Unintended Immortality
Chapter 564: Finally Here

Chapter 564: Finally Here

This bolt of lightning was thin, its power weak, and its sound far from deafening. Instead, it was crisp, resembling the sharp crack of a bamboo tube bursting. In the glaring daylight, its brilliance was barely visible unless one looked closely. Yet, it was a true celestial thunderbolt—descending from the heavens, carrying divine might that could make demons and spirits tremble.

Even the cat deity couldn't help but pause for a moment.

“Whoosh!”

The black lightning streaked across the sky, shifting directions at sharp angles, showcasing its agility and speed. More bolts continued to fall, further emphasizing the swallows’ brilliance.

“Crackle!”

“Snap!”

“...”

Some bolts came with longer intervals, others shorter.

There were instances of failed spellcasting—sometimes, only a faint glimmer of spiritual light appeared, failing to connect with the heavens and earth. If one wasn’t watching the swallow intently, they might assume no spell had been cast at all. Occasionally, even the faint glow was absent—no sound, no movement, nothing at all.

Some lightning bolts struck the ground, some hit tree branches, while others vanished mid-air before they could land.

Mastering control required practice.

“Whoosh...”

A streak of black lightning flew over, landing on a tree branch in front of the Daoist. Whether from excitement or exhaustion, the swallow’s feet wobbled slightly, causing the apricot branch beneath it to shake as well.

The Daoist looked up at him. The cat also looked up at him.

“Master, my magic power is exhausted,” the swallow perched on the tree branch said.

The Daoist knew he was fishing for praise.

By comparison, the swallow was already quite mature. If it had been Lady Calico instead, she would have rushed over after summoning the first bolt of thunder, tilting her head up and staring unblinkingly at the Daoist. If he turned his head away, she would follow his gaze, persistently watching him. Even without speaking, she would urge him with her eyes until he finally praised her to satisfaction, at which point she would resume her practice.

The swallow, however, had taken advantage of the moment when his spellcasting still felt familiar—when the mysterious yet fleeting sensation of spiritual connection between heaven and earth had not yet faded. He practiced tirelessly until he had used up all his magic power before flying over.

Even after returning, he didn’t stare at the Daoist, nor did he let the Daoist look at him.

Instead, he spread his wings, turned his head, and began preening his feathers.

Not looking at the Daoist. And not letting the Daoist look at him.

“It's only been half a month, and you've already successfully cast your first thunder spell. That's far better than even our most optimistic expectations.”

“Seventeen days,” the swallow humbly corrected.

He remembered so precisely...

Clearly, vague and exaggerated praise wouldn’t cut it. It had to be genuine, well-founded, and pleasing without sounding insincere.

The Daoist maintained a calm expression, but inwardly, he carefully considered his words.

“Aside from the celestial thunder gods, who can instantly comprehend the Heavenly Thunder Dao upon becoming deities, I know of very few who can learn thunder magic and successfully summon a thunderbolt within a month,” Song You said as he looked up at the swallow.

“It seems you’re not only extraordinarily gifted but also have an intuitive understanding of thunder that few can match. You were born to master the art of thunder magic.”

Hearing this, the swallow lifted his head from under his wing. His face showed no expression, but he replied truthfully:

“Perhaps. Because every spring and summer, when it thunders and rains, other birds panic and hide from the rain. The sky is empty except for the storm. I’ve always loved flying through the thunder and rain—it makes me feel free. It’s just that lightning often strikes very close to me.”

“That explains it,” Song You nodded. “No wonder you haven’t had many chances to experience the true power of thunder in the past half-month, since the weather has been clear.”

“I... I’ve flown to other places where there were thunderstorms to feel the power of thunder...”

“No need to be modest. Flying has many advantages, and this is just one of them. It doesn’t diminish your talent in thunder magic—it’s actually part of what makes your talent unique.”

Song You paused for a moment before concluding, “In my opinion, your talent in thunder magic is in no way inferior to Lady Calico’s talent in fire magic.”

Upon hearing this, the swallow immediately lowered his head.

He looked down at the cat. The cat sat on the ground, head tilted up, staring at him unblinkingly.

“My talent isn’t that great. The lightning I just cast... even if it hit a pika[1], it would only stun it for a moment.”

“That’s not the right way to look at it. For a first attempt, it was already impressive—there’s always a process of gradual improvement,” Song You said while rolling an apricot between his fingers.

He continued, “Besides, thunder magic relies on borrowing the power of the heavens. Today is a clear day—there’s little thunderous might in the sky for you to draw from. But if you were casting during a storm, when the heavens are already eager to unleash lightning upon the earth, as long as you can withstand it, summoning Heavenly Thunder would be effortless.”

