Where Immortals Once Walked

Of course, Lu Yao knew He Lingchuan’s aim had only been to delay pursuit. He had never truly believed that a short stretch of ice could stop hardened brigands.

Once everyone scrambled across, he slashed a hand through the air. “Chase them!”

But just then, one brigand raised his hand timidly. “General, the... the horses aren’t able to make them up!”

On two legs, how could they possibly match four?

Lu Yao’s glare could have slain. “Then what are you waiting for? Lead them up!”

So the men turned back to fetch their mounts.

And there the trouble began.

Men could climb the hacked-out holes one step at a time, but horses could not. The ice was slick, the footholds few. Horses were no soldiers; they had not been trained for such footing. Their spindly legs skated helplessly across the slope, hooves slipping and sliding.

Some managed to catch a hole, others missed completely. What they were doing was practically no different from gambling.

Frantic, the brigands laid in with their whips. Two mounts, maddened by pain, reared and clawed furiously at the ice.

They missed.

Whoosh!

Both horses skidded and fell off the path, dragging the men behind them screaming as they plummeted down.

The echoes of men’s cries and horses’ shrieks faded below.

The rest stood pale, turning hesitant eyes toward Lu Yao.

If the horses could not make it up, what point was there in pursuit?

Lu Yao threw back his head and roared, the sound reverberating through the hills, before snapping, “What are you standing for? Dig! Dig a road!”

They now had to dig a road that horses could traverse.

Luckily, the village had picks and hoes, which were far better tools than axes for cutting ice.

Bit by bit, the three layers of thick, origin-energy-tempered ice were hacked apart. At last, horses could clop and stumble their way up.

But by then, another two hours had passed. Just making their way up a short stretch of ice had taken nearly as long as breaking through the three wagon barricades!

Lu Yao trembled with rage, his breath turning cold. Again and again, the thought gnawed at him.

Did that He brat calculate this from the start?

He died too damn easily! Getting smashed to pieces like that is far too cheap of an end for the likes of him!

The brigands dropped their tools, hands and legs sore, but scrambled onto their horses at Lu Yao’s barked order.

The sun was already nearing its zenith.

Their bellies now rumbled. From last night’s supper until now, not a scrap of food or drink had passed their lips. With them having worked so hard since then, it was only normal for hunger to be gnawing at them now.

Many silently cursed themselves for not grabbing a few flatbreads from the village.

But one glance at Lu Yao’s steely face was enough to silence every complaint.

They galloped on, crashing through a small grove. Suddenly, Lu Yao bellowed, “Who’s there?”

His shout was not finished before his axe was already flying.

Whack!

Branches split. A figure tumbled from the trees, leg broken in the fall.

Lu Yao strode over and gave a low laugh. “Well, if it isn’t one of Old Pei’s scouts.”

The man whimpered, “General Lu, please spare me.”

“Where’s Old Pei?”

The scout stammered, refusing to answer.

Lu Yao split his skull with a single stroke.

He had the body searched and found nothing useful.

But then the woods rustled. With a flutter, something whirred through the air and struck the corpse.

The brigands stared.

It was a wooden bird, a mechanical messenger.

Lu Yao was well acquainted with such wooden birds. He split open its belly, drew out a paper slip, and glanced over it before sneering. “Old Pei wants to keep tailing me, eh!”

* * *

Splash!

Something churned the water below, scattering droplets in all directions.

Then, He Lingchuan heard coughing.

It was a rapid, ragged fit, the sound of someone choking on water. It was harsh, wheezing, and broken.

He Lingchuan had spent the past two months giving and receiving wounds, and had heard men cough their last breaths often enough to know that this person’s lungs were injured.

The smell of blood soon followed.

And beneath it came another strange sound, like hot breath exhaled in rhythm.

“Hhhah... hhah...”

He Lingchuan held his breath, waiting, listening.

The coughing cut off.

For forty, fifty breaths, there was only silence.

He Lingchuan was almost convinced the presence had gone when the water roiled again. Something slammed against the stone with immense force, rattling the cave.

The coughing returned. Now, it was louder and harsher, as if the man had just surfaced.

And then, in a voice raw and straining, came two words, “Evil beast!”

The tone struck a faint chord in He Lingchuan’s memory. He had heard this voice before, and it was just recently.

When did I hear them?

Was it hours ago? A day ago?

Then, it hit him. His eyes widened, and the words escaped his lips, “Wu Shaoyi?”

His voice was not loud, and it should have been drowned by the loud splashing of the water below. Yet, the man below caught it clear as day.

“Who, who’s there? Quick, save me!”

The moment He Lingchuan had spoken the name, he was already half-sure. Hearing the desperate plea, he guessed the man was no immediate threat. He tore a strip of cloth, lit it with his fire-starter, and tossed it down.

The sparks drifted in the dark, flickered on the water twice, and died.

But for that instant of light, He Lingchuan saw what lay below.

He did not see Wu Shaoyi himself, at least not fully, but the gleam of scaled armor.

The scaled armor was completely black, scales ridged with three rows of hooked barbs that shone wet under the spray.

The sparks had fallen close to a massive head. Startled, it thrashed, sending up a sheet of water. For the briefest moment, He Lingchuan glimpsed a pair of glowing green eyes.

He sucked in a sharp breath. There was no mistaking it.

The crocodile king.

So that was it. Wu Shaoyi had not been devoured by the lakeshore. The crocodile king had actually dragged him all the way here.

“General Wu?” He Lingchuan called cautiously. “Where are you?”

His voice echoed. The cavern was enormous.

“In, in the crocodile god’s jaws!” Wu Shaoyi answered. “I’m bracing its maw with my spear! Come, come down and—”

The words broke off in a splutter.

Wu Shaoyi had been dragged under the water by the giant crocodile yet again.

He Lingchuan’s thoughts raced.

This guy’s a rebel general. Should I help him or not?

If I don’t... can I escape on my own?

For the time being, he waited, and he did not need to wait long.

Soon, Wu Shaoyi surfaced again in the beast’s jaws, coughing and flailing. He Lingchuan seized the chance to shout, “Where’s the exit? How do I get out?”

“You can’t! The others are out there—” Wu Shaoyi sputtered, swallowing water. “Other crocodiles!”

Then, he cried desperately, “Help me! I know a way! I know how we can survive! You have to trust me!”

He Lingchuan narrowed his eyes. “Do you even know who I am?”

“Anyone, anyone will do, even one of Lu Yao’s dogs!” Wu Shaoyi roared. “This is the crocodiles’ lair. There’s no second way out! If you won’t help me, we’ll both die here!”

He Lingchuan thought for a moment, then lit two more cloth strips and tossed them down. His sleeve was now much shorter.

The monster rolled sideways, half-submerged, and in the flare of light, he finally saw Wu Shaoyi.

The man half-reclined in the creature’s maw, spear jammed between its upper and lower jaws. He had to cling to the shaft with both hands, straining not to be shaken loose by its thrashing.