After the Immortal Disappeared

Were the murderous bandits still hiding nearby?

Hee Chunhua saw it too, of course. He raised a hand, signaling for vigilance. The Supporting Army drew their weapons and spread out.

Madam Ying and the other family members quietly retreated.

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Just then, the door of the tallest, largest, and most brightly lit house creaked open with a SQUEAK.

Someone stood in the doorway and asked, "Who goes there?"

It was a woman, draped in a snow-white cloak. She had a delicate face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and a fiery red coral hairpin in her jet-black hair styled in an updo.

The officers were astounded. She was a stunning beauty, and her voice was soft and gentle, yet with a magnetic quality.

A desolate mountain, a dead village, and a breathtakingly vibrant beauty.

Luu Xin had little reaction, but its companion, the great black wolf, moved in front of Hee Yue and bared its teeth at the beautiful woman with a low growl.

It had clearly sensed a threat.

Hee Chunhua stood his ground and frowned. "That is my question to ask. Show yourselves. The stench of blood can’t be hidden."

The beauty wagged a finger. "The villagers were already dead when I arrived. I wasn’t the one who killed them, you know."

"Where are the bodies?"

"I had them moved out back. We were digging a large pit to bury them." The woman sighed. "I’m not made of stone."

Hee Chunhua gave Zhao Qinghe a look. Zhao Qinghe immediately circled around to the back of the village, while Hee Chunhua asked again, "Who are you? State your name and affiliation, lest there be an unfortunate accident."

"My surname is Li. I come from the National Capital and am in charge of Songyang Prefecture."

The moment the two words "Songyang Prefecture" were spoken, both Hee father and son were taken aback. Hee Chunhua turned to look at Hee Lingchuan, his gaze questioning.

Hee Lingchuan could only shrug and hold up his hands. He then told Fuzzy Peach to hurry to the back of the convoy and fetch someone.

Before long, Zhao Qinghe rushed back and reported to Hee Chunhua in a low voice, "Mr. Hee, there are indeed dozens of bodies piled up on the back hill, with a half-dug pit in the ground. Also, I scouted the nearby woods. There’s no ambush. Her people must all be in these houses."

If they were robbers, they would have killed but not bothered to bury anyone. Hee Chunhua’s expression softened, and his gaze toward the woman grew gentler. "I am Hee Chunhua, Governor of Xiazhou. I saw the lights from the road and hoped to find lodging. My Scout went ahead and found this horrific scene."

At that moment, someone hurried from the rear of the Supporting Army. Upon seeing the beautiful woman, he immediately stepped forward and bowed with utmost respect. "Li Fubo pays his respects to the Lord!" He then turned to introduce her to Hee Chunhua. "Mr. Hee, this is the Mansion Master of our Songyang Prefecture!"

It was Li Fubo, the exclusive Caster for the Broken Blade and a Master Craftsman of Songyang Prefecture.

Hee Lingchuan silently propped up his chin.

’A Lord?’

’This is Marquis Songyang? The master of the Artifact Sect’s Songyang Prefecture?’

’Why did no one ever tell me that Marquis Songyang was a woman?’

With Li Fubo’s identification, Hee Chunhua set aside his worries and offered a sincere salute. "So it truly is Marquis Songyang! I, Hee, have been rude. Please forgive my offense."

After both sides exchanged pleasantries, Marquis Songyang strolled out, followed by two maids. "I will take you to inspect the bodies. Please follow me." She casually knocked on the doorframe. "You can all come out now."

The doors of the other houses opened one after another, and more than thirty people emerged to bow to her. Hee Lingchuan noticed that half of them had a sharp, focused glint in their eyes, a clear sign they possessed Cultivation or Martial Arts skills.

"These are all my subordinates. I instructed them to stay inside and not cause any trouble," Marquis Songyang said. "We saw the lights of your convoy as you were coming up the mountain."

Hee Chunhua nodded, understanding this was her tactful way of saying they were "avoiding conflict."

The group walked to the back of the village.

More than forty corpses lay on the ground. Just as the Scout had reported, they were men and women, young and old. Madam Ying took one glance and turned her head away, unable to look again.

