After the Immortal Disappeared

Chapter 374: Chapter 373: The Most Precious Information

Wu Jingsong said, ”I initially believed the Second Young Master’s soul was lost during the battle, so I followed that lead for a long time. It turns out, a merchant from the Gan Family in Wuze County had the gall to do it.”

Sha Xinghai was ambushed while traveling, but only suffered minor injuries. He then continued to Wuze County to carry out his mission.

Who would have thought that after surviving his enemies, he would fall prey to the schemes of an ordinary human.

Sha Xinghai sighed softly. ”In Wuze County, I concealed my true identity, claiming only to be a wealthy merchant from Lingxu City looking to purchase large quantities of medicine for external wounds, as well as unmarked light armor and weapons.”

Wu Jingsong’s face showed his understanding. ”No wonder the Gan Family made a move. If they’d known the Second Young Master’s true identity, they wouldn’t have dared, not even with ten times the courage.”

With his hands clasped behind his back, Grand Tutor Sha asked, ”You said the Gan Family merchant is already dead?”

”Yes, killed by mountain bandits. As soon as he died, the Gan Family fell into chaos. By the time we left Wuze County, they were already having to sell off assets to repay their debts.”

”The Gan Family merchant may be dead, but it is only right and proper that his family pays for his debts!” Grand Tutor Sha said coolly. ”Go and handle it.”

”Yes, sir.”

”The Gan Family is out of the picture, but the mission must proceed. Hee Xiao has done you all a great service, so give this order to his Commerce Association. And right, make sure to tell them that the weapons and equipment must bear no markings.”

Wu Jingsong agreed. Grand Tutor Sha mused for a moment before adding, ”That mirror... did it recognize Hee Xiao as its master on its own?”

”He subdued the mirror.”

”You saw it with your own eyes?”

Wu Jingsong shook his head. ”I’m ashamed to say I was deluded by an illusion of Gan the Third that the mirror projected. By the time I rushed back to Mochou Lake, he had already broken through the mirror. However, his performance within the mirror’s world was truly outstanding.”

Sha Xinghai added, ”He returned my soul. I assumed you would reward him generously with wealth, Father. I never expected you to offer him an official position. We still haven’t even figured out his background.”

Wu Jingsong interjected, ”I asked the people in his Commerce Association. They all say Hee Xiao is a distant relative of the two owners and that this was the first time they’d met him. They don’t know anything else.”

But Grand Tutor Sha said, ”His appearance in Wuze County might have been specifically for the mirror.”

”The mirror?” The other two were perplexed.

”Father, are you suggesting that the Gan Family merchant used the mirror to plot against me, and this man then plotted against the Gan Family to seize it?”

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it?

”That mirror is an ancient artifact. The patterns on the bronze border look very familiar, but I can’t quite recall where I’ve seen them. It must be quite old. Hmm, Jingsong, that general you encountered in the mirror’s Illusion Realm... what was his name again?”

”The Pu Kingdom’s Grand General, Youu Shanming.” He had also overheard the conversation between Hee Lingchuan and Red Phoenix.

”The Pu Kingdom...” Grand Tutor Sha stroked his beard, thinking for a long while. ”I seem to recall something about it. It was an ancient kingdom that vanished long ago, at least twenty-five to twenty-six hundred years ago. Hmm, I will have to investigate this further.”

Sha Xinghai was visibly stirred. ”Then... wouldn’t that be just a few hundred years after the world-ending calamity? The early years of the Middle Ages?”

”Indeed. That was when the Human Kingdoms were rising, vying for supremacy with the Great Demons. The Immortal Sects had not yet waned, and they often dispatched Immortal Descendants from the mountains to lend the Human Kingdoms a helping hand.” Grand Tutor Sha stroked his beard. ”That, too, was a turbulent and magnificent era.”

Wu Jingsong added, ”The Mages in the Illusion Realm could all achieve flight with their Magical Artifacts, and Red Phoenix’s Demon Power was astounding—she was nearly capable of destroying a city on her own.” He had only given Grand Tutor Sha the gist of the events earlier, as the latter was anxious to retrieve Sha Xinghai’s soul, leaving Wu Jingsong with no time to relay many of the details. ”Even the Great Demons of today mostly lack that kind of power.”

