After the Immortal Disappeared

"Me, worry about her?" Madam Ying sneered, but she quickly followed up, "What do you mean?"

"She holds a title of nobility and is the esteemed head of a Daoist Sect. There’s no way she’d become someone’s concubine." Hee Lingchuan waved a hand dismissively. "Marquis Songyang could never marry into our family, so what are you afraid of?"

Madam Ying grew pensive.

Her eldest son’s words were irrefutable. A woman like Marquis Songyang could only be a wife, never a concubine. Still, she couldn’t stop worrying about her husband.

Hee Chunhua was only thirty-four or thirty-five, with a tall, slender build and a handsome face. Not only was he attractive to women, but his own appetites were quite strong as well.

Besides, he was only fourteen or fifteen years older than Marquis Songyang. What was such a small age gap? Even an eighty-year-old man could take a sixteen-year-old girl into his chambers.

Just then, Master Craftsman Li Fubo came seeking an audience.

Since Marquis Songyang was traveling with the Supporting Army, Li Fubo was constantly running back and forth. After all, he had a boss on one side and a client on the other.

This time, he addressed Hee Lingchuan, "Master, the Lord has sent for you."

Hee Lingchuan was very surprised and pointed to himself. "The Lord sent for me?" ’Not for my old man?’

"Yes."

Madam Ying, sitting to the side, overheard and said to her eldest son, "Go." ’Finished chatting with the father, now she’s starting on the son. Marquis Songyang really is something else.’

Ru County had two inns. Marquis Songyang was, of course, staying in the one with the best accommodations, in the best suite, which was a private, detached courtyard.

The moment Hee Lingchuan stepped through the door, he was greeted by a rich, fruity aroma.

On the table in front of Marquis Songyang, Lil Qingge, was a fine white porcelain bowl with a gilt rim. The material was as delicate as jade, clearly not something this little inn could provide.

The bowl’s contents were milky-white, but it wasn’t milk.

She clapped her hands. "Someone, bring Young Master Hee a bowl of almond cream."

A serving girl entered with a tray.

Hee Lingchuan offered his thanks, raised the bowl, and took a sip. A pleasant warmth spread through him, filling his mouth with a rich aroma.

The almond cream was, in fact, almond tea. Besides being freshly brewed, it had some extra ingredients.

"A rich, creamy fragrance." He savored the taste. "And you’ve added rose... hmm, what else is in here?"

There was another floral, fruity scent.

Lil Qingge smiled. "Impressive. Young Master Hee’s deduction is identical to that of your esteemed father."

Hee Lingchuan raised an eyebrow. ’So the old man had almond tea here, too. Probably more than one bowl.’ He then heard Lil Qingge say softly, "And dried cherries."

The basin of silver thread charcoal in the room burned brightly, casting a faint blush across her cheeks. She was a beauty like porcelain and jade, her skin as white as snow and so delicate it seemed it would bruise at a touch. Her eyes held a hint of natural allure, but her speech was dignified and her bearing proper.

Her beauty had nothing of the coquettish, but was instead like the early morning sun—warm and approachable, making one unconsciously want to draw nearer.

Hee Lingchuan knew his father’s type. He looked down on common beauties, but the one before him now...

It was no wonder Madam Ying was fuming.

He put down the bowl and cleared his throat. "Did the Lord need me for something?"

"Might I borrow the Broken Blade for a look?"

Of course, he always kept the Broken Blade on his person. Not only was it the medium for entering the Dream Realm, but it had also saved his life two or three times. Hee Lingchuan unfastened it and placed it unceremoniously on the table. "Please, take a look."

Lil Qingge gripped the sheath and drew the Broken Blade out inch by inch, allowing its sharp gleam to slowly unfurl.

A chilling glint emanated from it, and the temperature in the room instantly dropped by two or three degrees.

"A fine blade, even better than Li Fubo described." Lil Qingge looked slightly impressed. She ran her fingertips down the spine of the blade, then flicked it lightly, producing a crisp, melodic DING.

