After the Immortal Disappeared

Chapter 465: Chapter 464: Foes Are Bound to Meet

General Antelope was impatient and wasted no time. With a powerful leap, he vaulted over the wall and into the courtyard.

The dignified General had no qualms whatsoever about scaling other people’s walls.

His action drew stares from the passersby on the street.

The two Wind-Drilling Beast guards saw this and followed suit.

Hee Lingchuan heard the sound of their hooves on stone and wood—an unusually dense CLATTER-CLATTER-CLATTER that darted here and there in an instant.

They had clearly used their Barging Talent, covering the entire residence and back in just a few breaths.

Just as Hee Lingchuan and Jiao Yu jumped into the courtyard, General Antelope appeared before them.

”No one!”

Jiao Yu immediately said, ”I’ll go look for secret passages.”

Hee Lingchuan, on the other hand, made a beeline for the study without a second thought.

This was a private residence, not an inn. The furniture and belongings were arranged for everyday living. Since Mr. Mai stayed here regularly, he must have left some trace of himself.

The study was simply furnished with only a bookshelf, a curio display rack, and a desk and chair.

A vase also stood beside the curio rack.

Hee Lingchuan immediately began to turn the place upside down.

The bookshelf and desk drawers were filled with ledgers and financial statements. Judging by the records, Mr. Mai was a merchant who dealt in medicinal herbs.

Of course, according to Wan the Wealthy, this was all just a cover.

Hee Lingchuan suddenly felt a warmth on his neck—

The Divine Bone Necklace was emitting a faint red glow.

’So there’s something else hidden in this study?’

Hee Lingchuan immediately got to his feet and began pacing around the study.

The room wasn’t large, which limited his perception of the Divine Bone Necklace’s heat. He only discovered that as he approached the curio rack, the heat from the Divine Bone died down.

’Does that mean the important item is on the rack?’

He glanced at the curio rack. On it sat an Ivory Jade Ball, a gold-inlaid jade Pi Xiu figurine, and a celadon tea set. On the floor beside it stood a large, long-necked vase with a wide body, holding several scrolls.

The vase was in the darkest corner of the room. The master probably didn’t go near it often, so the servant boy tasked with cleaning the study had grown lazy, not even bothering to wipe the dust off its surface.

Just as Hee Lingchuan was about to check each item, a commotion erupted outside.

He could even hear General Antelope’s furious roar.

’Sounds like someone’s coming.’

Time was short. Without a second thought, Hee Lingchuan pulled all the scrolls from the vase and stashed them in his Storage Ring.

He had just finished when several people burst in, one of them bellowing, ”Halt! Put that down and turn around!”

Jiao Yu rushed forward to confront them, roaring, ”The Crown Prince’s Envoy is conducting an investigation! How dare you interfere? The nerve!”

But he stopped short of actually swiping at them with his claws.

Hee Lingchuan turned to see the uninvited guests. They were mostly human, but in the courtyard, a massive demon was facing off against the Wind-Drilling Beasts.

The leader of the group wore a large cloak. He had a human-like appearance, but his skin was a pale blue.

’He looked very familiar.’

The man’s gaze sharpened when he saw Hee Lingchuan. A guard beside him shouted, ”Lord Zhongsun, the Lingxu City Inspector, is conducting an inspection by imperial decree! Show some respect!”

’The Lingxu City Inspector?’

’Oh, so Zhongsun Mou is here.’

Enemies truly are destined to meet.

Although Zhongsun Mou’s primary target was Fushan Yue, Hee Lingchuan still remembered what the man had said to him at the Twilight Plateau checkpoint.

’What was it again? Something about cutting out my tongue?’

’Great, just great. A personal grudge added to an official errand for Fushan Yue. At least now I won’t be bored.’

Zhongsun Mou’s face darkened as he stared at Hee Lingchuan, clearly recognizing him. ”How did this case end up in Fushan Yue’s hands?”

Hee Lingchuan could see the naked disgust in the man’s eyes. He touched his own face. ’But I’m so handsome,’ he thought.

