Chapter 413: The Feelings of Home

This region was truly a remote and wild land, where most of the locals couldn’t even speak the official language. Song You felt deeply that even finding someone to ask for directions was difficult as he traveled here.

Those he did manage to find were often outsiders, either officials posted here, merchants conducting business, or refugees fleeing from the north. As a result, the locals rarely encountered someone from the Central Plains, let alone a Daoist who could freely converse with them.

Every time Song You stopped to ask for directions, they were so delighted by the conversation that they would hold onto him, asking countless questions about the Central Plains or their distant homeland after he was done.

Eventually, Song You grew wiser.

When he needed directions, he would go straight to large shops or government offices.

Officials and merchants in the Great Yan empire were generally friendly toward Daoists, but this was especially true in remote, desolate areas like this.

Today was no different.

Song You arrived at the government office in Lan’an County, introduced himself, and explained that he wanted to inquire about the best way to reach the sea. The local guard at the entrance went inside to report, and before long, the county magistrate himself came out to greet him.

The magistrate, surnamed Lu, was also a native of Yizhou. He was a portly man, sweating profusely in the sweltering heat.

When he saw Song You, he was filled with enthusiasm.

This warmth didn’t come from Song You’s status or any impressive magical abilities, nor was it solely because of Great Yan’s respect for Daoists. It came from something deeper—shared roots and the feelings of homesickness.

It was a longing for home.

Song You had already seen the direction of the sea and had originally intended to ask for simple directions on where to set sail. He planned to head directly to the coast afterward. However, Magistrate Lu insisted on hosting him, ordering his wife to prepare a room and a feast, determined to keep him for a night of conversation.

Seeing through the magistrate’s genuine intentions, Song You didn’t refuse.

With the meal prepared, they sat down together to eat.

On the table was a pot of chicken cooked in clear broth, though upon closer inspection, it wasn’t plain water—it was coconut water. Thin strips of coconut meat floated within the broth. There was also a plate of roasted pork ribs and pig tail, a plate of fresh, juicy lychees still dripping with moisture, but surprisingly, no seafood specialties were present.

However, having heard that Song You was traveling with a calico cat, the magistrate had specially prepared a sea fish for the kitten.

Under the dim twilight and the flickering glow of the oil lamp, Magistrate Lu held a pair of chopsticks but had little intention of using them, fully absorbed in conversation with Song You.

Meanwhile, the cat on the bench kept shifting positions, inspecting the fish from different angles. Its long, flat body and reflective surface seemed to puzzle her. She leaned in to sniff it repeatedly, her curiosity visibly growing.

“Ah, Lingquan County—I’ve been there before,” said Magistrate Lu. “It’s a wonderful place. I even heard that there’s a Daoist temple there that’s very... hmm, very mysterious.”

“Would that be the one on Yin-Yang Mountain?” Song You asked.

“Yes, yes! That’s the one!” Magistrate Lu’s eyes lit up. “Don’t tell me—“

“It’s likely the temple that I’m from,” Song You replied.

“What a coincidence!” Magistrate Lu paused briefly. “It’s a shame, though—back then, I was just passing through and didn’t have the chance to burn a few sticks of incense.”

𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

“Perhaps you heard that the temple wasn’t particularly effective?” Song You said with a faint smile.

“Ah? Hahaha...” Magistrate Lu leaned back and let out a hearty laugh.

Suddenly remembering that he had been too engrossed in their conversation and had forgotten to invite Song You to eat, the magistrate quickly said, “Please, sir, help yourself! This coastal region of Langzhou is quite remote and wild, and it’s been ages since I’ve had a guest.

“Please, don’t be too formal with me. If there was any lack in my hospitality, it must have been due to my neglect or forgetfulness in attending to you. So, I ask for your understanding and forgiveness!”

“You’re too polite,” Song You replied.

“This chicken is local and cooked in coconut water. While the flavor may be mild, it’s tender and has a natural sweetness, offering a unique taste,” Magistrate Lu explained before pausing.

He added, “Unfortunately, we don’t have much lamb around here, so I couldn’t prepare any for you. However, the native pigs here grow up eating bananas. Although they’re smaller in size, their meat is quite good—less gamey and with minimal odor. When roasted over a fire with a sprinkling of salt, it’s still quite flavorful!”

