Tailor shop in the city.
Song You had recovered from his daze. Standing before an old matron, he gestured as he explained that he wanted something like a saddlebag made, to be sewn onto the bedroll bag later.
"About this big..."
The old matron squinted and examined his gestures closely, then took out a ruler to compare. "A little bigger than a saddlebag."
"That's right. It shouldn't be too flat."
"Does sir intend to carry a large object?"
"Yes."
"How large?"
"About..."
"Meow~"
A cat pawed at his robe.
Song You looked down and understood. He simply picked up the cat and held it up for the old matron to see.
"To carry it."
"Sewn onto the bedroll bag the horse carries?"
"I'm taking it on a long journey."
"Understood."
The old matron waved a hand with great confidence.
"Thank you, ma'am."
Leave professional matters to professionals. Song You had full faith in the old craftswoman's skills. After leaving a deposit and arranging when to bring the bedroll bag over to have it sewn, he departed with the Three Flower Cat.
Several days later.
Swallow had more or less mastered the art of flying. Besides gaining a new skill, she had also gained a novel experience and a new perspective, with no small amount of insight besides.
It was time to leave as well.
With Qingyangzi's permission, Song You came to the rear courtyard of the Daoist temple.
Bamboo groves stood both inside and outside the courtyard.
The bamboo outside was ordinary bamboo, valued chiefly for practicality. The bamboo within, however, was an ornamental variety. None grew thick or tall; their joints were dense, smooth to the touch, and hard in texture. It seemed to be a type of iron bamboo, perfectly suited for making a bamboo staff.
Song