Where Immortals Once Walked

Making a scene in public would only add another joke for people to laugh at.

Fan Long glanced at the tray again. Fan Sheng’s chest rose and fell. At last, he hurriedly took a cup, drained it in one gulp, and forced out through clenched breath, “Fine, the past is wiped clean.”

He Lingchuan looked moved. “Second Brother Fan is truly understanding!” Then he shifted over to the giant bear and personally took a cup of wine for it. “Third Brother?”

The giant bear was much more straightforward. It held the cup in both forepaws, stretched out its tongue, and lapped twice. It seemed to find the taste good, so it lifted the cup and drank it all.

“One more cup,” it rumbled to the maid. The wine has a hint of honey! Delicious!

He Lingchuan simply picked up the wine vessel and poured for it himself.

The giant bear drank two cups and still looked unsatisfied.

Fan Long could no longer bear watching and coughed. “Third Brother!”

Only then did the giant bear stop and return the cup.

He Lingchuan smiled. “If Third Brother Fan likes this wine, come to me for it anytime. The bees in the back mountain will soon produce some linden honey.”

Fan Bao said reluctantly, “Too bad I have to leave tomorrow.”

He Lingchuan asked casually, “Oh? Where are you going?”

Fan Long answered, “It and Second Brother have been assigned to the eastern battlefield. They leave tomorrow.”

He Lingchuan looked at Fan Sheng, whose face was expressionless.

He smiled and said, “Then I’ll have the kitchen matron choose a few jars of honey wine for Third Brother Fan to take along.”

Fan Bao’s eyes immediately shone, and it smacked its lips.

Fan Sheng kneed its plump backside. This oaf only thinks of food! A month ago, this man had nearly chopped off one of its forelegs! Has it already forgotten?

“We appreciate the kindness.” Fan Long smiled. “But wine interferes with military affairs on the battlefield. He’ll have to behave.”

Fan Bao lowered its head.

But the manor’s honey wine is good.

At this point, Fan Long said to Fushan Yue, “I brought twenty brothers with me. I’ll trouble you to arrange lodging for them.”

“It’s already prepared,” Fushan Yue said, forced to show welcome. The Tongxin Guard moving into Fleeting Thoughts Manor was the Lord Emperor’s order. Could he say no?

“For safety’s sake, whenever Crown Prince Yue and the special envoy go out, the Tongxin Guard should accompany you.” Fan Long smiled. “If you do not trust the food, you may also have them taste it first.”

Fushan Yue looked touched. “Commander Fan, how thoughtful.”

Damn it. The Lord Emperor probably hadn’t specified things in much detail. Otherwise, Fan Long would already be citing an imperial order.

This bastard’s borrowing the Lord Emperor’s command to disgust us.

Once the scene was handled, He Lingchuan turned and entered the rear kitchen.

Several unfriendly gazes followed him all the way to the corner.

The Soul-Stealing Mirror in his chest suddenly asked, “This Nian Zanli you want to deal with, he seems quite considerate of Yuan, doesn’t he?”

“Oh?”

“Wasn’t he denouncing corruption and hoping to save the people from suffering?”

“If a man wants to rebel, he has to find himself a good reason,” He Lingchuan said lightly. “Not only for others, but more importantly, for himself.”

One had to tell one’s followers that their choice was right. More importantly, one had to convince oneself that one’s conscience was clear. Only then could one’s will remain firm.

Otherwise, how could an ordinary person withstand the pressure of a thousand accusing fingers and public condemnation?

The mirror sounded thoughtful. “So he doesn’t really think that?”

“How he thinks isn’t important.” He Lingchuan’s voice turned cold. “Look at what he does, and what consequences he causes. In the Han River battle, both sides were Yuan’s young men. Tens of thousands were killed or wounded all at once, all to present Beijia with a great gift. The key is, Beijia doesn’t even value him. Do you think someone like Nian Zanli can save the people from suffering?”

