Where Immortals Once Walked

State Preceptor Shuang Ye and Nian Zanli had certainly dealt with each other before. After all, he had allocated origin energy to Nian Zanli and even sent Hong Chenglue to support him.

Though that battle had not ended well, regardless of what Nian Zanli thought of State Preceptor Shuang Ye and Hong Chenglue, once he arrived in Lingxu City, he must have paid Shuang Ye a visit and raised his request for troops.

When living under another’s roof, one had to bow one’s head.

Now that State Preceptor Shuang Ye was willing to help, he had not contacted Nian Zanli directly. Instead, he had taken a roundabout route through Fushan Yue and He Xiao, clearly leaving the favor for them to bestow.

The state preceptor handled matters without letting a single drop leak.

Xi Yunhe nodded. “When entrusted by one’s lord, one must be loyal to one’s task.”

In other words, your request has been handled. Now it’s your turn.

He Lingchuan sat upright. “I’m listening.”

“The elixir of youth case is connected to Cen Boqing. The day after that document was delivered to the Lord Emperor, Qingfu Temple caught fire. All 121 people in the temple burned to death, from the abbot down to the night patrolmen, water attendants, bell keepers, and the rest, not one escaped. Bai Ziqi’s trail broke there.” Xi Yunhe added unhurriedly, “That is why State Preceptor Qing Yang has been going out as usual lately, behaving as if nothing happened. She knows no one can seize concrete evidence.”

“Where is the concrete evidence?”

“Setting a fire is the best way to destroy evidence.” Xi Yunhe said, “In truth, it is also the easiest way to make mistakes. Because every corpse was burned beyond recognition.”

He Lingchuan stroked his chin. “Was that how State Preceptor Shuang Ye helped you fake your death back then?”

Xi Yunhe ignored him.

“So how many were found?”

“Only 103 bodies were found afterward. In a fire that large, a few missing corpses are not strange.”

After a massive blaze, there would always be some people missing. Besides, the fire at Qingfu Temple had been peculiar to begin with. Witnesses at the scene said it had even carried a faint purple glow. What was so strange about a few people being burned away?

Xi Yunhe continued, “Qingfu Temple had a temple attendant named Kong Jiaxiang. That night, he secretly went to South Li District to find his old lover and stayed outside without reporting to the temple. When he woke up, he heard Qingfu Temple had been burned clean. He was clever too. He didn’t go back to check at all, but greased his feet and immediately left the city, heading south to his hometown, Yangshui.”

“He’s still in Yangshui now?”

“He is.” Xi Yunhe laughed softly. “We have people watching him, but he doesn’t know.”

“Even State Preceptor Qing Yang thinks Kong Jiaxiang is dead. How did you know he was alive in Yangshui?” He Lingchuan’s gaze sharpened in secret. That fire at Qingfu Temple could not have been set by State Preceptor Shuang Ye’s people, could it?

Thinking of how Xi Yunhe could take on the identity of Mai Xuewen, infiltrate Wu Kai’s side, and personally leave clues while killing monsters for pearls, it suddenly felt entirely plausible that State Preceptor Shuang Ye might also have sent someone to burn Qingfu Temple.

“You think we set the fire?” Xi Yunhe shook his head. “That place was the most important site and piece of evidence for the private sale of elixirs of youth. How could we simply burn it down? We originally thought the fire had ruined everything too. It was only two days later that someone noticed Kong Jiaxiang’s old lover was behaving as usual, even laughing happily while chatting with her neighbors, without the slightest sign of grief.”

He Lingchuan’s eyes flickered. “Who found out that Kong Jiaxiang had a lover?”

“Me, of course. I started watching him three years ago. Once there was a doubt, it became easy to investigate,” said Xi Yunhe casually. He then enunciated each following word, “This time, State Preceptor Qing Yang’s luck has turned. Heaven itself means to take her!”

Otherwise, why had State Preceptor Shuang Ye discovered at the first opportunity that Kong Jiaxiang was not dead, and not State Preceptor Qing Yang?

