After the Immortal Disappeared

Sunx Hongye opened his mouth to speak, but after glancing around, he said, "This isn’t a good place."

The clinic was bustling with people. Just then, two young girls were changing the dressing for the patient across from him, occasionally turning to steal glances at Hee Lingchuan.

This place was only good for idle chatter.

Hee Lingchuan understood and changed the subject. "How are you feeling now?"

"Sore, stiff, and weak all over." Sunx Hongye was tired after speaking for so long and didn’t try to hide it.

"They have good doctors here, so just follow their instructions. I won’t get you any medicine, to avoid any conflicts in properties." The poison on the arrow had been vicious. The lad had nearly died last night, so he was bound to suffer a bit more. "Get some good rest. I’ll come see you again the day after tomorrow."

Afterward, Hee Lingchuan personally sought out the attending physician and arranged for Sunx Hongye to receive the best care, with all expenses covered by the Hee Family.

That afternoon, Sunx Hongye discovered his meal from the clinic was completely different. There was a carefully prepared pork liver congee with goji berries, accompanied by two pan-fried, golden-brown, crispy shredded radish cakes and a large, densely stuffed meat bun. There was also a side dish of small, perfectly balanced sweet and savory pickles.

It was the envy of everyone around him.

After asking about it, Sunx Hongye’s favorable impression of Hee Lingchuan grew even stronger.

###

Just as Hee Lingchuan stepped out of the clinic, Assistant Liu also returned, and they rode back to the inn in a carriage.

He was a patient himself, and after walking around outside for a bit, his wounds began to ache faintly again.

Madam Ying had already gone to his room once and found it empty. Seeing him return, she frowned. "Running around outside covered in injuries, are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Hee Lingchuan heard the concern hidden in her scolding and chuckled, taking out a box and handing it to her. "I bought a little something for you, Mother."

The square box itself was made of huanghuali wood, light brown in color, and looked quite old. Its surface was smooth, unadorned, and uncarved, with only a fire lacquer seal in the bottom left corner that read:

Yangliu’s Study.

Madam Ying opened the box and saw a pumpkin-shaped hand warmer resting on the soft cushion inside.

She owned several hand warmers herself, their designs featuring either flowers and birds or bats and peaches for longevity, made of either brass or cupronickel. But the one before her was different. It had a deep indigo base with gilded dark-gold patterns. There was no fixed design, and the lines varied in depth, yet it was impossibly steady, opulent, and grand. It seemed as if it would glow on its own in the dark.

Madam Ying took one look and couldn’t tear her eyes away.

There was no charcoal in the warmer, yet Madam Ying felt a slight warmth as she held it. It was smooth and round. "Where did you find this?"

"It’s an antique from a previous dynasty," Assistant Liu chimed in at the right moment. "About two hundred years ago, Yangliu’s Study was the most famous workshop in the eastern Xiluo Kingdom. This ’Spring Meeting’ hand warmer was a treasured piece kept by the Sect Leader himself. Originally, the mirror, warmer, comb, hairpin, and box were a complete set, each piece marked, but the other items can no longer be found today."

Madam Ying said as she toyed with the small warmer, "It’s certainly beautiful, but what does this color have to do with spring?"

In spring, the grass grows and orioles fly. Themes like that are usually represented with reds, yellows, and greens. Why would it be such a somber deep blue and dark gold?

It would be more fitting for winter.

Assistant Liu smiled. "You may not know this, but the master of Yangliu’s Study accidentally fell into the water as a child. It was early spring, and the Ice Lake was just beginning to thaw. Looking up from under the water, he saw sunlight piercing through the cracks in the ice. That was the scene. He never forgot it, and decades later, he finally recreated it in his work."

Madam Ying tried to be more reserved, but she couldn’t stop smiling. "So there’s a story behind it!"

