Chapter 50: The Shepherd Boy Riding a Water Buffalo

Chapter 50: The Shepherd Boy Riding a Water Buffalo

This story wasn’t long.

Of course, it left out Virtuous Duke Wang, and his being entrusted by Virtuous Duke Wang to find Lady Calico. He only mentioned that he saw a cat temple there. In the temple was a little Cat God with whom he spent the night conversing. He learned that the Cat God tirelessly and conscientiously caught mice for people. Later, when he went down the mountain and asked around, he found out it was true.

Perhaps because it skipped the interaction with Virtuous Duke Wang and the little Cat God’s trouble, or maybe because Song You wasn’t particularly skilled at storytelling, making it less amazing and interesting, the children didn’t react as strongly as before while listening. Some even found it hard to believe.

However, a few found the idea of a talking cat adorable.

Fortunately, Song You managed to get through it. The sky gradually got darker and calls could be heard in succession from the nearby streets and alleys. The children, upon hearing them, immediately took to their heels and ran back like a flock of sparrows. Song You also headed toward Chen Han's house with Lady Calico and the woman.

Early spring still held a chill, and the evening breeze blew gently.

“Your story wasn’t bad.”

“Your story was very interesting too.”

“I think so too,” the woman said without any pretense. “I think it was a wonderful event, different from other times when I encountered ghosts traveling at night. I might remember it until the day I die.”

“You’ve had a rich life.”

“Come on.” The woman glanced at Song You indifferently. “Although your story seemed like something to amuse children, I could tell it’s true.”

“How could you tell?”

“From your expression and tone.”

“What do you mean?”

“You really enjoyed that day’s encounter.”

“I see.”

“Are you going to Anqing tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“I think you’re a good person. Traveling such a long way to deliver a letter, and even bringing a cat, you can’t be a bad person. I originally thought to invite you to travel with me tomorrow morning since the road is filled with mountain bandits. You’ve been lucky so far, but tomorrow not every one might let you go. I could protect you for the journey.” The woman paused before continuing, “But you refused my invitation to go out together for a stroll this afternoon, so I feel it's inappropriate to invite you again.”

“You misunderstood...”

“No need to explain! Since you speak to me of fate, let’s leave it this way. Tomorrow morning, we’ll wake up naturally and leave naturally. If we happen to meet, it means we’re fated to travel together to Anqing. If not, so be it...”

The woman said as she looked at Song You. “What do you think?”

Song You thought for a moment, then smiled and said. “Good!”

“What do you mean?”

“Alright!”

They had already stepped into the courtyard.

Chen Han hurried out to greet them.

He had thought they could have beef for dinner. Here, beef and pork were about the same price, making it a sort of local specialty. Song You was actually craving it somewhat. However, Chen Han, being a businessman who had seen a lot, knew that Daoist priests didn’t eat beef. So he thoughtfully bought pork and lamb and prepared a table full of food.

Meat was still meat, so Song You still enjoyed his meal.

That night, he slept in the room on the left side of the courtyard.

The bedding and everything else was clean and tidy.

Lady Calico walked to the bedside, obediently letting Song You lift the corner of the lower hem of his Daoist robe to wipe the bottom of her paws. She looked up at him at the same time and asked, “Daoist priest, why did you tell them about me?”

“Hmm?” Song You thought for a moment. “It’s because you are noble in character and also very adorable. Children should hear such stories.”

“The children didn’t seem to like such stories.”

“Your paws have been wiped clean.”

“Oh!” The calico cat jumped onto the bed and continued to stare at him.

“You are too good, so they don’t believe there is such a Cat God. Also, they wanted to hear scary stories, but you just attract people’s affection.” Song You fumbled in the dark to get under the covers. “It had nothing to do with you.”

“Oh...”

Both the man and the cat’s voices were very soft.

They chatted a bit more before gradually falling asleep.

Song You had a vague dream.

In the dream was a Daoist temple with an old female Daoist. Her hair was graying, and her face showed her age. She opened an envelope, took out a letter, and the paper was filled with the fragrance of the ink...

He wondered what she thought and felt when she read the letter.

***

The next morning, they woke naturally.

Chen Han and his wife had prepared breakfast, as well as water and towels for washing up on their behalf.

Song You naturally thanked them respectfully.

