Chapter 41: Inviting the Mountain Lord to Return to the Mountain

“Is that the Xuzhou boundary up ahead?”

“How do you know?”

“There is a boundary stone.”

“A boundary stone?”

The calico cat peered ahead and then ran toward the visible end of the stone slab road. She stopped in front of the stone, looked it up and down, and then ran back, saying, “There's indeed a stone.”

Song You glanced at the cat and then looked ahead. “Next time we stop for a rest somewhere and have free time, I'll teach you how to read.”

“Why should I learn to read?”

“You need to be literate to read books.”

“Why read books?”

“Books are the stepping stones for human progress.”

“What about cats?”

“Books are also the stepping stones for cat progress.”

“Why?”

“Because they contain the wisdom of the previous generations.”

“What wisdom?”

“If you don’t wish to learn, forget it...” Song You’s expression remained calm.

As he walked closer, he could see the characters on the stone clearly.

The side facing him had the three large characters for “Yi Zhou Jie” (Yizhou Boundary) carved, with smaller characters on the left and right indicating the commandery and county boundaries as well as the year the stone was erected. Once they passed this boundary stone, the other side would be carved with “Xu Zhou Jie” (Xuzhou Boundary), with similar inscriptions on the left and right. It had been erected at the founding of the current dynasty.

In the spring of the second year of Mingde, Song You arrived in Xuzhou.

Oh, and also Lady Calico and the jujube-red horse.

Song You thought it was worth commemorating.

However, there was no need to linger here. They took a short break, ate some dry rations, drank some water, and then continued on their way.

“We don't have much food left.”

“There's food everywhere.”

“I don't have much food left.”

“I will catch bugs for you to eat.”

“I don't eat bugs.”

“They're very tasty.”

“No need.”

“Then I'll catch mice for you.”

“I appreciate your kindness.”

“Then I'll catch small birds for you.”

“We should find a village or town and see if we can buy some portable rations.” Song You gazed into the distance. All he could see were blue skies and yellow meadows, with undulating mountains. There was no sign of a village, only a gray-white fog that could be either smoke or mist on the horizon. “We also need to ask for directions to Long Commandery.”

“That old man has told you how to get there.”

“He wasn't very clear. We still need to find someone to ask.”

“You're not very smart.”

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

“You are smart. Tell me how do we get there?”

“I will follow you.”

After walking a bit further, they finally saw a village that seemed to be quite bustling.

There was a stone by the roadside with the three characters for “Liu Jia Cun” (Liu Family Village).

The village was backed by remote mountains. Mountain springs converged to form a stream that meandered through it with a thousand qing[1] of fertile fields on its banks. It was a good place and it wasn't far from the main road too, so it was no wonder it was thriving.

Song You left the main road and led his horse forward.

As they approached the village, they saw a group of men carrying knives and sticks walk out and rush toward the main road outside.

Seeing Song You and his party, they couldn’t help stopping.

An old man came forward, scrutinized Song You for a moment, and then said, somewhat anxiously. “Are you heading toward our village, Young Mister?”

“I am Song You, a wandering hermit. I'm passing through and wanted to buy some portable dry rations from your village since I have just finished my dry rations. Also, I wanted to ask for directions.” Song You asked curiously as he bowed to them. “May I ask why you are rushing out carrying knives and sticks?”

“Ah, Young Mister, you'd better not go in for now,” the old man said, holding a sickle. “Our village has been troubled by a tiger from the mountains behind these past few days. It's still in the village. We're on our way to the county to invite people over to kill it. It's not that our Liu Family Village doesn’t welcome guests. If you'd come some days earlier or later, I could have asked our master to give you some food and silver money. If it weren't for this affair, we'd be celebrating our master's birthday the day after tomorrow, and we'd definitely invite you to stay and celebrate with us for a few days. But it’s impossible now.”

“

Oh

? Is it a mountain tiger turned demon?”

“It hasn’t become a demon, but it's very cunning. It runs away when there are many people,” the old man said. “Young Mister, if you're heading the same way, come with us. It's only half a day to the county.”

“Has the mountain tiger eaten any humans?”

“Not yet, it's just been eating livestock.”

Even though it was early spring, the old man was already sweating profusely. “Young Mister, you'd better not go in for your own safety. Even with so many people, we can't deal with it. We need to go to the county to report it to the authorities to get professional help.”

“Having heard what you said, I could try driving it back to the mountains, saving all of you the effort and expense.”

“You? How would you drive it away?”

“I have some modest Daoist cultivation skills.”

The old man immediately turned to exchange dismayed glances with the men behind him.

“Are you certain you can do it, Mister?”

“I can try.”

“How can we help you?”

“Just lead me to it.”

“How much will you charge, Mister?”

“I’m doing it for free, just give me some portable rations.”

The group looked at one another in dismay again.

“Alright!”

Even though they were just leading the way, the old man didn't dare to take it lightly. He still brought everyone along, holding their knives and sticks tightly, and nervously led the way.

As they walked, he explained to Song You.

Although Liu Family Village was next to remote mountains, savage beasts in the mountains usually avoided humans and rarely came down. Instead, it was often wild boars who came down and damaged crops. Perhaps because it was early spring with many animals in the mountains still hibernating, this fierce tiger couldn't catch any prey temporarily. Somehow, it discovered the village below the mountain and started visiting. It hadn't hurt anyone yet, just killed and ate some chickens, ducks, pigs, and sheep.

The villagers were terrified. A rich and influential family took the lead and organized a group of strong young men to set traps, but nothing worked. Finally, they decided to go to the county to report to the authorities for help that day.

As they walked over, the door of every house was tightly shut.

The group circled around and stopped outside a house in the village.

