Unintended Immortality

“I have good news for you!”

“What good news?”

“The court has lifted the curfew today.”

“It’s finally lifted, huh…“

“Yeah!” Heroine Wu couldn’t help but shake her head. “A few days ago, I heard they chopped out a bamboo demon at that gifted scholar surnamed Chen's house. I thought the curfew would be lifted the next day at the latest, but it seems the court wanted to use this opportunity to sweep out other hidden demons and evil ghosts in Changjing, so it dragged on until today.”

She paused, glancing at the cat nearby. “Good thing your cat wasn’t caught.”

“I’ve heard a lot about that important official Mr. Chen lately in the teahouse,” Song You said with a smile. “It’s said that he painted the bamboo shadows at his home—a truly elegant gesture.”

“I don’t know about elegance. All I heard was that when they chopped out the bamboo demon, it revealed its true form, charred black like coal.”

Heroine Wu shook her head again. “Coincidentally, that house in the Western District that was struck by lightning lost an entire bamboo grove too. It seems like either Heaven took notice or some god manifested and casually sent down a lightning bolt to strike it. I bet that bamboo demon was already near death, which is why it didn’t put up any resistance when it was chopped out and died right on the spot.”

“What a pity…“ Heroine Wu drew out her words, her tone tinged with a bit of local dialect and schadenfreude. “If they’d caught that bamboo demon alive, things in Changjing would’ve gotten really exciting.”

“Perhaps.”

“You’re right,” Heroine Wu replied. “If they could have caught it alive, they would’ve caught that wolf alive back then too.”

“I don’t recall saying anything…“

“Haha!” Heroine Wu simply laughed, then continued, “But tonight’s going to be lively. With the curfew lifted, I’ll take you to explore the night market. We can see the hustle and bustle of Changjing and try some street food!”

“I wonder if there's anything good to eat.”

“I’ve been to the night market a few times before. There’s grilled fish, water basin mutton, lamb liver pastries—they’re all pretty good. My favorite is mixed fish soup noodles. We’ll see when we get there.”

“I’ll gladly follow your lead, heroine.”

“After this, Changjing should be peaceful for a while. Even if there are still some uncaught demons and ghosts with ill intent, they won’t dare show themselves for some time.”

“Let’s hope so.”

“What a pity, what a pity… The troublesome demons outside the city have mostly been dealt with by us. Now, whenever a new bounty is posted, it’s immediately taken down by skilled experts from the public or a jianghu person.”

Heroine Wu shook her head and sighed, “I used to think that if you wanted to rid the people of evil, you could focus more on the mess in the city. But then I figured you didn’t seem too interested in handling affairs within the city, so I didn’t mention it. Now, even if you wanted to, there aren’t many demons left for you to catch.”

“You misunderstand me, heroine,” Song You replied. “It’s not that I’m unwilling to deal with matters within the city. It’s just that, since the city has its gods and capable people, it’s the folks outside the city who are more in need of our help.”

“That makes sense.”

As night gradually fell over Changjing City, tonight was unlike the usual.

At dusk, pedestrians weren’t in a rush to return home, shops weren’t eager to close, and there was no sound of curfew drums. Instead, taverns and large stores lit their lanterns early, and any that had lightboxes had already illuminated them.

The darker the sky grew, the brighter the streets became. As the last rays of the setting sun faded away, the heroine knocked on the door, calling on friends from Yizhou to explore the night in Changjing together.

The heroine led the way up front. The Daoist carried a bag, walking behind her. A cat poked its head out from the bag, curiously looking around as the Daoist observed the pedestrians with unhurried steps.

By the time they were halfway along their journey, the sky had gone completely dark, and the true nighttime appearance of Changjing City revealed itself.

There were lanterns lighting the main roads, though the lanterns weren’t as bright as modern streetlights. To say the streets were brightly illuminated would be an exaggeration, but there was enough light to make out the path. The streets were crowded with people, walking under the dim light, creating a unique atmosphere of the era that was worth savoring.

