Unintended Immortality

Chapter 54: Immortality and Dust

“No rooms left...”

“Sorry, sir.”

“We've been fully booked for a while.”

“There are no rooms left in the city.”

“All full...all full”

“Oh dear, sir, I'm really sorry. Our place doesn't even have room in the wood shed! Recently, there's the Great Liujiang Gathering outside the city, and many jianghu people from all over have come. Every guest-house in the city is packed, even the simple inns and temples outside the city are full. Many jianghu people are just simply finding a spot in the alleys, and spreading out whatever bedding they have, or just sleeping under the sky and on the ground.”

After asking around for a long time, all Song You got was a series of refusals.

Maybe people had been asked too many times about rooms recently, and some were starting to lose patience, though they weren't being dismissive.

The last innkeeper was kinder. Seeing that Song You was a Daoist, he spoke to him at length and finally said, “If you really don't want to sleep on the streets, I can offer you two suggestions.”

“First, you could try knocking on the doors of the local residents. Some quick-witted folks without womenfolk in the house have prepared extra beds in their homes to rent to jianghu people, making some money that way.” The innkeeper was patient as he was an older man. “Besides, you are a Daoist priest, not a jianghu person. If you speak nicely when you meet ordinary common people, you might meet some benevolent or religious folks who would let you stay.”

“And the second option?”

“The second option is the Zoujiao Temple outside the east city gate. The temple owner has a bad temper and has refused many jianghu people seeking lodging. I've heard that even some wandering Daoist disciples from other temples have been turned away. But you could try your luck, maybe the owner will make an exception for you.”

“Thank you very much.” Song You expressed his gratitude repeatedly.

He turned back onto the busy main street.

It was still bustling with people.

The calico cat looked up at him, puzzled. Though she didn't speak, her expression seemed to be asking him a question.

He whispered in response. “Let's head outside the city.”

Comparing the two options, trying the Zoujiao Temple was harder but clearly offered better and quieter accommodations. Since it was still early, it made sense to try the temple first.

Maybe the temple owner just didn't like those Daoist disciples who were too heavily involved with jianghu martial artists? Thinking about it, Anqing was famous for its picturesque scenery, the Great Liujiang Gathering has been held more than twenty times, and within more than a hundred years, two generations of temple owners from Hidden Dragon Temple had also come into the world to travel. Perhaps, they had also visited this place, gone to the Great Liujiang Gathering and had also faced similar lodging issues.

So, one man and one horse headed towards the east city gate.

The cat was wary of being stepped on so she perched on the horse's back.

Many people loved cats in this era, even many jianghu people who would not hesitate to fight or kill were charmed by the adorable voice and soft body of a cat. Lady Calico was also exceptionally beautiful, and had been praised by Master Kong as being extraordinary. Along the way, she turned many heads. Some raised their eyebrows, clicked their tongues or even reached out trying to pet her. Actually, Lady Calico was able to sense goodwill from humans, but she wasn’t a pet cat after all and had been living alone for many years. She wasn't accustomed at all to such attention and teasing from strangers.

Tired of dodging, she just happened to see the Daoist priest turn his head and ask if she wanted to be carried. She thought briefly and then jumped into his arms.

In a flash, both derived benefits.

Not far from the east city gate stood a temple.

The temple was neither large, nor small, with a courtyard wall. Above the mountain gate was a horizontal plaque, with gilt characters in flowing script saying “Zoujiao Temple.”

On both sides of the gate was written:

“The Heaven and Earth are impartial, doing good brings blessings naturally;

Sages have taught, by cultivating oneself, one can govern the family.”[1]

Song You didn't need to go up and knock. Several jianghu people had already arrived seeking lodging.

Most jianghu people were principled but they were also coarse.

Principled people were divided into two types.

Some understood reason and propriety, knowing what to do and what not to do, how to handle the world’s affairs. Their following of principles came from within. Others only followed rules hoping to receive equal reciprocation from others in exchange, and when disappointed, they might turn hostile.

Just like these jianghu people at the moment.

After knocking on the door and requesting lodging, they cupped their fists in greeting, bowed, and spoke politely, displaying perfect etiquette. However, when they discovered that despite their respectful behavior, the other party still refused to let them stay, they felt a sense of resentment and injustice. They believed that they had asked courteously, but were not treated with the same courtesy in return. They felt disrespected and wanted an explanation.

The boy at the gate, though young, was not easily intimidated.

“Gentlemen, you should understand. Every five years you all hold a great gathering here in Anqing. Many jianghu people have come, including famous schools and major sects as well as many masters. Has our temple ever lodged any of them?”

“What do you mean by that? You're quite bold for a young boy!”

“Gentlemen, think about it. If people were allowed to stay in the temple as long as they were jianghu masters bringing sabers and swords, our temple would have been full long ago... Do you really think you are early arrivals?”

The jianghu people thought it over carefully, and their faces instantly showed changing emotions. They glanced at each other, uttered some polite banalities, then turned and walked away.

As they passed Song You, they couldn't avoid giving him a few looks.

One asked reprovingly why he didn't leave, if he wanted to suffer a cold reception too. Song You just smiled. After they had walked far away, he stepped forward, bowed, and spoke with genuine gentleness. “Greetings, Daoist priest.”

The boy looked him up and down, noting his Daoist robe, the cat in his arms, and his fair, delicate and pretty face. He did not look like a jianghu person so the boy wasn’t in a hurry to close the door in order to prevent him from knocking again, but asked, “What is it, Daoist priest?”

