Chapter 348: A Visit from an Old Acquaintance

“Please, have some tea.”

“Thank you, sir.”

The two men picked up their tea cups, first examining the color, then savoring the aroma. After drinking, they lingered on the aftertaste.

“Excellent tea,” said Liu Changfeng, formerly the magistrate of the county.

“This tea... it bears a striking resemblance to the imperial tribute

Longtuan Gongcha

served in the palace, about seventy to eighty percent similar,” Yu Jianbai remarked uncertainly.

“As expected of a true tea connoisseur, Mr. Yu. Even with my crude tea-making skills, you could discern its quality,” Song You said with a smile. “This was a gift from General Chen Ziyi. Thanks to his generosity, even a Daoist like me, who lives simply in the mountains, has the chance to taste tea reserved for the emperor.”

“You jest, sir. If you wish to drink tea, what tea could you not have?” Yu Jianbai shook his head, set down the cup, and said with some embarrassment, “It’s shameful to admit, but I’ve been so busy with official duties that I wasn’t even aware of your return to the capital until recently. To come visit only now, despite being old acquaintances, is truly negligent of me.”

“Mr. Yu speaks the truth,” Liu Changfeng said with a laugh. “Mr. Yu often speaks of you, sir. If he had missed the chance to meet you again this time, he would surely regret it deeply.”

“You both flatter me.”

“What Mr. Liu said is true,” Yu Jianbai continued. “It was only thanks to your guidance back then that I am where I am today. You taught me how to be a proper official, making me realize how foolish I had been in the first half of my life. I must thank you.”

As he spoke, Yu Jianbai raised his hands, bowed slightly from his seat, and saluted respectfully. “And I must also thank General Chen. If not for a conversation I had with him a few days ago at the emperor’s birthday celebration in the palace, where he happened to mention you, I might still not know you’ve returned to the capital. Who knows how long it would have been before I could properly thank you?”

“That won't do.” Song You, helpless, said to them, “Since we are old acquaintances, we should enjoy tea and catch up. It’s best to put aside these tedious and uninteresting matters.”

“Sir, you’re absolutely right,” Yu Jianbai said. “Though we’ve been separated all these years, I’ve often heard stories about you. Especially after being reassigned to Changjing, whenever we heard of certain tales—ones that might go unnoticed by others—we immediately knew they were about you. Compared to your deeds, the immortal legends I’ve heard before pale in comparison.”

He couldn’t help but sigh, shaking his head. “Sir, you’ve fooled me so thoroughly...”

Though he sighed, there was no regret in his tone.

His state of mind had undergone a vast transformation since six years ago.

“I have never deceived you, Mr. Yu,” Song You replied, shaking his head. “I truly am not an immortal, nor do I know the way to immortality. When you previously asked me about immortality—whether it be living as long as heaven and earth or existing alongside the sun and moon, whether for humans or celestial beings—I must say, I have never heard of such a thing.”

“Haha...” Yu Jianbai chuckled, unconcerned.

Once enlightened, the person he had become was far removed from who he had been. By this time, he had already embarked on a different path.

Soon, their conversation naturally shifted to the emperor’s birthday celebration a few days prior and the banquet where General Chen Ziyi made an appearance.

The former county magistrate, Liu Changfeng, had climbed the ranks in Changjing thanks to his outstanding achievements in governing Pu Commandery in Hezhou and his exceptional political skills.

With Yu Jianbai, who was practically acting as the deputy prime minister, offering his support, Liu Changfeng had steadily risen in prominence. He even managed to secure a seat, albeit at the far end, at the emperor’s birthday feast. As he recounted the event now, his vivid descriptions painted a picture as if it were unfolding before Song You’s eyes.

A few days ago, at the grand banquet in the imperial palace, the emperor hosted civil and military officials. The most talked-about guest was none other than Marquis of Wuan, Chen Ziyi, who had just returned to the capital to report on his campaign in the north.

As the wine flowed and spirits ran high, the emperor commanded him to perform a sword dance.