"This blade’s temperament is like that of a slumbering beast, always eager for a fight." She was very curious. "Young Master Hee, what have you done to rouse it to this state?" The blade’s condition was different from what Li Fubo had reported. It hadn’t even been half a month, yet it had grown far more ferocious.

Eldest Young Master Hee scratched his neck. "I used it as a throwing dagger, hit a few people. That’s it." ’Even if there were more to it, I couldn’t tell you.’

This blade was his key to entering the Panlong Dream Realm. ’So, conversely, could his actions within the dream also be affecting the blade?’

"Could I borrow it for a few days to study it?" ’The more she examined this blade, the less simple it seemed.’

Hee Lingchuan gave a hollow laugh. "That wouldn’t be good. I used to have constant nightmares, but ever since I got the Broken Blade, they’ve never recurred."

It was true, in a way; he hadn’t had any other dreams at all.

"Very well, I wouldn’t want to take what you cherish," Lil Qingge said with a slight smile. "In truth, this blade is incredibly baleful. Its wielder would typically suffer a bloody disaster, or else become frail, weak, and short-lived. Even if I were to keep it, I’d have to pray and perform rituals to suppress its vicious nature. Yet Young Master Hee handles it with ease, not inviting calamity but receiving blessings instead. This means either you share a special fate with it, or you, Young Master Hee, are not so simple yourself."

Hee Lingchuan was intrigued. "Then which possibility does the Lord think it is?"

"Your esteemed father said you are a ’Fortunate General.’ I also heard you managed to subdue the vicious ape of the Chishin School and claim it as a Medicinal Ape, after it had overcome four previous masters." Lil Qingge rested her chin on her hand. "In Panlong Ancient City, by the shores of Immortal Spirit Lake, and at Luming Garden... the greatest credit may not have been yours, but you always played a crucial role. When General Ke Jihai left Luming Garden that night for a private audience with His Majesty the King, he praised you endlessly. That’s why His Majesty granted you a reward."

Hee Lingchuan’s heart stirred. ’So that’s where my reward came from?’

’No wonder. No wonder the Royal Court didn’t reward me at all for my first two major contributions.’

’But Ke Jihai entered the palace late at night for a confidential talk with His Majesty. There couldn’t have been many people present. Yet Marquis Songyang knows what was said. This woman’s reach is truly astonishing.’

Hee Lingchuan finally understood why Hee Chunhua was always running over to see her. ’His old man must have also realized how impressive her network of contacts is.’

’For a man hungry for power, how could he possibly pass up such a valuable resource?’

Lil Qingge spoke again. "Since the blade’s temperament has changed, I’ll consult with Li Fubo again to improve the sword-seeding technique. He mentioned that you broke this blade yourself, Young Master Hee?"

Hee Lingchuan nodded.

"Strange. This blade is sentient. Why would it be so attached to the very person who broke it?"

Hee Lingchuan recalled the Black Flood Dragon in the Coiling Dragon Illusion Realm—the scene where Zhong Shengguang entrusted the blade to him—and shrugged. "Purely an accident. Besides, I’ve fought Sunx Fuping and Nian Songyu with it. Perhaps it developed a sense of shared animosity?"

Lil Qingge was taken aback. "You’ve fought Sunx Fuping?"

"I have." A thought sparked in Hee Lingchuan’s mind. "Wasn’t that mentioned in the battle reports you read?"

He had thought the entire process of how he and his father foiled the conspiracy of Sunx Fuping and Nian Songyu would have been reported in full detail to the Royal Court.

Lil Qingge smiled, evading the question. "Not to be discouraging, but Sunx Fuping’s Divine Techniques are vast. He has the power to change fortunes on a whim. The fact that you survived an encounter with him is remarkable."

Now Hee Lingchuan understood why his father enjoyed talking with Marquis Songyang. She could tell you that your Cultivation was so weak Sunx Fuping could crush you with a single finger, yet somehow make you feel good hearing it.

Lil Qingge returned the Broken Blade to Hee Lingchuan, her expression tinged with reluctance. "All of Commander-in-Chief Zhong’s relics seem to have a special affinity for you. Young Master Hee, you truly are a ’Fortunate General.’"

