On the other side of the Snowy Plains, there were also temples built. Here, the land finally had some undulation.

The hills, standing tens or even a hundred zhang tall, had gentle, rolling curves. With early spring approaching in March, they were already covered in lush green grass. Even on the steepest slopes, horses could likely trot up at an angle without difficulty.

The temples were built atop these hills.

After more than a decade of He Plains being frozen in ice, the snow had melted, revealing the old official road once more.

The Daoist, the jujube-red horse, and the calico cat followed the official road of He Plains leading toward Yanzhou, continuing on until they reached the base of the hills, where they could see the original boundary marker between Hezhou and Yanzhou. However, looking further ahead, they found that the road, unused for over ten years, was now completely covered in grass, making it nearly impossible to discern.

Song You led the jujube-red horse onward. The cat carefully stepped through the grass, occasionally pausing and glancing around, seemingly distracted by some faint sound or movement.

Yet, the general direction of the original road could still be faintly traced.

Because hills stretched continuously on both sides, there was only this single passage in the middle. Naturally, the road wouldn’t detour unnecessarily over the hills; it simply followed the natural path through the valley.

It took them a full day to exit He Plains. Then, half a day later, they arrived at a checkpoint.

The checkpoint was built against the mountains, guarded by elite soldiers. The garrison here watched both the northern and southern directions, and in times like these, neither side could afford to lower their guard.

From the city walls, the soldiers spotted a lone figure on horseback approaching from the direction of He Plains. They were both vigilant and shocked, with crossbows already drawn and ready. Upon closer inspection, they hurriedly went to report to the captain.

The captain, seeing the situation, immediately called for the commanding general.

By the time the general arrived, the Daoist had already reached the foot of the checkpoint.

Looking down, the general finally noticed that it wasn’t just a lone rider and horse—there was also a small calico cat at his feet. The cat was so small that it had been hidden in the tall grass and couldn’t be seen from a distance.

The general did not immediately signal his men to relax their guard. After a moment of thought, he shouted down, “Who is it?”

Song You raised his head to meet the general’s gaze, lifted his hand in a respectful salute, and replied honestly, “I am Song You, a wandering Daoist. I come from Hezhou and am heading to Yanzhou. I have my ordination certificate and a letter of recommendation from the governor of Pu Commandery as proof.”

“Which Daoist temple do you belong to?”

“From Lingquan County, Yizhou.”

The general couldn’t help but glance around, exchanging looks with his officers before continuing his questions. “Hezhou is separated from here by He Plains, which had long been occupied by demons. How did you manage to cross?”

“The great demon of He Plains has been subdued.”

“The demon has truly been eliminated?”

“The Snowy Plains have melted. Don’t you know?”

“...” The general’s eyes flickered with realization. “Before Hezhou, where did you come from, sir?”

“To answer your question, I came from Changjing.”

“From Elm Street?”

“Willow Street.”

“It is indeed you, Mr. Song!”

The general shouted an order and waved his hand. One of his men immediately called out to open the gates.

The general then addressed Song You below, “Mr. Song, please don’t take offense. Demons and ghosts are deceitful, often skilled in trickery. Though we had heard of your possible arrival and knew that the ice and snow of He Plains had melted, we still feared that some demons might not have been fully eradicated, attempting to escape using cunning tactics. We had to exercise extra caution!” R̃𝙖ℕỗΒÊ𝒮

“Of course, I understand,” Song You replied.

The heavy sound of the gate creaking open gradually echoed from within.

Song You took the opportunity to survey his surroundings.

The checkpoint was quite impressive, and the city gate was large. One could imagine how, before the chaos caused by the demons of the Snowy Plains, this place was a bustling route between Hezhou and Yanzhou, with countless travelers passing through. Now, the southern side of the checkpoint was overgrown with weeds.

On his way here, Song You had also noticed uncleaned fragments of bones—some clearly non-human. This hinted at the occasional minor demons or monsters that managed to slip past the divine protections of the temples, attempting to head north, only to be discovered and slain by the soldiers at the gate.

