Chapter 224: The Rat Immortal and the Willow Immortal

A few sticks of incense burned down to their ends, the smoke drifting gently. Most likely, they had been lit by these few

jianghu

wanderers.

“Greetings, everyone.”

Seeing that the group of jianghu wanderers was staring at them with varying expressions, Song You gave them a courteous bow.

The swordsman beside him also cupped his hands in greeting.

“We’ve come from Changjing and are heading north. We passed by here and, unfamiliar with the local conditions, an elderly passerby kindly advised us not to stay outdoors at night, so we had no choice but to seek the company of you immortals. If we’ve disturbed you heroes, please forgive us.”

Upon hearing this, the group of

jianghu

wanderers seemed to relax a little.

One of the older men looked around, then raised his hands in a respectful gesture toward Song You. “This area belongs to the Thunder God and the Willow Immortal. We’re merely resting here ourselves. Since we’re all wanderers from the

jianghu

seeking shelter from demon troubles, it’s hardly an intrusion—if anything, it’s a twist of fate.”

“You speak wisely.”

Noting the man’s measured speech and his air of a true

jianghu

spirit, Song You took the opportunity to ask about the situation in Lanmo County. He then introduced himself, “My name is Song You, originally from Lingquan County in Yizhou. May I ask for your honorable name?”

“I'm just a down-and-out wanderer in the

jianghu

, no honorable name to speak of. Just call me Jiang Erfu,” the man replied, pausing briefly. “We’re escorting a shipment, coming from Linxun County up north and now heading back.”

“I had no intention of coming here, nor did I prepare any incense. I wonder if any of you have extra sticks? I'd be happy to buy a few.”

“Unfortunately, we only brought six sticks with us—three for our arrival and three for our return,” Jiang Erfu replied, glancing at the altar. “The last three are already burning here.”

“Then I'll just have to apologize to the gods and immortals.”

Song You glanced at the statue of Duke of Thunder Zhou in the center of the altar and felt something odd.

Previously, at the foot of Yunding Mountain by the small fishing village on Mirror Island Lake’s shore, Duke of Thunder Zhou had told him that if they met again, Song You should light a stick of incense for him. Although Song You hadn’t promised outright, he had remembered. Tonight, they were using the temple to shelter from the wind and rain, so it only seemed right to offer one.

“Don’t worry!” Jiang Erfu noticed the look on Song You’s face and, sensing that this young Daoist wasn’t a bad sort—even if he had a swordsman in tow—decided to reassure him. “Both Thunder Gods are righteous and upright, and the Willow Immortal has the people’s best interests at heart. It’s just a small oversight; they won’t mind that you didn’t bring incense.”

“That's a relief...”

By now, the swordsman had set down his pack and taken out some provisions. He pulled out the dry biscuits they’d bought in the town of Zhijiang County.

Made from coarse flour and packed with who knows what, the biscuits were baked hard as stone, turning to dry crumbs in the mouth, scratching both tongue and throat. Still, they were convenient to carry and filling.

They’d heard these were common provisions among

jianghu

travelers here, so out of curiosity, Song You had bought some.

“Have you all eaten tonight? Would you like a bite?”

“Thank you, but we’ve already eaten.”

“When we were in Zhijiang County, we heard that Lanmo County has been troubled by a rat demon. On the road, we even had an old man warn us not to stay the night in the wilderness. But I wonder, just how rampant is this rat demon?” Song You paused, glancing back at the altar.

“Since childhood, I’ve cultivated at a Daoist temple. I recognize the two Thunder Gods, but I’m unfamiliar with this Willow Immortal. Who might they be?”

“Are you truly a Daoist priest, sir?”

“I have the ordination certificate to prove it.”

“Forgive us, sir. There are so many people in Daoist robes in the

jianghu

that it’s hard for us to tell the genuine ones apart.”

Jiang Erfu offered a respectful hand gesture from afar before continuing, “Since you’re aware of which demon causes trouble in Lanmo County, I won’t say more. Just remember, sir, once you leave this temple, don’t speak of the rat demon lightly. If you must refer to it, call it the Rat Immortal to avoid inviting misfortune.”

“Will I be heard even if I just say it once?”

“Better safe than sorry.”

“That makes sense.”

“Sir, as you've traveled, you must have seen plenty of rats and snakes along the way, right?”

“Perhaps because I keep a cat at home, I’ve mostly only heard rustling in the fields but rarely seen any rats or snakes,” Song You replied with a chuckle. “Though, in front of the temple, I did catch sight of a snake’s tail.”

“That would be it, then.” Jiang Erfu leaned against the wall, warming himself by the fire, and explained, “The troublemaker is the Rat Immortal, while the protector is the Snake Immortal, whom we respectfully call Lady Willow Immortal. Some even refer to her as Lady Jinhua.”

“Lady Jinhua...” Song You looked down at his own cat. The calico cat lifted its head as well.

“Exactly!”

“When did this Rat Immortal start causing trouble?”

“Oh, just in the last few years, I’d say. There’s been war up north, and many have died. Some say the rats have eaten too much human flesh and turned into demons. Others say the Rat Immortal came down from the north to begin with. We can't tell what’s true and what isn’t.”

“And what about the Willow Immortal?”

“Why are you asking so many questions?” Jiang Erfu turned to stare at him. “Just know that while passing through Lanmo County, don’t spend the night outdoors. Either stay in the city, a village, or a temple. I see you’ve come on horseback; if you start early enough tomorrow, you’ll be out by day’s end.”

He added, “As long as you don’t mention the Rat Immortal during the day and keep an eye on your cat so it doesn’t catch any field rats, you’ll be fine.”

“I’m a Daoist,” Song You replied. “Naturally, I’m interested in matters of spirits and demons. I travel the world precisely to witness these things firsthand.”