’Fushan Yue wasn’t wrong. This man is just as petty and vengeful as he is.’

Just as he was about to speak, the Inspector looked down on him and said condescendingly, ”Fushan Yue sent *you*?”

His eyes were full of contempt, his posture oozing arrogance.

’Hee Lingchuan felt he’d wasted all those years as a profligate son. Look at this man’s expression, his attitude! Now *that’s* how you do it.’

’It seemed the ”surprise” Fushan Yue had arranged for him upon turning back had been too small.’

’In any case, Zhongsun Mou still held the title of Lingxu City Inspector and appeared unharmed. At least Fushan Yue hadn’t laid a hand on him personally.’

’A man even Fushan Yue didn’t dare kill... As the Crown Prince’s Special Envoy, it would probably be inappropriate for me to get too rough with him, at least publicly.’

Hee Lingchuan didn’t answer. He simply turned his back on Zhongsun Mou and went back to fiddling with the Ivory Ball on the curio rack.

He pressed it, shook it, then held it to his ear. ’Hmm, solid,’ he thought.

Zhongsun Mou said coldly, ”Put it back.”

Hee Lingchuan pretended not to hear, moving on to the next item—the Pi Xiu figurine.

One of Zhongsun Mou’s guards, enraged, rushed forward to grab his shoulder. ”He told you to put it back!”

Jiao Yu wasn’t about to stand by and watch. He swatted at the guard’s arm with his claw.

The barbs on his Tiger Claw were over an inch long, glinting coldly. A strike like that could easily scrape half a pound of flesh from a man’s bones.

The guard dodged hastily. Jiao Yu hadn’t intended to seriously injure him anyway, so he let the light tap be the end of it and didn’t press the attack.

”Insolent!” Zhongsun Mou’s other guards surged forward. Jiao Yu crouched low, ready to pounce, his fur bristling.

The situation was about to explode.

With a loud BANG, the two Wind-Drilling Beasts smashed through the doorway and wall. They rushed in to stand protectively in front of Hee Lingchuan, their posture screaming, ’Less talk, more fight.’

PTOOEY! PTOOEY! Each of them spat a glob of saliva toward the opposing group.

A Wind-Drilling Beast’s saliva was sticky and foul-smelling. It could soak into the skin instantly, and if it got on you, the stench wouldn’t come off even with frantic scrubbing with multiple bars of soap. It would last for at least half a month.

This was their way of throwing down the gauntlet.

Both sides were left speechless. ”...”

’As expected of General Antelope’s subordinates; they had truly learned from the master.’

Hee Lingchuan finally spoke, his tone leisurely. ”Do you know where you are?”

Zhongsun Mou frowned at the seemingly random question and didn’t respond.

In truth, he had long forgotten whatever he might have said to this brat; he only saw him as one of Fushan Yue’s lackeys.

”This is Chiyan Territory, and I am the Crown Prince’s Special Envoy.” Hee Lingchuan produced his Special Envoy Token and slapped it against his palm twice. ”If you dare act presumptuously here, I’ll smash your mouth in and break your legs.”

Even Jiao Yu shot him a sideways glance.

’He really is the Crown Prince’s friend. They have the exact same heaven-piercing nerve.’

Ever since becoming an Inspector and touring the Vassal Demon Kingdoms, it was the first time Zhongsun Mou had been cursed at so crudely. His face turned livid with anger. His guards couldn’t restrain themselves any longer and charged forward.

Hee Lingchuan slapped Jiao Yu on the back. ”Get ’em!”

’His own side’s lineup was stacked: a Hundred Mountains Middle Lang General and a Feitian Vanguard General. Both were expert fighters. What was there to be afraid of?’

’Besides, this is Chiyan Territory!’

Jiao Yu charged first, taking on two men at once. General Antelope lowered his head, the movement so fast it left an afterimage, and sent an unprepared guard flying into a wall.

As chaos erupted, the giant monster outside heard the commotion and turned to charge inside.

It was only a couple of sizes smaller than Second Madam Zhu and couldn’t fit through the door. If it forced its way in, the entire study would collapse.

