Chapter 378: An Encounter with Armed Guards

The Zheng family patriarch had taken the Water-Splitting Blade and followed the founding emperor into service...

As Song You ate his bowl of Cat’s Ears, his mind wandered.

The founding emperor of Great Yan was an extraordinarily capable and charismatic ruler. His magnetic personality was unparalleled, and it’s hard for ordinary people to imagine that, in the early days of his uprising, many of his followers pledged their lives and fortunes to him after merely sharing a meal or spending one night in deep conversation with him. From that moment on, they committed themselves to his cause, unwavering even in the face of death.

After achieving his empire, the founding emperor also demonstrated a rare magnanimity. Unlike many rulers in history, he allowed his founding ministers and generals to live out their lives in peace. Many of them enjoyed peaceful retirements—something rare among those who helped build an empire.

Based on what Song You knew of the founding emperor from his own sect’s Grandmaster Fuyang, he was more inclined to believe that the Zheng family patriarch had perished in battle, which was why he never returned home.

In those turbulent times, the world was in chaos, and demons ran rampant. Monsters, ghosts, and even fallen gods descended to wreak havoc. For the Zheng family patriarch, wielding the Water-Splitting Blade in service of the emperor, dying in battle would have been all too common.

Rationally speaking, it was unlikely that the founding emperor would have killed the patriarch for the knife. There was no need, and the Grandmaster Fuyang’s presence at the time would have deterred him from such treachery.

The key question, however, was what happened to the Water-Splitting Blade after the patriarch’s death.

It might not have ended up in the royal family’s hands. It could have been lost to the common folk or even fallen into the hands of demons or monsters.

If it had entered the hands of commoners or demons and somehow ended up in the northern frontier, the chances of such a scenario were slim, but not impossible. However, there was little point in exploring that line of thought further.

If, on the other hand, it had been taken by the royal family...

Then the Water-Splitting Blade might have been taken to the Heavenly Palace during the upheaval and replacement of deities in the early days of Great Yan, or it could still remain in the hands of the mortal royal family.

No wonder even the Duke of Thunder Zhou dared not speak much about it...

If the Heavenly Palace had given the Water-Splitting Blade to the northern frontier demons, this Heavenly Palace truly deserved to fall. If it was the doing of the court—be it the State Preceptor or the Emperor—it would also be an unforgivable crime.

But what could their purpose be?

Song You’s peripheral vision caught sight of Lady Calico’s empty bowl. The cat, seemingly aware of his pensive state, said nothing and sat quietly, staring at him with unblinking eyes.

Without breaking his train of thought, Song You picked up the spoon and refilled her bowl. Such simple actions didn’t disrupt his contemplation.

Could it be to trigger another war in the north and take the northern frontier territories in one decisive move?

Or perhaps to prolong the war, increasing casualties and hastening the consolidation of the underworld before the aging emperor’s time runs out?

Or was it a way to ensure that they survived in the north longer?

Or perhaps...

If it was indeed their doing, given the capabilities of the Emperor and the State Preceptor, their objective likely wasn’t a simple one. They could very well have orchestrated this to achieve multiple goals at once. If that were true, Song You couldn’t help but suspect that some of the other demons in the northern frontier army might also be connected to them.

Coincidentally, some of those demons were originally from within Great Yan’s borders.

The question was whether they had anticipated that the northern frontier demons would barely last against him. Even the flood created by the Water-Splitting Blade

,

taking advantage of the terrain and circumstances, had failed to hinder him. Instead, after easily defeating the demon, Song You had claimed the knife for himself.

It all sounded straightforward now, but in truth, there was a great deal of luck involved.

At that moment, the light in front of him dimmed.

Song You looked up to see a group of armed men entering through the door, carrying knives and staffs. They were dressed in simple, dusty gray clothes, their faces partially covered with cloth. Behind them was a cart bearing a flag, marking them as armed guards.

It seemed this group of armed guards were regular patrons of the inn. The ones in the lead entered casually, while those in the rear handled the cart themselves, guiding it to the stable in the back without waiting for the innkeeper. The leader, a burly man with a thick beard, shouted, “The usual—ten bowls of Cat’s Ears, and cook up a pot of meat!”

“Got it...” the innkeeper replied cheerfully.

“This cat’s eating on the table? Is this a place for people to eat or for cats?” a burly man behind the bearded leader said with a frown, turning his gaze toward Song You and Lady Calico.

