Chapter 546: The Local Monsters Are Quite Bold

“Should we keep going forward?” The cat raised its head, its pair of amber-clear eyes fixed on the Daoist.

“Let's not go any further.”

“Then are we going back?”

“More or less.” Song You paused for a moment, then looked down at her. “We should take a different route back.”

“A different route?”

“Yes...”

The Western Regions were simply too vast.

Spanning several, even over a dozen prefectures, with dozens of tributary states, taking just one route wouldn’t be enough to connect them all. Even after traveling across a few prefectures, Song You had to take two different paths for the journey.

The Western Regions were even more so.

Even taking two different routes wouldn’t fully connect everything. Even with some detours, at most, one could only visit all the tributary states, inevitably missing out on many sights. But the world was boundless, while human time was finite. Twenty years might seem long, but it was also short. Choices must be made.

So, they had to take a roundabout way and return from the other side.

“Have you rested enough, Lady Calico?”

“I’ve rested enough.”

“Then let's go.”

Leaning on his bamboo staff, Song You stepped down the mountain.

The mountains here were truly green and gentle. The slopes showed no sharp or abrupt features. Their curves were smooth, with no protruding rock formations or scattered stones—every cun was covered in lush spring grass.

From a distance, it looked perfectly even, glowing green under the sunlight. Apart from the grass, the only vegetation present was the straight, towering needle-leaved trees. Some grew in dense forests on the slopes, while others stood alone, each one pointing its treetop skyward.

The horses, at least, were delighted.

These mountains of fresh, tender grass were at their most delicious stage. As they walked, they grazed, the sounds of plucking and chewing grass strangely comforting.

Life here must be truly peaceful.

With these thoughts in mind, Song You continued down the mountain. The group slowly descended the verdant slopes.

How high could this mountain really be? Was it truly level with the clouds?

Song You simply chose not to expose her exaggeration.

Ahead lay yet another long journey.

It had taken a year to travel from Shadu to this place, and the return journey would take at least another year even if they took a different route.

Fortunately, Song You had plenty of patience.

The group crossed Mount Tian, traveling from the north to the south, then moving west to east. Spring gave way to summer, and before they realized it, the fields beneath the mountains had bloomed with endless rapeseed flowers. The vast land had turned into a golden sea, glistening under the sunlight, filling the air with the fresh and sweet fragrance of the blossoms.

This land was truly expansive. The golden rapeseed flowers stretched endlessly, with the distant sky adorned by the silhouette of Mount Tian. Unlike the picturesque rapeseed fields found elsewhere, this place had a completely different character.

In other regions, rapeseed flowers were often framed by mountains and rivers, accompanied by small bridges over flowing water, or white-walled, black-tiled houses—a delicate, refined painting emphasizing elegance. But here, the entire world became the canvas.

Above was the boundless blue sky, below the vast golden sea of flowers, and in the far distance, where heaven and earth met, an unbroken line of Mount Tian stretched endlessly. The scene was pure and uncluttered, yet grand and majestic, evoking a sense of vastness.

A single dirt path wound through the rapeseed fields, flanked by wild grasses, blending seamlessly into the natural scenery.

The Daoist led his horse along the path at a leisurely pace.

He, too, blended perfectly into the scene.

If one had never seen it with their own eyes, it would be hard to imagine such a landscape existing in the Western Regions—a place reached only by crossing deserts, wastelands, and arid lands.

The only element that stood out was Lady Calico.

The rapeseed fields were home to many bees and beekeepers. Lady Calico spent the whole journey bouncing along the grassy path, catching bees for fun. What should have been a tranquil painting now brimmed with energy. Yet, when the summer breeze swept across the vast fields, making the rapeseed flowers bow their heads in waves, her playful hopping somehow blended seamlessly into the scene.

“Lady Calico, be careful not to get stung,” Song You remarked as he walked. “You’ll end up with a swollen face like a pig’s head.”

“I won’t!”