Just like the city’s constables who sometimes needed to capture demons and ghosts during their investigations, the garrison here not only defended against the Eighteen Tribes of the northern grasslands but also guarded against the demons from the Snowy Plains.

The Great Yan focused on cultivating an elite military force. The border troops were composed mainly of skilled warriors, their qi and lifeforce strong and their martial arts honed. Years of training had imbued them with a fearless spirit and a fierce presence.

Clad in armor and wielding powerful bows and crossbows, they were more than a match for common predators like tigers and wolves, as well as minor demons and monsters that had only recently attained enlightenment.

Bang

...

The city gate fully opened before them.

At the checkpoint, two rows of armored soldiers stood on either side. They were all of uniform height, clad in heavy armor weighing dozens of jin. Their helmets covered their faces entirely. Leading them was a tall and imposing general, flanked by several junior officers. Whether it was the general or the junior officer, both gave off an intense sense of pressure. Despite their intimidating presence, they all greeted Song You with great respect.

“I am General Pu Zhengye. I apologize for the delay. Please forgive us!” the general said.

“There’s no need for apologies, General,” Song You replied with a respectful bow. “It’s precisely because of diligent and loyal people like you that the peace of the Great Yan is upheld. What’s there to forgive?”

“Please, come in!” General Pu gestured for him to enter, walking alongside him through the city gate. He continued, “Last year, we received a letter from General Chen Ziyi. It said that if a Daoist arrived from He Plains with a jujube-red horse and a calico cat, and sought passage to Yanzhou, it would mean the demon of He Plains had been subdued.

“We were instructed to treat you with utmost courtesy and allow passage. We’ve been awaiting your arrival for quite some time, but when you finally appeared, we almost couldn’t believe it.”

In a single sentence, General Pu explained how he knew of Song You’s arrival and why, despite having received the letter from General Chen, they still exercised caution.

When they first received General Chen’s letter, they likely found it hard to believe. However, due to General Chen’s esteemed reputation, they dared not dismiss it lightly and informed the entire garrison. Yet they waited and waited—from summer to autumn, from the fifth year of the Mingde era into the sixth. Now, with spring already here, the Daoist had finally arrived.

They must have long thought it unlikely he would ever come.

“General Chen is very considerate,” Song You remarked, then asked, “How is General Chen faring these days?”

“He should be well. We received his orders from the border just two months ago, instructing us to guard the checkpoint closely to prevent small groups of northern raiders or demons from sneaking through into the Snowy Plains, where they might collude with the local demons and create even greater chaos.”

“And how is the situation at the border?”

“I’m not sure of the exact details, but it seems to be quite intense. However, with General Chen back in the north, victory is assured.”

“I see.” Song You nodded thoughtfully.

Song You listened, deep in thought.

General Pu, not daring to neglect proper hospitality and also curious about the events in He Plains, ordered his men to slaughter cattle and sheep to host a grand feast in the main tent. He was eager to offer him warm and generous hospitality.

Unlike the urgency at Beifeng Pass before, this time Song You wasn’t in a rush. Having just arrived in Yanzhou, unfamiliar with the area, he had some questions of his own. He decided to accept the invitation. Besides, after spending two months on the Snowy Plains without sleeping in a proper bed or having a decent meal, it was time to rest for a day.

That evening, inside the main tent, only a few trusted junior officers joined the gathering along with General Pu, Song You, and Lady Calico. The soldiers brought out fine wine and hearty meat dishes.

𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

The wine was served from large jars and poured into big bowls. The meat came in generous portions, both boiled and roasted. A brazier was lit in the middle of the tent, casting flickering firelight across the space. The voices of the general and his officers were loud and boisterous, filled with the bold camaraderie of soldiers sharing a meal—a kind of atmosphere Song You had never experienced before.

The host and guest first raised their bowls in a toast, exchanging a few courteous words.

Using his knife to cut the meat, Song You, as usual, first served a portion to Lady Calico.

“Mr. Song, this cat of yours must be quite special?” General Pu remarked, noticing how the Daoist treated the cat.

“General, you may not know that this is no ordinary cat. She is Lady Calico, originally the Cat God of Yizhou, possessing great spiritual and divine powers. I’ve relied on her a great deal throughout my journey,” Song You explained.