Hee Lingchuan, Wu Shaoyi, and others stepped forward to examine them, discovering that most of the fatal wounds were on the chest and throat.

"The hearts and livers are gone. Some are missing their kidneys as well," Wu Shaoyi said, looking back. "The wounds weren’t made by a sword or blade. They look more like they were made by a crane’s beak pen."

The killer had chiseled a hole in each victim’s chest and removed the organs from within.

Marquis Songyang added, "The money, valuables, and food in the houses were not taken."

"Then it most likely wasn’t the work of bandits." When bandits raided a village, those were the very things they were after.

Hee Lingchuan pulled open a victim’s shirt and pointed to the wound over the heart for everyone to see. "There are four puncture wounds here, all near the heart. Only the last one hit the center. This shows the killer is very inexperienced."

He had served as a Patrol Guard in the Panlong Dream Realm and caught Demons seven or eight times, so he had gained some insight.

’A novice killer?’

’Though robbers also go through a process from clumsy to skilled, it’s not like an entire gang of them would all use crane’s beak pens, right?’

Compared to swords and blades, it was a very unconventional weapon.

Hee Chunhua pondered, "A Demon?"

Marquis Songyang said thoughtfully, "Since the Emperor’s Liquid appeared a few days ago, the wilderness has not been peaceful."

The appearance of the Emperor’s Liquid was a blessing for all living things, but blessings and curses have always come hand in hand. After the Emperor’s Liquid, newly-formed Demons would grow restless and easily cause disasters, posing a great challenge to human order and governance.

If it was like that back then in the Panlong Wasteland, how could the lands of Da Yuan be any different?

Wu Shaoyi also said, "The villagers were killed five or six double-hours ago. The killer has likely gone far by now."

"Since we are borrowing their homes for the night, it is only right that we give them a proper burial." Marquis Songyang beckoned, and her subordinates came over with picks and shovels.

Hee Chunhua nodded. "Indeed."

The frozen ground was too hard, so Zeng Feixiong also assigned a dozen or so soldiers to help dig and bury the dead. He then sent out two groups of soldiers to patrol the vicinity in shifts.

Meanwhile, Marquis Songyang returned to the village with Hee Chunhua and the others.

On the flat, open ground outside the village, the Supporting Army was setting up tents and starting fires. With over six hundred people in the entire force, including families, the village houses couldn’t possibly accommodate them all.

This contingent had followed Hee Chunhua from west to north and was accustomed to roughing it in the wild. They used wind-resistant sheepskin tents, which offered better protection than cloth ones. Hee Chunhua had also arranged to purchase Warm Bags from the quartermaster in Shihuan City. They were similar in design to what Hee Lingchuan knew as sleeping bags and provided excellent insulation for sleeping outdoors in autumn and winter.

Of course, bonfires were essential. People went into the woods to gather firewood, and soon a blaze was roaring.

The accommodation for the rest of the personnel was left to the Chief Steward, Old Mo. Hee Chunhua said to him, "We will just take the three small houses on the west side."

Marquis Songyang waved her hand dismissively. "How could that be? The village houses should all go to the Supporting Army. We have other accommodations."

’Other accommodations? Surely Songyang Prefecture’s people aren’t going to pitch tents too?’

Marquis Songyang walked to the east side of the village, found a clearing, and looked around. "This spot will do."

Then, she produced a palm-sized model of a courtyard from somewhere, placed it on the ground, peeled off the Talisman Paper on top, and retreated a hundred paces before clapping her hands and shouting a single word: "Grow!"

Before everyone’s eyes, the toy-like courtyard expanded rapidly, like an inflating balloon.

In just a few breaths, it transformed into a full-sized courtyard with high walls and a black gate, enclosing a two-story building. The tip of a pine tree even peeked out from over the wall.

The toy had become real.

Marquis Songyang walked up, pushed open the courtyard gate, and looked back at Hee Chunhua with a smile. "Let’s go inside to talk. It’s too cold out here."

The scene was so extraordinary that a stir went through the crowd.

Hee Chunhua was also moved. "Hiding Sumeru in a Mustard Seed! To think I would witness this Divine Skill again today!"