At that time, Chen Ziyi held command of the entire northern garrison, which constituted the bulk of Great Yan’s military strength. If he were to rebel, he could potentially overthrow the court. For various reasons, rumors abounded in the court that Chen Ziyi, with his unparalleled achievements, was plotting treason. Even though Chen Ziyi had a clear conscience, such rumors likely left him uneasy.

Setting aside his accomplishments, let’s consider his martial prowess.

Who was Chen Ziyi?

A legendary warrior, undefeated in combat. Many famous generals had fallen to his spear. Barehanded, perhaps the palace guards could hold him off, but with a weapon in his hand, he could take the emperor’s life in a single breath. And on that day, during the emperor’s birthday banquet, the hall was filled only with ministers, with hardly any guards present.

The ministers had long urged the emperor to be wary of him, yet the emperor insisted on inviting him to the palace for a night of drinking and conversation.

It was the same that day: the emperor insisted on having him perform a sword dance.

The ministers were all on edge.

No one knew whether Chen Ziyi truly harbored treasonous intentions, whether the baseless accusations and slander might drive him to rebel, or whether the immense pressure from the court might push him into madness.

That night, the palace was filled with the gleam of swords.

If Chen Ziyi had truly reached his breaking point under the weight of the court's rumors, false charges, and humiliation, if he had snapped, the emperor’s head could have rolled in an instant.

Yet the emperor showed not a trace of fear, watching the performance with great enthusiasm. In that moment, he seemed even more imposing than the celebrated generals before him.

When the sword dance ended, Chen Ziyi returned the long sword and requested permission to relinquish control of the armies of three provinces, keeping only the forces stationed at Yuanzhi City and Shuofeng City. He then petitioned to return to the northern frontier and lead a campaign deep into the frontier to expand the empire's borders.

The emperor granted his request on the spot.

Thus, the storm that had brewed in court for over a year came to an end. From that moment, the Marquis of Wuan seemed to truly embody his title, rising instantly to unparalleled prominence. Countless people sought him out to strike up a conversation.

After recounting the story, Liu Changfeng couldn’t help but sigh, “His Majesty truly has remarkable resolve.”

Beside him, Yu Jianbai narrowed his eyes, as if lost in memories of that day. He too sighed, though his words were different: “That day, the sword dance of the Marquis of Wuan left countless people in awe. Who would have thought that Chen Ziyi, undefeated on the battlefield, also possessed such extraordinary skill in sword dancing?”

Great Yan greatly revered martial prowess, and sword dancing was particularly popular in the culture.

Some of the top sword dancers in the capital enjoyed fame comparable to that of renowned poets or celebrated courtesans.

However, martial skills and sword dancing were fundamentally different. While they might share some similarities at the beginner level, the differences grew more pronounced as one advanced. For instance, the top sword dancers in Changjing and the imperial court were often slender women. At that level, sword dancing had become a pure art form, using the sword as a medium for dance.

The performance reached unparalleled elegance, with even the swords specially crafted for this purpose. When the dancers moved, their swords and flowing garments seemed to merge, creating an ethereal, otherworldly sight—like celestial sword maidens descending to earth. By contrast, robust and muscular warriors could rarely achieve such an effect.

Song You, however, had seen quite a few sword dances by northern warriors.

“The northern military camps, bitterly cold and desolate, often light bonfires at night. Accompanied by copper pipa music and songs, generals and officers perform sword dances for entertainment. It’s a completely different style from what you see in Changjing,” Song You remarked.

“Sir, your extensive travels have brought you great knowledge,” Yu Jianbai said. “What a pity that my aging body can no longer endure a journey to the north to witness it for myself.”

They continued drinking tea and chatting, their conversation light and leisurely.

Their discussion focused on past events, avoiding politics and the concerns of the world. They reminisced about the days in Yidu, the

qin

player Master Yang of Songlu, the great earthquake of that year, and the famous Lady Wanjiang of Changjing. The talk was delightful, and the time passed quickly. Near noon, the guests rose to bid farewell to Song You before departing.

Conversations with old friends were most enjoyable when they flowed like this.

The

Thousand Character Classic

lay open on the table, flipped over to cover the cat. One end revealed her head, eyes still tightly shut, while the other end exposed her tail, which rhythmically tapped the tabletop.

