The Taste of Yesteryear is Still Fresh in My Memory

Mountain paths were hard to traverse, and Song You was still weak, so he could only lean on his bamboo staff and proceed slowly.

Dongyang had pointed him in the general direction out of these mountains and seen him off for part of the way, but since he himself had never gone out after entering, he was not entirely certain either.

This place was roughly three li from where Song You had sat in meditation and rested last night.

Song You passed by there once more.

After walking several li, a mountain monster revealed itself and brought him wild fruit and fresh water. It was exceedingly respectful, and escorted him for another stretch of the journey.

Along the way, the mountain monster told him that it was a spirit naturally nurtured by this forest. This had originally been its territory, which was why no other fierce beasts or monsters came to disturb it.

Many years ago, that cat had come here. Seeing how lively and lovely she was, it could not bear to harm her. They had lived together in the mountains for a long while and had, more or less, become friends regardless of kind. Many years later, the cat brought in the man named Dongyang from outside. Seeing that he was simple-hearted and kind, it did not mind having one more person on its territory, and had secretly protected them as well.

During the strange celestial phenomenon two days ago, when gods and men had battled, it had feared the divine powers and spells of the celestial gods, admired the Daoist's cultivation, yet held in even greater awe the Daoist's act of protecting this land and its mountains and waters. Thus, it had come specifically to see him off.

At parting, the mountain monster pointed out the direction