Where Immortals Once Walked

The Tianluo Star, which had remained hidden for most of the past half year, was shining too.

The mirror was delighted. “It’s been shining like this all night. It hasn’t flickered once!”

Unlike the previous two times, when it had alternated between bright and dim, its radiance this time had remained steady, just like the other nine stars.

“The Tianluo Star’s bright period has finally arrived.” He Lingchuan let out a long breath. “Excellent, our operation now has a chance.”

Only when the Tianluo Star remained bright would the array eye of the Grand Spirit-Gathering Array emerge from the void.

Every plan they had for invading Mount Xu was built on this foundation.

In truth, He Lingchuan still had another suspicion in mind.

The Tianluo Star always shines continuously in autumn and winter. In terms of timing, doesn’t that just coincide with the Panlong Desert’s season of mad sand?

According to Mitian, the Generous Pot had originally been part of the Heavenly Net or Tianluo, and the two sensed one another. Whenever the Generous Pot stirred, it caused the hidden Tianluo Star to shine.

Every year, the Panlong Desert’s season of mad sand was triggered by the Generous Pot. That was an extremely powerful release of energy.

The Tianluo Star sensed it, and so it remained bright.

But in the Panlong world within the Generous Pot, there was no such thing as the Tianluo Star’s bright period, because Panlong City had not yet fallen then, and the Panlong Wasteland had no season of mad sand at all.

Before long, Fushan Yue returned from outside and said excitedly to He Lingchuan, “Bai Ziqi has made his move.”

“He went personally?”

“After yesterday’s opening ceremony for the Grass Sea event, someone saw him lead a team out through the southern gate, but no one knows where he went.” If Bai Ziqi wanted to keep his movements secret, others would find it almost impossible to track him down. “He really couldn’t wait. He couldn’t even bear to sit through one night.”

“State Preceptor Qing Yang is meticulous. Bai Ziqi clearly has plenty of ability, but working this case is like a mouse trying to bite a turtle. He just has nowhere to sink his teeth in.” He Lingchuan could understand Bai Ziqi’s frustration. After all, his opponent was State Preceptor Qing Yang. “He hurried off to arrest the man in person because he’s afraid delay will bring complications.”

Fushan Yue chuckled and said, “I think he’s also afraid the Lord Emperor will go soft-hearted.”

After that, time seemed to speed up.

Life on He Lingchuan’s side was calm and uneventful. Aside from social visits with great clans and aristocratic families, he spent his days wandering around Lingxu City, especially visiting the Imperial Academy and several of its most famous private academies.

The Imperial Academy was Beijia’s highest institute of learning. It was officially run and had more than 30,000 students. Still, classes were usually conducted with the teacher speaking and the students listening, with little opportunity for students to express their opinions.

The six great academies each occupied their own domain, drawing students from all directions and encouraging debate and argument. The clash of ideas was common there.

Overall, the atmosphere of learning was free, and thoughts intermingled. It felt almost like a different world from Lingxu City outside.

After stealing a few days of leisure amid all his busyness, He Lingchuan could not help sighing to himself. This was how an ordinary person in Lingxu City was supposed to live.

Of course, merely skimming the surface like this was meaningless.

Jiang Tao and Gao Jilin, whom he had met during his visit to Mount Xu, had sought out the gibbon, Old Ge, several times in succession to ask for an introduction. They wanted to “pay a visit to He Yun.”

He Lingchuan thought it over. Although his own work was proceeding at a drumbeat pace, one still had to eat. So he happily accepted the invitation.

These two publicly funded students from the State of Zhi happened to be studying at the Imperial Academy. When they heard He Lingchuan was coming, they were overjoyed and even brought along several classmates.

Compared with Jiang Tao, He Lingchuan felt that Gao Jilin might have the better eye, so he wanted to see what sort of people he associated with.

Who would have thought that among the eleven or twelve new arrivals, eight had been invited by Jiang Tao? They opened two tables at Fragrance-Filled House, which was diagonally across from the Imperial Academy, and the gathering was lively indeed.

