After a few moments of silence, no reply came.
Nor did any servant come out to welcome them.
The Xiang Prefecture Governor repeated his call and waited a while longer, but still heard nothing. The boisterous, celebratory welcome suddenly fell silent. After a constable shot them a glare, the musicians resumed their playing.
He exchanged a glance with the Xiangyang County Magistrate.
Cheng Zhi raised his voice. "I, Cheng, have come to pay a visit. Is the immortal gentleman at home?"
Again, there was no answer.
The group stood at the courtyard gate for a while. The neighbors had cracked their doors open just a sliver. Seeing all these high-ranking officials and their imposing retinue, they didn't dare say a word.
The Xiang Prefecture Governor glanced at Cheng Zhi again.
Magistrate Cheng steeled himself. In his heart, he silently pleaded, Immortal, please don't take offense, please don't take offense. Then he reached out and pushed open the courtyard gate, intending to take a closer look.
He peered inside and found the gate secured with a hidden lock. The household had already gone out.
The immortal's trail had gone cold.
It seemed their fate had not been to meet.
Magistrate Cheng felt a little disappointed. He quietly mentioned it to his superior. The Xiang Prefecture Governor gazed through the gate at the serene courtyard within. There were a few trees in the yard, and a table beneath them.
The immortal must usually read here, must he not?
The governor sighed.
"Immortals and deities stand apart from the world. Mortals rarely glimpse their true countenance."
Alas, they were not fated to meet...
Composing himself, the governor turned and looked at the large entourage behind him. "Come, let's go to the Immortal Temple first and erect a stele there."
"Today, we must see this through."
The neighbors watched the procession depart in a mighty stream, the clamor of gongs and drums fading into the distance.
Only then did they breathe a sigh of relief, bursting into lively discussion.
"They came looking for Mr. Jiang!"
"Is Mr. Jiang really an immortal?"
"I told you so from the start. My wife even told me to show him more respect."
"So even the high officials are like that, huh."
"I reckon those officials aren't as lucky as us. We get to see the immortal all the time."
As he spoke, the neighbor's broad face took on a smug look. Listening to the others, he felt positively delighted, thoroughly pleased with himself. Just as everyone was about to head home, Xu Da hesitated, then called out to one of the men in a long robe.
"Master Zhang, someone wrote something for me. Could you take a look later and tell me what it says? I'll treat you to a drink."
The neighbor invited Master Zhang into his home and, with great enthusiasm, brought him a cup of cloudy wine.
He took out the red paper that had suddenly appeared on the table that day.
The long-robed scholar was over fifty. He narrowed his eyes. "Fine handwriting."
Then he read it carefully again.
"'In the Thirteenth Year of Kaiyuan... in the year of Yichou, I, Jiang, do solemnly offer two jin of salt and vinegar and four jin of dried fish to engage from the Xu Bojin household one Ink-colored Cat...'"
"'After this engagement, dried fish shall be supplied without stint, the rats shall flee, a felt blanket shall keep it warm in winter, and a bamboo mat shall shade it in summer...'"
"'Once it enters my household, it shall forever be a treasured possession.'"
"'May both families rejoice, with Heaven and Earth as witnesses.'"
"'Lest there be no proof in the future, this contract is drawn up as evidence...'"
When Master Zhang finished reading, he saw that the whole document was written in a free and flowing hand, its strokes linked seamlessly, composed all at once. Such fine calligraphy made him wish he could treasure it forever.
Then he noticed the signature below was Jiang She, and the text above had mentioned "I, Jiang." His heart filled with astonishment.
In the end, Master Zhang could only gaze at it, suppressing his longing. He smiled and said, "So Xu Daxia has given away a cat? The new owner has written an engagement contract."
Xu Bojin hadn't known that giving away a cat called for a written contract.
It was so refined and proper, with so many formalities.
He looked at the writing. Though he couldn't read it, a smile crept onto his face, and it made him happy just to look at it. When Xu Daxia started to put the contract away, Master Zhang stopped him.
"Wait! You still need to put your fingerprint on it."
"Your household doesn't have cinnabar paste. I'll go back and fetch some. Wait here."
After a moment's thought, he added a solemn reminder. "Such a rare bond, and such fine calligraphy, too. This is a treasure you can pass down through your family."
"Be sure to take good care of it."
When Master Zhang returned, Xu Daxia followed his instructions and pressed his fingerprint onto the contract.
Then a thought suddenly occurred to him.
