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Chapter 24: The Visit of the Governor
If Yaoguai wished to transform, they must possess a certain level of cultivation attainment. However, it was not solely about cultivation attainment. Even with sufficient cultivation attainment, it was not guaranteed that transformation would occur. There needed to be a certain opportunity, a bit of luck, and a touch of spiritual essence involved.
Though just a bit, it wasn't easy to obtain. Some Yaoguai would naturally pass this hurdle without even realizing it. Others would struggle tirelessly but fail to achieve it. Or perhaps it would happen unexpectedly during an ordinary day or night after they gave up. Song You had read many such stories in the Daoist temple.
Transformation was not an overnight process.
Song You had seen several Yaoguais transform into human form before. Their levels of cultivation attainment varied, but he had never witnessed the actual transformation process. According to the books he read, it varied in duration, so he often observed Lady Calico at home.
As the Cold Dew passed, the Frost’s Descent arrived. The weather turned from cool to cold.
The calico cat remained just that—a cat. As the weather grew colder, she tended to curl up in warm places or sneak into the kitchen stove, making cooking feel like a quest in the mountains. Song You had to approach the stove cautiously, politely asking if Lady Calico was present, or sometimes bend down to search for her in the stove, often meeting her gaze.
Every time she emerged, she was always covered in black soot.
If Song You said that she had dirtied herself, she would softly reply, seemingly serious yet seemingly indifferent: "It's just a bit of soot."
Song You usually didn't delve too deeply into it.
Before he knew it, it was the season when breaths could turn visible in the cold air.
One afternoon.
In the North Entertainment District, at the shed Cloud Tale.
The North Entertainment District was the entertainment district Song You often visited. There were seven or eight such entertainment districts in Yidu, and the North Entertainment District was one of the larger ones, with a dozen or so sheds of various sizes. The Cloud Tale was the name of one of the sheds, jointly managed by Zhang, the old storyteller, along with Cheng Wulang and several others, dedicated to selling stories.
During the afternoons, Storyteller Zhang would regale the audience with tales, occasionally joined by another storyteller recounting historical events. In the evenings, Cheng Wulang and his team would entertain with humorous sketches, akin to comic performances, ensuring a lively atmosphere.
The structure of the sheds was modeled after the characteristics of temple stages, surrounded by walls and covered on top, resembling a shed. Therefore, many sheds had the word shed in their names. Inside, there were usually tiered seating arrangements, with each tier rising higher from the inner to the outer, called the Yaopeng (腰棚). This shed-like structure would require admission, with varying prices for different seats, establishing it as a notably professional performance venue.
However, as the weather grew colder, many people preferred not to venture out. Song You, however, paid as usual and found a good seat.
He ordered a pot of hot tea and held it to warm his hands.
Zhang, the old storyteller, took the stage on time.
He was still telling the story of a major northern battle several years ago, with General Chen Ziyi as the main character.
It was like a serialized drama.
This war had not yet been written into a book, so storytellers, based on various bits and pieces they collected, embellished the story and presented it. Compared to well-written novels and stories fabricated from history, such stories lacked completeness, fluency, and logic. However, people were still interested in them because they felt closer to such stories, and savvy storytellers like Zhang could profit from them.
Song You hadn't heard several previous segments of the story, missing out on much of the content. Now, listening to Storyteller Zhang tell the sequel, he tried to piece together the missing parts based on context.
Next door was the Hibiscus Shed, where songs were sung.
As one side regaled with captivating stories, the other side filled the air with melodic tunes, each delivered with professional precision. Their voices resonated loudly and clearly, occasionally intertwining in harmonious moments while at other times clashing in the ears of listeners.
"General Chen Ziyi, armed and alone, charged into battle, covered in blood, turning everything red! Guess what happened next? He single-handedly saved the commander from the midst of a thousand troops again, terrifying the soldiers of the northern army! They say Blood dyed the fighting robe and crimsoned his buff coat; None dared engage such a warrior in this world; Beside his martial skills, Chen Ziyi is all courage!"
