Unintended Immortality

Song You had a rough understanding of Sir Dou's approach.

“This painting is so extraordinary, and you've previously painted my portrait in the Grand Commander’s residence. How could you dare to entrust this painting, along with your life, to me?”

Sir Dou said respectfully with a deep bow, “As the saying goes, 'It’s easy to paint a person or a tiger, but hard to capture their bones; one may know a person’s face, but not their heart.' If you want to portray the essence and spirit, you must first learn to observe people before painting them, and learn to observe tigers before painting tigers.

“Although I lack my ancestor’s divine abilities, I have my own insights into observing and painting people. Although I have offended you, I have also come to know that you possess great virtues and cultivation skills, akin to the divine immortal. Your heart is calm, and your character is noble; I believe you wouldn’t covet this painting of mine.”

He paused for a moment before continuing, “Moreover, at this moment, countless people from the jianghu are searching for my whereabouts on Mount Beiqin. I am at my wit's end.

“If you truly desire this painting, it would be better to give it to you rather than handing it over to them, where it might be destroyed or collected by officials and nobles. Perhaps entrusting it to you is a better fate than keeping it in my hands.”

Upon hearing this, Song You revealed a smile, not out of joy but rather out of intrigue.

“This painting is indeed an unparalleled masterpiece and should be preserved properly for future generations,” the Daoist said. “Sir Dou, you and your family’s unique painting skills should also be passed down.”

“Will you agree to assist me, immortal master?”

“I only wish that in countless years to come, people will still be able to see this painting, and that the unique painting skills of the Dou family will continue to exist in the world.”

“Thank you, immortal master...”

“Sir, I’m guessing your approach is related to the painting.”

“You’re quite insightful, immortal master.”

“Do enlighten me.”

“This painting is connected to the brush left behind by my ancestor. By lightly touching the painting with the brush, one can step into the painting and live within the landscapes. Inside is like a true world; though it may seem small, there are over ten li from east to west, and dozens of li from north to south, with over a hundred thousand villagers inside. My wife is among them.”

“It’s truly a paradise on earth!” he exclaimed.

“I can carry my belongings into the painting. I kindly ask you to take the painting down the mountain and store it properly, immortal master. When the day comes that you leave Changjing to travel the world, wherever you find suitable, you can use the brush to open the world within the painting and release me,” Sir Dou said respectfully.

“This painting is four chi long, so I would trouble you to carry it. If you agree, I would be immensely grateful. If you do not, I will accept this fate.”

Song You said, “It's just a painting; it’s no trouble at all.”

“Thank you, immortal master.” As Sir Dou spoke, he bent down and was about to kneel.

“It’s just a small favor; you needn't be so formal,” Song You said, helping him up. “Moreover, this painting possesses incredible spiritual resonance and profound mysteries. If I could be with it for a while, it would not only be my fortune but might also yield many insights that would aid my cultivation. I’ll consider the benefits I’ll gain an exchange with you, sir.”

Sir Dou had already risen but paused at these words.

He was not a foolish person. Song You’s assistance was already a great kindness. Now, he even took care to consider his feelings; how kind this man was!

For a moment, he was at a loss for words and wanted to bow again.

“Sir, please don’t.”

“I can never repay you, immortal master...”

“My surname is Song, and my name is You. I cultivate at the Hidden Dragon Temple in Lingquan County, Yizhou. I am just a Daoist, unworthy of the title 'immortal master,'” Song You corrected him. “You may simply call me ‘Mister.'”

“I am Dou Xuan, with the style name Miaoxian. I was truly so frightened earlier that I forgot to introduce myself to you, immortal master. It was my mistake; please forgive me.”

“Please step into the painting, sir.” Song You was reluctant to prolong the conversation. “It’s still early, but after a while, I fear that people from the jianghu will come looking.”

“Alright, alright...” Sir Dou repeatedly agreed.

He then took out a brush that had not been used for many years from his bag and unfolded the painting again. He held the brush, being careful as he applied it to the canvas.

The intricate connections revealed profound mysteries, and the spiritual resonance surged.

The Daoist's expression remained calm. The little girl stretched her neck, staring intently.

The heroine, standing a bit further back with her arms crossed over her sword, also watched without blinking.

“This painting can only be opened from the outside. When you wish to use it, just lightly touch the paper with the brush. If you need to enter the painting to seek me for something, please make sure to provide prior instructions from the outside.”

“I understand.”

“I will forever remember your kindness, immortal master.”

“...”

“I shall take my leave for now.”

The painting was over half a person wide, nearly the size of a regular household door, and more than a person long. When hung up, it resembled a door.

Sir Dou handed the brush to Song You and picked up all his belongings except for the box holding the painting. Under the watchful gaze of the two and the cat, he stepped toward the painting while carrying his things.

It was truly unfathomably mysterious. The painting seemed to truly become a door, and this person really passed through the canvas, entering the painting.

The woman and the little girl widened their eyes, and the three of them all gathered around.

The scenery in the painting had hardly changed; only the geese that were in the sky before had vanished, the water buffalo had shifted positions, and the dusk haze along the mountain had slightly altered. The village at the foot of the mountain was too far away for them to see any differences since it was painted so small. However, up close, there was an added figure.

He was a middle-aged man with a thin frame, carrying a bag while standing still on a small path.

“Remarkable!”

“Wow!”

Both the woman and the little girl were astonished. The middle-aged man’s figure remained frozen in the painting.

The Daoist did not respond but simply put the painting away. While he was putting it away, he suddenly stopped and opened the painting again to take another look.

