Unintended Immortality-Chapter 375: Lady Calicos Wise Guidance

The rules and laws governing this Ghost City might not yet be entirely mature, but they were already quite comprehensive, fully capable of ensuring the operation of this small domain.

In essence, they were modeled after the regulations of the living world.

Naturally, there were flaws, but every era had its own set of rules. These rules were in harmony with their time, conforming to it while also being the most developed system nurtured by that era. Forcefully altering them would be a daunting task—pull one thread, and the entire fabric would unravel. To make changes, one would have to reform the entire system; amending just a part would render it incongruous.

Thus, Song You mostly observed and contemplated. Even when he encountered aspects he found unreasonable or unsettling, he only raised a select few suggestions, refraining from being overly critical or meddlesome.

Seven days passed quickly. Song You still didn’t discover anything of note.

Lady Calico, too, had yet to locate the source of the peculiar, rodent-like stench she was concerned about. She could only discern that it permeated the air, stronger in some places and weaker in others.

From the looks of things, the consolidation of the underworld was accelerating drastically. Its initial formation would likely occur in a decade or so. If that were the case, could the State Preceptor’s schemes be aimed not at the present but at ten years later?

This possibility seemed unlikely.

However, the Ghost City itself was the precursor to the underworld. As the Ghost City rapidly approached completion, once it was fully developed, it would not differ much from the underworld, especially while the number of spirits remained low. Perhaps within two or three years, all official positions in the underworld would first be established within this Ghost City. Could it be that his plans were tied to that timeframe?

Song You frowned, stroking the cat thoughtfully.

Indeed, his suspicion of the State Preceptor was difficult to substantiate with concrete evidence. It was more of an intuition, though not entirely baseless. This intuition was woven from countless details he had observed over the years. However, these details were too fragmented and scattered, forming only a vague sense of suspicion, unable to guide him toward finding proof or piecing together solid evidence.

“Meow!”

Looking down, Song You saw the cat curled up on his lap, staring up at him.

“What is it, Lady Calico?”

“That lame Daoist... is he a bad person?”

“Do you think so too?”

“No, I think you think so,” the calico cat replied, her expression serious as she gazed up at him. “I will follow you wherever you go.”

“I don’t know either,” Song You admitted.

“You’re not very clever.”

“When you hunt mice, and the mouse refuses to show itself, what do you do then?”

“The mouse will come out!”

“That makes sense...”

Song You nodded calmly, absentmindedly scratching the calico cat under the chin as his thoughts raced. His hand moved mechanically, devoid of any emotion.

A housecat naturally enjoys being petted, and Lady Calico didn’t mind. She simply continued to gaze up at the Daoist. After a while, she spoke again, “But sometimes the mouse doesn’t come out because it sees the cat. When it spots the cat, it hides and waits for the cat to leave.”

“And what should one do in that case?”

“I’ve already taught you!”

“That makes sense...”

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Lady Calico had indeed taught Song You a lesson before.

Back in Changjing, after visiting the fox demon, a drunken cat brought a mouse to the Daoist as a plaything. The cat also taught him: if the mouse refuses to run, simply turn your head away and pretend not to notice it.

It was a simple method. And it suited Song You's temperament perfectly.

He had been in this place for several days already. If he couldn’t find what he was looking for now, staying for months likely wouldn’t yield better results. Moreover, the world was vast, filled with countless sights and experiences to explore. Song You still had to wander the land and couldn’t afford to linger for too long.

One way or another, it was time to leave.

Song You’s gaze flickered downward. In fact, his belongings were already packed.

Knock, knock...

At that very moment, a knock came from the door.

“Lady Calico...”

Before Song You could finish speaking, the cat rolled off his lap, landing gracefully on the floor with a half-turn midair. She transitioned from lying on her back to landing steadily on all fours with fluid ease.

Without hesitation, she darted off to open the door.

Standing outside was none other than the State Preceptor.

“Many thanks, Lady Calico.”

The lame State Preceptor first bowed with a smile to the cat on the ground in gratitude, then stepped inside. Only after looking at Song You did he bow again and ask politely, “Did you sleep well last night, fellow Daoist?”

“Very well.”

“Fellow Daoist... Huh?”

The State Preceptor then noticed the horse standing nearby and the saddle bag beside it. Startled and puzzled, he asked, “Fellow Daoist, are you...?”

“I came to bid you farewell,” Song You replied calmly.

“Leaving already?”

