Where Immortals Once Walked

This was the great progress he had gained by placing himself in danger again and again.

Only he knew how difficult it had been.

Only after completing the third circulation did He Lingchuan slowly end his practice. He opened his eyes and was just about to stand and find some water when the Soul-Stealing Mirror suddenly cried out, “Hey, hey, look at the sky!”

The sky?

The window had been open all along. He Lingchuan leaped out and looked up. “What?”

“The Tianluo Star is shining!” The Soul-Stealing Mirror’s voice had gone thin and sharp. “Hahahaha! The tenth star of the Big Dipper! It’s shining, it’s shining!”

He Lingchuan first found the nine stars of the Big Dipper, then counted them. Sure enough, ten stars were now flashing.

Northwest of the Tianshu Star[1], an extra star shone bright.

Before He Lingchuan could look more closely, it went out.

“Huh?”

He held his breath and waited.

The people Li Qingge sent can’t be that unreliable, right? They had spent more than twenty days, already overdue, and in the end, it only flashed once?

What if the Heavenly Palace doesn’t notice? Wouldn’t that be like winking at a blind man?

Fortunately, after more than fifteen minutes, the star lit again.

“The people sent by Songyang Mansion’s mistress have finally reached Wan’ge Swamp!” the Soul-Stealing Mirror howled with delight. “You’re safe!”

I’m safe too. Long live me!

These past days, it had been terrified right alongside its master.

Looking at the flickering star, He Lingchuan let out a long breath. A great stone finally fell from his heart.

The moment he arrived in Lingxu City, he had asked Li Qingge to send people carrying the newest version of the Dragon Punishment Pillar to a small state on Beijia’s northwest border, to Wan’ge Swamp for testing.

This was the Generous Pot’s newest product, and it had “very likely” been stained with its aura. He Lingchuan had hoped it could divert the gods’ attention. At the time, he had truly been watched so closely that he could hardly breathe.

Now that he had passed the Dharma Eye’s test, the gods and the Monster Emperor should have little interest in him.

And now the Tianluo Star had flickered strangely once more, with the divine artifact marking a location in Wan’ge Swamp. He and Fushan Yue should have thoroughly cleared themselves of suspicion.

Sigh, late help is still help.

He Lingchuan murmured, “I hope it works.”

His next moves were all extremely important. He absolutely could not be watched by the gods again.

* * *

That night, bells echoed across Tianshu Peak.

When Bai Ziqi reached Star-Plucking Tower, the Chief Cloud Envoy was already standing respectfully before the Heavenly Tome.

“What happened?”

The Chief Cloud Envoy pointed toward the stars. “Look.”

Bai Ziqi raised his head, his expression solemn. “The Tianluo Star is shining... What location does the divine artifact indicate?”

The Chief Cloud Envoy extended the tip of his staff and lightly tapped the sand table. “Here.”

“This is the State of Jū?” Bai Ziqi’s voice was full of surprise. “How could it be outside Beijia?”

I thought...

“It seems your original line of investigation was wrong,” the Chief Cloud Envoy said in a grave voice. “This is the State of Jū. From the range shown by the divine artifact, the Generous Pot has appeared around Wan’ge Forest and Wan’ge Swamp. Have you been there?”

Bai Ziqi nodded and answered, “I traveled there in my youth. That was already twenty years ago. Wan’ge Swamp is rarely visited, but there are several cities and towns around Wan’ge Forest, mainly doing business in forest goods. At the same time, several cities and towns there connect north and south. It is an important transit route.” He paused. “Does Your Excellency wish me to go investigate?”

The Chief Cloud Envoy shook his head. “By the heavenly gods’ will, you will remain in Lingxu and continue investigating the elixir of youth case. We will send others to Wan’ge Swamp.”

“Yes.” Bai Ziqi looked at the sand table, somewhat unwilling. “When did Tianluo Star light up?”

“At the beginning of the hour of the dog, seven in the evening. It flickers on and off.” The Chief Cloud Envoy understood Bai Ziqi. Seeing his expression, he asked, “Has your investigation of the Chiyan Crown Prince and his special envoy made any further progress?”