“Sir, you’re too considerate,” Song You said appreciatively.

Song You picked up his chopsticks and tried the coconut chicken and roasted pork in the order the magistrate suggested.

As expected, Magistrate Lu had described it perfectly. The coconut chicken had a mild flavor, with the natural sweetness of coconut water, and the absence of any unpleasant chicken odor made it quite good. The roasted pork ribs, slightly charred on the outside, had any gamey smell eliminated by the high heat and were masked by the smoky, caramelized crust.

The meat was perfectly balanced between fat and lean, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The fresh, tender meat released flavorful juices with each bite, and with just a sprinkle of salt, it was delicious.

But what intrigued him the most was the plate of lychees. He peeled one and tasted it—it was incredibly sweet.

At that moment, he glanced down at the kitten, who was cautiously taking her first bite of the fish. Seeing her hesitation, Song You quietly reassured her, “This is cutlassfish[1], a type of sea fish. Go ahead, eat up.”

“Sir, you’re from Yizhou. You’re familiar with sea fish as well?” asked Magistrate Lu.

“I’ve only heard about them. I’ve been told the sea is rich with fish and shrimp, which are considered quite exotic. This time, I’ve come specifically to see it for myself,” Song You replied.

“Haha!”

Magistrate Lu tilted his head back and laughed. “Indeed, fish and shrimp from the sea are considered rare delicacies inland. When I first arrived here, I was thrilled to eat as much as I wanted. But over time, you get tired of it easily. What’s truly difficult is getting something different—something that isn’t fish or seafood. The lack of variety here makes it hard to enjoy other flavors.”

Hearing this, Song You finally understood how much effort had gone into preparing this meal.

“We’ve traveled this far because we’ve heard of many strange and fascinating stories overseas,” Song You explained. “So, we plan to set sail and try our luck, hoping to witness some of these marvels firsthand. I was hoping to ask you, sir, which port in Lan’an County is the most convenient for setting sail, and how we might go about renting or hiring a boat?”

“Oh? Sir, you want to set sail?” Magistrate Lu asked, momentarily taken aback.

“Indeed...”

“Did you come because you heard about the Little Kingdom? Or did you hear about the Yaksha Kingdom, or perhaps the stories of sea demons and the Sea Dragon King?”

“I’ve heard them all,” Song You replied, pausing briefly before adding, “I also heard that under your governance, Lan'an County is the most prosperous and convenient place for setting out to sea, which is why I came here.”

“That’s not so easy to arrange,” Magistrate Lu replied, frowning instead of basking in the compliment.

He added, “If you simply wish to take a short sea trip—perhaps to fish or explore the coastline—you could easily head to a nearby fishing village, hire a fisherman, pay them a small fee, and they’d gladly take you out.

“In fact, if I had some time off, I’d happily bring along a jug of wine and accompany you myself. But if you want to search for those things you just mentioned, you’d have to venture at least a hundred or two hundred li into the open sea...”

“Oh? Is that inconvenient?”

The magistrate said, “In the past, it wasn’t. There were people who made a living offering such trips. But last year, I heard that a powerful sea demon appeared and fought with the Sea Dragon King. Ever since then, the Sea Dragon King has become increasingly temperamental. Things were relatively calm until two or three months ago.

“Lately, though, those who venture too far out to sea rarely make it back. It’s hard to say if they’re being caught by storms, attacked by sea demons, or if they’ve angered the Sea Dragon King...”

“So, does that mean I’ll have to buy my own boat to set sail?” Song You asked.

“It means setting out to sea is extremely dangerous!” Magistrate Lu said earnestly. “I urge you not to go!”

“Please don’t worry, sir,” Song You said with a reassuring smile. “I’ve traveled across the land and possess certain skills—I’m not afraid of sea demons or the waves. As for the true dragon in the sea, I’m actually quite interested in paying him a visit. Besides, having come this far, I have no choice but to go out to sea.”

“Even if you know some spells, the Sea Dragon King is the Dragon God,” Magistrate Lu warned, his tone full of concern. “Even the largest ship is like a mere toy in his presence—he’s not someone that can be easily dealt with!”

“I appreciate your concern, but don’t worry,” Song You said sincerely, sensing the magistrate’s genuine worry. “To be honest, my purpose for setting out to sea is to search for something important. If the Sea Dragon King is a true dragon, then meeting him will be an invaluable experience for me. If not, I’m not afraid of him either. But this item I’m seeking is something I must find, no matter the risk.”

