Where Immortals Once Walked

Several months had passed since the great upheaval in Lingxu City. By now, every piece of news that could spread had already traveled far and wide. The generals under Nian Zanli had also learned that their commander had been convicted by the supreme authority of the Heavenly Palace, which meant there was a ninety-percent chance he would never emerge again.

As the supreme military commander, Nian Zanli had always kept a firm grip on his troops and refused to let military power slip from his hands. But the moment he fell, Xun Province was left without a leader. Naturally, his subordinates immediately split into factions and began fighting over authority.

Because the competing sides were evenly matched, the power struggle had yet to reach a conclusion.

Judging by Beijia’s usual practices, Lingxu City would not interfere. It would simply allow the surrendered generals to fight among themselves until a final victor emerged. Only then would that person bow before Lingxu City, report for duty, and request appointment as the new provincial governor.

As a result, both the Royal Court of Yuan and outside observers had concluded that Xun Province’s army would not attack Xia Province again for the time being.

Nian Zanli was already finished. Even if someone eventually succeeded him, that person was unlikely to share his deep obsession with invading Xia Province.

Governor-General of Xia Province He Chunhua had seized the opportunity presented by Xun Province’s internal chaos. Acting decisively, he sent out his army and recaptured Hao Province, which Nian Zanli had previously occupied!

Yuan bordered Beijia. Originally, Xun Province had formed Yuan’s frontier. But after Nian Zanli defected to Beijia, the front line had abruptly been pushed southward to Hao Province.

Hao Province had not managed to hold out for long before Nian Zanli swallowed it whole. It was only after that the flames of war had spread into Xia Province itself.

This time, He Chunhua’s recovery of Hao Province allowed the Royal Court of Yuan to vent some of the humiliation it had endured finally. The achievement was no less significant than his earlier victory over Nian Zanli’s army along the banks of the Han River.

Only then did He Lingchuan learn another piece of news, one that left him utterly astonished.

“What? You’re saying the Governor-General of Xia Province has just been recalled to the Yuan capital?”

Elder Qian nodded. “We only received the news two days ago, but I believe it should be accurate.”

The Rongshan Sect itself bordered Yuan, and several of its disciples held office in the Royal Court of Yuan, so obtaining firsthand information was actually quite easy for them.

He Lingchuan naturally could not help but press further, “Why?”

He Chunhua had only been promoted to Governor-General of Xia Province a year earlier. Why was the royal court already recalling him?

Elder Dao’s gaze flickered several times.

This Young Master He seems to share a surname with the Governor-General of Xia Province.

Could that merely be a coincidence?

“The royal court has commended the Governor-General of Xia Province for his achievements. He has been granted the title Marquis of Martial Defense and appointed General of Lasting Tranquility. Judging by the timing, he should be returning to the capital to receive his honors formally.” Elder Dao stroked his beard. “This promotion seems somewhat hurried. In our sect’s view, the King of Yuan may intend to send him south to suppress the rebellions.”

He Chunhua had risen from Commandery Administrator of Qiansong Commandery to Governor-General of Xia Province. Along the way, he had defeated the rebels at Woling Pass, stopped Xun Province’s cavalry raids, and even exchanged several blows with Hong Chenglue, a famed general of Beijia, with neither side gaining a decisive advantage.

For Yuan in its present state, a man of such ability was extraordinarily rare.

Why would the court leave a fine blade sitting idle when it could be placed at the cutting edge?

Now that the northern frontier was at peace, Yuan would begrudge even a single extra day of He Chunhua idling away in Xia Province. Naturally, the court wanted to send him south as quickly as possible and put him to work eliminating the state’s troubles.

That was what it meant to make full use of a man’s talents.

Three days later, the Rongshan Sect announced that its entire territory had been cleared. The cicada disaster had been completely eradicated from the land.

Amid the cheers and celebrations of the Rongshan people, Qiu Hu quietly departed and returned alone to the ruins of White Village. Before the graves of his foster parents and all the village’s old and young, he offered incense and burned paper money.

His village had been massacred during the aberrant cicadas’ first wave of attacks.

Qiu Hu had come today both to fulfill his vow and to say farewell.

He had even brought a bucket of paint, which he used to retrace the faded inscriptions on the gravestones carefully.

“This tiger[1] is leaving for distant lands. I won’t be able to return and visit often. I ask everyone in the village to forgive me.”

