Unintended Immortality-Chapter 600: The Daoist and the Cat’s Reward

At the foot of the mountain, an official road wound its way into the distance.

The guide sat alone by the roadside, waiting. The sun was far too harsh, so he had to hide under the trees. If not, he’d be scorched all over in no time. But even under the trees, the sunlight filtering through the leaves made his eyes dizzy. In such sweltering weather, drowsiness quickly crept in.

The gentleman had said he would come down the mountain to find him.

The guide had wanted to follow the gentleman up the mountain to witness what it was like when an immortal exorcised demons, but he also feared that, as a mere mortal, he might get caught up and lose his life by accident. So in the end, he stayed behind.

At first, he felt this job was truly a heavenly task. There was no need to hustle at the city gates for passengers, no worrying about bad luck and making no money, nor about envy from fellow guides when business was good. He had steady income each day and even got to enjoy a fine meal at the Zhu family estate.

But after waiting too long at the foot of the mountain, he began to feel that being alone with no one to talk to left him oddly uncomfortable, not knowing how to pass the time.

He had heard people say that everyone had their fate, and maybe his was just a laborious one.

These thoughts swirled endlessly in the guide’s mind.

Suddenly, a loud rumble echoed from the mountain above, startling him nearly awake. Listening more closely, it sometimes sounded like thunder, sometimes like a landslide, and sometimes like violent collisions. There were even the sounds of tree branches crashing to the ground. The terrifying commotion made him shiver with fear. Even when turning to look, he did so cautiously, thinking a fierce battle must be raging on the mountain.

He could only feel thankful. Thank goodness he hadn’t gone up.

By about mid-afternoon, the noise from the mountain finally ceased. Not long after, the jingling sound of bells rang through the forest, and the Daoist party descended the mountain with their jujube-red horse.

The guide immediately looked at the little girl’s cloth pouch at her waist. Seeing it was bulging again, he quickly averted his eyes, but he couldn’t hold back his curiosity and asked, “What kind of demon was it today?”

“It was Lady Calico who exorcised the demon,” the Daoist replied simply. “You’ll have to ask her.”

“It was a big snake!” the little girl answered.

“A big snake?” the guide blinked. “You fit that into the pouch too?”

“Meow, huh? Oh no, what’s in here is the fruit we picked on the mountain. That big snake was really fierce! It ate lots of people. The Daoist said there was no need to take it back to the City God’s temple. And it was so huge, it could swallow a person whole in one bite. There’s no way we could carry it, so we left it in the mountains.”

“...” The guide scratched his head. This wasn’t quite what he’d imagined.

“But it’s a shame to waste such a big snake,” he said, scratching again. “There are people in the city who buy snakeskins, even snake gallbladders and bones. The bigger it is, the more it’s worth.”

“Really? How much?” The little girl had just stepped onto the road and was about to climb onto her horse when she suddenly perked up.

“I’m not sure myself, but definitely a lot,” the guide replied.

“...”

Lady Calico still seemed like she wanted to say more, but then heard her Daoist’s voice say, “The demon in the mountain has already been dealt with. What’s left up there now is just a big dead snake. This place is only a few dozen li from Yundu City, if you’re interested, why not go retrieve its bones and flesh and sell them for money?”

The little girl shook her head, swaying slightly, but didn’t say anything more.

“Huh? Me?” The guide was taken aback.

“Why not?” The Daoist continued walking as he spoke. “That snake demon, after all, had attained the Dao and gained sentience. We cultivators may kill it and extinguish its soul, but we’re unwilling to harvest its remains for mere profit. But you, sir, are just an ordinary citizen of the city, someone it once preyed upon and harmed. Now that it's dead, the roles are reversed. What’s the harm in taking it? At worst, it might be a bit more difficult to cut it up.”

“Well...” The guide looked even more dazed.

But thinking about it carefully, it did seem to make sense. And deep down, he was a little tempted. Still, he felt afraid.

Just then, the Daoist’s voice rang out again, “But it’s already getting late, and we still have to rely on you to guide us back to Yundu before dark. We can’t miss the Zhu family’s dinner, after all. Ah... poverty is such a burden.”

The Daoist sighed while walking. “And tomorrow we’ll also need you to guide us to Lake Yun to deal with the water demon there. It’s important work, and we can’t afford any delay. If you’re truly interested in the snake, you’ll have to find time on your own to go and retrieve it.”

“Uh...” The guide was left speechless.

If he led them back to the city, it’d be dark by the time they arrived. And tomorrow he’d need to take them to Lake Yun to hunt another monster. If he wanted to retrieve that snake’s bones, skin, or gallbladder, wouldn’t that mean going up the mountain in the middle of the night?

No way... absolutely not. He was scared enough in broad daylight, how could he possibly go up there at night?

It was true that there were no lions, tigers, bears, or wolves on that mountain. But who in their right mind would go up alone in the middle of the night?

The guide immediately gave up on the idea.

The little girl swayed her head again and continued climbing onto the horse. But in one careless motion, the bulging pouch at her waist burst open and sent all the gooseberries tumbling to the ground. Lady Calico was already upset about not being able to sell the snake demon’s bones for money, and now, seeing so much fruit scattered all over, her heart ached even more. She quickly dismounted, scolding the fruit for rolling about in a panic as she frantically bent down to pick them up.

She had picked those for the Zhu family. Last night, upon returning home, she’d heard that one of the Zhu family's children was gravely ill and likely wouldn’t make it. The child had expressed a craving for gooseberries, but none could be found in the city. So when she came across some today, she made sure to gather them.

Lady Calico had always understood the importance of gratitude and repaying kindness. It was the very reason she had once been able to ascend and become a cat deity. Catching mice for the Zhu family last night and picking fruit for them today were both her way of repaying their hospitality and shelter.

