Where Immortals Once Walked

He Lingchuan’s neighbor, Little Fatty’s father, had been officially dispatched to Yuheng City as well. The government’s accounts had grown too numerous for the existing staff to handle.

More accounts meant more matters of every kind.

“Why is Yuheng City the one being expanded? I thought Panlong City would place more importance on West Ji’s former capital.” He Lingchuan mentally calculated the positions of the two places. “Is it because Yuheng City sits right on the border, separated from the State of Jintao by only one river?”

“West Ji’s old capital is farther west, but it also sits on the plains. If Panlong City wants to hold the gateway to the western mountains, it only needs to secure Dragon Throat Pass. As for Yuheng City, as you said, it’s a border fortress. But from what I’ve seen, Commander Zhong’s management of Yuheng City isn’t mainly focused on guarding against the State of Jintao.”

“Oh?” He Lingchuan had not entered Panlong City in a long while and did not know what new changes had occurred in the eastern territories. “Could you tell me more?”

“Two teachers who returned from Yuheng City these past few days both said that the State of West Ji had actually suffered badly from banditry. Even Yuheng City itself had been plundered by bandits from the south.”

He Lingchuan was astonished. “Bandits robbed a military town? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

Back when he was the eldest young master in Heishui City, there had always been sand bandits roaming around the Hongya Route, but they only robbed merchants and travelers. They never disturbed the border towns or cities, and they fled at the sight of official troops.

Bandits were usually loose and scattered, making it very difficult for them to organize into a proper local armed power and wrestle with the authorities.

That was why the sand bandits along the Hongya Route had an old saying: the common people, bandits included, must never fight the government.

“The southeastern region of West Ji seems very unusual. Fierce bandits run rampant there, and even the official troops can’t do much about them,” said Sun Fuling. “Those bandits even threaten the southern trade route. I heard that when West Ji built the official road, they deliberately took a long detour to avoid them, but the bandits still went and plundered the southern trade route anyway.”

He Lingchuan nodded. “When I went to Spirit-Nurturing Isle to buy things, Fatty Bai kept finding excuses to raise prices, saying bandits were rampant on the southern route and goods couldn’t be shipped through.”

Aside from the ghost-shadow cicada shells, there had also been plenty of delicious fruits. Every time he bought them, the price rose again!

“Now that West Ji belongs to Panlong City, I wonder what Commander Zhong plans to do about those bandits.”

He Lingchuan thought for a moment. “Officer Xiao, who was originally stationed at Yuheng City, has been transferred back. I wonder who they’ll send over next.”

Sun Fuling gave an “Mm,” propping her elbow on the wooden armrest and resting her delicate head in her hand as she looked up at the sky. “It’s been so long since we had weather this fine.”

Above them stretched an ink-blue sky, the Milky Way shimmering like diamonds scattered over black velvet.

He Lingchuan’s gaze shifted from her firm, graceful jawline to the night sky. He glanced at it casually at first, only to freeze.

“Hm?” He could not help pointing. “When did that star light up?”

Thanks to the missions he had carried out in reality, he could now identify the positions of the Big Dipper’s nine stars in the night sky at a glance.

Yet beside the Tianshu Star, another bright star now shimmered. Its radiance far surpassed all nine stars!

“When did an extra star appear?” Sun Fuling was also studying it carefully. “I don’t think I’ve seen it before.”

But He Lingchuan knew what it was.

That’s the Tianluo Star!

Isn’t the Tianluo Star only supposed to appear when the Generous Pot stirs? Why is it shining brightly tonight?

Could Zhong Shengguang or the Red General have activated the Generous Pot?

No. Given their caution, they wouldn’t do such a thing lightly unless they had made foolproof preparations.

Then the most likely possibility is...

A Dragon Punishment Pillar?

Shao Jian had already been gone for some time. Could it be that someone had begun using the Dragon Punishment Pillars he had spread?

Thoughts turned swiftly through He Lingchuan’s mind.

The Generous Pot had always answered his most urgent needs. In reality, he needed to deal with the array eye of the Grand Spirit-Gathering Array. Is Panlong City about to provide corresponding assistance?

