After the Immortal Disappeared

Hee Lingchuan couldn’t help but notice that her features were sharp and her nose was prominent. Her cheekbones were also a little higher than the average woman’s, giving her face a defined, exquisite look that had nothing to do with the gentle, delicate beauties one often heard about.

He recounted what he had seen and heard after jumping into the spider’s pit, deliberately omitting the part about slitting his own throat.

Sunx Fuling listened intently, not saying a word the entire time. Only when he stopped did she speak. "The legend of Second Madam Zhu has been around for a long time. So it’s actually real? It seems she must have been a Demon Immortal in a distant age."

"A Demon Immortal?" Hee Lingchuan considered it. ’That makes sense.’ "Right. When a person becomes immortal, they’re called an Immortal. When a Demon becomes immortal, they’re called a Demon Immortal."

"But now she’s bound by the Marsh Warden. Hmm, or at least she originally had an agreement with the Marsh Warden not to harm passing humans." Sunx Fuling seemed to sigh with emotion. "Once a Demon Immortal, now... nothing more than this."

"You’re very interested in the Immortals of the Ancient Times?" ’And here I thought this woman could barely afford to eat.’

"I’m just sighing over it." Sunx Fuling picked up the fire tongs and poked at the firewood in the stove. "The Ancient Times were filled with Immortals and Immortal Techniques. If we had been born then, we could have ridden the clouds and mists, flying free from this prison."

"A prison?" Hee Lingchuan caught the meaning behind her words. "For all these years, Panlong City has stood firm as a rock, and it’s even produced a formidable man like the Red General. Aren’t you optimistic? In truth, the Panlong Wasteland is vast. Some petty kingdoms aren’t even as large."

"Other small kingdoms aren’t trapped in a desperate plight like Panlong City, forced to fight for their very survival." Sunx Fuling rested her chin on her hand. "The Baling and Xianyou Kingdoms are bent on conquering the Panlong Wasteland and haven’t given up in over ten years. How wonderful it would be if they could just coexist peacefully with Panlong City."

"This wasteland is the corridor to the Xiluo Kingdom to the east and Lu Lake to the northeast. If Baling and Xianyou can’t conquer it, they have no way to expand eastward." Hee Lingchuan dipped his finger in some water from the rain barrel and began drawing a map on the table. "Lu Lake is on the upper reaches of the Hongchuan River. If you sail east from there, you can reach the sea."

"Then why are they so set on expanding?"

This question stumped Hee Lingchuan.

The world had never been peaceful, but a nation’s reasons for expansion were usually concrete and practical. "Does Miss Sunx know the reason?"

"They are constantly being eroded by the Northern Demon Kingdom. Despite launching a few counterattacks, they’ve lost more often than they’ve won." Sunx Fuling also dipped her finger in the water, adding to Hee Lingchuan’s map. "Take the Baling Kingdom, for instance. Four years ago, they lost the Red River Plateau, and with it, their most important source of copper and iron ore. Some of their army can’t even replace their rusted weapons. How can they possibly go on like this?"

Hee Lingchuan asked, bewildered, "The Demon Kingdom took their land, so they’re coming to take ours?" None of the operas he had listened to or the storybooks he had read mentioned any of this history. It wasn’t even recorded in the local historical archives.

A thought suddenly struck him. Among Sunx Fuping’s belongings was a journal. Hee Chunhua had taken it for himself and never let the two brothers see it, claiming it was filled with too much heretical knowledge and mainly just described Sunx Fuping’s various attempts to find the Grand Square Pot. ’But is it possible,’ he wondered, ’that it also contains the detailed history of Panlong City?’

"It’s because the Xiluo Kingdom is even weaker," Sunx Fuling sighed. "The weak aren’t shown sympathy, only conquered."

