Chapter 508: Parting Ways with Changjing

Tonight was not like the Mid-Autumn Festival of years past, where they had encountered many old acquaintances along the way. However, quite a few people still came forward to inquire about them.

Most of them were maidservants and housekeepers.

It was likely because Yan An, in his transformed human form, was exceptionally handsome, dressed in fine clothing, and carried himself with a natural air of grace. It seemed that some noble young lady had taken a liking to him but was too shy to ask directly, so she sent her servants instead to inquire about his identity—whether he was the son of a prominent family in the city and whether he was already engaged.

And truth be told, women in this era were far from timid—especially in the time after the reign of the Empress.

Song You found the situation amusing rather than troublesome. He responded politely, explaining that Yan An was not from Changjing and would be leaving the city soon. He expressed gratitude for their interest but stated that Yan An currently had no intention of seeking marriage.

Meanwhile, Yan An turned beet red every single time.

Along the way, someone was striking molten iron to create dazzling bursts of sparks. Fireflowers burst into the sky, scattering like glowing fireflies.

There were also street magicians showcasing impressive illusions.

One performer suddenly stretched out his hand and flung a cloud of smoke into the air. With a loud

boom

, a ferocious tiger emerged from the mist, leaping toward the crowd. The spectators gasped in terror, some even collapsing to the ground in fright, scrambling backward. Yet, the moment the imposing tiger made contact with a person, it dissipated into nothing but a wisp of smoke.

The performer then tossed another handful of powder into the fire, and with a roar, a blazing inferno erupted. From within the flames, a dragon emerged, coiling and soaring along the river, its shimmering scales reflecting across the rippling water.

There were even acts featuring real animals.

Exotic creatures that could not be found near Changjing had been brought in for the festival—rhinoceroses from distant lands, elephants from the southwestern Yunzhou, the iron-eating pandas of Yizhou, and even lions, which did not exist anywhere in the Great Yan Empire. Alongside them were true tigers and leopards, all trained to perform tricks under the guidance of their handlers, captivating the people of Changjing.

The crowd was immense.

Spectators gasped in astonishment, tossing coins eagerly toward the performers.

Not just humans—Song You noticed that even some harmless demon had mingled into the throng, unafraid of the City Gods, reveling in the lively atmosphere alongside the humans. Meanwhile, ghostly officials and spectral soldiers, escorting virtuous ghosts and souls from distant lands to report to the City God of Changjing, also found themselves drawn to the commotion, lingering at the edges of the crowd to observe.

Yet, the sound of coins hitting the ground was noticeably sparser compared to the Mid-Autumn Festival several years ago.

Lady Calico was watching intently.

But beyond mere fascination, there was also contemplation in her gaze.

Meanwhile, Song You had already turned down two more groups of inquiring maidservants and attendants.

“What’s there to be shy about? You should be proud,” Song You remarked as they walked. “These aren’t just any ordinary girls—these are the daughters of Changjing’s most distinguished families, some even from noble bloodlines. Their standards are incredibly high, and they are extremely picky. If you were merely good-looking, they wouldn’t be so quick to send people to ask about your background and residence.

“This means you must have other qualities that attract them.”

Hearing this, Yan An only blushed even harder.

Song You let out a hearty laugh but then chose to stay silent.

Meanwhile, Lady Calico, holding her lantern, furrowed her tiny brows and shuffled along slowly, deep in thought as she walked.

About a quarter of an hour later...

Song You stood in the crowd, his expression completely blank as he watched the scene before him.

In the middle of the open space, two small demons were at work. The taller one, blushing fiercely, forced himself to endure the discomfort as he used a cloth pouch to scoop up coins scattered all over the ground.

The shorter one held a small flag, directing two massive tigers—each taller than herself—and several large wolves as they gracefully weaved through the open space. Under her stern and serious commands, they performed various tricks with remarkable discipline.