“...” Jiang Erfu felt a hint of suspicion but didn’t question further. It was a boring night, and having a Daoist to chat with wasn’t a bad thing, so he continued.

“The Willow Immortal has been around a long time. The people of Lanmo County have worshiped Lady Willow Immortal for hundreds of years. She’s always protected the local crops from harm by rats and pests. This very temple has probably been here for decades,” Jiang Erfu explained.

He continued, “Lady Willow Immortal has always been worshiped fervently, and now, with the Rat Immortal’s mischief, her incense offerings have only increased.”

“So that’s how it is.” Song You nodded thoughtfully.

He turned again to look at the statue of the Willow Immortal, placed almost alongside Duke of Thunder Zhou at the center of the altar, and now he more or less understood.

Hezhou was originally a land of abundant grain production, and people have long worshiped the Snake Immortal to protect their fields, homes, and granaries from rat infestations—much like how travelers on the Jinyang Road revered Lady Calico.

Seeing that this Willow Immortal could share a temple with Duke of Thunder Zhou, and was almost placed at the center alongside him, one could tell she was a properly enshrined deity rather than an illegitimate like Lady Calico. This indicated her high standing among the locals as a deeply respected local deity.

“Though the Rat Immortal has been rampant these past years, the Willow Immortal’s powers are formidable,” Jiang Erfu remarked, casting a quick glance at the Willow Immortal’s statue on the altar. Clearly, in her temple and in her presence, he didn’t want to risk saying anything disrespectful, so he chose his words carefully.

“We’re not locals from Lanmo County, but we've heard that the Rat Immortal has caused severe rat plagues here. If not for the Willow Immortal’s intervention and protecting the people, the entire county might have been devoured by rats.”

“My curiosity is piqued,” Song You said, asking them, “If the rat demon is truly so fearsome, why are people still working in the fields, living in the villages, and traveling on the roads?”

“It’s all thanks to the Willow Immortal.”

“I’d love to hear more.”

“The people here only need to set up a plaque for the Willow Immortal at home, and they’ll be safe from the rat plagues. If they invite the Snake Immortal to the fields, the whole area will remain free from disaster. The only rule is to avoid foolishly killing any rats.”

“And if they don’t worship her?”

“Even if they don’t, it still works if their neighbors do. But with someone offering protection, wouldn’t it feel wrong not to show respect?”

“That’s true.”

“As for why people still travel the roads despite what you mentioned?” Jiang Erfu chuckled, “Though the rat demon is rampant, it wouldn’t dare cause trouble in broad daylight or out in the open. We

jianghu

folk are familiar with the road’s rules; we calculate our journey carefully to either stay in a town or rest at a roadside temple.

“Whether it’s dedicated to Thunder God or Lady Willow, once we’re inside a temple, the Rat Immortal wouldn’t dare intrude. If you don’t make it to a temple, though, you’re gambling with your luck. Sometimes, a cow goes missing overnight, and by morning, you’ll find it gnawed down to the bone.”

“Are there many people who left?”

“Quite a few, but not too many. Leaving one’s hometown behind isn’t easy, and finding a way to survive elsewhere is even harder.”

“I see.”

The people of this land possessed an unimaginable resilience. Their heritage had endured for millennia, no doubt partly due to this tenacity.

Their conversation didn’t last long, but Song You asked thoroughly and learned most of what he wanted to know.

The fire lit by the

jianghu

folk was slowly dimming. Outside, occasional rustling sounds caught the attention of the calico cat nestled in the Daoist’s arms, making it stretch its neck to peer outside.

“Sir, you’re traveling the world, why bring along a cat?”

“We share a bond, so we journey together.”

“...” Jiang Erfu shook his head and whispered a reminder, “Then you’d better keep a close watch on your cat here in Lanmo County. Whether it’s rats or snakes, they mustn’t be hunted or eaten. Eating field mice or rats could provoke the Rat Immortal’s revenge, and as for snakes—well, Lady Willow Immortal wouldn’t punish you, but if the locals found out, they wouldn’t let it slide.”

“

Meow

...”

“Thank you for the reminder,” Song You replied. “My cat says she understands and won’t eat any snakes.”

“Haha...” Jiang Erfu chuckled, saying no more.

The group of bodyguards had settled to the right of the temple entrance. Some sat on the ground leaning against the wall, while others lay sprawled across each other, using thick cloth as blankets. Their camaraderie was evident; one even used a companion’s leg as a pillow.

The bonds between these common folk were entirely different from those among scholars and literati, with no poetic musings of flowers and wine. But huddling together for warmth on a cold night—what better memory could one carry for a lifetime?

The fire slowly burned down, leaving only the glow of smoldering embers. The swordsman lowered his voice and asked quietly, “Are you planning to rid us of the rat demon, sir?”

“With the northern lands in chaos, demons and monsters are running rampant, and the Heavenly Court is stretched thin. Since I’m here, I’ll start with this rat demon.”

“I am willing to follow you, serving at the front lines to slay demons and banish evil!” The swordsman cupped his fists in salute, careful to keep his voice low to avoid disturbing the others. Yet his tone was filled with unwavering resolve.

“I’ll be counting on you.” Song You, too, wrapped himself in a thin blanket and gradually closed his eyes.

In the middle of the night, there were faint rustling sounds. One of the younger bodyguards seemed to have noticed Song You’s group—perhaps attracted by their fine horses and Song You’s high-quality wool blankets and felt.

Thinking they might be wealthy travelers, he tiptoed toward them. But the alert swordsman simply tapped his sword’s scabbard lightly against the stone floor, startling the young man back. The rest of the night passed without incident, save for the calico cat occasionally slipping in and out.