After the Immortal Disappeared

As he stood up, he quietly tapped his father’s back a few times. The signal meant ’be extremely careful.’

Hee Chunhua looked at the two of them but didn’t say a word.

The eatery owner even pointed the way for them: "There’s a latrine in the back. Don’t look down when you go in."

After the two left the eatery, Shan Youjun said in a low voice, "Master, look at these horses. They are all fine steeds skilled at running."

Hee Lingchuan hadn’t paid them any mind; after all, Xinhuang had no shortage of livestock these days. But after Shan Youjun’s reminder, he took a closer look. The three horses had glossy, smooth coats, long legs, willow-leaf ears, broad chests with thick muscles, and bright, spirited eyes.

These were different from the nags used to pull carts.

One of them was pawing the ground. Shan Youjun glanced at it and said, "These three are all warhorses. Their hooves and horseshoes have just been trimmed and replaced. I served as a Ranger in the north. I wouldn’t mistake them."

’Those three merchants... each of them has such a fine horse?’

Shan Youjun said hurriedly, "How many groups of merchants have we seen on our entire journey north? And the moment we arrive in Xinhuang, they just happen to be here."

Central and northern Xiazhou were desolate, so merchants couldn’t make money and rarely traveled this route. Hee Lingchuan had indeed seen few caravans, or even individual traveling merchants, while heading north with the Grain Transport Team.

He took a soft breath. "Got it. Let’s wander around outside for a bit and then head back."

The two had only walked a few steps when a flicker of light appeared behind them. Hee Lingchuan turned to see one of the three merchants walking out, one hand clutching his stomach. "I need the latrine too," he said. "Haven’t you found it yet?"

Hee Lingchuan pointed behind the eatery. "Nope. Isn’t it supposed to be behind the noodle house?"

"Follow me." The merchant then ducked into the alley behind the eatery.

Night had fallen, and the residents didn’t turn on their lights, making every alley a dark one. This particular alley was flanked by low walls less than seven feet high, but the trees were tall, casting shade even during the day. Needless to say, they blocked even more light at night.

The wind HOWLED, and leaves RUSTLED. All around was dim and lightless, just like a scene from a horror movie.

A place like this, at a time like this—something was bound to happen.

After a couple of turns, Hee Lingchuan asked the fast-walking merchant, "How much farther? Why is the latrine so far away?"

"We’re almost there. It’s just ahead."

"You seem to know this area well," Hee Lingchuan said, stopping and smiling. "Come here to take a dump often?"

The merchant turned back. "Are you guys coming or not? I’m in a hurry."

Hee Lingchuan whispered something to Shan Youjun that the merchant couldn’t possibly hear, then immediately spoke up, "I don’t think you’re merchants. Not even the army would necessarily have horses that fine."

The merchant scratched his head. "I don’t think you are either. What kind of merchants would still be heading north at a time like this?" His expression then hardened as he barked:

"Now!"

The hand he’d used to scratch his head came down, but his wrist flipped, and with a soft WHOOSH, a Sleeve Arrow shot from a hidden mechanism, aiming straight for Hee Lingchuan’s face.

He had a good eye, recognizing that Hee Lingchuan held the higher status of the two.

The betrayal was sudden and without warning. In the pitch-black alley, who could have possibly noticed the hidden dart?

At the same time, two figures vaulted over the low walls on either side, pouncing toward Hee Lingchuan and Shan Youjun’s backs.

From the very beginning, their plan had been to lure them in for the slaughter.

But Hee Lingchuan was prepared. He sidestepped the dart, and the fragrant ball hidden in his left hand had already been smashed onto the ground a moment earlier.

An indescribable stench instantly filled the narrow alley.

Coincidentally, the wind died down at that exact moment, and the smell became unbearably intense.

Hee Lingchuan and Shan Youjun held their breath, but their three opponents were thrown into chaos by the sudden Stink Bomb. The merchant who had led them into the alley couldn’t help but bend over and dry-heave, while the two who had jumped the wall instinctively covered their mouths and noses before they had even found their footing.

