Chapter 513: A Hidden Refuge

“

Whoosh

!”

A gust of mountain wind blew open the palace windows. Beyond the small square frame, endless mountain ranges stretched below, while above, boundless white clouds rolled across the sky.

“Lady Calico.”

“

Meow

?”

“I'm going to leave for a while. I’ll transform into a swallow. During this time, I must ask you to protect me. No matter what happens, do not leave this room.”

Seated in meditation, Song You lowered his gaze to meet the calico cat’s upturned eyes. His expression was solemn. “Can you do this?”

“I can!” the cat answered with utmost seriousness.

“Remember, no matter what happens, you must not leave.” Song You repeated the warning, cupping his hands in a formal gesture. “My safety will be in your hands, Lady Calico.”

“Understood!” The cat’s expression became even more determined. She immediately sat down on the ground in a proper, upright posture, her tail sweeping back and forth idly.

𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Then, she asked, “When will you be back?”

“If it’s quick, just a few hours. At most, a full day and night.”

“Got it!”

“Thank you...”

“You're welcome!”

Only then did Song You relax. He extended his hand.

In his palm lay a small red pill.

Without hesitation, he tilted his head back and swallowed it whole. Closing his eyes, he remained perfectly still in his meditative pose.

In an instant, his soul left his body. He transformed into a swallow.

The cat was immediately drawn to the sight. She first looked up at the swallow fluttering in the air, then back down at the Daoist’s still form. But she stayed firmly in place, not moving a single cun.

“

Whoosh

!”

The swallow shot out through the window.

Though the palace room was small, its window narrow, the world beyond was vast beyond measure.

Mountain winds rushed past, whistling in his ears. There was no need to flap his wings; merely spreading them open allowed the wind to lift him effortlessly.

Today was

Qingming

. The air was fresh, and the scenery was bright; all things were revealed in their full splendor.

Even atop Mount Tianzhu, it was a rare day of perfect weather.

Borrowing the mystical aura of Mount Tianzhu, Song You attuned himself to its spiritual resonance, sensing how the verdant peaks beneath his feet extended outward, merging with the heavens and earth. It was as if they soared straight into the cosmos, transforming into an ancient deity gazing down upon the world.

As his “gaze” expanded, the spiritual resonance of Yuezhou’s mountains and rivers, the profound mysteries of heaven and earth, all surfaced in his mind—subtle yet mysterious.

“...”

His spirit-form swallow flapped its wings, shooting upward like an arrow piercing through the clouds, flying higher and higher.

Mount Tianzhu itself was already towering over the surrounding peaks. But as the swallow neared the cumulus clouds above, he looked down, and even this majestic mountain shrank into a mere speck amidst the vast range.

A profound realization struck him. It was a clarity brought by having a swallow’s vision.

Two entirely different perceptions intertwined in his consciousness, complementing one another.

In that instant, he could discern where the spiritual energy was most abundant, where it was waning, where hidden mysteries lay, and where profound secrets were concealed. All illusions and disguises faded, leaving only distinct imprints upon the world.

“...”

Without hesitation, the spirit-form swallow sped toward the distant horizon.

Time was of the essence, and Song You flew with remarkable speed. He was faster than any ordinary swallow.

Just then, a real swallow swooped in from the side, briefly flying parallel to him before pulling ahead. A voice rang out from its beak, “Sir! Let me lead the way!”

In an instant, Song You’s speed surged even faster.

If there was no wind to ride, the swallow would flap its wings with all its might, no more than a tiny speck in the vast sky, yet an arrow piercing through the heavens. But when the wind was right, it would take a brief rest, spreading its wings and gliding effortlessly, carrying the spirit-form swallow along.

Only when the glide brought it too close to the mountain slopes or when the wind faded would it resume its relentless flapping.

At times, it was calm and serene; at others, fierce and relentless.

Whenever it encountered a predator or an erratic gust, the swallow would twist its body midair with ease—its movements fluid and effortless, yet its turns sharp and decisive—shaking off threats without the slightest difficulty.

Guided by the spiritual resonance of the

Qingming

season, Song You successively located the ancestral lands of the Yuezhou foxes, the marsh dragons, and the white rhinoceros. He discovered several abandoned sacred mountains, ancient temples, and the secluded abodes of cultivators.

He even stumbled upon a few areas rich with spiritual resonance that seemed to have never been found before. Among his findings was the very spot the fox had spoken of—the place where the willow tree had once taken root. But now, all that remained was a deep pit in the earth.

Song You was not discouraged. He simply instructed the swallow to change direction and fly north.

It was late spring, and wildflowers were in full bloom.

Somewhere in the mountains, peach and apricot trees covered the slopes. When the mountain wind blew, the petals seemed to long to take flight alongside the swallows, drifting high into the sky.

Skimming along a sheer cliffside, they soared past a mountain wall as towering as the sky itself. Suddenly, the sound of rushing water reached his ears. Looking down, he saw the Yuelong Waterfall cascading down in tiers—each section a pure white ribbon, flowing in staggered drops. Every waterfall sent up waves of mist, swirling like layers of snow, so dense that the water vapor almost brushed against him.

Not long after, they flew forward, piercing through the clouds. Before them lay a valley where countless pools of water glittered like embedded gemstones, each reflecting a different color.

Most of these were sights he had seen before. Yet now, with a different season and a fresh perspective, they carried an entirely new charm.

The swallow gradually ascended.

Suddenly, a world of mist and miasma appeared before them...