Lady Calico lifted her head and stared straight at them.

“Let it go,” the bearded leader said with a tilt of his head. Noticing the Daoist robe Song You was wearing, he decided it wasn’t worth causing trouble.

“Ah, sir, don’t mind this,” the innkeeper quickly stepped in to mediate, clearly intent on supporting Song You. “This gentleman’s cat is very clean and well-behaved. It’s even using its own bowl. You all are regulars here—you know our humble inn doesn’t have such fancy bowls. Plus, aren't you all well aware of this old man's diligence? No matter who sits at the table, it's always wiped spotlessly clean.”

The innkeeper’s words directed their attention downward.

It was only then they noticed that the cat’s bowl was not only different from the coarse ones used by the inn but was an exquisite piece of art. It was a delicate blue-and-white porcelain bowl, translucent yet flawless, radiant like jade, and undeniably valuable.

That bowl alone must be worth quite a bit.

Song You picked up Lady Calico’s bowl and placed it on a stool nearby.

Lady Calico, of course, was exceptionally clean—far from an ordinary cat—but others wouldn’t know that. Having a cat on the table was indeed against common etiquette. He had only done so because the inn was empty earlier and had received the innkeeper’s permission. It was understandable for others to feel uncomfortable, and there was no fault in their reaction.

“My apologies, Lady Calico,” Song You said softly.

The cat, ever understanding, didn’t make a fuss. Quietly, she hopped off the table and onto the stool. However, she stood upright, her front paws resting on the table’s edge, her small face solemn and her eyes fixed unblinking on the group.

The slightly older, bearded leader smiled at Song You and said, “The young men are a bit brash and straightforward. Please don’t take offense, sir.”

“I was rude first,” Song You replied politely.

Song You smiled back at the bearded leader as they spoke.

In Great Yan, people generally showed great respect for Daoists and monks. However, as Song You had observed, the older, wealthier, or more prominent a person was, the greater their reverence for Daoists and monks. In contrast, younger individuals and martial artists tended to show less respect. It was an interesting pattern to reflect upon.

“Lady Calico, keep eating,” Song You said, stroking his cat’s head.

Lady Calico turned her head to stare at him for a moment. Then, she glanced at the group of armed guards, then back at Song You, before finally lowering her head and continuing to eat with a soft munching sound.

Meanwhile, the remaining armed guards who had taken the cart to the backyard began trickling back into the inn. Song You counted eight of them, indicating that two had stayed behind to guard the goods—an impressive level of professionalism.

As Song You ate, he observed the group of armed guards discreetly.

Lady Calico occasionally straightened up on her stool, craning her neck to take a quick glance at them as well.

Some of the armed guards noticed their gaze and returned the glance.

Eventually, all ten bowls of Cat’s Ears were brought out.

The group of armed guards demonstrated an admirable sense of order. The first two bowls were taken outside to the men standing guard before the others sat down to eat. When the meat dish was brought out, it too was first sent to those on watch before anyone else ate.

The armed guards ate heartily, and the inn quickly filled with the sound of slurping and the occasional gulp. They devoured their food almost wolfishly.

Song You also finished his meal around the same time.

He reached into his pouch, carefully counted out a handful of copper coins, and arranged them neatly in a row on the table.

“Sir, the bill, please,” he said.

“Coming!”

The innkeeper walked over, swept up the copper coins in one smooth motion, and tucked them into his pouch. After counting them once and finding the amount correct, he looked up and smiled at Song You. “Shall I wash your bowl for you as well?”

Song You was tempted to accept.

However, his cat had an unusual attachment to her exclusive, exorbitantly expensive bowl, treating it as though it were an heirloom meant to last centuries. If she took on human form, she would insist on washing it herself. Even in her current form, she only allowed Song You to clean it, and only under her watchful eye to ensure it wasn’t mishandled.

So, Song You said to the innkeeper, “This bowl is delicate and fragile. Could I trouble you to let me use the kitchen to rinse it myself?”

“Of course, of course...”

The innkeeper led him to the kitchen.

When Song You emerged, the bowl was sparkling clean. He flicked away the remaining water and tucked it back into Lady Calico’s pouch. Then, under the gaze of several armed guards, he headed toward the door.

The cat followed closely behind, occasionally glancing over her shoulder at the group of armed guards.

