Cowherd Riding Water Buffalo

This story isn't long.

Of course, it skipped Wang Shangong, and skipped his being entrusted by Wang Shangong and the matter of finding Three Flower Lady. It only spoke of how he saw a Cat Temple there, that there was a small Cat God in the Cat Temple, and how he, while staying overnight, conversed with the Cat God, learning of its hardships and diligence in helping people catch mice. Later, upon inquiring down the mountain, he found it to be true.

Perhaps it was precisely because the conversation with Wang Shangong was omitted, and the trouble with the small Cat God was skipped, or perhaps because Song You's storytelling skills weren't particularly outstanding, making it less surprising and interesting, the children didn't react as strongly as before while listening. Some were even a bit disbelieving after it was over.

A few, however, found the talking cat to be cute.

Fortunately, Song You had passed the test. As it happened, dusk was falling, and shouts gradually arose from the nearby streets and alleys. Upon hearing this, the children immediately took off running, like a flock of sparrows. Song You, along with Three Flower Lady and the woman, also walked towards Chen Han's house.

Early spring still held a chill, and the evening breeze was gentle.

"Your story is good."

"Your story is also very interesting."

"I think so too." The woman said without hesitation, "I think it was a marvelous thing, unlike other times I've walked a dark road and encountered ghosts. I probably won't forget it before I die."

"Your life is rich."

"Don't flatter me."

The woman glanced lightly at Song You, "Although your story was almost like coaxing a child, I could tell it was also true."

"How could you tell?"

"Your expression, your tone."

"What do you mean?"

"You really liked that encounter."

"So that's how it is."

"Are you going to Anqing tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"I think you're a good person. To travel so far to deliver a letter, and to bring a cat, you can't be a bad sort. I originally wanted to say you should come with me tomorrow morning. There are many bandits on the road, and you were lucky before, but tomorrow might not be so forgiving. I could escort you for a bit." The woman paused, "However, you didn't agree to go out with me this afternoon, so it's not appropriate for me to invite you again."

"You misunderstand..."

"No need to explain! Since you spoke of fate with me, then so be it. We'll wake up naturally tomorrow morning, go out naturally, and if we happen to meet, then it means we have fate, and we'll travel to Anqing together. If not, then so be it..."

The woman looked at Song You as she spoke:

"What do you say?"

Song You thought for a moment and smiled, saying:

"Good!"

"Good what good?"

"Excellent!"

"..."

The two had already stepped through the courtyard gate.

Chen Han hurried out to greet them.

He had initially thought they might eat beef that night. Beef here was about the same price as pork, barely qualifying as a local specialty. Song You was actually a bit greedy for it. However, Chen Han was a businessman and had some experience; he knew that Taoist priests didn't eat beef. He thoughtfully bought pork and lamb instead and prepared a large table of food.

It was meat nonetheless, and Song You still ate heartily.

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

The bedding and everything else were clean and tidy.

Three Flower Lady walked to the bedside and obediently let Song You pull up the hem of his Taoist robe to wipe her paws. At the same time, she tilted her head and asked him, "Taoist priest, why did you tell them about Three Flower Lady?"

"Hmm?"

Song You thought for a moment:

"Because Three Flower Lady has noble character and is very cute. Children should hear stories like this."

"The children didn't seem to like this story."

"They're clean now."

"Oh!"

Three Flower Cat jumped onto the bed and continued to stare at him.

"It's because Three Flower Lady is too good, and they don't believe such a cat god exists. It's also because they want to hear scary stories, while Three Flower Lady only knows how to be likable." Song You fumbled in the dark and got into bed, "This has nothing to do with Three Flower Lady."

"Oh..."

The voices of the person and the cat were both very soft.

After chatting for a while longer, they gradually fell asleep.

Song You vaguely had a dream.

In the dream was a Taoist temple. In the temple was an old Taoist, an old Taoist nun, with white hair and an aged face. She opened an envelope and took out a sheet of paper, full of the scent of ink...

He wondered what emotions she felt as she read the letter.

The next morning, I woke up naturally.

The Chen couple had prepared breakfast and washing water for us.

Song You thanked them respectfully, of course.