The cat didn’t even turn her head as she replied.

Ahead stood a lone tree—an uncommon sight in Great Yan. Lush and vibrant, it cast a small patch of shade upon the sun-drenched land.

The Daoist lay down beneath it.

Placing his pack beside him, he let the horse roam freely, grazing along the dirt road.

Meanwhile, the calico cat became even more unruly, continuing her game of catching bees.

Though it was midsummer, the air still carried a hint of coolness. The breeze was fragrant, and to rest in such a vast and beautiful setting at midday was a rare pleasure.

At this moment, he felt as carefree as an immortal.

Just as he was about to drift off to sleep, a sudden flurry of wings broke the silence. The sound was heavier than that of his own swallows. The movement stopped in the tree above him, and almost immediately, he felt a pair of eyes staring at him.

Song You opened his eyes and looked up.

A strange bird sat in the tree. It was about the size of a palm, with a face resembling that of a sharp-muzzled monkey rather than a bird. It had no beak but large round eyes, hands, feet, and a pair of wings on its back. Perched on a branch, it tilted its head and stared at the Daoist.

As soon as it noticed him looking back, it spoke, “You from Great Yan! Got any food?”

Song You wasn’t afraid. He was more curious than anything. At the same time, he felt slightly helpless that his midday nap had been interrupted. Still, he wasn’t annoyed and instead asked patiently:

“And you are...?”

“Got any food?”

“I have two pieces of roasted baked flatbread.”

“Baked flatbread? That’s too tough! Give me something else!”

“...” Song You sighed.

Apparently, it wasn’t just Lady Calico. Now even the roadside spirits were turning their noses up at roasted baked flatbread.

“Other than baked flatbread, I do have two dried loaches and a few dried mice...”

“You from Great Yan! Give me some!”

“How do you know I'm from Great Yan? And how do you speak our language?”

“I can recognize people! I learned from humans!”

“That’s impressive.”

“Give me some dried loach!”

“That... might be difficult.”

“Why?”

“For one, the dried loaches and dried mice are rations for my Lady Calico. She made them herself, and I can’t simply decide to give them away,” Song You explained. “Secondly, we are strangers. You appeared out of nowhere without introducing yourself or stating your purpose, and the first thing you do is ask for food. That’s quite rude, don’t you think?”

“Then what do I have to do for you to give me some?”

“What’s your name?”

“You can call me monkey bird!”

“Monkey bird...” Song You sized it up with a slight smile. “Quite fitting.”

“There are a lot of monsters around here. They often trick travelers on the road. It’s very dangerous. If you give me some food, I'll guide you on the safest path, where there are fewer monsters, and teach you how to recognize them.”

“That won't be necessary.”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“If you're truly hungry, I don’t mind sharing some with you. However, we don’t have much food ourselves, and my Lady Calico doesn’t like roasted baked flatbread either. So I can only give you a little...”

“Give me more!”

This creature had no sense of politeness or decorum—demanding food without the slightest courtesy. It was quite annoying.

But since Song You had already agreed, he simply shook his head, choosing not to argue. He got up and retrieved a dried loach from Lady Calico’s pouch. Holding its tail, he gently snapped off a piece.

Lady Calico’s dried loach was incredibly well-made. It was crisp, dry, as if deep-fried and roasted to perfection. With a sharp

crack

, the tail broke off cleanly.

The monkey bird, perched on the branch, already had an eager look in its eyes.

At that moment, a calico cat appeared on the dirt road ahead.

It had been off playing somewhere, but upon hearing voices, curiosity brought it back. Now, it peeked out from behind a clump of wild grass, tilting its head and staring unblinkingly at the scene.

“A cat!”

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Just as the monkey bird was about to swoop down for the loach, it caught sight of the calico cat. Instantly, it flapped its wings in alarm and shot back up into the tree.

Right then, the sound of approaching wheels and hooves echoed from the dirt road. They heard the crisp hoofbeats and the swaying of a carriage.