When they returned to Yundu City, it was indeed already dark. The Zhu family had arranged for someone to wait at the gate and keep it open for them. Song You thanked the family, and Lady Calico presented her gathered fruit, asking that they be given to the ill child.

The guide managed to enjoy another hearty dinner with them, and he still ate his meal sitting at the doorstep. By the time he returned to his own bare, four-walled home, it was already quite late, and the moon had risen high in the sky.

Today, he’d securely earned his twenty-five wen and had been treated to both breakfast and dinner by a wealthy household. During that dinner, there was even fish and meat. Though none of it ended up in his bowl as a full portion, and just some bits here and there were picked up and passed over by the servants, it was still enough to leave him thoroughly content. He thought to himself, If only every day could be like this, how wonderful life would be.

He was still savoring the taste in his mouth.

He lay down on his bed, ready to sleep, but when he saw the moonlight pouring through the window and spreading across the floor, he found himself unable to rest. His mind kept wandering, first to the sights he’d seen the night before at the City God Temple, and then to the sounds of magical combat echoing down the mountain as he lay by the roadside today.

Perhaps these matters of immortals and demons were simply too rare and fascinating for ordinary folk. It was like something out of the old storytellers’ tales, myths from centuries past or faraway lands suddenly stepping into the real world. Of course he’d be stirred up with excitement.

Finally, his thoughts drifted back to the words the Daoist had said to him, “The demon in the mountain has already been dealt with. What’s left up there now is just a big dead snake. This place is only a few dozen li from Yundu City, if you’re interested, why not go retrieve its bones and flesh and sell them for money?

“But you, sir, are just an ordinary citizen of the city, someone it once preyed upon and harmed. Now that it's dead, the roles are reversed. What’s the harm in taking it? At worst, it might be a bit more difficult to cut it up.”

“...”

Those words echoed in his mind, as though he’d just heard them a moment ago.

“...” The guide shook his head.

It was still several dozen li to the stone forest. A round trip would take a full day, even if he walked fast it’d still eat up most of one. He couldn’t go this afternoon, and tomorrow he had no time either. So what was the point of thinking about it?

He turned to glance outside. Under the bright moonlight, the city was clearly visible, but it was still too far.

These were chaotic times. While there might be no tigers, leopards, bears, or wolves on the road, traveling by night still risked running into some small ghosts or minor demons. How could he possibly risk his life just for a bit of money?

The guide was very self-aware. He knew that, as someone who made a living leading people at the city gate, the reason he earned more than others was because he was clever. He knew what he should do, and more importantly, what he shouldn't do. That was why, among all the other guides, the officials and wealthy clients preferred to listen to him and chose him to lead the way.

A risky venture like this? Absolutely not something he would ever do.

“...” He had heard people say that minor spirits and ghosts only dared to bully the old, the weak, the sick, and the cowardly. When they came across someone young, strong, and bold, they usually kept their distance.

“...” But still, it was too far.

Maybe I could run out there tomorrow morning?

He’d been guiding people since he was young, often taking clients out and running back on his own. He was good at running, and he didn’t know how long that Daoist would take to subdue the water demon at Yun Pool tomorrow. If it took a while, and if he ran fast enough, maybe, just maybe, he could make it to that mountain, cut up the demon snake, collect its shed skin, bones, and gallbladder, and make it back in time.

Though... he had no idea just how big that snake was.

“...”

And besides, by now the city gates were already closed.

There was a dog hole one could slip through. Anyone a bit chubby couldn’t crawl out of it, but for guides like him, this kind of secret was common knowledge.

Whoosh!

The guide sat up straight in bed.

As if possessed, his expression suddenly turned unusually serious. He shook his head, driving out all distractions, not allowing himself another second of hesitation. He went straight to the kitchen, grabbed the cleaver, stuck it in his belt, and glanced at the moonlight shining through the window before he stepped outside.

He then tore off running through the dark city streets.

***

Early next morning, at the Zhu family residence...

When the guide returned, he immediately sensed that something was off about the atmosphere.

That young master, who had been gravely ill the night before and already on the verge of death, had only wanted to taste some gooseberries in his final moments. After fulfilling that wish last night, he had quietly passed away early this morning. The entire household was steeped in grief.

The master of the house couldn’t help but approach Song You, earnestly begging him to use magic to save the dying man.

The Daoist, however, simply shook his head and replied, “I am not skilled in the healing arts. Besides, life and death are matters of fate. Your son has been ill for many years, and his condition is already beyond saving. Yet death is not necessarily the end of life. The Zhu family is known for its kindness and virtue, and your son was also a man of talent and reputation. Perhaps another kind of fate now awaits him.”

The head of the Zhu family asked, “What do you mean, sir?”

“You will soon understand.”

The head of the household didn’t quite grasp his meaning, but could only offer thanks for the wild fruit the Daoist had picked in the mountains, then hurriedly left.

The Daoist, as usual, stayed for breakfast. The guide also joined for the meal, one more free breakfast. The Zhu family, being generous and not lacking for food, didn’t turn him away just because of his humble status. Only after that did they head out of the city.

Around noon that same day, the mother of the Zhu family had fallen asleep at her son’s bedside. In her drowsy state, she had a dream in which her son spoke to her.

He said that because the Zhu family had always acted with kindness, and because he himself had earned scholarly honors and a name for talent, it just so happened that the newly built City God Temple in Yundu lacked a civil official to handle administrative records.

Thanks to a recommendation from the immortal master residing in their home, the Yundu City God Temple had invited him to serve as a registrar. If he performed well, he might even be promoted to assistant official and have a statue erected in the temple.

When Madam Zhu awoke, her son had already passed. She recounted the dream to the family, and only then did everyone understand that this was likely the Daoist’s way of repaying them.