Chapter 512: Awaiting Clarity at Mount Tianzhu

Since that fateful night, the officials, constables, and migrant settlers—who had already shown great respect toward Song You’s group—became even more reverent. If the officials managed to prepare a good meal, they would first bring a portion to him.

Likewise, when the migrants foraged wild fruits in the mountains or caught fish in the streams, they would often offer some to Song You’s group before keeping the rest for themselves.

Song You sometimes accepted, sometimes declined with courtesy.

In return, Lady Calico frequently caught mountain rats and wild hares along the journey, or summoned tigers and wolves to hunt wild cattle, deer, and musk deer. Whatever she couldn't finish, she shared with the others.

After all, Yuezhou was a land blessed with natural abundance. It had been left deserted for years, turning into a paradise for wildlife. A simple stick was enough to catch fish in the rivers, and anyone with even basic hunting skills could find game in the mountains. Mountain rats and wild hares were particularly plentiful—bordering on overpopulation.

For these migrants, who had struggled with hunger before coming north, there was no such thing as being picky about food.

Lady Calico’s favorite pastime was catching rats to give away, watching people eat them, and then turning to observe her Daoist companion with amusement.

Yuezhou was indeed teeming with demons and spirits.

Since that night, whenever the migrants camped in the mountains, demons would almost inevitably appear. Some came out of pure curiosity, some harbored mild hostility, while others were downright vicious.

Occasionally, they even encountered them during the day.

Song You typically let the migrants handle the threats themselves, offering only guidance and assistance when necessary. If the demons were too powerful to subdue, he would call upon Lady Calico or the swallow to intervene.

As they traveled deeper into Yuezhou, the once endless migration procession—so long it seemed to stretch beyond sight—gradually dispersed. Under the leadership of officials and constables, different groups branched off to settle in various regions.

The northward migration was progressing step by step, starting from the southernmost edge of Yuezhou.

This was the first wave of settlers. Though their numbers were significant, no matter how far they journeyed, they could not penetrate deeply into Yuezhou just yet.

Before long, the time for Song You to part ways with them arrived.

The land here was picturesque, blessed with clear mountains and flowing waters. In the distance, remnants of Yuezhou's former villages could still be seen. Old thatched cottages and mud-brick houses had fallen into disrepair, and wild grasses had overtaken the fields, though traces of past farmland could still be discerned.

Hundreds of homeless migrants, having journeyed thousands of li from the south, stood amidst the overgrown landscape, surveying what would soon become their new home. Of the first migration wave, they had traveled the farthest.

Song You narrowed his eyes, scanning the surroundings. Then, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture toward the officials overseeing this group of settlers.

“I am grateful for the care and assistance you have provided all this time. This is where you will establish your settlement and cultivate the land. As for us, we must continue northward. Here is where we part ways.”

“Sir, where do you plan to go next?”

“I do not yet know.”

“Then... What is your purpose in heading north? Is there anything we can do to assist?”

Hearing this, the officials and settlers all widened their eyes in anticipation.

It was clear that they were deeply concerned about this question.

It made sense to wonder—Song You was not like the migrants, who had been forced north due to hardship. With his abilities, he could have been a highly sought-after guest in any wealthy household. Yet instead, he chose to travel north with nothing but a jujube-red horse, a calico cat, a swallow, and a full pack of belongings.

Why would such an immortal-like figure undertake this journey?

Everyone had been puzzled for a long time, yet no one could figure it out.

“There’s no need to trouble yourselves over my affairs,” Song You said with a gentle smile. “Clearing land and settling here won’t be easy, and Yuezhou is still far from peaceful. I ask only that you remain cautious and patient. My greatest wish is that all of you can find stability on this land and live the good lives you were once denied.”

Immediately, one of the officials cupped his hands and replied, “Great tasks must begin with the small, and great undertakings must be approached with precision. We will lead these settlers, one hoe at a time, to carve out a paradise here.”

“I will take my leave, then,” Song You said, pausing slightly before adding, “Oh, one more thing—if more migrant groups pass through here, please inform their leading officials.

“There is a vast mountain range in the northern part of Yuezhou, stretching for hundreds of li, shrouded in miasma. Anyone who enters falls ill, and the area is teeming with demons. I do not know if the imperial court is aware, but please, warn them not to enter lightly.”

“We will remember,” the official replied solemnly. “And we will never forget your kindness, sir.”

“You jest,” Song You chuckled. “Farewell.”

“

Meow

...”

Without saying more, he turned and walked away.

The sound of horse bells followed after him.

Ahead, a grand official road stretched north. Once an important passage connecting the south to the north, its construction had been so solid that even after years of neglect, it had not been overtaken by weeds. At most, the overgrown vegetation on either side had begun leaning onto the path, narrowing its already limited space.

Still, it was enough for travel on horseback.

The calico cat followed beside the Daoist, frequently glancing back. They walked farther and farther, until the settlers had completely vanished from sight. Only then did she pick up her little steps, trotting up to him and asking, “Are we going to find that demon?”

“There’s no guarantee we’ll find him.”

“Why not?”

“He is very powerful—stronger than the marsh dragon, stronger than the fox, and even stronger than most immortals in the heavens. And he is well hidden,” Song You explained patiently. “Otherwise, he would have been discovered long ago.”

“Oh...” The calico cat nodded, but her curiosity remained.

“Then what do we do?”

“We wait.”

“Wait for what?”

“It won’t be long now.”

“It won’t be long...”

The calico cat shot him a doubtful look. Seeing that he had no intention of explaining further, she could only withdraw her gaze, shake her head, and act as if it wasn’t a big deal.