The swallow fell silent upon hearing this.

His mind couldn't help but wander, imagining himself soaring beneath rolling thunderclouds, his wings slicing through the sky, summoning countless bolts of lightning with a single glide—effortlessly drawing forth the heavens' mighty wrath.

“Daoist priest...”

A voice interrupted from the side—it was the cat.

“How long did it take you to breathe fire?” The Daoist turned to look at his cat.

The cat looked both serious and puzzled.

“...”

The Daoist gave it some real thought before replying, “Ten years passed in the blink of an eye. Even you yourself probably doesn’t remember exactly, so how could I possibly recall?”

Then, after a brief pause, he added, “But Lady Calico and Yan An are different. Yan An first spent time flying freely in thunderstorms, feeling the power and rhythm of lightning. He had already accumulated an understanding before he began studying thunder magic. Lady Calico, on the other hand, you learned fire magic first and only later started tending fire to grasp the resonance of flames. The sequence was reversed.”

“Hmm...”

“It seems to be getting late.”

Song You glanced up, searching for the sun between the apricot leaves and branches. Then, using the ground for support, he stood up.

“You’ve caught plenty of hares by now. We should head back before it gets too late and the city gates close.”

“These are rabbits!”

“Alright, alright...” Song You picked up his bamboo staff.

“Wait a moment. I need to pack up the rabbits first! Then we can pick some fruit to take back with us!”

With a soft puff, the cat transformed into a human.

Scattered on the ground was a group of creatures that looked like a mix between mice and rabbits—small, adorable, and twitching their noses. Standing among them was a young girl dressed in a three-colored robe, so exquisite and delicate in appearance that she almost seemed unreal.

She carried a cloth pouch and bent down repeatedly, scooping up the pikas one by one and stuffing them into the bag. She showed neither fear nor fondness for them, simply treating it as a task to be done.

“Why pick apricots? They're everywhere here, and carrying them will be heavy. Plus, it's a long journey back, and they won’t sell for much.”

“If we take them back, we won’t have to buy any!” The little girl had finished packing up the pikas and was now reaching out, plucking apricots from a distance with a casual wave of her hand.

She placed them in the same pocket as the pikas, her expression remaining completely serious as she explained, “When I sell the rabbits, I’ll tell the buyers: for every rabbit, they get two apricots for free. That way, they’ll sell out quickly!”

“...”

Song You let out a slow sigh and mused, “Yan An’s talent isn’t limited to thunder magic, and your talent certainly isn’t just in fire magic either...”

The hillside was gentle, and even the wind and grass swayed softly. The Daoist leaned on his bamboo staff as he made his way down the mountain.

The little girl, also leaning on a staff, followed closely behind him.

The swallow spread his wings, remaining still as he rode the wind along the mountain ridge, gliding downward effortlessly.

The young girl took a few steps forward, then turned and waved her hand. In the distance, a jujube-red horse that had been grazing leisurely lifted its head and trotted toward them. Even from several li away, people could likely see the silhouettes of the small group making their way down the mountain.

The setting sun grew gentler.

Ahead, the shadow of Jade City stretched long. The earthen-yellow city walls, already weathered with cracks and damage, were now bathed in a golden hue from the evening light, as if they had stepped out of ancient history.

“Daoist priest, you go back first! I’m going over there to sell the rabbits!”

“Do you need us to go with you?”

“No need!”

Lady Calico had long since grown into a capable cat. This was her responsibility.

“Then let Yan An accompany you, so he can learn some of your unique talents.”

“Alright!”

“Be sure to return home early.”

“Got it!”

At the city gate, they parted ways—one going left, the other right. Yan An followed the young girl, while the horse followed the Daoist.

Song You shook his head, realizing that he could practically be supported entirely by these two children.

And honestly, this kind of life was quite comfortable—

For one, he didn’t have to worry about daily chores, saving himself a great deal of trouble and effort. For another, he could focus on teaching them magic and handling bigger matters, which gave him a sense of guidance rather than dependency.

So this was the kind of carefree, immortal-like life the old Daoists in his monastery had enjoyed back in the day?

Song You couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.

Not far ahead, he came across Merchant Xie and his group.

A large crowd was walking down the street, leading a camel laden with supplies. Judging by their purchases—mostly travel essentials—it seemed they were preparing to leave as well.

Just as Song You spotted them, they too noticed him.

“What brings you all here...?”

“We've rested in Jade City for quite some time now. Summer is almost over, and our supplies are fully stocked—it's about time we head back.”