After he had respectfully knocked his forehead against the ground several times and risen again, he discovered He Lingchuan standing behind him.

He Lingchuan saw that Qiu Hu had laid out a long banquet for the entire village: fish, meat, fruit, and pastries filled at least forty-eight bowls.

Qiu Hu turned toward He Lingchuan and dropped to one knee, one fist planted against the ground. “I keep my word. From this day forward, my lord may command me as you please.”

He Lingchuan waited until Qiu Hu finished the salute before taking him firmly by the arm and helping him up. He said with equal solemnity, “Excellent. From this day onward, I entrust my back to you.”

Qiu Hu nodded. “You can rest assured!”

He had people under his command again.

He Lingchuan was sincerely delighted.

Although he had only known Qiu Hu for a short while, and the man had joined him primarily to repay a debt rather than out of unwavering loyalty, that did not matter. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

Winning people’s hearts had always been one of He Lingchuan’s specialties.

The following day, He Lingchuan bade farewell to the Rongshan Sect. Accompanied by Dong Rui, Zhu Daniang, Qiu Hu, and fifteen Rongshan disciples, he set out for Yuan.

Traveling with them were also three “administrative deputy envoys” assigned by Elder Qian. Their leader was named Hu Qin. He excelled at finance and precise calculations, which in practical terms meant that he was the Rongshan Sect’s chief negotiator and investigative representative.

Only after speaking with Hu Qin did He Lingchuan learn that the Rongshan Sect had already dispatched people to inspect the assets Yuan intended to offer as collateral. They had examined them in person and identified every problem.

Clearly, Elder Dao had not spoken entirely honestly before. It was not that the Rongshan Sect had no interest in Yuan’s assets. It was simply dissatisfied with the bargaining chips Yuan had placed on the table.

Every one of these old foxes was slippery and calculating; none of them was easy to deal with.

Still, their preliminary investigation spared He Lingchuan much effort in what came next.

With only the dozen or so Rongshan disciples under his command, how could he possibly inspect every piece of collateral spread across Yuan within a short period?

* * *

In the Panlong World.

More than four months had passed since the bandits launched their large-scale attack on Yuheng City. The Longchuan Trade Route was once again bustling with travelers, and traffic had recovered to roughly sixty percent of its peak.

The Azure Wolf Post Station had originally been destroyed by water bandits. Later, the Yuheng City authorities rebuilt it, doubling its original area and expanding its facilities. It could now accommodate far more guests.

In many ways, this post station was a miniature reflection of the entire Longchuan Trade Route.

Several months earlier, banditry had run rampant along the route, and the number of traveling merchant caravans had dwindled sharply. However, batch after batch of Yuheng City’s recruits had since completed their training and been deployed to patrol the trade route.

The Longchuan water bandits refused to back down. They repeatedly ambushed the official patrols, mobilizing more than a hundred men each time. They came howling in and dispersed just as quickly, displaying breathtaking arrogance. It seemed they fully believed they could come and go as they pleased.

Faced with the water bandits’ hunts and ambushes, Yuheng City’s army refused to yield even a single step. Around this southern trade route, the official troops and the bandits fought one guerrilla battle, encirclement operation, and chance encounter after another.

Both sides met each other head-on, and both paid a bloody price.

In a little over a month, Yuheng City’s army lost more than 160 men, with another 350 wounded. The water bandits suffered fewer casualties: only 67 dead and just over 80 wounded.

He Lingchuan was not surprised by those numbers.

The patrols moved openly along the trade route, while the water bandits hid in the shadows and struck without warning. In battles built around ambushes, the patrols were naturally bound to suffer.

Besides, they were called Yuheng’s “new army” for a reason. Most of the force consisted of raw recruits who had spent only three months training through the winter. Their blades and spears had struck nothing but straw dummies.

Even those who had shed blood before had only done so while beating down the fleeing remnants after the water bandits’ failed assault on Yuheng City. That had not been a battle between evenly matched opponents.

Their lack of experience had driven the Yuheng army’s casualty rate disproportionately high.

However, the losses still fell within the range He Lingchuan found acceptable.

A merciful man could not command an army.

How could there be war without death?

Every patrol unit now paired veterans with recruits. Their overall numbers had also increased, and the sentry system had been improved. As a result, there had been no repeat of the initial catastrophe in which Miao Mingming’s entire squad had been wiped out.

1. The Hu in Qiu Hu’s name literally translates to tiger. ☜