“My visit this time was to see the Ghost City you’ve established, to catch a glimpse of what the future underworld might look like. Now that I’ve seen it, I’ve broadened my horizons. My knowledge and abilities are limited, and I’ve already shared all the suggestions I could offer. There’s nothing more I can help with,” Song You explained. “Naturally, it’s time for me to leave and continue my travels elsewhere.”

“Why not stay a few more days?”

“I won’t. Thank you for your hospitality,” Song You said politely. “Besides, there are old friends waiting for us outside.”

“Old friends?”

“Old friends.” Song You nodded serenely, then bent down to place the saddle bag onto the horse’s back. “I was planning to seek you out and bid you farewell, but you came at just the right time. As for the yin qi and ghostly qi in this area, I’ll perform a sealing spell outside the boundary of Mount Ye before leaving.”

“Then I must thank you on behalf of the people!”

“But I must inform you...”

“I’m all ears!” the State Preceptor replied.

“Although I’ve previously sealed the ghostly qi of a Ghost City in Yanzhou with a spell, that city only contained a little over a thousand wandering ghosts. Even if their numbers were to grow a hundredfold, they wouldn’t compare to this place. Wandering spirits and ghosts don’t belong in the human world to begin with, let alone such a large gathering of them. Even if I exert all my strength, I won’t be able to keep them sealed indefinitely.”

This was an honest statement.

Sometimes, a single malevolent ghost in the city could make an entire residence feel eerily cold and unsettling. If its cultivation was high enough, it could even affect the neighbors, casting a shadow over an entire street.

Ordinary mortals who came too close would often find themselves frail, prone to illness, and plagued by confusion and vivid dreams. Let alone here, with nearly a million ghosts, some of whom were highly cultivated. The only silver lining was that all the malevolent and vengeful ghosts had been burned away.

Sealing such a place with spiritual energy alone would be too flimsy. Without ongoing reinforcement, even a seal placed by Song You would easily fail.

If it held for three to five years, that would already be considered a long time.

“That’s only natural,” the State Preceptor replied, clearly aware of this limitation. He quickly expressed his understanding. “I’ve long considered this. While the grand formation I’ve set up doesn’t seal effectively, the spread of ghostly qi here is thankfully slow. This area is mostly desolate and uninhabited. If we can simply curb its spread, everything will be fine once the underworld fully forms.”

“You’re truly compassionate.”

“How long do you think your seal will hold, fellow Daoist?”

“One year. It will last only a year,” Song You answered with a nod, pausing briefly. “Fortunately, as we head south this time, we’ll pass through Yaozhou, which is near the sea. Once we reach the coast and complete our journey, we should pass by Fengzhou or at least close to it. Making another trip here won’t be difficult. I’ll return in a year to visit you again.”

“There’s no need to trouble yourself so much,” the State Preceptor said with a hearty laugh.

He added, “If your seal can last an entire year, that will be more than enough. The underworld should be formed within that time. A year of stagnation, combined with the natural recovery of the mortal realm, will be sufficient to slow the spread of ghostly qi for several more years. By the time the ghostly qi affects the people of Zi Commandery, the underworld will have solidified, leaving no room for error.”

“Don’t worry, State Preceptor. It’s no trouble at all.”

The seal that could last three to five years. Song You was being extra responsible by offering to return in just one year for maintenance.

Cupping his hands, Song You bid farewell to the State Preceptor, patted his horse, and headed out.

“Fellow Daoist, you’re too kind,” the State Preceptor remarked, his face beaming as he followed closely behind.

The group passed through the Ghost City once more. Countless ghostly spirits expressed their gratitude for the Preceptor’s virtue, bowing to him with reverence as though he were a deity. Those who had committed crimes and been punished here cowered before him, fearing him as one would a divine being.

Passing through the stone wall led to the outside world.

The area around Mount Ye was heavily influenced by ghostly and yin qi, making sunny days almost nonexistent. The sky was perpetually overcast, but even so, it was far brighter than the Ghost City lit by eerie ghost fires. When Song You stepped back into the outside world and saw sunlight again, he couldn’t help but squint his eyes.

Looking down, he noticed the cat beside him narrowing her pupils as they quickly adjusted to the light.

After glancing around, he began walking toward the mountain’s summit.

The journey was harder on the State Preceptor, who struggled to climb the mountain with his lame leg.

“Swish, swish, swish...”

Countless streams of spiritual energy shot forth, transforming into glowing streaks of light visible even in broad daylight, like a sky full of fireflies, as they fell around Mount Ye.

“Seal!”

