Unintended Immortality

Chapter 59: Just a Night Stroll

“Sigh...” The old Swallow Immortal let out a long sigh, raised his cup to drink, but then put it down and said to him, “Pity me, though I borrowed some astrological insight from Daoist friend Tiansuan to benefit this region, in the end, I am still an anomaly, feared by the Heavenly Palace. Distributing grain from the official storehouses had also displeased the court of this world...”

The hint of sorrow in his voice was inevitable.

“Pity my kind who are barn swallows to begin with. We have always coexisted closely with humans since ancient times. How could we, unlike other transformed demons, commit acts harmful to humanity?”

Song You thought to himself, as expected.

However, he didn't show it and remained respectful, merely asking, “Swallow Immortal, you had ensured the weather for the area back then, already benefiting countless lives. Why did you also take the risk of taking grain from official storehouses elsewhere? You must know that if the emperor at the time had the same temperament as the current emperor, he would have never let you off easily.”

“How could I not know?”

Swallow Immortal sighed again, “But I had an agreement with Daoist friend Tiansuan to do my utmost not to let anyone in this area starve to death. I am not human and already feared by them. If I were also untrustworthy and unrighteous, how could I have established a place in this world for nine hundred years?”

“Swallow Immortal, you are righteous,” Song You said sincerely.

Such moral conduct, whether in humans, demons, or ghosts, was worthy of human respect.

“Now my lifespan is nearing its end. When this cultivated body withers away, I will rely on incense and offerings to become a local netherworld deity. It’s just that I originally wished to benefit the people, but the Heavenly Palace and the court wouldn't allow it. I'm afraid I won't last long after death...” Swallow Immortal looked at Song You and no longer concealed anything, “Daoist friend Tiansuan told me back then that his disciple wouldn't be able to help me, but decades later, when his grand-disciple came again, it might be my lucky chance.”

“Are you serious, Swallow Immortal?”

“I haven't lied in hundreds of years.”

Song You couldn’t help being taken aback.

He knew that there were skills to predict fate in this world and that his master’s master had reached great heights in this field. But he also remembered his own origins. Could it be that even this was predicted by his master’s master?

Did Tiansuan really predict this?

Thinking carefully again, he relaxed a little.

Maybe it wasn't like that.

Perhaps Tiansuan did not foresee him specifically but only saw up to a certain point and then could see no further. Not finding an answer was, in itself, a kind of answer. From this, it could be inferred that those who come after must be extraordinary, which was why he left this remark. However, he did not speak with absolute certainty, only leaving the possibility.

Maybe Tiansuan didn’t predict anything but knew his disciple was reckless and not up to the task. Naturally, he could only tell the Swallow Immortal to seek help from his grand-disciple later and didn’t specify a person.

Even the term “grand-disciple” might not only refer to his disciple's disciple but also to successive generations. Year after year would also count as decades later.

These three guesses were also reasonable.

Just then, the old Swallow Immortal said to him again, “I really have no other choice but to seek your help. If you have a way to help me advance further, I will do my best to repay you and not shrink from sacrifice.”

“How can I help you advance further?” Song You stopped thinking. He looked at the Swallow Immortal, and asked with a smile, “Are you referring to bountiful incense and offerings or the conferment of a title by the court?”

Hearing this, Swallow Immortal understood that this Daoist friend indeed had a way.

Thus he quickly stood up with the help of his crutch, bowed, and said, “Please guide me.”

Song You dared not accept the gesture and quickly stepped aside.

He then sighed in his heart.

How many reasons were there to remain in this human world after all? What was the allure of longevity? It drove literati to seek arduously for half their lives, made little cats also recite it, and even made this nine-hundred-year-old Swallow Immortal so persistent up till now, bowing to him.

However, since his master’s master was willing to help him, Song You naturally was too.

Or rather, it wasn’t just about helping him.

As he mentioned earlier…

Decades ago, Swallow Immortal borrowed Tiansuan’s stratagem to become a deity. Wasn't Tiansuan also borrowing his abilities to benefit the people?

From the Swallow Immortal's perspective, it might seem imperfect since it displeased the court after all and he wasn’t conferred a title. However, from Tiansuan’s perspective, it could be different. Their objectives were not the same to begin with.