Song You heard a soft laugh beside him.
Turning his head, he saw a distinguished scholar.
He appeared to be in his fifties, with fair skin and silver hair at his temples. His beard was meticulously groomed. Despite his age, he wore a hairpin, giving him an elegant air. He must be a renowned scholar. His clothes were made of fine silk, and there was not a speck of dust on his shoes. Clearly affluent and refined, especially attentive.
He exuded both literary and official airs, both extraordinary. Even though Song You was not versed in fortune-telling or divination, he could tell at a glance that this person was extraordinary not only at this moment but likely even more so in the future.
Such a person should sit at the head of the Green Dragon, the highest position, which was also the best seat.
In entertainment districts in the capital, the best seat was called the Golden Throne, reserved for the emperor. The remaining seats were called the Green Dragon’s Head, the prime viewing area. Since there was no emperor in Yidu, there was no Golden Throne, but in wealthy families, those willing to spend a bit more would sit on the Green Dragon Head. If a high-ranking official arrived, it would naturally be arranged for them.
Yet this man sat next to Song You, only one seat away.
Looking around the shed, only about three-fourths of the seats were occupied, leaving many empty spots.
Song You immediately understood what was happening.
After Zhang finished a segment, he rested and conversed with several young officials sitting near the Green Dragon’s Head. The young men were curious, bombarding him with questions about the story, and Zhang answered them patiently.
Song You felt the man beside him glance at him.
After a while, he glanced a few more times.
After drinking half a cup of tea, the man finally spoke: "This old man is quite skilled in storytelling, but the story is somewhat skewed."
"Is this why you were laughing, Official?" Song You asked.
"You heard that?"
"I have decent hearing."
"Please excuse my gaffe. I have no intention of belittling the storyteller on stage, but I happen to know the true events of the Battle of Lanshui. Although there's a significant gap between what Old Storyteller Zhang was saying and reality, his story is more exciting and entertaining. I couldn't help but think that while I know the true events of the Battle of Lanshui, what Old Storyteller Zhang knows is what the audience below wants to hear. It's quite intriguing, hence my laughter."
Song You nodded, smiling slightly at the man's words.
If it was put that way, it was indeed quite interesting.
"You don't need to explain, Governor Yu."
"Do you often come here to listen to stories?"
"When I have time."
"Many of the stories told here are fictional."
"While some stories may be fictional, how much of what exists in the world is truly fake?"
"Oh? Please enlighten me."
"As Governor Yu mentioned earlier, while you may know the truth of the Battle of Lanshui, what Old Storyteller Zhang knows is what the audience wants to hear. Each has its own use. But if you think that what he knows is shallower than what you know, it's not entirely unreasonable."
"I see..."
Governor Yu furrowed his brow, lost in thought.
As he came to realize, his eyes lit up involuntarily, a marvelous sensation filling his heart, nearly prompting him to applaud in delight.
Initially, he thought that this Master Song had come to the Cloud Tale to listen to the story of the northern war several years ago, but it turned out not to be the case. This young master was actually listening to what people wanted to hear or yearned for.
That was, what Old Storyteller Zhang knew, and what the audience wanted to hear.
Perhaps the stories were fake, but this was undoubtedly true.
The governor felt a sense of delight within him. Meeting someone he had specifically sought out, he felt even more pleased that he had already contemplated this point. Wasn't this a stroke of fate?
"I am Yu He, also known by the courtesy name Jianbai, originally from the capital. May I know your name?"
"If Governor Yu doesn't know me, why did you come to find me?"
The governor was taken aback for a moment.
However, he wasn't embarrassed. After a brief thought, he had a plan and asked in return: "How does Master Song know that I came to find you?"
Song You simply pointed to the empty seats in front of them. "If Governor Yu came here just to listen to the story, you should have sat there instead."
"I see."
It was almost what he had expected.