“I am Song You, style name Menglai, who has been cultivating at Hidden Dragon Temple on Yin-Yang Mountain in Lingquan County, Yizhou. I've traveled here and found the city overcrowded. I wish to lodge here.”

The boy looked him over again.

A Daoist priest usually wouldn't refer to himself using the humble form of “I.”

“Are you really a Daoist priest?”

“I have my ordination certificate with me.”

“Are you a martial artist or a practitioner of Daoism?”

“I don't practice martial arts.”

“May I see your ordination certificate...”

Unconsciously, the young boy's tone had become somewhat politer.

It seemed that Song You's earlier guess was correct. The owner of Zoujiao Temple was not entirely unfeeling, but simply disliked crude jianghu people. As for those disciples who came from temples that were ostensibly Daoist but were actually martial arts sects, Zoujiao Temple probably felt that they were too entangled in worldly affairs or had neglected their Daoist cultivation due to their focus on martial arts, and therefore disliked them as well.

Thus Song You took out his ordination certificate and respectfully handed it over.

Seeing the booklet, the boy kept his composure. He opened and carefully examined it. Then he handed it back and said, “Allow me to report to my master. He will make the final decision.”

It seemed the owner was inside. He could hear voices.

“Master, there's a Daoist priest outside. He says he's not a martial artist, and that he had traveled here from Yizhou. He's a disciple from Hidden Dragon Temple on Yin-Yang Mountain, in some county...”

“Which temple?”

“Hidden Dragon Temple.”

“Hidden Dragon Temple on Yin-Yang Mountain?”

“I saw his ordination certificate and that's what was written.”

“Quick, invite him in!”

Hearing this, Song You pressed his lips together and looked down at the cat.

Footsteps approached from inside, and when the door reopened, it was no longer just a crack.

“Honored guest, please come in.”

The young boy walked past him, thinking of leading his horse for him. He discovered no reins, hesitated, then awkwardly waved his hand to cover up his embarrassment. He said, “Senior Daoist Brother, you can leave your horse in the courtyard. Since you didn’t bring any reins, you probably don't need to tie it up, right?”

Even the appellation had changed.

Song You thanked him and looked up to see an elderly Daoist quickly walking towards him, looking eager.

“Are you a disciple of Hidden Dragon Temple?”

“Respectful greetings, elder...”

“From Hidden Dragon Temple on Yin-Yang Mountain in Lingquan County?”

“Yes, that's correct.”

“Do you know Daoist Duoxing!?”

“She is my master.”

“Is she... is she well?”

Seeing the old Daoist's expression, Song You was momentarily stunned, then shook his head inwardly in his heart.

He had considered that his master or master’s master might have visited Zoujiao Temple before, but he had thought the probability was very low. Unexpectedly, not only had they been here, but it seemed there had been a deep connection.

Thinking this, he maintained his respectful demeanor and cupped his hands. “My master is still well.”

“Please, come in, come in!”

The old Daoist immediately pulled him inside, instructing the boy to prepare dinner and make sure Song You was well taken care of with good food and drink.

“What is your name?”

“Song You, style name Menglai.”

“Do you have a Daoist name?”

“Not yet.”

“My name is Qingyangzi. Has your master ever mentioned me?”

“…I have always had a poor memory.”

“Oh...” Qingyangzi immediately looked disappointed.

Then he asked, “Has your temple been closed to visitors? I searched Yin-Yang Mountain in my younger days but found nothing.”

“Our temple is often closed to visitors.”

“Often?”

“…We are generally closed in the morning so that we can sleep until we wake naturally.”

“What about in the afternoon?”

“…Sometimes closed, sometimes not. Even when open, usually only worshipers from the foot of the mountain can come. In short, I've never seen any of my master's old friends visit over these years.”

“So that's how it is…” Qingyangzi looked very regretful.

His regret seemed somewhat alleviated by the fact that it wasn't just him. She hadn’t seen any of her old friends again.

Then he just said, “Daoist priest Duoxing's Daoist cultivation skills are naturally far beyond mine. It's normal not to be able to find her, normal...”

Muttering to himself, his voice grew fainter.

Song You shook his head inwardly even more.

It was hard to imagine such an elderly Daoist priest showing this kind of forlorn expression.

But it wasn't surprising.

It was true that his master rarely spoke of her early wandering days, but from the few stories he had heard and from more than twenty years of details that he had gathered interacting with her, he could more or less guess a few things.

His master must have been very attractive in her youth.

In those days, it was rare for women to roam the jianghu unless they had martial arts skills like Heroine Wu or Daoist cultivation skills like his master possessed in her youth. She must have had something to count on.

Attractive, with profound Daoist cultivation skills, outgoing, fond of making friends, unconstrained by worldly matters, indifferent to authorities, ghosts and gods alike, she made connections everywhere she went.

By the time she returned to the temple, she was already in her later years. Her beauty faded, but she stubbornly refused to extend her life, and was too proud to see anyone. Thus she lived deep in the mountains for a long time, seldom venturing out. Eventually, she thought things through and no longer cared about these things. But by then she had come to love solitude. She spent most of her time everyday daydreaming alone, talking to her crested myna, sleeping, or doing whatever she enjoyed. She loved being alone and entered a new realm.

The boundary between the immortal and worldly dust had always been blurred.

It's just that on that long journey all over the country, who knows how many people's youth she had wasted.

Many of them must be gone by now.

1. Popular Daoist couplet inspired by the Dao De Jing. ☜

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