After washing up and coming to eat breakfast, I saw that the female knight's yellow-maned horse was still in the yard, but she was nowhere to be seen. So, while eating, I asked:

"Has that female warrior not woken up yet?"

"Not yet."

"Duke Chen, have you packed your things?"

"I have."

"When do you plan to depart?"

"We'll leave when my second uncle arrives."

"Duke Chen, would you like to travel with me? At least I can ensure you reach the ferry safely."

"Thank you, Mister."

Chen Han paused as he spoke, a look of difficulty on his face. "It's just that the female hero Wu already told us yesterday to wait for her to wake up and travel with her..."

"That's fine."

"I've failed to accept your kind offer..."

"Not at all. That female martial artist dared to travel the mountain roads alone; her skills must be excellent," Song You smiled. "It's just a pity that I couldn't repay your hospitality."

"Mister, you flatter me..."

Song You finished his meal, but the woman still hadn't woken up. He didn't wait for her, instead keeping his promise, packing his things, bidding farewell to the Chen couple, taking the remaining two hundred wen for delivering the letter, and left.

As soon as he stepped out of the courtyard gate and reached the alley entrance, he encountered a child who had listened to his story yesterday, walking towards them with their adult.

The child stole glances at them, hesitated repeatedly, but still mustered the courage to greet him:

"Young Mister, are you leaving?"

"I am."

"Where is that female hero?"

"She'll be leaving soon too."

"You guys travel safely..."

"Thank you."

As they passed each other, the child was attracted by the cat and instinctively crouched down, reaching out to pet the Three Flower Cat. However, the Three Flower Cat was very alert and darted forward a short distance before stopping and looking back at him.

The child grinned and waved goodbye to her:

"Kitty, you travel safely too."

The Three Flower Cat stared intently at him, tilted its head in thought for a moment, and then, mimicking Song You's tone, spoke:

"Thank you."

Her voice was soft and delicate, extremely pleasant to the ear.

The child was instantly stunned.

The adult beside him also widened their eyes, startled.

The Three Flower Cat seemed satisfied, trotting with light little steps to catch up with Song You and the horse. Finally, it stopped and looked back at them one last time before trotting around the corner.

"You..."

Song You shook his head and smiled faintly.

Thinking about it carefully, there was a certain charm to it—

Perhaps after today, he and the Three Flower Lady would also become stories told by others. Years later, even decades later, when these children had all grown old, they might recount today's story to a group of eager youngsters.

The journey back to Anqing was mostly the same route.

The mountains and rivers were still as beautiful.

On both sides of the road stood peaks, just like the ones seen by the river, resembling spring bamboo shoots breaking through the soil, or giant rocks fallen from the sky, covered in lush vegetation. Sometimes they lined up on either side, and sometimes the path wound through the middle of these peaks. Just as the view ahead was blocked, after passing one mountain, a vast plain would open up.

The man and horse walked slowly, the little cat being quite lively.

The sunlight had been good lately, making it feel like a journey through a painting.

Especially in the early mornings, there was a morning mist, so this forest of peaks was shrouded in it, with green mountains half-hidden and white clouds piled up. Amidst it all, the sound of horse bells could be heard, making one wonder if it was an immortal passing through.

After walking for a short distance, Song You suddenly stopped.

The horse stopped with him, but the Three Flower Cat trotted ahead with light little steps. It only realized the Taoist priest and horse behind hadn't followed when it got ahead, so it stopped and looked back at them.

"What's wrong, Taoist priest?"

"There's the sound of splashing water."

"What is it now?"

"Did Three Flower Lady hear it?"

"She heard it. Heard it several times already."

"Then I'm worse than Three Flower Lady."

Song You had only just heard it himself, and it was faint.

It wasn't the sound of water flowing in a rapid current, nor the splash of water falling from a height onto the bank, but a plop sound. Though faint by the time it reached here, it was discernible as distant. Combined, it sounded like a colossal object falling into the river from afar.

Song You stood still, the first image that came to his mind was of a giant whale leaping out of the sea, its black back, snow-white striped belly, barnacles clinging to its body, its elegant posture in the air.

