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In the winter morning, the air was cold and crisp.
The Daoist slung a cloth satchel over his shoulder, pulled it open, and said to the cat on the table, “Lady Calico, please come in. Let’s stroll around this little city, perhaps we might run into some old acquaintances.”
“What about the swallow?”
“The swallow has gone into the mountains to pay a visit to the mountain god for me.”
“Pay a visit to the mountain god!”
“We’ve come from far away. Before calling on someone here, it’s only proper to first inform the mountain god, so as not to seem discourteous.”
“Discourtmeows!”
“Come on in.”
“Alright!”
The cat leapt up in a single bound, turned into a streak of mottled color, and slipped into the satchel the Daoist held open. Then she poked her head out from inside.
The Daoist, meanwhile, opened the door and started down the stairs.
Halfway down, he reached over and patted the satchel.
“Mm…” The cat reluctantly drew her head back in.
The Jingfu Inn in the morning was far livelier than at night. Many people were seated in the main hall having breakfast, and not all of them guests of the inn. Most were there just to eat, and eight or nine out of ten had ordered the noodles. While eating, they chatted in low voices, some commenting on the flavor of the inn’s noodles, others discussing the rebellion that had flared up again in the east, or the ever-heavier taxes imposed by the court.
Outside, the street was also bustling with people coming and going.
“You’re up early, sir, the sun’s only just risen!” The shopkeeper happened to be weaving through the hall, and on seeing the Daoist, he greeted him with a smile. “Would you like something to eat?”
“I’ll take a walk first, then eat when I come...
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