After the Immortal Disappeared

He was a Grand General who had left the City of the Dead in the third year of the Panlong Calendar to pledge allegiance to Zhong Shengguang. He had numerous battle honors to his name and was given command of troops the moment he joined the Commander-in-Chief. Over the years, he had won many victories.

He used his True Power, so his voice thundered across the entire square: "You may have already heard our objective for today. That’s right! We are to escort the most important merchant caravan of this autumn and winter back to Puxi Gully! As long as we get them from White Bear Pass to Puxi Gully, we can return triumphant. Since the fall of Wei City, Puxi Gully has become Panlong City’s westernmost front line, shielding us from the fangs and claws of Baling and the Xianyou Kingdom. Therefore, protecting our allies is protecting Panlong City! Protecting our fellow countrymen is protecting ourselves! My brothers, charge forth with courage, and protect our Panlong!"

The crowd below, spirits soaring, roared in response: "Forge ahead with courage, and protect our Panlong!"

By the second roar, the civilians watching from the sidelines had spontaneously joined the chant, their voices thundering across the southern part of the city.

Then, the Panlong City South Gate swung open, and General Nanke led his troops out.

Passing through the magnificent South Gate once again, Hee Lingchuan looked up and couldn’t help but gasp.

He still remembered the chilling aura he felt the first time he passed through here. In his subsequent entries into the Dream Realm, he had made a point to collect medicinal herbs. Finally, after entering the dream the previous night, he had managed to buy the rarest main ingredient—Rot Heart Grass, which grew in places of Extremely Yin—and used it to concoct Soul-Preventing Powder.

That’s right. Among the items left behind after Sunx Fuping was executed was the recipe for Soul-Preventing Powder. This medicine could allow a person to see "unclean things" for a short period, and it could also allow one’s Life Fire to temporarily mask the aura of a living person. Of course, Hee Lingchuan only needed its primary effect right now.

He had swallowed the Soul-Preventing Powder while taking the oath in the South Square. Now, passing through the South Gate again, he finally confirmed a long-held suspicion:

Beneath the South City Gate, countless Three Corpses Insects, invisible to the naked eye, were swarming!

These mist-like things were no different from what he had seen in the Panlong Desert, but when the ordinary soldiers and citizens of Panlong City passed through the South Gate, they didn’t hear any strange sounds.

They were like the air—invisible and intangible, yet real.

Hee Lingchuan even saw them deftly moving in and out of small holes in the walls of the Weng City. Between the first and second major gates, the walls were so high and had such pronounced eaves that even the midday sun struggled to reach the ground of the Weng City. Thus, it had become a free-roaming ground for the Three Corpses Insect.

They would pass through every pedestrian, which was likely why Hee Lingchuan had felt a chill under the gate, but they didn’t actively invade bodies or interfere with thoughts.

Evidently, Zhong Shengguang, who possessed the Grand Square Pot, had formidable control over the Three Corpses Insect.

At this point, Hee Lingchuan finally understood why Panlong City dared to open its gates for trade, unafraid of enemy soldiers disguising themselves to infiltrate and cause chaos:

The city gate was guarded by the invisible Three Corpses Insect, and they were exceptionally sensitive to human emotions, especially malice.

Anyone bearing ill will toward Panlong City, no matter how deeply they hid it, would have that malice triggered and amplified by the Three Corpses Insect. The most likely result would be a sudden fit of madness, and the city guards would only need to apprehend them.

With the power of the Grand Square Pot, the fundamental policies and the entire character of Panlong City had changed. Once again, Hee Lingchuan felt the inseparable bond between this Divine Artifact and the city’s destiny.

...

「Eighteen double-hours later.」

General Nanke’s troops were marching across the vast wasteland.

The Panlong Wasteland was not like the Chipa Plateau behind Panlong City, which was rich with water and grass. The basic terrain here was shrub tundra dotted with sparse groves of trees.

It was autumn. The pastures had yellowed, and the bleak, desolate aura of decay was especially palpable on the wasteland.

Hee Lingchuan, sitting on horseback, raised his Water Bag and took a small sip of fresh water.

The contingent of 1,200 men had made a trip to White Bear Pass and had now grown to 1,900, accompanied by over 200 large carts fully loaded with goods.

That’s right. They had successfully met up with the merchant caravan and were now escorting them back to Puxi Gully.

These supplies were primarily for civilian use and would ensure the residents of Puxi Gully could safely endure the grueling winter on the wasteland.

General Nanke was an experienced commander. After meeting the caravan at White Bear Pass, he didn’t rush back. He ordered the entire army to rest for three double-hours, allowing both men and horses to fully recover.

Everyone knew the return journey was the real challenge.

Ever since leaving Panlong City, Hee Lingchuan had been secretly studying the new Divine Techniques he had acquired. After more than ten double-hours, he was starting to get the hang of them.

Hee Lingchuan got along well with his companions. After all, he was easygoing, never competed for glory or resources, and was highly skilled in combat. Who wouldn’t like such an ideal teammate?

Door Panel rode abreast of him, and they had been chatting idly for a long time.

The big guy lived up to his name; his shoulders were as broad and his chest as thick as a door panel. In battle, he would block the front, giving others a strong sense of security. There’s a saying that nine out of ten burly men are simple-minded, but his personality was a far cry from "honest and dependable."

Hee Lingchuan had already heard a lot of gossip from him. For instance, the battle at Hundred Families Ridge three days ago was also commanded by General Nanke. It had been a brilliant victory; not only did they cut down over eight hundred enemies, but they also managed to kill the enemy grand general, Hua Muna, on the spot.