The additional figure had already walked a distance down the path, seeming a bit uneasy as it glanced back. However, it was unclear what scenery the one in the painting saw upon looking back.

Only then did Song You carefully put the painting away and place it back in the box.

He looked at the remaining ancient brush, considered it for a moment, and also placed it in the box.

The brush held little spiritual resonance or mystery; perhaps it had indeed absorbed some spiritual qi when it was used by that Sir Dou back in the day, but now it had mostly dissipated. Yet, since this painting was created with this brush, it naturally became the key to unlocking the world within the painting.

In truth, Song You could have done without it.

The blessings he obtained from Master Kong back in Yizhou, while different from bringing a painting to life, had many similarities. With this mystical ability, Song You could open the world within the painting.

That Master Dou back then must have had the same ability, naturally able to open the world within the painting and enter or exit freely, even while within it.

Now, however, others could only use the brush to unlock it.

“...”

Song You shook his head, feeling regretful for not being able to witness the splendor of that master firsthand. Not having entered the painting only fueled his curiosity.

The heroine beside him then spoke up, “This painting is worth a fortune.”

“It may be worth even more.”

“Do you really not have the slightest greed?”

“None at all.”

“You’re truly deserving of being a master cultivator.”

“And you, do you have any?”

“Of course, quite a bit.”

“Oh?”

“I just never thought of competing for it before, but this painting could sustain me for eight lifetimes.” Heroine Wu shook her head and sighed. “If it weren't for you, I would have come here alone to find Doctor Cai and, even if I didn't kill him, I would have snatched the painting to exchange it for money.”

“You are quite honest.”

“Are you really planning to take the painting back, wait until you leave Changjing, and then release it back to him?”

“I’ve already promised him, how could I go back on my word?”

“That's true.”

Heroine Wu smiled; their acquaintance back then on Lingbo was built on trust, after all.

“I think it's quite accurate that he calls you a divine immortal.”

“Not at all.” n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Needless to say, the heroine had no idea that while Song You was not coveting the painting, he could experience its charm and grasp its profound mysteries just by simply bringing it back to hang in his room to admire. It would be immensely beneficial to him.

“How are you going to bring it down? Do you have some kind of... spell that lets you store things in your sleeves?”

“None.”

“Then how will you take it down? This box clearly looks like it holds a painting, and there are so many jianghu heroes on the mountain,” the heroine said. “Oh, since you were in the Grand Commander’s residence, I heard that many of the jianghu heroes and guests there were also among those you knocked out. You weren’t afraid of them at all.”

“They’re about the same.”

“Are you still going to wait for the divine doctor?”

“Of course.”

“Alright!”

The two then sat down again, hiding the box carefully.

They began to light a fire to boil water for breakfast, waiting for Doctor Cai to return as planned the night before.

From time to time, jianghu heroes would come by and ask what they were doing. The heroine would say they were looking for Doctor Cai, and when others asked if they had seen a frail middle-aged man, she quickly replied no. The jianghu heroes would leave skeptically, thus the Daoist could avoid lying or getting into trouble.

In truth, he should be thankful to her.

Gradually, midday passed. The little girl was so bored that she transformed into a cat to catch a rabbit and foraged some wild chicken eggs. After changing back, she picked a small twig and started practicing writing in the muddy soil, and she clung to the Daoist, asking him to teach her new words.

The heroine quietly watched from the side as the sun slanted halfway across the sky.

The Daoist peeled a boiled wild chicken egg, ate the egg white himself, and stuffed the yolk into the little girl’s mouth.

“Mm…”

The little girl sat on the threshold, not looking at the Daoist but simply opening her mouth when he offered it, chewing away while continuing to focus on the lines of the words on the ground. Even before finishing, she mumbled, “One goes two or three li, a smoke village has four or five houses, there are six or seven pavilions, and eight or nine ten towers…”

“Flowers.”

“Flowers!”

After correcting herself, the little girl turned to him, eager and inquisitive, “What does it mean?”

“Don’t you know the meaning of each word?”

“I don’t know when they’re combined.”

“Read it a hundred times, and its meaning will become clear.”

“Do I really have to read it a hundred times?”

“If you do that, its meaning will become clear.”

“Oh!” The little girl responded and genuinely started reading softly, counting with her delicate little fingers as she did so.

The Daoist paid her no mind, allowing her to read.

The woman beside him, still holding her sword, asked, “When did you start teaching her to read?”

“Not long ago.”

“How long is that?”

“Probably at the end of spring.”

“So, two months ago.”

“About that.”

“She knows quite a few words.”

“Lady Calico is very smart and diligent in her studies.” Song You glanced at the little girl beside him, who was also peeking over at him with a sideways glance. When she noticed him looking, she quickly averted her gaze and continued to read earnestly. He smiled, “She basically learns all the words I teach her in one go, and she can write them quite well very quickly.”

“Pretty clever.”

“Yeah.”

The child’s desire for praise was truly endearing.

“Learning more words is a good thing.”

“It’s already afternoon; are you still waiting?”

“I’m not waiting anymore.”

“Then I won’t wait either.”

“What’s your plan? Are you still going to Mount Beiqin to find that Snake Immortal related to your sect?”

“I’m content with this trip, so I won’t be going.”

“Just like that, you’re not going?”

“I’ll go another time.”

“When will that be?”

“Probably in winter.”

“Why?”

“This mountain is vast; the scenery in winter will surely be beautiful.”

As he replied, the Daoist had already taken out the box for the painting and slung it over his back. He called to the little girl and headed down the mountain with the woman.