“Haha! Mr. Song!”

A group of people walked in from outside.

Leading them was a man who appeared to be around thirty years old. His face was plain and unremarkable, and he still wore simple gray cloth garments. However, his complexion had grown much darker from the sun compared to a little over a year ago.

His smile, though, was as hearty as ever.

“Mr. Song! It really is you! I never thought I’d see you again in this lifetime!” His voice was loud and clear, his laughter bold and unrestrained.

As he approached, he cupped his hands in salute. “It’s an honor to meet you again, sir.”

Then, lowering his cupped hands and bowing his head, he turned his gesture toward Lady Calico on the ground.

“And greetings to you, Lady Calico.”

“

Meow

...”

“We also thought we wouldn’t see you again.” Song You returned the salute with a faint smile. “Previously, I was worried about the chaos in the north making it difficult for you to reach the border. Seeing you here now, I can set my mind at ease.”

“It’s all thanks to the two talismans you gifted me. Without them, I might not have made it through the dangers along the way,” Xing Wu replied. He must have encountered something along the way. Even now, as he thought about it, he still felt lingering fear. Unable to help himself, he turned his head to the side and let out a sigh.

He added, “When I first left for the

jianghu

, having lived a stable life in the south, I thought my family’s inherited skills were more than enough. I believed that no matter how vast the world, I could go anywhere. Only after reaching the north did I realize there are always greater talents and challenges out there. Meeting you back then was my good fortune, for it led to everything that followed.”

“How can you call it a gift? It was an exchange.”

“Haha! Fine! An exchange it is, then!”

Compared to before, Xing Wu seemed less naive, but his straightforward nature remained unchanged.

As he spoke, he glanced around as if looking for someone, then turned back to Song You. “Huh? That person—where’s the great hero who was traveling with you back then?”

“Sir Shu.”

“Yes, yes! Sir Shu!”

Only now did Xing Wu recall the swordsman’s surname.

Song You couldn’t help but smile.

Back when he first left Changjing and met Xing Wu, they both said they were heading north. In the end, they all arrived here. However, upon reflection, it seemed that not long after they parted ways, Xing Wu had already reached this place. Yet the journey Xing Wu had completed in just a few days took him and the swordsman over a year.

𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

It had been early spring at that time, but now it was already summer of the following year.

Only now did it dawn on Song You—over a year had passed.

“After we parted ways in Hezhou, he went to Guangzhou to seek his relatives. I traveled with Lady Calico to Yanzhou.”

“So that’s what happened.”

Xing Wu seemed to suddenly recall something. He quickly slapped his forehead, apologized, and stepped aside, making way. Lowering his head, he locked eyes with the calico cat but said no more.

“Allow me to introduce them to you, Mr. Song.”

One of the strategists standing beside General Chen stepped forward and pointed to a talented eccentric. “This is Mr. Yin Wenxing. His abilities rival those of the legendary Shunfeng'er[1].”

Song You followed his gaze.

The man was short, thin, and dark-skinned, with a reddish undertone typical of people living in the high-altitude regions of Yanzhou. What stood out most were his ears, which were soft pink, semi-translucent, and as tender-looking as Lady Calico’s paw pads. They seemed almost childlike, freshly grown.

The stark contrast between his coarse, weathered face and these delicate ears created a jarring sense of incongruity.

“Greetings, Mr. Song.” Yin Wenxing cupped his hands in salute with a smile. “Advisor Zhang flatters me. Compared to the divine Shunfeng'er, I fall far short.”

“Greetings.”

“

Meow

...”

“Mr. Yin’s abilities are unique, and their uniqueness lies in his ears,” Advisor Zhang explained. “Every month, Mr. Yin’s ears grow a new pair, and the old ones fall off. As long as the fallen ears remain within a hundred-li radius, Mr. Yin can use them to hear sounds.”

“They’re only effective for a year,” Yin Wenxing added.