Hua Muna was the younger brother of Hua Mucuo, the commander of the Baling Army stationed in Wei City, and was known for his ferocity. The two brothers had fought back-to-back on the battlefield for many years. Hua Muna’s death must have been a heavy blow to his older brother, Hua Mucuo.

Buoyed by this major victory, Panlong City decided to strike while the iron was hot and immediately launch the most crucial supply run to Puxi Gully. The Baling Army in Wei City had just suffered a major defeat and their morale was low. They probably wouldn’t be looking for trouble again before they had a chance to regroup. Probably.

Hearing this, Hee Lingchuan couldn’t help but ask, "What kind of person is Hua Mucuo?" ’In the calculus of war,’ he thought, ’you must always factor in the enemy’s mindset, especially that of their commander.’

"I hear he’s quite level-headed, not one for rash advances to seize glory." Door Panel sighed. "If he were the type to fly into a rage, this escort mission of ours would have a ninety percent chance of being ambushed." But in reality, no one could be sure whether Hua Mucuo would retaliate in anger or swallow his pride.

’Hee Lingchuan thought about the strategy Sunx Hongye had proposed. Reality, of course, was far more complicated than strategizing on paper. But could Panlong City be intentionally setting up a play in that direction? After all, they had already fought seven battles with mixed results, and Panlong City’s true intentions had been obscured by one engagement after another.’

Even though no one had pointed it out, Hee Lingchuan still had a faint feeling that this escort mission was very different from the usual.

As he entered the Panlong Dream Realm more frequently, Hee Lingchuan had discovered that his returns to Panlong City weren’t part of a continuous, linear timeline. Instead, they were more like a series of fragmented scenes.

Each time he entered, it was at a specific point in this world’s timeline where an event, big or small, was taking place.

’It felt like this world was not only testing him but also trying to show him something.’

Perhaps he had been silent for too long, as Door Panel suddenly asked, "Broken Blade, why did you join the Patrol Guard?"

Hee Lingchuan was taken aback. "To protect my home and country. Is there any other reason?"

"That’s too vague." Door Panel smiled. "Skinny joined the Patrol Guard to save up money and give his family a better life. Willow’s older brother was killed by the Xianyou People, so she wants revenge. As for me, I want to build a career and achieve great things. Who doesn’t have their own little reasons?"

Even the grandest ideals need a practical foundation.

"I want to join the Great Wind Army," Hee Lingchuan said honestly. "But I heard that you can’t join unless you become a Squad Commander."

"The Great Wind Army?" Door Panel glanced at him. "Is it because of the Red General’s fame?"

"You could say that." Hee Lingchuan had entered the dream many times but had never met the Red General face-to-face. He had only ever caught a distant glimpse before logging off.

"The Red General is the reason many people enlist. I always saw you as a quiet type; I didn’t expect you to be a hero-worshipper too."

Hee Lingchuan chuckled.

’He couldn’t believe he was being described as "quiet and reserved." Him, the arrogant and domineering Little Overlord of Black Water City. He wondered what the Hee Family would think if they heard that.’

’But then again, it was true that in the dream, he thought more, did more, and talked less.’

’In reality, he had to hide his true nature, to wear a mask.’

’But here, he could be his true self.’

A different kind of scenery appeared on the horizon. Door Panel let out a long breath. "The Ghost Needle Stone Forest is just ahead."

As the column advanced, the scenery ahead grew clearer.

Hee Lingchuan had been to this place a few times before. The Ghost Needle Stone Forest was a famous landmark on Red Cliff Road. Its outer edges were at least one hundred zhang from the Red Cliff Main Road, so travelers in later eras could only gaze at it from afar.

Countless years ago, this place must have been a lush River Valley, where flowing water carved out a network of crisscrossing gullies. Later, the great river changed its course, and the wind and sand took over, sculpting one peak after another into shapes resembling both folding screens and ship sails.

If you were so inclined, you could find countless paths through the Ghost Needle Stone Forest.

It was a rare and marvelous sight on the otherwise flat wasteland.

"This is the perfect place for an ambush." It was a three-dimensional maze with countless overlapping levels. Hee Lingchuan murmured, "Are we going to go through the Ghost Needle Stone Forest?"

"If we can see it, there’s no way General Nanke can’t." Door Panel held his head high. "I bet we won’t."

Skinny spurred his horse to catch up. "How about I start a betting pool? One tael of silver."

Hee Lingchuan laughed. "Alright, I’ll bet that we will. The Ghost Needle Stone Forest is too big. Going around it would take at least ten extra double-hours. More time means more risk."

"Place your bets, place your bets!" Skinny raised his voice, looking smug. "The bet is whether our column goes through the Ghost Needle Stone Forest! Minimum bet is one tael!"

Though the scenery on the wasteland was nice, it had become monotonous after a while. The troops were feeling bored with the march, so when they suddenly heard he was starting a betting pool, they responded with great enthusiasm.

Skinny was grinning from ear to ear. The house always wins, after all. He was about to make another killing.

...

"What’s all that noise in the rear?"

At the head of the army, General Nanke glanced back.

His adjutant immediately said, "I’ll go reprimand them."

General Nanke paid it no more mind and said to the Messenger, "Relay my order: we are to bypass the Ghost Needle Stone Forest."

The terrain of the Ghost Needle Stone Forest was too complex; it was the perfect place for an enemy ambush. He saw no reason to take such a risk. A small detour was acceptable.

The Messenger acknowledged the order and was about to ride back when the urgent sound of hooves was heard from up ahead. A single rider was galloping toward them.

A Scout sent to reconnoiter the path ahead had returned.

The horse was covered in steam, clearly having just been ridden at a desperate gallop.

The Scout didn’t even have time to dismount. He saluted while gasping for breath, "A large enemy—enemy force has appeared to the northwest, less than fifteen li from us!"