The mirror gave a small “uh.” Was this question a little beyond its scope? “Whether Nian Zanli or the Royal Court of Yuan wins, the war can end. Isn’t that good?”

“Originally, whether it was him or the Minister of War fighting the Royal Court of Yuan to the death, that could at most be called rebellion. Winners become kings, losers become bandits; dynasties rise and fall. Those are Yuan’s own affairs.” He Lingchuan continued, “But now Nian Zanli wants to draw foreign powers into attacking his homeland. Do you know what that is called?”

“Uh?”

“That is called invasion!” He Lingchuan enunciated each word. “In history, those who lead foreign enemies to attack their own homeland, how could they deserve a good end?”

“Nian Zanli wants to borrow troops from Beijia. Let me ask you this, if he wins, does he have to repay the debt? Does he have to submit to Beijia and pay tribute? If Beijia asks something of him, must he answer?”

“Uh...” The mirror had not thought that far.

“Then he will have to strip Yuan’s flesh, blood, and wealth and send it endlessly to Beijia until the people are poor and the treasury is exhausted. To put it bluntly, he’ll tear up even the roots of future generations.” He Lingchuan pointed outward casually. “Look at how Lingxu City’s people live. Whether or not they suck Yuan’s blood, they’ll still sing and dance as usual. But what fate will the people of Yuan meet?”

“This is called taking from what is already lacking to enrich what already has surplus. It is not the way of Heaven.” His tone was ice cold. “Now, do you still think Nian Zanli is acting for Yuan’s sake?”

The mirror could not make a sound.

Its master was too sharp. It could not argue.

What He Lingchuan thought of was the great war between immortals and the Heavenly Demon three thousand years ago.

Faced with the invasion of the Heavenly Demon, why had the immortals firmly resisted? Why could they not simply let it go? Because the Heavenly Demon had only plundered the mortal realm, endlessly at that. The spirit qi that was exhausted, the resources that were used, all of those had originally belonged to all living beings in the world.

The more the Heavenly Demon took, the less remained for the world. Then the remaining immortals and monsters had to compete inwardly for those limited resources.

The losers died out, while the winners could only eat some leftover scraps.

The harder one struggled, the more painful it became.

If one did not struggle, one perished.

Heh.

After the banquet ended and the guests dispersed, Fushan Yue came to find He Lingchuan.

“The guests are gone, but the Tongxin Guard hasn’t left.”

“I know. I saw.” The Tongxin Guard had already settled into Fleeting Thoughts Manor. No matter where He Lingchuan went, he could often see their figures passing in the distance.

These were all eyes and ears sent by Fan Long. Fushan Yue even had to arrange quarters for them. Just thinking about it felt unpleasant.

“These people will poke around everywhere and report back to their master,” Fushan Yue snorted. “We need to give them a warning first. We can’t let them live too comfortably.”

“Also, I’ve already asked around about how Fan Sheng and Fan Bao were dealt with. Half a year’s salary docked, rank lowered by half a step, and sent to the eastern battlefield.”

“Dealt with?” He Lingchuan did not understand Lingxu’s situation well enough to know whether this counted as light or heavy.

“Of course it’s a punishment! The Fan brothers were originally sent to Qingding City on official business, yet they ran off to Baishajue without authorization to help Cen Boqing deal with you. Leaving their post without permission, assisting a major criminal, obstructing Chiyan’s special envoy from handling a case, and what they interfered with was the elixir of youth case, which even Bai Ziqi found troublesome. With all these crimes punished together, it should have been severe.”

Fushan Yue sneered. “Docking half a year’s salary? Isn’t that just playing? Do the Fan brothers lack that little bit of money? Rank lowered by half a step? Their direct superior is still their own elder brother. What’s so serious about that?”

He Lingchuan asked, “Then being sent to the eastern battlefield counts as a punitive assignment?”

“If they can win merits, that’s redeeming their crimes through service, and everyone is happy.” Fushan Yue’s face was stiff. He was not happy.

In his eyes, every one of these punishments was perfunctory.