”In that case, this mirror must be at least twenty-five hundred years old; otherwise, it wouldn’t contain such an Illusion. Hmm, it’s a genuine relic from the Middle Ages.”

Sha Xinghai looked at Grand Tutor Sha. ”Father, are you thinking...?”

Grand Tutor Sha waved his hand dismissively. ”Over a year ago, the White Elephant King’s Linlang Treasure Pavilion was robbed, and several relics from the Middle Ages were stolen. I heard he killed over a hundred people in a fit of rage, but the thief and the stolen goods remain at large. Go back another dozen years or so, and the Cyan Palace also lost a batch of its collection. Both sets of stolen treasures included mirror-type Magical Artifacts.”

”Are you suggesting this man, Hee, is connected to the thefts?” Sha Xinghai was even more confused. ”If that’s the case, why offer him an official position?”

”According to Wu Jingsong’s description, the man is both intelligent and courageous—a useful talent. If I merely gifted him wealth, he would take it and leave. By appointing him as an official, we can keep him under observation. Besides, he may not even be the thief. And frankly, I couldn’t care less if the White Elephant King and the Cyan Palace lose their treasures.”

Grand Tutor Sha sighed. ”Besides, he did, after all, bring your soul back. That is a massive favor. Otherwise, I’m already mentally and emotionally exhausted from dealing with His Majesty’s birthday and other miscellaneous duties.”

Sha Xinghai lowered his head.

Grand Tutor Sha thought for a moment. ”The official post I promised him can only be accepted after he returns from Lingxu City. Wu Jingsong, on my behalf, give him a piece of valuable intelligence. We wouldn’t want him to think I make empty promises.”

Wu Jingsong listened intently. He was startled at first, but then acknowledged the order and excused himself.

No one noticed a tiny spider on the roof beam scuttling away on its eight legs, then dropping down on a silk thread onto Wu Jingsong to hitch a free ride.

...

Hee Lingchuan only returned to his room after drinking until his face was flushed and his ears were hot. He appeared to be unable to hold his liquor, but in reality, he had taken a Hangover Prevention Pill. After washing his face with cold water, the effects of the alcohol had mostly worn off.

The Hangover Prevention Pill was concocted by Medicinal Ape Lingguang and was extremely effective.

This made Hee Lingchuan think of Lingguang and Rock Wolf Luu Xin. ’I wonder how those two are doing now.’

Half an hour later, a knock came at the door.

Wu Jingsong had arrived to deliver another token of gratitude from Grand Tutor Sha.

Of course, before speaking, he glanced left and right to confirm that no one else was around. Only then did he enter the room and whisper to Hee Lingchuan:

”The Grand Tutor instructed me to inform you that there will be another arrival of Emperor’s Liquid in three to four days. The prediction is accurate to within five days.”

Hee Lingchuan had already learned this piece of news from his Eye Spider, but now he had to feign shock, his eyes widening as he exclaimed, ”What? For real?!”

”The Grand Tutor is always serious; he does not make such jokes,” Wu Jingsong said with a solemn expression. ”The intelligence for the last arrival of Emperor’s Liquid was also very precise. The prediction was off by less than two days.”

”It can actually be predicted?” Hee Lingchuan was incredulous. ”Brother Wu, if I may ask, where did the Grand Tutor get this information?”

”It was passed on from Lingxu City. I don’t know the specifics.”

’So it wasn’t predicted by the King of Treasure Tree or Grand Tutor Sha themselves?’ Hee Lingchuan filed that piece of information away and asked, ”As I recall, there was a fifty- or sixty-year gap before the last arrival of Emperor’s Liquid. It’s only been half a year since then, so why is it coming again so soon?”

Wu Jingsong spread his hands. ”You’re asking me? Who am I supposed to ask? If you don’t believe me, I won’t insist.”

”I believe you! I believe you!” Hee Lingchuan grabbed his arm. ”The Grand Tutor oversees countless affairs; why would he play such a pointless joke?” ’It’s not like Grand Tutor Sha was predicting the end of the world. This news can be verified in three or four days; there’s no reason for him to lie.’