After washing up, he went for breakfast and noticed that the heroine’s yellow-maned horse was still in the courtyard, but she was nowhere to be seen. So he asked while he ate. “Is the heroine still asleep?”

“Yes.”

“That’s it.”

“What now?”

“Can you tell where it’s coming from?”

The calico cat was puzzled, but looked left, then replied. “Over there.”

“Alright.”

“Do you want to go fishing?”

“I just want to go and take a look.” Song You gazed toward the left side of the road.

Unfortunately, the forest was dense, mountains blocked the way, and he really didn’t know how to get to the riverbank.

At that moment, he suddenly heard a flute.

Song You pressed his lips together and listened quietly.

He only felt that the sound of the flute was clear and melodious, ethereal and pleasant, drifting over through the mountains and forest ahead. Even though it was just a sound, hearing it seemed to bring the image of empty valleys and secluded forests, carrying dew and the fragrance of grass. His body involuntarily sensed the coolness of an early spring morning, and his ears felt cleansed.

Perhaps this was what poets referred to as “immortal aura.”

After listening for a while, the flute's sound grew nearer and nearer.

Song You paused, then walked slowly forward.

Rounding a bend, he saw a teenage boy dressed in hemp clothes, wearing a conical bamboo hat and a woven rush raincoat. He sat sideways on an old water buffalo’s back, one leg tucked beneath him, the other hanging leisurely. He carried a bamboo basket on his back filled with grass. His bamboo flute, evidently cherished, was even adorned with a red tassel.

It was a shepherd boy, riding his water buffalo through the forest.

The green grass in the forest was lush and the dew had not yet dried, glistening and transparent, much like the shepherd boy on his water buffalo, or the flute's sound, totally untouched by worldly dust.

This was not a scene from the mortal realm, nor were they from this troubled world.

They seemed to have come out of a painting.

Seeing the Daoist, the shepherd boy suddenly stopped playing and stood.

Only then did Song You bow in greeting. “Greetings.”

The shepherd boy hurriedly imitated the greeting, his movements clumsy. “What is it...”

“Don't be nervous, I just came to ask for directions,” Song You paused, “However, I heard your flute's clear and melodious sound from afar. The original purity and simplicity of your music rivals that of great musical experts, and I loved it. May I ask if this tune has a name?”

“I... don't understand...”

“It sounds wonderful.”

“I was just blowing randomly...”

“Does this tune have a name?”

“I don't know, everyone here knows it, but it seems to have no name.”

“What a pity.” Song You shook his head, not because it lacked a name, but because he felt a name would help it be passed down through the ages. Without a name, it might be easier to be lost to history.

Nevertheless, he cupped his hands in praise. “Regardless, you play very well, and no less well than great musical experts.”

“I only know this one tune.”

“I see...” Seeing the shepherd boy's flustered expression, Song You felt he had been inappropriate though he had been polite. He should not have caused anxiety for no reason and disturbed this spiritual atmosphere. So he asked again. “There are mountain bandits here. Aren't you afraid?”

“This area is close to the city, there are no bandits.”

“Even so, be careful.”

“Where are you headed?”

“To Anqing.”

“To get to Anqing, walk ahead. There are many mountain bandits on the way to Anqing...”

“Mountain bandits won't trouble a Daoist like me.” Song You tried to soften his voice, “But I'm not asking for the way to Anqing. I wanted to know if there’s a path to the river nearby?”

“What are you going to do by the river?”

“My hands are dirty and I want to wash them.”

“There is a demon in the river that eats people.”

“I'll stay on the shore.”

“A little further ahead, there’s a path leading down to the river,” the shepherd boy looked worriedly at him, “Be careful, don’t go into the water.”

“Thank you...” Song You cupped his hands in thanks and continued walking forward.

The horse plucked a mouthful of grass from the ground, chewing as it slowly followed. The little cat glanced at the shepherd boy and the water buffalo, looked at the horse as if comparing them, and then followed too.

The shepherd boy couldn’t help but turn around. Standing with his flute, he watched the group, feeling both amazed and baffled.

But that Daoist priest’s hands under his sleeves...

They were clean.

The boy, puzzled, climbed back onto the water buffalo and headed towards the village. However, after a short distance, he hesitated and then turned the water buffalo around to go and see what that Daoist priest was up to.