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Chapter 26: Dreaming of Immortality
The night had fallen in the courtyard in the northern district of the city. Song You had already finished writing his letter and neatly placed it on the table. He sat facing Lady Calico, who had transformed back into human form, with the bedding folded neatly on the bed.
The room was lit with an oil lamp, casting flickering shadows.
Song You spoke, "Lady Calico, do you know any magic spells?"
"I know how to catch mice," came the reply.
"That's your skill, but it doesn't count as magic," Song You shook his head.
"I like incense, I can remember everyone who has offered me incense and can find them," Lady Calico quickly added.
"That's your divine ability, but it's not considered magic either," Song You still shook his head. "Besides, you have distanced yourself from the divine path now, if you don't absorb incense for a long time, this divine ability of yours will gradually fade away."
"I'm very clever."
"That's not magic either."
"Then I don't know anything else..." Lady Calico was somewhat disappointed.
"Now that Lady Calico has taken human form, why don't I teach Lady Calico some magic spells?" Song You suggested.
"Yes! Yes!" Lady Calico exclaimed eagerly.
"What does Lady Calico want to learn?"
"Everything!"
"You can only choose one."
"Why?"
"Learning magic spells is not something that can be done overnight, just like catching mice, it takes time. Moreover, many skilled individuals in the world may only know one or two spells in their lifetime, which is enough to dominate the world or even be revered as a deity," Song You explained lightly, "This path values quality, not quantity."
"Then what magic spells do you know?"
"I possess the Art of Fire Manipulation, capable of incinerating malevolent spirits, burning monsters, evildoers, and even gods and demons. At its peak, practitioners of this art could rival the Fire Deity, True Lord Huoyang, with the power to engulf entire cities and nations in flames."
"This one sounds good! It's powerful!"
"Do you want to learn it?"
"If I learn it, will I no longer feel cold?"
"Do I look like I'm afraid of the cold?"
"Then I don't want to learn it. I want to learn something else."
"I also possess the Art of Water Manipulation. Depending on the level of cultivation, practitioners can breathe freely underwater, stir up waves, and summon rain and snow. When mastered completely, one can achieve the prowess of True Lord Liehai, capable of altering the course of rivers and even causing the seas to change color."
"If I learn it, can I go underwater to catch fish?"
"You don't need this magic to catch fish. Ordinary people can catch fish without going underwater," Song You explained, "and they can catch a lot."
"Then I'll learn something else."
"Hmmm… How about the Art of Earth Manipulation? Depending on the level of cultivation, practitioners can raise walls of earth, animate stones into soldiers, and embody the essence of mountain deities. When fully mastered, one can achieve the prowess of Celestial Lord Houtu, capable of shaping mountains and valleys at will."
"Is this one difficult to learn?"
"It takes a few years to get started."
"Are you good at it?"
"I have some knowledge, but not as proficient as in the Fire Manipulation Art."
"Then I'll choose something else."
"What about the Art of Wood Manipulation? It can aid all things in their growth, induce flowering and fruiting out of season, and make withered branches sprout anew. When fully mastered, one can achieve the prowess of Elder Immortal Changchun, capable of reviving the dead, preserving youth, and achieving immortality."
"That monkey would definitely like this one."
"The Art of Metal Manipulation? The practitioner of this art will be capable of swallowing swords, breaking blades, turning stones into gold, and turning earth into steel. When perfected, one can achieve the prowess of Deity Official Jin, impervious to blades and unstoppable."
"How do you swallow swords?"
"You swallow swords with your mouth, and it won't cut you."
"Why would you want to swallow swords?" The girl looked at him with puzzled eyes.
"If that doesn't appeal to you, I also offer the Art of Talismans. Practitioners of this craft can ward off spirits, deflect Yaoguai, and summon lightning bolts, utilizing countless varieties of runes, each with boundless applications."
"I'm a Yaoguai."
"I have the Art of Spiritual Communication, which allows one to communicate with spirits and deities."