“Does anyone in the academy, or in Panlong City, understand celestial phenomena?”

“Celestial phenomena?” Sun Fuling answered without even thinking. “Of course, Headmaster Xu.”

Xu Shichu? He Lingchuan had once attended his public lecture on ancient monster immortals, where Juju had been mentioned. So, Headmaster Xu’s knowledge is that broad?

Sun Fuling seemed to see through his thoughts. “The headmaster is learned and talented. There is nothing in astronomy or calendar calculation that he does not understand.”

“What about divination?”

“Well...” Sun Fuling paused. “We all think Mr. Wen Daolun is better at that, but the headmaster doesn’t think so.” She gave He Lingchuan a sidelong glare, slightly annoyed. “Are you nitpicking my words?”

With that one glare, He Lingchuan immediately said, “I wouldn’t dare. I wouldn’t dare.” He quickly redirected the discussion back to the main topic. “I’d like to see Headmaster Xu and ask him a few questions.”

“The academy has had frequent personnel changes lately, and we also have to organize the major examinations. Headmaster Xu has been so busy recently that his heels are practically hitting the back of his head.”

He Lingchuan clasped his hands toward her again and again. “Teacher Sun, please help me. Your divine techniques are vast and profound. You’ll definitely be able to get me an appointment.”

Sun Fuling laughed, shallow dimples appearing on her cheeks. “And if I spend great effort to arrange this for you, what benefit do I get?”

She placed special emphasis on the words “great effort.”

She wasn’t like this when we first met, was she?

Who led her astray?

“Well then, I’ll be at your disposal?” He Lingchuan patted his own arm with great boldness. “I’m a whole grown man. Use me however you like.”

He would not have dared say such a thing to Li Qingge, but Teacher Sun was a proper, respectable person. She definitely would not “use him however she liked,” right?

Sun Fuling glanced at him, and that look made him feel faintly guilty.

But soon, she bit her lip lightly. “In a few days, I also have to escort a batch of books to Yuheng City. We’ll use woodblock printing there to make teaching materials, and while I’m there, I’ll also commission next spring’s examination questions. Come with me?”

He Lingchuan turned to look at her. “You’re compiling both the teaching materials and the exam questions? Teacher Sun, what office do you actually hold in the academy?”

He had originally thought Sun Fuling was just an ordinary teacher in the state school, someone who taught lessons and disciplined children. Now, though, it seemed there was more to it.

Right, now that I think about it, she’s the headmaster’s personal disciple and is acquainted with Wen Daolun. Those are all top-tier figures in Panlong City.

How could she possibly be just a simple schoolteacher?

“You finally remembered to ask today?” Sun Fuling snorted. “I’m an academician[1].”

“Ah!” He Lingchuan was a little surprised. “So I should’ve been addressing you as Lady Sun all along. Forgive my lack of respect!”

Here, the title of “academician” was not merely an academic degree, but a proper scholarly office. An academician not only taught and transmitted knowledge, but also managed books and official classics.

This was a position that drew a government salary. No wonder Teacher Sun had so much firewood and charcoal at home that she could not burn through it all, even going so far as to stack the extra in the corner before sending it over to him. No wonder she casually bought wine, meat, and snacks whenever she wished. So she had been drawing a high salary all this time.

“Company Commander He is too polite.” When the donkey cart entered the southern city square, it did not head straight to the academy. Instead, following Sun Fuling’s instructions, it first turned into the market.

“If you’re asking someone for help, you can’t very well go empty-handed.” Sun Fuling advised him, “Go to the seventh shop and buy cloud-slice cakes. Don’t get their signature sesame flavor. Get the peanut curd flavor instead. Then buy a quarter-kilogram of butterfly pastries in the burnt aphid sugar flavor. After that, go to the shop across from Fatty Bai’s and buy two boxes of tea leaves shipped from Xin City in the south. The southern trade route has opened now, and the headmaster has recently become fond of aged tangerine tea.”

