After the Immortal Disappeared

Chapter 303: Chapter 302: The Two Enemies Converge

Outwardly, however, he scratched the back of his head. ”If she wanted to kill herself, of course she wouldn’t let us find out. Hmm? What’s that on the table?”

There seemed to be another ball of paper on the table, damp and soggy.

”See for yourself.” Hee Chunhua exhaled a breath of frustration. ”Hong Chenglu sent another message.”

Hee Lingchuan opened the paper ball and saw that it was indeed the same handwriting as before:

”I ask for the return of my wife’s body.”

The force of the strokes nearly tore through the paper, a clear sign of the writer’s suppressed emotions.

”What do you plan to do, Father? Will you return it?”

Hee Chunhua was silent for a long moment before waving his hand. ”Return it.”

Hee Lingchuan acknowledged and was about to withdraw when Hee Chunhua suddenly asked, ”Tell me, why did she do it!”

”I...”

Before Hee Lingchuan could speak, Hee Chunhua furiously continued, ”It was just a peace talk! If it succeeded, great! If not, we could talk again! I didn’t want her life, nor her husband’s life! I was even going to release her in three months! Why did she have to be so fierce, so absolute!”

”This probably...” Hee Lingchuan thought for a moment. ”has nothing to do with you, right, Father?”

Hee Chunhua’s eyes went wide. ”Nothing to do with me?”

’Nothing to do with him? Then why did Ajin choose that exact moment to take her own life?!’

”She probably didn’t want to be a burden to Hong Chenglu anymore. Death would solve all her problems,” Hee Lingchuan said. ”Didn’t she tell Hong Chenglu that from now on, he was as free as a bird in the vast sky?”

Ajin was the rope tying Hong Chenglu down. With the rope broken, he was finally free.

”But it had to be during the peace talks!” Hee Chunhua’s roar seemed to carry for miles. ”Just when we were about to reach an agreement!”

In truth, he knew that Hong Chenglu had come with only Dong Rui, not an army, which showed his intent to compromise. This meant his, Hee Chunhua’s, plan had been correct and would have succeeded.

They were so close, so close to an agreement!

’That woman deliberately ruined everything.’

Hee Lingchuan remained silent.

It was the first time he had ever seen Hee Chunhua so hysterical, and it was quite a surprise.

His father had always presented the image of a humble and refined gentleman, a man of great poise.

Hee Chunhua paced back and forth a few times, as if his furious shouts had vented half his anger.

After a while, he returned to his normal self and said to his son, ”Tell me, what method could he possibly have to make General Zhao suffer a defeat?”

This was the condition Hong Chenglu had offered during their negotiation. Though it had sounded unreliable, Hee Chunhua couldn’t help but feel suspicious now.

’Hong Chenglu isn’t the type to make empty boasts, is he?’

He had just discussed it with Zhao Pan, but they hadn’t come to any conclusion. Zhao Pan had even laughed and said it was impossible.

”I do not know.”

Hee Chunhua rubbed his temples. ”General Zhao and I have agreed that the entire camp must heighten its security for the next few days. Don’t go running around if you don’t have to.”

What was done was done. No matter how furious he was, he had to guard against the enemy’s retaliation.

”Yes.”

Hee Lingchuan exited the tent. He placed two torches on the carriage that held the body, thought for a moment, then placed the comb by Ajin’s head. Only then did he order his Personal Guard to lead the carriage to the edge of the woods and then whip the horse’s rump hard.

The horse, startled by the pain, bolted into the forest. Soon after, the light from the torches was extinguished.

A dozen breaths later, even the sound of clopping hooves vanished into the darkness.

Hee Lingchuan stared in that direction for a while, lost in thought. He knew Hong Chenglu had received Ajin.

The husband and wife were finally reunited.

He felt a coolness on his face as a few drops of water fell. The sound of a drizzle started up all around.

The rain had returned.

...

「Hundred Cries Valley.」

Inside a massive cave, a fire roared. Hong Chenglu watched, expressionless, as the flames consumed his beloved’s body.

The Xunzhou Rangers stood behind him, not daring to make a sound.

The pyre burned down by dawn.

