Chapter 403: How Can You Trust a Fox's Words?

Song You stood atop Mount Ye, gazing into the distance.

Unlike the previous Mount Ye, where heavy yin qi and ghostly qi had filled the air with perpetual gloom, the present landscape was bathed in the gentle brightness of spring sunlight. The sun was warm but not scorching, enveloping everything in a pleasant glow.

Looking around, the scenery had changed entirely.

The once barren mountain, shattered by the events of the past year, now appeared rugged and dramatic in its destruction. Jagged stone pillars tilted skyward, like ancient mythological giants had left behind their spears and swords. Massive, irregular boulders, seemingly hurled from who knows where, lay scattered across the land. After just a year, moss and greenery had already begun to grow over them.

There were mountains with perfect, half-circular gaps carved out of them—so precise they seemed unnatural.

The ground was split into deep chasms, some of which had filled with water, creating emerald-green rivers. Scattered across the landscape were lakes of various sizes. The smaller ones were just a few meters across, while the larger ones stretched tens of meters or more.

These depressions, created by the stomps and strikes of giant forces, now held waters that shimmered in hues ranging from jade green to sky blue, each unique in depth and brilliance, like a landscape dotted with gemstones.

It looked like the battlefield of ancient gods.

On the far side of Mount Ye, Song You spotted a humanoid-shaped lake. Over a hundred meters long, it was a massive imprint left from the battle. Its waters, reflecting blue skies and white clouds, added a tranquil contrast to the devastation.

Further out, there was a protective river encircling the entire mountain. Only a single stone bridge spanned the water, serving as the sole connection between Mount Ye and the outside world.

Wherever one looked, the land was vibrant with greenery. The mountain itself was covered in blooming fruit trees. The barren desolation of the past seemed completely erased.

“Did you plant these trees as well?” Song You asked the swallow standing beside him.

“Sir, the trees I planted have just sprouted. Only the grass you see comes from the seeds I brought here. The trees, though, were planted by the Immortal Elder of Green Wood.” The swallow answered truthfully.

He continued, “Once, the Immortal Elder of Green Wood came here to deliver a message. As he was leaving, he remarked that the area was too dull with only grass and no trees. So, with a single wave of his hand, the entire place was filled with trees within days.”

“Immortal Elder of Green Wood truly has remarkable abilities.”

Yan An said, “I’ve often come here to study the wonders of the trees. I’ve learned a great deal from them.”

“You’re clever as well.”

“Alas, my abilities are still lacking. The influence of the lingering yin qi and ghostly qi remains,” said the swallow. “In other places, the mountains are already covered with blooming flowers, but here the grass grows so slowly.”

“All it needs is a gust of spring wind,” replied Song You.

He exhaled gently, a breath transforming into a spring breeze that swept across the land.

“

Whoosh

...”

The verdant green of the mountains suddenly deepened, the grass swaying gently in the wind.

“Let's go,” said Song You.

Retracting his gaze, he started down the mountain. The magnificent scenery surrounded them, a landscape destined to leave its mark in time.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

This place was already a breathtakingly unique landscape, yet who knew what it would look like centuries later when future generations came here? If what they saw was roughly the same as what Song You saw now, one wondered how they would interpret it, what they would imagine, and what answers they would give when standing before this scenery.

With deliberate steps, Song You and the jujube-red horse descended along the slope, moving almost in tandem with the thick clouds blanketing the mountain. The calico cat padded through the tall grass, its form concealed at times, while the swallow glided ahead of the clouds.

One by one, wildflowers bloomed in their wake.

The cat, wandering through the grass, was captivated by the sudden bursts of color, while the swallow, soaring above, looked down to see the landscape transform into a sea of flowers.

Amid the sea of blossoms stood two temples, each occupying its own corner of the great mountain.

