Unintended Immortality

“We’ve arrived at Willow Street.”

“Here is fine.”

“Yes…”

The young eunuch lifted two food containers out of the carriage. The Daoist and the cat both stepped down.

“Thank you.”

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

With the crack of a whip, the carriage rumbled away again.

It was already deep into the night, and by the faint starlight, they could barely make out the road. The Daoist picked up the two food containers, while the cat stared curiously at the door next door.

“Has the heroine gone to bed yet?” the Daoist asked.

“Not yet,” came a voice from next door as well.

Suddenly, the door swung open. The heroine, who had been pressed against the doorframe and eavesdropping ever since she heard the sound of the carriage, appeared in the doorway. She stared at them and said, “Where did you two come back from? And why did you take a carriage?”

“Have you eaten yet, heroine?”

“Of course I’ve eaten. It’s so late already.”

“And how was your meal?”

“I had gruel and pickled vegetables—decent enough.” Heroine Wu sniffed the air. “What’s that you’re holding?”

“We went out for a meal and brazenly packed some food to bring back,” Song You said, extending the food containers toward her. “Please try some, to repay you for the mountain delicacies you shared with us the other day.”

“Where did you pack this from?” Heroine Wu reached out to take the containers. Although it was too dark to see, the moment she felt their weight, she realized something was off.

This container alone must be worth quite a bit, she thought.

“It’s from the palace.”

“What?”

“Please, have a taste of the food the Emperor eats.”

“Come in and we'll talk.” Heroine Wu turned and walked into the house.

She blew on a tinder and lit the oil lamp. The lamp quickly brightened the room.

Song You glanced at the lamp, sniffing the air. The room clearly smelled of oil smoke. Looking down, he saw several short, rope-like things made of dry grass. They smelled like the materials usually used to make mosquito coils. He thought back to when they had first entered Willow Street and vaguely noticed faint, nearly imperceptible lights in this direction.

It seemed the heroine had been downstairs earlier, likely weaving these grass ropes with the lights on. However, she could have done that during the day. The fact that she stayed up late, lit up her lamp and wasted her oil to continue weaving probably meant either she had an urgent need, or she was waiting for her neighbors as she was worried because they hadn’t returned for a long time.

Hearing the sound of carriages outside—more than one—she quickly extinguished the light and pressed her ear to the door, showcasing the vigilance of someone from the jianghu.

The Daoist pulled his gaze back as the heroine fixed her eyes on the food containers.

“Why are you weaving these grass ropes, heroine?” he asked.

“They're fire wicks. Don't you use them?”

“I’ve never used them.”

“Then what do you use to keep mosquitoes away?”

“There are no mosquitoes in the temple.”

“There are no mosquitoes in the mountains?”

“Not in the temple.”

“That must be a heavenly place, then.”

“So these are for repelling mosquitoes?”

“Yes, summer’s here, and the mosquitoes are getting worse. Once you light these, the mosquitoes won’t come near. Just be careful not to burn down the house,” Heroine Wu said, looking up and down at the food container. The surface was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the light from the oil lamp with a fine purple-red sheen. Her eyes widened gradually. “Oh my, sandalwood.”

“You recognize it?”

“I’ve been in Changjing long enough; do you really think I’ve seen so little?”

“I would never suggest that.”

“So, you really went to the palace?”

“I wouldn't dare lie.”

“How did you get in?” Heroine Wu asked, her curious eyes fixed on him.

“If it weren't for the fact that the eunuchs and palace maids just escorted you back, I'd almost think you stole this from the palace using some Daoist magic.”

The Daoist replied honestly, “Since two of my master's masters from Hidden Dragon Temple had some connections with the imperial family of the Great Yan dynasty, and the Emperor heard about my involvement with the Grand Commander's residence, he specially invited me.

“Coincidentally, I'm traveling around the world, and I wanted to witness the heart of power and see the Emperor's demeanor firsthand to broaden my knowledge. So, I took the opportunity to visit.

“During the meal, I remembered how you had once been curious about what the Emperor eats every day, so I shamelessly asked for permission to bring back a few dishes that I thought were either particularly tasty or suited to your palate.”

