After the Immortal Disappeared

Even the most obscure corners couldn’t seem to escape his observation.

The corner of the wall behind the cabinet was already moldy, and a little moss had even started to grow.

A spider under the bed was busy reinforcing its web, which already held two victims.

In just a dozen breaths, he had gotten a crystal-clear sense of his room. It was supposed to be one of the best rooms in one of Shihuan City’s finest inns, yet the dark corners hidden from sight were so... unclean.

’Hm, there are even two Copper Plates dropped in the crack of a floorboard.’

As a beginner, he still felt he had plenty of energy to spare, so he tried to expand his Divine Thought again, wanting to explore the world outside his room.

The wall with the door was too thick; his Divine Thought couldn’t penetrate it. So, he rerouted it through the window.

His mind suddenly cleared, as if he had broken free from some shackles. The scene inside the room became vivid and even clearer than before.

Hee Lingchuan was overjoyed. With a single thought, he had actually reached the state of Trance—the stage where his Divine Thought leaped free from the confines of his body and expanded over a wide area.

He "saw" the Medicinal Ape crouching by the enlarged Pill Furnace, forming hand seals to perform Alchemy. Fuzzy Peach was tidying up in the courtyard when he suddenly spotted a metallic glint among the tree roots. He quickly dug it out with a dagger. It turned out to be a small piece of scattered silver. Fuzzy Peach beamed and bit it.

Just then, Hee Yue walked in and looked around. "Where’s my brother?"

Fuzzy Peach answered for him, "The Eldest Young Master is training. He said not to disturb him."

"Hurry him along for me. We need to leave soon." After speaking, Hee Yue turned and walked out, bathed in sunlight.

Hee Lingchuan wanted to follow, but as soon as his Divine Thought extended into the sun-drenched ground, he felt a piercing pain in his head, as if being stabbed by needles. He couldn’t help but cry out, "AH!"

The sound echoed in his room, and he was automatically pulled out of his state of Meditation.

Hee Lingchuan clutched his head, the pain still lingering.

’This is what I get for being greedy and reckless.’

A beginner’s Divine Soul was still fragile. Even though the sun was only one double-hour from setting, the True Flame it contained was not something he could withstand. A lonely ghost would be instantly annihilated by sunlight; his Life Soul was slightly better off, but he still had to be careful not to let his joy turn to sorrow.

Hee Lingchuan shook his head. ’Doesn’t the Meridian Technique say that the failure rate for a first attempt to Open the Celestial Eye is as high as eighty percent? I did it with ease, and even succeeded at trying to enter a Trance.’

’Does this mean my Divine Soul is far more resilient than others?’

’It seems only natural. After all, my single soul has lived two lives. It makes sense.’

Hee Lingchuan cheerfully pushed open the door and walked out. Fuzzy Peach hurried to greet him. "Eldest Young Master, you’ve finally finished your training! The sun is about to set!"

"Tell the innkeeper to bring up some water. I want to take a bath."

Fuzzy Peach acknowledged and was about to leave when Hee Lingchuan, looking at the tree roots on the ground, suddenly said, "Crevices like that in the roots are a favorite spot for cats and dogs to mark their territory."

Fuzzy Peach’s face turned green. He bent over and spat for a long time.

Before he could straighten up, Hee Lingchuan kicked him in the calf. "Hurry up and get me some hot water!"

"Yes." Fuzzy Peach was both disgusted and confused. ’Why would the Eldest Young Master say something like that for no reason? Could it be... he was peeking at me through the door crack earlier?’

At this thought, goosebumps immediately broke out all over his back.

Just then, Madam Ying also sent someone over with a set of brocade clothes, telling her eldest son to get ready quickly. Hee Lingchuan used the hot water to wash away the stench of sweat, then retied his hair and dressed himself. He once again looked like a sharp young man.

The welcome banquet held by the Zhu Family for Zhu Xiu’er was to take place after nightfall.

...

