Only Go East

The fifth day of the first lunar month, also the start of spring.

Song You was packing his bags in the courtyard.

He had to bring all his clothes.

There weren't many, so they didn't take up much space.

Water skins, dry rations, pots, bowls, cups, writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, Records of Geography and Scenery, even the unfinished meat hanging from the kitchen beam—he didn't bring much, but he couldn't leave anything essential behind.

The journey ahead was long, and he'd inevitably face wind and dew, sleeping outdoors. The early spring chill meant he needed to bring things to keep warm at night.

The felt gifted by Prefect Yu was top-quality, pressed thin. It was better at blocking cold and keeping warm than a mattress, and it didn't take up much space when folded. He also brought a thin blanket bought at the temple fair. With these, he wouldn't fear staying in desolate mountain temples.

Nowadays, there were satchel-like sleeping bags, also bought at the temple fair. They were the sturdy, capacious kind used by merchants and soldiers. Once packed, it would be placed on the horse's back.

His bamboo hat and straw cloak could be hung on top.

The red date horse stood obediently, not moving as he handled it.

Both yesterday and today marked the start of spring, the beginning of all life, when vitality was at its most abundant. This vitality was greatly beneficial to all things in the world. This year, the first wisp of spring spiritual energy from the foot of the mountain was different. Song You gave it to the red date horse, making it look spirited now.

Everything was packed. He then cleaned the courtyard thoroughly, sweeping away cobwebs from the ceiling and dust from the corners, and tidying up anything that needed to be put away.

Finally, he cupped his hands toward the direction of the bamboo grove and bid farewell:

"Thank you for your company these past six months. I often heard Madam singing, passing the idle hours. Though I enjoyed it, thinking back, it was truly impolite. As I leave, I should bid Madam farewell and offer my apologies. I only wish Madam can resolve her obsessions soon, or perhaps wait for her husband's return."

It was daytime, so the bamboo grove naturally offered no response.

However, a three-flower cat looked up at him:

"Do you want me to say anything?"

"No need."

"Oh."

One man called his horse and went out, with a cat following behind.

Outside the gate, Constable Luo stood at the alley entrance, dressed in his dark uniform.

"I am here to see you off, Mister."

"Squad Leader is too kind."

Before they even left the city, Magistrate Liu and Prefect Yu hurried over.

"If I had known you were leaving today, Mister, I should have hosted a banquet for you yesterday. Please forgive me."

"Prefect, you are too kind."

"Regardless, it is my oversight! I rushed here today, but fortunately, I didn't miss seeing you off. On the way, I bought you some pastries that keep well for the journey, and for you, I brought a wool blanket and a lotus-leaf robe to ward off the cold at night. Please accept them."

Song You looked at Prefect Yu for a few more moments.

"Thank you, Prefect."

"Where are you going, Mister?"

"I don't know yet, I'm just heading east."

"How long will your journey be?"

"Twenty years."

"..."

Prefect Yu was stunned for a moment.

Constable Luo and Magistrate Liu behind him were also taken aback.

Twenty years...

How many twenty-year periods does one have in a lifetime?

People were known to spend twenty years pursuing fame and fortune, or twenty years falling into decadence, but never twenty years traveling the human world.

Who could predict the countless storms over twenty years? After twenty years, who knew if they would still be standing here, or even if they would still be alive? Even the youngest, Constable Luo, was already past thirty. In twenty years, he'd be over fifty, and if not already in the grave, his hair would be white.

Yet, when Mister said this, his tone was so calm, as if it were a trivial matter, as if twenty years meant nothing.

Prefect Yu's heart was filled with mixed emotions.

Would this parting mean they would never see each other again in this life?

"Farewell, Mister."

"Thank you all."

The two parties bowed deeply to each other.

Then, Song You led his horse away, disappearing into the distance.

The group watched from behind, their hearts filled with wonder.

Recalling Mister's deeds in Yidu over the past six months, whether it was eliminating Fog Ghosts on Jinyang Road, burning the demonic monk before the Buddha's hall, or helping capture the trickster thief at the temple fair, striking people with lightning across half of Yidu City, he was also indifferent to fame and fortune, living freely and unrestrainedly. They had often seen people with cultivation and abilities, like Master Guanghong, but a master like Mister? They had never seen one.