“I grew up in a Daoist temple, descended the mountain to travel at the end of summer last year, and just arrived in Xuzhou this year. I haven’t been to Changjing yet, nor have I met the emperor or any nobles. I also don’t know the prime minister or any high-ranking court officials. If you want me to request a title from the court on your behalf, please forgive me for being unable to do it,” Song You paused, “However, if you seek bountiful incense and offerings, I do have some ideas.”

“May I ask, how could I have bountiful incense and offerings?”

“Naturally, by benefiting the people,” Song You said to the Swallow Immortal, “You benefited the people of Anqing, and received their worship. If you benefit all the people, they will naturally all worship you.”

“What you say is reasonable, but I am limited to Anqing. Also, the gods of the Heavenly Court oversee everything. How could I have the chance to benefit all the people?”

He was speaking implicitly.

In truth, if one genuinely wanted to benefit the world, no matter one’s capability, there would always be a way.

Even Lady Calico could protect a few villages’ foodstuffs from mice.

But as Swallow Immortal mentioned, in this world, there was a Heavenly Palace. Everyone knew that you could gather incense and offerings by benefiting the people. However, which place didn’t have its own Daoist, Buddhist or local deity temples? Everyone was already working on ways to benefit the people. So whose territory are you going to enter to do what another god is already doing?

Song You shook his head. “If my idea holds, it would be something no other god has ever done. If you achieve it, you will benefit the entire world. Neither the Heavenly Palace nor the court would be able to stop you. It would be a deed of immense merit.”

Hearing this, the old Swallow Immortal almost stood up from his seat, both excited and anxious.

His eyes flickered for a moment, then he sat back down and cautiously said, “If it is a deed of immense merit, why would it fall to me?”

It seemed like he was saying that he wouldn’t have the chance, but in truth, he was afraid other gods might claim the merit.

Although the Swallow Immortal was over nine hundred years old, swallows were naturally weak and not good at fighting. Moreover, the human realm took precedence in this world. The gods of the Heavenly Palace gathered the incense and offerings of all the people. Even if these gods were younger than him, their divine powers were vast. If gods like those from the Thunder Division or the renowned Gold Spirit Official were to come looking for trouble, how could he possibly stand against them?

Song You replied, “I've heard that most gods attain their position through virtue. If you truly benefit all the people, they should respect you. If anyone falsely claims your merit, with such moral conduct, could they still be gods?”

Saying this, he smiled and waved his hand. “In that case, why not burn it all with a fire!”

The old Swallow Immortal was immediately shocked.

These words were reasonable and could be said by anyone.

But coming from a disciple of Hidden Dragon Temple, how could it be the same as common people saying it casually?

The Divine Dao originated from humanity. Gods were the gods of humanity and ultimately relied on humanity. Even if mortals were short-lived and gods were long-lasting, and even if humanity weakened and the Divine Dao prospered, this world was still the world of mortals. The old Swallow Immortal had long understood who were the truly favored ones in this world.

And Hidden Dragon Temple was the pinnacle of human cultivators.

“Mister...” The old Swallow Immortal hurriedly dismissed the youth beside him, then respectfully said to Song You, “Please enlighten me, Mister...”

“This place...”

“Please speak freely, this mountain is totally isolated from divine hearing.”

“Swallow Immortal, what a good skill...”

“I only know these, and they must seem laughable to you, Mister.”

“Then let’s chat casually.”

“Chat casually?”

“Take a walk in the mountains and chat casually.”

“Alright!” The old Swallow Immortal said no more. He stood up leaning on his crutch, and invited him for a stroll on the mountain at the back.

The night wind was cool as they slowly ascended the stone steps.

Two voices alternated in the night air.

“Swallows are migratory birds?”

“What do you mean by migratory birds?”

“Migratory birds fly south in winter and return to Great Yan in summer.”

“Then that’s correct.” Swallow Immortal nodded and said, “Most of my kind are like this, but after gaining good fortune, becoming a demon and transforming, there is no longer a need to migrate south for winter every year.”

“Do you still remember things from before you became a demon and transformed?”