“Oh? So it’s the revered Lady Calico!” Both the general and the junior officers were astonished. “Can Lady Calico understand human speech?”

“Of course she can.”

The general stationed here had undoubtedly encountered his fair share of demons, monsters and ghosts. Unlike the people from the south, Song You felt there was no need to hide anything from him.

“In that case, it was improper of me not to provide a separate table for Lady Calico!” the general exclaimed.

“That won’t be necessary. Lady Calico prefers to stay with me,” Song You replied, glancing down at the cat.

The cat placed one paw on Song You’s leg, staring intently up at the general who had been speaking.

After a moment, Song You asked, “How far is it from here to the northern border? What kind of land lies beyond?”

“We are only about six or seven hundred li from the border,” General Pu explained. “To the north lies a vast grassland called Duoda. Most of it has been designated as an official grazing pasture for breeding horses for the army, though there are also nomadic herders living there. If you stick to the main road, you shouldn’t encounter any issues.”

“But in spring, the wild grass grows thick and sometimes even we struggle to find the path. If you venture deeper into the plains and encounter herders, don’t be alarmed. Most likely, they’ll want to invite you into their tents for a drink,” the general said, laughing heartily, his bold spirit shining through.

He added, “Yanzhou was part of the Central Plains as early as the Yu Dynasty. The herders are a mix of northerners and people from the Central Plains. Even if there’s a language barrier, it won’t matter—they’ll likely talk your ear off whether you understand or not. They’re just happy to have company.”

“The people here are quite hospitable,” Song You noted.

“Indeed!” General Pu nodded with pride, then paused for a moment before adding, “However, if you accidentally wander into the official grazing pastures, that horse of yours... Well, I’ll write you a letter before you leave. With it, no one will dare trouble you.”

“Many thanks for that,” Song You replied.

“You’ve come at just the right time, Master,” chimed in a junior officer from below. “Next month, on the eighth day, is the Duoda Horse Racing Festival. People from all across the grasslands will gather—it’s a lively event.

“The folks on the grasslands have a different temperament from those in the south; they are skilled in singing and dancing. Anyone traveling from the south would be astonished if they witnessed the festivities at the Horse Racing Festival.”

“Are they still holding the festival this year?” Song You asked.

“Of course,” the junior officer replied. “Demons are demons, and war is a man-made disaster, but the Horse Racing Festival is a grand occasion. As long as the Eighteen Tribes of the northern frontiers haven’t invaded, the festival will be held without fail.”

“Then I must go and see it for myself.”

“If you’d like to attend, we can send someone to guide you there,” General Pu offered.

“That won’t be necessary,” Song You said with a smile. “I’d rather go with the flow. I plan to wander the grasslands and take in the unique scenery that we don’t get to see in the south.”

“Haha, as you wish, sir.” The general laughed.

With drinks in hand, the conversation continued, turning once again to the topic of the Snowy Plains.

Song You, however, was reluctant to boast and only gave a brief account of the events, touching on the key points without going into too much detail. He figured that in a few days, the checkpoint would likely send scouts to verify everything for themselves.

They spoke of the plague in Gui Commandery, of Doctor Cai’s selfless efforts, and of the brave heroes from the Changqiang Sect—all stories that left everyone feeling deeply moved.

The conditions at the camp weren’t ideal, and there weren’t any professional performers. However, a deputy general skillfully played a bronze

pipa

and sang bold, rousing lyrics with a hoarse, gravelly voice. It was like the sunset on the grasslands, casting its glow over the winding streams.

One of the junior officers, drunk with wine, shouted enthusiastically and even drew his sword to perform a dance. Though his swordsmanship couldn’t compare to Shu Yifan’s, he was still a skilled martial artist. If he hadn’t joined the army, he might have earned a notable reputation in the

jianghu

. His display drew rounds of applause and cheers.

Song You and Lady Calico enjoyed the feast at the military camp and stayed for the night. The next morning, General Pu presented him with some rations for the journey, and they parted ways.

Ahead lay Yanzhou, and the road was clear once more.