Where Immortals Once Walked

The divine avatar that descended through Nian Songyu was also after the Generous Pot. It’s clearly a treasure that’s coveted by the heavenly gods, so it’s entirely possible for Naluotian to want it too.

But if I look at it that way, it means Naluotian has been laying its plans far in advance.

He Chunhua still remembered what the black flood dragon in the Panlong Illusion Realm had told them after Sun Fuping and Nian Songyu died: the Generous Pot had long since fused with ancient Panlong City, which meant no one could take it away.

Naluotian had also questioned him about that expedition. He Chunhua had answered truthfully, and afterward, Naluotian had said nothing more.

Had the black flood dragon in the illusion realm lied, or had something new happened since then?

Far too many unexpected changes had occurred over the past several months. Nian Zanli had inexplicably become a prisoner in Lingxu City, his fate unknown, and Xia Province’s greatest threat had suddenly vanished. Then, the mighty, seemingly invincible Beijia was struck by a volcanic eruption right in its capital, followed by chaos throughout the city. Rumor even claimed that a monster immortal had emerged to flaunt its power.

Beijia was a state favored by the gods, while Lingxu City had enjoyed unbroken peace ever since its founding. Could some disturbance have first occurred in the divine realm, with this unprecedented upheaval merely spilling over into the mortal realm?

Is that why Naluotian had suddenly begun to act?

In the east, the State of Mou is still at war with Beijia...

Could all the turmoil of recent months be heralding the arrival of an even greater age of chaos?

He Chunhua instinctively took a deep breath, only to inhale a lungful of thick smoke and erupt into a coughing fit.

Madame Ying happened to knock on the door just then. The moment He Chunhua opened it, she took two steps back and cried out, “Why is there so much smoke in here? Why didn’t you open a window?”

* * *

He Lingchuan awoke to the cheerful singing of two yellow orioles. Outside, the peach blossoms bloomed brilliantly, covering the walls in pink and crimson.

The weather would soon turn hot. This was probably the peach blossoms’ final burst of splendor and stubborn defiance.

After wandering for more than half a year, he had returned to the He Family. How wonderful would it be if the entire world beyond these walls were equally peaceful?

He had just finished tying up his hair and washing when a servant arrived to report that Lady Zhu had come to visit the special envoy.

“Lady Zhu?” Who’s that?

Yet the moment he reached the front hall and saw his visitor, he immediately recognized her. “Sister Xiu’er!”

The first guest to call upon him after his return to Yuan was actually Zhu Xiu’er!

Several years ago, she had been abducted and sold to Immortal Spirit Village. The He Family had rescued her and escorted her all the way back to her grandfather in Shihuan City.

More than a year had passed since then. Zhu Xiu’er now wore pearl hairpins in a high coiffure and a spring dress adorned with tinkling jade ornaments. She carried herself with the elegance of a noblewoman. Her face was smooth and radiant, her waist slender, and her back straight. Not a trace remained of the rough village woman she had once appeared to be.

This was the vitality and beauty a twenty-year-old woman ought to possess.

Two maidservants followed behind her.

Zhu Xiu’er personally carried a food box. The moment she saw He Lingchuan, she placed it on the table and gathered her skirts in a curtsy. He Lingchuan extended one hand in a token gesture, and an invisible force gently lifted her upright.

“What brings you here?”

“Grandfather said you’d returned and that you came back as Rongshan’s special envoy!” Zhu Xiu’er’s eyes sparkled, her delight plain to see.

“Hah, it seems that the speed at which information reaches Old Master Zhu’s ears is as quick as ever.” He Lingchuan laughed. The more distinguished a great family was, the more quickly privileged information reached it.

“Serve us fresh tea.” He ordered the servants to replace the tea before asking, “Have you been well, Sister Xiu’er?”

After speaking for a few moments, he learned that Zhu Xiu’er had already married. Her husband belonged to a newly rising family in Shihuan City.

Given how much Old Master Zhu doted upon this granddaughter, if the abduction had never occurred, Zhu Xiu’er would likely have married into one of the foremost aristocratic houses.

Yet Zhu Xiu’er was thoroughly content, because her husband treated her very well.