She said, “So, you guys even have ties with the imperial family. No wonder you're so bold.”

“More or less.”

“Alright...” Heroine Wu thought it over, but it wasn't too surprising.

The Great Yan Emperor was known for his fondness of associating with cultivators. If the Emperor learned that a highly skilled Daoist with some connections was in Changjing, it was entirely normal for the Emperor to invite him to the palace for a late-night conversation.

“One liang of sandalwood, one liang of gold—this box alone is worth quite a bit. Since those eunuchs and palace maids didn’t take it back, they probably won’t come asking for it later either. You could sell it and never have to worry about money again.”

“I’ll still need to worry.”

“I heard the Emperor is as awe-inspiring as a god, and that ordinary people tremble with fear when he looks at them. Is that true?”

“Not at all.”

“What does he look like?”

“Just an old man.”

“Oh my, this smells wonderful...”

“These dishes were specially prepared, not leftovers.”

“You’re quite thoughtful, Daoist.” Heroine Wu had already opened the food containers, setting out dish after dish, and fetched some chopsticks from inside the house.

Moments later, the two sat across from each other by the lamp.

One enjoyed the food, while the other spoke.

“The matter regarding the Grand Commander seems to have been resolved, but there are many rumors circulating among the people of Changjing. It is likely that there will be a period of unrest to come.”

“Indeed,” Heroine Wu mumbled through a mouthful. The food, brought over from the palace, was still at the perfect temperature.

She ate quickly and said, “I already heard the rumors outside a few days ago. According to them, although they say the Grand Commander died from a poisonous longevity pill, some claim it was a Daoist who scared him to death.

“They said it was the same Daoist who punished the steward and the young master, and who was invited by the Grand Commander's residence to rid the place of rats. The rumor even says that this Daoist had a calico cat with him. It won’t take long before they track you down.”

After a brief pause, she added, “If it were any other Daoist, they’d probably be thrilled. Business would boom, and people would pay a premium for their services. But you, I imagine, are more concerned about losing your peace.”

“I’ve decided to temporarily take down my ‘Exorcism’ sign and head outside the city for a while.”

“Oh, what's this? It's so good!”

“I’m not sure. It seems to be a combination of venison and chicken, fried and then steamed.”

“Does the Emperor eat like this every day?”

“Not always.”

“Where will you go to lay low?”

“Well, back in Yidu, I often traveled to visit famous mountain temples or masters outside the city. I've been in Changjing for quite a while now, and it’s only getting hotter, making it harder to go out. Besides leaving the city to see the apricot blossoms and catching a few demons, I haven’t ventured out much. Now seems like the perfect time to do so,” Song You said with a smile. “I’ll go out to search.”

“Search for what? Who? What kind of master?” Heroine Wu fired off three questions in a row, then lowered her head to devour more food.

At today’s palace banquet, the conversation touched upon the mysterious and fantastical places of the world. Song You then asked the State Preceptor which master and talented eccentrics resided in Changjing.

The State Preceptor first offered a few compliments before saying that, to his knowledge, there were four distinguished individuals in Changjing who could perhaps be called “masters,” even in the presence of an heir of Hidden Dragon Temple.

The first was Lady Wanjiang of Hexian Pavilion, whose mastery of the qin was unparalleled. She could cause phenomena like rain on a sunny day or snow in the summer with her music. Such a skill, even an heir of Hidden Dragon Temple would likely marvel at.

The second was a painter who arrived in the city just last winter, a descendant of the legendary Master Dou. Though he had not inherited all of Master Dou’s divine skills, his abilities were still remarkable and might pique Song You’s interest.

The third was a divine doctor who lived outside the city. It was said that he could bring the dead back to life. He was also skilled in butchering, bone-setting, and performing cranial and thoracic surgeries to treat illnesses, which could be considered extraordinary techniques.

Many aristocrats in the city had sought his services, including the Emperor himself, who had invited him to the palace to treat both the Emperor and the empress. Despite his great reputation, he was often hard to find for the wealthy. However, he was frequently encountered by the poor in various regions, providing them with free medical treatment—a testament to his kindness and goodwill.