It seemed this Jiang Tao fellow was far warmer in dealing with people than Gao Jilin; that, too, is a strength.

Jiang Tao introduced them to He Lingchuan, “This is Zheng Zewu, grandson of the Grand Tutor of the State of Nie. He placed first in this year’s spring examination for the inner students of the Imperial Academy. He was directly recommended by the Minister of Finance and will take up a post at the Waterworks Office next spring.”

There were vast numbers of foreign students at the Imperial Academy, but very few could actually stay in Lingxu City and become officials, even as minor functionaries with idle posts. Most either returned to their own countries or, like Fang Canran, served powerful officials, aristocrats, or official subordinate institutions.

As He Lingchuan understood it, the system was fully staffed, the porridge was too little for too many monks, and the competition was vicious. Everyone had to start from a minor office. Zheng Zewu’s official prospects were already enough to make others green with envy.

“This is Wang Mao, from the State of Jinzhen. He will also enter court service next year. Brother He has heard of the Wang Family of Jinzhen, I assume?”

He Lingchuan nodded. “I have. The foremost aristocratic family of Jinzhen.” They have plenty of money.

Jiang Tao then introduced the rest of the students. Most of them came from prominent families in various states, and two of them were even from the east.

Seeing He Lingchuan’s handsome, upright bearing and outstanding demeanor, these people were also inclined to make his acquaintance.

Only Zheng Zewu from the State of Nie wore a faint smile, reserved and carrying a trace of distance.

Taverns in Beijia were not cheap, and Fragrance-Filled House, which was across from the Imperial Academy, was even more expensive. However, that was precisely why business was so good. Yet this was not a festival season, and there were plenty of private rooms available. Why had this man surnamed He not arranged a quiet place for them, but seated them instead in the bustling main hall?

The place was noisy and crowded, with idle chatter flying everywhere. They even had to raise their voices to speak.

This showed a lack of courtesy.

Unhappy, Zheng Zewu became indifferent toward He Lingchuan and Jiang Tao’s words, responding to only one out of every three things they said.

Once his attitude changed, four or five other students changed with him, no longer as enthusiastic toward their host as they had been at first.

He Lingchuan could tell at a glance that they all followed Zheng Zewu’s lead, but he did not care at all. He simply urged everyone to eat and drink.

Foreign students such as Jiang Tao and Zheng Zewu came to study in Lingxu City not only to learn advanced ideas, broaden their horizons, and gild their résumés, but also to make friends, expand their networks, and widen their circles.

If local aristocratic families took a liking to their talent, they might reserve positions for them or even personally recruit them.

Even Zhong Shengguang, back then, had been publicly funded by West Luo to study in Lingxu City. In truth, he had been no different from these students today. Lingxu City was vast, filled with all kinds of extraordinary people. Had he not met the like-minded Shao Jian here?

As the saying went, there was no knot that could not be untied at the wine table. And if there was, it only meant not enough wine had been drunk.

Once several good dishes were served and a dozen cups of fine wine had gone down, the thin frost on Zheng Zewu’s face began to melt. Besides, He Lingchuan was generous, wealthy, and had substance in his conversation. It was not difficult for him to win everyone’s favor.

It was early afternoon, and Fragrance-Filled House was packed with guests. He Lingchuan listened in every direction and heard countless high-flown discussions. This tavern stood across from the Imperial Academy, so most of its customers were students from within.

Young people, after all, grew bold as clouds when fueled by wine. They liked to criticize current affairs and point out the faults of the realm.

There was nothing they dared not discuss.

The elixir of youth case, the war in the east, and Lingxu’s Crown Prince Huan attacking Crown Prince Yue of the State of Chiyan were all analyzed in orderly fashion. Six out of ten topics were even related to He Lingchuan.

Only then did he realize with a start that he had already become far too deeply involved in Lingxu City.

These students even discussed the advantages and disadvantages of god-worshiping states versus ruler-worshiping states.

The so-called god-worshipping states referred to those that revered the heavenly gods and obeyed divine will, as Beijia did.

As for ruler-worshipping states, that referred to states like Yuan, where the monarch alone decided all under heaven.