“This... Ah...” Magistrate Lu sighed, realizing there was no point in asking further or trying to dissuade him. He simply said, “Then you’ll indeed have to buy your own boat, but it will be difficult to find someone willing to row you out to sea.”

“Then it seems I’ll have to do it myself,” Song You replied.

“Ah, you’re truly determined, aren’t you?”

Magistrate Lu sighed again and continued, “Lately, the winds and waves at sea have been rough, and few people dare venture into the deep sea. Many who rely on the sea for their livelihood are struggling to survive. That said, buying a boat should be relatively easy. As for the price, I’ll send a local official from the

yamen

to accompany you—perhaps they can help you negotiate a fair deal.”

“Thank you, sir,” Song You said with a slight bow.

“No need for thanks,” Magistrate Lu replied. “But do you know how to row a boat and navigate?”

“My traveling companion is a swallow, and he’s excellent at finding directions, so we shouldn’t get lost at sea,” Song You explained. “As for rowing, I suppose I’ll practice near the coast for a few days first. It’ll be a good opportunity for my Lady Calico—she’s very interested in the fish, shrimp, crabs, and clams of the sea. We can catch some while we practice.”

“This...” Magistrate Lu’s concern deepened, and he couldn’t help but look even more worried.

Seeing his expression, Song You smiled faintly, picked up a lychee, and said, “Lychees can still be found in Yizhou, but they’re much harder to come by in Changjing.”

“Indeed...” the magistrate agreed, nodding.

“Although they’d taste even better if they were chilled,” Song You added with a smile.

“Chilled?”

“Exactly.”

Song You gently waved his hand over the plate of lychees, creating a light breeze. A sudden coolness filled the room.

Magistrate Lu, finding this fascinating, quickly reached out to touch the lychees. As soon as his fingers made contact, he shivered slightly—the lychees had become cold, as if they had been refrigerated.

“Sir, that’s quite an impressive skill.”

“Just a little

jianghu

trick,” Song You replied modestly. “It’s nothing extraordinary, but I hope it gives you a new experience and serves as a small token of thanks for your generous hospitality.”

As he spoke, Song You peeled the lychee in his hand, but instead of eating it, he held it down and offered it to the cat on the bench. The kitten gently took it from his hand, her mouth brushing against his fingers. As a result, when he picked up a second lychee to eat, his hand carried the faint smell of sea fish.

“Sir, why not stay a few more days?”

“I appreciate your generous offer, but I am already grateful for the chance to stay one night—I should not impose further.”

Song You paused briefly before adding, “I have observed the celestial signs and believe that the weather will remain clear for the next few days. Tomorrow, I will purchase a boat, spend a few days by the shore fishing, and then set out to sea.”

“The weather will be good? But there are clouds over us even now.”

“There will be just a brief drizzle tonight, nothing more. It will be clear tomorrow.”

“Hmm...”

Magistrate Lu remained skeptical.

Still, they were merely acquaintances meeting for the first time. Though he wished to persuade Song You to stay longer, seeing that the Daoist had already made up his mind, he knew it was not his place to press further.

So instead, he simply raised his cup and offered a toast.

Magistrate Lu then asked about Song You’s hometown in Yizhou, as well as matters concerning the imperial court in Changjing, its political struggles, and the flood disasters in Fengzhou and Yaozhou. In turn, Song You inquired about the sea and the many strange occurrences along the coast.

As the magistrate frequently dealt with such maritime affairs, he had learned to discern truth from rumor—and the stories he recounted were indeed valuable insights.

Meanwhile, the calico cat remained crouched on her bench, engaged in a fierce battle with the cutlassfish, diligently tearing at it with her sharp little teeth.

She only lifted her head when she heard something that interested her—such as boiling chicken in coconut water or fishing by the sea—at which point she would stretch her neck and stare at them curiously before returning to her meal.

1. The cutlassfishes are about 45 species of predatory ray-finned fish in the family Trichiuridae of the order Scombriformes found in seas throughout the world. Fish of this family are long, slender, and generally steely blue or silver in colour, giving rise to their name. They have reduced or absent pelvic and caudal fins, giving them an eel-like appearance, and large fang-like teeth. ☜