Chapter 26: Longevity is like a Dream

Chapter 26: Longevity is like a Dream

It was already dark in the small courtyard house in the north of the city.

Song You had finished writing his letter a while ago and had folded it neatly, placing it on the table. He sat opposite Lady Calico, who had reverted to her human form. The blanket on the bed was folded neatly and placed on the inner side.

An oil lamp was lit in the room, casting flickering shadows.

Song You asked, “What spells do you know?”

“I can catch mice.”

“That's your skill, but it doesn't count as a spell.” Song You shook his head.

“I can consume incense, remember everyone who ever offered incense to me, and find them,” Lady Calico quickly added.

“That's your divine power, but it doesn't count as a spell either.” Song You shook his head again. “Besides, you have already distanced yourself from the Divine Dao now. If you don't consume incense for a long time, your divine powers will gradually dissipate by themselves.”

“I am very smart.”

“That's also your skill.”

“Then I don't know any spells...” Lady Calico couldn’t help sounding a bit dejected.

“Now that you have already transformed, why don't I teach you some spells? How about that?”

“Great!”

“What do you want to learn?”

“Everything!”

“You can only choose one.”

“Why?”

“A spell can’t be learned in a day. Even mice are eaten one bite at a time. Moreover, many masters and recluses with true cultivation only know one or two spells in their lifetime. It is enough to allow them to traverse the world freely and even be worshiped as local deities.” Song You looked indifferently at her. “On this Way, quality is valued over quantity.”

“What do you know?”

“I know the fire element spell. It can burn ghosts at a low level, burn demons at a middle level, and burn gods and devils at a high level. Once you reach the peak, you can even burn a city or a country like the Fiery Sun True Lord.”

“This is great! It sounds powerful!”

“Do you want to learn it?”

“If I learn it, will I not feel cold anymore?”

“Do I seem to feel the cold?”

“Then I won't learn it! I’ll learn something else!”

“I know the water element spell. Depending on your cultivation level, you can breathe underwater, create great waves, and summon rain and snow. Once you reach the peak, you can change the course of great rivers and alter the color of the seas like the Ocean Rending True Lord.”

“If I learn it, can I go into the water to catch fish?”

“You don't need this spell to catch fish. Even ordinary people can catch fish without going into the water,” Song You said. “Also, they can catch a lot.”

“Then I’ll learn something else!”

“I know the earth element spell. Depending on your cultivation level, you can raise walls from the earth, turn stones into soldiers, and sit on mountains as a deity. Once you reach the peak, you can raise mountains and sink valleys like the Thick Earth Celestial Worthy[1].”

“Is it difficult?”

“You can master the basics in a few years.”

“Are you good at it?”

“I have some skills, but I'm not as good as I am with fire.”

“Then I'll keep choosing.”

“I know the wood element spell. It can promote the growth of all living things, make flowers bloom and trees bear fruit out of season, as well as make dead branches sprout. Once you reach the peak, you can bring the dead back to life, maintain eternal youth, and achieve immortality like the Immortal Elder of Eternal Spring.”

“Monkeys would definitely like this!”

“I also know the metal element spell. You will be able to swallow knives, break blades, turn stones into gold, and transform the ground into steel. Once you reach the peak, you will be impervious to swords or spears and unstoppable like the Gold Spirit Official.”

“How do you swallow a knife?”

“You will be able to swallow a knife into your stomach without getting cut.”

“Why would you eat a knife?”

The little girl widened her large puzzled eyes.

“If you don't like it, I also know talisman spells. It can drive away ghosts and demons, summon thunder and fire, and has countless variations with infinite uses.”

“But I'm a demon.”

“I know the spirit communication spell, which allows you to converse with ghosts and gods.”

“I don’t like talking to gods.”

“Don't feel inferior.”

“What does inferior mean?”

Song You went silent then shook his head, “I also know the Art of Telekinesis. It allows you to fetch objects from a distance and return them to their original place. For example, filling an empty cup with water or raising a goblet of wine to finish it.”