“So doesn’t that mean Mr. Yin has over a dozen pairs of ears that can hear?” Song You asked.

“Thirteen pairs,” he replied.

“Doesn’t it get noisy?”

“Since I’ve had this ability since childhood, I’ve grown used to it.”

“Amazing,” Song You remarked.

“This is Mr. Jiang Guang, who possesses the ability to retrieve objects from a thousand li away.” Advisor Zhang pointed to another person.

This was a chubby middle-aged man with a bald spot at the center of his head. When he smiled, he resembled

Budai

[2]with his round belly.

“Greetings, Mr. Song. I’ve heard that outside the city, you gathered stones into a giant figure, as tall as half the city wall, and smashed that bear demon to death with one strike. Truly an incredible feat,” Jiang Guang said. “But the title of ‘Mr. Jiang’ from Advisor Zhang is too much for me. Most people in the camp just call me ‘Big Belly Jiang,’ and you’re welcome to call me that as well.”

“You’re proficient in the arts of telekinesis?” Song You asked curiously.

“You’re familiar with the arts of telekinesis, sir?” Big Belly Jiang replied, surprised.

“I am,” Song You said.

“Mr. Song is a celestial master. I imagine there are few worldly arts or techniques he does not know,” Advisor Zhang interjected. Seeing Song You’s interest, he urged Big Belly Jiang, “Stop rambling and explain it properly to Mr. Song. There might just be an opportunity where your skill can be of use.”

“Got it!” Big Belly Jiang, who seemed like an extremely cheerful and easygoing person, grinned widely.

He said, “I’ve heard of the arts of telekinesis before—proper and orthodox techniques of the Daoist sects. But to cultivate such arts to the point of retrieving objects from a thousand li away would be extraordinarily difficult. Only divine immortals from the heavens could likely manage it. As for me, I rely on a minor trick and a family heirloom to make it possible.”

“Oh?” Song You’s interest deepened. “Could you explain further?”

“I possess a family heirloom passed down through generations. I don’t know which ancestor created it, nor how many generations it’s been handed down. It’s impossible to lose, and it’s called the Zimu Box,” Big Belly Jiang began.

“The Zimu Box consists of a large box containing a smaller one. With my family’s inherited skill, the smaller box can be placed anywhere within several thousand li—so long as it’s a place I’ve visited before. People on the other end can take items from the small box or place items inside it. Three days later, the small box will automatically return to the large box.”

“Amazing...” Song You appeared deep in thought and asked, “So, this is a family heirloom?”

“Yes, is there an issue?”

“Your surname is Jiang?”

“Ah, over countless generations, through times of chaos and turmoil, people like us who roam the

jianghu

often end up in trouble. Changing names and surnames is commonplace; who remembers what the original surname was?” Big Belly Jiang waved his hand dismissively. “If not for the fact that these two boxes come back on their own even if lost, we’d probably have lost them long ago.”

“I see,” Song You said thoughtfully.

Big Belly Jiang claimed his technique wasn't telekinesis, but to Song You, it seemed it most likely was.

However, it wasn’t a technique learned by a person but rather a treasure left behind by a cultivator who had mastered this art to its peak. The treasure itself inherited the abilities of its creator.

Such techniques, though described as profound and capable of retrieving items from thousands of li away, were exceedingly difficult to achieve in practice. To reach such a level, one would need to devote an extraordinary amount of time solely to this discipline.

With the current shift in the Heavenly Dao and the inability of human cultivators to attain longevity, it was nearly impossible for anyone to reach such heights now. The most advanced practitioner Song You had encountered in this art was a thief he met during the temple fair in Yidu. Even then, the thief’s skills had been passed down through generations and honed through years of grueling practice from childhood.

“What if it’s a place you haven’t been to?” Song You asked.

“Haha, that’s where another family skill comes into play,” Big Belly Jiang replied with a laugh. “We have a second ability—astral travel. It allows the soul to leave the body and roam freely in the void. In a single night, it can travel thousands of li. If there’s a place I haven’t been to, I simply go there one night. The only catch is that I must return before dawn, or else I’ll get scorched by the sun.”