The city had been under curfew for a long time, and everyone had been complaining about it. Now that it was lifted, even those who usually didn’t venture out at night were all out tonight.

When they passed through the streets known for their lively night markets and famous brothels, the phrase “brightly illuminated” truly applied.

Previously, when passing through the curfew at night, the shops and taverns on both sides had their doors tightly shut. No lightboxes or lanterns were lit, and there were no street vendors. But now, lanterns and lightboxes were all illuminated, the night market was aglow with a thousand lights reflecting off the clouds.

The high buildings teemed with guests and red-sleeved entertainers, the teahouses by the river gates buzzed with merchants even as evening fell, and the bridges were bustling with customers drinking through the night. Only now could one truly grasp the thriving, vibrant essence of human life.

In this era, it was unparalleled. No wonder so many foreigners from distant lands would arrive in Changjing and become so enchanted by the city that they refused to leave, unwilling to part with its charms.

The Daoist couldn't help but slow his pace, taking in the sights as he listened to Heroine Wu's commentary.

Unlike his previous carefree, solitary stroll through the countless dark homes, this was no longer a feeling of cold solitude but lively warmth. It wasn’t moonlight he walked under, but the glow of lanterns; it wasn’t just himself he felt, but the pulse of this era. Even the cat had its eyes wide open, its amber gaze reflecting countless colored lights.

Gradually, they arrived at the night market Heroine Wu had mentioned. Changjing’s most famous night market was actually located in the Western District. Heroine Wu led them on a circuitous route, finally returning to the Western District’s night market.

Unlike modern night markets, this wasn’t a long street or alley, but a large square-shaped space. It was an evolution from the marketplaces of the previous dynasty, and it was more like a commercial plaza.

The Western District had always been a gathering place for commoners and foreign visitors, and under the glow of ordinary life, there was also a distinctive exotic flavor. Both vendors and customers featured many foreign faces.

In this brilliantly lit marketplace, various stalls, carts, and shops dazzled the eyes. The sheer variety of goods and snacks amazed them. In the center, Westerners played music and danced in the streets, creating the iconic and famous night market scene of Changjing.

Heroine Wu suggested taking them on a tour of the market first. So, the Daoist and the cat enjoyed the exotic music and dance of the Westerners and marveled at the array of goods, savoring the vibrant nightlife of the era.

Eventually, Heroine Wu called them to sit down.

They had arrived at a small shop that specialized in mixed fish soup noodles. The shop was already packed, so tables and chairs were set up outside, and they had to squeeze in with the passersby.

Heroine Wu ordered two servings of mixed fish soup noodles, and then went to buy some stuffed pastries, grilled fish, and water basin lamb meat. She also got two cups of sweet rice wine, perhaps to repay the meal at Yunchun Restaurant from last month. Seeing this, Song You just let her do as she wished.

“Two bowls of mixed fish soup noodles!”

The shop owner brought the bowls over. The other snacks were also brought over in turn.

Song You took out a small bowl from his bag and placed it on the bench for the calico cat to eat.

The so-called mixed fish soup noodles were essentially noodles with different kinds of fish. The shop had a large pot at the entrance filled with various kinds of mixed fish simmered together.

It was said to be simmered from noon until the evening, until all the fish in the pot were completely boiled down and the meat was no longer visible. Then, the fish bones would be strained out and what remained was the base for the soup used in the noodles.

The preparation method was from an unknown region, but the flavor was incredibly fresh and delicious.

The grilled fish was said to be a northern desert recipe. A long iron tray was used to grill the fish, which would be seasoned with a blend of Western spices and local flavors, creating a uniquely exotic taste.

The lamb liver pastry was a type of fried dough with open ends, filled with lamb liver.

In addition to the lamb liver pastry, Heroine Wu also bought the seasonal specialty—cherry pastry.