"This Luming Garden is really on a mountain?" Madam Ying lifted the carriage curtain to look outside. Night had fallen, and the mountain scenery was gone. Bijia Mountain was now just a pitch-black silhouette.

The family was traveling in a carriage on a winding mountain road. It was no narrow goat path, but a wide thoroughfare that could accommodate three carriages side-by-side. The snow had stopped in the afternoon, and the accumulation on the ground had been swept clean, revealing a surface paved with black stone slabs.

The ride was exceptionally smooth, no worse than in the city.

As evening deepened, large braziers were set up on both sides of the road to provide light and guidance.

Madam Ying peered out the carriage window. Ahead, besides the blazing braziers, she saw numerous points of light moving along the mountain’s contours, forming a long, serpentine line. These were the various families invited to Luming Garden, each with a lantern hung on the front of their carriage.

Each point of light was perhaps a minor or major noble, a prominent house, or a powerful family residing in Shihuan City. Madam Ying tightened the rabbit-fur cloak around her shoulders and exhaled a puff of white vapor. "Just how many families are heading up the mountain tonight!"

Assistant Liu was also in the carriage tonight, explaining the current situation to the Hee Family. He poked his head out for a look, then pulled it back in and said with a smile, "Many of the Royal Family members, imperial relatives, and powerful families from the Capital City own property in Shihuan City. This is a Vice Capital, so there are fewer rules than in the Capital City. The residences are close to the river, making it a comfortable place to live. Add to that the fact that Lord Zhu specifically chose Luming Garden for his banquet, I’d say half the aristocrats in Shihuan City will be here."

"Luming Garden?" Madam Ying was curious. "Is this place very special?"

"Of course, it is." Assistant Liu pointed up the mountain with his thumb. "This is one of the Royal Villas."

The Hee Family members were all somewhat surprised. Hee Yue couldn’t help but ask, "Lord Zhu can actually hold a banquet at a Royal Villa?" ’And to so openly publicize a family celebration? Won’t the Emperor punish him?’

"Back then, the founding High Ancestor enclosed Bijia Mountain, stocking it with deer, rabbits, pigs, and sheep, as well as a small Wolf Pack, to use as a hunting ground. The collection of buildings at the summit was named Luming Garden."

Assistant Liu spoke fluently, clearly having told this story countless times. "By the time of the previous Emperor, there were already three royal hunting grounds near the National Capital, the other two being closer to the Royal Palace and also larger. His Majesty said there was no need for so many hunting grounds, so why let it go to waste? He simply opened up Shihuan City’s Luming Garden to the public. Any official with a rank and title can rent Luming Garden to hold a banquet, though the price is more than a notch higher than the big restaurants in the city."

He added, "However, Luming Garden has an Imperial Chef in residence, and everything from the tableware to the protocols is of a high standard. So the place is extremely popular; you have to book it at least half a month in advance."

Expensive means good. Since even the Emperor ate, slept, and hunted here, Luming Garden was naturally a symbol of high-end, magnificent, and wealthy status. No wonder the rich and powerful flocked to it.

Madam Ying sighed in admiration. "The previous Emperor was so down-to-earth?"

Hee Chunhua didn’t say a word, but Hee Lingchuan let out a sneering laugh.

Madam Ying glared at him. "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing. I just saw that the lantern on the carriage ahead went out, and the driver can’t seem to relight it." Hee Lingchuan pointed forward casually. After speaking, he noticed that the carriage was rather shabby and small, looking like a rented civilian carriage, completely out of place with the others on the mountain road.

’Which down-on-its-luck noble family is this?’

Madam Ying knew her eldest son was spouting nonsense, but Hee Lingchuan simply grabbed some melon seeds from the table, started cracking them, and said no more, a smile on his face.

Only her younger son thoughtfully prompted her, "Mother, this shows that the previous Emperor was pragmatic. Ever since the Hongchuan River flood sixteen years ago, the National Treasury has often been in deficit. I’ve heard that in recent years, expenditures have exceeded revenues, and the deficit is growing larger and larger."

When it came to money, Madam Ying blinked and understood.