“An impressive skill,” Song You remarked.

“Impressive as it may be, it’s not really

my

skill.” Big Belly Jiang chuckled. “We only know how to use it, not where it originated or how to cultivate it. We do know that in every generation, one or two people are naturally born with this ability. As they grow, the skill manifests on its own, and each generation seems to be slightly stronger than the last.”

“That’s truly remarkable,” Song You said, increasingly impressed. “I imagine your ancestors must have been master cultivators from ancient times.”

“Haha, that’s what people say! They say that in ancient times, there were countless extraordinary cultivators and legacies. Some ascended to immortality, while others attained enlightenment and achieved longevity. Who knows? Maybe my ancestor is now a deity in the heavens, watching over us to ensure the family line doesn’t die out. Or perhaps he’s still living in some remote mountain, enjoying eternal life! Haha…”

“Perhaps,” Song You replied with a smile.

“Sir, you’ve asked so many questions—do you have a specific use in mind?” General Chen, who had been standing to the side, spoke up. “If there’s anything you need, whether official or personal, please don’t hesitate to ask. We will do our utmost to assist.”

The others remained silent. Only General Chen dared to make such a bold offer.

“I wouldn’t dare trouble you further,” Song You replied politely.

After all, who wouldn’t find a use for such a marvelous technique?

However, with its remarkable utility, it was clear that this skill already served a significant purpose in the military. According to Big Belly Jiang, the smaller box returned to the larger one after three days, meaning each use of the technique required a minimum of three days. How could Song You casually delay such an important resource?

“This here is Old Mr. Jiang,” Advisor Zhang introduced another figure, pointing to a man behind him.

It was an elderly gentleman with hair and beard as white as snow.

“Greetings, Mr. Song. I am but an old man from the same Mount Luming lineage as the State Preceptor. I dabble in the arts of divination and calculation,” Old Mr. Jiang introduced himself, evidently having learned from the examples before him.

“Naturally, my skills are far inferior to those of the State Preceptor. However, I can observe celestial phenomena, read faces, divine fortunes and misfortunes, and calculate minor matters, providing some reference for the general and other dignitaries.”

“...”

One remarkable individual after another stepped forward.

These extraordinary figures from the

jianghu

and hidden experts from among the common folk each possessed unique and exceptional skills. Those with abilities suitable for demonstration even performed a bit, allowing Song You to broaden his horizons.

For a moment, he felt as if he had been transported back to ancient times, when battles between two nations saw countless Daoist masters lending their strength to the armies.

At that moment, Yin Wenxing’s ears twitched.

Suddenly, his expression changed as he frowned, covering his ears with both hands. He stepped to the side, as if trying to distance himself from the nearby noise and focus on a sound coming from elsewhere.

“Mr. Yin, did you hear something?” someone asked.

“Most likely...” he began.

“Let’s keep quiet,” another person whispered.

“

Shh

...”

Everyone lowered their voices after a brief exchange. All eyes turned to Yin Wenxing, who stood frowning.

Even the calico cat, sitting on the ground, couldn’t help but stretch its neck and cast a curious gaze at the short, thin middle-aged man, its eyes glinting with interest at the commotion.

Cats are naturally independent creatures, and being in an unfamiliar place surrounded by so many strangers made it uneasy. As a result, it stayed close to the Daoist’s feet, practically glued to him. Whenever it grew anxious, it would lift its head to glance at the Daoist, and just like that, it felt reassured.

1. Shunfeng'er is a Chinese sea and door god. ☜

2. The legend of the laughing Buddha with the giant belly, also known as the

Budai

in Buddhism, is a popular and enduring figure in East Asian Buddhism. According to the legend, Budai was a Chinese monk who lived during the Liang Dynasty (907-923 CE). He was known for his cheerful personality, wisdom, and compassion. ☜