After listening for a while, He Lingchuan learned that there were quite a few god-worshiping states in the world. Especially after Beijia’s founding, it had set an example for the mortal realm. Several centuries of prosperity and power had proven how successful a god-worshiping state could be.

Driven by its example, the number of such states had steadily increased, especially after miracles had appeared in various states.

However, because the gods they revered were different, disputes often broke out over precisely this issue.

Among the students in the tavern, some supported one side and some the other. By the end, the debate turned into an argument, and faces reddened as necks bulged.

He Lingchuan asked in surprise, “You’re allowed to discuss topics like this?”

Here they were, in Lingxu City, right under the eyes of the heavenly gods, discussing the drawbacks of divine worship and the superiority of imperial rule? And the authorities simply let it happen?

He Lingchuan found it unbelievable. In Yuan, the rite of divine recompense was a grave crime. Even saying a few extra words about it could get one slapped across the mouth.

If someone discussed it so openly in public, even to the point of spitting with excitement, their tongue would have to be cut out as an example to others.

The common folk jokingly called it the Great Silencing Technique.

“What’s there to fear in saying a few words? Truth grows clearer through debate.” Zheng Zewu smiled faintly. “Beijia is this powerful. Why would it fear discussion? Why would it fear criticism? This is what it means for the strong to have no taboos! Only weak states are fragile, suspicious, and hysterical. Only weak states treat public opinion as a needle in the flesh and seek to blindfold and gag the people.”

Beijia’s very existence was the best answer and counterattack to every question raised against it.

You said it was flawed, but how had it remained so powerful to this day? Ruler-worshipping states had collapsed in all sorts of strange positions, and who knew how many emperors had come and gone. So why had Beijia stood for six hundred years and still remained one of the world’s mighty powers?

Several people at the neighboring table overheard him and applauded. “Well said! That’s exactly it!”

He Lingchuan smiled. The existence of overwhelming strength was itself the best brainwashing for the weak.

Wang Mao also said, “This is all old talk. We hear it three or five times every month, and no conclusion ever comes out of the arguing.”

Another student named Situ He suddenly cut in, “Actually, it isn’t true that everything can be discussed in Beijia.”

“Oh?” He Lingchuan’s interest was piqued instead. “For example?”

“For example, the vassal state that rebelled nearly two hundred years ago, the State of Yuān!” Situ He lowered his voice and continued, “I heard there was an old man who wasn’t afraid of trouble and wrote a book to vindicate the State of Yuān. In the end, he was...”

If not for He Lingchuan’s sharp hearing, he would not have heard it.

He Lingchuan felt as though he had heard this somewhere too.

“That matter has long since been settled and isn’t worth discussing.” Jiang Tao immediately raised his cup. “Come, let me toast everyone again!”

Situ He still wanted to say more, but Wang Mao gave him a warning look, and he swallowed the rest of his words.

He Lingchuan also shifted to a safer topic, “Beijia’s neighbor Yuan has powerful enemies eyeing it from the north, while in the west, rebels are taking cities and breaking strongholds, and the official troops are unable to resist. Disaster has struck one region after another inside the state, leaving misery everywhere, and uprisings are breaking out one after another. If all of you were in charge, what good policy would you offer?”

Everyone gripped their wine cups and sank into thought. This was exactly their favorite sort of political question.

After studying and filling their bellies with learning, was this not what it was all for, to solve practical problems?

Wang Mao was the first to speak, “Disasters at home and peasant uprisings mean that the common people can no longer survive. The first thing to do is lighten corvée[1] and reduce taxes, allowing the people to rest and recover.”

Another student shook his head and said, “Isn’t there still a war in the west? Once taxes are reduced, where will the state treasury get its money? Didn’t you hear that the official troops are already unable to resist? If their clothing and rations are cut again, won’t they mutiny and become rebels themselves?”

“Exactly. It’s still acceptable to let the common people suffer a little.” Situ He agreed. “From what I’ve seen, states caught in continuous civil war all raise taxes year after year to fill the holes in their treasuries.”

1. This is a form of unpaid forced labor. ☜