Chapter 520: Why Do the Immortals Travel North?

To the south of Yuezhou, in a picturesque mountain valley, the agricultural official led two sturdy young men as they patrolled the fields.

Just a few months ago, this land had been barren. And it wasn’t just overgrown with wild grass—that would have been the least of their troubles. Clearing weeds was simple enough; the real challenge was the dense undergrowth, thorny bushes, saplings, and even full-grown trees.

Cutting them down was tedious, but even more troublesome was removing their deep, tangled roots from the soil. Only then could the land truly be made suitable for farming.

Yuan Que had originally been a scholar from Jingzhou. He had little experience with farming, but after repeatedly failing the imperial examinations and driven by a desire to serve his country, he answered the court’s call. He became an agricultural officer and joined the migration effort to reclaim land in Yuezhou.

Fortunately, he was humble and eager to learn, never ashamed to ask questions. He was also thoughtful, strategic, and skilled at inspiring people. Under his leadership, the settlers of the Immortal Homestead had adopted a communal approach to clearing land and planting crops.

Instead of each family struggling to cultivate their own plot, they divided labor based on age, strength, and gender. The fields were tilled collectively, and at the end of the season, the harvest and newly cultivated land would be distributed according to the effort each household had contributed. Next year, they would begin working their individual plots.

It had been a difficult process, but he had managed to earn everyone’s trust. They believed in his fairness, so they worked hard, knowing their efforts would lead to a better future.

As a result, productivity soared.

Now, the once-barren land was lush with crops, green and thriving. It was a sight that filled the heart with joy.

But behind this transformation lay an untold amount of sweat and toil.

“The people of this world don't see,

The farmer’s toil, his misery.

They think the grain in fields so wide,

Sprouts and ripens on its own with pride...”

[1]

Yuan Que couldn't help but sigh as he recited the old saying.

Farming was hard. Starting from nothing was even harder. And for those who had come to Yuezhou to rebuild their lives from scratch, the hardship was beyond words.

It was not just grueling labor; they also had to deal with the harassment of demons and malevolent spirits.

Fortunately, they were not alone. An immortal had traveled with them. The immortal had guided them in fighting off the demons, and the Swallow Immortal’s superior seeds had been a tremendous help. These seeds were truly miraculous; they could be harvested in just two or three months, and the yield was so abundant it seemed almost unreal.

By the second month of his arrival, Yuan Que had personally gathered bricks and stones to build a small shrine for Swallow Immortal in the fields. He even mixed the clay himself to sculpt a divine statue in its honor.

For the people who had come here—those displaced by misfortune—these two things were rare blessings.

“Not bad...”

Yuan Que lifted his gaze toward the mountainside in the distance.

Many people were already hard at work. Their roles were clearly divided—some chopped trees, others dug out roots, some stacked wood, and others lit fires. The entire scene bustled with energy. Though they had all once been refugees from different places, here, they had found something else—a sense of vitality.

Every time he saw it, hope for the future swelled in his chest.

The people of Great Yan were like this. Give them even the smallest patch of land, and they would take root, surviving against all odds.

Yet, it was a cruel irony that even this had become a luxury.

If it weren’t, there wouldn’t be so many refugees wandering across the land.

“

Sigh

...” Yuan Que let out a long sigh.

But he quickly reminded himself—this was not something a mere agricultural officer in charge of land reclamation should be worrying about. Shaking off his thoughts, he continued walking, intending to check on the progress of the land-clearing efforts up on the mountain and perhaps lend a helping hand.

However, he had barely taken a few steps when the sound of hurried footsteps suddenly echoed behind him.

The three of them tensed immediately, turning around in unison.

In Yuezhou, even in broad daylight, demons and spirits could still appear. While not all of them were deadly, their presence was never to be taken lightly.

When they got a clear look at the approaching figure, they finally relaxed.

It was a clerk from the Department of Agriculture.

“Sir Yuan, the second wave of northern-bound migrants has arrived. They're passing through our settlement on their way further north,” the clerk reported, panting from his run.

“Where are they now?”

“They're approaching from the official road.”

“I'm on my way!”

Without hesitation, Yuan Que broke into a run.

As he neared the remnants of the old official horseway, he saw the long procession of migrants winding up the road, just like when they had first arrived. The people in the convoy were mostly ragged, impoverished commoners, stretching as far as the eye could see.

