Chapter 38: Talking About the Mysterious and Fantastical Affairs of This World

Chapter 38: Talking About the Mysterious and Fantastical Affairs of This World

As the night deepened, the oil lamp was moved inside.

Song You sat at his desk, head bowed as he wrote. The calico cat lay on the windowsill, face close to the center of the window. She peered at the sky outside through a narrow crack.

She watched while talking to the Daoist priest behind her, not even turning her head.

“Why do they set off those things during the New Year?”

“Fireworks?”

“Yes.”

“They look pretty.”

“That’s true.”

“It’s that simple.”

“Is the New Year celebrated only once a year?”

“Of course.”

“It would be nice to celebrate it twice.”

“How did you celebrate the New Year in the past?”

“I spent it in the temple.”

“How did you celebrate there?”

“I spent it in the temple.”

Song You didn’t feel annoyed or helpless. He just continued to write with the string loop of his brush swaying while patiently asking without looking up, “What was different from usual?”

“I ate a lot of meat, and caught a lot of mice.”

“Did you catch mice even during the New Year?”

“Yes.”

“Hard work.”

“A little bit.”

Song You couldn’t help but look up at her.

The little cat’s eyes were round and wide open, fixed on the narrow crack. Though the fireworks outside were sparse, she watched intently, unwilling to blink.

Such an honest and pitiful cat.

However, this era was like this. Even in peace and prosperity, the splendor of fireworks belonged only to a few.

New Year’s Eve belonged to only a few.

If you don’t believe it, just listen...

Late into a windy, rainy night when the crowds have dispersed, someone still calls out by the lamp, selling tangyuan.[1]

***

The first day of the second year of Mingde[2].

After eating tangyuan, Song You walked along the street and arrived at the Northern Market, Cloud Talk Canopy.

Perhaps because it was the first day of the New Year, Cloud Talk Canopy was nearly full even though Song You had arrived early. This time, he could only get an ordinary seat while paying the ordinary price.

As usual, he ordered a pot of tea and sat down to slowly savor it.

He heard Old Mr. Zhang cough twice and then began again.

“Wishing everyone an auspicious New Year.

“As mentioned earlier, Chen Ziyi’s surprise attack from behind directly struck Ayanqi’s stronghold. The northern tribes had no choice but to send envoys to sue for peace, ceding territory and paying reparations, as well as acknowledging the emperor as their sovereign. This battle ended with our Great Yan’s victory! Besides Marshal Ma’s excellent deployment of troops, the greatest credit undoubtedly goes to Chen Ziyi!”

“It’s too much of an honor...”

The old gentleman hurriedly bowed too and then cupped his hands. “I wish you a pleasant and smooth journey.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome...”

“I wonder about the immortal Yunding Mountain and lands where phoenixes perch and dragons soar that you mentioned earlier, how much of it is true?” Song You paused. “This journey is not just for a year or two. If it’s on the way, I’d like to visit those places you have mentioned to seek traces of immortals.”

“So that’s it.”

“Would you mind sharing more?”

“Haha! Why not?”

“Please tell me.”

“Immortal Yunding Mountain has been a legend in Pingzhou for a few hundred years. Many claim to have seen immortals there. Actually, it’s embarrassing but I’ve only heard about it, and not really seen them myself. As for the truth of those people’s claims, I can’t say how much is true.” Old Mr. Zhang laughed sheepishly, “However, over the past few centuries, many scholars and famous people have frequently visited immortal Yunding Mountain to seek traces of immortals as well as recluses who aspired toward immortality. Some seek immortality, others longevity, while others simply seek freedom and ease. However, please consider this, how many have actually become immortals, how many have attained longevity, and how many have achieved true freedom and ease?”

“Thank you.” Song You nodded.

This Old Mr. Zhang had only heard the tales. However, he didn’t believe them based on his decades of life experience and worldly knowledge, but it was just difficult for him to say so directly.

“As for the Qingtong Fengming Mountain[5] north of Yuezhou, it was recorded in the previous dynasty’s Shanshui Notes by Cheng Anbo. Many have claimed to see it since, though I’ve never seen it myself.”

“I see.”

Old Mr. Zhang found this more credible.

“And south of Yunzhou, beyond Qiyun Mountain, is the paradise hidden from the world I mentioned. A true dragon has lived for a long time there, often hovering in the clouds and spouting mist.” Old Mr. Zhang paused. “My father has seen it with his own eyes in his youth, and he told me this personally. But the world changes, who knows how it is now?”

“Seen it with his own eyes...” Song You was momentarily somewhat surprised.

Dragons existed, and they came in countless forms.

Actually, it wasn’t that dragons changed much but that various living creatures who had gained cultivation skills were often called dragons by humans.

For instance, someone traveling deep in the mountains might see a giant python with horns blowing out vapor. Filled with terror and shock, he would call it a dragon. A boatman might see a black shadow in the water that easily caused waves, and think it was a dragon. Even some water creatures which were aggressive by nature were also called dragons. Even someone keeping a snake in a well to observe water quality might, after a long time, regard it as a dragon due to its perceived spirituality.

However, according to Hidden Dragon Temple, true dragons went extinct a long time ago.

If there was a true dragon, he must go to see it for himself.

“Haha.” Old Mr. Zhang looked up at him and couldn’t help laughing twice. “If you’re interested, sit down here, and I’ll tell you in detail.”

“I’ll trouble you to do so.” Song You ordered two more pots of tea.

They found seats nearby and sat down. Like good friends who have known each other for years, they talked deep into the night.

Old Mr. Zhang recounted many interesting places in a row with more detail than when he was on stage. What he knew well, he would explain clearly to him how to get there and how to find it. What he was less sure about, he also did his best to share fully what he knew, letting Song You decide whether to go himself and how to explore by himself if he decided to go.

It was late at night when the two finally said their goodbyes and parted ways.

Old Mr. Zhang stood at the alley entrance. With the lantern’s light, one could see the fine rain falling from the sky but he gazed at the figure of Song You leaving while braving the rain, with a puzzled look in his eyes.

“Hidden Dragon Temple of Yin-Yang Mountain...”

It sounded familiar.

But it was likely something he’d heard in his youth.

1. Tangyuan are dumplings made of glutinous rice flour which are served in soup, commonly eaten during New Year, Lantern Festival and the Winter Solstice. This is a quotation from a poem by Song dynasty poet Jiang Kui called “Jostling to watch the lotus-picking boats on Lantern Festival.” ☜

2. Current Chinese era name in the world of the novel. ☜

3. According to Chinese legends, phoenixes would only alight on Chinese parasol trees. ☜

4. Legendary witchcraft poisons supposedly made from venomous creatures. ☜

5. Name literally means “Chinese parasol tree phoenix cry” mountain. ☜