Chapter 291: The Legends of Yuezhou

As they walked through the city, the atmosphere was charged with tension.

The streets were filled with soldiers moving in groups. At the entrances to barracks, many were sharpening their swords and spears, while others hauled carts loaded with military supplies through the alleyways.

It was clear that a major battle was imminent.

And it made sense—

Though the northern frontier was powerful, General Chen had never been one to fear them. Moreover, the Great Yan Empire was at its peak, both in military strength and national prosperity.

The northern forces had invaded south twice this time. The reason General Chen had primarily focused on defense was simply because the northern army had demons aiding them. Now that the demons had been eliminated, the northern forces were undoubtedly in turmoil, with fear among the people and unrest in the ranks. General Chen certainly wouldn’t miss such an opportune moment.

“We’re here.” Advisor Zhang stopped in front of a large courtyard gate.

The gate was open, and Song You entered with him.

The inside was not as elaborate as a typical city residence, though it was noticeably better than the conditions in field camps. Beyond the gate, there was a sizable open space where pear trees and vegetables were planted. The courtyard was surrounded on all sides by earthen houses with tiled roofs, one room per person, and a central hall that served as a common area. Compared to the average soldier’s quarters, it was considerably more comfortable.

In the courtyard, people were moving about. Someone was even hanging laundry to dry.

𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

“Mr. Jiang,” Advisor Zhang addressed the most leisurely-looking person in the courtyard. “Do you know if Mr. Qiao is here?”

“He’s in his room.”

“Thank you.”

Advisor Zhang led Song You to the door.

He knocked lightly, and the door soon opened.

Mr. Qiao was a tall and thin middle-aged man. According to Advisor Zhang, he could draw several kinds of talismans—some to ward off evil when worn, others that could be burned and dissolved in water to prevent illness, and some that, when applied to swords, could cut down minor ghosts.

He was a skilled folk expert, highly valuable in the military. Originally from Yuezhou, Mr. Qiao had been forced to join the army and was reputed to have extensive knowledge about Yuezhou.

However, the moment Mr. Qiao saw Song You, he froze.

“What’s the matter? Were you startled by Mr. Song?” Advisor Zhang teased with a smile. “Mr. Song has come down the mountain to wander the mortal realm, and his next destination is Yuezhou. He wants to learn about the region. Since you’re a native of Yuezhou, I thought you’d know far more than I do, so I brought him to you.”

“Oh, oh…” Only then did Mr. Qiao snap out of it.

Song You glanced at Mr. Qiao's expression, then let his gaze pass beyond him into the room. Though small, the walls were adorned with numerous paintings, most depicting solemn and grim military scenes.

The quality of the paintings was commendable.

Though it wasn’t uncommon for scholars who enjoyed painting to join the military, depictions of military life were relatively rare. And when they did appear, they typically focused on generals or notable individuals.

Mr. Qiao’s work, however, often captured vast scenes—two armies locked in fierce battle, the aftermath with corpses piled high and rivers of blood, columns of soldiers stretching like a dragon across the land, or sprawling encampments extending for dozens of li. It was an unusual and distinctive style rarely seen in the public domain.

Near the bed stood a desk. On it were paints, brushes, and a half-finished painting. The painting depicted the events of the previous day.

Song You withdrew his gaze and turned his attention back to Mr. Qiao.

“Mr. Song is an immortal master. How could I dare to neglect your presence?” Mr. Qiao finally recovered from his daze, hurriedly stepped out of the room, and shut the door behind him. “I should prepare some tea for you.”

“Tea? You’ll need to count me in for that,” Big Belly Jiang quipped with a grin as he finished hanging up his laundry and walked over.

The group then proceeded to the central hall.

The Special Talents Division was filled with unique figures from all walks of life—folk masters with cultivation skills or specialized skills. Each had their talents, but those talents were not limited to peculiar magic or unusual arts. Many of them, even without their extraordinary abilities, had their own hobbies, and were intriguing and fascinating individuals.

Big Belly Jiang was the most relaxed among them.

First, his abilities were inherited—they came naturally, ingrained from birth, requiring no arduous practice. Extraordinary people often emerged from the trials and tribulations of life, just as they did from a life of leisure and carefreeness.