Bai Ziqi shook his head. “No.”

“Miaozhantian also used the touchstone to test that youth surnamed He. There was no abnormality at all.”

Bai Ziqi immediately answered, “This subordinate misjudged. I willingly accept punishment.”

Miaozhantian’s magical energy was boundless, and the touchstone never erred. The gods had wasted vast amounts of divine energy on a mere youth because Bai Ziqi had insisted.

In the end, there had even been a mishap, and Fushan Yue could not be tested.

The Chief Cloud Envoy meant to remind Bai Ziqi that He Xiao had already passed the touchstone’s test and been proven innocent. Now, Tianluo Star had lit for the third time, and the place where the Generous Pot appeared was far away. There was even less reason for the Heavenly Palace to waste more manpower and energy on Fushan Yue and He Xiao.

“There is no need to investigate these two any further,” the Chief Cloud Envoy said. “Tell Fan Long as well.”

“Yes.” Bai Ziqi sighed inwardly.

Even horses stumbled. His instinct was not always correct either.

So be it.

* * *

That same night, Hong Chenglue hurried to the Autumn Palace.

The Autumn Palace stood beside Shuang Lake. Hong Chenglue took a narrow path surrounded by green trees. For those coming here for the first time, even passing by the lakeshore might not reveal this hidden trail.

After walking another thirty-odd meters, there was light.

It came from a small two-story building built beside a curving bay. In front of the door, an old osmanthus tree gave off fragrance, and in the lotus pond, a few late white blossoms faced the wind.

The courtyard was quite simple. It had square bricks, a fish tank, and an old maple spreading and swaying. Its branches twisted like claws, coiled and gnarled, while red leaves dotted it like blood.

State Preceptor Shuang Ye sat in a bamboo chair in the courtyard, head lifted toward the sky. Hearing Hong Chenglue arrive, he did not turn back. He only pointed to the chair beside him and said, “Sit.”

Hong Chenglue immediately sat.

Born into the military, he sat like a ruler, upright at every moment, in sharp contrast to State Preceptor Shuang Ye’s casual languor.

“Lord State Preceptor, you summoned me?”

State Preceptor Shuang Ye did not answer. Instead, he rested his hands behind his head and said leisurely, “When I was young, there was also a red maple like this beside where I lived. I had no playmates, and my mother could not keep me company either. Year after year, I often sat beneath that maple, looking up at the night sky.”

Is the state preceptor telling me why he’d taken Shuang Ye[2] as his title? Hong Chenglue did not answer.

State Preceptor Shuang Ye asked, “What about your childhood?”

“I was an orphan,” Hong Chenglue said expressionlessly. “Only A’Jin accompanied me as I grew up.”

“Right. You were an orphan. How did I forget again?” State Preceptor Shuang Ye sighed and pointed at the sky. “Do you see anything different?”

Hong Chenglue raised his head. The night sky was vast, filled with brilliant stars.

He was not familiar with astrology. After looking for a while, aside from a few stars he knew, he could see nothing special.

“My apologies.”

State Preceptor Shuang Ye pointed toward the middle of the sky. “Do you recognize the stars of the Big Dipper?”

“I do.”

“Count them. How many are there?”

Hong Chenglue counted, then showed surprise. “Nine... no, ten? Hm? Why is the Tianluo Star shining?”

He knew that the Tianluo Star remained bright every autumn and winter, but it should not be flickering like this.

“In fact, the Tianluo Star has already lit unexpectedly twice this year. The Heavenly Palace is very tense.” State Preceptor Shuang Ye said slowly, “I heard that around the time I was born, the Tianluo Star often flickered without warning. Do you know what major event happened then?”

State Preceptor Shuang Ye was born about a hundred fifty or sixty years ago. Hong Chenglue thought carefully. “The Whitefish Harbor Uprising?”