Not wanting to lose her composure in front of her son, she gave a deliberate cough. "Chuan’Er, you’re so thoughtful. Mother loves it. Assistant Liu, a few Madams will be visiting me later. Go into the city and buy some pastries from an old, established shop for our guests."

She had injured her leg, but the bone was not hurt. After Lingguang applied some medicine, the pain had been suppressed. Time in Shihuan City was precious; it couldn’t be spent just on recuperating.

Assistant Liu quickly agreed and, as he turned to leave, winked at Hee Lingchuan.

He was the one who had found the item.

In the past month or two, a large number of officials and wealthy merchants had had their homes raided and property confiscated. Their valuables quickly entered the market through various channels. As long as one had a discerning eye and deep pockets, now was indeed a good time to hunt for treasures.

If the Hee Family had arrived a year later, the price of that Spring Meeting Furnace would have at least doubled.

Hee Lingchuan gave him a thumbs-up. ’A good antique is one with a good story. Giving gifts to women was such a specialized task. It was really best to leave it to the professionals; otherwise, it was better not to give one at all.’

He had also prepared a Silver Brush for Hee Yue and a set of clothes for Hee Chunhua as gifts.

While waiting for her guests, Madam Ying had a servant add charcoal to the Spring Meeting Furnace and placed it gleefully on the coffee table, planning to casually pick it up and fiddle with it a few times while chatting with the other Madams.

A thing of such beauty and charm, like jewelry, was meant to be worn and shown off.

...

Hee Lingchuan had just returned to the inn and had only taken two sips of hot tea when a Guard came to report:

"Li Fubo of Songyang Prefecture requests an audience."

Hee Lingchuan was overjoyed and went to the inn’s entrance to welcome him personally.

The Chief Master of the Central Furnace from Songyang Prefecture arrived, light and quick on his feet, followed by two disciples.

The two exchanged pleasantries, and then Li Fubo introduced them. "These are my personal disciples. They want to travel north with me to assist and broaden their horizons. I will cover their room and board. Would that be acceptable, Master?"

"I couldn’t ask for more," Hee Lingchuan said with a smile. "Master Li, why be such a stranger? I already feel bad for making you travel a thousand miles with me. I will cover the two young brothers’ expenses."

Seeing his generosity, Li Fubo no longer declined and turned the topic to the Broken Blade. "Reforging is like Alchemy; it requires constant monitoring and offers only one chance. The journey will be inconvenient. I was thinking of starting after we reach Xiazhou, shall we?"

Hee Lingchuan also understood the principle that more haste means less speed. He said there was no rush and then took the Walnut Boat from his robes, a little embarrassed. "Master Li, could you take a look at this for me? Can this thing still be fixed?"

"A Jiezhi Boat?" Li Fubo was startled. "Also Sunx Fuping’s?"

"Good eye. I thought this thing was called a Walnut Boat." Hee Lingchuan held it out to him. "My father confiscated it from Sunx Fuping. I borrowed it last night, and my opponent ended up wrecking it like this! Look, can it be saved?"

"This was originally produced by my Songyang Prefecture. Of course I recognize it."

Hee Lingchuan was a little surprised. "This is also from Songyang Prefecture? Sunx Fuping said he borrowed it from a friend."

"He borrowed it from Songyang Prefecture. Our Lord even mentioned it a couple of times before."

’?! How awkward.’

The Jiezhi Boat’s original owner was Marquis Songyang, but it was also Hee Chunhua’s spoil of war.

Fortunately, Li Fubo continued while examining it, "No matter. Possessions go to those destined to have them. I don’t think our Lord would object. Hmm, interesting. The Jiezhi Boat originally had an Array inscribed on it. Its creator even bragged to me that once powered by a Profound Crystal, it would be impervious to water and fire."

"And yet it was burned to this state. Who slapped him in the face so hard?" Li Fubo asked Hee Lingchuan. "Was it a Demon Puppet?"

Hee Lingchuan raised a long eyebrow. "So Master Li has heard about it too?"

