Where Immortals Once Walked

“Maybe they know nightmares. Wasn’t Cheng Yu just like that?” the grotesque head explained. “Besides, rare things are precious. Dream lands aren’t easy to collect. Just hearing that makes them sound like high-end collectibles. And besides—” It gave two sly chuckles before adding, “You humans always have thoughts you’d rather keep out of the light. Isn’t it much better to do those things in dreams?”

“Huh?”

“Pretty girls dream too.” The grotesque head cackled. “Draw close in a dream, wake up with nothing having happened. As they say, a great dream leaves no trace.”

He Lingchuan understood. No wonder Fang Canran specifically emphasized that the place tied to this dreamland had quite a few beauties.

“Fine. From now on, that dream land is your den.” Getting the nightmare out of Panlong City was simple enough. He grabbed the grotesque head and tossed it straight into the river. “Go on.”

To the residents of Panlong City, it looked as if he had merely thrown a stone into the water.

The grotesque head sank at once and vanished.

People needed houses, dogs needed kennels, and nightmares usually needed to stay in dream lands to recover their vital qi. For as long as it remained in Panlong City, it received no replenishment. During its last few outings, it had practically been too weak to move.

That was why He Lingchuan had spent such a huge sum to buy it a den.

After all, sending a nightmare out on errands was extremely convenient. It could ignore many of reality’s rules and boundaries. Just a few days ago, for example, the nightmare had slipped into Zaifu Kua’s dream and extracted a great deal of information about Mount Xu’s Grand Spirit-Gathering Array.

The rock-fire aberrant creature Juju had a foul temper and plenty of schemes. So why had the gods still chosen Mount Xu as their earthly palace? Was that not like setting a campfire directly under their own backside?

Only from Zaifu Kua had He Lingchuan found the answer.

First, Mount Xu’s former name was Mount Shou’an, and it was the old site of the Grand Return Sect. It was one of the longest-lasting immortal sects, or Daoist schools, in existence, and was renowned for producing outstanding figures. Naturally, in the Ancient Era, it had also been a main force in resisting the gods. For the gods to build the Heavenly Palace there was to trample an old enemy beneath their feet, an act with powerful symbolic meaning.

More importantly, Mount Xu was the source of Lingxu City’s earth veins. The Grand Spirit-Gathering Array had to be built there in order to continuously supply Lingxu City with richer and more abundant spirit qi.

This concerned the welfare of every cultivator in Lingxu City, and it could not be neglected.

However, Mount Xu’s geography was actually unsuited to this version of the Grand Spirit-Gathering Array. It was only because the gods and the Lord Emperor forcibly ordered Juju to move mountains and shift peaks that the work was barely completed.

When leaders issued orders, they usually cared only that the result was satisfactory. They did not ask how difficult the process was. Officials, including Zaifu Kua, revised the plan again and again. Even if it could not be built, they had to create the conditions to build it.

Of course, the Grand Spirit-Gathering Array eventually began operating on schedule, once again proving the gods’ omnipotence.

However, costs did not simply disappear.

The finished array had natural weak points. These could not be eliminated, only repaired. As a result, countless inspections and repairs, large and small, had to be carried out every year, consuming labor, time, effort, and money.

Of course, with Lingxu City’s immense wealth, it could afford that price.

* * *

Lingxu City’s commerce was flourishing, and taverns, teahouses, and theaters were all places where business was discussed. Teahouses especially grew crowded once the weather turned cold. More people came in for a few cups of hot tea to warm themselves, and in the afternoon, famous storytellers performed. The building was not quite packed to the rafters, but at least seventy percent of the seats were occupied.

Fortunately, places like this naturally had private rooms.

This particular teahouse had a quiet, elegant environment. Outside the private room was a tiny courtyard that acted like a light well. It was only a few square meters in size, but it was paved with white sand and planted with mixed trees, giving it a faintly secluded, detached mood.

