Chapter 362: You Aren’t Heading to Mount Ye Too, Are You?

On the day of the Shangyuan Festival...

Unexpectedly, before Song You could leave Changjing, General Chen came to bid him farewell.

“I had hoped to personally see you off when the time came,” General Chen said, cupping his hands in a respectful salute. “But His Majesty has ordered me to return to the north and guard the northern frontier. Thus, I must come first to bid you farewell and express my gratitude. Thank you, sir, for speaking on my behalf before His Majesty and saving my life.”

“You had already made thorough preparations, General. I merely relayed your words,” Song You replied. “Besides, His Majesty had already made up his mind. My role was insignificant.”

“Still, it had to be you.”

General Chen maintained his formal salute, his expression solemn.

In truth, the general had later been summoned by the Emperor for a private audience. During that late-night conversation, the Emperor had mentioned the discussion from that fateful evening. General Chen learned that although Song You had not explicitly pleaded for his life, he had presented the facts and weighed the pros and cons truthfully.

However, the Emperor would only trust and calmly consider such counsel if it came from Song You. Had it been anyone else, the Emperor might not have believed them so readily or taken the advice so seriously.

In reality, Song You’s intervention had protected him.

And the Emperor's final question...

Song You had clearly chosen to safeguard him.

Had it not been for Song You saying that Hidden Dragon Temple refused to see the world on the brink of catastrophe over something so trivial, the Emperor wouldn’t have so easily allowed the general to return to the north.

At the very least, even if the Emperor didn’t kill him, he would have kept him under close watch in the capital.

“There’s no need for such formality, General,” Song You said, pouring two cups of wine. “Since you’re leaving the capital ahead of me, let me toast you with a farewell drink.”

He handed one cup to the general and kept one for himself.

Lady Calico, who had long lost interest in alcohol, paid no attention.

The two men clinked their cups and downed their drinks.

“Good wine,” General Chen said, narrowing his eyes with appreciation.

“I trust you and only hope that you will not disappoint me,” Song You said, retrieving his cup and speaking solemnly. “Peace is hard-won. You are a hero of unparalleled skill, and it falls upon you to preserve this peace for the realm.”

“...”

𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

General Chen’s expression hardened at those words. He had just narrowly escaped death and was here to express his gratitude. There was nothing more to say.

Almost without hesitation, he raised his empty cup and said, “Sir, my life was saved by the promise you secured before His Majesty. In return, I make this promise to you...”

He paused briefly and then continued, “As a soldier, my duty has always been to protect the nation and ensure its stability. I pledge to do so unwaveringly. As long as His Majesty spares my life, I will dedicate myself fully to maintaining Great Yan’s peace.

“Should the day ever come when I break this oath and bring calamity upon the people of Great Yan, I ask you, sir, to strike me down with a sword. I will bear no resentment. This vow extends not only to me but to my descendants, generation after generation.”

“You overestimate me, General. I don’t even wield a sword,” Song You replied, pausing for a moment. “By the way, has His Majesty decided on the matter of the crown prince?”

“That...”

General Chen frowned, clearly unsure how to respond. After a moment of hesitation, he finally said, “His Majesty has yet to make a decision.”

“I see...”

Song You narrowed his eyes slightly.

It seemed that his previous advice to the Emperor to decide early had been ineffective. The old Emperor still hadn’t made up his mind. Perhaps the decision was too difficult, or perhaps there were other considerations at play.

Song You shook his head.

Whether this was a blessing or a curse remained unclear.

General Chen left shortly after. It was said he was departing the capital that very day.

Now responsible for only two of the five military districts in the north—Yuanzhi City and Shuofeng City—after relinquishing command of the other three, he had earned the title of Marquis of Wuan.

His Majesty ordered him to return to the north and penetrate deep into the northern territories, effectively bringing most of the original northern frontier under Great Yan’s rule. At this moment, Great Yan had reached the pinnacle of its history, in every sense of the word.

Song You returned home and began packing his belongings.

Not long after his return to the capital a few days ago, Song You had retrieved two paintings from the City God Temple while accompanied by Lady Calico. Those paintings had hung in his upstairs room for three months. Now, as he packed his things, he carefully returned the paintings to the temple.

Along with them, he also sealed away his thick travel journals written over the past few years, asking the City God to keep them safe until his next visit to the capital. This way, his horse wouldn’t have to endure the burden of carrying them.

The next time he returned to the capital, who could say which prince would be sitting on the Emperor’s throne? Would Changjing remain stable, or would turmoil arise? The future was uncertain, but for now, the position of the city’s City God seemed more secure than ever.

Leaving his belongings in the City God Temple was mutually beneficial.

As night fell, the streets filled with streams of light from countless lanterns, reminiscent of the Mid-Autumn Festival of years past.

Song You called for Lady Calico, who carried her small horse-shaped lantern, while he carried the lantern gifted to him by the mountain spirits of Pingzhou. The two tiny points of light joined the glowing river of lanterns flowing through the streets.

***

On the 16th day of the first month, in the eighth year of Mingde...

Morning dew blanketed the streets of Changjing.

The Dao flag and shop sign that once hung outside the small building had been taken down and carefully stored inside. Standing at the door was a jujube-red horse, its back laden with luggage. Beside the horse stood a small calico cat, her tiny form making her appear even smaller next to the tall animal. She tilted her head upward, staring at the little building, lost in thought.

The Daoist stood at the door, locking it.

After securing the lock, he stepped back a few paces and habitually glanced at the neighboring building. For a fleeting moment, it felt as though the upstairs window might open, and a familiar figure would lean out, smiling mischievously at them.