Hong Chenglu went forward to gather the ashes, placing them carefully into an urn while murmuring softly, as if to soothe her. He would take his wife home, not leave her to be buried alone in a foreign land.

Wuu Qing was also nearby, sweat constantly beading on his forehead, though he didn’t dare to wipe it away too often.

He kept stealing glances at Hong Chenglu.

After sealing the urn, Hong Chenglu suddenly turned to him. ”I already confiscated Ajin’s Cold Pigeon Powder. Why did she still have some? Did you give her more?”

’Here it comes. There’s no escaping it.’ Wuu Qing abandoned all pretense of composure and dropped to his knees with a THUD. ”General, I don’t understand either! I reported everything she said to you truthfully!”

The last time, Ajin had asked him for the poison and told him to keep quiet. But how could Wuu Qing dare? He had immediately turned around and reported it to Hong Chenglu. Hong Chenglu had then gone to Ajin at once and confiscated the Cold Pigeon Powder.

Logically, everything should have been fine after that.

Hong Chenglu gritted his teeth so hard they audibly ground together.

Wuu Qing suddenly remembered something and quickly said, ”Ah, the Spirit Medicine from National Preceptor Frost Leaf! My lady took it several times. Could it be that... she... she could actually move again?”

Ajin had been paralyzed from the neck down, able to do little more than twitch her fingers. Hong Chenglu hadn’t thought much of it when he took her Cold Pigeon Powder, because without help, she had no way of getting the poison into her mouth.

But with Wuu Qing’s reminder, he now understood.

National Preceptor Frost Leaf’s medicine had taken effect. She could probably move her hands!

So she had let Hong Chenglu take most of the Cold Pigeon Powder, while secretly hiding a few small pellets for herself.

At this thought, Hong Chenglu’s eyes burned again.

National Preceptor Frost Leaf’s medicine really could have cured her! Her condition was clearly improving, yet she still chose death in the end!

She had paved the way for him with her life!

Wuu Qing felt the murderous aura emanating from Hong Chenglu grow even thicker, and he was too terrified to rise from his knees.

Hong Chenglu stared at the back of his head, fighting the urge to draw his sword.

’Useless fool! If this bastard hadn’t given her the medicine, Ajin would still be alive.’ He clenched his fist tightly, then slowly released it, burying the hatred in his eyes. Wuu Qing was a valued subordinate of National Preceptor Frost Leaf. If he were to kill him just like that, it would be difficult to explain when he returned to Beiga.

Sweat dripped from Wuu Qing’s forehead onto the ground. ”This subordinate has made a grave mistake, one that death cannot redeem. I await General Hong’s punishment!”

He admitted he had ”made a grave mistake,” but not that he had ”caused the lady’s death.” Ajin’s decision to die was her own.

Hong Chenglu let out a long breath. ”I’ll hold you to that. We’ll deal with punishment later. Right now, I need you to do something for me first.”

Wuu Qing was currently his only link to the Beiga Kingdom. He was all alone behind the Yuan Army’s lines, leading the Xunzhou Rangers to stir up trouble, so aid from Nian Zanli and the Beiga Kingdom was especially crucial.

”Please command me, General!” Wuu Qing’s anxious heart finally settled. ’If he’s giving me a task, it means he doesn’t plan to kill me.’

”I want to meet with Nian Zanli,” Hong Chenglu said coldly. ”You’ll arrange it. Just tell him I have a way to help him achieve his goal of landing on the south bank of the Hanhe River.”

’Huh?’ Wuu Qing was stunned. ’He has a way to do that?’

They had been surveilling the Yuan Camp for days. Zhao Pan was quite skilled at managing his troops and defenses; otherwise, the Xunzhou people’s southward advance wouldn’t have been halted north of the Hanhe River.

And now Hong Chenglu was saying he could easily shatter this stalemate?

”Is there a problem?” Hong Chenglu asked, seeing him motionless.

Wuu Qing quickly replied, ”This subordinate will see to it at once!” Heedless of the downpour outside the cave, he rushed out.

How he would contact the other side while braving a torrential storm and flooding—this was his test. Regardless, it had to be done.

At a time like this, getting soaked by the rain was better than staying by Hong Chenglu’s side.