After He Lingchuan entered and asked, the waiter led the way, saying, “This way please!”

He was led up to the second floor and sat in a refined room. Sitting opposite him was a person as beautiful as jade.

Li Qingge.

Today, she was dressed as a man, wearing white robes with an azure outer garment, her hair bound beneath a jade crown.

Before her sat a small red clay stove. On top of it, steam was already rising from the spout of a cast-iron kettle.

He Lingchuan smiled when he saw her. “Your Lordship, you’re certainly keeping up with the trends.”

Over the past year, it had become fashionable in Lingxu City for young women to go out in men’s clothing. This trend had blown down from the floating islands, so dressing as a man did not require darkening the skin or deliberately making oneself ugly. Women in men’s clothing simply gained two extra hints of heroic bearing.

There was even a specialized makeup style for this kind of cross-dressing.

He Lingchuan had seen it often on the streets these days and could only sigh that the capital’s young ladies really knew how to play.

Li Qingge had also come wearing light makeup today. Who could not tell she was a woman?

No man was this fair.

No man had eyes this alluring.

No man had skin this delicate and flawless.

Yet dressed this way, she looked excellent.

And that was enough.

Li Qingge lifted the kettle and poured He Lingchuan a cup of hot tea. “Do I look good?”

“Of course you do.” There was nothing he needed to deny.

They sat by the window. Looking left, they could see movement in the street below. Looking right, they could hear the storytelling on the teahouse’s first floor. One could say that all the bustle inside and outside entered their ears.

“Why are your clothes wet?” Li Qingge asked with concern. “Shall I have someone buy you a clean set to change into?”

“No need.” He Lingchuan waved a hand. “A little true energy will dry them right away.”

Before he left today, Fleeting Thoughts Manor’s trailing hounds had once again clung to him without letting go.

He had rowed out to the center of the lake again, only for the tiger to warn him that this time, there might be eyes in the sky.

The Tongxin Guard reacted quickly. Having already suffered a loss, they had filled the gap today. Fan Long was indeed attentive when it came to him.

Unfortunately, the goshawk had not returned yet, so He Lingchuan could only dive straight into the water.

As mentioned previously, Mount Qilin’s lake was connected to karst caves. He clung to the gill plates of the big-mouthed catfish monster and had it carry him into the cavern.

When the paying employer had a request, the fish was more than willing—not to mention carrying him for a swim, even if He Lingchuan had asked it to drape itself in water grass and dance in the lake, it would accept.

After that, He Lingchuan emerged from the other side of Mount Qilin.

Fleeting Thoughts Manor truly had a fine location, with beautiful mountains and graceful waters. He was liking it more and more.

Li Qingge did not insist. “I heard that your Mount Pan Residence was burned. You should be fine, right?”

“Fushan Yue and I were both away, but the servants in the residence suffered heavy casualties.” He Lingchuan’s expression darkened slightly. “When Crown Prince Huan couldn’t find us, he took his anger out on the servants.”

“A monster is a monster.” Li Qingge did not say anything like “it’s still young.” “The residents of the Floating Islands should all know Crown Prince Huan’s temperament very well. Has the instigator behind it been found?”

He Lingchuan shook his head. “This will probably end up an unsolved matter like the post station bombing case. To be honest, I thought a legendary place like Lingxu City would be very efficient at solving cases.” Reality had surprised him a little. Are people like Bai Ziqi rare in Lingxu City?

“Do you think the Lord Emperor has not ordered it investigated, or failed to assign people to oversee it?” Li Qingge shook her head. “In my view, it is difficult to investigate.”

She did not say it could not be found out. She said it was “difficult.”

He Lingchuan laughed softly, not actually disappointed at all.

If his future was destined to be one of enmity with Lingxu City, then the more chaotic and inefficient his enemy was, the happier he ought to be.