Instead of lamb liver, it was filled with cherries, then pan-fried to set the shape. It was a coarse piece with fried cherries inside. Though it sounded somewhat dark, it was a popular springtime delicacy in Changjing. Many wealthy ladies, who preferred to stay at home, would send their servants to buy it.

Sweet rice wine was straightforward—essentially fermented rice wine with added sugar, red dates, and goji berries, boiled and then cooled. It was a low-alcohol drink that wouldn’t intoxicate, served to night market visitors in bamboo tubes for just a few wen.

Water basin lamb meat needed no further explanation.

This entire spread could easily satisfy three or four people. The dishes were plentiful and flavorful. Though not as luxurious or high-end as Yunchun Restaurant, they were considered delicious food in their own right.

And this whole meal cost just around one hundred and eighty wen. This was truly the cuisine of Changjing’s common people.

“Thank you for treating me to Yunchun Restaurant last month. I have quite a few expenses, and I can’t afford to return the favor with such an expensive meal. I can’t bear to spend that much as well. Please don’t be picky and accept this small treat instead.” Heroine Wu said with a calm expression, raising her cup filled with sweet rice wine.

“Not at all, heroine.” Song You quickly raised his cup in response. “The only reason I went to Yunchun Restaurant was to experience one of Changjing’s famous wonders. Whether or not you had joined me, I would have gone anyway. It was precisely because you were there that I felt brave enough to order a full table of dishes, trying various items without worrying about waste. I should thank you instead.”

Heroine Wu just curled her lips and said, “Nonsense!”

“Well, regardless of how things were on that day, today you’ve shown me and Lady Calico another of Changjing’s wonders. That’s worth a thank you,” Song You continued.

“Suit yourself,” Heroine Wu replied.

The two shared a smile.

Song You brought the bamboo tube close to his lips. Before even taking a sip, he could already smell the fragrance of the rice wine mixed with the bamboo. Taking a small sip, he found it refreshingly sweet with almost no alcoholic taste.

He poured a little into his palm and offered it to Lady Calico, telling her it was strong liquor.

As they ate and watched the crowd around them, it was clear how many people were out tonight. To walk through the night market, one must navigate through crowds, including many dressed in fine clothing.

Scholars chatted as they walked, young people laughed freely, and the mingling aromas of various meats and spices filled the air. It was unclear which shop or stall was stewing something in an iron pot, but the rising steam created a dreamy haze.

Amid this bustling world, beneath the splendor and fireworks, each face and soul seemed vivid and real.

“How is it?” Heroine Wu asked with a grin. “Have you ever seen such a lively night market before?”

Hearing this, Song You turned to meet her gaze.

From her eyes, he could see her thoughts. It seemed she had been astonished at first, but after living in Changjing for two years, she had become somewhat of a “Changjing veteran.” Facing newcomers, she had a certain sense of superiority, and she was eager to see the same shock on his face that she once felt.

Song You nodded and said quietly, “Indeed, I’ve never seen such a lively night market in my life.”

“Haha, I was also stunned when I first arrived,” Heroine Wu said with a satisfied smile. “Not only because there are many things sold here that I’ve never seen before, but also because of the people here—some look quite strange. I’ve seen them before, but never so many at once. It’s quite unusual. Though there are some people who smell worse than us after a month without a bath.”

“Quite unusual indeed.”

“It’s all thanks to the City God’s effort in capturing the ghosts and demons. Without his diligent work in capturing demons, the curfew might not have been lifted so soon!” Heroine Wu added.

“Indeed, we have to thank him…” Song You nodded again while looking into the distance.

The lights here, though brilliant, couldn’t compare to the neon signs of the future; the hustle and bustle might not rival those of the most famous night markets to come. Still, it didn’t mean it wasn’t beautiful. The Daoist still found many aspects worthy of admiration, and these were things one wouldn’t see without witnessing them firsthand.