Then it plunged back into the sea, sending water splashing everywhere.

"What does Three Flower Lady think it is?"

"The sound of fish."

"That's it then."

"What's wrong?"

"Does Three Flower Lady know which direction it came from?"

The Three Flower Cat looked confused at the question but still turned its head to the left before answering:

"This way."

"Alright."

"Do you want to go fishing?"

"Let's go take a look."

Song You looked to the left of the road.

However, the jungle was dense and the mountains blocked the way, making it impossible to reach the riverbank.

Just then, a flute melody was heard.

Song You immediately pursed his lips again, listening quietly.

He found the flute music to be clear, melodious, ethereal, and pleasant to the ear, coming from the mountains and forests ahead. Though it was just sound, listening to it made him feel as if he saw a secluded valley, filled with the fragrance of dew and grass. He involuntarily felt the coolness of an early spring morning, as if his ears had been cleansed.

Perhaps this was the "immortal aura" poets spoke of.

After listening for a short while, the flute music grew closer.

Song You paused briefly and walked forward slowly.

Rounding a bend, he saw a young boy, about a dozen years old, dressed in homespun cloth, wearing a bamboo hat and a straw cloak. He sat sideways on the back of an old ox, one leg tucked underneath him, the other casually dangling. A bamboo basket was slung on his back, filled with grass.

A bamboo flute, presumably a treasured item, was tied with a red tassel.

It was a cowherd, riding his ox through the forest.

The grass in the forest was deep, the dew had not yet dried, crystal clear, just like this cowherd, and like the flute music, unstained by the dust of the mundane world.

Not a scene from the mortal realm, not a person from the corrupt world.

He seemed to have stepped out of a painting.

Upon seeing the Daoist priest, the cowherd suddenly stopped playing.

Song You then bowed and saluted:

"Greetings."

The cowherd quickly imitated the gesture, his movements clumsy.

"What's wrong..."

"Please don't be alarmed, I'm just asking for directions." Song You paused. "However, I heard your flute music from afar, so clear and pleasant. Even a master musician returning to simplicity could not surpass it. I admired it greatly. May I ask if the tune you are playing has a name?"

"I... don't understand..."

"It's very nice."

"I'm just playing randomly..."

"Does this tune have a name?"

"I don't know. Everyone here knows it. It doesn't seem to have a name."

"What a pity."

Song You shook his head. It wasn't that he regretted it not having a name, but rather that a name would make it easier to pass down to future generations, while a nameless tune would be more easily lost to history.

Still, he cupped his hands and praised, "Regardless, you play very well. You're no less than a master musician."

"I only know this one tune."

"I see..."

Seeing the cowherd's flustered expression, Song You felt that although he hadn't been rude, he shouldn't have caused such alarm or disturbed this spiritual aura. He then asked again:

"There are bandits around here, aren't you afraid, sir?"

"This area is close to the city; there are no bandits."

"You should still be careful."

"Where are you going, Mister?"

"To Anqing."

"If you go further towards Anqing, there are many bandits on the road…"

"Bandits won't trouble me, a Daoist priest." Song You tried to soften his voice. "However, I'm not asking for directions to Anqing. I'd like to ask you, sir, where nearby can I get to the riverbank?"

"What do you need to go to the river for, Mister?"

"My hands are dirty; I want to wash them."

"There are monsters in the river; they eat people."

"I'll just stay on the bank."

"Walk a little further ahead, and there's a path down," the shepherd boy said, looking at him worriedly. "Be careful, and don't go into the water."

"Thank you…"

Song You cupped his hands in thanks and continued forward.

The horse pulled up a mouthful of grass from the ground, chewed it slowly, and followed leisurely. The little cat, however, glanced at the shepherd boy and the water buffalo, then at the horse, as if comparing them, before also following.

The shepherd boy couldn't help but turn around, holding his flute, and watched them go. He found it wondrous and strange.

And the hands beneath the Mister's sleeves…

Were perfectly clean.

The shepherd boy, puzzled, got back on the water buffalo's back and headed towards the village. But after walking a short distance, he hesitated and finally had the water buffalo turn around, deciding to go see what the Mister was doing.