Prefect and Magistrate, No Sign of Immortals

"Where is Master heading?" Li Bai blurted out.

"First to Luoyang, then to Bian Prefecture, then to Yan Prefecture, and finally to Mount Tai."

The cat, tightly gripping the meat in its mouth, ran back.

"Master is going to Mount Tai to observe the Zen rites? Bai wishes to accompany you."

"Just to take a look."

Jiang She was not entirely approving, saying, "This journey to Mount Tai spans a thousand mountains and ten thousand rivers. Even traveling every day, it would take months. It is no easy task."

Jiang She could not afford a horse, and the carriage-and-horse merchants would not be willing to lease one for so long and so far.

He himself cared little for the hardships of the road, ambling along slowly. If he could not make it in time, he could always use the Art of Flight—no great trouble.

But a mortal, trudging day after day, would likely fall gravely ill from exhaustion.

Li Bai's tone was resolute.

"Bai is willing to go!"

He added, "Did Master not say before that you would welcome a companion to travel the world together? Why then can Bai not be that one?"

He continued, "When the time comes, Bai will buy two horse-drawn carriages. Since we are setting out, we will surely need many supplies—this way we can prepare properly and make the journey more bearable."

Jiang She let out a faint laugh.

"Two horse-drawn carriages are no small expense."

Li Bai said with spirited vigor, "If it is for Master, what are such worldly trifles as gold and silver?"

"..." Finally, Jiang She spoke.

"Then we set out tomorrow."

Li Bai's expression instantly lit up.

He immediately bowed, hurried off to the carriage-and-horse shop to buy horses, and then bustled in and out with his two household servants, purchasing supplies.

The neighbors watched the comings and goings, looking very busy.

Just as Li Bai was carrying a trunk inside, a neighbor grabbed him by the door and asked, "Young Master Li, what are you stocking up for? Hasn't the Dragon Boat Festival already passed?"

Li Bai laughed heartily.

But he did not reveal the immortal's whereabouts.

He said, "I just felt the house was lacking some things. It's good to have them all prepared now."

The neighbor was suspicious.

Stocking up? Then why buy that tall, fine horse?

"Young Master Li, don't fool me again." The neighbor thought for a moment, took out a slightly poorly woven little bamboo basket, and turned back to scoop up the cat that was running around the yard.

"Ask the gentleman inside—he's been feeding this cat for days."

"Would he be willing to buy two catties of dried fish?"

After a while.

Jiang She returned from the dried goods shop, carrying several strips of dried fish and a packet of salt.

"This cat ate all that meat for nothing, then went back and shared it with other cats, putting you to expense, Master."

The neighbor took the items and gave a simple, honest smile.

"Master has been feeding this cat for many days now—you must be fond of it. I was thinking of giving the cat to you, but I never had the free time, and I didn't dare disturb you rashly."

The neighbor tried his best to speak elegantly.

He knew that the people in this courtyard were either wealthy or extraordinary, and he rarely interacted with them.

Jiang She looked down at the cat. When the cat saw him, it grew especially bold and unruly, kicking its legs hard against the bamboo basket, its little head already nearly squeezed out.

He said.

"It is I who should thank you."

"Since we are neighbors, would you care to come in for a cup of tea?"

"Nothing could be better!"

The neighbor was overjoyed.

He stretched out his leg and scraped the mud off his shoe soles twice against his own doorstep, knocking the dirt away. Then he turned to check if the ground he had walked on was clean before cautiously following inside.

The cat, however, was far more at ease than he was.

As if returning to its own home, it raised its tail, swaying it back and forth, and found the coziest spot on the table to lie down.

Letting out a soft purr.

Jiang She brewed tea, adding a little extra tea leaves than usual.

He handed it to the man who sat there somewhat uneasily.

After more idle chatter, Jiang She learned that this neighbor family was not originally from Xiangyang. In earlier years, the man had been a clerk for a merchant caravan, trailing along east and west until he grew weary of it, finally settling down in Xiangyang.

Xu Da had brought his wife and children over, and now they had lived here for twelve years.

His children had grown up in Xiangyang, long since regarding it as their homeland.