"Four years ago, the Baling Kingdom was defeated in the battle for Red River Platform. The former National Preceptor, Qian Hang, resigned in disgrace, and Shao Yan took his place as the new National Preceptor," she continued. "Baling has three National Preceptors, so as a newcomer, Shao Yan needs time to establish himself. The fighting between Baling and Panlong City has been tedious and uninspired these past few years. After a stalemate of more than a decade, even men of iron would grow weary. Shao Yan most likely assumed Panlong City had lowered its guard, prompting him to suddenly dispatch Shao Yingyang with a large army for a southern raid."

Hee Lingchuan stared at her. "How do you know all this?" And again, the thought surfaced: ’This is a woman who can barely afford to eat.’

"I attend every lecture at Wenxian Hall. They have analyses of the current situation and profound commentaries from famous scholars," Sunx Fuling said with a smile. "Besides, I also borrow books from the archives frequently."

Hee Lingchuan was stunned for a moment, then delighted. "There’s an archive here!"

"Of course. It’s right next to the Economic Revitalization Bureau you frequent. I’ve even fed Mr. Zhangg from the upper floor of the archive building."

"Zhangg..." ’The Octopus Demon that tests people’s aptitude? I don’t think that thing is a vegetarian.’ "You had extra food to feed it?"

"I’m not always this poor." Sunx Fuling’s smile faded. "I get paid in five days, and I don’t have to cover my brother’s debts anymore. I just have to make it through the next few days."

"And what is it you do for a living, Miss Sunx?"

Sunx Fuling tilted her chin up slightly. "I teach at Shumin Academy."

"Ah, a teacher at the official academy! Please forgive my lack of respect." Shumin Academy had quite a reputation. Hee Lingchuan had even heard his neighbor to the east scolding their child, saying how other people’s children could get into Shumin Academy and bring glory to their ancestors. The academy was named after the mountain of its origin. It was originally a local village school called the Shumin School, but last year, Zhong Shengguang himself was said to have personally inscribed its new name, Shumin Academy.

This single act revealed the immense shift in Zhong Shengguang’s mindset.

But I digress.

In truth, Panlong City was much like any other place, full of private and clan-run schools. Shumin Academy, however, was a true, state-run institution. It wasn’t a place just any child could attend—even wealth alone couldn’t guarantee admission.

By the same token, securing a teaching position at such a prestigious academy was no simple feat. ’Sunx Jiayuan’s sister is really something else.’

As a formally employed teacher at Shumin Academy, even if Sunx Fuling’s salary wasn’t leaps and bounds above that of an ordinary citizen, it was certainly enough to support herself.

"You’re too kind," Sunx Fuling replied, inclining her head.

The water came to a boil, and Hee Lingchuan poured a cup for her. "No wonder you’re so well-informed. If I run into anything I can’t figure out in the future, I’ll be sure to ask for your insight."

"Alright." Sunx Fuling accepted the cup but didn’t drink, seeming to just warm her hands with it. "Willow mentioned you only recently moved to Panlong City and don’t know your way around. If there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask me directly." After speaking, she stood up to take her leave. "It’s getting late, so I won’t disturb you any further. You should rest."

She left Hee Lingchuan’s small courtyard, pulling the door shut behind her.

’Miss Sunx walks so fast. Is she always rushing to make the bell at the Academy?’ Hee Lingchuan picked up the cup of hot water she had refused and downed it in one go.

***

Once the Supporting Army and the troops from Songyang Prefecture merged, their forces became even more massive. With the added blessing of Primordial Power, what Demon or bandit would dare stand in their way? The rest of the journey was exceedingly peaceful.

The next day, the Supporting Army reached Ru County, just a stone’s throw from the Xiazhou border.

Unable to sit still, Hee Chunhua had his army clear out a couple of troublesome Demon Nests and Bandit Dens they encountered during the march.

The Supporting Army had followed him all the way from Black Water City, and after experiencing battles large and small, their spirit was completely different from when they had departed. Due to the natural barrier of the Panlong Desert, the border had actually been quite peaceful in recent years. The Black Water City Army’s main duties were usually just fighting Sand Bandits and patrolling Red Cliff Road; they had few opportunities for real combat.