"I don't like talking to deities."
"There's no need to feel inferior about yourself."
"What is inferior?"
"...," Song You shook his head, "I also possess the Art of Remote Object Manipulation, capable of fetching items from a distance and seamlessly returning them to their original position. It's akin to filling an empty cup with water or emptying a glass of wine without physical contact."
"If I learn this, can I make mice come to me by themselves?"
"Those proficient in this art can indeed do so."
"Then I want to learn this."
"But Lady Calico, you must be patient. It takes years for ordinary people to get started. At first, you can only take things that are not far away and that you know belong to you. As you become more proficient, you can take others' belongings, and at the highest level, you can take things from thousands of miles away, as long as you know the location, you can take and return them at will."
"How long will it take to catch mice?"
"For ordinary people, it may take as short as a decade or two, or as long as several decades."
"Do you know how to use it to catch mice?"
"I've only learned the basics."
"Then..." Lady Calico tilted her head in thought. "I want to hear more options."
"Very good. Listen to more options and choose wisely. Making rash decisions is not good." Song You praised, "Lady Calico indeed has extraordinary wisdom."
"Hurry up and tell me."
"I also know the Art of Beast Taming. Once you learn it, you'll be able to befriend wild creatures and have them understand you, while also understanding them. As you advance, you'll even be able to command wild animals, birds, and even rare creatures to your will."
"Hmm..." Lady Calico tilted her head in thought, "So can I ask the mice to come by themselves with this?"
"That's possible."
"Then I'll learn this!"
Song You smiled, but then said, "However, everything in the world has limitations. If not, there would be vulnerabilities, flaws, or things that can counter it. Just like this art, when practitioners use it, their hearts must be completely calm and filled with goodwill. Not even a hint of guilt or remorse is allowed, not even the tiniest bit that one might not notice themselves."
"I don't understand."
"That means this art is an art of mind. Whoever learns this spell, regardless of their level of proficiency, must first cultivate their inner self," Song You paused for a moment. "And achieving complete serenity, without any guilt or indebtedness, also depends on the individual's moral cultivation. Some may need to be vegetarian for life, while others only need to refrain from using it to harm animals. Only a very few exceptional individuals in the world would dare to use it to deceive and harm sentient beings."
"I don't understand."
"Lady Calico can use it to call mice over, but if you use it to catch mice and eat them, it will cease working, and you may never be able to use it again in the future. Years of cultivation in this path would be ruined in an instant."
"But cats are supposed to eat mice."
"That's different."
"Why?"
"It's like me, every time I use magic, I actually face those animals with a heart of pure kindness. So the animals are influenced by this, combined with the magic, they also hold a pure heart towards me. But if one day I use this magic to exploit their pure hearts to deceive them, I won't be able to maintain that pure heart anymore." Song You paused for a moment, "Even if Lady Calico can do what very few extraordinary individuals can do, and think that doing so is perfectly justified without even a hint of guilt or remorse, as Lady Calico continues to practice and learn, you will gradually understand the difference. By that time, years of diligent practice would be wasted."
"I don't understand."
"You'll understand slowly in the future."
"Oh." Lady Calico continued to look at him eagerly.
"I also have the Art of Dreamweaving. It can be used to enter dreams, manipulate dreams to ensnare others, and even weave dreams into the fabric of the world, with people living within them without realizing."
"But I can dream by myself, why go into other people's dreams? Is it fun?"
"Do you still remember the first art I mentioned?"
"I forgot."
"...,"
"It's your fault for saying too much."
"Perhaps."
"Why do you know so much?"
"Just the basics."
"It's still a lot."
"I'm quite capable."
"Oh."
"What does Lady Calico want to learn? Have you decided?"
"I don't know."
"Then do you remember anything?"
"Immortality."
"Haha..." Song You couldn't help but laugh lightly.
It seemed that immortality was not only the ultimate pursuit of humans but also the ultimate pursuit of other living beings.
Unfortunately...