The rapeseed flowers were not very tall at this time of year, and with just a glance, Song You and the monkey bird could see the travelers approaching along the path. There were two riders and a horse-drawn carriage.

Though the two riders wore no armor or helmets, they were muscular, their waists adorned with ring-pommel sabers, bow cases, and quivers. A long spear was strapped to one of the horses. Their strong presence and the scent of blood about them gave off a dangerous spiritual resonance.

They dressed similarly to the military retainers of Great Yan.

Driving the carriage behind them was a young scholar, whose attire and bearing were refined. Someone inside lifted the curtain and peered out.

Flap, flap, flap

...

The monkey bird seemed to sense that these men were not to be trifled with. Perhaps it feared the bows and arrows at the guards' waists, for it immediately abandoned the dried loach, turned, and flew away without hesitation.

Its body was heavy, and it flew slowly.

“Stop the carriage...” a voice came from inside the carriage.

“

Hya

!”

The group immediately pulled their reins, bringing the horses and carriage to a stop.

The young scholar lifted the carriage curtain, and a tall middle-aged man stepped down. A sword hung at his waist, and his sharp brows and bright eyes gave him a commanding presence. As soon as his boots hit the ground, his gaze locked onto Song You.

“Didn’t expect to run into a Daoist all the way out here.”

He glanced toward the distant sky before taking two steps forward, stopping about twenty feet from the Daoist. With a respectful bow, he asked, “Daoist Master, are you from Great Yan?”

“That I am.” Song You quickly put away the dried loach, rose to his feet, and returned the bow. “My surname is Song, given name You, from Yizhou. May I ask for your esteemed name?”

“I am Zhang Wangchuan. A humble servant of Great Yan, holding the posts of Imperial Censor[1] and Embroidered-Clad Lieutenant[2].” Censor Zhang gave him a steady look. “What brings you here, Master Song? And why are you resting in such a place?”

“So, you’re Censor Zhang...”

From the titles alone, it was clear Censor Zhang was an official sent by Great Yan to the Western Regions.

As an Imperial Censor, his duty was to monitor civil and military officials. If he had been dispatched to the Western Regions, it was likely to conduct military inspections or deliver imperial messages to the frontier troops. The title of Embroidered-Clad Lieutenant, on the other hand, signified a role in diplomacy, meaning he was also involved in foreign affairs.

“I am merely a traveler passing through,” Song You replied. “The scenery here is vast and breathtaking, and I happened upon a patch of shade. It’s perfect for a midday rest.”

“You certainly have refined tastes, Mr. Song,” Censor Zhang remarked with a slight chuckle. “However, though this place may be picturesque, it is also home to wandering monsters. That monkey bird, for example—it thrives on begging food from travelers. If you refuse to feed it or fail to satisfy its appetite, at best, it’ll defecate on you or pelt you with stones. At worst, it may lead you straight to a more fearsome monster’s lair, where you’d meet a gruesome end.”

“That monkey bird did ask me for food.”

“Exactly,” Censor Zhang said. “But compared to others, the monkey bird is relatively harmless. There are far worse creatures lurking along these roads, preying on the unwary. Many a traveler has met their doom because they didn't recognize the danger. Had you heard any such warnings before?”

“I had not.”

“Monsters are cunning and deceptive. For all you know, we ourselves could be monsters, here to lure you into a trap.”

A teasing grin crossed Censor Zhang’s face.

The two armed men behind him also smirked.

Yet, the Daoist showed no fear. He showed no hesitation, not even the slightest uncertainty. Instead, he smiled just as they did and replied, “Then I must say, the local monsters are quite bold.”

For a moment, the group was caught off guard, falling into a brief silence.

1. A high-ranking official in the Censorate, responsible for monitoring government officials, combating corruption, and upholding imperial law in ancient China. ☜

2. "绣衣" (embroidered-clad) refers to the distinctive embroidered uniforms worn by members of the imperial secret service, particularly during the Ming dynasty. ☜