“There were over a hundred people in the temple. Were they all helping sell elixirs of youth?”

“Of course not. Only three to five knew the truth.” Xi Yunhe said, “Kong Jiaxiang was responsible for handovers and bookkeeping. As long as Bai Ziqi catches him, he’ll naturally be able to follow the vine back to the Spring Palace.” He then gave a cold laugh as he added, “In truth, Bai Ziqi knows very well that the elixirs of youth were privately made by the Spring Palace. But against an opponent such as that, no concrete evidence means no action.”

He spoke lightly, but He Lingchuan knew how hard-won this clue was. It was like finding a living path among hundreds of dead ends. Who knew how much effort it had taken?

Xi Yunhe’s professional ability really was outstanding. No wonder back then he had investigated case after case until State Preceptor Qing Yang could do nothing about him and finally had to get rid of him.

He Lingchuan exhaled. “Then let me ask you this: if even Cloud Envoy Bai was helpless after Qingfu Temple burned, on what basis would I, an outsider, discover that Kong Jiaxiang is still alive?”

Bai Ziqi would inevitably demand that he or Fushan Yue explain the source of the information. There was no way around that question.

“Because Kong Jiaxiang has another identity. Not only is he Wu Kai’s fellow townsman, but he is also the elder brother of Wu Kai’s daughter-in-law.” Xi Yunhe said flatly, “You can say that when you were checking Wu Kai’s hometown background, you found this living man, only to discover he was listed among the dead at Qingfu Temple.”

“Yangshui lies within Chiyan territory. It is only natural that you could investigate him.”

He Lingchuan thought for a moment before saying, “That method is good. But to be safe, I’ll send an informant back to Yangshui.”

Even though Xi Yunhe’s abilities were obvious, and the chance of him lying about this case was very small, the matter was important. If He Lingchuan did not send one of his own people to check, he would not feel at ease.

Xi Yunhe was not surprised. “As you please, but move quickly. Delay invites change.”

Kong Jiaxiang was the trump card they had painstakingly obtained. If the Spring Palace destroyed him too, the truth of the elixir of youth case might never see daylight again.

After some thought, He Lingchuan said, “By the way, Crown Prince Huan went to the Mount Pan Residence last night to kill people and set fires. You know about that, right?”

“The whole city knows.”

“Do you know who did it?”

Xi Yunhe said, “You have so many enemies. Don’t you have any idea yourself?”

He Lingchuan smiled bitterly. “Can it be found out?”

“I advise you not to act rashly.” Xi Yunhe’s puppet kept a stiff face. “Just obediently carry out your task.”

“The state preceptor is supposed to protect my safety.” He Lingchuan smiled. “What if those people make another move?”

“Didn’t the Lord Emperor grant the Chiyan Crown Prince a residence?” Xi Yunhe said mildly. “He even assigned the Tongxin Guard to protect you.”

“You know perfectly well what my relationship with the Tongxin Guard is like.” He Lingchuan rubbed his nose. “If the Fan brothers don’t make trouble for me, that already counts as magnanimous. If some thief sneaks in and tries to take my life, they might just stand by and let it happen.”

“If something happens to the Chiyan people again, the Lord Emperor won’t look good either.” Xi Yunhe smiled. “If we know someone is targeting you, we’ll warn you in advance. Right, I’ll teach you Mental Override[1].”

Mental Override was a divine technique that turned a living person into a puppet, briefly controlling their speech and actions.

During that time, the controlled person had no memory and would not even feel the passage of time.

However, this spell usually only worked on idle commoners, wandering monsters, the sick and weak, or the unconscious. It was almost useless against those with firm wills. Otherwise, Xi Yunhe could have simply controlled He Lingchuan to find Bai Ziqi. Why bother negotiating with him?

“What if the target is old and physically weak, but protected by origin energy?” He Lingchuan loved digging into details.