The young man glanced down and saw her ten slender fingers. She didn’t keep long nails, but they were lightly dyed with color. Pressing against the faded scabbard, they looked like a newly budding peach branch.

The ancient and the fresh, a vivid contrast.

Unfortunately, his mind was preoccupied with the name "Sunx Fuping." "Marquis Songyang, you and Sunx Fuping... you have some history, don’t you?" The moment the words were out, he remembered his father must have already asked this.

Lil Qingge’s lovely eyes swept over him. She took another sip of her almond cream before saying slowly, "You don’t know, Young Master Hee? I assumed you would have heard about it in Shihuan. Mr. Hee and I have spoken many times, but he never breathed a word about it."

’Shihuan again. Am I the only one who’s completely ignorant?’ Hee Lingchuan threw up his hands. "When I was in Shihuan City, I thought Marquis Songyang was a man."

Lil Qingge choked, coughing several times as almond tea spilled onto her collar. The serving girl behind her quickly handed her a towel.

It took Marquis Songyang a moment to recover. She sighed. "Young Master Hee is too righteous; he must disdain prying into rumors."

Hee Lingchuan gave a wry smile. "My Lord, you could just say I’m hopelessly out of the loop."

For the past few months, his mind had been focused on Cultivation and the Panlong Dream Realm. He paid little attention to worldly matters.

Lil Qingge waved her hand. "When I was young, I was traveling with my parents when we were ambushed by powerful enemies. My parents were killed, and I was separated from our group. My grandfather searched everywhere for me but couldn’t find me. Two years later, Sunx Fuping was out treasure hunting when he found me in a wolf’s den and returned me to Songyang Prefecture."

She paused for a moment. "The incident caused a huge sensation in the Capital City back then. Even the late King and the current His Majesty the King knew about it."

Hee Lingchuan took a sharp breath. "Sunx Fuping is your life-saving benefactor." He suddenly remembered the nobles at Luming Garden saying that Zhu Xiu’er’s experience sounded familiar, that someone in Songyang Prefecture had a similar story.

So they had been talking about Lil Qingge.

’Could it be?’ He immediately recalled the sudden attack at Luming Garden.

"But he’s demanded quite a lot from Songyang Prefecture over the years," Lil Qingge said faintly. "Perhaps it’s inappropriate for me to say this, but he made exorbitant demands several times, enough to repay even the greatest debt of gratitude. Since my grandfather passed away and I took over Songyang Prefecture, I have essentially cut off all contact with Sunx Fuping. Otherwise, when his rebellion came to light, how could Songyang Prefecture have emerged unscathed?"

That last sentence was the most convincing. Hee Lingchuan had long heard that the Monarch was paranoid. If he had heavily suspected Songyang Prefecture, would Lil Qingge still be sitting here, safe and sound?

Lil Qingge continued, "In fact, Songyang Prefecture even assisted in hunting down Sunx Fuping’s accomplices and was greatly commended for it. This is widely known throughout the court and the land."

Hee Lingchuan gave a thumbs-up. "Marquis Songyang, you are loyal to the Monarch and devoted to the country. I am truly impressed!" He then immediately switched topics. "Your skill in Artifact Refining is superb, Marquis. There is another matter I wish to consult you about."

"Please, go ahead."

Hee Lingchuan took a Talisman from his clothes and placed it on the table. "I’d like to ask about the function of this Talisman."

’He remembered that Marquis Songyang’s small toy-filled courtyard was sealed with Talisman Paper. This thing probably works in a similar way, right?’

This Talisman was different from the usual ones, with red writing on black paper. Lil Qingge picked it up and glanced at it, her dark brows furrowing. "Where did you get this, Young Master Hee?"

"I seized it from Hong Xiangqian’s general, Lui Yao. At the time, we had beaten him to the brink of death—the kind you can’t be saved from. Then he grabbed a Black Talisman and ate it."

"And what was the effect?"

"Absolutely useless. Nothing happened at all." Hee Lingchuan shrugged. "Then someone lopped his head off with a sword. I can still remember the look of disbelief on his face, even after he was dead."