Someone pointed Song You to the front. He whispered very softly, “It's there.”

Song You looked in the direction he pointed and saw a patch of striped yellow-black fur showing in a pen. Looking carefully, he saw it was moving slightly. Just this patch of fur already revealed the size of the creature.

“Everyone, please step back some more and keep further away. Don't startle it.”

Upon hearing this, the villagers hurriedly retreated.

Song You looked down at the cat beside him. “Lady Calico, do you want to come too?”

“Yes... I want to go...”

“But that's a tiger.”

“I'm... not afraid...”

“Don't stutter.”

“You heard wrong...”

“Then let's go.”

Song You stepped forward, his pace calm as always.

As his gaze gradually moved past the foot of the wall, the striped body of the large tiger also appeared before Song You's eyes.

He had seen tigers in the back of Yin-Yang Mountain before, even tiger demons who had acquired cultivation skills. The tigers in Yizhou were average in size. The tiger in front of him seemed to be of the same breed but it was somewhat larger. Its fur looked like fine new silk, shining in the sunlight. Even the most exquisitely-crafted textile could not match it.

The tiger was crouching on the ground and eating a pig, half of which had already been devoured.

Meanwhile, the fierce tiger had noticed him too, and immediately stopped eating. It turned its head, and stared at him intently.

Its mouth was full of fresh blood, and its eyes were terrifying.

It licked its mouth with its tongue, revealing the barbs on its tongue as well as canine teeth longer than fingers.

If more people had come, it would have run away by now. Seeing only one person and a small cat, its eyes remained wary. It just looked them up and down. Occasionally, its gaze flickered, as if it was thinking deeply. There was a calmness amidst its wariness.

This showed it was very smart.

Song You often saw a similar expression on Lady Calico's face. Even when she was in cat form, he could see her extraordinary nature at a glance through the contemplation in her eyes.

Thus, while the fierce mountain tiger was alertly investigating, and the villagers behind were tense and worried, Song You just raised his hands and bowed calmly. “Greetings, Mountain Lord.”

“

Roar

!” The fierce tiger was startled by his action, immediately standing up and continuing to stare at him.

The villagers behind were also taken aback.

The calico cat was a few steps away from him, staring wide-eyed at the giant beast, but fortunately not trembling.

They heard the young Daoist's voice.

“Mountain Lord, there's no need for alarm. My name is Song You, and my style name is Menglai. I am a hermit from Lingquan County in Yizhou. I'm traveling and happened to pass through here, wanting to buy some food. I unintentionally ran into the villagers going out to seek help. I heard you had a conflict with them, so I came specially to mediate.”

The wild mountain tiger didn't understand human speech. However, after listening to Song You, the wariness in its eyes gradually subsided for some reason, turning into contemplation, then puzzlement.

The villagers behind were almost dumbfounded.

From their angle, they couldn't see the fierce tiger in the pig pen, only the young Daoist bowing and speaking to it. For a moment, they felt it was astonishing, absurd, and terrifying.

The tiger hadn't become a demon, so how could it understand human language?

And what sense was there in talking to a tiger?

“I see that behind this village, the great mountains stretch for a thousand li. Mountain Lord, why don’t you hunt in the mountains and enjoy your freedom, instead of coming down to hunt livestock?”

“

Roar

...” The tiger's roar scared the villagers half to death.

They feared that in the next second the tiger behind the wall would rush out and pounce on the Daoist.

But the Daoist just shook his head and said, “This is not a good idea.”

Song You glanced down at the half-eaten pig below its body.

The pigs here were mostly little black pigs, which were not very big. With the tiger's appetite, it could probably eat a whole pig in two meals. Even the richest village couldn't sustain it.

“Mountain Lord, your appetite is very large. This village cannot support you. Besides, people need to live too.” Song You shook his head. “When I arrived earlier, the farmers in this village were already preparing to go to the county and invite people to hunt you. No matter how powerful you are, in the end you can't win against humans.”

The fierce tiger stared at him but was silent.

“I see you have already gained some wisdom. In the future, you might even become enlightened and become a demon. You've already eaten a lot of livestock now. It's better to go back early and not bring trouble upon yourself.” Song You said, “In the future, don't cross the boundary again. The mountains are your hunting grounds, but below these mountains, especially where the roads lead, is the world of humans.”

The light in the fierce tiger's eyes flickered and it lapsed into contemplation.

It shifted its gaze, sometimes looking at Song You, sometimes at the cat behind him, and sometimes at the half-eaten pig below its body. After a while, it actually released its grip on the pig, and took a few steps to the side. Only then, did it bow its head to Song You in thanks.

Song You also quickly returned the bow.

Then, to the astonishment of the villagers, the vicious tiger actually crossed the small village path and ran all the way up into the mountains.

By the time they came to their senses, the young Daoist priest they had met on the road by chance had already reached them.

“In the future, it won't come down the mountain again.”

“Thank you, Mister!”

It was the old man who reacted first. He bowed to Song You, and hurriedly said, “Mister, please come this way! I must report to our master first. His birthday celebration was supposed to be held two days later, but we didn't know if it could be celebrated on time because of this tiger causing trouble. Now that you've driven it away, you're our Liu Family Village’s honored guest. Please stay in the village for a few days so we can entertain you properly!”

“No need, just give me some portable rations.”

“Mister, please don't decline! If we let you go like this, our master will surely blame us!” the old man said. “Please don’t worry, Mister. We will definitely entertain you with the best food and drink. If the birthday celebration goes smoothly in two days, there will even be an opera troupe performing! It will be very lively!”

Song You really couldn't decline.

1. Traditional unit of area equivalent to 100 mu or 6.67 hectares. ☜