Life in Jade City was peaceful, yet never dull. Though the city was much smaller than the capital of Great Yan, it was still lively enough. The mingling of Eastern and Western cultures and economies made everything here feel strange and wondrous—on the streets, one could see all sorts of people and things. The chema inn bustled with the daily comings and goings of travelers and the clatter of hooves and wheels, but to the Daoist, it simply delivered glimpses of the world’s many facets and stories from faraway places. By nightfall, all was calm again. Even under Jade City’s blazing sun, hiding in the shade kept the heat at bay, and more often than not, a pleasant breeze would come, accompanied by the soft jingling of bells—those tied to camels’ necks or worn around the ankles of young women. Before one knew it, several more days had passed. The one-month mark was approaching fast. If he finished the things he wanted and needed to do, and he was still young by then, perhaps he’d return here to live for a year or two. But he mustn’t stay too long, because there were still so many places he wished to live in. Everything deserved a fair share of his presence. These were the thoughts running through Song You’s mind as he sat at a dining table in the inn. Voices buzzed around him. Two merchants shared his table—both with Great Yan features. When he asked about the towering mountain in the southeast, they eagerly answered his questions. A few other merchants seated at nearby tables overheard and turned their heads to join in. They, too, had either heard of or passed by that mountain before, and enthusiastically shared what they knew. It seemed they truly enjoyed the act of sharing itself. “That mountain’s really tall—tall, steep, and vast. Just to circle around it would take two or three hundred li. The locals call it the ‘sacred mountain’ and revere it as a deity. They say there really is a god on that mountain.” “I heard that some people have managed to climb it...” “I think the place is called Green City. A proper snow-capped mountain, growing right in the middle of green hills and meadows.” “The lamb flatbread from Green City is incredible!” “Not just the lamb flatbread, the mountain shepherds are famously warm and generous. They're known all across the Western Regions. If you ever get lost up there, just run into a herder and you’ll be saved. Even if you can’t speak their language, they’ll feed you, give you water, and then find a cattle cart to send you down the mountain. The carts are really simple—you’ll be bumping around the whole way down. Hahaha. But the two of you still won’t understand a word the other is saying.” “It’s just in their nature, it seems...” Everyone chimed in, one voice after another. None of them knew how long or lonely the road ahead or behind might be, but in that moment, they spoke freely and joyfully. A few Western Region girls passed by outside the door, the walls of the house a dusty ochre, bathed in golden sunlight. The breeze blew gently, and the sound of their bells rang soft and delicate. “Many thanks to you all. I’ve learned a lot.” Song You popped the last piece of flatbread into his mouth, washed it down with the final sip of camel milk, and then rose to offer his thanks and bid farewell. The merchants were still full of energy and continued their lively discussion. The Daoist, meanwhile, leaned on his bamboo staff and made his way back to his room. Inside, the two little demon creatures were tossing a cloth ball back and forth in play. Even when the Daoist entered, they didn’t stop. They simply paused mid-action, turned to look at him. “Go ahead and keep playing.” The Daoist gently shut the door behind him and stepped into the room. Only then did the two little ones resume. What made the moment special was that today, Yan An had taken human form, while Lady Calico had returned to being a cat. Yan An sat cross-legged on the rug. His job was to toss the cloth ball, and the cat would dash after it—sometimes leaping into the air to intercept it mid-flight—then trot back with the ball in her mouth, tail perked and steps light with glee. Yan An, a bit nervous, would shrink his neck and gingerly take the ball from her jaws before quickly throwing it again. One was in charge of playing, the other in charge of keeping up. Song You sat on the bed, calmly watching the scene. They played for quite a while. Yan An was growing drowsy but kept pushing himself to stay awake. The cat, on the other hand, was full of energy—more and more excited the longer they played. The weather was beautiful today too—the sunlight and wind both just right. A breeze from the corridor pushed the door open with a soft sound. The calico cat had just pounced on the ball and immediately turned her head out of habit, glancing toward the door. Seeing no one, she looked at the Daoist. “Who's trying to come in?” “But the door opened!” “It’s just the wind.” “The wind has a key to our house.” “It just wasn’t closed properly, that’s all.” The Daoist spoke calmly. He could see Yan An’s awkwardness, and used the opportunity to step in and ease the tension. He stood up and said, “The weather’s nice today. Judging by the sky, it’ll probably be the same tomorrow. The one-month