Chapter 23: Ruining My Dignity As A Master
Master Kong was startled.
He had long known that this cat was extraordinary, perhaps not a god but certainly already a demon. When he discussed matters with it earlier that morning, the cat had fully understood human speech, but this was the first time he heard it speak.
A cat truly spoke.
Its enunciation was clear, and its voice was pleasant.
Knowing and actually witnessing it were vastly different.
While surprised, Master Kong savored this sentence, feeling a sense of pride. Yet, as he looked at the eyeless wooden carving in front of him and the cat that could talk, he fell into deep contemplation for a while.
“Why not carve its eyes?” The young Daoist priest's words reached his ears.
“Why doesn't it have eyes?” Lady Calico asked.
The clear and delicate voice moved Master Kong even more.
“It already has charm without adding the eyes, so why add them?” Master Kong finally put down the carving knife.
“It already has charm without adding the eyes, but why not add them?” Song You followed his words, but his voice was light, with a tone of inquiry.
Master Kong remained silent for a long time before saying, “You and Lady Calico are no ordinary beings. Let me tell you the truth.”
He bowed to Song You with cupped hands, then to the calico cat.
“I deceived you both last night. Actually, a wood carving did come alive when I was forty. But I'm merely a craftsman. Though I have this uncanny skill that can bring fame, this kind of skill is against the natural order. If used recklessly, wooden people walking and wooden dogs barking everywhere could cause chaos.”
“I see.” Song You nodded lightly.
He had actually known since last night.
However, the old man had treated him with great hospitality. He had offered chicken soup made from mountain delicacies as well as lodging for the night, even wanting to give him a carving. Knowing the old man didn’t want to reveal the secret, how could he make things difficult for him just to increase his experience and aid his cultivation?
As for this morning, fate had brought him and Lady Calico together.
“Moreover, people will inevitably become afraid of me after witnessing such wonders and see me as a monster.” Master Kong continued, pausing to sigh. “So since then, whenever my carvings possess spiritual resonance, I don’t carve the eyes. If visitors come from afar, I simply say it’s all a rumor and just miscommunication.”
“You make a valid point.” Song You nodded, pausing briefly. “But there’s one thing I disagree with.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“Master, though you’re a craftsman, there’s no need for self-deprecation,” Song You said. “Your skills are divine. With such a divine talent, you’re no different from a deity.”
“Mister, be careful what you say! The gods are watching[1]!”
Song You merely smiled.
If this old man truly possessed such abilities, even if he were just a mortal, how many gods in the Heavenly Palace and Buddhas in the Western Paradise could compare to him?
“Please add the eyes.”
“If I do, don’t be afraid.”
“You jest, Master. As an eccentric from the mountain wilderness myself, I know that all such uncanny skills in this world are the result of exceptional talent and half a lifetime of effort.” Song You cupped his hands as he spoke. “Having this divine skill means you are already at the pinnacle of this field. I can only admire and respect you, how could I be afraid?”
“Mister, you are indeed an immortal.”
Master Kong took the knife to the wood and carved the eyes.
The wooden cat, already lifelike and full of charm, suddenly came to life.
There was nothing mystical during the whole process. It seemed as if it had always been alive, and Master Kong had merely awakened it with his carving knife. Just like the carving process earlier, it seemed this lifelike wooden cat itself had been hidden in the wood. Master Kong had just brought it out with his carving knife as Lady Calico mentioned.
Even with Song You’s cultivation skills, he saw nothing unusual.
He just saw that the wooden cat turned into a living one as soon as the carving knife stopped. It moved its head and looked around. It was initially somewhat stiff but quickly became nimble. After looking over everyone in the room, it suddenly jumped off the wooden stump and bolted outside like lightning.
“It ran away!” Lady Calico exclaimed.
“Stop it quickly!” Master Kong shouted in panic.
Only Song You remained calm, speaking towards the direction the cat ran. “Please come back.”
The wooden cat immediately stopped and turned its head to look back.
Seeing it was Song You who called, it turned and walked slowly back like a real cat who had heard a familiar voice call it.
The cat was truly alive.
Song You had already sensed its vitality as well as its yearning for freedom.
In the few moments it took to walk back, one could even see parts of its body gradually changing from wood to fur, strand by strand, vaguely revealing different colors. Soon, it would likely become indistinguishable from a real calico cat to the eye.
Song You stroked the wooden cat’s head, feeling the texture of the wood under his palm. He looked at the cat’s face showing pleasure, its mouth opening soundlessly. He just looked contemplative.
He pondered a question he had thought about for many years without an answer…What kind of world is this after all?
***
Two hours later.
The wooden cat had already become indistinguishable from a real one to the eye.
This cat was seventy to eighty percent identical to Lady Calico. Even if Master Kong had carved it in her likeness, he had his own artistic interpretation. Aside from this seventy percent resemblance in appearance, there was almost no other similarity to Lady Calico. Not even its strong yearning for freedom, which was actually instilled by Master Kong.