He Lingchuan bought everything one by one, then got back into the cart.

Only then did the donkey cart stop directly in front of the academy gates.

Ahead stood the main entrance of Shumin State Academy. Its red walls and gray tiles clearly had years behind them, with the corners of the bricks already turning pale. The four great pillars at the very front were so thick that it would take four people joining hands to encircle each one. They looked sturdy and majestic, yet even fresh wood lacquer could not hide their original weathered age.

Set into the walls on both sides of the gate were brick carvings: a flood dragon’s head on one side and a divine bird on the other, both carved in a highly pictorial style.

“This place has stood for more than three hundred years. It was built even before West Luo. After Commander Zhong took over Panlong City, he began expanding it, but he preserved the academy’s old main gate, its old buildings, and many of its ancient trees.” Sun Fuling patted one of the great pillars. “Every year, when new students walk through the main gate for the first time, they pass between these Dao-Seeking Pillars.”

Dao-seeking?

Beneath the layered eaves and bracket sets of the academy’s main gate, only the signboard was new. It read “Shumin State Academy,” gold characters on a blue background, dignified and imposing.

He Lingchuan had passed through the southern city countless times and had even visited the government office nearby twice, but he had never entered Shumin State Academy. Perhaps, after more than ten years of schooling in his previous life, his subconscious simply did not want to step into another school.

Now, following Teacher Sun, he obediently crossed the threshold.

Like most schools he had seen before, beyond the academy gates lay a large open square. The bluestone ground was exceptionally flat, with towering trees several centuries old scattered throughout.

In the center of the square stood a perfectly square pond, where the carp had grown so fat they almost could not swim.

The sky was nearly dark, but He Lingchuan still saw several young men sweeping the square with bamboo-leaf brooms. In the academy, that soft swishing sound was especially soothing.

“I thought there would only be children in the academy.” I didn’t expect to see so many sturdy young men here.

Several of them were also sneaking glances at Teacher Sun. He Lingchuan shot them a sharp, killing glare, and those fellows obediently went back to sweeping.

“We have students of every age. The oldest student I’ve taught was already seventy-two.” Sun Fuling walked briskly toward the rear. “Commander Zhong has been in office for seventeen years, and he has always encouraged commoners to study and cultivate diligently. That’s why most of the students are actually young or middle-aged adults. They can apply what they learn very quickly.”

Land in Panlong City was precious, yet the academy occupied over 26,000 square meters, an area comparable to two government offices. It was clear how much importance Zhong Shengguang placed on it.

The whole academy was divided into four large courtyards, with a rather rigorous layout.

Many teachers and students came and went, and all of them greeted Sun Fuling.

Teacher Sun really seems to be well-liked in the academy.

Once inside the academy, the noise and bustle outside seemed to vanish without a trace. The scent of grass and leaves lingered around them. Walking along this campus path with a beautiful woman at his side, He Lingchuan felt his mind settle into peace, and the troubles of reality were pushed aside.

He brought up a topic, “The capital of Beijia also has an ancient spirit tree called the Dao-Seeking Tree.”

“The one on Mount Xu?” Sun Fuling had clearly heard of it as well. “I heard it was originally the guardian tree of the Grand Return Sect. It survived a world-shaking catastrophe and even helped the Grand Return Sect defeat the gods. I never expected the northern monster state to leave it standing after occupying Mount Xu.”

“They originally planned to cut it down. I heard the guardian spirit and the Baoshu King both pleaded on its behalf, and only then did the Monster Emperor spare it. Now, it has become one of Mount Xu’s major scenic sights.”

“You even know that?” Sun Fuling smiled as she praised him. “It seems you haven’t put down your books. I was worried that your missions were too heavy and that you had no attention to spare for anything else.”

He Lingchuan smiled wryly. “I have to know both myself and the enemy if I want to stay alive.”

In truth, every time he entered Panlong City, there would be two new books placed at his bedside. Needless to say, this was Teacher Sun’s handiwork.

1. Just think of her position as some sort of learned fellow of the academy, someone with senior scholarly authority. ☜