“Daoist priest.”

“Hmm?”

“Why aren't you speaking?”

“Have you ever heard any Daoist songs?”

“No.”

“There's a Daoist song that goes well...”

***

Prefect Yu sat at the seat of honor, and an attendant entered.

“Prefect, I have returned.”

“Did the Daoist priest accept it?”

“He accepted it.”

“I was right to send you.”

“You flatter me, Prefect.”

“It’s fine as long as he accepted...”

Prefect Yu dismissed the man with a wave of his hand, and then fell into contemplation.

In these times, the Immortal Dao is like the bright moon overhead, mysterious and unreachable. Generations of literati and literary masterpieces have added a layer of unique color to it. It was common for literati and scholars to aspire toward the Immortal Dao. Some great talents even simply fancied themselves as banished[2] or impure immortals. They often dreamed that one day they could suddenly look up at the moon, find poetic inspiration after getting drunk, or achieve sudden enlightenment through some opportunity like ancient poets. They would then leave behind this mortal world, gracefully becoming immortals, thus gaining carefree eternal lives.

Prefect Yu had aspired toward the Immortal Dao and longevity since he was young. He had even invited three or five friends to go to famous mountains with him to seek immortals, but to no avail. Now nearing fifty, he still often searched for pill recipes to concoct pills of immortality for himself to consume.

With each pill he took, he felt he distanced himself a little further from the mortal world.

The Daoist priest he met today might not be an immortal, but he was indeed one of the rare masters he had encountered in his life. Unfortunately, their conversation did not yield the answers he desired.

Perhaps his acquaintance with the Daoist priest was too shallow and the Daoist priest was naturally unwilling to say too much to him.

But what could be done?

Who could guess the thoughts and preferences of these reclusive masters? Previously, he had heard that the Daoist priest enjoyed listening to the qin, so he confidently tried to use Yang Jinsheng to draw closer to him. However, who could have anticipated that he only wanted to listen to the qin and had no interest in the person playing it behind the wall? It was already fortunate that he happened to see him fiddling with an ink stick.

Moreover, he should be content...Even these few words today were astonishing enough.

Prefect Yu couldn't help but fall into deeper contemplation.

Were there truly no immortals when heaven and earth were first separated?

Were there no immortals when the sun and moon were first born?

Then how could one become an immortal?

Surely immortals should be able to live forever, right?

Or couldn’t they?

He sat there, pondering, fantasizing, and immersing himself in these thoughts until it gradually got dark.

His wife came to call him to extinguish the lamp and go to bed. Lying on the bed, he still kept his eyes open, staring into the void of darkness. The moonlight outside the window was faint, and he began again to think about the immortals in the Moon Palace. If he became an immortal, he would be sure to fly often to the Moon Palace too to enjoy himself.

Somehow, he fell asleep.

In his drowsiness, he seemed to hear someone singing. The lyrics were profound, the voice somewhat aged, the melody crude, yet it had a natural and simple leisurely charm. It made him think of an old Daoist, and this voice must naturally have drifted over from a temple deep in the mountains, carrying the scent of incense.

“Since ancient times, flowers do not remain in bloom for long,

The moon has never been full for long.

No matter how much gold and jade you amass,

You can't buy immortality.

Is there a thousand year old crane among birds?

Rarely does one encounter a centenarian in the world.

Life is busy, death is obscure.

If you want to wake, when will you awaken?

If you want longevity, how can you get longevity?

Where have the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors[3] gone?

Where are the high-ranking court officials of past dynasties?

Just look at the historical records, who can escape impermanence?”[4]

1. Title of deities in the Daoist pantheon. ☜

2. Immortals who have been banished from Heaven for some offense. ☜

3. Mythical earliest rulers in ancient China. ☜

4. Lyrics of local folk song “Libation to the Dead” from Northern Sichuan, Longan District. ☜