After the Immortal Disappeared

His original weapon was a giant axe as thick as a Door Panel, so this large club felt practically weightless to him.

He held the Wolf Fang Club in one hand, tapping it twice against his other palm. "Come here."

Hee Lingchuan gripped his Long Saber and took a deep breath.

’Against an enemy built like a mountain, wasn’t it best to counter his brute force with agility and his raw power with technique?’

He executed the Swallow Returning Body Technique, moving like a swallow skimming across water. In a flash, he ducked low before Meng Shan, thrusting his Long Saber straight at the top of his opponent’s foot.

’No one could have much protection on the instep. If this strike pierced it, Meng Shan’s mobility would surely be impaired.’

The light from above suddenly went dark.

***

"Holy shit!"

Hee Lingchuan cried out and bolted upright.

The Medicine Ape Ling Guang, who had been munching on a melon, was so startled that its paw twitched and the honeydew dropped to the floor.

It shot Hee Lingchuan a resentful look as it picked the melon up. A melon this sweet wasn’t easy to come by in this freezing weather.

Drenched in sweat, Hee Lingchuan reached up to touch the back of his head. He could have sworn the spot where Meng Shan had struck him still faintly ached.

It had been an unavoidable blow, delivered with the force of a mountain. He’d been sent flying from the arena to the sound of the crowd’s shocked gasps. The pain was so intense it felt as though the back of his skull had been cracked open.

Right before being knocked out of the Dream Realm, he’d even heard a crisp SPLATTING sound coming from his own skull.

The sound wasn’t loud, but it was terrifying.

Hee Lingchuan knew that besides being forcibly shaken awake, there was only one other condition that would cause him to be unnaturally ejected from the Dream Realm:

Death.

’Crap, had my skull really been smashed open?’

’That bastard Meng Shan really played for keeps!’

’A real professional at cracking skulls.’

Seeing him clutching his head, gasping for breath with a vacant stare, Lingguang couldn’t help but ask, "Are you all right?"

This was purely out of concern for its employer. After all, with Hee Lingchuan’s deathly pallor and body drenched in cold sweat, it could only mean he’d had a nightmare.

"A nightmare," Hee Lingchuan said irritably after taking a moment to fight down his nausea. "I dreamed I was killed."

’He’s truly a monster, one who could fight even Captain Xiao to a standstill. At one point, even Xiao Maoliang had been suppressed by Meng Shan. For me to be sent flying despite using every trick in the book... really, it was no disgrace to lose.’

The pride and arrogance from his victory over Gouzi were instantly beaten out of him by Meng Shan.

’My plan to use agility to overcome brute force—bullshit. It was completely useless.’

Who knew how many others had tried the same approach before him? Without exception, they had all lost.

’That Meng Shan... He’s vicious, truly vicious, but he’s also a damn good opponent.’

Hee Lingchuan clapped his hands together. ’Alright, for now, I’ll make him my target.’

So far, he had been killed four times in his dreams.

’Heh. He was almost afraid he’d get addicted to it.’

"Oh, then never mind." Nightmares weren’t an illness that needed treating. Lingguang returned to the main topic. "By the way, you’ve completed your Foundation Establishment. For the past few days, I’ve been following the formula you gave me to find ingredients for the next stage of the Yin Yang Powder. I’ve been to almost nine apothecaries, and... well, the ingredients are very expensive and very rare."

The secret to Hee Lingchuan’s rapid growth in Cultivation was taking Yin Yang Powder.

Simply put, his superpower was money.

Now that the first stage of the Meridian Technique was complete, the Yin Yang Powder formula also needed to be adjusted. Stronger medicinal properties usually meant a higher price.

Hee Lingchuan was mentally prepared for this. "How much more expensive?"

"About four times the original price." Lingguang took out a small stalk of grass. "The main expense is the Lianguang Grass. It’s the primary ingredient for the Yin Powder. The apothecaries in Dunyu barely have any—there’s only enough for half a month’s supply. You’ll have to figure something else out after that."