However, there was something different this time.

Perhaps having learned from the experiences of the first wave of northern migration—or perhaps because this group was heading even farther north—this convoy was not only escorted by government officials but also by a military unit.

Yuan Que quickly approached.

At the very front of the procession rode a general clad in crimson armor, exuding an air of authority. The moment he noticed Yuan Que, he pulled the reins and brought his horse to a halt at the roadside.

“Who goes there?”

“I am the agricultural officer of the settlement ahead, sir. Greetings, General,” Yuan Que replied, cupping his hands respectfully.

“I am Hua Mi, Commander of Agriculture,” the general introduced himself, his gaze sharp as he looked down at Yuan Que from atop his horse. “Since you are the officer overseeing the settlement ahead, you have arrived just in time. I was about to send someone to find you.”

“You were looking for me, General?”

“Come...” With a wave of his hand, Hua Mi summoned a clerk from his entourage.

The clerk stepped forward immediately and handed Yuan Que a register book.

“What is this...?”

“This is a book compiled by Luo Jun, the legendary divine constable of Changjing. Throughout his life, he battled countless demons, ghosts, and spirits, and this book contains his accumulated knowledge,” the clerk explained to Yuan Que in a hushed voice. “It lists many common supernatural creatures, their weaknesses, what they fear, how to identify them, and how to counter them.”

“The Prime Minister has ordered the government to print copies and distribute them across the land, especially to the northern migration convoys, so that agricultural officers like yourself can use them to protect against demons and spirits.”

“This is incredible!” Yuan Que quickly took the book, flipping through a few pages. Even at a glance, he could tell how valuable it was. He immediately bowed in gratitude before adding, “Sir, there is something else I must report to you.”

General Hua furrowed his brow.

“What is it?”

“Previously, when we led the first wave of northern migrants, we encountered many demons and spirits in Yuezhou. We were fortunate to have the guidance of an immortal, which allowed us to travel in peace.” Yuan Que paused briefly before continuing, “When the immortal left to continue his journey north, he warned me of a danger I should pass on to future migration convoys.”

𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

“North of Yuezhou, there is a Qingtong Forest spanning hundreds of li, shrouded in miasma and mist. Anyone who enters will fall ill, and within the forest, monsters dwell. The immortal specifically instructed me to warn all northern-bound settlers and officers to stay away from that place.”

“North of Yuezhou? An immortal?”

General Hua’s brows knit tighter, his expression skeptical. He did not seem to place much reverence on the word 'immortal'.

“Which immortal?” he asked bluntly.

“His name is Song You.”

“Song?” General Hua’s expression froze. He seemed taken aback for a moment, then his frown deepened, his gaze filled with recollection.

“A young Daoist... with a jujube-red horse... and a calico cat?”

“Indeed, General. And also a swallow.”

As Yuan Que answered respectfully, he carefully observed the Commander of Agriculture's reaction.

The moment he confirmed it, General Hua let out a startled exclamation. He immediately swung off his horse, and grabbed Yuan Que's arm.

He bombarded him with questions—where had this immortal come from? Where was he heading? How had they met? What was his purpose?

Yuan Que was momentarily bewildered by the general’s urgency.

After some back-and-forth, he finally understood that General Hua was originally from Hezhou. In today’s Hezhou, Song You was already revered as a true immortal.

Reflecting on the Daoist’s demeanor along their journey, Yuan Que felt an even deeper sense of awe.

At the time, Song You had seemed so humble and ordinary—but in hindsight, that very ordinariness now felt extraordinary. His every word and action had been steeped in grace, and what once seemed merely polite now seemed ethereal and otherworldly.

Astonished, Yuan Que carefully recounted their journey with the immortal, even explaining the origins of “Immortal Homestead.”

However, why the immortal had come to Yuezhou, or why he continued heading north—this, Yuan Que did not know.

By now, it was already late afternoon.

General Hua decisively ordered the convoy to stop for the night, finding a spot far from local farmland to set up camp.

Using the flourishing fields of Immortal Homestead as motivation, he encouraged the migrants, showing them that new beginnings were possible.

That night, he invited Yuan Que to drink and converse over meat and wine.

Under the moonlight, there was no need for candles or oil lamps.

