Chapter 563: Teaching Thunder Magic

Song You placed the clothes rack by the bedside, then went to the doorway to carry in the wooden storage shelf. He set it against the wall while Lady Calico gathered all the miscellaneous items from the table and neatly arranged them on the shelf. The once-empty, cold-looking room instantly felt fuller—more comfortable and livable.

“Are we going out today as well?”

“Of course.”

“Where are we going this time?” Lady Calico followed beside him, asking, “Are we just going to wander around again?”

“The city is lively in the morning. Today, we’ll follow Mr. Xie’s suggestion and visit the east gate.” Song You thought for a moment before continuing, “By noon, when the bustle dies down, we’ll buy some food, bring water, and head outside the city to explore the surroundings of Jade City. If we find a secluded place, you can try subduing more powerful demons from the flag. Or, I could teach you a new spell.”

“A new spell?”

“How about thunder magic?”

“Thunder magic!”

“Let’s go.”

Song You picked up his bamboo staff.

Lady Calico slung her pouch over her shoulder, packing the small flag and Water-Splitting Blade inside. Mimicking him, she also picked up her small bamboo staff. After glancing around the room, she decided to bring along the swallow’s magical artifact, Skybinder, just in case. After all, it was powerful and shouldn’t be left unattended, lest it be stolen.

𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Creaaak...

With that, the group closed the door and set off.

As expected, the east gate was bustling with activity. The streets were packed with people selling all kinds of goods, filled with the unique charm and lively atmosphere of the region.

Song You walked slowly, taking everything in, expanding his knowledge with each step.

Every road he traveled became a part of his cultivation.

Every experience became a part of his life and self.

As the crowd thinned, he purchased a honeydew melon and a few pieces of roasted meat wrapped in large leaves. Then, choosing a direction, they left the city.

The afternoon sun blazed overhead.

Thirty li outside the city, wild apricot trees grew on the mountains.

There wasn’t a soul in sight—just rolling green hills. The mountains weren’t covered in towering forests but rather tufts of spiky pine trees and clusters of rounded shrubs, making the landscape look as if it were dotted with fluffy green balls.

The mountains here weren’t steep, but they were vast and tall.

Following the gentle ridgeline, the Daoist slowly ascended. At the peak, he stood beneath an apricot tree, reaching up to pick the ripest, plumpest apricot. Taking a bite, he immediately spat it out and tossed the rest away.

Then, he raised his hand and waved his bamboo staff.

“

Boom

!”

A brilliant flash of spiritual energy erupted—suddenly, a bolt of thunder roared through the clear sky.

The little girl with the pouch trembled all over, instantly snapping her head up to look at the sky before turning her wide, round eyes toward the Daoist beside her.

Meanwhile, the swallow shot through the sky like an arrow, unfazed by the lightning. It seemed completely accustomed to such weather, moving with effortless grace.

The Daoist only smiled, showing not the slightest trace of guilt.

“I know several types of thunder magic,” Song You said with a grin. “But none as well as fire magic. Only by channeling the spiritual power of Jingzhe can I unleash its full potential.”

“The one just now is the most common Heavenly Thunder spell from ancient times. It carries the weight of celestial authority, much like the Daoist Divine Thunder Arts. It is used to punish gods, demons, ghosts, and spirits alike.”

“Why did it suddenly thunder?” Lady Calico stared at him, her expression serious.

“I told you before—it's difficult for demons to learn thunder magic. Do you remember?”

“I do...”

“That was a test for you.”

“A test?” The little girl locked her gaze on him. “Well? How did I do?”

“It’s a pity,” Song You said with a slight pause. “Even though you’re quite brave, your fear of Heavenly Thunder still lingers. On the other hand, though Yan An is naturally timid, he isn’t afraid of thunder at all.”

Song You looked up at the swallow perched on the branch above.

“Moreover, even though Yan An has never been a deity, he carries a trace of divine qi. Meanwhile, despite once being a goddess, you’ve long since lost your divine qi.”

“...I don’t understand.”

“It just means the time isn’t right for you to learn thunder magic yet,” Song You explained. Knowing her prideful and sensitive nature, he added reassuringly, “But that doesn’t mean you have no talent for it. It simply means that, for now, your talents lie elsewhere—like in fire magic. When the time is right, you’ll naturally be able to learn thunder magic with ease.”

“Hmm...”

“For now, I’ll teach Yan An,” Song You continued. “You can listen and watch from the side. That way, when your time comes, you’ll already have an understanding, and learning will be much easier.”

“Alright!”

Lady Calico didn’t hesitate at all. She immediately sat down, hugging her pouch to her chest, and tilted her head up to watch them.

The swallow perched on the branch also lowered its head attentively.

“I’m listening carefully.”

“There’s no need to be so serious. Relax,” Song You said, pausing to consider the swallow’s temperament. “As a bird, you naturally fly close to the clouds and thunder. You love soaring through stormy skies. Without even realizing it, you already have an instinctive understanding of thunder. Learning this won’t be too difficult, so there’s no rush.”

From the side, Lady Calico’s voice immediately rang out, “Daoist priest, I have a question!”

“Go ahead and ask.”

“How long will it take for the swallow to learn?”

“Practicing thunder magic is both similar to and different from fire magic. It depends on talent, but also on one’s understanding and perception of lightning—and sometimes, even luck plays a role.

“Thunder magic is notoriously difficult to master. Among equally talented individuals, some might take a year or two to summon lightning, while others may succeed within three to five months. There's no fixed timeline, and it doesn’t reflect intelligence or aptitude. It’s totally normal, so you don’t have to feel anxious.”