When supply can’t meet demand, prices naturally rise.

The small plant was light gray and almost completely transparent, but it bore two small, blueberry-like fruits. It looked extremely fragile.

"Four times..." ’He was wrong. He wasn’t mentally prepared at all.’ "...Buy it."

During wartime, logistics were bound to be affected. Shipments to Xiazhou now surely prioritized military supplies. The only other goods tempting merchants to risk the journey were Xiazhou’s local specialties, whose prices kept rising back in the heartlands.

As for a rare commodity like Lianguang Grass, it would be difficult to procure in Dunyu under the current circumstances.

The silver note worth one hundred thousand taels was still lying in his Storage Ring; Hee Lingchuan had to cash it. A few days ago, his only problem was spending more than he earned. *Sigh.* He really missed those days.

Hee Lingchuan yawned. "Where are my father and brother?"

"They went to the grand opening of the Songyang Prefecture branch," Lingguang said, tilting its head. "Only you, Master, slept in this late." It was already late in the morning.

Hee Lingchuan was wide awake in an instant. "Huh? The new Songyang Prefecture branch is opening *today*?" ’Wasn’t it tomorrow? No, wait, the day after?’ "They only just arrived in Dunyu!" ’Doesn’t it take time to renovate a new storefront?’

’And why didn’t Dad wake me up to go with them?’

Remembering he had also promised Li Fubo he would show his support at the opening of the Songyang Prefecture branch, Hee Lingchuan quickly washed up, changed his clothes, performed his routine check on the Broken Blade’s progress, and rushed out the door.

He had only been in Dunyu for a few days, yet he could already sense a significant drop in the number of people in the streets and alleys. Either homes were shuttered, or storefronts were closed. A palpable sense of desolation hung in the early spring air.

’Was everyone this terrified by the news of the Xunzhou Army’s invasion of Xiazhou?’

Dunyu’s main street was long and wide, bustling with pedestrians. Hee Lingchuan urged his carriage forward, not paying much attention to the shop signs on either side.

There was no need to look.

Soon enough, he caught the thick scent of firecracker smoke.

"It’s just ahead."

After traveling a little further, he saw the ground was littered with the red paper wrappings of spent firecrackers, which swirled about with every gust of wind.

Two young servants were sweeping the street with brooms.

Hee Lingchuan disembarked there. He looked up, and sure enough, the sign bore the large, gilded words: "Songyang Prefecture".

The storefront was exceptionally grand. The Door Panels themselves were made of mahogany. When closed, the four panels formed a single, complete, hollow-carved image of a pine forest with cranes.

Many people were gathered around just to look at the Door Panels, especially the children, who stared without even blinking—

The carving moved.

Strictly speaking, the carved pine trees swayed back and forth as if in a northern wind, perfectly capturing the classic scene of "soughing pines." As they swayed, the Immortal Cranes perched in their branches would occasionally flap their wings, while at the edge of the forest, fish would leap from a pond, sending out concentric ripples.

It was every bit as good as a shadow play.

Hee Lingchuan knew this was likely the work of an Illusion Array, but the true genius of the carved doors was their lifelike detail. It was also a constant display of Songyang Prefecture’s power—an Illusion Array consumed energy every second it remained active.

Thus, the newly opened Dunyu Sub-Branch of Songyang Prefecture was the coolest kid on the block—no, the most dazzling storefront on the entire street. Customers streamed in and out, chatting and laughing, their numbers easily exceeding the foot traffic of the neighboring shops by more than tenfold.

However, one look at the scene told Hee Lingchuan he was late.

There were no servants or carriages at the entrance, which meant the dignitaries and influential guests who had come to offer congratulations had already departed. Only the common folk, drawn by the spectacle, remained.

’How could one nightmare make me sleep so late?’

Hee Lingchuan walked into the shop and spoke to an attendant who was greeting guests. "I’m from the General Manager’s Mansion. Is Master Craftsman Li Fubo here?"