”Also, in three days, Fufeng City will impose a curfew to prevent any riots the Emperor’s Liquid might trigger. Civilians and traveling merchants will be ordered to remain indoors. Anyone who ventures out will be responsible for their own fate.”

Hee Lingchuan understood perfectly. He had seen how fragile human nature became in the face of Emperor’s Liquid. Panlong City had taken similar precautions to prevent trouble before it started.

He mused for a moment. ”In other words, I’ll have to leave the city to collect the Emperor’s Liquid.” ’There are too many people in the city, and everyone only has a palm-sized patch of sky above their homes. How much could anyone possibly catch?’

’The last time the Emperor’s Liquid appeared, I was with the army and had no way to prepare in advance. I only managed to snatch a tiny bit.’

’Now that I have inside information, shouldn’t I make proper preparations?’

”That’s what all the smart people do.” Wu Jingsong winked. ”If I were you, I’d go even farther out. Last time, all the nearby suburbs were divided up and claimed. Moreover, with His Majesty’s birthday approaching, envoys and merchants from every kingdom are flocking here. The competition in the countryside will likely be even fiercer. And one more thing—watch out for the Bird Demons in the sky.”

Hee Lingchuan let out a long ”Ohhh,” and cupped his fist. ”Many thanks for the guidance!”

’That’s right. This is Fufeng City, a hub for the powerful elites of the Treasure Tree Kingdom. They’ll also get the news ahead of time and will also have to leave the city to collect the Emperor’s Liquid. The easiest method for them would be to cordon off a large swath of land for their own private use.’

’As an outsider, it wouldn’t be wise for me to try and muscle in.’

’This is all advice born from others’ experience. It’ll save me a lot of trouble.’

Wu Jingsong then asked, ”The Emperor’s Liquid you collected last time, how did you end up consuming it?”

”I just swallowed it,” Hee Lingchuan said, looking baffled. ”Is there another way to take it?”

Only then did Wu Jingsong hand him a slip of paper.

”This is a recipe for refining Emperor’s Liquid. You should prepare the other ingredients in advance, lest you end up in a frantic rush and waste such a Celestial and Earthly Treasure.”

He paused, then added, ”You can trust this recipe; we used it ourselves last time.”

Hee Lingchuan reacted as if he’d received a Supreme Treasure. ”Getting a head start like this means gaining Cultivation and opportunity! Brother Wu, please extend my sincerest thanks to the Grand Tutor!”

Wu Jingsong smiled. ”The Grand Tutor cherishes talent and holds you in high regard. After your trip to Lingxu City, be sure to return promptly to take up your post, so as not to disappoint his good intentions.”

Hee Lingchuan nodded vigorously. ”I will, I will!”

He invited Wu Jingsong to stay for a drink, but the latter had other matters to attend to and took his leave.

The Eye Spider quietly hopped back onto Hee Lingchuan.

Once he heard the footsteps fade away downstairs, Hee Lingchuan finally unfolded the slip of paper and took a close look at the so-called ”Emperor’s Liquid recipe.”

For the past six months, whenever he had free time, he had been reading books in Panlong City’s Wenxuan Pavilion. The subjects were wide-ranging and eclectic, and he had even skimmed a few books on pharmacology. He wouldn’t dare claim to be an expert, but he had at least learned a thing or two. He no longer looked at a recipe as if it were a Celestial Book, as he had last year.

At a glance, he saw that several of the medicinal ingredients on the list matched the recipe for the Emperor’s Liquid Paste that Aluo had given him.

’But I won’t be using this generic version. The one Aluo custom-made for me is the best.’

’The most precious gift from Grand Tutor Sha wasn’t the recipe, but the news of the Emperor’s Liquid’s return. It allows me to prepare in advance and make full use of this heaven-sent opportunity.’

’But that raises a question: how did Lingxu City know the Emperor’s Liquid was going to appear?’

’It wasn’t just Lingxu City; even Panlong City seemed to know in advance.’

’Can outbreaks of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi actually be predicted? I get the feeling there’s something more to this.’

’But regardless, I should definitely prepare well for such a generous gift from the heavens.’

The Soul-Catching Mirror suddenly spoke up. ”Hey, what are you spacing out for? Are you communicating with the Ghost City?”