Chapter 592: Return to Yin-Yang Mountain

“I’ll soon be leaving the Jinyang Road myself,” Virtuous Duke Wang continued. “In recent years, for reasons unknown, this road has seen a surge in demonic activity. Some are newly spawned, others have reappeared after years of absence. I’ve always lacked the ability to deal with such things, and I’ve long been ashamed. But now that your two disciples are ridding the road of evil, I can finally leave with peace of mind.”

“Oh?” Song You asked curiously, “Where are you heading?”

“It’s not that I’ve chosen to go anywhere. Rather, I was summoned. A higher deity has ordered me to take up a new post elsewhere.”

“What’s prompted this sudden reassignment?”

“Mister, have you heard of the underworld and the nether realm?”

“I’ve heard a little.”

“And what about City Gods?”

“I know a thing or two.”

At that, Song You began to understand.

“Three years ago,” said Virtuous Duke Wang, “the Ministry of Rites ordered a City God Temple to be built in Yidu. They appointed the highly respected Mr. Luo from just outside the city as Yidu’s City God. Half a year ago, a City God Temple was also built in Nanhua County. I received two official orders, one from the Ghost City Palace Lord of Fengzhou and the other from the City God of Changjing, summoning me to take office at the new Nanhua temple. What’s more, the decree from the Ghost City palace bore the name of Divine Lord Yuewang, making it impossible to decline. Soon, I’ll head to Changjing to receive the City God’s seal and official edict before returning to assume my new post.”

“I see,” Song You said with a nod.

Yidu was the homeland and territory of Divine Lord Yuewang, the divine general. Though Divine Lord Yuewang was known for his idleness and rarely involved himself in such matters, many local deities in Yidu still held him in deep respect and considered him their patron.

This Virtuous Duke Wang had a commendable reputation, both in life and after death. He was a kind-hearted man, though lacking in magical ability.

He couldn’t subdue demons or banish evil, but if he were to become the City God of Zhuo Commandery, he would preside over the temple, handle administrative matters, and issue orders. Actual demon-slaying would be carried out by subordinate martial officials. In that context, a kind heart and concern for the people were the most valuable qualities. Everyone did their part according to their abilities.

And all things considered, Virtuous Duke Wang had done well.

Years ago, when the Daoist had merely passed by Jinyang Road and stopped to rest, Virtuous Duke Wang had taken the initiative to appear and ask him to investigate a malevolent god in the mountains on behalf of the locals. Now, with an evil spirit appearing in Cattle Village, though he lacked the power to banish it himself, he hadn’t turned a blind eye.

Instead, upon receiving the villagers’ pleas, he dared to send dreams, guiding them to seek out the demon’s lair during the day, only for the plan to fall through because the villagers lacked the courage.

“Nanhua may not be as prominent as Yidu,” said Song You, clasping his hands in respect, “but it is still a county seat. Zhuo Commandery has nine counties in total, if each one ends up with a City God Temple and government office, you will, in effect, oversee eight of them. Allow me to offer my congratulations on your promotion.”

“You flatter me,” Virtuous Duke Wang replied quickly. “Merchants often pass through this road, and in their conversations, some of them, who were clearly men of insight, have voiced concerns that this surge in demonic activity signals coming turmoil in the realm. If war does break out, the number of demons and evil spirits in the world will only increase. I fear I may not be up to the task of protecting the commandery city.”

“Precisely because chaos looms,” said Song You, “that we need upright deities like you to take on important positions and protect the local people from the encroachment of evil. Besides, you needn’t worry. Once you report to Changjing, the City God there will assign martial officials to assist you. You need only focus on management, remain diligent, uphold righteousness, and gather goodwill and incense from the people. Allocate a good portion of that incense to your martial officials, and even in turbulent times, they will serve you well in purging evil and slaying demons.”

“Then I hope you’re right, Mister.”

“Virtuous Duke, go to Changjing and report in with peace of mind, then return to Zhuo Commandery to take up your post. In the days to come, I only ask that you perform your duties with diligence and responsibility. And when slaying demons and subduing monsters, if you come across those who have done no harm and live quietly by the rules, please remember that they too are living beings in this world and that cultivation is not easy. Show them a little more mercy.”

Song You understood well that Virtuous Duke Wang’s late-night visit, besides the proper courtesy of greeting an old acquaintance lodging at his own temple, was more than likely to seek a bit of reassurance.

Virtuous Duke Wang had originally been a minor road deity, one of the lowest-ranked local gods reporting to the Celestial Court. His promotion to City God of Nanhua was indeed a rise in rank, but now he would fall under the jurisdiction of the Ghost City of Fengzhou and, eventually, the broader Underworld.

Yet the Ghost City and the Underworld were both still in their infancy. Coupled with the recent upheaval of the world, the entire City God system was hastily being constructed as a response to the growing chaos. To protect not just the cities but also surrounding areas from evil spirits and monsters, this was a great burden. Even with a sincere heart for the people, Virtuous Duke Wang was understandably anxious.

Perhaps it was because he had little contact with true celestial gods in his daily duties, and Song You was the most powerful figure he knew. Or perhaps, in the past decade or so, he had heard of tales and rumors about the Daoist and guessed that he might be the very one he had once known. So he had come specifically to ask for guidance.

A word of reassurance from the Daoist would settle his heart, but the Daoist said nothing of the sort.