But an army is like a blade—the more it’s honed, the sharper it gets.

In Hee Lingchuan’s eyes, this unit couldn’t hold a candle to the Great Wind Army and was still a far cry from the Panlong City Patrol Guard Army. However, Mozhe Jingxuan and Wu Shaoyi now held it in high regard. Their exact words were, "They could stand against the Royal Army and not be outmatched. It’s just a shame there are so few of them."

Hee Lingchuan didn’t think they were merely flattering his father. Having traveled thousands of miles by land and water, he too had personally witnessed the sorry state of the Da Yuan Kingdom’s military: neglected armaments and lax discipline.

Especially as his own experience grew, he realized that the combat strength of the Official Army—both local and central—was frankly pathetic.

No wonder Hong Xiangqian, leading a band of peasant rebels, had been able to rout the official forces time and again, even capturing Woling Pass and repeatedly throwing Shihuan and the National Capital into a state of emergency.

Such decay doesn’t happen overnight.

The successive victories against bandits and Demons were certainly a great morale booster, but Hee Chunhua’s mood didn’t improve in the slightest. The conditions along their route only worsened the farther north they traveled, which suggested that within Xiazhou, livelihoods were in ruin, Demons were running amok, and bandits were rampant. He feared the situation in the southern regions of his new domain would be even more severe.

From now on, that was his turf.

What leader could be happy when his own territory was riddled with problems?

On this day, the army marched into Ru County and stopped for supplies. The provincial capital, Dunyu, was less than fifteen double-hours’ travel north from here.

The arduous long march was finally nearing its destination, putting Madam Ying in high spirits. At the relay station, she washed away the grime of the road, changed into a fine brocade dress, and fixed her makeup. Only after admiring her own radiant reflection in the mirror did she step out.

But in the lounge, only her two sons, a Monkey, and two wolves were warming themselves by the fire. Her husband was nowhere in sight.

And all it took was the short time she’d been gone—less than a single double-hour!

Madam Ying’s expression instantly clouded over. "Where’s your father? Don’t tell me he’s gone to see Marquis Songyang again!"

Hee Chunhua rarely discussed political matters with his wife. However, throughout their journey north, he had been chatting delightedly with Marquis Songyang, acting as if they were long-lost friends. Madam Ying was furious, but since her husband was discussing official business—either the situation in the north or the collaboration between the Hee Family and Songyang Prefecture—there was little she could say.

Every time their conversation hit a high point and Hee Chunhua burst into hearty laughter, Madam Ying would grind her teeth in frustration. Two days ago, her husband had even sent someone to deliver silver thread charcoal to that woman. How very considerate of him!

’When a man and a woman get along this well,’ she fumed, ’isn’t the next logical step to end up in bed together?’

Her voice suddenly went shrill, making Hee Yue jump. Hee Lingchuan drawled lazily, "Relax, Mother. Father went to the County Yamen on official business."

Madam Ying was skeptical. "Really?"

"It’s true," Hee Yue added. "He had a grim look on his face when he left."

Madam Ying looked abashed. "Oh, did he?"

’Well, as long as he didn’t go off to see that woman.’

Hee Lingchuan propped his long legs on the low table. "Father’s mind is completely filled with sorting out political and military affairs right now."

Of course, he only spoke half the truth. ’A wandering eye doesn’t get in the way of serious business,’ he thought. ’After all, men have always had two heads.’

The last few times they’d fought Demons and bandits, Hee Chunhua had used it as a training exercise. He had his generals take turns leading the troops, and even Hee Yue got to have some fun. Only Hee Lingchuan had been left to relax the entire time.

He had wanted to participate, but Hee Chunhua just smiled, clapped him on the shoulder, and said, "Why use an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken?"

’When did I become Father’s prized cleaver?’ he wondered. "Actually, Mother, the person you need to worry about the least is Marquis Songyang."