“Before the Lord Emperor ascended the throne, the Fan brothers were already his direct retainers. Now they guard Lingxu City’s southern gate for him. Clearly, Fan Long at least has his deep trust,” He Lingchuan said with a smile. “For the sake of some nobody wearing the title of Chiyan special envoy, the Lord Emperor has no reason to heavily punish his beloved generals.”

Yet this specific special envoy represents the State of Chiyan. Fushan Yue knew He Lingchuan had deliberately softened that point. He exhaled. “Right, do you actually want to join Chiyan or not? My old man has only a few years left at most, and the throne is definitely mine. Come help me. In the future, you won’t have to swallow this kind of useless anger anymore.”

“This trip has made me realize that Beijia and I are not very compatible.” He Lingchuan smiled. “Once matters here are finished, I will leave.”

“Hey, hey, the elixir of youth case is just an exception. Who told us to stab Lingxu City right in the lungs?” Has this kid been frightened by Lingxu City? “Actually, among Chiyan’s officials, plenty will never need to deal with Lingxu City in their entire lives. Once we return to Chiyan, won’t things just be steady, improving, and under control?”

He Lingchuan smiled. “We’ll see.”

Fushan Yue clicked his tongue. “We’ll see” means “no chance,” doesn’t it?

After nightfall, Old Shan returned and delivered an oiled-paper packet to He Lingchuan.

When opened, it contained a teacup and several half-gray, half-white strands of hair.

“These are Zaifu Kua’s?”

“Yes. This is the cup he used for tea at the tasting gathering hosted by Her Lordship. His saliva should be on the rim.” Old Shan said, “The hair was personally taken by the Marquis. There won’t be a mistake.”

“Excellent!” He Lingchuan clapped his hands. “With these two things, plus his Four Pillars of Destiny[1], it will be enough. Thank the Marquis of Songyang for me, and arrange for us to meet soon. Tell her there has been progress on the matter she entrusted to me.”

Since she had given him peaches, he had to return plums and report progress in time.

“Yes.”

“Wait.” He Lingchuan rubbed his chin. “Now that the Tongxin Guard has moved into Fleeting Thoughts Manor, they are watching me even more tightly than Fushan Yue. If you keep running back and forth between her and me, it may arouse suspicion.”

Old Shan paused. He Lingchuan had only recently moved from the Mount Pan Residence to this place, and there were unfamiliar faces everywhere. It was indeed unfavorable for his secret work.

He Lingchuan beckoned, and a little squirrel jumped in through the windowsill, landing on his shoulder.

This time, he handed over a few fragrant roasted hazelnuts.

“Little Qiao, help me deliver two messages. One to the Songyang Mansion branch, and the other to this address.” He read the second address to the squirrel, then added, “Quietly find someone surnamed Dong. Don’t let anyone else notice. The Dong fellow has an incredibly ugly face, or else he wears a veil over it. He’s very easy to recognize.”

This squirrel was called Little Qiao.

After hearing He Lingchuan’s verbal message, it squeaked twice, turned, and leaped back into the trees. In two bounds, it vanished into the forest shadows.

Fleeting Thoughts Manor was covered in trees, and who knew how many squirrels hid in them? If the Tongxin Guard wanted to track Little Qiao here?

Let them try.

* * *

Zaifu Kua had drunk too much. His steps floated, and riding in a carriage made him dizzy, so he simply stayed in the Lower City that night.

A retired Lingxu official with broad connections like him usually had residences in the Lower City as well.

The young concubine he had bought just last year was beautiful, the same age as his granddaughter, yet obedient and sensible. Seeing him return that night with an unsteady gait and a flushed, swollen face, she quickly cooked a sweet-and-sour plum soup for him to sober up.

After two bowls, Zaifu Kua suddenly vomited up a great deal of wine, frightening the concubine badly.

But after vomiting, he felt much better. The tight heaviness in his chest lessened, and the moment his head touched the pillow, he could sleep.

1. Just a reminder that this is basically the birth date and hour, which He Lingchuan had asked for before. ☜