Unintended Immortality

“I’ve been delayed for four and a half days. I can imagine there’s a pile of things waiting for me to do. I need to hurry back to the city, so I won’t accompany you any longer, Daoist,” said Heroine Wu. “Even if we traveled together, we would have to part ways once we enter the city.”

“Feel free to go about your business, heroine.”

“Alright!”

“Take care.”

“Hya!” Heroine Wu called out. Without her urging the horse, the yellow-maned horse took off on its own, splashing mud with its hooves.

Although the horse was short, it ran quickly, actually trotting along. Her figure quickly disappeared on the main road ahead.

Song You withdrew his gaze.

This heroine had brought him out for a journey that delayed them for four and a half days. Not only did she fail to find Doctor Cai, whom she was looking for, but she also got caught up in the conflicts of the jianghu. He wondered if those who wanted to steal the painting had remembered her and whether they would come looking for trouble.

In any case, he felt somewhat guilty.

Thinking too much was useless, so he decided to stop. The Daoist continued to stroll leisurely along the roadside.

The girl beside him seemed completely carefree. Having found a stick from somewhere, she was swishing it and striking the heads of the weeds by the road, making sounds as she did. Whenever a dragonfly or butterfly fluttered by, she would jump up to catch it, often splashing mud when she landed back on the ground.

The capital city, Changjing, was gradually coming into view.

Suddenly, a chaotic and heavy sound of hooves approached from behind.

“Hya!”

Turning around, he saw several tall horses galloping toward them, with armored soldiers riding on them. Before they got close, they shouted repeatedly,“Get out of the way! Move to the side!”

The Daoist quickly grabbed the girl’s wrist and pulled her to his side, watching as the group of soldiers on horseback galloped past. Following their command, he stepped aside into the dirt by the roadside.

Then he turned to look in the direction the soldiers had come from.

A large troop was slowly approaching. At the forefront were three tall horses.

Among them, the first two horses stood out: one was pure white and flawless like a white jade, with not a single strand of mixed fur. The other was pitch black, its body gleaming like black satin, resembling a dark, majestic steed. Riding these horses were two remarkable young men, both seemingly under twenty years old, dressed in hunting attire with an outstanding demeanor.

These two horses were already imposing and rare divine steeds, but slightly behind them, a horse even taller emerged. It was a striking black and white mix, with an extraordinary presence.

The rider wore a red robe that bulged beneath, giving an impression of great strength; astonishingly, he was even wearing armor in this scorching heat.

The Daoist recognized both the horse and the person.

The three men engaged in lively conversation, though most of the time it was the two young men who spoke—one was exuberantly chatty, while the other was cultured and gentle. The general beside them remained mostly silent, only offering a few subdued responses when they addressed him, seeming rather disinterested.

Behind them trailed a number of attendants and soldiers. The most eye-catching sight was a cart loaded with game, including deer, rabbits, goats, wolves, and leopards.

As this procession drew nearer, the general habitually surveyed the surroundings. With a casual glance, he spotted the Daoist by the roadside and couldn’t help but fix his gaze on him, no longer responding to the two distinguished young men.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The group continued until they reached the Daoist’s side.

“…”

The general merely lifted the reins lightly; there was no need to tug hard or make a sound, as the horse seemed to understand and came to a halt.

“Whoa…” Only then did the sounds of halting echo beside and behind him.

The entire procession came to a stop.

The general paused on his horse. He turned slightly, and cupped his hands in greeting, speaking calmly to the Daoist by the roadside, “Sir, it’s good to see you again.”

The Daoist immediately returned the gesture with a bow, “Greetings, General Chen.”

The two young men observed the exchange, each with their own thoughts.

The older man squinted slightly, as if he had suddenly understood who the Daoist was and why General Chen was acquainted with him.

The younger man, however, wore a puzzled expression. Yet, he maintained a gentle demeanor. His smile was like a spring breeze as he asked the general beside him, “General, have you encountered an old acquaintance?”

“Yes, Your Highness, it’s an old acquaintance,” the general answered calmly, then turned back to the Daoist. “May I ask where you’ve come from, sir?”

“I just took a stroll outside the mountain.”