stay that Lady Calico exchanged for by catching mice ends today. We should be on our way.” “But the innkeeper said we could stay two months!” “That would be too long. If we stay another month, it’ll be cold by then, and there’s still a long road ahead of us.” The cat hugged her cloth ball and thought for a moment. “I agree with you.” “We’re leaving again...” “Does this drifting, unsettled life make you unhappy?” “I’m used to it. I used to live too. I just think there are a lot of rabbit-like mice outside this city—they’re really fun. She hasn’t finished catching them all yet.” Song You pursed his lips slightly before saying, “Just wait a few more years. Once we return to Yin-Yang Mountain, we’ll finally settle down.” “Let’s catch some rabbits and release them on the mountain!” “Lady Calico, you have the final say.” “Let’s dig a big pond! Fill it with fish! I will go fishing for you every day!” “I promised you that a long time ago.” “Let’s raise those fish with eight legs! And shrimp bigger than cats!” “Those are sea fish and sea shrimp.” Lady Calico thought what he said made sense, and she was good at accepting reason. She shook her head, picked up her cloth ball, and was just about to go find Yan An to play again when she heard the Daoist speak once more. “Since we’re leaving tomorrow, let’s take advantage of this last day and the good weather to go out for a walk. After Jade City, it’ll be hard to find a city as bustling as this one. We should buy some supplies for the road.” As soon as the calico cat let go of her mouth, the cloth ball dropped to the ground. She was brimming with excitement. “Just in time! I have a new treasure—it can hold lots more stuff!” Full of enthusiasm, the calico cat followed him out for a stroll. Yan An was finally off the hook. The sound of bells echoed from somewhere. The Daoist and the little girl walked along the street, leading the jujube-red horse. Jade City boasted many local specialties, the most renowned being various types of jade—especially green jade. Among the traveling merchants, aside from those dealing in spices, many came specifically for the jade from the Western Regions. From there, they would pass through a mountain pass outside of Shadu into Great Yan. That pass had even been named after the trade. In addition, Jade City’s grapes were also famous far and wide. Song You had already experienced them. The wool rugs and woven mats also had a stellar reputation—whatever the shop, they were always laid out on the floor. Aside from the jade, Song You wanted to buy a bit of everything. Grapes might seem hard to preserve, but the locals had their methods. The most common was to sun-dry them into raisins. This process was nearly effortless in Jade City—the city had ample sunshine, most days were scorching, and there was often wind blowing through the streets. All they had to do was leave the uneaten grapes hanging on the vines, and they’d naturally dry out into plump bunches of raisins. It was said this method produced better quality than picking them and then drying them manually. There was also another, more secret method. Song You had seen it before in Changjing. It involved wrapping the grapes in sand and soil—not carelessly, but with a particular technique. No one knew exactly how it was done, but once wrapped, there would be a hollow space within the sand shell, preserving the grapes inside. When it was time to eat, all one had to do was crack open the hardened outer shell with a brick or stone, and the grapes inside would still be fresh. Supposedly, they could last up to six months that way. Song You bought some raisins, as well as a few packets of sand-preserved grapes. He even watched the local craftsmen demonstrate their wrapping technique—a bit of useful knowledge gained. He also picked up a few honeydews and watermelons. While traveling through the Western Regions, honeydew and watermelon were excellent for replenishing sugar and water. Honeydews were richer in sugar—enough so that in emergencies, one could survive on honeydew alone. Watermelons, on the other hand, contained a large amount of water that didn’t spoil or turn quickly, making them more useful than water skins. But since it was peak melon season and the region wasn’t particularly dry, melons were everywhere—even in uninhabited areas, wild ones could often be found—so there was no need to buy too many. Farther along, they came across stalls selling wool rugs and felt mats. These were primarily made from sheep’s wool. The quality was, of course, top-notch, and the styles were incredibly diverse—the patterns woven into them were a reflection of Jade City’s culture, aesthetics, and artistry of this era. If one were to keep a single item as a memento to show that the Daoist and his companions had once passed through here, nothing would be more fitting. But he still needed to consult the pillar of the household. Song You looked down at the little girl and said, “Lady Calico, how about we buy a fabric mat?” “Pretty much the same thing...” “We already have felt mats and blankets. Prefect Yu gave them to us, and they’re still in good condition.” Lady Calico gave it some thought, her tone mature and practical. “Buying another would just be wasteful.” “But