Before long, the calico cat’s attention was drawn to a butterfly flitting past. She leaped up, trying to catch it with her paws. The moment she succeeded, she popped it into her mouth—eating one herself before generously offering another to the swallow.

As they walked, she took in the sight of the road and the towering mountains on either side, craning her neck to look up. A nagging sense of familiarity crept over her.

“Mm! This road... I think we've been here before!”

“Lady Calico, you’re very clever.”

“Hmm? So we really have?”

“Of course.” Song You turned to her with a faint smile. “Otherwise, why would you find it familiar?”

“Because all mountains look the same,” the cat answered seriously. “They're tall, covered in grass and trees, and you have to tilt your head way up just to see the top.”

“...”

Song You pressed his lips together, his expression neutral as he withdrew his gaze. He simply replied, “This is the road to Mount Tianzhu.”

“Mount Tianzhu!”

“Yes...”

The last time he had traveled to Yuezhou, he had also passed through Mount Tianzhu. However, he hadn’t stayed there long. At the time, he had yet to understand the Five-Directions Soil, nor had he grasped the process of forming an underworld. He had also been unaware that the structure of the old Heavenly Palace wasn’t so different from the underworld that would take shape in the future.

As a result, his insights back then had been lacking.

Now, he had returned once more.

***

Two days later, Mount Tianzhu finally came into view.

Yuezhou’s Mount Tianzhu bore some resemblance to the southern Mount Zunzhe—both were immense peaks crowned by sheer rock formations, creating breathtaking yet perilous landscapes.

However, while Mount Zunzhe resembled an elderly figure raising a hand in greeting, Mount Tianzhu was a singular, soaring stone pillar thrusting straight into the sky. The greatest difference between the two was that Mount Tianzhu’s towering pillar could actually be climbed.

Not only could one ascend it—there were two palace halls at its summit.

In the past, Mount Tianzhu had been one of Yuezhou’s most famous scenic spots, attracting even more visitors than Mount Zunzhe. But war had ravaged the land, trampling over civilization itself. Now, the mountain paths were overgrown with wild grass, and the revelers who once filled its heights with music and laughter were long gone.

With so few people left in the north, even celestial beings who ascended to the heavens rarely used Mount Tianzhu as their gateway anymore.

“

Sigh

...”

Song You couldn't help but shake his head.

The stone pillar of Mount Tianzhu was nearly vertical, with a consistent width from top to bottom. The mountain path had been carved directly into its surface, winding around the pillar as it ascended.

Because the path was made of solid stone, at least it hadn’t been overtaken by weeds.

The horse had no chance of making the climb. In fact, forget the horse—even people couldn't walk up.

They had to climb.

Not only did they have to climb, but there were no safety measures at all. The path included near-vertical sections that required gripping onto the rock face, gaps that had to be leaped across, and areas where mountain springs had seeped through, leaving the stone surface slick and treacherous.

As they ascended the spiraling pillar, the wind grew stronger and stronger. For the average person, looking down was out of the question—one glance would send their legs trembling, and a fall from here would mean certain death, their body shattered beyond recognition.

The danger was immense.

Song You unloaded the horse’s saddlebags, taking only the essentials. He left the horse to rest and graze in the valley below while he and the cat began their ascent alone.

Against the vastness of Mount Tianzhu, a human clinging to its rocky surface was as small as an ant.

By the time they reached the summit, the mountain winds howled fiercely. The view was unimaginably vast—rolling mountain ranges stretched beneath them, white clouds drifted at eye level, and mist rolled past as if flowing through the air itself.

At the peak stood two palace halls, their white walls and blue-tiled roofs still standing, though long abandoned. The roof tiles had begun to leak, but at least the buildings still offered some shelter from the wind and rain.

No one knew which great master had first discovered Mount Tianzhu or how they had managed to construct these two halls at such a perilous height. It was even more of a mystery how those past masters had practiced their cultivation atop this narrow peak, where a single misstep beyond the temple walls meant plunging off a sheer cliff.

Regardless, Song You had nothing but admiration for them.

Just as before, he circled the palace halls once before finally pushing open the door and stepping inside.

“

Creak

!”

Inside, a divine statue still stood at the altar, and meditation cushions remained in place.

“We’ll be staying here for a few days—six days, to be precise,” Song You said as he seated himself on a cushion, speaking to the calico cat, who was busy sniffing around the room.

“Got it...”

The cat barely spared him a glance before returning to her exploration.

Song You said nothing more.

Closing his eyes, his mind seemed to both retreat deep within and extend outward into the heavens and earth. Perhaps there was no real distinction between the two. In that moment, he became attuned to the vast world around him, and even the mountain winds felt as though they flowed beneath his ribs.

The spiritual resonance of the land and its mysteries began to unfold before him, revealing both its similarities to and differences from Mount Zunzhe.

During this time, Lady Calico became his cook.

She spent her days scaling the pillar-like peak, fetching and storing their supplies, or climbing all the way down to hunt fresh game to prepare for him. She neither complained of hardship nor feared the danger—in fact, she thoroughly enjoyed herself.

Before long, six days had passed. With the changing of time, the flow of spiritual resonance had also shifted. And now, it had reached a pivotal moment.

The meditating Daoist suddenly opened his eyes.

It was Qingming[1].

1. Just a reminder for those of you who have forgotten: Qingming Festival, or 清明节 (Qīngmíng Jié) in Chinese, is a time-honored tradition that dates back over 2,500 years to the Zhou Dynasty. It is a time to remember and honor ancestors by visiting their gravesites, cleaning their tombs, and offering food, tea, and other items. ☜