“Are you heading back to the city?”

“Indeed.”

“It has just rained, and the roads are muddy. It must be fate that we meet here. I wonder if I may have the honor of inviting you to accompany me, sir?” As General Chen spoke, he glanced back.

Immediately, one of the soldiers dismounted and treaded through the mud, holding the reins as he approached the Daoist.

The Daoist looked down at his own feet and shook his head in refusal. “Thank you for your kind offer, General. However, my shoes are already dirty, so it doesn’t matter. Though I am returning to the city, I am not in a hurry.”

“So you’re in the mood to take a walk, sir.”

“It’s not that I’m in the mood to take a walk; it’s simply that I have traveled too far along the way. The capital is so close now that this little distance hardly matters.”

“…” The people beside them exchanged glances, surprised.

They had not expected that a renowned figure like General Chen Ziyi, who commanded great military power, would be so courteous in his invitation, yet still have someone dare to refuse.

The general nodded thoughtfully, then turned to the people beside him, cupping his hands in a salute. “Your Highnesses, the capital is just ahead. I have the good fortune to meet an old acquaintance today, so I invite you both to return to the city first, allowing me to chat with my acquaintance and catch up.”

“Of course, of course…”

The older man quickly responded.

The younger man wanted to say something more but, upon hearing this, decided against it and instead looked curiously at the Daoist standing by the roadside with the little girl.

The main group continued forward, leaving General Chen and the two personal soldiers standing in place.

“Sir, you truly won’t ride a horse?”

“Thank you for your kind offer.”

“I can spare a horse for the child beside you.” General Chen looked at the little girl beside the Daoist.

“We have a horse!” The little girl looked up and made eye contact with him.

“That’s fine.” The general, without hesitation, dismounted. He led the horse closer to the Daoist, and smiled as he bowed again. “During our previous meeting in the palace, I had hoped to talk more with you, but I couldn’t fully enjoy the conversation. I didn’t expect that on my return from the hunt, we would meet by the roadside; it truly is fate.”

“General, you are…”

“I’m accompanying Their Highnesses out of the city for the hunt.” The general glanced at the group gradually moving away and added, “At His Majesty’s command.”

“Then you will have some questions to answer upon return.”

“I’ll just speak the truth.”

“Why are you wearing heavy armor for the hunt outside the city?”

“There are many fierce beasts like tigers and bears outside the city, and occasionally even spirits that have turned into demons. To ensure the safety of Their Highnesses, I must wear armor.”

“Now I understand.” Song You smiled and didn’t ask further.

As the main group moved further away, the soldiers guarding the rear also departed. The Daoist resumed walking along the official road, now accompanied by a general and two personal soldiers, all fully armored and leading their horses.

“In recent days, there have been many rumors about the Grand Commander's mansion in the city. Some common folk even say that a divine immortal has descended to punish treacherous officials and bullies,” General Chen laughed. As he walked alongside the Daoist, his towering figure was highlighted, especially with the heavy armor beneath his robe.

He added, “The high-ranking officials know more about it. I can’t count how many people have come looking for you these days, but who would have thought that you’d venture outside the city to seek out a master? They must have all found the doors closed.”

“Do the common folk know it was my doing?”

“Most do not.”

“That’s good.”

“It seems you prefer peace and quiet.”

“Daoists generally do.”

“True enough.”

“How did you come to know I was leaving the city to seek a master?” the Daoist asked with a smile.

“In the palace before, you inquired of the State Preceptor about the masters in the capital. You travel the world, so naturally, you have a desire to seek them out,” General Chen replied leisurely.

He continued, “Moreover, we encountered a group of ruffians armed with knives and clubs on the road this morning, who were quite a sight to behold. They were stopped by the military academy for questioning, and I heard a story about a divine immortal, which led me to believe you were off to find the Snake Immortal of Mount Beiqin.”

“I see.”

“You truly have skill.”

“It’s all thanks to the Snake Immortal,” the Daoist said honestly. “But I wasn’t seeking the Snake Immortal; I was looking for Dr. Cai. They both reside on Mount Beiqin, but one is on the outskirts while the other is deeper inside. I didn’t expect to miss seeing Dr. Cai and instead encounter the Snake Immortal.”