...

「Five double-hours later.」

Hong Chenglu rode Dong Rui’s Strange Bird across the raging river, heading straight for the Xunzhou main camp on the opposite bank.

Although the flood had first consumed the south bank, the Xunzhou people had still cautiously evacuated the north bank, retreating nearly two hundred *zhang*.

Fire and water are merciless; their weight is more than humans can bear.

Dong Rui’s Strange Bird was also ill-suited for flying in this weather. Fortunately, with the aid of a Light Body Skill, it could just barely manage a short-distance flight.

It landed before the Xunzhou main camp. Hong Chenglu leaped off and saw that the camp’s defenses were imposing, presenting a formidable sight.

He had just landed when several riders galloped out from the camp. ”State your name!”

”Hong.”

The men brought forward a horse, clearly having been instructed beforehand. ”This way, General Hong. Lord Nian awaits you in his tent.”

Hong Chenglu mounted the horse and followed. The Strange Bird shrank until it was the size of a crow, then landed on his shoulder and shook its head.

It was an unusual sight, and everyone stared.

Hong Chenglu was then led all the way to the Central Army Tent.

A man was already leaning against the tent flap, watching. Seeing him approach, the man ignored the pouring rain, stepped forward to grab the reins, and laughed heartily. ”General Hong, it’s been a while!”

”Lord Nian. Long time no see.” Hong Chenglu reached out to slap palms with him, then dismounted, and they entered the tent together.

The man had a fair complexion and long eyebrows, with a dignified and imposing air. His features bore a slight resemblance to Nian Songyu. He was none other than the former General of the Northern Expedition of the Yuan Kingdom, Nian Zanli.

After he defected to the Northern Demon Kingdom, the Beiga Kingdom appointed him Xunzhou Governor, putting him in charge of both military and political affairs.

Once the two were seated, Personal Guards immediately served hot tea and offered dry towels for them to wipe their faces.

Nian Zanli asked warmly, ”Have you eaten? We have freshly slaughtered lamb today. It’s incredibly tender.”

He and Hong Chenglu had become acquainted through conflict. In the past, he had defended the Northern Realm of the Yuan Kingdom while Hong Chenglu was a General for the Beiga Kingdom. They had crossed swords on the border, and he had even suffered a loss to him.

When he heard from Wuu Qing that Hong Chenglu was requesting a meeting, he took it very seriously.

Hong Chenglu took a sip of hot tea. ”Thank you, but there’s no need. I’ve come to you on short notice, Lord Nian, because I have something to discuss.”

’The man certainly is direct.’ Nian Zanli raised an eyebrow as Hong Chenglu continued, ”Zhao Pan on the other side has already received ten thousand *shi* of military grain. The one who personally led the Xiazhou Grain Transport Team to the front lines is the new Governor of Xiazhou, Hee Chunhua. Were you aware of this, Lord Nian?”

The smile slowly faded from Nian Zanli’s face. ”I’d heard.”

’Hee Chunhua arrived at the front lines several days ago. I have a score to settle with that man for the death of my son. This just gives me one more reason to crush the Yuan Army and level Xiazhou.’

”Lord Nian, you’ve been in a standoff with Zhao Pan on the north bank of the Hanhe River for nearly two months. Do you have a date in mind for the general offensive?”

There was a hint of a challenge in his words, but Nian Zanli pretended not to notice. ”The original plan was for the end of the flood season. This Zhao Pan puts all his effort into defense. He doesn’t sortie easily, doesn’t make rash advances. You can throw bait at him, but he won’t bite. He just focuses on fortifying his position.”

Combined with the natural barrier of the Hanhe River, it was indeed difficult for him to attack the south bank.

He paused. ”However, the Yuan Army has a critical weakness. They’re constantly short on clothes and food, barely holding on. If we just wait them out a little longer, we might be able to take them easily.” ’Nian Zanli knew better than anyone how rotten the Yuan Kingdom was from within. Zhao Pan, no matter how capable, was just one general. He had a whole court of officials to drag him down. The Yuan Army’s logistics have always been a major vulnerability. In a war of attrition, the advantage is ours.’