Chapter 39: Just Going East
The fifth day of the first month of the lunar year, also the Beginning of Spring.
Song You was packing his traveling bags in the courtyard.
All clothes must be taken.
There weren’t many clothes, so they didn't take up much space.
Water bags, dry rations, pots, bowls, teacups, brush, ink, paper, ink-stone, Yudi Jisheng, also including the leftover meat hanging from the kitchen rafters. Although not many items were taken, none of the essentials could be left behind.
The road ahead would be long. Eating in the wind and sleeping in the dew[1] was inevitable. The spring chill required warm items for the night.
The felt blanket given by Prefect Yu was top-quality, warmer than a mattress. It didn’t take up much space when folded. In addition, bringing another thin blanket bought at the temple fair ensured comfort even in deserted mountains and countryside temples.
In this era, there was also a bedding bag like a saddle bag that he bought at the temple fair. It was commonly used by traveling merchants and soldiers, sturdy and spacious. Once packed, it was placed on the horse’s back.
The conical bamboo hat and woven rush raincoat were hung on top.
The jujube-red horse stood motionless obediently, allowing him to arrange everything.
The past two days marked the Beginning of Spring, the start of the life force of all living things when the vitality was strongest. This wisp of vitality was very beneficial for all living things in the world. This year's first strand of Beginning of Spring spiritual energy at the foot of the mountain was different. Song You bestowed it on the jujube-red horse, making it glow with health and radiate vigor.
After putting everything in order, he also tidied up the courtyard house. Whether it was the cobwebs above or the dust at the base of the walls, he swept everything until they were clean. He picked up and put away anything that needed it.
Finally, he cupped his hands and bid farewell toward the direction of the bamboo grove. “I’ve disturbed you a lot for half a year. I also often listened to your singing to pass the time. Although I enjoyed it, thinking it over carefully, it was indeed rude. Upon leaving, I should bid farewell and apologize. I hope you resolve your obsession soon or that your husband will return soon.”
It was daytime, so naturally there was no response from the direction of the bamboo grove.
Instead it was the calico cat who raised her head to look at him. “Should I say something?”
“No need.”
“Oh.”
A man called his horse and walked out the door, followed by a cat.
Constable Luo stood outside at the alley’s entrance dressed in black clothes. “I’m here to see you off, Mister.”
“It’s considerate of you.”
Before he left the city, Magistrate Liu, along with Prefect Yu, hurried over. Prefect Yu said, “Had I known earlier you were leaving today, I would have hosted a farewell banquet yesterday. Please forgive me.”
“You’re too kind.”
“No matter what, I have not been attentive enough! I rushed here in a hurry today. Fortunately, I have not missed you. I have just bought you some snacks that keep well on the way here so you can eat them on the road when hungry as well as a wool blanket and a cloak for cold nights. Please accept them.”
Song You glanced at Prefect Yu a few times. “Thank you, Prefect Yu.”
“Where are you heading?”
“I don’t know yet, I’m just going east.”
“How long will this journey be?”
“Twenty years.”
Prefect Yu was momentarily stunned.
Constable Luo and Magistrate Liu who were standing behind him were also taken aback.
Twenty years…
How many twenty years does one have in a lifetime?
They have only heard of people striving for fame and fortune in twenty years, some used twenty years to wallow in degeneration, but they had never heard of anyone traveling the world for twenty years.
Twenty years of countless trials and hardships…who can predict them? Twenty years later, no one knows if they will still stand here or even be alive. Even Constable Luo, who was the youngest, was actually already over age thirty. He would be over fifty twenty years later. If not in the grave, he would already be old and gray-haired.
Yet, when Mr. Song mentioned it, his tone was indifferent, as if he felt it was trivial and normal. He totally treated twenty years as if it was nothing.
Prefect Yu felt mixed emotions for a moment.
Once they parted now, they would probably not meet again in this lifetime?
“Take care.”
“Thank you, gentlemen.”
Both sides bowed deeply.
Then Song You led his horse away, walking further and further away.
The few left behind watched, feeling strange inside.
