After the Immortal Disappeared

Chapter 81: Chapter 82: Eating Tofu

This was one person in Black Water City he couldn’t afford to offend. The blacksmith hurried to explain, ”No, no. This Magical Artifact has gained some sentience and has an instinct for self-preservation. Besides, it’s been thoroughly tempered and is already highly resistant to heat. I’m afraid my forge just doesn’t get hot enough.”

Would a sentient treasure just let him melt it down?

”Then who can do it?”

”No one in Black Water City can do it, and it’d be a stretch even in Jinzhou.” The blacksmith hesitated for a moment. ”It’s best to go to an Eastern City or the National Capital. I’ve heard the Spiritual Artifact Sect has outposts in those places. They might have a Secret Skill or the right Furnace Tools to get the Zhu Gold off the staff’s head.”

To put it bluntly, it takes a Magical Artifact to defeat a Magical Artifact. His furnaces were all ordinary. For the Magic Staff, a dip in one would be like a nice, warm bath. You’d need a Sect that specialized in forging Magical Artifacts; only they would have the proper Furnace Tools.

Hee Lingchuan knew it was useless to press him. He tossed him a small silver ingot, stood up, and left.

Zeng Feixiong quickly followed. ”Let me treat you to a drink, Eldest Young Master.”

On the third day after his return from the desert, he had received a generous reward. Hee Prefect had also kept his promise, assigning men to watch over Old Zeng and provide round-the-clock care.

The pressure on Zeng Feixiong lifted in an instant. The sky seemed bluer, the air fresher, and his coin pouch felt heavier.

He had Hee Lingchuan to thank for making it back alive, and the trip to the desert had completely changed his opinion of the Eldest Young Master Hee.

But Hee Lingchuan shook his head. ”Some other time.”

The initial thrill of survival had passed, and now that he was back to his daily routine of indulgence, he suddenly found it all rather tasteless.

He might as well go home and sleep.

But after taking a few steps, an idea struck him. He suddenly turned back and said, ”Let’s make it tonight. I’ll have Liu Baobao treat us.”

...

After returning to the Hee Mansion, Hee Lingchuan didn’t go straight to bed. Instead, he went to the small training ground to practice his Sword Technique.

This trip to the Panlong Desert had made him keenly aware of the gap between himself and Nian Songyu. After falling into the Illusion Realm and losing the support of his father and the Black Water City Army, his most frequent thought when facing Nian Songyu’s malice was how to survive. He couldn’t even spare the energy to be angry.

He only learned afterward that Nian Songyu’s nature was even more vile. In the Coiling Dragon Illusion Realm, he had only directed verbal taunts at him and Fuzzy Peach because he and Sunx Fuping were planning to use them as sacrifices later. At that point, he couldn’t be bothered to argue with people who were already as good as dead.

The family’s Traction Technique only provided Hee Lingchuan with a foundation. While he needed to push himself, he also required more advanced and profound Magic Techniques.

For the first two months after arriving in this world, he had just wanted to lie low and enjoy a life of wealth and comfort. But the appearance of people like Sunx Fuping taught him that in this world, trouble had a way of finding you.

He had also spoken with Hee Chunhua over the past two days, hoping his father could find him a more powerful and suitable Cultivation Technique. Hee Chunhua had readily agreed.

Blades flashed, and in the blink of an eye, a double-hour had passed.

An intensity that would have left him drenched in sweat before now only left his back slightly damp. Perhaps the life-and-death experience had increased both his stamina and resilience.

Finally, Hee Lingchuan stopped, wiping a hand across his face, which had been roughened by the desert sun. He decided to find something to eat in the kitchen.

It seemed he was getting hungry faster than before.

The Hee Mansion was quiet today. Hee Chunhua was at the Government Office, and Ying Hongchan was out, so he didn’t have to deal with anyone.