"To be frank, I had heard about your involvement in the incident at the Temple of Peace and Tranquility, and later learned of your exorcism on the Golden Sun Path. I couldn't help but admire you and felt compelled to make your acquaintance." Governor Yu confessed straightforwardly.
The camaraderie among noble hearts flowed as smoothly as water, making engaging with fellow intellectuals a naturally straightforward affair.
"I've inquired several times, and heard that Master Song often goes to listen to the guqin music outside Pine Pavilion, so I had gone to Pine Pavilion to wait for a few days, but unfortunately, I didn't see you. I thought you preferred tranquility and didn't want to be disturbed, so I stopped going for a while." He even stood up and bowed to Song You: "If I've caused any inconvenience, please forgive me. If Master Song prefers solitude and doesn't wish to make acquaintances, I'll leave."
"I don't go to Pine Pavilion every day."
Hearing this, Governor Yu felt elated, though he didn't show it: "That must have been our lack of fate at the time."
"To meet is indeed a matter of fate."
"This place is noisy, not conducive to conversation. Since Master Song often goes to Pine Pavilion to listen to the guqin, I presume you possess a deep admiration for this art form. I would like to invite you to Pine Pavilion. I have some acquaintance with Yang Jinsheng there. If Mater Song is willing, after this session, I can introduce you to him. How does that sound?"
"Thank you for your kind offer, but I'm only fond of Master Yang's music and know nothing of his character. I'm not interested in getting to know him." Song You declined politely.
"I see." Governor Yu paused, falling into deep thoughts again.
"I have a question for Governor Yu."
"Please ask."
"Since Governor Yu thinks I prefer solitude and don't want to be disturbed, why did you come looking for me today?" Song You asked.
"To be honest, I have a strong yearning for immortality and have been thinking of you often lately, so much so that I have been unable to sleep at night. Unable to contain myself, I went to Pine Pavilion again a few days ago, but didn't see you. That's why I came to look for you at the North Entertainment District today." Governor Yu showed a hint of embarrassment. "I apologize for the disturbance."
"Governor Yu came to me seeking the path to immortality?"
"I've yearned for it for many years."
"You overestimated me, Governor Yu." Song You chuckled lightly. "I can't even see a glimpse of the path to immortality, so how can I assist you?"
"I just want to find an answer." Governor Yu fixed his gaze on Song You. "As a skilled master, can you tell me if there's a path to immortality in this world?"
"I'm just an ordinary person."
"Have you ever seen anyone achieve immortality?"
"What do you consider 'immortality'?"
"Living as long as heaven and earth."
"When heaven and earth were first formed, there were no humans in this world."
"What about as long as the sun and moon?"
"It’s still the same."
"Are there immortals?"
"I guess not."
"Guess?"
"Yes."
"Oh?" Governor Yu widened his eyes, surprised not only by Song You's answer but also by what he said. He was shocked by the discrepancy between his own expectations and Song You's response. Yet, he couldn't let it go and continued: "What about living for thousands of years old?"
"I'm still just an ordinary person."
"..." Governor Yu couldn't help but look disappointed.
Song You shook his head with a smile.
This man had extraordinary literary and official airs, and although Yidu was vast, it might not be able to retain him. The imperial court of the capital was where he should go. The first thing he said was to Song You's liking, indicating that he was indeed an outstanding person, but he was obsessed with the elusive idea of immortality.
"Clap!"
A sudden bang interrupted their conversation.
"As General Chen Ziyi rode his horse through the Lanshui River, alone and brave, rescuing the commander from the enemy ranks, terrifying the soldiers of the northern army..."
Song You turned his head to the front, no longer intending to speak with Yu Jianbai.
In front of him, several young officials were flushed with excitement, wishing to join the army or emulate General Chen Ziyi and follow him into battle. In this shed, they were the most excited among other audiences, tossing copper coins onto the stage from time to time.
Dayan was a country that valued both literacy and martial arts, which was why it had conquered such vast territories.
Even after the show ended, Song You still did not speak to Yu Jianbai again.
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