One Tail at a Time

Interpretations

I really don't know how long I have been here in this house, but I think it might only be a week or so in the Immortal world, so a few months here.  I spent the first few days, cleaning the house, and raising a strong barrier to remain hidden should anyone come looking for me.  It really only took a few days to clean away the dust and with my new powers, I have even fixed a few broken down weather boards and a hole in the roof.  It is now back to its original state that I have found it in.

In my trial, I had stumbled upon it having run into the forest to avoid the bandits who roamed the forest lanes in search of prey and so for a time I lost myself in this vast expanse of greenery in search of a safe haven, and after several weeks of living rough, I stumbled on the old house which I promptly made my home.

And it is once again, though I have moved the bath tub to the east end of the property in order to admire the sunset while I bathe away each lazy day I spent here.  And the days have been rather lazy, in that I don't do much other than quietly rest my body and allow my tail to heal which it has now.  I also spend time thinking of Mo Yuan, perhaps too much time, but I find, that as the days pass me by, I gradually think less and less of him.  

In fact, I am now ready to see a little of the Mortal world again and from what I have heard from the townsfolk when I last visited, a new band of actors have arrived in town so I think I might go and enjoy the play which I haven't done since returning.  In fact, a play, a little wine, a little food and the happy company of the merry, sounds like a great idea.

The township itself hasn't changed too much.  There are a few extra houses and businesses and of course a whole new lot of people, but the atmosphere is still as lively as it always was.  In fact, I am very glad to see no one I recognize, because it makes it that much easier for me to let the trial go.  I think if I had met anyone from the trial, I would not have lasted another day here, but of course, time has moved on and with it, all the people from my trial including the Emperor who apparently named his nephew the next ruling monarch.

So quietly dressing in my male clothes which I had to purchase all over again, I leave the house behind for a fun night out.  I have made a few friends in town with some of the local men who not only join me for a fun evening, but for the first time since arriving, I finally find myself genuinely smiling and even laughing as the night passes me by.

The men are hilarious and I find myself accompanying a few of my new friends to the home of one of them, to continue drinking and laughing the night away, until eventually, I leave them to sleep it off having drunk them all under the table.  In fact, I think this might be the highlight of my entire night because I am still laughing by the time I reach home.  No one in either the Mortal Realm or the Imortal Realm has ever been able to outlast the distance when drinking with me, so I am giggling by the time I stumble through the door while leaving my new horse to find its way to the back of the property where its bed is.  In fact, the moon has already reached the horizon so not only is it nearly dawn by the time I return, but my horse can barely see the way which only makes me giggle louder at the way it is rocking from side to side as if he is the one thats drunk.

I didn't tell you did I.  I purchased the horse with the remainder of the loot I had left behind with the house while the rest of the money I got, I gifted it to the local temple because the monks were honest and kindly.  Their charity deeds have spread far and wide and many a child has lived another day because of them, after all, poverty is rife in the Mortal world, so I am sure the money would have been put to good use.

Only the moment I fall through the door drunk and still giggling, then a pair of arms suddenly appear out of my peripheral vision and catches me before I fall over.  Caught between being highly inebriated and stunned, I guess my face must look super stupid right now because the laughter dies quickly at the back of my throat which comes out as a high pitched squeak.