Chapter 406: The Immortal Takes Office
The next morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Song You checked out of his room. Following the innkeeper’s directions, he headed left along the dirt road and soon encountered the officials tasked with collecting the mountain tax.
Lady Calico had deliberately taken on her human form, dressed in a tricolor outfit. She looked both well-behaved and charming, her large eyes fixed intently on the officials. Her goal was simple: to see whether she would be charged. If they asked for money, she planned to say she wouldn’t go and instead find a quiet spot to transform back into her cat form and slip past unnoticed.
After all, it was rare for any checkpoint to be able to stop a cat.
However, the officials turned out to be quite kindhearted, especially toward Daoists.
“Apologies, sir,” one of the officials said. “As mandated by the government, anyone climbing the mountain must pay fifty wen as a mountain tax. If you’re bringing horses or mules, it’s another fifty wen per animal.”
He paused for a moment, then added, “But if you, sir, have an ordination certificate and happen to be acquainted with one of the Daoists from the monastery on the far side of the mountain, you may visit them as a guest. Simply present your certificate and state your Daoist title and name, and you will be exempt from the mountain tax.”
“I don’t know anyone there.”
“To be honest, I’m not very familiar with them either.”
“I’m just here to climb the mountain,” Song You replied, politely declining the official’s offer.
“Well, in that case, there’s nothing I can do...”
At this moment, the little girl turned her head to glance at the Daoist, her eyes bright and clear, then looked back at the official, staring at him intently.