Woodworkers held a high status among craftsmen, their association with art earned them the favor of scholars and literati, raising their standing. However, in this era, they were ultimately still craftsmen.
In addition, other kinds of constraints like secular views and personal morals prevented Master Kong from using his divine skills freely.
Perhaps he also yearned for his own freedom in his heart.
With this in mind, Song You decided not to take the cat back with him after some consideration. He had originally thought of sending it back to Hidden Dragon Temple as a companion for his master, but he abandoned that idea. Instead, he released it into the mountain forest behind the bamboo house.
“Go find your place in the world.” Song You softly bid the cat farewell.
Master Kong stood behind him and gazed while lost in thought, without any trace of reluctance or intent to stop them.
Song You seemed to hear his inner voice.
Your freedom is my freedom.
Seeing the cat disappear into the forest as it wished, he turned and bowed to Master Kong. “The wonder I experienced today has truly been the pinnacle of my life. Not only was this trip worthwhile, but it greatly benefited my cultivation. Thank you, Master. Please accept my bow.”
One man bowed deeply and unhurriedly.
The other recovered. He helped him up in a fluster.
“Having troubled you for a day, I am indebted to your hospitality and I feel ashamed. Now that I am already content, I should return.” Song You paused. “As for the cat, you need not worry. I have helped fill the spiritual resonance it lacked, so even if a master with cultivation skills equal to or greater than mine came, he would not be able to tell it was once wood.”
Master Kong was stunned by these words.
Song You simply smiled and cupped his hands again. “Farewell.”
Then he left with the cat, not looking back.
They just came yesterday and now they were on the road back. Though the visit was brief, it was extremely wonderful.
Yet if asked why, it was beyond words.
Song You contemplated along the journey. He was still pondering that question.
The cultivation path has countless routes, but they all ultimately seek to observe and touch the essence of this world. It was like how different generations of Hidden Dragon Temple owners each had their own skills and even practiced different cultivation methods, but one thing remained the same. They all descended the mountain.
Why descend the mountain?
To see famous mountains and great rivers, to seek out eccentrics and strange affairs, to indulge in material pleasures, to exorcize demons, to witness peace and tranquility, to lament hardships of the people, to observe the world.
***
When he reached Yidu, night had fallen.
Song You entered through the north gate and ate a bowl of noodles on the road. Passing by a shop selling pork, he saw there were still some scraps left. Thus he spent a few wen to buy a small piece of pork spleen for Lady Calico. The people of Yidu didn’t like eating these scraps, so they were sold very cheaply, but Lady Calico quite liked them.
Returning to the small courtyard, he stayed up all night.
He didn’t do much, he just vaguely felt moved in his heart. Thus he sat cross-legged under the yellow plum tree in the courtyard, appreciating the spiritual resonance of heaven and earth. He thought, trying to capture those visionary things.
Before he knew it, the night passed.
When Song You opened his eyes, it was early next morning.
He looked up at the sky and paused.
“It’s the autumn equinox.”
The definition of Equinox was equal division.
At the autumn equinox, day and night were nearly equal all over the world, yin and yang energies were equally strong, the world’s spiritual resonance was harmonized and reached a perfect balance. It was an extremely mysterious time.
Last night, Song You had captured a trace of that wonder between heaven and earth, also capturing this trace of harmonious and mysterious spiritual resonance.
He turned to look…
The calico cat sat upright at the threshold of the bedroom door, staring at him without any expression. He didn’t know how long she had been watching or what she was thinking.
Was she puzzled by his actions? Song You thought as he beckoned her. “Lady Calico.”
The calico cat immediately stood up as if she had awakened. She stretched her body, opened her mouth to yawn, then slowly walked over.
“What are you doing?” The calico cat asked lazily, her voice incredibly pleasant.
“Did you sleep well last night?”
“I didn’t sleep.”
“Why not?”
“Why didn’t you sleep?” Lady Calico asked.
“I didn’t want to sleep.”
“I wanted to see when you would sleep.”
“I see.” Song You nodded with a smile, then opened his hand. A wisp of spiritual qi immediately floated in his palm. It was a pure grass-yellow color like a shooting star, containing profound mystery.
“Are you willing to take human form?”
“My cultivation isn't sufficient yet for taking human form.”
“Do you wish to take human form?”
“I do wish to.”
"Then I will bestow upon you a bit of good fortune, and I ask you not to evade it, but carefully appreciate it instead.”
With a wave of his hand, Song You sent the wisp of shooting star-like spiritual qi soaring through the air toward the calico cat. It was clearly visible even in broad daylight, and would undoubtedly be even more beautiful at night.
“I won't evade it...”
“Hey! What's happening?”
“It's evading me itself!!”
He saw the calico cat leap to the side unexpectedly, but the wisp also made a turn, persistently chasing after it. At last it entered her forehead.
Song You then displayed a look of helplessness on his face.
1. Chinese proverb. ☜
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