After the Immortal Disappeared

Hee Lingchuan did a quick calculation. ”Out of five, I caught two?” ’You guys are ridiculously inefficient.’ ”And isn’t there a curfew at night?”

What he really wanted to say was, ’Panlong City must send out the Three Corpses Insects to patrol all the time. How have they still not caught those monsters?’

”They’ve changed their schedule. They don’t come out at night anymore,” the Sparrowhawk said. ”They don’t appear in bright sunlight either, only on overcast days. They probably have some fear of the Taiyang True Flame. These things aren’t very intelligent on their own, so we suspect someone is pulling the strings. Also—”

It hesitated for a moment.

”Also what?” Experience told him that whatever came next was the real point.

”Commander Zhong had the most experienced Pharmacists examine the monsters. I was there. Their conclusion was that the creatures are still in a juvenile stage.”

”Juvenile stage?” Hee Lingchuan frowned. ”They’re still infants?”

”The fontanelle sutures on their skulls are very large and haven’t started to close at all. The Pharmacists determined they are in their infancy,” the Sparrowhawk recounted. ”They’re either newborns or fetuses.”

”Fetuses?” Hee Lingchuan was truly shocked. ”They’re this much trouble and they’re still just fetuses?”

’Just how terrifying will these damn things be when they’re fully grown?’

”That’s why they instinctively fear bright light and only come out on overcast days.” The Sparrowhawk resisted the urge to flap its wings. ”There haven’t been many overcast days since the first monster showed up.”

”That little monster, it walked over by itself?”

”Mhm. It would walk a little, then stop, like it was looking for something. Eventually, it ended up on top of your wall.” The Sparrowhawk had been monitoring from high in the sky. ”I saw it was about to turn and bite you, so I came down.”

”Thanks.” Hee Lingchuan, deeply touched, gently stroked its head.

The Sparrowhawk dodged his hand with disdain. ”If you want to thank me, light the furnace!”

’This room is freezing! I’m about to freeze to death!’

”Alright, alright.” ’I guess I have been a poor host,’ Hee Lingchuan thought. ”I’ll get a fire going.”

He took a look around the kitchen and found that the charcoal was gone, and so was the firewood.

’Right, I used it all up the last time I entered the Dream Realm and have been too lazy to restock.’

’Besides, I’m strong and healthy. I can get through it with sheer willpower.’

’So what now?’ Hee Lingchuan wondered. He picked up his only blanket and wrapped it around the Sparrowhawk. ”Wait here. I’m going to borrow some charcoal. I’ll be back in a flash.”

...

After leaving Hee Lingchuan’s home, the Patrol Guard made a series of twists and turns, his path growing more remote until he finally entered a deserted alley.

The walls on either side were low, but the trees overhead were tall. A nearby house was under renovation, its main gate wide open. Piles of materials lay about, but the residence was empty.

Dark clouds filled the sky; it looked like it would rain soon.

The Patrol Guard glanced around to make sure he wasn’t being followed, then slipped inside.

He went to a corner at the back of the house and lifted the straw basket, bringing his eyes level with the little monster inside.

Man and monster stared at each other for several seconds.

Then, the little monster let out a series of clicks and clacks, as if unburdening itself.

The Patrol Guard remained motionless. After the little monster finished, he too began to produce the same clicking and clacking sounds!

Listening closely, one could tell the sound wasn’t coming from his throat, but from his chest cavity!

The Patrol Guard then set down the basket, preparing to tip the little monster out onto the snow.

A few thick coats of powdered snow might reduce the stickiness of the adhesive as it melted, perhaps allowing the creature to break free.

But just then, an arrow shot out from nearby, pinning the Patrol Guard’s arm to the wall.

He didn’t even seem to feel the pain, and he didn’t cry out. The WHOOSH of the arrow’s flight arrived a moment later.

The Patrol Guard reached to pull out the arrow, but another one arrived, pinning his other hand to the wall.

He finally let out an enraged roar and, with a desperate yank, tore his hand clean off the arrow shaft!

The arrow remained in the wall, slick with blood from fletching to tip.

But he was a step too slow. The third arrow struck him square in the heart.

The Patrol Guard froze, his head slumping forward. But then, something stirred on his back, near his heart. An instant later, a creature burst out and tried to scramble away along the base of the wall.

It moved with incredible decisiveness, its speed like a flash of light. Even an observer watching closely would only see an afterimage streaking through the air.

Too bad for it. The fourth arrow arrived, striking it dead-on as if its escape trajectory had been calculated in advance.

With its great leap, it almost looked like it had thrown itself onto the arrowhead.

”GAAAA—” came a harsh, wretched scream.

Four simple, unadorned arrows had forced it from its hiding place and pinned it dead to the wall.

It was all done so calmly, so effortlessly.

Only then could one get a clear look at it. The thing that had burst from the Patrol Guard’s back was another monster. It looked like a long-legged spider. Its eight legs were at least three feet long but as thin as noodles, while its body was merely the size of a duck egg. Hidden on its back was a vicious human face.

Impaled by the arrow, its eight legs scraped and scrabbled at the wall, but they couldn’t even scratch the plaster—

Its long legs were made for delicate work—injecting venom, controlling a person’s nervous system, making its fleshy puppet speak and move normally—not for brute force.

Clearly, the Patrol Guard had been ambushed and had become a living husk for the monster to inhabit.

It had tricked Hee Lingchuan to try and rescue the little monster in the basket.

But it, too, was being hunted.

Only then did a figure leap down from the wall. They approached silently, yanked out the arrow, and stuffed it, spider-monster and all, into their quiver.