Merchant Xie responded with a nod.

“We're buying some half-ripe melons, a bit of salt, and other necessities for the journey. Tomorrow morning, we set off for Angzhou.”

Then, with a chuckle, he added, “Fate must be at play here. We were just talking about how you, sir, are a man of real ability. We had planned to seek you out and bid farewell before leaving. But we heard you've been heading out early and returning late these days, so we feared we might miss you in the morning. And yet, here we are, crossing paths now.”

“It must be fate indeed,” Song You agreed.

Merchant Xie’s expression turned serious.

“The Western Regions are becoming more chaotic—not just because of bandits or raiders along the way, but because supernatural disturbances are growing more frequent. Even with our experience, we cannot help but be wary.”

His tone was sincere as he continued, “Though we've never asked about your origins or sect, it's clear that your magic is powerful. So, we were hoping you might grant us a talisman to ward off evil spirits and ensure a safe journey.”

“Why not?” Song You replied without hesitation.

Since arriving in Jade City, he had benefited from these merchants—thanks to them, he had found lodging at the carriage inn and learned much about the city's customs. They had been a valuable source of knowledge and assistance.

“There's no need for you to make such a formal request,” he continued, “It's just a few sheets of yellow paper and some cinnabar. However, I happen to be out of paper myself and was just about to ask where I could buy more. If you know a place, lead the way.”

Merchant Xie was delighted and readily agreed.

So, Song You joined them on another stroll through the city, watching them purchase supplies. He made mental notes of items that piqued his interest or might be useful, jotting down locations and prices in his mind. Occasionally, he bought a few things himself.

By the time they had acquired the locally made yellow paper, the sun was nearly setting.

As they returned to the carriage inn, they spotted Lady Calico approaching from the opposite direction. Her pouch, noticeably lighter now, swung at her side.

Above them, a swallow flitted through the sky—a common sight in this season. The young girl, meanwhile, walked with a spring in her step, nearly bouncing with every stride. Her eyes darted about, filled with liveliness, clearly in a great mood.

But as soon as she locked eyes with Song You, her steps became slightly more restrained—yet still light and brisk. She no longer glanced around, instead fixing her gaze unwaveringly on the Daoist.

As they neared each other, both parties instinctively slowed down.

“Lady Calico, did you sell all the ha...”

“Hmm?”

“Did you sell all the rabbits?”

“Yes! They were gone in no time!” The girl beamed, then tugged open her pouch to show him. “I even bought some gray flour and a bit of wild onions.”

Then she glanced at him and asked, “Why are you only just getting back now?”

“We ran into Mr. Xie and his group on the way back. We happened to run out of paper, so we joined them to buy some.”

Song You gestured toward the merchants behind him.

The merchants nodded or bowed slightly toward the young girl—not necessarily because they fully understood her unusual nature.

Of course, they had noticed that she was no ordinary child. But more than that, respect is something that spreads. They respected the Daoist, and the Daoist, in turn, treated this girl with great regard. Over time, through subtle gestures and interactions, it became clear that she was not just a simple attendant. Naturally, they, too, showed her due respect.

Together, they entered the carriage inn.

The jujube-red horse needed no guidance; as soon as it stepped into the front courtyard, it made its way toward the back on its own.

But the moment Song You set foot inside, something felt... off.

“...”

Lady Calico immediately noticed his change in demeanor. Maybe it was the slight hesitation in his step or the barely perceptible shift in his expression. She furrowed her brows and looked at him in confusion.

Song You said nothing and simply walked toward their room.

“Creak...”

As the door swung open, even Lady Calico sensed the disturbance.

“Thud!”

Her pouch dropped to the floor.

In the blink of an eye, the girl transformed into a cat, moving with quiet, deliberate caution. She stepped lightly into the room, her movements making no sound. Her head tilted upward as she scanned the space, occasionally lowering to sniff the air.

Though she had no strong sense of territory while traveling, a cat is always deeply familiar with its resting space. In any new place, the first instinct is always to explore, to commit every detail to memory.

And something about this room was different.

Yet... she smelled nothing unusual.

It wasn’t until she reached the center of the room and turned to glance at the wall that she realized what had changed.

“Meow!”

She twisted her head sharply toward the Daoist and pointed at the wall.

The four elemental spiritual resonances that once lingered in the space—one was now missing.

Gone was the water-element spiritual resonance.

1. A pika is a small, mountain-dwelling mammal native to Asia and North America. With short limbs, a very round body, an even coat of fur, and no external tail, they resemble their close relative the rabbit, but with short, rounded ears. ☜