Unintended Immortality

Chapter 153: The Jianghu and the Painter

On Willow Street, inside a small building, the Daoist opened his eyes.

A cloth ball, about the size of a steamed bun, flew through the air. The cat leaped up and caught it steadily, then brought it back.

Initially, the cat was running toward the woman. But upon seeing the Daoist open his eyes, it immediately changed direction and walked over to him, placing the cloth ball on his lap.

“Look at you, how heartless. What a waste of the time I've spent playing with you for so long!” Heroine Wu pretended to be angry, though her tone was light-hearted. She then turned to the Daoist and asked, “What were you doing just now?”

“I just went to handle a small matter,” the Daoist replied, picking up the ball from his lap and tossing it.

Heroine Wu, curious, asked, “Did the Grand Commander’s estate send someone to deal with you? Were they planning to fight you with spells?”

“You’re quite perceptive, heroine.”

“Don’t use the same words you use to coax the cat to try and charm me.”

“It’s a habit.”

“How did the Grand Commander’s estate deal with you? Did they use a curse? Did you resolve it? How did you resolve it?” Heroine Wu seemed particularly interested in these matters. “Tell me in detail.”

“Pretty much,” Song You answered. “The Grand Commander’s estate invited a Daoist to cast a spell on me.”

“So, it seems you resolved that situation?”

“Indeed.”

“You see, I told you the Grand Commander’s estate is not to be trifled with. Besides the government, they can also hire talented eccentrics from the jianghu,” Heroine Wu remarked. “Money talks. You’ll have trouble later.”

“I am skilled in magic battles. Troubles with strange techniques are actually simpler for me.”

“That’s quite a boast!” Heroine Wu laughed. “What if the government catches you with a wanted list, how would you deal with it?”

“There are many ways to handle it.”

“Do tell.”

“For instance, I am somewhat adept at transformation techniques.”

“Wow! That’s great! That’s great!” Heroine Wu exclaimed twice, then continued, “I thought you might leave Changjing early due to pressure and continue traveling, but it seems I was overthinking.”

“At least I’ll stay until next year.”

“That’s good to hear. I’m actually a bit reluctant to see you go.”

“But we’ll part ways eventually.”

“Yes,” Heroine Wu replied, feeling a bit sentimental.

“But that’s a matter for the future. Let’s focus on the present,” Heroine Wu paused. “You have quite a bit of skill. Since they've wronged you, will you seek revenge?”

“I have already sought it.”

“Hmm?”

“I have already sought it.”

“How did you go about it?”

“I gave them a minor punishment, advising them to correct their ways.”

“You didn’t make the Grand Commander deaf and mute, did you?”

“Not quite.”

“That’s good.”

“By the way, heroine, are you familiar with Dou Qiuyang from the Dou family?”

“Dou family?” Heroine Wu frowned and glanced at him sideways. “Why do you ask about that person?”

“I encountered his descendants at the Grand Commander’s estate.”

“So, he was hiding in the Grand Commander’s estate? No wonder so many people from the jianghu couldn’t find him.”

“I apologize for my rudeness. Your Majesty, you can speak first.”

“I’ve heard that Grand Commander Chang has passed away.”

“I’ve heard that as well.”

“It is said that he died suddenly.”

“That is correct.”

“I also heard that a demon plotted against Grand Commander Chang.”

“Indeed.”

“With what you’ve said, it seems the news I heard is quite different from what you've heard,” the Emperor said with a chuckle. “Please, enlighten me.”

“I’ve heard that Grand Commander Chang, with his life running out and worried about his only son’s future, refused to die and sought out jianghu masters to extend his life. He eventually found a demon. This demon pretended to have a divine elixir, deceived Grand Commander Chang into taking it, but actually used dark arts,” the State Preceptor said, walking in the palace garden, slightly bowing.

He continued, “After Grand Commander Chang died, his soul was trapped in his body, and the body was kept temporarily functional to make him believe he was still alive. In reality, he had been dead for two days. As for the so-called master, he took the opportunity to flee with a large sum of money, pretending to collect herbs.”

“Indeed, it is quite different.” The Emperor continued to stroll leisurely, his face showing no surprise. “It seems you know more.”

“Although Your Majesty has heard that Grand Commander Chang was killed by a young Daoist, I believe Your Majesty already understands the situation,” the State Preceptor said. “I assume the Martial Guards have already begun their investigation.”

“Nothing escapes your notice.”

“Your Majesty, you flatter me...”

“Is the Daoist from Hidden Dragon Temple?” the Emperor asked.

“Indeed,” the State Preceptor confirmed.

“Please, continue,” the Emperor requested.

“The only son of Grand Commander Chang, in an attempt to win favor with the Empress for his future, became interested in a divine cat. Unbeknownst to him, the cat was a child of a fellow Daoist from Hidden Dragon Temple. The son of the Grand Commander, taking advantage of his position, acted with arrogance and extortion. Eventually, he encountered a master, who punished him by taking away his hearing,” the State Preceptor explained succinctly.

He continued, “When Grand Commander Chang learned of this, he first sent gifts and begged for mercy at the Daoist’s residence, but the Daoist did not agree. He then sent officials three times, with no result. In desperation, he sought the help of a Daoist known to me, intending to use spells to force the Hidden Dragon Temple Daoist to yield.

“My Daoist friend used a painting as a medium, but the Daoist from Hidden Dragon Temple manifested from the painting and revealed that Grand Commander Chang was already dead. The dark arts were broken, and he was freed on the spot.”

“Manifested from the painting?” the Emperor asked.

“Yes.”

“That sounds like a god manifesting.”

“Among those who cultivate, although they are not gods, high-level cultivators sometimes have abilities that resemble divine manifestations.”

“And the others?”

“Besides losing his hearing, Grand Commander Chang’s son also received the same punishment as the estate steward: he was rendered mute for life.”

“I see.”

The State Preceptor said, “The Daoist invited by Grand Commander Chang to perform the spell was originally from the Juxian Mansion and cultivated with me on Mount Luming. However, I found his intentions corrupt, and his spells were mainly harmful. I expelled him, and he wandered in the jianghu of Changjing, reportedly causing harm to many.

“He was punished by the Daoist from Hidden Dragon Temple, who declared that he would be mute for life and could no longer perform spells. He was also tormented by his own harmful spells. I heard that the Daoist from Hidden Dragon Temple told him to return to Mount Luming to cultivate properly, but with so many enemies in Changjing, it is uncertain if he can return to Mount Luming.”

The Emperor asked, “What kind of spell is this?”

“I know little about spells. I only heard that the Daoist from Hidden Dragon Temple did not perform any spells directly but imposed punishments simply by declaring them—making them deaf when declared so, and mute when declared so.”

“Hmm...”

“There was also a painter who, having no intent to cause harm, was not punished because Grand Commander Chang threatened him with his life.”

“Interesting...” The Emperor squinted his eyes. “Do you think that these tales of gods and immortals in popular folklore are like this?”

“Yes...” The State Preceptor’s voice trailed off, showing some disappointment.

The first thing this Emperor asked about was the methods of Daoist techniques, followed by inquiries into the fate of the others, satisfying his curiosity about the cultivation world. As he grew older, his interest in these matters deepened.