“Back when I was stationed in Hezhou, I often heard tales of Immortal Master Song. There are only two men in my life whom I have truly admired—one is Imperial Guardian Duke Chen Ziyi, and the other is this very immortal,” General Hua said, his voice tinged with deep respect.

“I’ve even dreamed of meeting them both, yet fate has never granted me the chance.”

“Oh?” Yuan Que couldn’t help but be curious. “General, as the newly appointed Commander of Agriculture in Yuezhou, didn’t you go to Changjing for your official appointment?”

“I did.”

“But isn’t it said that Imperial Guardian Duke Chen is recovering in Changjing? Did you not meet him there?”

“

Sigh

...” General Hua let out a long sigh.

Though there was a vast difference in their ranks, warriors were naturally straightforward.

Now that they were sitting together, drinking and eating meat, he had no airs about him as he explained, “Sir Yuan, you may not know, but during last year’s battle in Changjing, Imperial Guardian Duke Chen was struck by multiple arrows—many of them hit vital points.

“Despite half a year of recovery, his wounds never healed. This year, his condition worsened, and before spring had even passed, he... he left this world.”

“Clang...”

Who was Chen Ziyi?

Even to a mere civil official like Yuan Que, who had never set foot in Changjing nor met him, the very mention of his death was enough to make him drop his cup in shock.

“Is this true?!” Yuan Que’s eyes widened in disbelief, as if the sky had collapsed. “Imperial Guardian Duke... is dead?”

“Do you think I would lie?” General Hua’s expression grew solemn. “His Majesty personally carried his coffin during the funeral. He was buried with the honors of a royal prince. On the day of his procession, the streets of Changjing saw mourners for ten li. News spread far and wide, and

jianghu

warriors from all corners of the land rushed to pay their final respects.”

As he spoke, even the battle-hardened general’s face bore traces of grief.

“Truly, the heavens envy the talented.”

“This...”

Yuan Que stood frozen in place.

“Ah, that’s right!”

General Hua suddenly snapped out of his sorrow, glancing left and right as if to ensure no one was listening. Then, lowering his voice, he said, “Sir Yuan, there is something I wish to ask you. But please, do not spread this beyond us.”

“General, please speak freely.”

“Since arriving in Yuezhou, I have encountered demons and spirits several times. I have also spoken with many of the settlers in different camps. Lately, I’ve been hearing strange rumors—from the mouths of demons. I do not know if they are true or false.”

“This...”

Yuan Que hesitated.

He became visibly uneasy, shifting uncomfortably for a long moment before finally speaking in a cautious tone, “When we traveled through Yuezhou, we too heard some treasonous words from the mouths of demons. At that time, the immortal traveling with us said not to believe anything these creatures said. So, I too... do not know if these rumors are true or false.”

The two of them met each other's gaze under the moonlight, neither daring to speak.

However, at that moment, their peripheral vision inadvertently caught sight of something unusual. Though the moon had already risen high, marking the middle of the night, the northern half of the sky had suddenly turned a deep crimson.

The red glow reflected against the clouds, resembling the fiery hues of a sunset.

But tonight's evening glow had long since faded.

“What is this...?”

“A celestial anomaly?”

“Is it... coming from the north?”

They exchanged glances, both shocked. Remembering their earlier conversation, their astonishment deepened.

Yet, neither dared to say more.

Hurriedly finishing their drinks, they bid each other farewell and parted ways.

The following morning, General Hua escorted the migrants further north. Before leaving, he mentioned that he would return in two months, passing through the area again to visit and update Yuan Que on the situation in the north.

Meanwhile, Yuan Que led the settlers in their first harvest since arriving in the region.

The initial yield was exceptionally promising.

A month later, as promised, General Hua returned. When he came to visit, he finally relayed the news.

The vast sycamore forest stretching hundreds of li to the north, which the celestial being had warned them not to enter lightly, had been completely reduced to ashes by a great fire. The dense mist and toxic miasma that had once perpetually shrouded the forest had dissipated entirely, and not a single demon could be seen within.

Astonished, the two finally realized that the crimson glow they had witnessed that night while drinking was likely the firelight from hundreds of li away. Only then did they understand why that immortal had come to Yuezhou.

1. The phrase "时人不识农家苦，将谓田中谷自生" comes from the Tang Dynasty poem 《悯农二首·其二》 ("Pity the Farmers" No. 2) by Li Shen (李绅). ☜