People revered him as a god in human form, and some believed that after his death, he might truly ascend to godhood.

The fourth was a Snake Immortal who resided three hundred li outside the city, in the mountains. This immortal had been conferred the title by the founding emperor of the dynasty. It was rumored that he had the bearing of a true dragon and often performed good deeds, though he was difficult to find.

Some said that the divine doctor and the Snake Immortal were connected, though whether through friendship or something else was unclear. It was said that when the doctor ventured into the mountains to gather medicinal herbs and encountered danger, the Snake Immortal, grateful for the doctor’s virtuous deeds, would often come to his aid.

The State Preceptor also mentioned that the Snake Immortal likely had a past connection with the State Preceptors of Hidden Dragon Temple.

Song You had already met the first two individuals, so only the latter two remained for him to seek out.

“I’ve heard that if you head north outside the city, there’s a divine doctor. His methods can be shocking, but his skills are extraordinary, and he has an upright character. I plan to search for him and see for myself.”

“Doctor Cai?”

“You’ve heard of him too, heroine?”

“…”

Heroine Wu furrowed her brow.

Song You then stared at her, waiting for her to finish eating.

Fortunately, Heroine Wu was a woman of the jianghu, with a carefree character. An ordinary woman might have found it difficult to eat under such scrutiny.

She chewed and swallowed the food in her mouth before saying, “Doctor Cai lives on Mount Beiqin, over a hundred li north of the city, but he’s rarely home. The path up the mountain is difficult to find, and many nobles have sent people to look for him multiple times without success.

“I’ve gone twice myself, but I wasn’t lucky enough to find him either. And lately, things have been a bit chaotic there. If you go now, you’re unlikely to find him.”

He asked, “And what was your reason for seeking Doctor Cai?”

“I had my reasons.”

“I see...” Song You nodded, not pressing further, but he did ask, “And why has Mount Beiqin been so chaotic lately?”

“It's related to you, actually.”

“How so?”

Heroine Wu said, “The matter with the Grand Commander’s residence—though the rumors among the people are wild, and the authorities have issued an order to silence them, they can't hide it from us. I heard that on the day the Grand Commander died, right before his death, he asked a servant to lay out paper and prepare ink as if he were about to paint something.

“This naturally made those in the jianghu think of the elusive descendant of Master Dou, who had been searching for years but suddenly vanished in Changjing. But, truth be told, someone probably already discovered that Master Dou’s descendant was hiding in the Grand Commander’s residence and had sneaked in to investigate.

“Otherwise, your cat wouldn’t have seen a tiger chasing someone on the street in the middle of the night.”

“Sir Dou fled to Mount Beiqin?”

“Some say he’s been spotted there,” Heroine Wu replied. “That’s why it’s chaotic over there right now. You’ve got warriors employed by the nobility, skilled fighters from famous martial sects, and maybe even some low-profile but highly skilled individuals like Shu Yifan. Plus, the usual riffraff. In short, it’s a mixed bag. Even if Doctor Cai is home, he’d likely be laying low to avoid trouble.”

“So that’s how it is.”

“Are you still going?”

“I am,” Song You said with a smile.

“Figures,” Heroine Wu nodded. “You’ve got nothing else to do, and you were planning to leave the city anyway.”

“If I can’t find Doctor Cai, I’ll head further north and deeper into Mount Beiqin to look for the legendary Snake Immortal. I’ve heard he may have had some connection with my master's master. It wouldn’t hurt to pay my respects to a senior.”

“Sounds like a good plan.”

Heroine Wu mulled it over, her eyes lowered in thought. After a moment, she suddenly said, “I’ll take you there.”

“Hmm?”

“It just so happens I need to look for him again. Hopefully, you, the so-called divine immortal among the common folk, will grant me a bit of luck this time. If I manage to find him, you’ll be doing me a huge favor.”

“Then I’ll thank you in advance, heroine.”

“Belch…”

“Take your time eating. I’ll take my leave.”

“Thanks for the meal, by the way.”

“You're welcome...”

With that, Song You, accompanied by his cat, left and headed back home.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!