“That... is too long ago...” Swallow Immortal shook his head, then paused, “But even after becoming a demon and transforming, I have still migrated many times.”

“I'm really envious.”

“Not just after becoming a demon and transforming. Even over a hundred years ago, when I felt my body starting to deteriorate with age, I went once more. However, that time wasn't for winter. I spent several years, flying much farther than an ordinary swallow migrating for winter.” Swallow Immortal said, “As I got older, I wanted to see the paths I had flown before.”

“What kind of places were they?” Song You’s eyes were filled with curiosity.

“Different swallows fly to different places. The very first place I flew to for winter was only over ten thousand li from here. But I've been to many different places, especially after becoming a demon and transforming. Sometimes I would deliberately choose a different direction, searching for a different south. Sometimes I would talk to swallows I met along the way, and go seek the places they mentioned.”

Swallow Immortal didn’t care what he asked, simply answering everything while secretly pondering his deeper intentions. However, no matter how much he pondered, he couldn’t figure it out. It seemed like they were really just casually chatting on the mountain.

So he stopped overthinking and continued. “After flying a few thousand li, many times it was over the sea, or many small islands, or even other lands with customs and cultures very different from Great Yan. The farthest place swallows stopped was across the sea. And across the sea, there were swallows from different northern regions, heading to different southern destinations. It’s hard to explain clearly in a short time.”

“You’ve truly seen the real world, Swallow Immortal!” Song You couldn’t help but exclaim, not hiding his envy.

“It’s both my nature and a necessity.”

“Even after becoming a demon?”

“In my youth, I just loved chasing the wind.”

As they talked, they reached a dense forested area on the mountain.

Their ears were full of the sound of the wind passing through the mountain forest.

Song You continued to ask as they walked, his tone relaxed, as if they were truly just chatting, “Swallow Immortal, do you know the population of the current dynasty?”

“A hundred and ninety million.”

“And the population of the previous dynasty?”

“At the beginning of the previous dynasty, just after the great war had ended, the court conducted a comprehensive survey, registering everyone, young and old, into the household registration system. The population was twenty million. A hundred years later, it had more than doubled, reaching eighty million by the end of the dynasty.”

“You are indeed knowledgeable about ancient and current times, Swallow Immortal.”

“I have just lived a long time.”

“But why does Great Yan now have more than double the population at the end of the previous dynasty?”

“Naturally, it’s because Great Yan values the people’s livelihood and economy. When the common people live well, the population naturally grows quickly,” Swallow Immortal said. “After the previous dynasty, there were decades of chaos. When the Great Yan dynasty was founded, the population was only forty million. A hundred years ago, it had grown to as many as a hundred million. Ahem, I don’t know if I should say this...”

“This place is isolated from divine hearing. You and I are just chatting casually, why not speak freely?”

“Actually, it’s already a dangerous disaster.”

“Too many people is a calamity.”

“For someone so young, you have such insights. Truly rare,” Swallow Immortal naturally complimented in return, “When the moon is full, it wanes. So it is with all things in the world. When prosperity reaches its peak, decline follows.”

“Do you know how this issue was solved later?”

“At that time, the prime minister of Great Yan who was named He Fa, issued good policies, returned land to the people, and introduced superior rice species from the east, greatly increasing the yield per mu. That got them through the crisis and created the unprecedented prosperity we have now.” Swallow Immortal sighed repeatedly, “Unfortunately, Prime Minister He did not meet a good end. Thankfully, the people remembered his benevolence, built temples spontaneously for him, and helped him become a god after his death. Now he ranks as an immortal and is also highly respected in the Heavenly Palace.”

“But now Great Yan has a population of a hundred and ninety million which is nearly double that at the time. I have seen many poor common people with little land, many mouths to feed, and no food at home on my travels. Isn’t it another crisis like a hundred years ago?”

“Mister, are you saying the world is about to fall into chaos?”

“If things continue like this, with deepening conflicts, no land for the common people to farm, and no food to eat, chaos is likely. Unless another Prime Minister He emerges, an even greater one.” Song You paused, “But that’s not what I wanted to say.”

“Oh?”

Swallow Immortal looked at Song You in confusion.