’Isn’t this just making the search harder for no reason?’ A chill went through Zhongsun Mou. He roared, ”Stop! Everyone, stand down!”

The scene looked chaotic, but Jiao Yu and General Antelope were both seasoned veterans of bureaucracy. They held back, not using their full strength. After all, Zhongsun Mou was still protected by the aura of his title as Lingxu City Inspector.

Aside from Hee Lingchuan, the other demons from Chiyan were, in fact, somewhat intimidated.

The two sides broke apart as quickly as they had engaged, so no major incident occurred. Even the giant monster outside halted its advance.

Only then did Hee Lingchuan get a good look at it. It was a hippo-like monster with a barrel-shaped body, a massive rear end, and four short, stumpy legs. With a body like that, it looked like a small hill whether it was sitting or lying down.

Realizing his side didn’t have the upper hand in terms of sheer force, Zhongsun Mou decided not to take a loss he could avoid. He suppressed his anger and pulled out a black, cloud-shaped token.

The token’s surface pulsed with a faint red light.

But before he could speak, Hee Lingchuan preempted him. ”Since we’re both special envoys, why are you obstructing my investigation?”

’’Both special envoys’? As if a mere Crown Prince’s envoy from a Vassal Demon Kingdom could compare to me.’ ”Are you investigating the disappearance of the White-shouldered Eagle?”

”That’s right. Lingxu City ordered Chiyan to conduct a thorough investigation, and so the Crown Prince ordered *me* to conduct a thorough investigation!” Hee Lingchuan grinned, his dimples showing. ”It’s official business. One must give it their all, you know.”

”I will be taking over this case. You may return.” Zhongsun Mou produced a letter on golden paper, stamped with a large Red Seal and closed with a wax seal. ”Take this missive back to the King of Chiyan. He will understand.”

A guard took the letter with both hands and presented it to Hee Lingchuan, but he simply clasped his hands behind his back and refused to take it. ”I don’t have time. You can mail it to him yourself.”

Looking at him, Zhongsun Mou felt as if he were seeing Fushan Yue—both had infuriatingly punchable faces.

But Hee Lingchuan just smiled, his expression as pleasant as a spring day. ”As an Inspector, what are you doing meddling in the affairs of Chiyan Territory?”

”The disappearance of a Messenger from Lingxu City falls within my jurisdiction as an Inspector.”

He stressed the words ”Lingxu City.”

Hee Lingchuan had already asked Fushan Yue about them. The so-called Inspectors dispatched by Lingxu City were publicly tasked with touring, inspecting, and supervising. Secretly, however, they also spied on the Vassal Demon Kingdoms, collecting all sorts of intelligence to report directly to the Saint.

Just as in the Human Kingdom, the Demon Emperor would never, ever truly trust the Demon Kings he had enfeoffed.

Thus, while the rank of Inspector wasn’t high, the power they wielded was considerable.

Of course, Zhongsun Mou only wore the ”Inspector” halo when he was dispatched on a tour. Once he completed his duties and returned to the Imperial Capital, that authority would be revoked.

His insistence on taking this matter into his own hands didn’t seem to be an overreach of his authority.

’But why?’

’Less than half a month ago, this bastard was fighting Fushan Yue on the Twilight Plateau. Why has he suddenly snuck into the Chiyan Kingdom to poke his nose into this Messenger business?’

While he mulled this over, Hee Lingchuan asked, ”Lord Zhongsun, how far has your investigation progressed?”

Zhongsun Mou said coolly, ”I cannot disclose that, lest I alert the suspect.”

’Putting on airs again, is he?’ Hee Lingchuan thought. Before he could respond, General Antelope lost his patience. Ignoring the monster he’d been facing off against, he strode over the collapsed wall and demanded, ”Hold on. Have you found the culprit or not?”

Zhongsun Mou frowned, looking annoyed. ”And who might you be? What business is this of yours?”

General Antelope retorted furiously, ”I am the aggrieved party! Seven members of my Wind-Drilling Beast clan were murdered! How can I not have a say in this!”