’So it’s because the country was broke. The previous Emperor had no choice but to rent out the Royal Villas.’

"Don’t underestimate Luming Garden’s income," Assistant Liu said with a smile. "I heard that last year alone, it brought in two hundred thousand taels of silver."

Madam Ying was moved. "It’s truly a Golden Chicken that lays eggs!"

"These rich folks from the National Capital are really fat... Ahem, I mean, stout and sturdy!" Hee Lingchuan asked Assistant Liu, "Whose carriage is that up ahead?"

Assistant Liu leaned out to look, then shook his head. "There’s no family crest, and no surname on the lantern. The carriage is rented from a stable, so it’s probably a junior official. Tonight’s banquet is a gathering of celebrities; it’s a good opportunity for those of lower status to curry favor with the powerful."

Bijia Mountain wasn’t high, less than sixty zhang in elevation, so the winding mountain road soon came to an end.

The Hee Family dismounted. Opposite them was the main building of Luming Garden. Needless to say, it was magnificent and brightly lit, and at this moment, guests were arriving in droves.

When everyone turned around, another beautiful scene unfolded:

Below the mountain lay a sea of lights from thousands of homes.

Luming Garden was built on a giant, eagle-beak-shaped rock near the summit, offering a panoramic view of the entire Shihuan City.

As night began to fall, the bustling Vice Capital had already lit up. From the mountaintop, it was as if the stars had fallen into the Mortal World, and a celestial palace had descended to earth.

The aura of bustling mortal life wafted toward them.

Madam Ying said in surprise, "I think I can see pedestrians on the streets. Hey, that building looks like the inn we’re staying at."

Hee Lingchuan let out a breath. He suddenly understood why the nobility loved to hold banquets at Luming Garden.

In the National Capital, no one could live higher than the Emperor.

’This feeling of looking down on all living things, of gazing out over a vast expanse... has always been reserved for the Monarch alone.’

After an announcement, the Minister of the Ministry of Imperial Stables, Zhu Xiyan, came out to greet them. He clasped his fist to Hee Chunhua and said to his granddaughter, Zhu Xiu’er, "Come and thank your saviors!"

Zhu Xiu’er gathered her skirts and bowed to Mr. and Mrs. Hee Chunhua and the Hee Lingchuan brothers in turn.

Madam Ying waited for her to straighten up before stepping forward to take her hand warmly. "No need for so many tedious formalities! You’ve traveled with us for half a month and are finally home. You must be happy, aren’t you?"

Zhu Xiu’er was filled with emotion. "A weary bird returns to its nest, finally having a place to rely on."

Hee Lingchuan saw that her hair was adorned with pearls and jade, and rouge covered the sallowness of her face, making her complexion look excellent.

Zhu Xiyan then led the Hee Family into Luming Garden, seating them at the middle table on the left-hand side in the main hall.

They were honored guests personally welcomed by the host, and Madam Ying was holding hands and chatting cheerfully with the star of the evening, Zhu Xiu’er. It was difficult for others not to take notice.

An announcer’s voice rose from the side: "The Governor of Xiazhou, Hee Chunhua, and his family have arrived!"

The Hee Family instantly became the focus of the entire hall.

Countless people in magnificent robes and tall hats crowded around, shouting "I’ve long admired you!"

Hee Lingchuan looked left and right, seeing countless smiling faces greeting him. He could only smile back.

After smiling dozens of times, making dozens of small talk exchanges, and giving formulaic replies, his face grew stiff. He had no choice but to break out of the encirclement.

Hee Lingchuan squeezed out of the crowd, slipped into a corner, and vigorously patted his cheeks.

’The Shihuan people are really enthusiastic.’

Hee Yue emerged from who knows where and stood beside him, holding a wine pot and a cup.

Hee Lingchuan waited for him to pour a cup for himself before asking, "You can drink?"

"When everyone is happy, what’s there to be afraid of?" Hee Yue grinned. "Besides, when does Mother have the time to mind me right now?"