Even the gods in stories probably wouldn't be like this.

Such an immortal should be recorded in writing.

Morning clouds linger, dew not yet dry.

One person, one cat, and one horse left the city gate.

The horse had no reins, and Song You didn't need any. He simply walked ahead, and the horse silently followed behind. A cat trotted alongside them, also obediently keeping pace. To any observer, it was a magical sight.

Ahead lay thousands of mountains and rivers, with unpredictable weather.

Though the road is long and arduous, to travel is to arrive. Song You maintained a tranquil heart, moving forward one step at a time.

Outside the city, a dirt road led to the horizon.

Farmland and villages lined the road, offering a serene landscape.

Along the way, the grass was shallow and withered. As the sun rose, the dew evaporated, and the thick, gray dust on the ground puffed up with every step, creating small clouds of dust. Song You enjoyed this feeling; it made each step he took more visually striking, and thus, clearer and more real.

The Three Flower Cat continued to dart back and forth, sniffing here and there, occasionally showing a puzzled expression.

"We seem to have walked this way before."

"The Three Flower Cat is remarkably intelligent."

"Why are we going back again?"

"Only this short stretch is repeated."

"Where are we going?"

"East."

"Which way is east?"

"The direction the sun rises in the morning."

"What are we going there for?"

The Three Flower Cat trotted to keep up with his pace, tilting its head to look up at him. "Are you going to find where the sun rises?"

"No."

"Then what are you looking for?"

"I'm looking for places of magnificent mountains and rivers, for lands with simple folk, for the immortals of legend, for creatures that exist only in stories, to see all the wonderful and marvelous places in this world."

"..."

The little cat tilted its head and looked at him for a long time, processing his words. Only then did it understand and say, "There are immortals in temples. The Three Flower Cat used to be an immortal too."

"They..."

Song You shook his head and smiled. "They are merely ghosts of officials."

"Then what do you call an immortal?"

"It's hard to say."

"You don't know either?"

"I haven't seen one."

"Then why are you still looking?"

"Precisely because I haven't seen one, I must search."

This world was not as developed as his previous life, yet it held many wonders. Even though Song You had spent the first half of his life in a Taoist temple, he had already witnessed some of them. But he felt there had to be more, so he wanted to see more magnificent scenery and experience more profound and interesting things.

This journey was undoubtedly much more comfortable than before. Firstly, he had the company of the Three Flower Cat. Secondly, he was well-prepared. Thirdly, he had an extra horse, meaning he no longer had to carry his luggage and could travel empty-handed, allowing him to focus more on experiencing each step of his journey.

By afternoon, they were back on Jinyang Road.

The ancient road was lined with ancient trees, providing shade from the sun and shelter from the rain.

As the weather was good that day, walking along this tree-lined path felt wonderful. The sunlight filtered through, dappling the ground. He walked slowly, his feet treading on bluestone slabs, his vision alternating between light and shadow as he was alternately enveloped in shade and bathed in sunlight. The clip-clop of the horse's hooves filled his ears, his heart was at ease, unburdened by the long road ahead, unafraid of the wind and rain.

They hadn't gone far when they saw another tea stall, with quite a few people.

Although this road was also Jinyang Road, after passing Yidu, it was no longer the section they had traveled before. This tea stall was also one they hadn't encountered.

He was feeling a bit tired.

Song You led the horse over and stopped in front of the tea stall.

"I'd like a bowl of tea."

He added afterward:

"Good tea."

The tea stall owner was a hunchbacked old man who looked very kind. He immediately came over to greet them. "Young Mister, besides tea, would you like some food? This stall also provides fodder for horses at a cheap price."

"No, thank you."

Song You had brought steamed cakes and steamed buns with him. A bowl of hot tea would be enough to wash them down.

And although the horse seemed to be carrying a lot, nothing was heavy. The journey so far had not been strenuous at all; rather, it had been leisurely. The horse had been grazing on wild grass along the roadside as it walked and was not hungry at all now.

"Ouch!"

When the old man tried to tether Song You's horse, he realized the Young Mister's horse had no lead rope.