Second, though his abilities were powerful, they could only be utilized once every three days. He was unlike Xing Wu or Mr. Qiao, who were busy refining elixirs and drawing talismans to prepare for General Chen’s plans to go on the offensive. Big Belly Jiang could remain unhurried, leisurely washing and hanging his clothes at the camp.

Big Belly Jiang was also a tea enthusiast and had developed a commendable skill in tea preparation.

Though the military conditions were harsh, both General Chen and Advisor Zhang took exceptional care of these extraordinary individuals, whether they had volunteered for military service or had been drawn by the fame of the cause. As a result, Big Belly Jiang’s quarters housed treasures like

Longtuan Gongcha

—a tribute tea[1] so rare that even nobles in Changjing would find it remarkable.

Big Belly Jiang treated Song You like an immortal, offering him the highest level of hospitality.

He brought out the fine tea, carefully grinding and sifting it, then used the best water he could find to brew it. Every step of the process was meticulously executed to the highest standard possible in the military camp. Even Advisor Zhang, after drinking a cup, couldn’t help but exclaim, “What a luxury!”

“Today, I owe my good fortune to Mr. Song. On an ordinary day, Big Belly Jiang wouldn’t dream of treating us to this level of hospitality,” Advisor Zhang remarked with a chuckle.

“Mr. Song, what would you like to ask?” Big Belly Jiang finally inquired.

“I’d like to know about Yuezhou’s famous mountains and rivers, its unique customs and traditions, the demons and monsters that inhabit it, and any places of spiritual or mystical significance. It will help me plan my journey there,” Song You replied.

“

Sigh…

” Mr. Qiao let out a heavy sigh as he set down his teacup. “Yuezhou doesn’t have much left to speak of anymore…”

“What do you mean?”

“Back when the northern frontier forces last invaded, I was still young. The court's defenses were focused on Yanzhou and Hezhou, leaving Yuezhou poorly defended.

“When the northern frontier forces passed through, it wasn’t quite accurate to say ‘nine out of ten households fled,’ but it wasn’t far from the truth. After the northern frontier forces were defeated and retreated, the demons wreaked havoc. At that point, the phrase ‘nine out of ten households fled’ was no exaggeration.”

Mr. Qiao sighed again. “At that time, a great Demon King ruled the southern part of Yuezhou—a white bull demon that the locals called ‘White Bull King.’ It occupied nearly half of Yuezhou, and was far more terrifying than the Demon Kings of Zhaoye City or Heyuan.

“It treated the people within its territory like livestock, raising them as it pleased. Tell me, who would dare to stay in such a place? Even those who survived the wars and plagues couldn’t endure the torment of the demons and fled early on. It’s the same for me as well. That’s why I left my hometown and came here to follow General Chen.”

Song You’s expression remained calm.

“And now?”

“It seems,” Advisor Zhang interjected, “that earlier this spring, there were rumors that the White Bull King was slain by a divine immortal.”

His tone was steady, but the dimming of his spirit was evident. “Even so, the southern part of Yuezhou is practically deserted. Most of the people there died long ago, and no one dares move back in for now. It will probably take years, after the north has stabilized, for the court to relocate people to repopulate it.”

“When I left, the southern part of Yuezhou—the White Bull King’s territory—was already sparsely inhabited. By now, it’s likely even fewer people live there,” Mr. Qiao added.

“On the western side of Yuezhou, near the border with Yanzhou, there are still some people living there. The Changqiang Sect is in that area,” Big Belly Jiang mentioned. “The people of the Changqiang Sect are all brave men.”

“But apart from the Changqiang Sect, there aren't many common folk left,” Advisor Zhang added.

“…”

Even Song You couldn’t help but fall silent for a moment.

An entire province reduced to so few people—it seemed that wars, no matter the era, always wielded such devastating power. The practice of great demons raising humans like livestock was a common sight during times of chaos, but hearing about it still sent chills down one’s spine.

Thankfully, the gods of the Heavenly Palace had proven effective in recent years, focusing on suppressing northern demons and successfully eliminating several Demon Kings who had amassed power over countless years and taken advantage of the disorder to rise.

“If you plan to visit the Changqiang Sect, I can write you a letter under General Chen’s name. With that, the Changqiang Sect won’t dare to treat you with anything but respect,” Advisor Zhang offered.

