Unintended Immortality-Chapter 334: Returning the Courtesy

“Daoist Master, are you worried that we’re staying in Changjing with ulterior motives?” Miss Wanjiang asked helplessly.

“We thought we had become old friends with you. Even after your three-year absence, Mistress often thought about you. Yet, we didn’t expect you to be so guarded against us. How disappointing,” the maid said, her tone almost turning into a soft sob.

“Enough with the nonsense.”

“It’s not nonsense.”

“It seems like you two are enjoying yourselves,” the Daoist commented as he brewed tea at a slow pace by the stove. “I wonder, do you act like this only in front of others, or are you the same when you’re alone?”

“We have no choice,” Miss Wanjiang replied.

“The world is vast, but there are few like us. Though human society is bustling, no matter how much a demon learns to emulate humans, we are not human. Our thoughts can never align completely with theirs, nor can they fully understand us. In this world, there are likely very few people apart from you who can truly understand the differences between humans and demons,” the maid explained.

Holding her cup of tea, she added, “So naturally, when we’re alone, we can only talk to ourselves and find our own amusement.”

“Have some tea,” the Daoist said, pouring tea into three cups.

The maid untied her cloak and looked around. Spotting a wooden hook on the wall, she casually hung it there before sitting next to her mistress. She first warmed her hands by the fire, then picked up her tea cup with both hands. Closing her eyes slightly, she seemed utterly content with the warmth radiating from the fire and the tea.

The mistress and maid raised their cups and drank the tea before speaking again.

“Daoist Master, rest assured. Now that Princess Changping has been detained, her plans are completely thwarted. Whatever the emperor decides for her future, there’s no chance of her regaining power. Our agreement with her has also ended. No matter what she asks of us in the future, we won’t comply, let alone cause chaos in the court,” the maid said.

She curled up slightly as she held her tea cup, her petite frame looking particularly adorable. She added with a mischievous smile, “Besides, Great Yan is currently in an unprecedented golden age. Even the ancient great demons wouldn’t be foolish enough to attempt to stir trouble in a time like this.”

“Though our bond with Her Highness the Princess has come to an end, she remains an old acquaintance. Staying here, beyond our reluctance to part, also carries the intention of seeing her off one final time,” Miss Wanjiang said gracefully, her demeanor composed and her words sincere.

“I see.” Song You nodded toward them in acknowledgment.

“It’s often said that we fox demons are cunning and deceitful, known for tricking others. But being from Hidden Dragon Temple, you surely know that this is a notion that only emerged in the past few decades. In earlier folklore and Daoist texts, fox demons were symbols of auspiciousness and purity, never ones to deceive casually, let alone lie to a Daoist Master,” the maid explained. “So, you can rest assured.”

Miss Wanjiang raised her teacup, lifting her sleeve to shield her face as she sipped. Though her expression remained calm and unpretentious, her extraordinary beauty, paired with an ethereal demeanor, was captivating—not seductive but still utterly mesmerizing.

“Though, if you were to ask about ulterior motives, we may have one,” the maid suddenly said with a playful grin.

“I’d like to hear it,” Song You replied.

“Mistress is better at explaining, so I’ll leave it to her,” the maid teased.

“Just as I said earlier,” Miss Wanjiang began, setting down her teacup, her tone steady yet direct, her manner elegant and unflinching.

She continued, “The world is vast, yet there are few of our kind. The mortal world is full of splendor but lacks true kindred spirits. Those like you, Daoist Master—who can see demons as demons yet also treat demons as humans—are even rarer. When I said that meeting you felt like reuniting with an old friend, it was no lie.”

“Demons live long lives. My ancestor was extraordinarily long-lived, and the lifespans of fox demons are even longer. When we leave the capital this time, the long years ahead feel overwhelmingly empty. Having crossed paths with you, we wish to form a lasting friendship.

“Perhaps, we may not accompany you for a century, but perhaps a few decades. Visiting you once or twice each year to drink, make merry, brew tea, play the zither, and talk through the night would alleviate much of the boredom and weariness of our lives.”