“Well, that too is fate.” General Chen glanced at the long box on the Daoist’s back.

Neither mentioned the Dou family's painting. There was no need to dwell on it now.

Such was the nature of the world.

This painting was indeed precious and could cause many in the jianghu to risk their lives for it, but it also depended on where it was placed.

If it fell into the hands of the jianghu, it could become a source of bloodshed. If kept in the treasury of a high-ranking official, it could spark a struggle for power. But if hung in the imperial palace, it would become a topic of great interest for the world. Though General Chen had not seen the Daoist’s abilities, he could roughly guess a thing or two; in his presence, no one could take it away.

“I travel the world, and there are still many places I have not visited. May I ask you for some guidance, General?”

“I will share all I know without reservation.”

“I’ve heard that after the northern wars, the borderlands are nearly empty, with a thousand li void of roosters crowing,” the Daoist asked as they walked. “Is that true?”

“Yes.” The answer was brief, devoid of any emotion, like a single word from a historical text.

When the general gave this response, there was not a flicker of expression on his face. After speaking that word and pausing in silence for a moment, he took a few steps forward and began to sketch the grim situation at the border.

“The struggles among the nation's clans are the most brutal. Whenever the northern barbarians reach our lands, they swarm like locusts, leaving not a single one behind. This has been the case for centuries.”

“What about us?”

“It's the same.”

“I’ve heard there are many demons causing havoc in the north.”

“That’s no mere rumor,” the general replied as they walked. “You are a master, so you must know that when a place becomes deserted, it belongs to the demons. And when many people die in a place, the demons there grow even more rampant, as terrifying as a plague.”

“Are there divine beings in the north to subdue them?”

“I am but a border commander of Great Yan, focused solely on fighting the barbarians outside our borders and seldom concerned with demons,” the general paused briefly. “However, I often hear rumors from the rear of divine officers descending and battling demons at night.”

“I see…”

The two continued to walk and talk.

The Daoist had long heard the stories of this general, having listened to them countless times, so how could he not want to engage in conversation? Moreover, he had matters regarding the north he wished to inquire about.

Unfortunately, their last encounter had been in the palace, where the current emperor was the main focus. Thus, the two of them couldn’t talk much to each other.

Now was a perfect opportunity.

The general also had things he wanted to probe about him.

Thus, their steps slowed down more than usual as they engaged in conversation. This allowed the Daoist to experience the customs and culture of the north while also getting to know this general, destined to be remembered through the ages. The capital was drawing ever closer.

“We’re almost in the city.”

“Do you have any matters to attend to, General Chen?”

“I should go pursue the two princes.”

“This is a matter of great importance; I wouldn’t dare delay you, General.”

General Chen chuckled, mounted his horse, and sat atop it. Yet, he looked back at the Daoist, not in a hurry to leave. “I seem to have forgotten something.”

“Please, General, go on.”

“Previously, during the great war in the north, it was largely thanks to the State Preceptor’s remarkable foresight that Great Yan could achieve such an easy victory. I am indeed very curious about the art of divination and fortune-telling.” General Chen lowered his gaze to scrutinize him.

He asked, “Since you are a Daoist master highly esteemed by the State Preceptor, I wonder if you are also knowledgeable in the ways of fortune-telling?”

“I’m afraid I must disappoint you; I do not understand that art.”

“Are you speaking the truth? Please don’t deceive me.”

“I’ve asked you many questions, General, and you have always spoken openly and thoroughly. I am truly grateful for that. Now that you have a question to ask, how could I possibly deceive or hide anything?”

The general looked down, while the Daoist looked up. They exchanged a sincere glance, with everything unspoken between them.

“Thank you, sir.”

“You are too kind, General.”

“May I inquire if I can visit you next time?”

“Of course.”

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

“Hya!”

The spotted beast immediately took off at lightning speed. The two accompanying guards rode after him.

Three figures swiftly disappeared into the distance.

The Daoist withdrew his gaze, revealing a smile. The congruence and differences arising from the story’s characters entering reality—the once-young boy and the now-great general whom even the emperor must regard with caution—were truly remarkable.