Where Immortals Once Walked

Sun Fuling shook her head and smiled lightly. “It’s part of my duties.”

The orange firelight reflected across her face, gilding her with a layer of warmth and making her look truly like a fresh, lovely girl from next door.

In fact, she was seated sideways toward He Lingchuan, only letting him see the unmarked half of her face.

Of course, the fool did not notice that little trick at all.

She took out a pork sausage and set it over the fire to roast.

This was the signature dish of the tavern down the mountain. The tavern’s name was, quite literally, “Down the Mountain.” The sausage was made from fragrant pork in a three-to-seven ratio of fat to lean meat, mixed with a little starch and pear wine. Not only did it smell irresistible when roasted, but it also tasted springy, rich, and mellow, with a refreshing hint of fruit.

“What we’re doing is only adding flowers to brocade. That newly formed army under you needs something else most right now.”

“Oh? What is it?”

Sun Fuling grabbed a red carrot and took a bite. Crunch. “You’re the commander. You tell me.”

He Lingchuan rubbed his nose, smiling without speaking.

Yeah, what this newly raised army of Yuheng City needs most right now is a victory.

An army’s confidence was built through victory after victory.

But the timing was not exactly suitable at present. Less than thirty percent of the soldiers had ever been on a battlefield.

Then again, war always came suddenly. When did it ever wait until a person was truly ready?

“You don’t seem very happy,” Sun Fuling said, perceptive as ever. “You’ve clearly just been promoted to commander. Did something happen?”

He Lingchuan’s heart stirred. Several thoughts turned in his mind before he suddenly asked her, “Do you believe that Heaven truly decrees the fate of mortals?”

Without thinking, Sun Fuling answered, “I only believe that human effort can change things.”

“Why?”

“If Heaven decreed fate, then how hopeless would people like you and me, and all the people of Panlong City, have to be?” She spoke of despair, yet there was not the slightest trace of despair on her face. Instead, she looked utterly resolute. “So-called fate should never be decided by someone else, not even by the will of Heaven.”

Her conviction was natural, without a trace of affectation. He Lingchuan could see clearly that every word came from her heart.

“Between the Red General and a god, which do you think is stronger?”

“A god?” Sun Fuling asked in surprise. “Can human strength be compared to that of gods?”

“Oh, I didn’t explain clearly.” He Lingchuan added, “If we compare a divine avatar descended from Heaven with the Red General, who would be more formidable?”

“Which god?” she asked, very precise.

“For example...” Any true god should do, right? “Baizhantian?”

He had seen Baizhantian’s statue in the Hall of Worship. Later, when Baizhantian descended into Lu Shishi, it had chased He Lingchuan and Zhu Daniang all over the place.

Just from the title, one could tell this god was powerful in battle.[1]

“One of Lingxu’s thirty-six true gods?”

“Yes.”

Sun Fuling propped her chin in one hand and thought for a long while. “I think the Red General would still win.”

He Lingchuan gazed at her. “Why?”

“The Red General’s strength is not limited to combat power.” Sun Fuling did not seem to notice his gaze. “Of course, that is only my personal guess, and also my hope.” She sighed softly. “How wonderful would it be if the Red General could defeat every divine avatar?”

“Every one?”

“In that case, Guard Commander Zhong would not have to rack his brains so desperately, and Panlong City would not have to remain trapped in this lonely corner.”

He Lingchuan lifted his head and looked at the stars above. “Speaking of which, I still don’t know Guard Commander Zhong’s wish, or rather, his goal.”

Under Zhong Shengguang’s rule, the soldiers and civilians of the Panlong Wasteland and Yuheng City could muddle through their days, but he himself definitely carried a clear conviction.

He Lingchuan thought of the origins of the three-piece set he carried. Zhong Shengguang had personally witnessed the tragic end of the State of Yuān, yet he had still insisted on taking over. What was his goal?

“Hm?” Sun Fuling blinked. “Isn’t it to defend the land he is responsible for, and to give the West Luo people a place beneath the sky?”

“It should be more than that.” He Lingchuan pointed west. “Otherwise, how could a mere Yin River stop us from capturing the State of Jintao?”

Zhong Shengguang and Mitian did not want to lead the army back to their homeland.

“Is Guard Commander Zhong’s goal very important?”

“Of course. It’s crucial to how we build Yuheng City.” He Lingchuan stretched lazily. “Time is tight, and the task is heavy.”

“Don’t worry,” Sun Fuling comforted him. “I think that no matter what you do, everything will go smoothly for you, as if aided by the gods!”

“No matter what I do...” He Lingchuan looked delighted. “You really think so?”

At the moment, he did indeed have an important matter waiting to be done, though it was in the real world.

She nodded while smiling.

“Good, good. I’ll take your blessing!” He Lingchuan exhaled softly and murmured, “It absolutely has to go smoothly.”

Just then, the sound of flapping wings came from midair.

A moment later, a figure landed on the tree branch beside Sun Fuling.

It was that peregrine falcon.

“Good thing you two lit a fire.” The peregrine falcon flapped its wings, sending sparks flying from the stove. “This mountain is really dark.”

Its night vision was poor.

“What information do you have?”

“Lu Qing asked me to come deliver a message. Quite a few people from the Lu Family Gang[2] and the Qiuhua Bandits left yesterday and today, traveling by boat.”

Lu Qing was one of the bandits He Lingchuan had captured on the road here. They had robbed the trade route, only to be caught red-handed by the Gale Army, resulting in more than half of them dying. The tough ones were all gone, while a number of those that remained had been thrown into the mines to work.

As for this Lu Qing, under He Lingchuan’s kind “persuasion,” he had come to sudden enlightenment and decided to return to Longchuan as their undercover agent.

His bandit gang had already been scattered, so after returning, he could only find another power to rely on.

Unfortunately, both this fellow and his original bandit gang were third-rate players in Longchuan. After going back, he still could not join any major gangs, so he had simply switched to a small gang on the outskirts and continued doing odd jobs.

The only merit He Lingchuan had taken a liking to was his attentiveness. He was always able to notice quite a few details.

For instance, this time, before Yuheng City’s undercover agents in Longchuan had sent back any report, he had made a discovery first.

He Lingchuan turned the chestnuts over. “Be more specific. How many people?”

“Over a hundred have left in all, I’d say. There was no way to count carefully. People from two or three other bandit gangs also seem to have left. The place looks less noisy now.” The peregrine falcon lifted a claw to scratch behind its ear. “They left over the past two days.”

“In which direction?” Since they all left by boat, it doesn’t seem like they’re going to rob the trade route.

“Lu Qing followed a few of them for a short stretch. He was afraid of being discovered, so he didn’t dare keep following, but those people were sailing north, and they were fully armed.”

“North.” He Lingchuan and Sun Fuling exchanged a glance. She jerked her chin toward the lights of Yuheng City before them.

“Toward here?”

“Lu Qing couldn’t say for sure. In any case, they’re heading toward northern Longchuan.”

Sun Fuling picked up slices of pork shoulder collar and fed them one by one to the peregrine falcon. “Thank you for your hard work.”

He Lingchuan shot the peregrine falcon a couple of looks, but it remained standing on the branch with perfect composure. He could not help himself. “Don’t you have anywhere else to go?” Does it have to stay here creating noise and shedding its feathers?

“I live on this mountain to begin with!” The peregrine falcon took another slice of pork shoulder collar from Sun Fuling’s slender fingers and swallowed it.

1. A reminder that Baizhan in Baizhantian literally translates to hundred battles. ☜

2. Note that the surname of this family is not the same as that of Lu Qing. ☜