Chapter 477: The People of Yuzhou Love Eating Snakes and Rats

“

Whoosh

...”

The mountain wind rustled through the forest, creating a soft, whispering sound.

In a moment of hazy recollection, Huo Erniu seemed to hear the same voice from the dream he had in that abandoned temple—gentle and calm as ever.

“Previously, you harbored impure thoughts and obtained a treasure that did not rightfully belong to you, leaving your heart uneasy. Now that those thoughts have been purged, this bamboo staff can only be used to strike at demons and evil spirits; it is useless against humans. I will give it to you.

“I hope that in this life, you can stay true to your heart and use it wisely. Should you ever give in to wicked thoughts again, the bamboo staff will revert to an ordinary object.”

“...”

Huo Erniu stood frozen in place, gripping the bamboo staff.

He opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.

At this moment, he fully understood—even though this bamboo staff was not the same one as before, it possessed the same mystical properties. The strange thing was that this time, holding it brought him no trace of unease.

The first thought that crossed Huo Erniu’s mind was—

the legends were false after all.

The storytellers in the teahouses and inns always said that Mister Duan had stolen Immortal Luo’s sword, and with it, he slew demons and defended justice. He not only gained extraordinary skills but also carried an air of heroism, earning the people’s respect.

Huo Erniu didn’t know whether an immortal named Luo had really lost his sword somewhere in the heavens, but he knew one thing for sure—no true hero was ever made by stealing someone else's weapon.

The Huo Erniu of the past wouldn't have been such a person. And naturally, neither was the legendary Mister Duan.

Yet, years later, perhaps Yangzhou would have its own true legend—a story just as strange and captivating as the ones Huo Erniu had once heard.

***

The Daoist and his companions had already left Yangzhou.

The sun blazed high in the sky, casting stark shadows across the land. The silhouettes of a man, a cat, and a horse stood out sharply beneath the glaring light.

The rhythmic clatter of hooves and the gentle chime of horse bells echoed along the mountain road.

“If you keep heading north from Yangzhou, you’ll reach Bozhou. Bozhou produces fine textiles—perfect for making good robes for Daoists, just like the ones Wenpingzi wears.,” the cat continued padding along beside the Daoist, turning her head to glance to the side. The bright sunlight cast her tiny, dark shadow onto the ground.

She recited from something she had read that morning in

Yudi Jisheng

, “If you head left from Bozhou, you'll reach Yuzhou.”

“Lady Calico, you’re absolutely right—your memory is outstanding. But I already have clothes to wear, and they are comfortable and free. I have no need for another set of fine robes. The ones I wear now are the best robes for me.”

“They're very old.”

“Old is good. I know them well, and they know me well,” Song You replied, pausing slightly before adding, “Besides, making a new set would be a burden for the horse to carry, and washing them would be troublesome too.”

“Hmm...”

The cat looked up at him, her gaze lingering for a moment. She said nothing more—whether she accepted his reasoning or simply had her own feline thoughts remained unclear. Instead, she continued reading aloud, “The people of Yuzhou are known for eating snakes and rats...”

“...”

“People should eat rats!”

“...”

“And they should eat snakes too!”

“...”

“Why don’t you eat rats?”

“I don’t like them.”

“Everyone in Yuzhou loves eating them!”

“People have different tastes...”

“Past Yuzhou is Luozhou, which is known for its donkeys. If you go further left from Luozhou, you’ll reach Luzhou. Luzhou is next to Guangzhou, where Shu Yifan is from. After Luzhou, you’ll be back in Changjing.”

The calico cat continued her recitation.

“Hmm?” Song You’s curiosity was piqued, and he couldn’t help but ask, “Lady Calico, you’re not calling him ‘that Shu fellow’ anymore?”

“I now know not to call him that!”

“How do you know?”

“I learned it from the books.” The cat spoke as she trotted forward, her little paws never stopping. At the same time, she turned her head to stare at him. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

“...Because it was cute.”

“

Meow

?”

“And besides, you would have found out sooner or later—why rush to tell you?”

“...”

The man, the cat, and the horse continued on their journey.

Both sides of the mountain road were lined with tall, thriving cornfields. With each bend or patch of hills, others could only hear the jingling of the horse’s bell and the Daoist’s voice, but they could no longer see the traveling trio.

And the same was true for the Daoist—he, too, could not see others.

At this moment, they had set foot in Bozhou.

Since this year, Bozhou had been frequently plagued by evil spirits. In severe cases, the disturbances even disrupted trade routes. Fortunately, the Great Yan empire was in a golden age. While its central army was not as elite as it had been at the founding of the dynasty, it was still strong and well-trained.

If these demons and spirits only troubled a single village or household, it was one thing—but should they dare to block official roads, the authorities would dispatch soldiers or seek the aid of experts to eliminate them.

Most demons and spirits could not withstand the might of a well-trained battalion.

Lady Calico, ever the righteous heroine, took it upon herself to subdue demons and vanquish evil. Any lingering fiends or ghosts that the soldiers were ill-equipped to handle—if they had the misfortune of encountering Lady Calico—would find that their luck had run out.

