Unintended Immortality

At the fifth watch of the night, the Milky Way was at its most dazzling. However, the starlit reflection in the water below the boat inexplicably began to ripple and churn, scattering the starlight into fragments.

A figure emerged from the water.

Clad in white robes, the figure was graceful and poised. Although her face was obscured, it was clear that she was a woman. The water beneath her feet seemed as firm as the ground, and she stood calmly, peering at the black awning boat.

After a moment, just as she was about to blow wind toward the boat, the occupants awoke. Song You pressed his lips together, squinting as he turned to look.

The woman halted her action but showed no signs of panic. Instead, she stood on the water’s surface and gracefully bowed to him.

“Your Excellency, this humble servant greets you.”

“Are you the Mirror Goddess?”

“Indeed.”

Song You then studied the woman. She was veiled in white silk, making her features unclear. Yet, divine beings had their own grace and charm. Even without seeing her face, it was evident that she was leagues above a mere mortal woman.

Previously, the boatman had told him about the Mirror Goddess of this lake, a god known as the Mirror Goddess. It was said that she was a princess from a small kingdom during a time of war and chaos. She was kind-hearted, loved her people, and was exceptionally beautiful.

During a war, she was pursued by the enemy to this very lake. Refusing to submit, she chose to drown herself rather than be captured. Moved by her virtue and integrity, people erected a temple by the lake in her honor, worshiping her as the goddess of Mirror Island Lake.

She was now a formally recognized legitimate goddess. It was because of her that the lake was so serene.

The ferrymen also said that occasionally, when a remarkably talented scholar drifted across the lake, they were so moved by the breathtaking sight of the boat pressing upon the starry river that they spontaneously composed famous lines. At night, when they fell asleep, the Mirror Goddess would appear in their dreams to thank them personally.

Whether this was true or mere exaggeration, the presence of so many scholars who loved to spend their nights on the lake had something to do with this legend.

Song You didn’t dwell on these details and asked, “Mirror Goddess, to what do I owe this visit in the middle of the night?”

The Mirror Goddess said with a respectful bow, “I apologize for disturbing your dreams. As the goddess of Mirror Island Lake, it wouldn’t be proper if I didn’t come out to greet such an esteemed guest when they visit.

“I’ve had a lapse in manners when you visited last time as I sensed your presence but did not recognize you. Now that you have returned, it must be fate for us to meet. If I were to ignore you again, it would be far too discourteous of me..”

“You misunderstand.” Song You responded, “I merely came to appreciate the beauty of the lake’s scenery, which I had heard was remarkable. That was last year. However, the starry sky that night left such an unforgettable impression on me that when I found myself back at the shores of Mirror Island Lake, I decided to visit again. I had no intention of disturbing you, Mirror Goddess.”

“Then it is truly fate. Please, come and have a chat beneath the water.”

“There is no need for such formality.”

“I merely admire your grace and, considering the fate we share, I have prepared some food and wine to invite you for a chat beneath the water.”

“…” It was difficult to refuse such a courteous offer.

“However, I did not come here alone; I have a companion with me, and it would be inappropriate to leave her behind.”

“Is it the cat girl?”

“Precisely.”

“She is your companion?”

“We have traveled together for a year, and we’ve been companions for two years now.”

“I see.” There was a peculiar look in the Mirror Goddess's eyes. “Then please invite her as well.”

“But how?”

“I have my own divine powers.”

“Very well.”

The Mirror Goddess exhaled a breath of white mist. The mist enveloped both the cat and Song You, and a misty haze arose immediately, spreading ripples in the air.

When they regained their senses, they found themselves in front of a pavilion. The pavilion was elegantly built, with an old-world charm that seemed to reflect the style of the Mirror Goddess's era. It had a transparent barrier overhead that separated them from the lake's waters, creating a different realm.

It was nighttime, and it was uncertain if daylight could penetrate the lake to reach this place. At the moment, there was no daylight. However, the pavilion was adorned with jade lanterns from the outside, each embedded with pearls emitting a soft white light. Inside, the pavilion was brightly lit, with bustling activity and female attendants moving about.

Song You looked down. At his feet, a cat had just groggily woken up and was lying on the ground, using its hind leg to scratch behind its ear. Noticing something was amiss, she first looked at him in confusion, then turned to gaze at the Mirror Goddess with bewilderment.

“Daoist priest, where is this? Who is she? How did I get here? Is this a dream?”

“This is the residence of the goddess of Mirror Island Lake. She invited me and you here as guests. It might be a dream, or it might not be,” Song You answered patiently.

“Please, follow me.” The Mirror Goddess made a gesture inviting them inside.

Song You did not treat the calico cat with disrespect. She, who regarded Song You as a distinguished guest, naturally would not mistreat this calico cat as well.

The two followed her inside.

Seeing Song You looking up at the sky, the Mirror Goddess explained, “This place is in the heart of the lake, about thirty zhang deep. It is not far from where you docked your boat, Your Excellency.”

“I am merely a Daoist from the mountains. I don’t deserve the title you give me. If you prefer, you can call me Daoist Master or Mister,” Song You said.

“Alright.”

“Can daylight be seen here during the day?” Song You asked the question that had been on his mind.

“Huh?” The Mirror Goddess seemed surprised by his casualness in switching topics so quickly from how she addressed him to asking about light at the lake’s bottom, but she soon responded, “The water of Mirror Island Lake is very clear. Even on cloudy days, you can see faint daylight. On sunny summer days, it’s even brighter.”