Just then, someone passed through the corridor. Li Qingge waited until the footsteps moved away before asking,

“You had the little companion by your side deliver a message and arrange this meeting with me. Is it for...?”

Last night, she had received He Lingchuan’s message not through Old Shan, but through a small monster.

By rights, she should have been more composed.

But because this concerned her own vital interests, Li Qingge had finally been unable to hold back.

“The Tongxin Guard has moved into Fleeting Thoughts Manor. They’re watching me very closely. I was afraid Old Shan would have trouble shaking them off.” He Lingchuan lowered his voice as he continued, “I’ve found a method that may make Nian Zanli willingly hand over the bamboo tube.”

Li Qingge’s beautiful eyes slowly widened. “Eldest Young Master, please explain in detail!”

He Lingchuan did not hide anything. He told her the whole sequence of events.

Even though Li Qingge’s heart surged with excitement, she restrained herself and did not dare interrupt.

Only after He Lingchuan finished in one breath and lifted his tea to moisten his throat did she speak, still somewhat unable to believe it, “Y-You’re saying that you can borrow troops from State Preceptor Shuang Ye for Nian Zanli?”

“That’s right.”

“How did you manage that?” The way Li Qingge looked at him changed again. The young man before her had come to Lingxu City for the first time and had been here less than a month. In the middle of it all, he himself had faced no small number of crises and troubles. How had he become connected to one of the most powerful people in all Beijia?

She had operated here for many years under Songyang Mansion’s banner and had only met State Preceptor Shuang Ye twice. She had no personal connection that allowed for conversation at all.

The six-hundred-year imperial capital had strict divisions of rank and status.

And besides, He Lingchuan had asked to borrow troops.

Were troops something that could be lent casually? Even if the troops came from the State of Baling, State Preceptor Shuang Ye still had to use his own connections and assume a certain degree of risk.

After all, this matter would eventually reach the Monster Emperor’s ears.

What method had this youth before her used to make State Preceptor Shuang Ye willing to sell him such a great favor?

Li Qingge had originally known He Lingchuan’s background very clearly. He was the son of a Commandery Administrator from the State of Yuan’s remote northwest border, and his father was currently only the Governor-General of Xia Province. In Lingxu City, that amounted to nothing.

Previously, she had asked him to approach Nian Zanli because the youth was clever and also had Crown Prince Chiyan as a backer. Perhaps he could truly maneuver his way into getting some troops for Nian Zanli.

It had only been casting a net and trying her luck.

But now, she discovered that she could not see through him at all.

How did he become connected to State Preceptor Shuang Ye? In Lingxu City, even the Chiyan’s Crown Prince is far from being at the same level as State Preceptor Shuang Ye.

Does he have some other background?

He Lingchuan simply smiled and said, “Apologies. That is my private matter.” He was, after all, working for both sides, but that was not something he could say outright.

“Ah, my apologies, it seems that I have spoken out of turn.” Li Qingge thought for a moment. “Nian Zanli only wants to borrow troops to fight his way back. As long as he can return to Xia Province, that should be enough. As for where the troops come from, it probably isn’t important.”

He Lingchuan nodded and said, “The State of Baling’s infantry and cavalry are both very good, and Baling is also close to Xun Province and northern Xia Province. The savings in supplies will be substantial. Otherwise, even if troops were transferred from the State of Xuluo, the distance would increase by at least one and a half times. In marching and war, the most important thing is feeding men and horses. Before the battle even begins, the burden would already be that heavy. Besides, even if the Monster Emperor nodded, how many troops could Beijia actually lend Nian Zanli? My guess is, they would mostly be old, weak, sick, and disabled. And could Beijia’s army truly obey his command?”

Thirty thousand soldiers and several generals fully subject to his command; this was a major advantage.

In history, so-called “borrowed troops” usually sounded nice in name, but were basically allied armies. Both sides exercised command independently.

If the other party was stronger, with soldiers and fighting strength, why would they obey the weaker side?