Sometimes, she helped along the way without leaving her name. Other times, people took notice, and a legend would be born. It was all left to chance—there was no deliberate attachment to one way or the other.

Before long, they reached the edge of Bozhou. A considerable amount of time had already passed.

On the official road that connected to Changjing, amidst an unnamed small mountain, the Daoist and his companions continued their journey when the cat suddenly stopped. She looked up at the sky, her eyes locked on a distant speck in the clouds.

Following her gaze, a tiny black dot could be seen.

The swallow had returned.

“

Whoosh

...”

The dark speck grew rapidly larger, becoming clear in an instant. The swallow spread its wings wide without flapping them, gliding effortlessly through the air before landing lightly on the horse’s back.

“Sir, I’m back.”

“Was your journey smooth?”

“Heading north from here, I first passed through Yanzhou, so I stopped at Yanzhou’s abandoned Turtle City.” The swallow, standing atop the horse, turned to glance at the calico cat below before shifting its gaze to the Daoist.

He added, “The ghost soldiers in that ruined city are truly formidable. Over the past few years, they’ve been diligently training within the Ghost City while also patrolling outside, ridding Yanzhou of evil spirits. Many of them have even accumulated spiritual incense offerings from the living. When I flew in, they nearly shot me down. But once I revealed your spiritual energy, everything was fine.”

“What of them now?”

“They hold you in great respect and trust. When I left Turtle City, they had already set out overnight. By now, they’ve likely reached Fengzhou.” The swallow added, “With their skills, few newly formed malicious or fierce ghosts would be able to stand against them.”

“That’s good.” Song You paused for a moment before asking, “And General Chen?”

“That went smoothly as well. Just as you instructed, I delivered the elixir to General Chen and explained its effects and usage. He took it in silence for a long time before finally sending me off.”

“...”

Hearing this, Song You also fell silent for a while.

If he put himself in General Chen’s shoes—

The general had long been under the old emperor’s suspicion. He barely escaped with his life from Changjing and fled to the north. Now, as the commander of the northern border, his influence was immense. His name struck fear in the hearts of those beyond the borders, and he lived almost like a warlord, a king in his own right.

But then, out of nowhere, he receives a resurrection elixir from a Daoist... How could he not be filled with countless thoughts?

“...You worked hard.”

“It was easy, not hard at all.”

The Daoist nodded and continued walking forward.

The swallow remained perched on the horse’s back, while the calico cat on the ground fixed him with an intense, curious stare.

“You flew all the way to the border?”

“That’s right.”

“And you went to that Turtle City too?”

“Yes.”

“And you made it back this quickly!?”

“As long as there are no delays on the way, an ordinary swallow could return this fast too. And I fly even faster than an ordinary swallow.”

“Having wings is so nice! Why don’t cats have wings?” The calico cat couldn’t help but grumble. “We’ve been traveling all the way back from the north, and it’s taken forever.”

“Traveling for experience and rushing along the road are two different things...”

At last, the calico cat let Song You off the hook.

Now, the two little demons chattered endlessly behind him. Compared to eight years ago in Anqing, it seemed that both of them had changed quite a bit.

As they crossed the small mountain, the official road ahead opened up to a clearing—flattened by repeated footsteps. In the center of the clearing stood a stone boundary marker.

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

The moment the calico cat spotted the stone tablet, she immediately lost interest in the swallow, stopped talking, and dashed forward. She ran behind the marker, lifted her head to take a good look, then scampered back to the Daoist and announced excitedly, “Yuzhou’s border! We’re in Yuzhou now!”

“Yes...”

As Song You nodded in response, a memory surfaced in his mind—years ago, at the Xuzhou border, and the illiterate little calico cat standing before the boundary marker.

Lady Calico had grown a lot since then.

“There’s a household up ahead,” the swallow said, taking flight to scout.

“A household ahead? Just in time. The Daoist priest had finished all his food. We need to find someone to buy more to take with us for the journey.” The cat’s eyes sparkled as she took quick steps forward, craning her neck to see ahead.

But the cornfields on the mountain grew thick and tall, and she was far too small to see anything. “There are no shops along this road. I will go and trade money for some food for the Daoist priest.”

“No need, I’ll go myself.”

“I will help you.” As she spoke, the calico cat had already transformed into her human form.

“I appreciate your kindness.”

Song You glanced at her gleaming, eager eyes. With a calm tone, he continued walking forward.

About two li ahead, there was a village.

People walked through the village carrying farming tools, while small groups gathered in shaded areas to chat and rest. There was even a scholar sitting in front of his house, engrossed in his studies. When they saw Song You and his companions approaching, they all turned their heads in curiosity.

Song You approached the scholar reading at his doorstep, greeted him with a bow, and asked, “I am Song You, a traveling Daoist. May I ask which commandery and county this place belongs to?”

Hearing this, the scholar quickly set down his book and returned the greeting.