One temple belonged to Divine Lord Yuewang, the revered spirit of the Yue King. Within its humble walls sat only a single god. At its entrance, a pair of couplets were inscribed, “You seek fame and fortune; he divines fortunes and misfortunes. Alas, I am without heart or mind—how could I offer sound guidance? The hall stands shrouded, clouds its door. The courtyard houses bell and cauldron. What a pity to worship this wooden idol, wasting so much money.”

The other temple was a small, lowly shrine, nameless and unmarked. Within it sat a simple, unfinished wooden statue, lacking a mouth, nose, or even eyes.

Outside this shrine, another couplet adorned its entrance, “Hell lies before your very eyes; do not wait until you've sinned to repent. The karmic mirror hangs upon the platforms; yet if you can pass, compassion awaits.”

Though vast and covered in flowers, the grandeur of Mount Ye rendered the two temples so small and insignificant. Seen from afar, they appeared as mere dots amidst a sea of blooms, standing just level with the clouds.

The Daoist walked further and further with the calico cat and the jujube-red horse, passing through the land dotted with gem-like lakes and the sea of wildflowers. Ripples spread across the lake surfaces, insects flitted through the flower fields, and once desolate land now carried the faint stirrings of small creatures. It all brought a sense of indescribable contentment.

The calico cat moved back and forth, occasionally busy with her own affairs, but often returning to walk beside the Daoist and chat with him.

“This here is the little lake with lots of fish that I mentioned to you. But they’re all small fish, the kind you can catch with a rod. Over there, though, that lake has lots of big fish, but they’re harder to catch,” she explained.

“Ah, I see.”

“That pond over there has lots of loaches. The dried loaches I made were caught there. We haven’t finished them yet—they’re still packed in a pouch.”

“You know how to fish now, Lady Calico?”

“Of course. Why else would I mention loaches...”

“I suppose I’m not as clever as you, Lady Calico.”

“That’s true...”

With that, the cat suddenly darted forward, running through the grass, covering quite a distance. She wasn’t chasing some small animal this time but was already past the stone bridge, venturing farther from Mount Ye.

She pointed in different directions, enthusiastically showing him places where she had spent time. She pointed to the spot where she picked mushrooms in summer, where she caught rabbits, where she broke off branches to use as sticks or fishing rods...

This past year and more, she had truly worked hard.

Not only did she catch fish, but she also roasted them for him to eat. Unwilling to spend money on sugar, she borrowed honey from bees. Finding dried meat expensive, she hunted rabbits and wild boars to make her own.

Knowing the Daoist liked variety beyond just meat, she also picked wild fruits, dug up wild vegetables, gathered mushrooms, and made porridge—always worrying that he might go hungry.

The Daoist, often going long stretches without eating or drinking, left the calico cat deeply worried.

As Song You turned to glance back, Mount Ye had already become a distant silhouette. When he turned his gaze forward again, the cat had transformed into her human form, carrying a branch she had snapped off, swatting at grass as she walked. She seemed to have grown taller, noticeably so over the past year, much more than in years prior.

Perhaps it was all due to her constant worrying.

***

In the county capital of Zi Commandery, the only inn in town stood there as it always had. It was the same inn where Song You had once stayed with the fox spirit, and not far away was a small hill where the fox and her maid had waited for him in a pavilion.

Amusingly, the innkeeper still recognized him instantly.

“Sir, you've come again?!”

“You still remember me?” Song You asked.

“Of course, I do! How could I forget a Daoist as extraordinary as you? And coming from out of town, no less. Such guests are a rare sight indeed.” The innkeeper grinned warmly, then glanced behind him. “Oh, wait... Weren't there two celestial fairies traveling with you last time, sir?”

“This time, I'm traveling alone.” Song You gave a polite smile. It seemed the innkeeper's memory of him wasn’t quite as vivid as his memory of the two otherworldly fox women.

“One room, and grass for the horse,” Song You said.

“Right away!” the innkeeper replied.

“Do you sell wine here, by chance?”