Recalling Mr. Song's deeds in Yidu these past six months, whether eradicating the fog spirit on Jinyang Road, burning the evil monk in front of the Buddha’s Hall, helping to catch the conjuror thief at the temple fair, striking people down with lightning from across half the city…Yet, he did not care about fame and wealth, living a free and unconstrained life. They had seen capable people with cultivation skills before like Master Guanghong, but they had never seen a master like Mr. Song.
A living immortal in stories would probably be like this.
Such an immortal should be recorded in books.
***
The morning clouds hung heavy, and the dew on the road had not yet dried.
One man, one cat, and one horse went out of the city gates.
The horse had no reins, and Song You didn’t need them either. He walked ahead, the horse followed silently, and beside it, the cat also followed obediently. Onlookers found it miraculous.
The road ahead was filled with countless mountains and rivers, with unpredictable weather.
Although the road was long and difficult, walking would eventually lead to the destination. Song You just maintained a calm heart and moved forward step by step.
The yellow dirt road outside the city stretched to the horizon.
Farmland and cottages lined the road. The scenery was delicate and pretty.
The shallowly-rooted grass on the road was yellowed, and the dew evaporated as the sun appeared. The thick dust on the ground was stirred up by each step in tiny clouds. Song You enjoyed this feeling very much because it made every step more visually striking, and also clearer and more real.
Lady Calico continued darting ahead and behind, sniffing here and there, occasionally showing a puzzled expression. “We seem to have been here before.”
“You are clever.”
“Why are we going back again?”
“Only this short section is repeated.”
“Where are we going?”
“Going east.”
“Which way is east?”
“Where the sun rises in the morning.”
“Why go there?” The calico cat kept up with him with her small, quick steps. She tilted her head and looked up at him. “Are you going to find out where the sun rises?”
“No.”
“Then what are you looking for?”
“To find unsurpassably wonderful landscapes, places where the people are simple and honest, legendary immortals, creatures from stories, and to go and see all the marvelous and wonderful places in this world.”
The little cat tilted her head, looking at him and thinking for a long time before she understood. “There are immortals in temples. I also used to be an immortal.”
“They...” Song You shook his head with a smile. “They’re just ghosts who are officials.”
“Then what is an immortal to you?”
“Hard to say.”
“You don’t know either?”
“I have never seen one.”
“Then why are you looking for them?”
“Precisely because I have never seen them.”
This world might not be as developed as his previous one, but it was also full of wonders. Even though he had spent the first half of his life in a Daoist temple, he had already seen some of them. He believed there was more, so he wished to go and see more marvelous and unsurpassably wonderful landscapes as well as more mysterious and interesting things.
The journey this time was undoubtedly much more comfortable than before. First, he had the company of Lady Calico. Second, he was well-prepared. Third, he now had a horse, so at least he no longer needed to carry the traveling bags on his back. He went forward empty-handed, thus he had more mental and physical energy to enjoy every step.
By afternoon, they were on Jinyang Road again.
Ancient trees lined the old road, providing shade and shelter from the rain.
The weather happened to be good that day. Walking along a tree-shaded path like this, the sunlight filtered through and created spots of light and shadow. As they walked slowly on the stone slabs, the light and darkness shifted before their eyes. In one moment, they were enveloped in shadow, and in the next, sunlight fell on them. The clopping of horse hooves entered their ears. They felt calm in their hearts. They didn’t worry about the thousand li journey or fear the sound of wind and rain. The feeling was truly beautiful.
Not far ahead, they saw a tea stall with many people.
Although this was still Jinyang Road, they had passed Yidu and this was no longer the section they had walked before. This tea stall was new to them.
Just in time as they were somewhat tired.
Song You led the horse over and stopped in front of the tea stall. “A bowl of tea.” He added, “Good tea.”
The tea stall owner was a very kindly-looking hunchbacked old man. He immediately came over to serve him. “Young Mister, would you like some food as well? We could also provide some cheap fodder for your horse.”
“No need.”
Song You had brought steamed pancakes and steamed buns with him when he left. He just needed a bowl of hot tea to wash them down with.
As for the horse, though it seemed to be carrying many items, actually none of them were heavy. It had not been heavily burdened at all on the journey. Instead, it had walked leisurely, grazing on wild grass at the sides of the road along the way. It wasn’t hungry at all at that moment.