Xi Yunhe gave him an odd look. “Origin energy? I don’t know how other states distribute it, but unless one is going to the battlefield, most officials in Lingxu City aren’t equipped with origin energy. Origin energy is so precious that even Beijia doesn’t hand it out to every official.”

He Lingchuan understood. “So that’s how it is.”

“Also, those controlled by Mental Override cannot perform overly complex tasks, such as fighting.”

He Lingchuan smiled again. “Which state preceptor taught it to you?”

“Neither,” Xi Yunhe said. “I happened upon an ancient text and learned it myself.”

The world’s arts and techniques were strange and countless. Many had been handed down from the Ancient Era and the Middle Era, and no one could know them all.

“Do they know you know this secret art?”

Xi Yunhe said plainly, “That has nothing to do with you.”

So they don’t know. He Lingchuan understood. It seemed this fellow had learned his lesson. Even toward State Preceptor Shuang Ye, his lifesaving benefactor, he no longer revealed everything.

In a few brief sentences, Xi Yunhe explained the spell formula and key points clearly, then he said, “Although State Preceptor Qing Yang does not know about our operation here, she will not sit still and wait for death. Be careful afterward.”

He Lingchuan’s eyes shifted. “What other tricks does she have?”

“She has been visiting the Lord Emperor frequently lately.” State Preceptor Qing Yang had deep ties with both the previous and current Lord Emperor. Sometimes, even if one did nothing else, playing the emotional card was the most useful move. “Also, she is skilled at operating in the shadows. Don’t think that just because State Preceptor Shuang Ye has forced her back step by step, she has no ability to retaliate. Heh, on the surface, she may look quiet, but perhaps everything happening in Lingxu City lately is connected to her.”

“Lately?”

“Possibly including the things you’ve encountered.”

He Lingchuan was startled. “You mean the attacks we’ve suffered these past few times may be connected to her?”

Aside from the post station explosion, which he had orchestrated himself, someone had poisoned him, and someone had incited Crown Prince Huan to intercept the Chiyan people and burn Mount Pan Residence.

So far, the mastermind behind these cases had not been found.

Could they be connected to the Spring Palace?

Right, facing the pressing advance of Bai Ziqi and the Chiyan people, how could State Preceptor Qing Yang remain unmoved?

“Perhaps.” Xi Yunhe’s puppet gave a stiff shrug. “Only my personal guess, based on what I know of her.”

He said no more, only urging He Lingchuan to complete the task as quickly as possible before leaving.

After he was gone, He Lingchuan wasted no time and summoned the goshawk into the room.

“There’s a new job. Fly to Yangshui in Chiyan and check on someone. Gather some information.”

A creature with wings could cover five hundred kilometers a day. A round trip to Yangshui would only take a few days.

* * *

Night fell, and Panlong City saw its first snow.

As He Lingchuan walked down the street, he suddenly felt a chill on his face. Fine flecks of snow had arrived without warning, slipping down toward people’s collars.

Pedestrians on the street gathered their robes tighter and quickened their steps.

On such a freezing day, hurrying home to sit by the stove was the proper thing to do.

He Lingchuan walked into a pharmacy, ordered several medicinal ingredients, and asked the shop to prepare a portion of White Tiger Soup for him.

“Someone at home needs to sober up?”

He Lingchuan smiled. “That’s right.”

He had thought that after leaving Mount Xu, he would enter Panlong City at night. In the end, that night, he had first dreamed of the Dao-Seeking Tree, and the next day, the Lingxu Crown Prince had come knocking to kill and burn.

Tonight, he had finally entered the city.

A short while later, the White Tiger Soup was ready. He did not fear the heat, so he picked up the clay pot and headed back.

1. The original term here is 心影相传, and it would have perhaps been “better” translated as Mind-Shadow Transference or whatever else countless ways to literally translate the term. However, the more wuxia/xianxia way of translating the terms really just sounds a bit too tacky for me. I ended up translating it the way I did, even with it being a bit disconnected/jarring, simply because it conveys what actually happens a lot better, at least in my opinion. ☜