Although Song You wasn't sure if the the Art of Wood Manipulation could truly grant eternal youth and immortality when perfected, even if it could, in this world, perhaps only the Elder Immortal Changchun could reach such a level of mastery in this path.
As for whether the Elder Immortal Changchun achieved eternal youth through the power of belief or through magical means, or whether the Elder Immortal Changchun was real or fake, and whether he still existed, who knows?
"Daoist."
"Hmm?"
"Why aren't you talking anymore?"
"Has Lady Calico ever heard of any Dao Spirituals?"
"No."
"There is a Dao Spiritual that goes..."
...
When the servant came back, Governor Yu was sitting at the table in the room.
"Master, I've returned."
"Did he accept the gift?"
"Yes."
"It was indeed the right decision to send you."
"I don't deserve such praise."
"It's good that he accepted it..."
Governor Yu waved his hand, dismissing the servant, then fell into contemplation.
In this day and age, the path of cultivation was like the moon overhead, inherently mysterious and unattainable, yet further romanticized by literary works throughout history. It was common for literati to yearn for the path of cultivation. Some extraordinarily gifted individuals even boldly proclaimed themselves as banished immortals or impure immortals, often aspiring to achieve sudden enlightenment while gazing at the moon, inspired by intoxication, or through other serendipitous events akin to ancient poets. They would then cast off their mortal existence, ascending to immortality, and living forever in freedom and bliss.
Governor Yu had long yearned for the path of cultivation and immortality since he was young. He even invited a few friends to visit famous mountains in search of true immortals. Unfortunately, he didn't succeed. Now nearing fifty, he still often searched for elixirs to consume.
Each elixir he consumed took him further away from the mundane world.
The young master he met today may not be a true immortal, but he was indeed one of the few skilled individuals Governor Yu had encountered in his life. Unfortunately, although they conversed, he didn't get the answers he desired.
Perhaps their acquaintance was too brief, resulting in superficial conversation. So, the young master wasn't inclined to speak much to him.
But what could he do?
Who could have predicted the preferences of these reclusive masters? Upon learning that the young master enjoyed listening to the guqing, he had been confident that his connection with Yang Jinsheng would help him forge a closer bond with the young master. However, to his surprise, the young master showed no interest in the guqing player on the other side of the wall, focusing solely on the music itself. It was only by chance that he stumbled upon the young master's fondness for inks.
Moreover, he should be content—
Just today's few words were already astonishing enough.
Governor Yu couldn't help but sink into contemplation.
Did immortals truly not exist since the beginning of time?
Did immortals not exist even at the birth of the sun and moon?
Then how could one become immortal?
Surely immortals should be able to live forever?
Or perhaps not?
As he sat there, the sky gradually darkened, and he continued to ponder and indulge in fantasies.
Until his wife came to remind him to blow out the lamp and go to sleep, lying down on the bed, he still kept his eyes open, staring into the void of darkness. With the faint moonlight outside the window, he began to ponder the immortals in the moon palace. If he were to become an immortal, he would surely often visit the moon palace.
Before he knew it, he had already fallen asleep.
In his drowsiness, he unexpectedly heard someone singing. The lyrics were mysterious, the voice somewhat aged, the melody rough yet imbued with a natural and simple charm. It reminded him of an old Daoist, and naturally, he imagined the sound drifting from a Daoist temple deep in the mountains, accompanied by the scent of burning incense.
"Since ancient times, flowers do not remain forever bright,
Nor does the moon stay full for long in sight.
Though one may amass heaps of gold and jade,
It's hard to buy eternal life to evade.
Can there be a crane that lives for a thousand years?
Rarely does one encounter a centenarian among humans.
Life is filled with toil and strife,
Death's realm extends into endless life.
When will enlightenment come to those who seek?
How can one prolong what is so fleeting, so meek?
…
Where do the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors return?
Where reside the ministers of old, we yearn?
Yet in the annals of history, all face the same decree,
None can escape the grasp of impermanence, you see.
….”
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