Hee Lingchuan expertly made his way to the cabinet where the cook kept food. Opening it, he thought, ’Oh, nice.’ Besides a mountain of red date cakes, the cooling cabinet also held a delicate, creamy white osmanthus almond tofu that wobbled at the slightest touch of a spoon.

Making and preserving this kind of almond tofu required ice from a winter cellar. It was September in Black Water City, just the beginning of the rainy season, and the weather was muggy and hot. A few spoonfuls of the cool, sweet almond tofu at a time like this could chase away the sweltering heat.

Hee Lingchuan grabbed a large bowl and poured nearly half the pot into it.

He had just eaten a few pieces when someone beside him said urgently, ”Hey, save some for me!”

He turned his head and saw Hee Yue.

”What are you doing back?” The little bookworm wasn’t supposed to be home today.

”I came back to grab some account books.” Hee Yue also began to scoop out some of the dessert for himself. His movements were refined, but his bowl was just as large as his brother’s. ”I wanted something to cool off.”

Watching his elder brother gobble down the food, Hee Yue hesitated, as if he wanted to say something.

When stealing food, Hee Lingchuan was always on high alert. ”Spit it out. If you have something to say, don’t hold back.”

”Father and I have been run off our feet recently. One hundred and five people died on the Panlong trip, and thirty-seven were injured. The pensions and rewards are a huge expense, and then there are the promotions... We only just finished sorting out all the items today.”

”Oh.” ’What does that have to do with me?’ Eldest Young Master Hee had always specialized in being carefree.

Hee Yue hesitated.

”What else?” The kid’s brow was furrowed so deeply it looked like the character for ’river.’ ”You look constipated. Here, have some more almond tofu. It’ll clear you right out!”

Hee Yue subconsciously pulled his bowl further away.

”Most of this work was handed to me because Father has been busy meeting with numerous Commerce Associations and delegations these past few days. He’s been to restaurants four times alone.”

”I know. He even had me set up a meeting for him with the Liu Family Commerce Association—that’s Liu Baobao’s family,” Hee Lingchuan said nonchalantly. ”What’s the problem? Isn’t that part of his job?”

Hee Chunhua was always busy at the beginning and end of the Sandstorm Season, as that was when a large volume of trade passed through Black Water City.

This year’s Sandstorm Season had just begun. The merchant caravans and delegations catching the last leg of the Red Cliff Road to enter Da Yuan had to clear customs here before dispersing into the Eastern and Central Regions. One could only imagine the workload for Hee Chunhua and his entire team.

”He’s delegated all other meetings, big and small, to the officials in his Bureau. Do you know what all the guests Father has personally met with these past few days have in common?”

Hee Lingchuan shook his head.

”They are all heading to the Capital City.” Hee Yue’s expression was grim. ”The earliest group set out three days ago. The road east to Woling Pass is open now. If they take a boat from there and travel by water, they’ll be going downstream. They could reach the Great Capital in just a few days!”

”So?”

”The place where I work isn’t far from the reception hall. I can often hear cheerful laughter from inside.”

”What’s wrong with that?” To Hee Lingchuan, everything he’d heard so far sounded normal.

”Brother, Father is usually quite stern when meeting with merchants. This isn’t his typical style.”

”What are you trying to say?” The red date cakes were a bit dry; Hee Lingchuan looked for some water. ”Stop mincing your words. You sound like a girl.”

”This is just between us, don’t spread it around.” Hee Yue paused again before continuing, ”I suspect Father wants them to go to the Capital to build up momentum and spread the word first.”

”Spread what word?”

”The news that we defeated Sunx Fuping and Nian Songyu.” A small smile appeared on Hee Yue’s face. ”Haven’t you all been bragging all over Black Water City about it these last few days?”

Hee Lingchuan retorted, ”But it’s the truth, isn’t it? How can you call it a rumor? And how is it bragging?”

”If Father hasn’t filed his official report yet, then it’s just a rumor if the news gets out beforehand.”

Hee Lingchuan was stunned. ”Father hasn’t filed a report? How is that possible?”