Where Immortals Once Walked

Outside Pure Swan Hall lay a small garden.

As father and son passed through the garden gate, they caught sight of two figures within the hall.

He Chunhua turned his head slightly and asked in a low voice, “Are these the two you saw galloping through the streets the other day?”

He Lingchuan had already spotted the guests and nodded promptly. “Yes, it was them!”

These were the same two men who had ridden their horses recklessly through the marketplace, nearly trampling a child, before galloping out the northeastern gate without a backward glance.

He Chunhua had not returned home in the past two days, so He Lingchuan had no chance to report it. Yet somehow, his father knew all about it.

I wonder who told him about it.

Hmm, actually, it was probably Uncle Hao.

Once again, He Lingchuan was struck by just how meticulous and far-reaching his father’s control was, whether over both his sons or the entirety of Heishui City.

Frankly, it was a little terrifying.

Moments later, they entered the hall. He Chunhua eyed the two uninvited guests and said calmly, “May I ask where our two guests hail from?”

The white-robed youth whom He Lingchuan had seen the other day was now clad in a formal lake-green brocade outfit[1], with delicate silk embroidery trimming his shoulders and collar. He had clearly dressed to show proper respect to the local authority.

He Lingchuan also finally got a good look at the gray-robed man’s face.

He was tall and lean. He appeared to be nearing sixty, evidenced by both his hair and beard graying. Despite his age, his eyes were piercingly bright, and it seemed as though they could see straight through a man’s heart and drag forth his deepest secrets.

The youth smiled. “I am Nian Songyu, Martial Commandant of Yue City in Xun Province. I was sent here by my father, Nian Zanli, on official business.” He then gestured to his companion and continued, “This is His Excellency Sun Fuping, a state preceptor of the Great Yuan!”

Even He Chunhua, who was usually composed beyond reproach, could not help but show visible shock at the declaration of the other party’s identity. “What?!”

Nian Songyu’s identity was well within his expectations. He already knew that Nian Zanli, the Provincial Governor of Xun Province, had dispatched someone to Heishui City. He just had not anticipated that it would specifically be the man’s second son.

But the appearance of a state preceptor? That was a whole different matter.

A state preceptor!

There were only three state preceptors in all of Yuan, each with powers that defied comprehension.

In times of peace, they were spiritual pillars and strategic guides to the throne; in times of war, they were terrifying weapons of destruction, capable of turning the tide of battle with a single move.

For most spellcasters, becoming a state preceptor was the pinnacle of achievement. And yet this one, who should have been comfortably revered in the capital, had somehow appeared in this remote and barren corner of the kingdom.

For a moment, He Chunhua forgot all about manners and fixed his gaze upon the old man, scrutinizing him. It was only after some time that he exhaled and bowed slightly. “So you truly were State Preceptor Sun. It appears this lowly official has been negligent.”

Sun Fuping gave a gentle smile. “At the Grand Sacrifice to Heaven[2] twenty years ago, I recall Libationer He brought his grandson with him. That must have been you.”

“Much has changed since then,” He Chunhua replied with a touch of melancholy. He turned and gestured to the young man beside him. “This is my son, He Lingchuan.”

He had spent over a decade in the capital and had seen Sun Fuping at various events. Two decades might have passed, and State Preceptor Sun had visibly aged, but his features remained recognizable. A few more glances were all He Chunhua needed to be sure.

He Lingchuan had no choice but to step forward and offer his respects.

Nian Songyu grinned at him. “So we meet again.”

“Indeed,” He Lingchuan replied with an even brighter smile, catching the hint in his tone. “It must be fate that keeps bringing us together, Commandant Nian.”

He Chunhua’s expression shifted in surprise. “Oh? You’ve already met?”

Before Nian Songyu could reply, He Lingchuan quickly stepped in to explain, “Father, you were away, so I wasn’t able to tell you about it, but the other day while I was dining by the street, I happened to see these two honored guests passing through. The street was quite crowded, and Commandant Nian even rescued a child from being trampled. It was truly an act of kindness!”

Uncle Hao had just stepped into the rear hall when he heard this and winced slightly.

He Chunhua let out a soft “Oh” and remarked, “So that’s what happened. Commandant Nian, young as you are, your sense of duty and compassion is truly admirable.”

All four smiled politely, each pretending not to see through the act.

However, He Lingchuan understood perfectly well why things were as they were. Nian Songyu outranked him, and the other party’s father, Nian Zanli, also outranked his father, He Chunhua. So, that little incident from the other day? It was naturally best to gloss over it and move swiftly to the matter at hand.