Song You deliberately framed his response this way to prevent the swallow from feeling pressured.

“So, how long will it take for the swallow?”

“In my opinion, if things go well, it could take as little as a month. At most, three to five months. But if his luck is particularly bad, or if there are deeper, more mysterious reasons at play, it might take even longer.”

Song You purposely attributed any potential struggles to luck or some vague, unfathomable factors. Knowing the swallow’s personality, he didn’t want him to feel disheartened or inferior if progress was slow.

“

...Sigh

.”

Song You let out a quiet sigh. He really was putting in too much effort.

“Then hurry up and ask, Yan An!” Lady Calico urged, tilting her head up from where she sat on the ground. “Ask the Daoist priest how long it took him to learn thunder magic!”

She stared at him expectantly, eyes bright with curiosity.

However, the swallow only glanced at the Daoist before quickly looking away. Then, instead of asking, he calmly replied:

“Mr. Song You is a disciple of the Hidden Dragon Temple, a man of unparalleled brilliance and extraordinary talent, blessed by the heavens themselves. He also possesses an unmatched ability to perceive and understand the world. Naturally, he would master any spell quickly.”

“Just ask him already!”

“I won’t.”

“Huh? Why not?”

“...So I don’t get discouraged.”

“...”

The little girl froze for a moment. Then, she fell silent.

Song You chuckled softly before finally beginning his lesson.

The swallow listened intently. After a brief moment of silence, Lady Calico also focused, listening just as seriously.

This was not something that could be accomplished overnight. Song You divided the process into many steps, carefully planning his teachings. He first explained the fundamental principles to Yan An, introducing the basics of channeling spiritual power to connect with the heavens. Afterward, he left him to comprehend and practice on his own.

Meanwhile, Song You sat beneath the apricot tree atop the mountain, leisurely gathering firewood to roast the baked flatbread pit-roasted meat until it was hot again. He sliced open the honeydew melon and enjoyed his meal contentedly.

After eating, he lay back, letting the mountain breeze wash over him. With the blue sky and white clouds overhead, it was the perfect setting for an afternoon nap.

By the time he woke, it was just before dusk—just in time to return and watch the people of Jade City singing and dancing at the eastern gate.

The next day, he chose a different direction, taking a different path, and continued the same routine.

This kind of life—this was the way of the immortals.

***

A few days later, the commander of Anxi's military garrison received a subtly worded inquiry from the king of Jadeite Kingdom. Surprisingly, he set aside his military affairs and personally came to visit.

The King of Jadeite Kingdom anxiously went to welcome him.

Ever since General Chen passed away from his injuries, this commander—who oversaw all four Anxi military towns—had become the most powerful military figure in the Great Yan’s Western Regions. In truth, he was the actual ruler of the Western Regions. Every king had to watch his expressions carefully, as the fate of many foreign nations rested solely in his hands.

However, upon arriving in Jade City to visit Song You, the commander neither asked for favors nor made any requests. He merely spent half a day chatting with Song You.

They spoke about Chen Ziyi, the fallen general who had been a pillar of the empire’s frontier defenses yet had rarely crossed paths with him. They talked about the distant capital of Changjing, about the monsters and demons encountered on the road, and about the customs and landscapes of the region.

Then, without much fanfare, the commander took his leave, as if he had come simply to meet a famed figure, exchange names, and remember each other's faces.

The greatest impact of his visit was, ironically, not on Song You himself. Instead, it made the king of Jadeite Kingdom fully believe Song You’s words—that even if they never recovered the stolen silver urn, neither he nor his kingdom would face any repercussions. Finally assured, he released and pardoned the maidservant.

The maidservant, being someone who repaid kindness with gratitude, began visiting the horse-and-carriage inn daily to collect Song You’s clothes, wash them, and return them the next morning.

At first, Song You refused.

However, the maidservant neither understood the Great Yan language nor possessed any other skills or wealth. The only thing she had was a pair of hands well-trained in labor since childhood. Whenever Song You tried to refuse, she would either stare at him blankly, unable to comprehend his words, or silently weep at his doorway without leaving.

She was a young woman in the prime of her youth, graceful and charming in appearance—a true beauty of the Western Regions. Song You was reluctant to engage in any back-and-forth with her at his residence, lest it spark rumors that could damage her reputation. In the end, he had no choice but to accept.

Which, in a way, was quite convenient.

He had been leaving early and returning late every day, and his only real concern had been the frequent need to change clothes in the summer heat. He owned few spare garments, which meant he had to wash them daily. Now, even that small trouble was gone.

About half a month later...

By then, Song You had thoroughly explored the mountains and rivers outside the city. He returned to the same apricot-covered hills he had visited on the first day.

Now, the apricots were fully ripened.

Lying lazily under the trees, Song You plucked and ate them at his leisure.

In the distance, a few small local demons had come to pick apricots. They did not carry much malice or evil energy, so Lady Calico did not bother them. Without orders from Song You, she only watched them curiously before resuming her own activity—hunting the peculiar long-eared mice that resembled rabbits. She caught them one by one, stacking them into a pile to sell later in the city.

Sometimes, the minor demons would pause to observe her hunting from afar.

Suddenly, a swallow streaked across the sky like a black bolt of lightning.

At that very moment, a spark of spiritual energy flashed, connecting to the heavens.

“

Crack

!”

A real bolt of lightning split through the sky, striking the ground.

Startled, the calico cat immediately looked up, ears twitching. The minor demons, even more alarmed, dropped their apricots all over the ground and fled in panic.