“Correct. At the time, Beijia did not suppress it immediately, causing the mess to grow larger and larger. And in the west, Panlong City under Zhong Shengguang’s rule was also rising, nearly becoming a tail too large to cut off.” State Preceptor Shuang Ye smiled. “Thus, the Tianluo Star flickering strangely is often seen as an omen of great chaos approaching.”

Hong Chenglue stared at the Tianluo Star. “Are there signs of great chaos now too?”

“How could there not be?” State Preceptor Shuang Ye glanced at him. “An age of great chaos is also when a general like you can display his talents. I previously applied for you to go east, and the Lord Emperor has finally agreed. The transfer order and military token will arrive soon. Fifteen days from now, you may set out.”

Hong Chenglue was overjoyed. He stood and bowed deeply. “Many thanks, Lord State Preceptor!”

He had only recently returned to Beijia, and his former achievements no longer counted. He urgently needed several great victories to establish his position.

Yet Beijia had few wars, and military merit was hard to obtain. Second Fan had gained fortune from misfortune and been transferred to the front, leaving countless people so jealous their eyes were red.

At last, it was his turn. State Preceptor Shuang Ye had put in no little effort.

“Perform well,” State Preceptor Shuang Ye instructed. “The war in the east will not be easy.”

Everything was finally returning to a path he knew well, and Hong Chenglue’s heart filled with mixed feelings. His chance to rise again had come, but A’Jin was no longer here.

“My lord, I wish to borrow something from you.”

* * *

The next day, Fleeting Thoughts Manor had a visitor.

The man wore a blue robe, and his eyes seemed forever filled with laughter.

He Lingchuan was greatly surprised to see him. “Mr. Fang?” Isn’t this Fang Canran, the chief steward of the Golden Horn Clan?

Although He Lingchuan had asked Old Ge to investigate his background, nothing useful had come of it. He himself had been so busy lately that he had put this man to the back of his mind.

He had not expected the man to come knocking on his own.

Fang Canran set down his teacup, rose, and cupped his fists. “Young Master He, it has only been half a month, yet you and the Crown Prince of Chiyan have already become famous throughout Lingxu City.”

Recently, the Chiyan delegation had stolen every spotlight in Lingxu City. First, they pursued the elixir of youth case aggressively. Then came two earth-shaking attacks. Afterward, the Lord Emperor personally granted a residence as an apology and even sent the Tongxin Guard to protect the Crown Prince of Chiyan’s lodging.

Such distinction was not something others had enjoyed in a long time.

“Mr. Fang, what are you saying?” He Lingchuan smiled bitterly. “We’ve merely spent half a month frightened and on edge.”

“I see that Young Master He’s complexion is very good, and your fortune as well. As for the elixir of youth case, the truth will come out sooner or later. There is no need to worry too deeply over it.” After offering a few pleasant words, Fang Canran turned to the main point. “I came today to deliver something to Young Master He.”

With that, he took out a box from his chest.

He Lingchuan’s gaze followed the motion and once again landed on the signet ring on his finger.

When the box opened, inside lay a small hide drum, larger than the baked flatbreads He Lingchuan often ate.

The hide drum seemed quite old. The leather had yellowed with age, but its surface was painted with mountains, rivers, forests, and a moon.

A landscape painting was common enough. Adding a moon was not strange either.

But dense forest had been added between the mountains, painted so vividly that it seemed the leaves would stir if the wind blew, and mushrooms would sprout from the ground. This was He Lingchuan’s first time seeing such a thing.

At the edge of the mountain and among the trees, there was also a small two-courtyard home, with a fence, grinding mill, table, and chairs in front, and a well behind.

Under the eaves hung a long string of something—whether chilies or firecrackers, he could not tell.

This no longer looked like simple landscape art. It was more like meticulous gongbi painting[3].

“What is this?” He Lingchuan had never seen it before, but he already had a guess as to what it was.

“A dream land.”

1. Dubhe. ☜

2. Shuang Ye can also be translated as red leaves or autumn maple leaves. ☜

3. Gongbi (工笔) is a careful realist technique in Chinese painting, the opposite of the interpretive and freely expressive xieyi style. The name is from the Chinese gong jin meaning “tidy.” ☜