Just as the attendant was about to speak, a voice called out from behind him, "Eldest Young Master Hee?"

Hee Lingchuan turned. "Well, if it isn’t Steward Zhao?"

It was Steward Zhao who had received him at the Songyang Prefecture in Shihuan City and facilitated the trade of the Purple Gold Pestle for the Zhu Gold. Hee Lingchuan hadn’t expected the Marquis Songyang to bring him to the north, and he hadn’t seen him once during the entire journey.

’Perhaps I was too absorbed in my own Cultivation to notice anything else.’

Steward Zhao’s signature squinty-eyed smile appeared. "You’ve arrived! The Master Craftsman and His Lordship were just mentioning you."

Hee Lingchuan scratched his head. "My family has been here already, haven’t they?"

"Yes, yes. Chief Steward Hee and Second Young Master Hee just left. You’ve only just missed them."

’I wonder if that’s just a figure of speech.’

Steward Zhao added, "His Lordship will be very happy to see you. This way, please."

Hee Lingchuan followed him toward the back rooms, looking around as they walked. He found the new branch’s layout was similar to the main one in Shihuan City. A dazzling array of goods was on display, with many curious trinkets placed in the front hall to pique customers’ interest.

He then realized that Songyang Prefecture had actually refined some toys into Magical Artifacts. The young masters, seven or eight years old, who wandered in couldn’t tear their eyes away and would pester their parents to buy the items for them.

Upon hearing the price, the fathers would feel a torrent of curses erupt in their minds, but under their sons’ pleading gazes, they would still have to take out their money purses.

The back hall was divided into private rooms, used exclusively for negotiating business and appraising treasures.

As Hee Lingchuan passed by the doors, he noticed that most of the seven or eight private rooms were already occupied.

Steward Zhao continued to lead him toward the very back, then up a ladder into a loft.

There were signs of recent renovation everywhere, and Hee Lingchuan could smell fresh pinewood.

The loft was not large, but it was quiet. A zither rested by the window.

Just as Hee Lingchuan stepped inside, the Marquis Songyang emerged gracefully from behind a curtain, smiling. "Eldest Young Master Hee is here."

The room was as warm as spring. She emerged dressed in white robes, trimmed with gold only at the collar and cuffs. A palm-width, patterned gold belt was tied around her waist, accentuating its slender, willow-like curve.

A gold belt could be a tacky accessory, but on her, it was only alluring, not cheap.

"My sincerest apologies." Hee Lingchuan handed over a wrapped gift, lying through his teeth. "Something came up unexpectedly, so I’m late."

"It’s no matter. I’m just glad you came. Your presence brightens my humble establishment." Lil Qingge accepted the gift and handed it to a serving girl behind her without opening it on the spot.

They both understood the gift itself was a mere formality and not important.

"You opened for business with incredible speed. I would have thought it would take at least half a month to go from acquiring the property to renovating and opening."

Lil Qingge led him to a seat by the window. "I thought so as well. But when I first stepped into this shop, I saw it was already perfectly equipped. There was no need for much planning, which saved a lot of trouble, didn’t it?"

A serving girl brought tea. Hee Lingchuan took a sip. A refreshing fragrance filled his mouth, and the warm liquid was exceptionally soothing as it went down. A moment later, a sweet aftertaste with a faint floral scent rose in his throat.

He couldn’t help but exclaim, "Excellent tea!"

"Your esteemed father offered the same praise just a little while ago." Lil Qingge smiled and beckoned with her hand. Another serving girl approached, presenting an exquisite box. "This is Jasmine Dragon Pearl. I’ve already prepared a portion for you."

"Who’s supposed to be giving gifts to whom here?" Despite his words, Hee Lingchuan accepted it without the slightest hesitation.

The two made small talk for a while before Lil Qingge brought up the progress on his Broken Blade. "Li Fubo tells me the repairs are going slower than anticipated."