we could buy one about this big!” Song You held his hands apart, measuring about the size of a meditation cushion. Still using a negotiating tone, he said, “Sometimes the ground is really cold, and it’s not worth it to lay out an entire felt mat just to sit for a bit. But if we had a smaller rug or mat , it’d be a lot more convenient. Plus, I could use it as a cushion to sit on, and when you transform into a cat, you could use it as a sleeping mat. It’d be much more comfortable.” “Hmm...” The little girl with the pouch slung across her shoulder seemed a bit moved. “And besides, they’re really beautiful—not like the rugs and mats we can get in Great Yan. Once we leave here, we won’t be able to buy anything like them again.” Song You pressed on while the iron was hot. Looking at her expression, he found her unbearably cute. “We’ll bring it all the way back to Hidden Dragon Temple on Yin-Yang Mountain. Years from now, when we look at it, we’ll remember this place. And if someone else sees it, they’ll know we once came here.” “Much cheaper than the wool ones.” “Not expensive at all.” This little thing really didn’t give up easily. Song You gave in and went off to ask. After some bargaining with a few strings of copper coins, and a careful round of selecting—paired with multiple meaningful glances exchanged with his household pillar—he finally spent a bit over one hundred wen to buy the thickest and nicest fabric mat they had. The mat was woven and embroidered with several colors. At its center was a sun-like design, in warm tones leaning toward yellow—very much like the tawny hues of this highland city and its ever-shining sunlight. Song You had taken a liking to it at first glance. After buying it, he handed it to the little girl. And what happened next was rather amusing... Lady Calico had frowned when he was making the purchase, and looked quite reluctant when it came time to pay. But the moment the mat—now hers—was placed in front of her, she immediately scooped it up and hugged it tightly to her chest. Then, still keeping a stern little face, she followed the Daoist around as they continued their stroll. They also bought some flatbread. They got two kinds—one soft and fragrant, the kind the people of Jade City usually ate. It had a great flavor and became more aromatic the more you chewed. The other was baked especially dry—hard and firm, ideal for long journeys. Although Lady Calico’s brocade pouch had an enclosed space inside, time didn’t stop within it, nor was the temperature particularly low. There was even air inside, and it more or less stayed in sync with the outside environment. If one managed to catch a living creature and put it in, it could still stay alive in there. Because of that, the pouch had no ability to preserve freshness, let alone anything as miraculous as putting in a bowl of food and taking it out much later with steam still rising from it. So when it came to stocking up on food, shelf life still had to be considered. They had spent quite a bit of money before finally returning to the chema inn. As soon as they reached the door to their room, they saw that maidservant again. She stood silently at the door, head bowed, holding a freshly laundered Daoist robe, not moving an inch. Only when the Daoist approached did she raise her head. The moment she saw him, she held out the robe. “Thank you,” the Daoist said sincerely and naturally, still speaking in the Western Regions tongue. The maid said nothing in reply, only standing quietly at the side. In truth, Song You didn’t feel he had done her a favor, nor did he believe she owed him anything. Back then, the reason those senior monks outside the city had taken the silver jug was because of his arrival—they wanted to use it to serve him wine. It wouldn’t be fair to say the maidservant’s misfortune had been entirely caused by him, but it clearly had something to do with him. That was why he had stepped in to help—to settle the karmic entanglement between them, and to make amends for the chain of events his presence had triggered. Only then could it be considered properly handled. But the maid didn’t know all that. They didn’t even share a language. All she had was her own simple and kind nature. She believed that since someone had saved her, she ought to repay them. So she came to wash Song You’s clothes. It had already been about a month. Aside from the four days they spent looking for that weasel demon, he’d worn clean, sun-dried clothes every single day. For Song You, who had spent more than a decade traveling, this was something of a luxury. “We’re leaving tomorrow. To repay your help and your kindness, I have something and some words to give you.” Song You repeated what the merchant surnamed Xie had taught him in the dream. Despite having tried hard to memorize it over the past few days, the memory was still a bit blurry. As he spoke, he also pulled out a talisman. “Take this and leave the city. A wolf will be waiting for you. Follow the wolf into the mountains—you’ll find some treasure there. The treasure is valuable, but also dangerous. Don’t take too much, and don’t tell anyone.” The maidservant accepted it blankly, not understanding why. The Daoist had already closed the door.