The little monster in the straw basket was clicking and clacking incessantly. Besides what sounded like curses, its little eyes were also filled with terror.

The figure scooped up the basket and, with a few bounds, vanished down the alley.

...

Hee Lingchuan leaped onto the top of the wall.

That’s right—the low wall between his and Sunx Fuling’s homes. The solution he’d come up with was to borrow some firewood from his good neighbor.

As a teacher at the Shumin Academy, her monthly salary in grain was more than she could ever burn. Otherwise, what was the point of a ”salary”?

’Speaking of which, why did that little monster come here of all places?’

The instant he vaulted the wall, it hit him. He suddenly realized what had been bothering him earlier:

’The little monster in the straw basket struggled the entire time, except...’

’Except for when I was talking to the Patrol Guard.’

’And except for when I handed the basket over to the Patrol Guard.’

’Both times, the little monster was quiet as a mouse.’

’Why?’

Hee Lingchuan stood frozen for several seconds before smacking his own head in frustration.

’There was definitely something wrong with that Patrol Guard! But by now, he’s long gone.’

’What was I thinking? How could I have trusted him so easily?’

The deed was done. No use dwelling on it.

He sighed and went back to his search for firewood.

Sunx Fuling’s small courtyard was bare, with only a chair and a ladder under the eaves. The snow on the ground had melted and refrozen into a sheet of transparent, slippery ice.

’This yard is cleaner than my face,’ he thought. ’But it feels totally lifeless.’

Looked like Sunx Fuling hadn’t been home in days. ’Isn’t she on winter break? Why has she vanished again?’

There was no firewood in the yard, so Hee Lingchuan decided to check her kitchen. He could always leave a note.

’They were good friends. He could take some liberties.’

He pushed the door open and went inside. Sure enough, a tall stack of firewood was piled in a corner of the kitchen, with charcoal beside it. He wondered how long she’d been saving up her salary for this.

Hee Lingchuan stared at the woodpile, which was taller than a man. ’Does Miss Sunx not even heat her home?’ he wondered.

’How else could she have saved up this much?’

He looked around the kitchen. The pots, pans, and utensils were all in place, but they were arranged too perfectly. There were no traces of smoke or soot anywhere. It was like a showroom.

Hee Lingchuan reached under the stove. No soot, just a thin layer of dust.

’Miss Sunx said she couldn’t cook. She clearly wasn’t being modest.’

’But doesn’t she even boil water? Does she just eat snow to quench her thirst?’

The door between the kitchen and the bedroom was open. Hee Lingchuan knew he shouldn’t go any farther, but his legs had a mind of their own.

Sunx Fuling’s bedroom was just as spotless. The bedding was neat and smooth, a chair was set against the wall, and on it sat two books. Hee Lingchuan glanced at them; they were just for leisure reading.

A chest with a latch sat against the wall, unlocked.

A half-burnt candle sat on the chest’s lid.

Hee Lingchuan scanned the room again. Seeing nothing else out of the ordinary, his gaze fell upon the chest.

’Should I open it?’

’I’ve seen Sunx Fuling come home to get medicine a few times, but I don’t see a medicine box. Are her medical supplies in the chest?’

’What else is inside?’

Suddenly, a CREAK came from outside. The courtyard gate was opening.

’Crap.’

Hee Lingchuan dashed back to the kitchen and opened the door.

And came face-to-face with Sunx Fuling as she stepped into the courtyard.

Both of them froze.

Sunx Fuling looked surprised, blinking. Her hands were full.

Caught red-handed. Hee Lingchuan didn’t need a Mirror to know ’AWKWARD’ was practically tattooed on his forehead.

”Hey,” he said, his voice weak. ”You’re back.”

Sunx Fuling glanced at the courtyard wall, then back at him. She seemed to understand. ”What’s up?”

”I came...” Hee Lingchuan forced a laugh. ”...to borrow some firewood.”

He saw the leather bags in her hands were stuffed full and quickly stepped forward. ”Here, let me get that.”

Sunx Fuling handed him her things, then went into her kitchen. She came back out with a large bundle of firewood and a big bag of charcoal, shoving them both into his hands. ”I’ll never use it all. Take whatever you need.”

A sudden SQUAWK came from next door.

Sunx Fuling noticed. ”What was that sound?”

”A bird.” Hee Lingchuan gestured with his chin. ”The Sparrowhawk fought a monster in your yard just now. It got injured, and I’m treating it at my place. It won’t stop complaining about the cold, so...”

He gestured with the firewood in his arms.

”It’s hurt?” Sunx Fuling’s expression softened. She had been there the last time the Sparrowhawk had visited. ”I’ll go take a look.” With that, she turned and pushed open her own gate.

Of course, Hee Lingchuan couldn’t very well hop the wall back. He had no choice but to follow her out the gate, walk a few steps to his own, and push it open. ”Please, come in.”

He went to the kitchen to get the fire started. When he turned back, he saw Sunx Fuling crouching down to examine the Sparrowhawk’s wounds, her hand gently stroking its back.

Not only did the Sparrowhawk not shy away, it actually closed its eyes, a look of pure enjoyment on its face.

”...” ’Is this bird playing favorites? What about all the disdain it showed me earlier?’

”You poor thing. Your feathers are broken. It looks like you’ll need to rest for a while before you can fly again.” Sunx Fuling produced a small packet of jerky from somewhere, tore it into thin strips, and fed it to the bird bit by bit. ”I bought it at the market. It’s not too salty.”