Chapter 708: How Could I Impose?

Inside the temple room...

Daoist Master Song You spread out sheets of paper, picked up his brush, and began writing. Little Jiang Han wandered slowly around the room, while a cat crouched at the corner of the table, licking its paw, savoring the lingering feelings from the banquet earlier.

“Daoist Elder Calico!”

“What is it?”

“Daoist Elder Calico!”

“...”

“They’re calling me Daoist Elder Calico!!”

“In Daoism, titles usually don’t distinguish between male and female. Lady Calico, you’re older than them, your cultivation is higher, and they respect you. Thus, it’s perfectly fine for them to call you ‘Daoist Elder’,” Song You said, keeping his head down while writing.

“I’ve become really powerful!”

“That’s natural.”

Song You paused mid-brush and said to her, “Since you’re now Daoist Elder Calico, tomorrow go teach those little Daoists the signature spells of Daoist Elder Calico.”

“Signature spells!”

“Daoist Elder Calico, you can also share your insights about spells, especially those unique to you.”

“Daoist Elder Calico!”

“Now that you’re an elder, you must be composed when facing juniors, teach patiently, and guide them step by step,” Song You continued, writing while thinking to himself about whether his master and Daoist Elder Heiyu were like this back in the day.

“Got it!” The cat stood and crawled toward him.

Song You casually pushed her off the table.

...

The next morning, chirping sparrows in the trees woke Song You.

When he got up and stepped outside, the courtyard was already filled with young Daoists and novices. In the center, a girl in three-colored clothing sat cross-legged, lecturing them about the spiritual energies of heaven and earth and the Daoist methods..

Her voice was clear and light, drifting through the morning air.

Some of the Daoists listening outside were already adults, even middle-aged. It already had the air of a proper lesson being given. The swallow also perched on a branch, looking down.

Meanwhile, Song You lingered for a while before leaving. This went on for many days in succession.

***

A few days later, outside Fuqing Temple, on the stone steps, Daoists Yingfeng and Chuyun were seeing Song You off.

Below, a few pilgrims approached.

“The Daoists of Fuqing Temple truly have skill. Last year, demons caused trouble in our village. We hired several folk exorcists, but they couldn’t handle it, and only the Daoists of Fuqing Temple could.”

“The Daoists of Fuqing Temple are indeed skilled, but the temple is built so high up the mountain... if it were closer to us down below, it would be so convenient.”

“They’re dedicated to pure cultivation.”

“Going far up the mountain is what makes them effective.”

“...”

Song You and Daoists Yingfeng and Chuyun stood at the roadside, letting them pass. The pilgrims cast respectful glances and bowed; the three Daoists returned the gestures.

“On the way here, we already heard people talking about the merit of the Fuqing Temple Daoists slaying monsters, and now on the way back, we hear it again,” Song You said with a smile. “It seems their deeds have really made an impression on the people.”

“Not at all, not at all. We don’t have such great skill or merit,” Daoist Master Yingfeng replied. “It’s just that nowadays the world is chaotic, demons and spirits abound, and the common people suffer. Exorcising demons is the duty of Daoists. Since the people have come to us and sought our help, naturally, we must eliminate the threats.”

“But most of the time, the disturbances are caused by minor demons and spirits, which are easy to deal with. Occasionally, one will be more formidable, but since we have cultivation and can wield spells, it’s simpler for us than for other Daoists. At worst, we can call on the Thunder Division legitimate gods to intervene,” Daoist Master Chuyun said.

“Now that chaotic times are approaching, the people need highly skilled Daoists to descend the mountains and protect them.”

“Yes...”

“Let’s leave it here; the foot of the mountain isn’t far. If you two head back now, you can still make it before nightfall,” Song You stopped walking and said to them. “We’ll take our leave here.”

“Safe travels, fellow Daoist. Lady Calico and little swallow, travel safely. Come visit us again next spring,” they replied.

“Safe travels, fellow Dao.”

“We await your visit.”

“Farewell!”

Lady Calico also followed suit, bowing respectfully.