Hee Lingchuan explained to him, "Father, Sunx Fuping’s Walnut Boat came from Marquis Songyang. He borrowed it and never returned it, and it eventually ended up with you."

Hee Chunhua had a sudden realization. "So it’s Songyang Prefecture’s signature technique. No wonder!" ’Why didn’t this boy mention it before?’

Marquis Songyang glanced at Hee Lingchuan with a smile.

The Hee father and son entered the small courtyard, accompanied by Zhao Qinghe, Wu Shaoyi, and their guards.

"Madam, the charcoal in the room is lit," Chief Steward Old Mo said, intending to guide Madam Ying to one of the village houses to rest, as she was weary from the journey. But Madam Ying looked at the small courtyard, heard the laughter from within, and immediately shook her head. "I’ll go take a look too. Nanny Qian!"

Everyone passed through the black gate and found themselves in a small courtyard about eighty square meters in size. In a corner stood a layered rockery, its stones wrinkled, slender, and porous. Beside the rockery grew a gnarled, unique pine tree, its crown beginning to catch the wind-blown snow.

Two palace lanterns cast a warm, yellow halo, and the wind seemed to slow by half a beat as it entered this space.

In front of the small building’s eaves, a wintersweet tree was in full, joyous bloom.

Snow fell silently. The courtyard was secluded and elegant, as if cut off from the rest of the world. If you didn’t peer over the wall, who would know that outside lay a desolate mountain and a wild village?

Walking into the small building, a wave of warmth washed over them. Braziers in the four corners kept the chill at bay, leaving it outside the door.

Stepping in from the icy, snow-covered world, everyone let out a long sigh of relief.

Madam Ying smiled. "Carrying such a treasure with you, Marquis Songyang truly knows how to live."

"I’m used to traveling and being on the move. Using this saves a lot of trouble."

The two maids behind Marquis Songyang came forward, took everyone’s cloaks and coats, and served hot tea.

Only then did Hee Chunhua introduce the people with him to Marquis Songyang one by one.

When he introduced Hee Lingchuan, Marquis Songyang nodded. "My thanks to the Young Master. It is because of you that I acquired a Spiritual Artifact."

"Trading a Spiritual Artifact for a Master Craftsman to accompany us was a fair deal."

Marquis Songyang smiled. "When you have a moment, Young Master, I would like to see that Broken Blade."

Hee Lingchuan naturally agreed. This woman was the Sect Leader of Songyang Prefecture; her skill in blade casting couldn’t possibly be less than Li Fubo’s.

When Hee Chunhua introduced Hee Yue, Marquis Songyang smiled. "Two or three years ago, I heard stories of the little prodigy of Qiansong County. It is a rare pleasure to finally meet you in person today."

Hee Yue’s face turned beet red. He stammered, unable to speak, losing all the calm composure he usually had when dealing with people. Hee Lingchuan found it amusing.

After everyone was seated, Hee Chunhua asked about Marquis Songyang’s destination. After all, they were already more than four hundred *li* from Shihuan City; the chances of running into an acquaintance were slim.

"I’m on my way to Taobin City on business. Afterward, I’ll head north to Yufen City to pick up a few treasures and discuss a deal."

"Yufen City?" Hee Chunhua mentally calculated the distance. "That’s already within Xiazhou’s borders." He seemed to recall it was in the Central Region of Xiazhou.

"Yes, the farthest point of this trip is in Xiazhou," Marquis Songyang said, sipping her hot tea. "I intend to establish a branch of Songyang Prefecture in Yufen City, so I’ll need to speak with the local officials."

She continued, "The situation in the north is tense, and Songyang Prefecture has also taken on a share of the responsibility for forging weapons for the Royal Court. If I set up a branch first, the logistics for military supplies will be more flexible later, and it will take up less of the Royal Court’s transport capacity."

"Excellent, truly excellent!" Hee Chunhua clapped his hands. "Your Lordship is very thoughtful. Why not establish the branch in Dunyu, the capital of Xiazhou? It would be more convenient for coordination."

Hearing this, Madam Ying’s expression changed slightly, and she felt a great sense of displeasure.