“So, this ulterior motive,” the maid said with a mischievous smile, glancing at the Daoist, “is you, Daoist Master!”

“...”

The Daoist fell silent for a moment.

It wasn’t their directness or their thoughts that left him speechless, but rather their novel way of speaking.

After a pause, he said, “I began my travels in the first year of the Mingde era, planning to wander for twenty years. Afterward, I’ll return to my temple, located at Yin-Yang Mountain in Lingquan County, Yizhou. If you two wish to visit, you’re naturally welcome.”

“Then it’s settled,” Miss Wanjiang said with a smile.

“Indeed,” the Daoist confirmed.

After a brief pause, he suddenly thought of something and asked, “Do you two know much about Yuezhou?”

“We’re foxes from the south. We’ve been cultivating in Yangzhou since we were young, so we know nothing of Yuezhou,” the maid replied without hesitation.

“Our ancestral home is in Yuezhou. Though I left there at a young age, I still know quite a bit about the place,” Miss Wanjiang added, bowing her head slightly. “If you have any questions, I will share everything I know without reservation.”

“...” The Daoist looked at them wordlessly.

Even Lady Calico, who had been engrossed in her book, raised her head and stared at them in surprise. Her gaze shifted back and forth between the two.

The maid also turned to stare at her mistress, her face full of confusion.

The stunningly beautiful woman remained calm and explained to the Daoist, “Sometimes the tail doesn’t behave.”

Hearing this, the Daoist glanced at the little girl beside him.

The girl’s expression was a mix of seriousness and astonishment. So fox tails can act up like this!

The Daoist shifted back to the topic at hand. “While traveling in the north, I passed through Yuezhou. At times, I could sense the spiritual resonance of heaven and earth, as if communing with the local mountains and rivers. It felt as though some extraordinary demon or cultivator had once been there.

“Yet when I looked closely, I found no traces. Do you know where these great demons and cultivators might have gone?”

“You may not know,” Miss Wanjiang began honestly, her voice sincere and gentle, carrying a natural persuasiveness. “Yuezhou has always been a place rich in spiritual resonance, a land where demons and spirits are easily born. Over the ages, many great demons have emerged there, some even passing down their legacies.

“However, about a decade ago, when the northern frontier tribes invaded Yuezhou, they waged war across a thousand li, leaving countless souls in torment. The air was thick with blood and resentment, and malicious energy overflowed. Among demons, the gap in nature and wisdom is even greater than the difference in cultivation.

“Faced with this upheaval, most demons and spirits in Yuezhou chose one of two paths.”

“Please enlighten me,” the Daoist prompted.

She said, “Some took advantage of the aura of malice and bloodlust to cultivate, devouring vengeful spirits, and even preying on the living under the guise of war. Their cultivation advanced rapidly, and they grew powerful, becoming fiends—the same demons causing havoc in the north today.

“The others, unwilling to join the depravity, were forced to leave. Among them were wise demons who foresaw that the Heavenly Palace would intervene to eradicate the chaos. To avoid suspicion, they had no choice but to abandon their homeland.”

“I see,” the Daoist replied.

“As for where they went, I don’t know,” she added.

“These demons are many, and among them are those with great abilities. To recount their stories would take quite some time. If you’re interested, come to Hexian Pavilion next time, and we will tell you slowly,” the maid said with a playful smile.

“I will surely visit,” the Daoist promised.

The small building was exceedingly simple, with cold rain continuing to fall outside. Inside, though there was a wooden table, it was bare, and the group sat around a small stove with tea brewing on top.

It was a scene no one would have imagined—that the most renowned woman in Changjing, whose appearances at Hexian Pavilion had grown rare due to her lingering illness, now sat unveiled beside a Daoist. Together, they shared tea and conversation by the fire.

The foxes’ nature gradually revealed itself. In addition to drinking tea, they roasted eggs by the fire to eat.

The conversation lasted for a long time.