Song You slowly walked away with the horse. On the forested mountain path, their voices soon faded, leaving only the swaying jingling of the bell. Before long, even that sound grew distant and faint.

They first descended Qingcheng Mountain and then returned to Jinyang Road.

Song You walked back along Jinyang Road. Unconsciously, the height of summer had passed. Though it was not yet the transition into autumn, the season was approaching.

The sunlight on his body was just as scorching as twenty years ago. The ancient cypresses along the road were unchanged, neither denser nor sparser, as if they had been the same for a thousand years.

Occasionally, dried grass appeared by the roadside, whether scorched by the sun or signaling the coming of autumn, it carried a faint autumnal tone.

Song You walked intermittently, sometimes leaving the main road to climb higher and take in the view, sometimes lying under a tree for a perfect nap. Occasionally, villagers requested his help in exorcising demons, and sometimes wealthy patrons with a deep reverence for Daoism required a visit.

Lady Calico hadn’t expected to stay on Qingcheng Mountain for so long. The wild rabbits she caught the night before arriving at Yidu had already been given to the Daoists on the mountain to cook, and the fireflies released. Luckily, such things were abundant in the mountains. As they neared Lingquan County, she ventured into the mountain again at night to catch some more, refilling her pouch.

“Flap flap flap...”

The swallow returned, perching on a treetop, informing them, “Ten li ahead is Lingquan County.”

“Got it.”

The scenery along the road had begun to look familiar; Song You had visited Lingquan County many times before.

“Ah...”

Song You sighed.

It had been twenty years of travel, and they have traversed countless mountains and rivers, storms and events. Now that the journey was coming to an end, he felt a sense of reluctance. Reaching the foot of Yin-Yang Mountain, it was even harder to take the first step.

After sighing, Song You said, “There’s nothing up on the mountain. We need to go into the city ahead to buy rice, flour, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, tea, vegetables, and seeds. Buy whatever you need here.”

“Buy a little less. There are fish and rabbits on the mountain. I can plant the rest myself later!”

“You’re Daoist Elder Calico already, and yet still so thrifty? Who ever heard of such a money-grubbing Daoist?” Song You said in exasperation.

“I’m not money-grubbing! It’s just that we won’t be traveling outside anymore, not in Changjing, not in Yidu. Back on the mountain, there’s no opportunity to spend money. The more you spend, the less you have, so you must conserve!” Lady Calico said, her face serious and earnest. “If there’s nothing to eat on the mountain, then we can go down to spend money to buy it!”

“That’s mistaken reasoning. Even if we no longer travel the world, fewer wealthy people will come up the mountain than in Changjing or Yidu, but people will still come seeking us to exorcise demons. And not traveling means no money spent on lodging; meals are made on the mountain. The money you’ve saved will barely be needed. Why keep it? Do you expect it to give birth?”

“Ah? Money can give birth?” Lady Calico was shocked, only realizing it now.

“...” Song You could only shake his head in exasperation. He withdrew his gaze from her and looked at the horse, patting its neck. “I guess you’ll have to carry us again...”

“

Neigh...

”

“Swallow, you don't need to scout ahead anymore. I know the route from here on.”

“Yes...” The swallow flew down and landed on the horse’s head.

Lady Calico carried Little Jiang Han on her back, walking alongside.

Meanwhile, Song You faintly heard the swallow whisper to her, “I once heard in Anqing that money really

can

give birth, but it takes many years. About every two hundred years, it doubles...”

Swallow’s voice was very low, and Lady Calico didn’t respond aloud.

Ten li was only about an hour’s walk. Soon, Lingquan City appeared before them.

Compared to large cities like Changjing, Yidu, or Yangdu, Lingquan County was a small city built along a river on a flat plain. A circle of city walls surrounded a cluster of simple, old-fashioned houses, forming a very small settlement.

Cats were frequently seen in the city. Whether wild or free-ranging, little Jiang Han would point at each one she saw and shout, “Lady Calico!” Each time, Lady Calico would smack her hand gently, sternly explaining that it was just an ordinary cat with its own name, and that there was only one Lady Calico.