Song You flicked her whiskers, but she didn’t wake up.

He held down her tail, and it stopped moving. But the moment he released it, it resumed its gentle tapping on the table.

Then, footsteps sounded from outside.

“

Swish

!”

The cat’s eyes snapped open, and she lifted her head to look toward the door.

It was none other than their neighbor, the heroine, who was approaching.

Only when the cat raised her head to look at her did she step to the door. Crossing the threshold, she glanced at them and asked, “Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.”

“

Meow...

”

“It’s nothing urgent; I just came to tell you something. I heard that Doctor Cai has returned to Angzhou. He was offering free consultations in Donghe County some time ago. I’m not sure how he traveled, but based on my calculations, if he’s headed back to the capital, he should already be at Mount Beiqin by now. I’m planning to go find him,” said Heroine Wu.

She added, “I’m setting out this afternoon, riding swiftly to get there and back as soon as possible. I can’t wait any longer.”

“This afternoon?”

𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

“Yes,” Heroine Wu replied. “The main thing is, I don’t know if I’ll be able to find him. And even if I do, I can’t guarantee he’ll tell me what I want to know. So it’s better to leave as soon as possible.”

Song You’s gaze drifted toward the cat on the table. Lady Calico was increasingly behaving like a child.

It seemed she had already woken up but didn’t want to admit it—like a child overhearing the adults in the living room chatting enthusiastically with visiting relatives. The child might be awake but refused to get out of bed until the relatives left and someone they knew well arrived. Then, they would snap awake in an instant.

After pondering for a moment, Song You spoke, “I’m not sure if you know that when Lady Calico and I once traveled through the north, passing through Hezhou, we had the fortune of meeting Doctor Cai. We shared a connection and could be considered old acquaintances. If you manage to find him on this trip, please pass on my regards and let him know that I’ll be visiting him before the end of the year.”

“Oh! You’re offering to help me?”

“It’s only natural to assist old friends,” Song You replied with a smile.

“That won’t be necessary. If he’s willing to talk, then great. If not, so be it. Honestly, I just need final confirmation. Regardless of whether I get an answer from him, I’ve pretty much figured things out already.”

“Even so, please help me pass along a message. Let him know I’ll visit before the year ends, so I don’t make a wasted trip.”

“Alright, I’ll mention it after I ask him.”

“Thank you.”

Song You expressed his gratitude without saying much more.

He didn’t know much about her personal matters. He only knew that her father had once held the high-ranking position of Minister of Personnel but had been framed by treacherous individuals, leading to the destruction of her entire family.

She had been investigating in Changjing for five years, trying to uncover who was behind her family’s demise. Back then, Doctor Cai had been practicing medicine in the capital, running a clinic frequented by many influential officials, so he might know something.

Once she uncovered the truth, she would likely leave the capital.

“Are you still reading books?” Lady Calico raised her head to look at her, asking blankly.

“Of course I am. I just bought two new books. I plan to bring them along and read whenever I have time,” Heroine Wu replied. “The next time I see you, Ms. Calico, I’ll be sure to consult you. Don’t let me catch you unprepared!”

“That’ll never happen!”

“Good.”

“And what about my exorcism jobs?”

“Haven’t you already made connections with the authorities? Why would you still need me to introduce you to work?”

“Oh, that’s true...”

“Besides, I can’t introduce you to anyone even if I wanted to. My old contact in the Wude Division died recently. They say he was killed by a prince. My goodness, these people, always claiming to be noble, yet treating others’ lives like they’re worthless.”

Heroine Wu was indignant.

In her anger, she said nothing further. She simply waved to the Daoist, cupped her hands slightly to the cat, and strode out the door.

Her loyal yellow-maned horse, which had accompanied her for years, was already waiting outside.

“I’ll probably need to come back again,” she said as she led the horse away.

Inside, only the Daoist and the cat remained.

The cat turned her head to look at the Daoist. He gently stroked the fur on her back, and they locked eyes. The Daoist remained silent, lost in thought, saying nothing for a long time.