"Don't people usually make two copies of a contract, one for each side? I've put my fingerprint on this one, but what about Mr. Jiang's copy?"
Master Zhang had no idea.
He shook his head. "When it comes to immortals, this old man knows nothing."
Outside Xiangyang.
Jiang She suddenly felt something stir within him and took the document from his sleeve.
A fingerprint had appeared on it.
He smiled.
Old Deer Mountain God of Lumen Mountain also saw the young cat curled up in the rattan basket, fast asleep, and congratulated him with a smile. "You've found yourself a fine companion, sir. The journey will be much more interesting with a cat along."
Sitting on the carriage shaft, Yuan Danqiu looked at the kitten and found it delightful, too.
Thanks to his skill at driving and the shamelessness he'd cultivated over years of visiting recluses in scenic mountains, he had begged and pleaded until he'd won the chance to travel with Mr. Jiang. That way, he wouldn't have to stay home alone and cultivate the Dao.
The two servants were in the carriage carrying their luggage.
Hearing the immortals talk, they didn't dare make a sound, only gazing at them greedily.
Li Bai rode alongside them.
"Mr. Jiang has been feeding this cat for nearly a month now, but it won't let anyone else touch it."
As they were talking, they suddenly heard the sound of gongs and drums coming from afar, festive and boisterous.
Jiang She looked over, and the others turned to see as well.
He saw a large procession carrying an enormous stone stele. Behind them were several middle-aged men in official robes. Farther back came gentry and wealthy households, dressed in fine silks and looking resplendent. Constables and attendants followed behind them by the dozen. Some trailed the officials and gentry, some played music, and others held back the onlookers, urging idle spectators to move aside.
A few of them looked familiar, and he recognized some by name.
The Taoists from Pure Void Temple held wooden swords and bowls of blessed water, chanting as they circled the site to drive away evil spirits.
Flames soared skyward as they carried out the sacrifice.
Once the ceremony was over, they began erecting the stele and building the temple.
The mountain god stroked his beard and smiled. "These people have even built a temple for you, sir."
"Would you like to show yourself and meet them?"
"No need."
Jiang She turned his gaze away. Still mounted, he looked toward the verdant mountains. In the Tang dynasty, vegetation flourished, the climate was humid, the grass and water plentiful, and the trees towering.
"Let's go."
"This little god will escort you for a stretch—"
The carriages rolled along. Li Bai and Jiang She rode their horses. The kitten wriggled over and squeezed itself into Jiang She's arms, pawing at his clothes for a while before quickly falling asleep. Kittens slept a great deal.
Yuan Danqiu, who had insisted on coming along, drove the carriage with an air of expertise. The two attendants sat in another carriage.
Old Deer Mountain God walked with a stoop, yet in just three or five steps he covered several zhang. He was no slower than a horse or carriage.
Yuan Danqiu spotted the old man walking along the road and called out, "Mountain God, why not ride with us?"
Old Deer Mountain God chuckled. "Then I won't stand on ceremony."
The carriages slowly left Xiangyang. Jiang She rode his horse and looked down at the cat asleep in his arms. It kept trying to burrow into his sleeve, so he steadied it to keep it from slipping inside.
He could still hear Yuan Danqiu, Li Bai, and Old Deer Mountain God talking.
Yuan Danqiu suddenly remembered something. "Taibai, didn't you forget to tell Master Meng? He doesn't know we've already set out."
Li Bai had indeed forgotten.
He said, "What of it? Once we reach the post station, we can pay someone to deliver a letter."
"I'll just write to Master Meng and let him know."
Jiang She exchanged a glance with the Earth Deity of Black Stone Mountain, who had stayed behind, and gave a slight nod.
The Earth Deity bowed respectfully.
He watched the carriages depart.
Farther away, the gongs and firecrackers still rang out. The Taoists drove away evil spirits with their rites, while the governor and magistrate had come in person to offer incense. Mortals built a temple and raised a stele in celebration.
An inscription above read:
"In the Thirteenth Year of Kaiyuan, the year of Yichou, under the benevolent rule of Governor Han of Xiang Prefecture and Magistrate Cheng, the harvest was abundant and the people lived in joy. An immortal passed through here, clad in a white robe and holding a jade horsetail whisk, his noble bearing and elegant spirit peerless, his every movement like drifting clouds. Those of the prefecture who saw him were struck with a sudden longing to leave the dust of the world behind..."
What should we name the kitten...
Before you continue