It was a natural physiological reaction.

What Hee Lingchuan had whispered to Shan Youjun a moment ago was just a two-word command:

Hold breath!

’The enemy wanted to set a trap, but who said we couldn’t do the same?’

The man who was dry-heaving knew something was wrong the moment he bent over. Just as he was about to hold his breath and draw his saber, Hee Lingchuan flicked his wrist, returning the favor with a hidden dart of his own.

It was a Purple Gold Sleeve Arrow custom-made by Li Fubo. He had only received it the day before their departure, so today was its debut.

A device specially crafted by Master Li was on a completely different level from the mass-produced junk this man was using. The opponent had just straightened up when he felt a chill, then a sharp pain, down below—

A direct hit to the balls!

’All my hard training had to pay off sometime. Besides, at such a close distance, how could I miss?’

How could the merchant possibly remain standing? He instantly collapsed to the ground, rolling and screaming his lungs out.

But Hee Lingchuan’s viciousness didn’t stop there. The Sleeve Arrow was attached to a string.

So with a casual, gentle tug... SQUISH—

It was severed.

The man stopped screaming and immediately passed out from the pain.

’This feeling of taking someone out with a hidden weapon is just too satisfying.’ Panlong City’s Yuewu Hall would never have allowed him to use a weapon this lethal. He exhaled and turned to find his next opponent: the enemy currently tangled up with Shan Youjun.

This man was not only quick to react, immediately suppressing his discomfort from the stench to engage in battle, but also extremely fierce. He clashed with Shan Youjun, trading two blows, and sparks flew in the darkness.

Hee Lingchuan rushed up and delivered a kick, spotting an opening as the man’s saber form grew stale, and drove his foot directly into the man’s ribs!

With the force of his kick, he could have flattened a bronze discus. What chance did a human body have?

The man felt a sharp pain in his ribs, his body went numb, and his vision went black. He almost passed out right then and there.

Shan Youjun followed up with his saber, seizing the opportunity to chop off the man’s head.

The last enemy had just raised his Water-Splitting Needle and charged when Hee Lingchuan casually parried him. Seeing both his companions fall while his opponents were unharmed, he gave up the fight and turned to flee.

Among the three, he wasn’t the strongest fighter, but he was definitely the fastest runner. After two steps, he propped a hand on the wall, vaulted directly over a mud-brick courtyard, and disappeared into another alley.

He had arrived in Xinhuang before Hee Lingchuan and Shan Youjun, so he was more familiar with the terrain.

He risked a glance back. It seemed no one was chasing him.

’I need to get back and report. These guys are tougher than they look. Once the main force arrives, I’ll cut off their heads and kick them around like balls.’

But just as he was about to take off running again, he suddenly felt a rush of air behind his head. A saber flew out of nowhere and pierced him straight through the heart.

It entered through his back and exited through his chest, a clean pass-through.

The man stumbled forward two more steps before collapsing, dead.

He had an expression of utter disbelief. ’I’d already made it into the alley, so how could that Long Saber possibly hit me?’

Hee Lingchuan first retrieved his Purple Gold Sleeve Arrow before walking over to pull out his saber.

The arrow was tainted with something foul and couldn’t be used again for now. Shan Youjun, following behind, was also a bit surprised. He had clearly seen his Master fling the Long Saber just as the enemy had already vaulted the wall and fled. But then the blade had swerved in midair, changing direction on its own to pursue the man.

He had heard of arrows, flying blades, or other magical artifacts that could pursue a target, but he had never heard of a long saber having such a special effect.

Hee Lingchuan pulled the Treasure Saber from the back of the enemy, whose eyes were still wide open in death. He wiped the blood off on the man’s clothes and sheathed the blade.