“I see.”

By now, the three of them had entered the pavilion. The interior was elegantly decorated with a divine touch, not as resplendent as ordinary temples but imbued with an ancient and mysterious charm. The Mirror Goddess's aesthetic sense suited Song You’s taste.

“Please have a seat!”

“Alright…” They all took their places.

Originally, the Mirror Goddess had prepared two tables. But seeing that the calico cat was present, she considered preparing another table. However, Song You stopped her from doing so.

Firstly, the calico cat was small and could easily share a table with him. Secondly, the table was filled with lake delicacies, mostly crabs, and some fish and shrimp. The calico cat would find it inconvenient to eat crabs and shrimp, and might need help peeling them.

The Mirror Goddess said, “There isn’t much to eat at the bottom of the lake. These shrimp and crabs are troublesome to eat, and serving them to guests might seem uncouth. Please forgive me. However, this is the peak season for crabs. Since I invited you to the lake, it’s most fitting to serve you the local specialties.”

“Thank you, Mirror Goddess,” Song You replied while cupping his hand.

The calico cat was next to him, peering closely at the crabs on the table.

Despite the Mirror Goddess’s comments about the shrimp and crabs being somewhat unsuitable for guests, she called two maids to help peel the crabs and shrimp. Song You and the cat could simply enjoy the food.

However, after the maids had peeled two crabs, Song You asked them to leave. He stated he wanted to experience the joy of peeling the crabs himself. He then proceeded to peel the crabs and shrimp and share them with the cat.

The Mirror Goddess also removed her veil. Her appearance was not extraordinarily beautiful but had a divine and ethereal quality. Her complexion and skin were excellent, making her beauty difficult to describe with mere earthly words.

Song You paid no mind to this and focused on enjoying the crabs. The crabs were indeed rich with yellow roe. Such a delicacy needed no complicated preparation or seasoning; simplicity brought out its top-notch freshness.

The Mirror Goddess watched from her seat, occasionally raising her cup to invite him to drink with her.

This Daoist was quite peculiar. While he himself drank wine and refused to let the cat have any, he also did not want to let the cat drink nothing at all, and even went so far as to get a cup of plain water for her.

Each time they toasted, the cat would lick the water.

Eventually, when both Daoist and cat were full, the Mirror Goddess saw the cat lying down. The Daoist looked down with a smile in his eyes and said, “Do you still think the crabs are not meaty enough?”

The calico cat shook her head, unable to speak.

Seeing this, the Mirror Goddess felt a warmth in her heart.

People often call female Daoist priests “Daoist nuns” and female gods “goddesses.” However, in Daoism and the deity system of the Heavenly Palace, a Daoist priest was simply a Daoist priest, whether male or female. A god was a god, regardless of gender. There was no distinction like “Daoist nun” or “goddess” within the spiritual hierarchy.

The immortal master in front of her has always referred to herself as the Mirror Goddess. At first, she merely thought that the immortal master understood the rules of the realm.

Later, when she heard the immortal master refer to the little cat as a companion and observed how he interacted with her—treating her neither with disdain because she was different nor with distinction because she was a woman, but rather with equal respect and sincerity in their exchanges—she realized that, although not unheard of, such behavior was indeed rare in these times.

Seeing the Daoist looking at her again, the Mirror Goddess immediately smiled, looking overwhelmingly gorgeous.

“Did you enjoy the meal?”

“I’m extremely satisfied. Thank you for your hospitality.”

“And Lady Calico? Was she satisfied?”

“Extremely satisfied as well. Thank you for your generosity!”

Upon hearing this, the Mirror Goddess also showed a satisfied smile.

However, Song You continued to look at her and asked, “The crabs are of the finest quality, and the wine is top-notch. But do you extend such hospitality to all Daoist masters who come here?”

Song You felt that gods who interacted with many worshippers might end up behaving like them. Worshippers would come to offer incense at every opportunity, but gods rarely showed themselves without a reason.

The Mirror Goddess, meeting his gaze, thought for a moment before saying, “Not exactly. Countless people come to this lake every year—celebrities, high-ranking officials, and even royalty. Some even say I specifically entertain certain distinguished guests or notable figures. While it’s not entirely baseless, it’s mostly exaggerated by the public.”

“How so?”

“There are a hundred maids here. Perhaps one of them, unable to endure the solitude underwater, might have heard of a legendary figure or an eminent official on the surface and went to meet them. But that’s only to add a paragraph to history books or literary collections. Though it tarnishes my reputation, I’m inherently lazy and don’t care much.”

The Mirror Goddess paused, then continued, “When you last visited the lake, I sensed your presence. The reason I took the liberty to invite you tonight is… because this place is close to Yunding Mountain.

“You were cultivating on that mountain top, communicating with the heavens and earth, where one night equals a year. I was astonished by this, so I decided to appear tonight to invite you over, Daoist Master. I was hoping to forge a good connection and, by the way, ask for your assistance with a small matter.”

Song You smiled upon hearing this.

When seeking help from others, it was customary to offer a meal. If he was well-fed and comfortable, he was willing to assist within his capacity. The Lake Goddess's approach was quite appropriate.

However, he preferred to discuss matters beforehand. This way, he wouldn’t feel indebted if he was unable to help.