The spiritual energy instantly formed a seal, locking the ghostly qi of Mount Ye in place.

The State Preceptor, limping as always, escorted Song You down the mountain. He even arranged for a military officer to guide him safely to the county city, ensuring he wouldn’t lose his way.

“Thank you, State Preceptor.” Song You turned and smiled, bowing in gratitude. “It is now mid-February. A year from now, I will certainly return to reinforce the seal. If my cultivation improves by then, I may be able to extend its duration further.”

“We look forward to your return.”

“Farewell.”

“Meow...”

As the Daoist departed, his horse followed closely behind.

The cat turned to face the State Preceptor, letting out a soft “meow“ as if to express her thanks, then trotted after them.

Man, cat, and horse slowly made their way into the distance, leaving only the aged figure of the State Preceptor standing in place. He watched them go, his face expressionless.

“Daoist priest...”

“Hmm?”

“Are we coming back next year?”

Song You didn’t answer directly. Instead, he asked, “When do you want to return?”

“...”

The cat stared at him for a moment, flicked her head, and then turned her gaze away. Shaking her head playfully, she broke into a small trot, running ahead to busy herself with whatever caught her attention.

It was February, and spring was in full bloom.

Once they left the area tainted by the ghostly qi of Mount Ye, they entered a land bursting with life. Flowers bloomed in abundance, everything was awakening, butterflies fluttered about, and birds chirped endlessly. All of it captivated Lady Calico’s attention.

She would either sniff at something curiously, stop to stare upward, or try to pounce at whatever caught her fancy. Her energy seemed boundless.

The officer escorting them had initially been startled by Lady Calico’s ability to talk. Thinking her to be some extraordinary creature, he watched her carefully. But after observing her antics, which were no different from those of an ordinary cat, he grew used to her behavior. Before long, he found himself amused by her playful nature, feeling his worries melt away as he watched her.

“This way, sir,” the officer said, recognizing the route and leading Song You forward.

Occasionally, when tall weeds encroached upon the path, the officer would draw his blade and cut them away, ensuring they didn’t hinder Song You’s journey.

“Chirp, chirp...”

Ahead, a swallow perched on a tree branch.

The bird turned its head, preening its feathers. Noticing the Daoist accompanied by others, it chirped twice, as if addressing him. When Song You didn’t respond, the swallow flapped its wings and flew back into the clouds.

The air was alive with birdsong, filling the surroundings with endless noise. The officer, used to such sights and sounds, thought nothing of it.

It was another two full days of travel. The commandery capital was now in sight.

“Thank you, generals, for escorting me,” Song You said to the officers. “Now that we’ve reached the city, the road ahead will be much easier to navigate, and I won’t risk getting lost. Please, let’s part ways here.”

“It was our duty; you don’t have to thank us,” the officers replied, cupping their hands in salute. “If that’s the case, we shall take our leave.”

“You could stay in the city for a night’s rest,” Song You offered.

“Military regulations are strict; we can’t linger,” they replied.

With that, the officers turned and departed without hesitation.

It seemed the Longwei Army indeed enforced strict discipline.

Song You stood in place, watching them leave until they disappeared from view. Only then did he turn his gaze toward the distant commandery city.

“Whoosh...”

There was almost no sound.

A swallow glided gracefully through the air, tracing an elegant arc before landing on a nearby tree branch.

“Have you discovered anything, sir?” it asked.

“Nothing at all.”

“I’m useless. I’ve been flying for ten days and found nothing,” the swallow said in a soft voice. “The area around Mount Ye is desolate. There are some hidden sentries placed for vigilance and defense, including cultivators, minor demons, and ghosts. Ghost officials escort ghosts into the area every night, but aside from that, there’s no other movement.”

“Thank you for your efforts.”

“I’m just doing my duty.”

“The effects of the two streams of spiritual energy must be wearing off soon, right?”

“They should be.”

“I’ll still need your help for a few more days. Stay hidden above the clouds and watch closely after we leave to see if any demons or ghosts skilled in stealth follow us,” Song You said, raising his hand as if to summon spiritual energy. He paused for a moment and then lowered it again. “Never mind, let’s wait a few days before doing that.”

With a slight wave of his hand, the residual effects of the Qingming and winter spiritual energies lingering on the swallow dissipated.

“You’ve worked hard these past few days. Take this opportunity to rest for a while.”

“It wasn’t hard at all.”

“Let’s head into the city.”

Song You stepped toward the commandery city. The fox was still waiting for them inside.