At times, Song You even felt that his presence was almost unnecessary. He didn’t need to speak or respond—just sitting there quietly was enough, as the two of them could carry on with their back-and-forth effortlessly. Still, he reminded himself that foxes were inherently lively creatures, their restlessness and eccentricity often surpassing even that of cats.

Considering how they had to maintain an aloof, otherworldly demeanor while in Changjing, it must have been difficult for them—probably stifling after so long. With that in mind, it seemed entirely reasonable.

“Farewell,” they said.

“You don’t need to see us off, Daoist Master.”

“Take care,” Song You replied, standing at the door to see them out.

Miss Wanjiang had put her veil back on, and both women raised their umbrellas as they slowly disappeared into the misty rain.

The Daoist returned indoors.

But not long after, the maid came back. She had somehow procured a skewer of candied hawthorn and held it in her hand, offering it to Lady Calico, who was sitting by the fire with her book.

“Not far from here, I noticed a shop where the owner was selling candied hawthorn. On such a rainy day, there were no customers, and he looked quite distressed. Thinking that the young Lady Calico might like it, I decided to buy a skewer.”

“Mm...” The little girl turned her head toward the Daoist, seeking his reaction.

The Daoist smiled and said, “Lady Calico, you should thank her.”

“Thank you!” Lady Calico replied.

“My name is Yi Yi.”

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“Thank you, Yi Yi!”

“Lady Calico is so adorable,” the maid said with a laugh. She stood at the door without coming in and turned her gaze back to the Daoist. “I forgot to ask earlier. When you leave the capital for your next journey, where will you be heading?”

“I’ll be heading south.”

“South, to Fengzhou?”

“I’ll start with Fengzhou.”

“Fengzhou is still a bit of a journey,” the maid said with a smile. “Traveling together for a stretch of the road is an even greater fate than crossing a river on the same boat. If the timing works out, please don’t refuse to accompany us.”

“It’s still early. Let’s talk about it when the time comes.”

“Then I’ll be off. Daoist Master, remember to visit Hexian Pavilion if you have the time.”

“I’ll definitely visit.”

“There’s no need for elaborate gifts. But if you must bring something, bring a chicken,” the maid said with a playful wink. “Foxes all love chicken.”

“Of course.” The Daoist responded as he always did.

This time, the maid truly left.

When the Daoist turned back, Lady Calico was already munching on the candied hawthorn. Sitting on the small stool, her tiny figure looked even smaller. Seeing him glance over, she tilted her head up to look at him, then raised the skewer in her hand.

“Daoist priest, eat this.”

“Since it was gifted to you, you should enjoy it yourself.”

“I’m giving it to you to eat.”

“...”

The Daoist glanced at the topmost hawthorn, which she had licked until it gleamed, and shook his head. “Lady Calico, you eat it.”

“Fine, then.”

“We can’t just eat someone else’s candied hawthorn for free. Next time we visit them, you should carry a gift to return the favor—let’s pretend it’s from you.”

“A chicken?”

“That works.”

“Chickens are more expensive...” Lady Calico frowned slightly.

Cats naturally understood the concept of returning favors, but Lady Calico, through her diligent studies, had also mastered human arithmetic.

Now she was visibly troubled.

She stared down at the candied hawthorn in her hands, examining it closely, her brows furrowed as she wore a conflicted expression. Suddenly, she looked up and declared, “Tonight, I will catch two mice and send them over as a gift in return.”

“This...”

“Foxes eat mice!” Lady Calico declared with absolute certainty. “Foxes love eating mice!”

“...”

The Daoist tried to conjure an image in his mind of the woman who had bewitched all of Changjing eating a mouse, but no matter how he tried, he simply couldn’t imagine it.

However, meeting the little cat’s earnest gaze, he nodded. “That works too.”

“...!”

Lady Calico immediately nodded solemnly, finally eating her candied hawthorn with a clear conscience.

At worst, she thought, she’d just pick two plump ones to give them later!