Unintended Immortality

“Zhaoye City was indeed consumed by demons,” the cavalryman surnamed Feng began, his voice carrying both fear and a certain indifference to life and death as the firelight flickered across his face. “It’s said that one day, a yellow sandstorm swept in from the north, devouring the heavens and the earth, swallowing Zhaoye City whole.

“Whatever demons were within that sandstorm, when it passed, all the remaining defenders in the city were reduced to white bones. After that, Zhaoye City became a den of demons, teeming with countless monsters. Neither we nor the people of the northern frontier dared to approach within a hundred li of the city.”

“And the demons in the city?”

“The demon that ruled Zhaoye City was called the Yellow Sand King. At least, that’s what we in the northern garrison called it. When the news reached Changjing, it’s hard to say if the nobles in the court believed it. Most common folk took it as a mere legend.”

“Yellow Sand King...”

“Starting a few years ago,” Feng continued, “the beacon towers closest to Zhaoye City began reporting frequent lightning strikes over the area. At its peak, the thunder and lightning covered a radius of a hundred li. Some even claimed to have seen celestial officials in the sky.

“There were rumors of golden-armored immortals descending from the heavens. Whether that’s true or not, I don’t know, but in the summer two years ago, we finally reclaimed Zhaoye City.”

“Two summers ago...”

That would have been the summer of the fourth year of Mingde.

“Yes,” Feng confirmed. “At first, we were all uneasy about going back. But soon enough, we came to terms with it—whether you’re eaten by demons or killed by the people of the northern frontier, it doesn’t really make much difference. Over time, we realized there wasn’t much to Zhaoye City anymore.

“The demons must’ve been taken care of by the heavens long ago. Now, the worst we encounter are the occasional minor demons or wandering ghosts...”

As he said this, Feng chuckled.

“In chaotic times, demons and ghosts run rampant. We northerners are different from southerners; we’ve seen more of them. Especially in the army—minor demons and ghosts are almost commonplace. Many aren’t even that dangerous. Common folk can often deal with them using handed-down knowledge.

“And us soldiers? With enough courage, we can dispatch them with our blades, spears, or arrows. The first time is scary, but after a few encounters, you get used to it.”

The others laughed as they listened, their smiles full of the boldness characteristic of northern soldiers.

The camaraderie of hardy warriors was evident in those knowing grins.

“You’re all brave heroes,” Song You said.

“We’re just simple soldiers,” one replied.

As the words settled, a faint noise stirred behind them.

In the combined light of the fire and the stars, faint shadows flickered in the distance.

Something—or someone—seemed to be watching them.

The cavalrymen immediately grew alert, turning their heads toward the movement. One of them casually grabbed a burning log from the fire and gently tossed it in that direction.

“Whoosh...”

The log arced through the air, its flames momentarily subdued by the wind. When it hit the ground, sparks scattered, and the fire flared up brightly again.

The shadowy figure quickly darted to the side, trying to evade the light. In that brief moment, however, the flames illuminated its shape.

It was a sinister, vaguely human-like creature.

Song You had encountered similar beings during his travels.

The grasslands where humans still dwelled were rife with legends about such creatures. They were said to peer into homes through cracks in doors or windows late at night, making noises outside to trick people into opening their doors. Once inside, they would devour everyone in the household alive.

Some tales claimed these beings could break down doors, while others described them as timid and afraid of loud sounds. Whether these differences were due to misinformation or varying behaviors among the beings remained unclear.

Song You didn’t know their exact name, but he surmised they were likely formed when a person’s violent death left behind lingering resentment and bloodthirst, which gradually condensed into a physical form over time.

This suggested they were often born from the souls of warriors who had fallen in battle.

The vastness of the heavens and the earth frequently gave rise to strange and unique creatures under different conditions. The monks and scholars of Hidden Dragon Temple had long accepted that their duty was to travel the world, witnessing these phenomena and documenting them for future generations.

But while they could record more and more, they could never hope to document them all.

“Night Wanderer...” The cavalryman surnamed Feng casually identified the creature.

“Don’t worry, sir,” another cavalryman said, grinning at Song You. The firelight illuminated a set of yellowed but neatly aligned teeth as he removed a long spear from his horse. Resting it on his shoulder with his left hand, he picked up a crossbow with his right.

The others followed suit, mirroring his actions. Some grabbed burning logs from the fire, ready to use them as makeshift torches.

Exchanging glances, the group dispersed into the night.

Dots of firelight began to move through the darkness. Occasionally, shadows flickered in the spaces between.

“Twang...”

The faint sound of bowstrings echoed softly, one after another.

“Roar...”

“Over here!”

“Ah!!”

“Thud!”

“Whoosh...”

The calls of the cavalrymen rang out through the night, mingling with the sounds of spears striking flesh, the shuffling of bodies rolling on the ground, and the screeches of the creature.

In the distance, the torch lights flickered, sometimes extinguishing and reigniting, occasionally scattering sparks into the air. Most of the time, the lights revealed the silhouettes of the scouts in action. Only briefly, in flashes, could one glimpse the creature—a grotesque figure draped in tattered, rotting cloth—engaged in the chaotic melee.

Before long, the group returned, bringing with them a half-decayed, foul-smelling head.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, sir,” said the cavalryman surnamed Feng.

One of the others carried the severed head and casually hung it on his horse.

“It’s no trouble,” replied Song You, his tone calm.

“Ever since the great battle over a decade ago, the number of demons and ghosts on these grasslands has been steadily increasing. This particular type, we call the Night Wanderer. It roams about at night like a wandering soul, but during the day, it just lies there motionless. To the untrained eye, it might look like an ordinary corpse,” explained Feng.

He added, “That’s why, when we patrol during the day and come across a body, we usually decapitate it. Once its head’s off, it’s no threat anymore, and we can even turn it in for military credit.”