Of course, the ability to pierce a fleeing enemy through the chest with a single throw came from the Floating Life Blade’s special property: "One-Throw Must-Hit." ’This is way more useful than archery,’ Hee Lingchuan thought.

"Let’s go back." ’If the enemy wouldn’t even spare two guys going to the latrine, then Dad is in even greater danger.’

Still, Hee Lingchuan wasn’t overly worried. His father had Cultivation and a whole host of Protective Spiritual Artifacts. It wouldn’t be easy for others to deal with him.

The two hurried back. Just as they reached the mouth of the alley, a massive explosion erupted to the east, and a fiery glow lit up all of Xinhuang!

The blast was so powerful that the ground beneath their feet trembled violently.

Hee Lingchuan’s face paled:

’The restaurant where the County Magistrate is hosting Mozhe Jingxuan... isn’t it in that direction?!’

Back in the noodle house, Hee Chunhua and the two remaining merchants were making idle chit-chat, both sides clearly distracted.

When the explosion suddenly went off, the owner, who was carrying a basin of water, spilled it everywhere and had to grab a pillar to keep from falling.

Hee Chunhua, Fuzzy Peach, and Jiao Tai instinctively turned their heads toward the sound.

The two merchants seized the moment, drew their weapons, and attacked.

However, just as they got within three feet of Hee Chunhua, a thin Light Curtain suddenly materialized in front of him. Its surface was covered in fine, snakeskin-like patterns.

Their attacks immediately slowed, as if they were trapped in thick mud.

This was Hee Chunhua’s Protective Spiritual Artifact activating on its own.

Jiao Tai knew something was wrong the instant he turned back. "How dare you!" he roared, rushing to protect his master.

Hee Chunhua flung forward the spool of red thread wrapped around his hand. In midair, it expanded into a large Net, enveloping one of the enemies.

A magical artifact from Sunx Fuping was always reliable.

Just then, the wind-blocking curtain was suddenly thrown open. Everyone jumped, but it was just Hee Lingchuan and his companion rushing in. "We took care of three of them outside!" he shouted.

There was no suspense in what happened next. With five people on their side against one, they had him beaten to a pulp in minutes.

While Jiao Tai was beating the man half to death, Hee Chunhua had already lifted the net from the floor and said to the captive inside, "Explain yourself. What was that outside?"

The man laughed. "Your commander has ascended to the heavens! My brothers have arrived, and they’re here to send you along with him!"

Hee Chunhua exchanged a look with his son, then asked, "How did you know when the Grain Transport Team would be passing through here?" The Grain Transport Team had only notified Xinhuang to prepare one day in advance. These Xunzhou Rangers roamed all over central and northern Xiazhou, a vast territory. They shouldn’t have been able to get the news so quickly.

The man just gave a sinister grin and said nothing.

"He’s trying to stall," Hee Lingchuan saw through his intentions at a glance. "We need to get back to camp, now!"

Jiao Tai slit the captive’s throat with one swipe of his saber. Ignoring the eatery owner, who was trembling and hugging a pillar, Hee Lingchuan remembered to toss down a dozen or so Copper Plates for the meal. The five of them rushed out of the eatery, untied the fine steeds belonging to the three Xunzhou scouts, and leaped onto the horses.

...

Five people, three horses. They hadn’t galloped more than a hundred zhang when they heard the thunder of hooves:

A troop was approaching from the south—from the sound of it, at least two or three hundred cavalry!

"Giddyap!" Hee Chunhua’s face changed as he spurred his mount to run faster.

The horses turned off the main street and galloped straight for the Grain Transport Team’s camp. Hee Lingchuan glanced back and saw a massive, dark horde of cavalry behind them.

The riders tore off their outer coats and cloaks, revealing the military uniforms underneath. Even though Hee Lingchuan had never seen that style before, he was certain that these were undoubtedly the Xunzhou Rangers.

Clearly, these men had been lying in wait outside Xinhuang all along. The moment the explosion went off in town, they charged in to kill and plunder the grain!