“I am Xu Qiuyue. To answer your question, this is Fuyao County, Ke Commandery, in Yuzhou, right on the border with Bozhou. May I ask where you are coming from and where you are headed?”

“I have come from Yangzhou and Bozhou, traveling the world, though my general destination is Changjing.” Song You explained, “Now that I’ve arrived here, my water flask is empty, and I’ve finished my provisions. I am quite hungry—may I trouble you for some water and exchange something for dry rations? If no rations are available, rice or flour would also suffice.”

“Water is no problem...” However, Xu Qiuyue looked a little troubled. “But as for dry rations that are easy to carry, or even rice and flour, my household has none left. We are all waiting for the Swallow Rice in the fields to ripen—it’s our last hope for survival.”

“Then I will gratefully accept just the water.”

“It’s no trouble at all...”

The scholar quickly rolled up his book and led them inside.

A large water jar stood in the house, but it was nearly empty. As he picked up a ladle to fill Song You’s flask, the water level dropped to the very bottom.

“Apologies for the meager offering.”

“This clear, sweet water is the result of your hard labor. I would never dare to laugh at it—only to offer my gratitude.”

“This has been an ill-fated year, a ‘ghost year,’ so to speak. Misfortune lingers everywhere—if it's not bandits raiding the mountains, then it’s supernatural disturbances. Our county has been hit especially hard. Every household is struggling to get by, and even roadside tea stalls have shut down. If you need food supplies, I’m afraid you’ll have to go to the city.”

“How far is the city from here?”

“Another forty to fifty li ahead.”

As he spoke, Xu Qiuyue hesitated slightly and glanced up and down at Song You’s group.

The Daoist had a youthful appearance but spoke with an air of maturity. In his hand was a green jade bamboo staff, and behind him stood a bridleless jujube-red horse. Accompanying him were not just a swallow but also a young girl—it was an unusual sight.

The girl was extraordinarily beautiful, almost otherworldly, and far too clean to be someone who had traveled a long journey. At this moment, she was tilting her head up, staring unblinkingly at the few smoked rats hanging from the scholar’s ceiling beam.

This group was anything but ordinary.

The scholar's thoughts stirred, and he couldn't help but ask, “Sir, do you know how to exorcise demons?”

Before the Daoist could respond, the young girl withdrew her gaze from the smoked rats on the beam and eagerly answered first, “My Daoist priest is the best at exorcising demons!”

“Truly?” The scholar still turned to Song You for confirmation.

“To be honest, I used to be the best at exorcising demons,” Song You answered truthfully. “But now that I have my Lady Calico, I suppose I’ve been demoted to second best.”

“If that’s the case, then I might have a suggestion for you.”

The scholar glanced between Song You and the girl, deep in thought.

“I have a distant relative in the city, a member of the prominent Xu family of Fuyao County. I've heard that since the beginning of this year, their residence has been plagued by many strange and malevolent disturbances.

“They’ve invited numerous exorcists to resolve the issue, but not only have their efforts been ineffective, the disturbances have grown worse—more frequent and more bizarre—leaving the household in great distress.

“I am only a distant relative, barely connected to them, yet they have generously supported my studies, for which I am deeply grateful. To hear that such kind people are suffering from these supernatural troubles is frustrating, but I can do nothing to help.

“Today, by chance, I encountered you. Perhaps this is fate. If you truly have the ability to exorcise demons, you should visit the Xu family residence. Given the character of the Xu family, even if you fail to eliminate the disturbances, they will likely still reward you with some fine provisions, which will save you from spending too much silver.”

“The Xu family of Fuyao? Malevolent disturbances?”

“If you truly have the skill, just ask around in any shop within the city. Everyone will know where the Xu family residence is. And once you arrive, you will naturally learn about the disturbances firsthand.”

“Then we shall go and see.” Song You smiled, cupped his hands in gratitude with a bow, and said, “Thank you for the information. You are diligent in your studies and know how to repay kindness—may you one day earn top honors in the imperial examinations and rise to great heights.”

“I wish you a smooth journey as well, sir.”

Only then did Song You tug lightly at his Lady Calico’s sleeve, signaling that it was time to go. But to his surprise, the young girl turned, walked over to the horse, rummaged through her pouch, and pulled out a dried rat. She ran back to the scholar and handed it to him as thanks for the water.

The scholar was deeply moved, while the young girl was immensely satisfied.

From that moment on, as they continued forward, she would frequently cast sidelong glances at the Daoist—whether in human or feline form. Even with the simple features of a cat, her gaze seemed to speak volumes.

After traveling for another half-day, they finally reached Fuyao County.

The moment the Daoist arrived, he felt something strange. It was a kind of unseen, mystical sensation.

It was similar to what he had experienced in late spring when leaving Yangdu—how the moment he stepped out, free from the city's overwhelming bustle, he could immediately sense a subtle, indescribable change in the natural world. Later, as he left Yangzhou and continued his journey, he gradually grew accustomed to the feeling and no longer noticed it.

But now, upon arriving here, the sensation became clear again.

Which meant that whatever made this place extraordinary was even more intense.