A vast sea of fog spread across the land, enveloping the mountains. It was impossible to tell whether the fog locked the mountains in or the mountains trapped the fog. Most peaks were obscured, their outlines faintly visible within the clouds. Only a few taller summits barely peeked out, like islands adrift in a misty ocean.

And yet, within these mountains stood trees even taller than the peaks themselves—towering ancient parasol trees, their bark gleaming with a bluish hue. Their trunks were straight and slender, rising through the fog and piercing the sky.

These trees bore no excess branches along their lower trunks. Only at their highest points did their limbs spread out, forming crowns that resembled great bird nests.

They were the very same ancient parasol trees he had seen before.

An endless forest of them stretched through the mist, bursting forth from the fog like nature’s own monolithic pillars. From a high-altitude view, the sight was breathtaking, striking the mind with an overwhelming visual impact.

“As expected...”

The spirit-form swallow fixed its gaze ahead.

Taking advantage of the

Qingming

season’s clarity and the resonance of heaven and earth, Song You’s vision was unimpeded. Though the miasma below was thick, it could not hinder his sight. Even the deepest of hidden secrets had nowhere to escape beneath his gaze.

He saw the surging demon aura rising to the heavens. He saw lingering, coagulated blood energy that had yet to dissipate. He saw the concealed demon kingdom hidden within the mist. And beneath the parasol trees, he saw the willow tree.

But what astonished him most was the sheer brilliance of the concealment methods used.

“Truly remarkable...”

Had he not deliberately come here during

Qingming

, had he not prepared extensively in advance, had he not borrowed the spiritual resonance of Mount Tianzhu, he would never have uncovered it no matter how many times he passed through, ten or even a hundred times.

Just then, an abrupt change occurred.

“

Chirp

!”

The swallow ahead suddenly let out a sharp cry. Its body trembled, and before it could react, it began plummeting uncontrollably toward the ground.

Song You had been following closely behind, synchronizing his movements with the swallow through the secret techniques of the Anqing swallows. Naturally, he felt the sudden, rapid descent, as well as the mysterious force pulling them downward. He could also sense the swallow’s desperate struggle against it—so much so that he too instinctively flapped his wings with all his strength, trying to break free.

This force was strange—peculiar and enigmatic. It wasn’t a simple pull dragging them downward, but rather a power that made it impossible for them to fly, forcing them to land.

No matter how desperately the swallow fought against it, the descent was inevitable. Fortunately, they had been flying high enough.

“Turn back,” Song You spoke calmly.

“...Alright.”

The swallow gritted its beak, responded briefly, and swiftly changed course, retreating along the path they had come.

Though they were still falling, they could at least alter their direction.

As soon as they veered away and flew back a certain distance, the strange force suddenly vanished into thin air.

Only then did the swallow breathe a sigh of relief, though lingering fear still clung to its heart. It flapped its wings rapidly, climbing in altitude as quickly as possible, afraid that if the same phenomenon occurred again, they wouldn’t have enough height left to maneuver and escape.

“What... What was that?”

“I don’t know.”

“Even you don’t know, sir?”

“The world is vast and full of wonders. There are still many things I have yet to understand.”

The two swallows flew toward Mount Tianzhu.

The sun was setting, dusk settling over the land.

Mount Tianzhu stood tall among the surrounding peaks, bathed in the golden hues of the evening glow, a sight of breathtaking grandeur.

Below, the rolling green mountains stretched for a hundred li, their forests lush and thriving. A jujube-red horse grazed alone amidst the hills, enjoying both the grass and the tranquil scenery. Atop the mountain, the temples appeared aged by time, wisps of smoke curling lazily into the air, lending the scene a touch of celestial serenity.

At last, the two swallows parted ways.

The spirit-form swallow flapped its wings, skimming low over the green hills. As it passed near the jujube-red horse, a faint spiritual glow rippled across the grass before quickly fading into nothingness. Then, it circled Mount Tianzhu, ascending toward its peak, where the protective spiritual light guarding Lady Calico slowly dissipated.

Inside the room, a young Daoist sat cross-legged, his eyes tightly shut. Beside him sat a little girl dressed in a tricolored outfit, occupying the exact same spot where the cat had been sitting earlier.

The girl sat in a completely relaxed posture—one leg stretched out, the other bent at an angle. In front of her was a small stove made of stacked stones, with a little pot on top, steaming with heat. She lifted the lid to take a peek inside, then reached for more firewood.

However, all the wood was piled in the corner of the room, and since she couldn’t get up or leave, she simply extended her hand, using a technique to move the logs through the air toward her.

It seemed likely that the entire stove, along with the firewood and rice, had been transported in the same manner.

Suddenly, the girl seemed to sense something. Her head snapped toward the window.

“

Whoosh

!”

A swallow flew in from outside, darting through the air before colliding directly into the Daoist’s body.

“You’re back?” The little girl immediately fixed him with a serious stare.

“Yes.” The Daoist opened his eyes, pursed his lips slightly, then glanced at her. “It seems that you’ve guarded me well.”

“I didn’t go anywhere!”

“I only asked you not to leave the room and not to stray too far from me. I never said you had to sit here without moving.”

“You didn’t say that!”

“Well, regardless, I appreciate it. Thank you, Lady Calico.”

“You’re welcome!” The little girl maintained her serious expression as she stared at him. “I made rat porridge. Do you want some?”

“No, thanks. I’m not hungry.”

“Then, can I move now?

Meow

?”

“Yes, you can move now.”

“Phew...”

The little girl finally breathed a sigh of relief and quickly got up. Unlike a normal person who might stretch their legs or dust off their clothes after sitting for a long time, she simply stretched her whole body with an exaggerated yawn—just like a cat.