle and turned to the little girl beside him. He reached out to ruffle the top of her head before placing a hand gently on her back. As they began walking together, he asked, “Lady Calico, where did you get the chicken?”

“Traded it for some mice,” she answered honestly, keeping pace with him.

It was a rare moonlit night. The world was bathed in silver light, the moon illuminating everything. On the mountain path, the Daoist walked with his hand resting on the little girl’s shoulder, guiding her down the mountain. While the scene seemed solitary, it didn’t feel lonely.