"In a place like Shihuan City, news grows wings." Li Fubo smiled. "The Demon Puppet concocted by Dong Rui truly lives up to its reputation. If that fire were to burn an ordinary person, they’d be turned to ash in an instant. Did you see the Demon Puppet?"

"A crow’s face, bat wings, a snake-like neck, and it was huge. Does Master Li know what species it is?"

Li Fubo shook his head. "I’m curious myself. That kind of True Flame would be excellent for Artifact Refining."

Getting sidetracked, he looked at the Walnut Boat and said, "I specialize in forging weapons, not intricate artifacts. I’m not completely confident about this one, but would you dare let me try?" It would also save him from boredom on the journey north.

"Of course." The Walnut Boat wasn’t his anyway, so Hee Lingchuan agreed readily.

Li Fubo then said, "By the way, if I may be so bold, what other Magical Artifacts were among Sunx Fuping’s belongings?"

"Sunx Fuping’s?" Hee Lingchuan thought carefully. "My father was the one who confiscated his belongings. I only know there’s a Silk-entwined Celestial Net. Did Songyang Prefecture lend any other Magical Artifacts to Sunx Fuping?"

"There’s a Patterned Bamboo Tube, with three seals on its surface: gold, red, and purple. It belonged to the previous Lord Songyang. Our Lord hopes to retrieve it."

"A sealed bamboo tube?" Hee Lingchuan nodded. "When my father returns, I will be sure to ask him."

Li Fubo said with a serious expression, "Thank you, Master!"

Since the Supporting Army could set off for the north at any moment, Li Fubo and his two disciples decided to get rooms at the inn as well, rather than returning to their Sect.

That morning, the busiest person was Hee Yue.

The previous night, the Hee Family and Ke Jihai had been ambushed on their way down from Luming Garden. Ke Jihai had taken the captives away, while Hee Chunhua’s overnight trip to the palace to see His Majesty the King had stirred up a thousand waves.

This morning, the dignitaries who had received the news all sent people to pay their respects to the Governor of Xiazhou and, while they were at it, to fish for information.

Madam Ying grew weary after receiving a few of them and took the opportunity to slip out for some shopping. Only Hee Yue remained at the inn, dutifully bearing the workload.

Hee Lingchuan acted the part of the idle young master, ignoring all the messy affairs. After lunch, he retreated to his room to seize the time to regulate his breathing and practice his martial arts.

Last night’s battle had been short, dangerous, and thrilling. For him, it was another form of training, but also a reminder:

’Personal ability is fundamental. I must improve as quickly as possible.’

Compared to two or three months ago, Hee Lingchuan’s Cultivation had unknowingly improved, especially his Body Technique, eyesight, and Divine Sense, all of which were far beyond what they used to be. The Werewolf Demon Puppet was as swift as a phantom. The old Hee Lingchuan would have been disemboweled within the first two exchanges, never lasting long enough for Hee Chunhua to finish chanting the Silk Binding Spell.

That was true with or without the aid of Primordial Power.

In the end, one’s own Cultivation was the foundation; Primordial Power was merely an amplifier.

If the power gap between two opponents was too great, Primordial Power would be of little use—just like with Hee Chunhua in front of Sunx Fuping.

That evening, Hee Chunhua returned from the National Capital. He gathered the whole family for dinner to convey His Majesty’s will.

Seeing the cheerful look on his face, Hee Lingchuan knew the trip to the National Capital had gone smoothly.

Sure enough, Hee Chunhua told his wife and son that His Majesty the King had summoned him to the palace, asked for some details about the ambush at Luming Garden, and then, pointing to a Sand Table, had questioned him about his strategy for defending the northern border.

Anyone else might have been caught off guard, as they hadn’t yet arrived at their post or seen the situation in the Northern Realm firsthand. But ever since his appointment as the Governor of Xiazhou, Hee Chunhua had been diligently collecting information from the front lines and frequently running simulations with his advisors. As a result, he answered flawlessly.