Unlike the conjured tigers from earlier stage performances, her beasts were tangible, real—ones that people could touch. And unlike the tigers and leopards from the trained animal acts, her creatures roamed freely without the need for cages. They were far more majestic than ordinary tigers, yet far more intelligent and obedient as well—even gentle enough for children to ride.

“Clink clink clink...”

The sound of copper coins clinking onto the ground filled the air.

With their departure from Changjing imminent, and the possibility of never seeing such a lively scene again for a long time, Song You simply let her be. If she enjoyed it, there was no reason to stop her.

***

Lady Calico’s beast-taming performances continued for several nights. Even after the Shangyuan Festival ended, she moved her act to the bustling night markets, unconcerned about location. With just a flick of her flag, tigers and wolves would appear in droves.

Fortunately, the city’s chief constable, who was in charge of maintaining order, happened to be an old acquaintance of hers. For the time being, no one dared to interfere with her performances.

***

A few days later...

The Daoist stood upstairs, gazing at the two paintings on the wall. He stared at them for a long time before finally taking them down, and at that moment, the room suddenly felt much emptier, colder.

“...”

Slowly, he rolled up the two paintings, his hand brushing over the wooden wall.

The wood was thin—so thin that back in the day, his neighbor could talk to him through it with barely any barrier between them. Even this past year, he could clearly hear the nightly murmurs of the couple living next door. The faint marks on the wall remained, not just as traces of their three separate stays in this home, but also as silent witnesses to his little cat’s growth.

But in the end, it was time to say goodbye.

Carrying his belongings, Song You turned and headed downstairs.

The small building had been cleaned thoroughly—not a speck of dust remained, and everything was neatly arranged. Even the jujube-red horse had returned from Mount Beiqin, making its way back to the city on its own and stopping right at this very place.

Lady Calico stood beside a table, where two neat piles of silver and a large coin pouch lay before her. She was meticulously counting their savings and the profits they had earned over the past few days, her expression utterly serious.

The Daoist casually asked, “Finished counting?”

“Finished packing?” Lady Calico turned her head and countered with a question of her own.

“All packed.”

“All counted.”

“Then let’s go.”

“Then let’s go!”

Song You placed his bundle onto the horse’s back.

The little girl also stuffed all the silver into the money pouch, stood on tiptoe, and tucked it securely into the saddlebag.

With that, the two of them, along with the horse, stepped out the door.

Song You locked the door as usual, holding the key in his hand. He looked up at the small building, gazing at it for a long while in silence before finally sighing. “We’ve lived in this little building for quite a while. It was thanks to the Housing Bureau keeping it for us all this time. Since we won’t be coming back, it’s about time we return the key and offer our thanks. Only then can we truly put an end to our matters in Changjing.”

“Put an end to... hmm?” The little girl’s expression stiffened.

As the Daoist stepped out onto the street, heading in a certain direction, she kept turning back, staring at the small building as if only now realizing, belatedly, what was happening. “We’re really never coming back,

meow

?”

“Haven’t I said it before? We won’t be passing through Changjing again in the future. So, most likely, we won’t return.”

“Oh...”

Scratching her head, the little girl still couldn’t help but glance back as they walked.

But no matter how straight the streets of Changjing were, the farther they walked, the less of the small building she could see. Eventually, she had no choice but to withdraw her gaze. Hugging her pouch tightly, she quickened her pace to keep up with her Daoist, following him farther and farther away.

Above them, a swallow flitted through the sky.

Forty-five minutes later, the group arrived at the government office of the right-wing of the Housing Bureau. Song You stated his purpose—he was here to return the keys to a rental property. However, as there was no contract, and he had lived there for years without paying rent, the clerks quickly realized the matter was not as simple as it seemed. One of them immediately went inside to report.

Before long, a man emerged from within. He was dressed in official robes and carried himself with the utmost respect. Introducing himself as Lu Wenlin, the clerk of the right-wing of the Housing Bureau, he bowed courteously.

Lu Wenlin saluted Song You, and Song You returned the gesture.