But of course, that was no longer possible.

The next time he returned to Changjing—perhaps for the last time—he would likely never see such a scene again.

“Let’s go,” Song You said, tucking the key into his bag and stepping forward.

Perhaps due to the exhaustion from the Shangyuan Festival the previous night, many in Changjing observed the tradition of not opening their businesses the day after the holiday. Most shops on Willow Street remained closed, and even the street vendors selling vegetables were scarce.

The quiet morning lent the area an unusual tranquility, broken only by the rhythmic clatter of the horse’s hooves echoing down the street. Leisurely, they moved forward, stepping through the morning dew.

Fortunately, many had come to see him off—more than the last time he departed Changjing, and certainly more than when he left Yizhou.

He thanked each of them one by one before departing through the city gates.

At this time, Changjing was already showing signs of early spring. The sun shone brightly, the weather was warm, and traveling under the sunlight in light clothing was comfortable rather than hot. Peach blossoms along the roadside had begun to bloom in abundance.

This was the same road Song You had traveled the first time he entered the capital, and also the one he had taken twice to escort his jujube-red horse to the mountain. Along the way, villages, towns, and markets dotted the landscape outside the city.

Inn banners fluttered in the breeze, and while the people outside the city were less refined than those within, a few shops selling early-morning tea and snacks were open. Song You bought some steamed buns to carry as provisions and a stick of candied syrup for his little companion.

They slowly left the bustling villages and markets behind. The buildings and inn banners receded into the distance, and Song You found a small hill where he could sit on a large rock, bask in the sun, and rest. He flipped through the

Yudi Jisheng

.

Heading south, he estimated that within Angzhou, there would be hundreds of li of familiar roads.

It was much like the last time he traveled this path, not long after spring began.

However, coming and going were two different journeys, and the scenery appeared new depending on the direction one faced.

A few hundred li further, they would reach Fengzhou.

But Zi Commandery was still tucked away in the southernmost corner of Fengzhou.

The maps in the

Yudi Jisheng

were simple and abstract, and based on Song You’s years of travel, he knew not to trust their scale. Whether the distance was far or near remained uncertain.

As he read and pondered, Lady Calico sat beside him, holding two small bamboo sticks coated in sticky, reddish-brown syrup. She held one stick in each hand, spinning them quickly to wind the syrup around the sticks. Occasionally, she would stick out her tongue for a delicate lick, then squint her eyes in enjoyment, paying no attention to the Daoist’s actions or thoughts.

But as she ate, she suddenly turned her head to look back at the road they had traveled.

The dirt road below bustled with carts and people.

Lady Calico sniffed the air, switching the bamboo stick in her left hand to her right, holding both together. Without breaking her gaze on the road, she reached out to tug at the Daoist’s sleeve.

“What is it?” Song You asked, turning to her.

“Fox...”

The little girl kept her eyes fixed on the road ahead.

Song You followed her gaze.

On the dirt road below, most of the carts and travelers were heading toward Changjing. But among them was a carriage coming in their direction, driven by a coachman Song You recognized—a frog demon who had once worked at a restaurant.

Before the carriage even arrived, the curtain was lifted.

A maid leaned out, glancing in their direction.

“

Hyah

...”

The carriage wobbled to a stop on the road below them.

The maid was the first to jump down, pulling back the curtain to help her mistress alight.

Song You was already waiting by the roadside.

“We had agreed that if the timing worked out, we’d leave Changjing together and travel part of the way together. Why did you leave without saying a word, Daoist Master?” Miss Wanjiang asked. Her tone was calm, devoid of reproach.

“You’re truly heartless,” she added.

Song You had a good understanding of their personalities by now.

On the surface, only the maid seemed peculiar, but in reality, both of them were. One was more eccentric than the other, or perhaps one hid it better while the other didn’t bother. They also seemed to enjoy playing dual roles. Knowing this, Song You didn’t directly respond to their question but instead asked, “How did you two know we’d be leaving the capital today?”

“You mentioned you’d leave after spring began,” Miss Wanjiang replied with a faint smile. “The recent warm weather is perfect for travel. The scholars and literati of Changjing have all taken to the countryside for outings, so we guessed you’d likely leave around this time.

“And yesterday’s Shangyuan Festival,” she continued, “celebrating a prosperous age, was the most vibrant in recent years. We thought you’d surely leave after enjoying the festival.”

“That’s exactly what we thought too,” the maid chimed in with a cheeky smile. “After seeing off the Princess, we thought we might as well stay for the New Year. Then after the New Year, we thought we’d wait for clear skies. When the weather cleared, we saw the Shangyuan Festival was just a few days away. Naturally, we decided to enjoy the festival as well. Fortunately, nothing happened afterward. Otherwise, we might have been delayed a few more days and ended up missing you.”

“I see.” Song You nodded in understanding.

Meanwhile, Lady Calico stood beside him, still playing with her candied syrup sticks while keeping a close eye on the pair.

“You’re heading south, and so are we,” Miss Wanjiang said. “You’re traveling to Fengzhou, and we need to pass through Fengzhou to reach Yangzhou. Would you mind if we traveled part of the way together? We can enjoy wine and music with an old friend.”

“We’ve also decided to follow your example in the future,” the maid added with a grin. “To embrace the joys of the world, to seek out beautiful landscapes, and to learn how you roam the world.”

“Ladies...” Song You looked at them with a smile. “I’m heading to Zi Commandery, deep in the south, to visit the Ghost City of Mount Ye. You’re not planning to go there as well, are you?”