After being scolded, Little Jiang Han would retreat, silently watching the city cats. At the next one, she’d point again and shout.

Lady Calico felt a headache coming on.

Song You ignored them, strolling through the city to the sound of crisp hoofbeats.

Though Yin-Yang Mountain relied mostly on grass, it was backed by deep forests. Yizhou had no shortage of wood. With Lady Calico’s diligence and penchant for storage and collecting, they would certainly never lack firewood.

Rice, flour, oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, however, were essential. Tea from Wushan had to be purchased as well, to pass the time on the mountain. They also bought some snacks, then fruits and vegetables, and two jin of meat.

There were even sellers with preserved eggs, pickled vegetables, and some who had caught loaches or collected snails from the fields. These were idle locals, selling very cheaply, to the point that it was barely enough to cover a drink.

Song You also ordered a few new sets of bedding, paid the deposit, and arranged to pick them up in half a month.

By the time they finished shopping, it was already afternoon. The sun was blazing down.

Lady Calico put on a bamboo hat to shade herself. Walking behind Song You and the heavily loaded horse, she anxiously glanced at the many goods and then at the sun.

They left the city heading southeast, along the official road past nine earthen mounds, cutting through a small path, passing villages. They cupped water from a stream to cool themselves from the midsummer heat and continued upstream. Along the way, they encountered people who had unsuccessfully sought the Yin-Yang Mountain Hidden Dragon Temple, sighing as they descended.

Yin-Yang Mountain appeared, a gentle, verdant expanse, softened by clouds and mist, quietly emerging before the travelers.

“

Whoosh...

”

Song You flicked his sleeve.

Suddenly, a gust of wind, seemingly from nowhere, blew the clouds and mist aside, revealing a corner of the mountain temple and the road leading up the mountain.

Song You leaned on his bamboo staff and walked forward. They passed through farmland, arriving at the foot of the mountain. He then paused and looked up.

Only a single narrow path led up. The path wound like a snake, twisting through the green hills, leading to the mountain temple. Even after so many years, it had not been overtaken by grass or trees.

“Lady Calico, you were mistaken. Even if we return to the mountain and don’t exorcise demons, we can still earn money,” Song You said. “As long as the temple doors are open, nearby villagers and pilgrims will come to offer incense. Those with means will occasionally toss a little money into the box.”

“Really?”

“Think back, Lady Calico. The temples and shrines we’ve passed along the way, weren’t they all like this?”

“Oh!”

Lady Calico’s serious expression brightened as she recalled how, in the past, when Daoists stayed at temples, they would throw money into the temple boxes.

She had once thought: if she had a box like that, she wouldn’t have to manage it. Money would naturally accumulate inside, and when she needed it, she could take some out. It would be like a fish trap in a river or a snare on a mountain.

“However, such incense money is usually small, just enough for the daily expenses of the temple Daoists.”

“Then how can it increase!?”

“This money is given by others, offered both to the gods and to support the Daoists and monks who maintain temples. It is always a token of sincerity. One must not be greedy or force it, but know contentment,” Song You explained. “At the same time, taking money is like consuming the food offered by the villagers below. If one day the villagers are troubled by demons and come seeking help, we must descend the mountain to assist them.”

“Understood!” This principle was perfectly clear to Lady Calico.

“Although such incense money is small, it has the advantage of being continuous. If we don’t waste it, it will be enough,” Song You continued, pausing slightly. “But someone must come to worship for the money to arrive. If the temple doors are closed, naturally, no incense money can be received. To earn incense money, we must open the doors. At the same time, receiving offerings from the villagers obliges us to provide a place for them to worship, and we cannot let them make a wasted trip. You should also understand this.”

“Understood!”

“However, as you know, I am always slow to wake in the morning, naturally lazy, and busy with cultivation...”

“I will open the doors!”

“How could I impose?”

“It’s no problem!”

“Then that is perfect,” Song You spoke respectfully, walking as he talked.