“Yuezhou still has a few places of scenic beauty,” Mr. Qiao said. “When I was young, I loved painting and traveled to many places. For instance, there’s Mount Tianzhu, the Five-Colored Pool, and the Yuelong Waterfall. Before the wars, Yuezhou used to attract many scholars and poets to these spots. I even heard that Mount Tianzhu, at its peak, collected 100,000 taels of silver in 'mountain taxes' every year.”

“Mountain taxes” were essentially the equivalent of modern-day entrance fees.

Don’t assume that limited transportation in those times meant few people traveled. In reality, throughout every dynasty, countless scholars and literati were passionate about exploring natural landscapes.

And in Great Yan, with its flourishing economy, even commoners with moderate means would sometimes take nearby trips to enjoy the sights. Though their lives might appear ordinary, they often strove to add a spark of brilliance where they could.

Thus, local authorities began charging admission fees for access to popular mountain areas.

There were places like Yunding Mountain, where no taxes were charged, and others like Mount Tianzhu, where fees were collected. The practices varied by region.

Seeing Song You's interest, Mr. Qiao elaborated in detail. He explained the locations of these places, how to get to them, and which ones were near each other.

Song You listened carefully, making mental notes.

Meanwhile, Mr. Qiao occasionally sneaked a glance at him.

After memorizing the details, Song You asked, “I’ve heard that in the northern part of Yuezhou, there’s a forest of parasol trees where one can supposedly see phoenixes. Is that true?”

“I was just about to mention the forest of parasol trees,” Mr. Qiao replied. “There is indeed such a legend in Yuezhou. In what used to be Ning Commandery, there was a forest of parasol trees. The ancient parasol trees there are said to be thousands or even tens of thousands of years old, towering into the clouds.

“The largest ones would take dozens of people linking arms to encircle the trunk, larger than this very room. The branches alone are big enough for people to walk on.

“However, the legend says that only phoenixes can perch on those trees. It’s considered inauspicious for ordinary people to climb them, so no one dares to do so, nor do they dare to fell them.”

After a slight pause, Mr. Qiao continued, “It’s said that phoenixes might appear there during the winter and summer solstices. Some people claim to have seen them. Others say someone once used the bark of the parasol trees there to make paper, and whatever was drawn on it could come to life.

“I’ve been there myself but never saw a phoenix, nor do I know how to make paper from the bark. I do know that the scenery there is stunning. Even without the phoenixes or the mystical tales, the parasol tree forest is worth a visit for its beauty, though it’s often shrouded in clouds and mist.”

“I’ve heard similar stories,” Advisor Zhang chimed in. “They say that in summer, you might see a firebird, and in winter, an icebird. Some call it a phoenix, while others call it a mystical bird. Either way, it’s a divine bird. But if it’s real, it’s likely just a random name coined by an ordinary person after a fleeting glimpse—how could they know the true name of such a divine bird?”

“That makes sense,” Song You agreed with a nod.

“I’ve heard another theory,” Advisor Zhang added. “Some say that when the divine bird flies by, it carries away the souls of the dead. Others say it only appears when a person of great virtue or wisdom passes away. Without such an event, even if you go during the solstices, you won’t see it.”

“I see…” Song You’s expression turned thoughtful.

“Will you go, Mr. Song?” Advisor Zhang asked.

“Of course,” Song You replied decisively.

“It’s already summer, and the summer solstice is not far off. If you head over now, sir, you should still make it in time,” Advisor Zhang said, pausing briefly as he snuck a glance at Song You. “If you wish to stay with the army a little longer and experience more of the unique scenery of military life, you could wait until the winter solstice. It’s only a matter of a few months.”

He quickly added, “Though the demons in the northern frontier army have been dealt with, there’s no guarantee that some aren’t still hidden or present in other divisions. If you’re willing to stay longer with the army, we would be honored to host you properly.”

Song You couldn’t help but smile faintly at these words.

1. Tribute Teas (贡茶 gong cha) represent the highest level of teas historically: they are dedicated to royal families and their ancestral lineage, and they exemplify the highest achievements in the cultivation and traditional craftsmanship of Chinese tea. ☜