“Night Wanderer,” Song You repeated thoughtfully. “Quite a fitting name.”

“It was coined by some of the more educated soldiers in the army,” Feng said with a hint of pride.

“I’ve encountered these ghosts on my travels,” Song You added. “I know they feel no pain, but do they have any other peculiar traits?”

“Not much beyond that,” Feng replied. “What you said about them feeling no pain is true. Another thing is that you mustn’t let them grab or bite you. If they do, you’ll develop a high fever and die quickly. Other than that, they’re not much different from a living warrior.

“Well, they are slightly stronger than a regular person, but they know no martial arts. Any group of bold grassland men with enough courage can subdue one.”

“I see.” Song You mentally noted everything he had learned.

At an appropriate time, he would record it all in writing.

“Besides that, there’s another creature on the grasslands called the Powder-Faced Lady. It often takes the guise of a woman and preys on people in populated areas. We don’t see much of it here, but if you head a bit south or east, you’ll encounter it more frequently. Once you kill it, its facial features vanish, leaving behind a pink, pudgy, hair-covered face that looks like a newborn piglet,” Feng said.

Noticing Song You’s interest in such matters, he shared more information casually, “Another common creature around here is the Horse-Stealing Imp. It’s not even half a person’s height and loves stealing horses. No matter how strong a warhorse is, once it touches the creature, the horse collapses instantly.

“The imp then latches onto the horse’s neck and quietly drains its blood completely. There’s no sound during the entire process, and it escapes unnoticed. It’s nearly impossible to guard against.”

Hearing this, the calico cat grew visibly tense. Stretching her neck, she glanced nervously at the jujube-red horse lying nearby.

Feng didn’t notice the cat’s reaction and chuckled. “But the imp is afraid of geese. Just keep a goose nearby, and it won’t dare approach.”

“That’s quite fascinating,” Song You remarked. He then asked, “I’ve also heard that the northern frontier army’s current incursion into the south is said to be aided by demons. Yet, to my knowledge, demons haven’t been involved in conflicts between nations for many years.

“Even during the chaotic end of the previous dynasty, when demons ran rampant, they didn’t side with anyone. They only caused destruction. Why is it different this time?”

“That, I couldn’t say,” Feng replied. “Perhaps the higher-ups in the army would know better.”

“I’ve heard something...” another cavalryman spoke up. This one wielded a long spear and sported a thick beard. Lowering his voice, he said, “Some say these demons might have come from what used to be Zhaoye City.”

“Zhaoye City?”

“That’s just hearsay,” the bearded man replied. “I can’t say for sure.”

“I see.”

“Would you like to visit Zhaoye City to restock your supplies?” Feng asked. “If you go there, you could speak to our general—he might have more information.”

“I had planned to visit Zhaoye City out of curiosity,” Song You said with a smile. “But since you say General Chen has urgently requested me to go to Yuanzhi City, I’ll head there first. We’re already traveling slowly, and stopping at Zhaoye City might delay things further. If I have the chance later, I’ll double back to see the renowned Zhaoye City.”

“As you wish, sir,” Feng replied respectfully.

“Have any of you heard of Liaoxin Pass?” Song You asked them.

“Of course,” one replied.

“Is the commander there a man surnamed Ban?”

“General Ban, huh...”

At this, the group exchanged uneasy glances.

“What’s the matter?” Song You inquired, his face illuminated by the firelight.

“It’s nothing. General Ban was a rare and formidable commander. Otherwise, Liaoxin Pass, given its critical location, wouldn’t have been entrusted to him. But a while back, Liaoxin Pass fell, and it’s said that General Ban died in battle,” one of the scouts replied.

“Come to think of it, General Ban had some ties to our Changqiang Sect...” another added.

“Do you know General Ban?” someone else asked.

They spoke over one another.

“I met someone along the way,” Song You said evenly. “That person’s eldest son was stationed at Liaoxin Pass under General Ban’s command. When I encountered you all, you seemed well-informed, so I thought I’d ask.”

“Most likely, he’s gone too...” One of the cavalrymen sighed, his tone somber.

“Liaoxin Pass is said to be a key position,” one of the scouts began. “The people of the northern frontier fought for a long time but couldn’t capture it. They say General Ban commanded an elite cavalry unit that was exceptionally brave and skilled.

“With them there, the people of the northern frontier couldn’t successfully raid the supply lines, nor did they dare to bypass the pass. I even heard that General Ban once worked with General Li Haoran, the cavalryman, to annihilate the elite forces of the Left Wolf King.

“But about three months ago, it seems the people of the northern frontier managed to infiltrate the city with some kind of demon, bringing an outbreak of disease. I heard that nearly seventy to eighty percent of the garrison caught the sickness. The pass fell without a fight. Fortunately, General Li reacted quickly and prevented the situation from spiraling into an even greater disaster.”

“When General Chen recaptured Liaoxin Pass later, it was already an empty city.”

“I also heard that the people of the northern frontier impaled all the bodies outside the city. Most of them had been partially eaten by something. Even the battle-hardened soldiers who’ve seen everything couldn’t bear to look at it for long.”

“Sir, it’s likely that your friend’s eldest son has also perished...”

“I’ve heard the disease was somehow brought in from Hezhou. Isn’t Hezhou currently dealing with a plague?”

“I didn’t hear of any survivors among the garrison.”

The group continued their discussion, each offering their own piece of information.

Although Song You had anticipated this outcome, hearing it confirmed still left him with a sense of regret.

He silently stoked the fire and brought out some dried beef and milk curds to share with the soldiers. They continued talking for a while, discussing the northern battles and the ongoing skirmishes and rivalries between the two sides. Eventually, under the vast starry sky, they drifted off to sleep.