“Oh!” The old man discovered the horse unexpectedly had no reins when he was trying to tie up the horse for Song You. “Young Mister, your horse...”
“The horse is smart, no need for reins.”
“Aren’t you afraid it will get lost?”
“No.” The old stall owner was very amazed but went to fetch tea.
A steaming teapot filled the bowl to the brim.
The jianghu people and merchants beside him repeatedly cast glances at Song You. This was merely a somewhat unusual affair, but with Song You dressed in his Daoist robe, it immediately seemed to take on a more mysterious significance. Even the proud and unruly jianghu people restrained their contemptuous gazes.
However, when they saw Song You pry open the steamed bun, take out the meat filling to feed the cat, and eat only the outer dough himself, they couldn't help but be even more amazed. They started whispering and discussing non-stop among themselves.
Neither he nor the cat paid them any mind.
The horse just stood quietly in front of the stall, not running about despite not being tied up. Seeing some tender grass shoots at the side that it fancied, it just took a few steps away and lowered its head to nibble slowly without wandering far.
During this period, people continuously settled their bills and left.
Whenever a traveler came from the left and went towards the right, the old stall owner would approach them, bow and ask where they were heading and if they could help deliver a letter.
However, after asking many people, most declined.
In this era, long distances and high mountains made letter delivery difficult. Once one left the official road, there were demons, ghosts as well as mountain bandits, making letter delivery even more challenging.
On Jinyang Road, besides officials, most were traveling merchants or jianghu people. Merchants either valued their reputation or profits. Trust-worthy merchants feared they couldn’t deliver, and didn’t dare to agree easily. Profit-driven ones wanted more money. After asking for a long time, only one merchant agreed, but there was no guarantee the letter would arrive safely.
Song You raised the bowl and drank the last sip of tea. He even paused for a moment with the bowl raised, waiting for the tea clinging to the bowl's sides to trickle down.
He noted that the more expensive tea on this official road had more ingredients and was more filling. Moreover, it was flavorful, with salt, sugar, and even plums added. A large bowl filled to the brim, with two steamed buns added, unexpectedly made him feel full.
“The bill please.”
“Ten wen.”
It was as expensive as a bowl of wonton.
However, it was normal. In his previous world, a cup of milk tea was somewhat more expensive than a bowl of wonton.
The hunchbacked old man watched Song You count the money, smiling. “May I ask where you are heading, Young Mister?”
“I’m going east.”
“Will you pass through Xuzhou, Long Commandery?”
Song You counted out ten wen but didn’t answer immediately. He smiled and asked, “Do you wish to send a letter?”
Actually he had only heard of Xuzhou, which was east of Yizhou. He had to pass through Xuzhou if he headed east, but he had never heard of Long Commandery.
“Yes! If you’re going to Long Commandery and it’s on the way, I’d like to ask you to deliver a letter for me!” The old stall owner added quickly, “Don’t worry, I won’t let you deliver it for nothing!”
“What kind of letter?”
“Are you really going to Long Commandery?”
“I am an idle wanderer in the mountain wilderness who is traveling the world and I don’t know where I will go. I just know I’m going east and will pass through Xuzhou. If you have urgent business, I don’t mind making a trip to Long Commandery.”
“I’ll be honest, we were poor in the past so my son followed his second uncle to Xuzhou, Long Commandery to do business. Later, he remained there. It’s far, and there are mountain bandits once you leave the official road. He hasn’t returned for two years.
“A few days ago, my wife missed him so much that she couldn’t sleep and the day before yesterday she became bed-ridden with illness. I’ve asked officials passing by to help me write a few letters and wish to ask people to deliver them in order to ask him to come back...”
“I see.”
Mountains and rivers could block messages but should not block familial love between mother and child.
Song You didn’t think much about it and smiled calmly. “Then I’ll deliver the letter for you and use it as an opportunity to see Long Commandery’s scenery.”
“Thank you!” The old man was instantly deeply grateful, bowing low.
It was too much and Song You quickly helped him up. “No need for such ceremony. I wander the four seas anyway and should thank you for pointing the way on my behalf.”
1. Chinese idiom for enduring the hardships of an arduous journey, especially while outdoors. ☜
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