“It was built by ourselves, by our ancestors, and passed down.” Brian Carter explained helplessly, “The purpose is to enjoy the preferential policies the court has for religions. Some lazy old masters can also use it to live the life they want.”

“I still don’t understand.”

“Then call it whatever you like.”

“Alright, Daoist.”

“Let’s go…”

Brian Carter said, helpless and a bit regretful.

Just as he was about to leave, he turned around. The midday sun had just managed to disperse the fog. In the distance, rows of willow trees lined the riverbank. Under one of the willows, an old man wearing a bamboo hat sat by the river, holding a fishing rod, reeling it in.

“Lady Calico, please wait for me here.”

Brian Carter walked along the river, weaving through the willows, and soon arrived at the fisherman’s side. He greeted respectfully, “Elder, greetings. May I ask if your catch is for sale?”

“I only catch small fish for myself to eat. Sir, you’d better buy from the market.”

“I recently formed a bond with a calico cat and promised to accompany it for a while, but I’ve never given it a betrothal gift. I feel guilty about it. Today, passing by here, I wanted to buy two small fish as a gift, but I searched the whole market and couldn’t find any.” Brian Carter said respectfully, “So I have to ask for your help, Elder.”

“In that case, what harm is there in giving you two?”

“How could I accept your gift, Elder? I should pay the market price!”

“I would rather give them to you.”

“Then thank you very much, Elder.”

Brian Carter dared not refuse further, since the old man had already given him the fish. In return, he should also offer the old man some heartfelt joy.

Before long—

Brian Carter returned through the willows, carrying two small fish. The calico cat had a cicada in its mouth, freshly caught, and was sitting properly, waiting for him.

Seeing him approach, it lowered its head and spat the cicada onto the ground. “Daoist, I just caught a cicada. Do you want to eat it?”

“No, thank you.”

Brian Carter was rarely so earnest. While declining, he bent down and handed the small fish to it, sincerely saying, “Lady Calico, I wish to form a bond with you. This is my betrothal gift to you. Though the gift is small, it represents my sincerity and the tradition of Dayan. Please accept it.”

The calico cat looked down at the fish, then up at him:

“I don’t know what a betrothal gift is.”

Brian Carter straightened up and gently explained:

“It’s like, if someone wants to keep a cat, they have to give a gift to the kitten’s mother, or the original owner, or to the kitten itself. It means inviting the cat to your home to help catch mice, and the gift is a reward for its hard work.”

“I understand now.”

“Please enjoy.”

“If I eat your fish, does that make me your cat?”

“No.” Brian Carter said, “Lady Calico is still her own cat. Lady Calico will always belong only to herself. It’s just that, for a while, we’ll walk side by side, accompany and support each other. In some places, I’ll need your help or your tolerance, so I’m giving you some food in advance as a gift.”

“Like the offerings I used to eat.”

“It’s a bit similar.”

“……”

The calico cat stared at him, deep in thought.

Chapter 10 Renting a House in Yidu

Three days later, outside Yidu City.

The road here was clearly wider, with more people coming and going. The ground was covered in hoofprints and deep wheel ruts, showing the first signs of prosperity.

Brian Carter sat under a roadside stall at the intersection, eating wontons. The calico cat lay next to his bowl, eating a ball of meat filling that Brian Carter had bought from the stall owner.

The seats around them were filled with passing merchants, and the place was noisy.

“Did you hear? The fog ghost at Liangshui Hollow was eliminated.”

“Really?”

“The news came from Zhengwei Escort Agency, and the Wushan tea merchants are spreading it too. They say that stretch is safe now… The Wushan tea merchants have a good reputation, not to mention the Zhengwei Escort Agency, whose livelihood depends on this. They’d never lie!”

“Did Nanhua County hire another expert?”

“I heard not. Apparently, it was a young gentleman passing by who took care of it in passing. Didn’t even make a fuss—just like that, the fog ghost was gone.”

“Wow! That’s incredible!”

“Even the experts at Tai’an Temple might not be able to do that!”

“Tai’an Temple? Tai’an Temple is just famous, that’s all! Who in Yidu is really an expert? Which expert would cultivate in the city?”

“That’s true. If you want to find an expert, you have to go outside the city.”

“……”

“Slurp!”

Brian Carter slurped the steaming hot wontons.

With one bite, the savory flavor of meat and scallions burst in his mouth, making him tilt his head back and squint his eyes, feeling a long-lost sense of satisfaction.

Although he had come to a more backward era, during his years in the Daoist temple, Brian Carter had never deprived himself of good food. He even sought out many ingredients he couldn’t eat in his previous life to make up for other shortcomings—if he couldn’t get chili peppers or tomatoes, he’d get bear paws or giant salamander.

He’d had enough steamed buns and flatbreads these days.

“Lady Calico, is it tasty?”

“Tasty.”

“That’s good.”

He had promised to let Lady Calico try different local delicacies, but after several days, they’d barely eaten any meat. He felt truly ashamed.

Those merchants were still discussing him and the fog ghost.