“I have long heard of your celestial deeds, but knowing that you prefer tranquility, I dared not disturb you. Today, it is truly an honor to finally meet you,” Lu Wenlin said, his voice trembling slightly.

“These past years, I must thank you for your care,” Song You replied.

“I wouldn’t dare accept such praise. I was merely following orders,” Lu Wenlin replied humbly.

“Even so, I must thank you for your efforts,” Song You said with polite sincerity.

He continued, “This time, I have come both to express my gratitude and to bid you farewell. We are leaving Changjing and will not be passing through again in our future travels. Most likely, we will never return. I wanted to personally inform you and return the key. Housing in Changjing is in high demand—this building should be rented to someone else.”

As he spoke, he took out the key and extended it forward.

“This...”

Lu Wenlin was momentarily stunned. He hesitated, unsure whether he should accept it or how to properly respond. By the time he processed the situation, the key was already in his hand.

At that moment, the Daoist handed him another item—a triangular talisman.

“I have heard that the world is becoming increasingly unpredictable, with strange and sinister occurrences happening more frequently. Though the City God of Changjing is diligent and keeps the city safe, one must be more cautious when traveling beyond its walls. Since fate has allowed me to cross paths with you, I offer this talisman for warding off evil. Whether for yourself or your family, carrying it will ensure protection.”

Lu Wenlin froze again, then quickly grew visibly excited.

Without hesitation, he bent forward and accepted the talisman with both hands. “Many thanks, Immortal Master...”

“This is where we part ways, then.”

“Safe travels, Immortal Master.”

Song You said no more. He simply turned and began walking toward the city gates.

The little girl hurried to keep up with him, while the horse, unhurried and steady, followed behind at a leisurely pace. Before long, they had disappeared into the distance.

Lu Wenlin remained standing at the doorway, his mind still unsettled.

In one hand, he held the key; in the other, the talisman.

He stared blankly in the direction they had left, watching until their figures were completely out of sight before finally withdrawing his gaze.

Though he had never dared to approach and befriend that man before, he had certainly heard plenty of stories about him.

That man was like an immortal.

And now, he had formed a connection—however brief—with such a figure.

To receive a gift from an immortal, or even just to have an immortal speak to him, express gratitude, and bid him farewell—that alone was enough to bring meaning to an otherwise ordinary and uneventful life.

To meet him just once was already enough.

Lu Wenlin’s mind replayed the Daoist’s words once more, lingering on their meaning.

Renting out the small building again?

“...”

Lu Wenlin shook his head instinctively.

He hadn’t heard any recent news about the State Preceptor, but back then, it wasn’t just the State Preceptor who had come looking for him. If he were to truly rent out that small building again, it wasn’t just a matter of whether the State Preceptor would approve—Changjing’s increasingly renowned City God, along with several influential figures in the court, likely wouldn’t allow it either.

It was said that last year, when Prince Shun entered the capital, he was nothing short of brazen. His soldiers, considering themselves elite warriors, feared neither heaven nor earth. Yet, not a single one of them dared set foot on that Willow Street.

No... the building would have to remain empty.

Lu Wenlin shook his head again before finally turning back and stepping into the government office.

By then, the Daoist had almost left Changjing.

Leaning slightly on his bamboo staff, he turned to take one last look at this city—the most celebrated under heaven.

Beside him, the little girl mimicked his actions. Unlike him, however, she didn’t seem particularly sentimental. She merely took a few extra glances, imprinting the sight in her memory, then decisively turned away.

Their footsteps stirred dust upon the yellow earth, and the jingling of the horse’s bell echoed through the air.

This was no longer the same path they had taken when heading north to Hezhou. Instead, it partially overlapped with the route they had taken when returning from the north years ago. Their journey led them out of Angzhou, cutting diagonally through Guangzhou, and then straight into Yuezhou.

Yan An carefully charted the shortest path forward.

By the time they had left Angzhou and reached Guangzhou, they found that groups of commoners were already being escorted by officials as they migrated northward.

This was a rare large-scale migration. The Daoist happened to encounter the very first group of those on the move.