After all, he had a strong hunch that the real business would not be much more pleasant.

Sure enough, Nian Songyu smiled and immediately moved on from the topic, “Lord He, State Preceptor Sun and I are carrying out an important mission. We’ve ridden for three days and three nights straight to get here.”

“You must be exhausted from your journey. You should stay the night at White Stone Tower. It’s the finest guest house[3] in Heishui City,” He Chunhua responded considerately. He then turned and summoned a servant to bring fresh hot tea for the guests.

Since their host had not yet inquired further, Nian Songyu took the initiative. “I’m afraid that for the mission that we are currently undertaking... We will be requiring Lord He’s assistance.”

He Chunhua gave a thoughtful hum. “I’m listening.”

Nian Songyu’s tone turned solemn. “Are you aware that Woling Pass has fallen?”

The news was such a shock that He Chunhua nearly leaped from his seat. Abandoning propriety, he exclaimed, “What did you say? Woling Pass has fallen?”

Woling Pass? He Lingchuan searched his inherited memories but came up short. It seemed that the former He Lingchuan had little interest in such matters. All he could recall was that it lay somewhere in the central region of Yuan and that it was surrounded by mountains and rivers.

He Chunhua exclaimed, “How is that possible?! I heard that rebel forces from Buxin and Hongchuan allied together in the fifth month to attack Woling Pass. However, Woling Pass is surrounded by natural barriers and has been heavily reinforced over the past decade. It’s supposed to be virtually impregnable! Furthermore, the garrison should be under the command of General Zhao Ronglue, the so-called Iron Bucket General, with elite troops and ample supplies. How could it have fallen so easily?”

Based on his estimates, Woling Pass should have held out for at least a year or two. By then, the rebellion would have collapsed on its own.

“Lord He, even from the distant Jin Province, your understanding of the central front rivals that of many nobles in the capital,” Nian Songyu said with a tinge of irony. “Unfortunately, General Zhao was wounded in the eye during the chaos and died of his injuries. Once he was gone, the troops fell into disarray, the officers turned on one another, and the enemy seized the chance to storm the city. Half a month ago, a traitor opened the gates from within and let the rebel army in.”

A stronghold undone without a proper fight. Pure Swan Hall fell into heavy silence. The only sound was Commandery Administrator He’s increasingly labored breathing.

“You know as well as I do the importance of Woling Pass to the heartland of Yuan,” Nian Songyu continued, fixing He Chunhua with a level gaze. “It guards Fengling Port, the most vital river port in Hongchuan. And it is currently the flood season. After several summer storms, the river is swollen and fierce. If the rebel forces ride the current downstream, they can bypass all the land-based defenses and directly reach Shihuan City...”

Nian Songyu paused, then added gravely, “That city is only seven and a half kilometers from the capital.”

A distance of seven and a half kilometers was barely a heartbeat for cavalry moving at full speed.

His explanation was so clear that even He Lingchuan, who was no expert on Yuan’s geography, grasped the gravity of the situation. His whole family lived far out on the border of the kingdom, guarding its borders for the King. But if the capital fell, what would they be defending?

He Chunhua exhaled, but all he breathed out was cold air. “Where are the rebels now?”

“Still at Woling Pass.”

Both He father and son blinked in surprise. After going through all that effort to seize the pass, the rebels had not pushed forward? Had they not heard of the value of swift strikes in warfare?

However, He Chunhua caught on quickly. “Did something go wrong when they tried to move through the river?”

“General Zhao Ronglue’s deputy, Xu Dayou, managed to rally the remnant forces and set fire to all the docked vessels before retreating. Though the rebels captured the pass, they were left with no usable boats. And thanks to the recent rains, it’ll take them at least fifty days to cut timber and build new ones.”

“Heaven has shown us mercy, providing us with some time. Right this moment, armies from all over the kingdom are rushing to Woling Pass, but the outlook is still rather grim,” State Preceptor Sun Fuping said. “Whether or not Great Yuan survives this crisis may well depend on what happens in these next fifty days.”

1. The brocade outfit mentioned here is likely similar to those worn by the imperial guards of the Ming dynasty. ☜

2. This is an Asian religious practice, and it was basically a symbolic affirmation that the emperor ruled with the Mandate of Heaven. ☜

3. The actual word used here can also refer to holiday or vacation homes for nobility or royal/imperial figures. ☜