Jiang She asked, "Xu Dalang, where are you from?"

"I'm from Chen Prefecture. Years back, the Yellow River flooded, and there was no way to survive. Not only the fields—my own parents starved to death. If not for that, I wouldn't have gone around taking my chances, following boats as a merchant."

Chen Prefecture sat on the southern bank of the lower Yellow River. Whenever the river burst its banks, Chen and Song Prefectures would be inundated, fields and homes washed away.

Xu Dalang lowered his head and took a sip of tea.

"This tea...!"

The taste seemed off somehow. Xu Da savored it again, cradling the cup as he drank, forcing himself to stop after half a cup. He asked cautiously:

"Mr. Jiang, could I take this half-bowl of tea back home for my family to drink?"

"Of course."

Jiang She said this as he found a medium-sized soup bowl, placed tea leaves inside, and filled it to the brim with hot water.

Fearing they might be reluctant to drink it, he added:

"You must finish it within three days."

Xu Da took it carefully and set it down on the table.

He said with emotion:

"Sir, you are a kind man."

The more he thought about the tea's flavor, the more remarkable it seemed. Connecting it to all sorts of rumors and the people who had been lurking around the alley lately, Xu Da couldn't help asking:

"Mr. Jiang, do immortals truly exist in this world?"

"They do."

Xu Da's eyes went wide. With a thud, he tried to kneel, but something held him back—his waist wouldn't bend, his knees wouldn't touch the ground.

"Sir..."

Xu Da's heart pounded wildly in his chest.

He knew—he had encountered a true master.

He was both awed and afraid, and asked: "Can immortals achieve eternal life?"

"They can."

Jiang She saw the man's eyes widen, his heart racing, his face flushed red as he was about to bow down, and immediately stopped him.

He smiled and pointed at the soup bowl on the table.

"Xu Dalang, take it back and share it with your family. Jiang will be leaving soon; no need to return the bowl."

The neighbor, though disappointed, decided that once home, he would enshrine this bowl.

He said:

"Sir, take care on the road. I wish you a smooth journey all the way."

Jiang She thanked him.

After the man left, he looked at the cat, already fast asleep, curled up on the table, its belly rising and falling with each breath. It slept deeply, at ease.

He stroked the kitten's head.

A strange feeling rose in his heart—this was his cat now.

Before long, the trunks were nearly packed. One thudded against the ground with a heavy sound.

Yuan Danqiu was resting at midday.

Hearing the noise, he startled awake from his bed.

Listening to the hurried footsteps outside, Taibai and Mr. Jiang never walked like this. And the footsteps didn't sound like just two people.

Could it be that the two had gone out and the courtyard had been hit by thieves?

Yuan Danqiu immediately scrambled out of bed, threw on an outer robe, glanced around the bedroom, grabbed the porcelain pillow from the couch, slipped into his shoes, and crept to push open a crack in the door.

"...Sir?"

Yuan Danqiu froze, staring at the courtyard full of packed trunks and the servants bustling about.

After understanding the situation.

"Sir!"

The next day.

The inscription on the stele was finally carved. Red silk hung from the stone, and several laborers carefully lifted it together.

The Prefecture Governor and Magistrate Cheng walked one after the other at the front, gazing at the azure sky, their spirits refreshed and clear.

Behind the two of them was a large crowd of yamen runners, constables, and other officials.

Further back were the local gentry of Xiangyang, especially those who had entered the Lu Family's dream that day, all clustering around the stone stele.

On both sides, constables cleared the way, beating gongs and drums.

Shouts rang out:

"The Governor passes—idlers, clear the way—"

"The Governor passes—"

"Idlers, clear the way—"

Finally.

A large crowd stood outside the courtyard gate.

Seeing so many people, with those in official robes at the very front, the neighbors all peeked over the walls to watch.

The Prefecture Governor bowed toward the courtyard gate.

"Han Chaozong, Prefecture Governor of Xiang, has come to pay respects to the Immortal—"

I couldn't verify who the Xiang Prefecture Governor was in 725, so I'm estimating it might be Han Chaozong—I'll go with that.

Long-term request for monthly votes and recommendation tickets.