Because whether it was the City God of Changjing or Divine Lord Yuewang himself, they surely already knew that the Daoist came from Hidden Dragon Temple on Yin-Yang Mountain in Lingquan County. Lingquan was one of the nine counties under Zhuo Commandery, and Nanhua was the capital.

What’s more, Yizhou was the second most important prefecture in the entire country, and an elite prefecture that would undoubtedly receive special care, especially with Hidden Dragon Temple located right here.

If he returned seven years later, there would naturally be no trouble. If he didn’t return, then any promise he made now would be meaningless.

The two spoke quietly under the moonlight for a while. Seeing that the Daoist was about to rest, Virtuous Duke Wang didn’t dare disturb him any longer and took his leave.

The divine glow of the small temple faded, and darkness returned. The faint scent of incense still lingered in the air.

Wandering travelers still lay scattered across the temple floor, sleeping in odd positions. Their snores gradually resumed, rising and falling in rhythm.

Outside, the moonlight was like water, spilling in through the gaps in the temple doors.

“

Meow...

”

The cat raised her head and stared at the Daoist. Her eyes, unfocused and flickering, gradually regained clarity once she realized that Virtuous Duke Wang had left. Then she softly said to the Daoist, “I remembered all the demons and evil spirits the Virwuous Dwuke just mentioned that lie ahead...”

So that was what she was doing, silently memorizing them in her mind.

In the darkness, Song You cupped his hands to her and said in a low voice, “Lady Calico, your memory is extraordinary. You overlook nothing.”

“When will we arrive at your temple?” she asked.

“Normally, we’d get there in two days,” he replied. “But since you and Swallow are hunting demons along the way, it’ll likely take three to five.”

“But the travelers said your temple is gone!”

“It’s still there.”

“They said it can’t be found!”

“It’s only hidden.”

“Hmph...”

The cat frowned in deep thought before finally saying, “Then we’ll speed up our demon hunting!”

“No need to rush.”

“You must hurry home!”

“Where the heart finds peace, it feels no different from home.” The Daoist spoke calmly, “Besides, that old temple is now empty, and there is no one left there to make me long for home.”

“...”

The cat lifted its head and stared straight at him. After a moment, it got up and crawled over, curling up beside him to sleep.

They only slept lightly, and the sky had already brightened.

Travelers of the

jianghu

rose even earlier than them.

Almost as soon as dawn broke, people got up silently, ate a little something, then resumed their journey. Some led donkeys, horses, or mules, their movements making noise. By the time the Daoist and the cat woke up, only they remained in the little temple.

“Ah...”

The Daoist stepped outside. The chilly mountain air of the early morning made him stretch lazily, and he felt a kind of refreshing ease from the inside out.

After washing up and eating, they continued on their way.

When he first descended the mountain years ago, everything had felt new and wondrous. Every blade of grass and tree by the roadside was clear in his memory. Now, walking the same path in reverse, even though thirteen years had passed, the vaguely familiar mountains and rivers constantly stirred his recollections. The thoughts and state of mind he’d had while walking this road all those years ago resurfaced one by one.

The Daoist now understood, at least in part, the feeling the Lady Calico had described a few days ago.

But ultimately, he was more mature than the cat. No matter how complicated, wondrous, or hard to articulate his emotions were, his steps never faltered, and he continued steadily treading forward.

Along the way, yet more demons and evil spirits suffered.

***

About three days later, in Lingquan County, Zhuo Commandery...

The Daoist, along with a cat and a horse, entered the county town.

Since childhood, he had cultivated with an elder Daoist on Yin-Yang Mountain outside Lingquan County. Naturally, he’d come to the town many times. Sometimes, when bored or restless, he’d come into town to amuse himself. Now, as he walked again through its streets and gazed at the familiar old buildings, his heart was filled with emotion.

Passing through the town, they headed southeast.

Following the official road, after passing nine earth watchtowers, a small path appeared on the right. Taking that path for two li, they reached a village.

A stream ran through the village, its waters clear and sweet. Beyond the village, after walking upstream along the creek, a small greenish hill came into view.

The Daoist stopped on the mountain path, and the cat and horse also halted behind him. Even the swallow perched on a branch nearby, looking in the same direction as him.

The hill was neither steep nor rugged; instead, it was remarkably gentle and mild. There weren’t many trees on it; it was mostly grass, and it looked like any ordinary wild hill.

Only two things were unusual. First, the hill wasn’t in some remote, uninhabited place. In fact, a village sat not far below it, and the surrounding hills had already been cleared for farmland. Yet only this hill remained covered in wild grass.

Second, though it was now close to noon, the scorching summer sun was bright in the sky, and the world bathed in clear daylight, one part of this hill remained shrouded in mist. It was a swirling fog the sunlight couldn’t dispel. It hung there quietly, as if this place was still wrapped in the stillness of an early morning.

“There’s nothing there!” came the cat’s voice from below.

“...”

The Daoist only smiled faintly and shook his head. However, his smile was complex and difficult to describe.

He leaned on his staff and stepped forward once more.

“...”

Without a sound, as if a mountain breeze had blown in from somewhere, the mist on the hill ahead began to disperse. Even before it had fully lifted, a corner of the Daoist temple hidden within the mountain had already come into view.

The Daoist walked forward, passing through the farmland and glancing around as he went.

At this time of year, the grain in the fields below the mountain had already been harvested. Yet in the corners of the fields on both sides, there remained small clusters of rice left untouched.

They had been left for the Daoist in the mountain. All these years, the villagers below had never changed.