The innkeeper, being quite elderly and having run the inn for years, was naturally well-informed due to the constant flow of travelers and their stories. His account had been detailed and vivid. However, relying on a single source for information was never wise. Only by listening to opinions from all sides could one gain a correct understanding of things; relying solely on one-sided statements would inevitably lead to biased mistakes.

Thus, Song You went to other places to ask around.

The information he gathered was largely consistent with the innkeeper’s account, differing only in minor details. It was clear that this tale had been circulating in the region for centuries.

Finally, Song You found himself standing outside the grand estate of the Zheng family, reputedly the largest and most influential clan in Zhengxi, and said to be the descendants of the legendary Bo Shu. This was located in the eastern part of the city, where the family’s home stood.

The Zheng family estate was large, located not far from the county government offices. The area was quiet, with only a few narrow alleys nearby, rarely traversed by passersby. Song You stood in one of these alleys, leaning on his bamboo staff, gazing at the long white wall that bordered the estate. From beyond the wall, he could hear the sounds of children running and playing wildly, accompanied by the laughter of adults who seemed to be joyfully engaging with them.

Ahead lay the main gate of the Zheng estate, but no one was going in or out.

Song You listened for a while, standing in silence. After some time, he chose not to disturb them and instead continued on his way.

The cat followed closely behind, looking left and right. Seeing that the area was deserted, she trotted up to him and tugged at his pant leg with one paw. Her voice was soft as she said, “Daoist priest...”

“What is it?”

“That group of people earlier...”

“Which group?”

“The ones eating with us in the inn!”

“Did they upset you, Lady Calico?”

“No!” The cat tilted her head up to look at him. “They smelled like something rotten... like a dead rat, but not quite!”

“Hmm?” Song You paused, lowering his gaze to meet hers. “Was it the same smell as the one in the Ghost City?”

“Yes!”

“...”

Song You stared at her for a moment, then suddenly smiled. “I knew that, as the former Cat God, you would have the magnanimity of a great feline and wouldn’t get angry over such a trivial matter.”

“...?”

The cat blinked, her expression blank, clearly confused by his response.

The cat tilted her head, seemingly for the first time experiencing what it felt like to deal with Song You's peculiar thought process. She couldn’t quite figure out how his mind worked.

However, she quickly replied, “Exactly!”

Her voice was soft but firm.

Just then, someone entered the alley, appearing well-dressed and carrying gifts, clearly intending to visit the Zheng family.

Song You fell silent and continued walking.

As they passed the Zheng family’s gate, he overheard fragments of their conversation but didn’t stop. Only after the visitor entered the estate and the gate closed behind them, leaving the alley quiet and empty once more, did the cat trot a little ahead of Song You. Turning her head to look at him, she asked, “What will you do?”

“I’ll decide when we get back,” Song You replied.

“I smelled it. That odor was coming from the cart they were transporting. I can sneak in to check it out.”

“That would be impolite.”

“Then

you

sneak in to check it out!”

“That’s also impolite.”

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

“Then let Swallow do it!”

The cat, her tiny steps quick and determined, kept glancing back at him, her insistence evident.

“We’ll see when the time comes,” Song You said.

Song You smiled faintly as he walked out of the alley.

The cat fell silent, no longer pressing him.

After a while, the swallow flew over, landing on Song You’s shoulder and chirping to report its observations from within the estate.

They strolled leisurely back to the inn. The small, secluded town wasn’t in a busy travel season, and aside from Song You’s group, the only other guests in the inn were the team of armed guards.

The Cat’s Ears from lunch had been particularly delicious, so Song You ordered another bowl for dinner. Lady Calico, still cautious about the fermented rice—worried about getting poisoned from overeating and accidentally knocking over her precious bowl and possibly breaking it—didn’t ask for more of it. She also thought it too expensive.

Song You, mindful that she might grow tired of it if consumed too frequently in such a short period of time, decided not to order it again either.

When Lady Calico suggested skipping dinner entirely to save money and catching mice for food instead, Song You ignored her objections and asked the innkeeper to prepare two raw eggs, served in her special bowl, as her evening meal.

Under the light of an oil lamp, the exquisite blue-and-white porcelain bowl, representing the pinnacle of craftsmanship of this era, displayed its stunning beauty. Its intricate design appeared almost hollowed out, yet it held liquid effortlessly—a quality impossible to fake.

The group of armed guards, sitting nearby, couldn’t help but express their admiration in hushed tones.

After dinner, Song You went upstairs, washed up, and prepared for bed.