He Lingchuan said with heartfelt sincerity, “Congratulations. You finally have the happy ending you deserve.”

If Zhu Xiu’er’s life continued along this smooth path, the shadows of the past would eventually fade away.

Zhu Xiu’er smiled softly. “You were the one who pulled me out of the abyss. Otherwise, I would have died long ago. How could I possibly have the life I enjoy today?”

With that, she opened the food box on the table. A wave of cold air immediately drifted out. “There’s a two-hundred-year-old peach tree in my courtyard, much older than the one in your home. Every year, its fruit is presented to the palace. I picked and preserved these peaches with my own hands. Please have a taste.”

He Lingchuan looked inside.

Two plump, rosy peaches rested in the box, each resembling an infant’s face, pale with a delicate blush.

Crushed ice had been packed beneath the compartment to keep the peaches pleasantly chilled.

“Iced peaches?” Why are they so wet?

“They’ve been preserved in salt water and sour-plum juice.”

The peaches appeared to have soaked for a considerable time. All the fuzz had been rubbed away, and the fruit had even become faintly translucent, giving it the texture and appearance of jade.

He Lingchuan grabbed one and took a crisp bite.

Oh!

It was salty and sweet, bursting with juice and wonderfully crunchy. A faint sourness elevated the flavor perfectly, driving away the last trace of unripeness from the spring peach.

Seeing him eat without the slightest reservation, Zhu Xiu’er became even happier. “I sent several boxes to Madame Ying and Little Brother Yue as well. If you like it, I’ll send you some often.”

“I like it!” He Lingchuan spoke indistinctly through a mouthful of peach. “Send me a box every day!”

His complete lack of formality made Zhu Xiu’er smile until her eyes narrowed into crescent moons.

The two chatted about family matters for a while longer. Then she leaned forward and suddenly lowered her voice as she said, “To be honest with you, I hurried here today because there is something I need to tell you.”

After speaking, she glanced to either side.

He Lingchuan understood immediately. “Our garden is rather pleasant. Shall I show you around?”

Zhu Xiu’er nodded gladly, then told the maids behind her, “Wait here. There is no need to follow.”

The two left through the covered corridor and strolled through the garden.

In late spring and early summer, the garden was filled with red flowers and green willows. It needed no rare or prestigious plants to appear beautiful; even the wild chrysanthemums bloomed with extraordinary brilliance.

Only after confirming that no one was nearby did Zhu Xiu’er turn to the real matter, “Didn’t you once have a subordinate named Sun Hongye?”

Sun Hongye?

He Lingchuan’s expression shifted. He had never expected her to mention that man.

“I did. I heard he left several days ago, just missing me. Why?”

“Sun Hongye and I had some dealings. There was something suspicious about his departure, so I came to tell you.”

“Suspicious?” He Lingchuan asked curiously. “How did the two of you ever come into contact?”

“It’s like this. When I was abducted as a child, the culprit was a traitor within my own family.” Zhu Xiu’er’s complexion still turned slightly pale when she spoke of that nightmarish past. “I have already discovered who was responsible, and Grandfather knows as well. But all the evidence was destroyed long ago, so I can no longer hand her over to the authorities. Besides, the Zhu Family does not want such a disgraceful private matter becoming known to outsiders.”

Family shame was not to be aired in public. A household of the Zhu Family’s standing naturally had to protect its reputation.

“Your family did nothing?”

“They expelled the husband and wife from the household.” Zhu Xiu’er’s voice turned cold. “But how could that possibly extinguish the hatred in my heart?”

“Just over ten days ago, Sun Hongye came to see me. He said he was willing to devise a plan on my behalf and help me take revenge upon my enemy.”

Just over ten days ago?

That would have been around the time He Chunhua moved the entire family to the Yuan capital, with Sun Hongye accompanying them as an adviser.

He Lingchuan had already found Sun Hongye’s departure strange. Nearly a year had passed since He Lingchuan fell into the river, and Sun Hongye had remained in remote Xia Province for almost all that time. Why had he waited until reaching the Yuan capital, the city to which every citizen of Yuan aspired to come, before suddenly resigning and leaving?