“This is just a humble little inn; we don’t sell wine,” the innkeeper replied with an apologetic smile. “But if you’d like to drink, I can run over to the tavern and buy some for you. No matter how much you need, just pay me a couple of wen for the errand.”

“I’m not going to drink now,” Song You responded calmly. “I just want to buy half a jug of wine to carry with me. In case I encounter an old friend on the road, I can offer them a drink.”

“In that case, let me point you in the right direction.”

The innkeeper promptly stepped outside and gestured toward a street. “Sir, follow this road straight down. On the right-hand side, you’ll see an alley. That’s where the tavern is. When you get close, you’ll catch the scent of the wine.”

“Thank you.” Song You offered his thanks before carrying his travel bag up to his room.

The room was modest, far less refined than the pavilions of Changjing. Still, it was proper shelter, and that was enough.

He set his bag down and blew lightly on the table and chair to clear off the thin layer of dust. Then, he pulled out his well-worn copy of

Yudi Jisheng

.

Unbeknownst to him, this book, bought back in Yidu, had aged noticeably. Though he had cared for it meticulously, the pages had yellowed, the paper had become brittle, and some corners had chipped away.

Carefully, Song You opened it.

A curious calico cat leapt onto the desk, peering over his shoulder, her small head poking into his view to examine the book alongside him.

Not far outside the county capital flows the Yin River. Following its course downstream leads to Yaozhou—a route Song You had traveled back and forth before. He could choose not to go to Zhengxi this time and take a different path instead. If it worked out, he might even visit Princess Changping.

Although they couldn't exactly be called close acquaintances, after a year without seeing each other, there was now a faint sense of familiarity, like that of old friends.

He wondered if she was still alive.

The boundary between Yaozhou and Langzhou was marked by Mount Zunzhe—a sacred mountain, like Mount Tianzhu, known as a path to heaven for the divine immortals. Newly ascended deities had to travel through such mountains to report to the Heavenly Court.

Rumor had it that in Langzhou lay a fragment of the soils of the five directions.

Song You glanced at Lady Calico. Her fur tickled his nose, making him a bit itchy. Seeing how intently she was staring at the map, he traced a route with his finger and consulted her.

“How about we take this path?”

“Sounds good!” Lady Calico replied seriously, her expression grave.

“When we get to the coast, we can go fishing in the sea. I’ve heard you can even find fish washed up on the beach.”

“Then don’t the people living by the sea eat fish every day?”

“Apparently so.”

“That sounds amazing!”

“

Heh...

”

After Langzhou, the route would take them to Yangzhou.

Yangzhou was a bustling hub, famed as the most prosperous place under the heavens.

Song You continued tracing lines on the map with his finger, sharing his plan with Lady Calico.

She listened even more earnestly than before.

After a while, she tilted her head and nudged her forehead against Song You’s ear, whispering softly, “Daoist priest, I seem to be missing the fox... and the fox’s tails.”

“...” Song You paused, then asked, “Which tail in particular?”

“They’re all so fun to play with.”

“And compared to your own tail, which is more fun?”

“My own tail is still the most fun!”

“I see...” Song You hesitated for a moment, his thoughts unclear. After a while, he gave a faint smile and said to her, “It seems you’ve grown a lot this past year. You now clearly understand what it means to miss someone.”

“You were the one who taught me that.”

“You’re also very clever, Lady Calico.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

“The fox said you’re just trying to fool me!”

“How can you trust what a fox says?”

“That’s true...”

Lady Calico nodded seriously, then shook her head and jumped down. She went back to playing with her ball, as if the conversation hadn’t just happened.

The next morning, Song You led his horse to buy some wine.

Though it was a small and remote town, it surprisingly had good wine. Even before reaching the alley, the rich aroma of the wine wafted through the air.

Song You bought half a jug of fine wine and continued northward.

When he reached the banks of the Yin River, he sat down quietly, waiting for the boatman to arrive.