"Young Mister, your horse…"

"The horse is intelligent; it doesn't need reins."

"Aren't you afraid it will run off?"

"No."

The old stall owner was greatly surprised but went to fetch tea.

One pot, poured into a full bowl.

The martial artists and merchants nearby also frequently cast glances at Song You. This was merely a slightly unusual occurrence, but paired with Song You's daoist robe, it seemed to immediately gain a touch of mystical significance. Even the arrogant martial artists restrained their dismissive gazes.

Seeing Song You break apart a steamed bun, feed the meat filling to a cat, and eat the doughy exterior himself, more exclamations of wonder arose, and hushed discussions continued.

Neither the man nor the cat paid them any mind.

The horse also stood quietly by the stall, not running off despite not being tethered. Seeing some attractive tender grass shoots nearby, it only stepped out a couple of paces, lowered its head, and slowly grazed, not wandering far.

During this time, people continuously paid and left.

Whenever someone came from the road on the left and headed for the road on the right, the old stall owner would step forward, bow, and ask them where they were going, hoping to ask them to deliver a message.

However, he didn't have much success after asking many people.

In these times, mountains were high and roads were far, making it difficult to deliver letters. Beyond the official post roads, there were both yao and bandits on the roads, making letters even harder to deliver.

And on this Jinyang Road, besides government officials, there were mostly merchants and martial artists. Merchants either valued trust or profit. Those who valued trust feared they wouldn't be able to deliver it and wouldn't readily agree. Those who valued profit thought the money was too little. After a long discussion, only one merchant agreed, but it wasn't certain he could deliver it safely.

"…"

Song You lifted the bowl high, drinking the last sip of tea.

He even paused with the bowl raised, waiting for the tea clinging to the sides to drip down.

He had figured it out. The more expensive the tea on this official post road, the more ingredients it had, the more filling it was, and the richer the flavor, with both salt and sugar, plus plums. A full large bowl, plus two steamed buns, and he actually felt full.

"Check, please."

"Ten copper coins."

It was about the price of a bowl of wontons.

It was normal, though. In his previous life, a cup of milk tea cost more than a bowl of wontons.

The old man, hunched over, watched Song You count the copper coins, his eyes smiling as he watched: "May I ask, Young Mister, where are you headed?"

"East."

"Will you pass through Xuzhou and Long Commandery?"

"…"

Song You finished counting out ten copper coins but didn't answer immediately. Instead, he smiled and asked the stall owner:

"Old man, you want to send a message?"

Actually, he had only heard of Xuzhou, which was east of Yizhou. Heading east meant passing through Xuzhou, but he had never heard of Long Commandery at all.

"That's right! If you're going to Long Commandery, Young Mister, and it's on your way, I'd like to ask you to deliver a letter for me!" After speaking, the old stall owner quickly added, "Don't worry, Young Mister, I won't let you carry it for nothing!"

"What kind of letter?"

"Are you really going to Long Commandery, Young Mister?"

"I am a carefree wanderer, traveling the world, and I don't know where I'm going. I only know to head east, through Xuzhou. If you have an urgent matter, Old Man, it's no trouble to make a trip to Long Commandery."

"I won't lie to you, Young Mister. In my younger days, my family was poor. My son went with his second uncle to do business in Xuzhou's Long Commandery and stayed there. The distance is far, and there are bandits on the roads away from the main routes. It's been two years since he last came back. A few days ago, my wife missed her son so much that she fell ill from worry and couldn't sleep at night. The day before yesterday, she took to her bed. I begged passing travelers to write a few letters for me, hoping to find someone to deliver them, so I could ask him to come back and see her…"

"I see."

Mountains and rivers could block correspondence, but they shouldn't block a mother's love for her son.

Song You barely hesitated, smiling calmly: "Then I will take this opportunity to deliver your letter, Old Man, and see the sights of Long Commandery."

"Thank you, Young Mister!"

The old man was instantly filled with gratitude and bowed deeply.

Song You dared not accept such a gesture and quickly helped him up: "I cannot accept such a grand gesture. I am already traveling the four seas. You have pointed out the way for me, Old Man; in fact, I should be thanking you."