After the Immortal Disappeared

Chapter 23: Chapter 24: The Humble Should Be Cautious

Ahead lay half a mountain, utterly barren save for a few sparse shrubs huddled in its nooks and crannies. Any traveler new to this place would find their gaze irresistibly drawn to its unique shape:

The upper half of the peak was missing. It didn’t look like a natural break from erosion, because the cut was abnormally smooth—as if someone had cleaved it in two with a single, slanted stroke of a blade!

The cut was stark and decisive.

This had been an entire mountain peak, millions of tons of rock and earth—not a clump of bamboo that could be easily cut down.

Local legend had it that during the Ancient Times, an Immortal fought a battle here and sundered the peak with a single sword strike. Thus, the broken mountain was also known as the Immortal Slash.

Such legends were common in this realm and difficult to verify. But the original Hee Lingchuan had actually climbed the Immortal Slash a few years ago and seen with his own eyes that the fracture was perfectly smooth. Across its vast surface, there wasn’t a single bump or dip—a feat beyond the reach of even the most meticulous craftsman.

Whether it was man-made or not, the feat was inconceivable.

Sunx Fuping gazed at the half-peak, as if sensing the ferocious, sharp intent of that sword strike, which lingered even to this day. After a long moment, he let out a deep sigh. ”The Dao is truly without limit.”

Farther ahead, past a mountain col, a lone, ancient poplar stood by the road. From its gnarled, dry branches, two bodies were hanging.

The wind blew, the bodies swayed.

A crowd of travelers had gathered beneath the tree, pointing and whispering among themselves.

As National Preceptor Sunx’s party drew closer, they saw that each corpse had a white placard hanging from it. One read ”Courtesy,” the other ”Reciprocity.”

The expressions on Nian Songyu and Sunx Fuping’s faces changed instantly. Their gazes were sharp, and they immediately spotted a transparent tag pinned to the collar of each corpse, bearing the word ”Donglai.”

Two of the Donglai Prefecture Guards sent to track the West Mountain Sand Leopard had gone missing en route to Black Water City. Sunx and Nian were aware of this, as they had been the ones to assign the men. But at the time, they were already closing in on the Sand Leopard’s location, so they hadn’t investigated the disappearances.

Now, those same two men had become corpses, hung directly in their path.

Nian Songyu could tell at a glance that both men had their necks snapped. They had been tortured before death.

Seeing Nian Songyu’s face flush and the veins on his neck bulge, National Preceptor Sunx quickly placed a hand on his shoulder. ”Don’t be rash! This was not entirely unexpected, was it?” The two Guards had been missing for a long time; their side had already considered the possibility that they were dead.

”We were the ones who assigned the men from Donglai Prefecture. That little bastard is getting back at us!” Nian Songyu snarled through clenched teeth. He had killed a single Hawk Demon, and in retaliation, the other side had killed two of his men.

Donglai Prefecture was, after all, too far from the frontier, so the Grand Commandant had assigned his personal Guards for the two of them to command.

National Preceptor Sunx’s expression darkened. ”Focus on the mission! Now is not the time for infighting.”

”Once we have the Grand Square Pot...” Nian Songyu clenched his jaw. He knew Hee Lingchuan had calculated correctly—that he still needed to rely on the Black Water City Army and couldn’t afford a falling out just yet. He whipped his head around and roared, ”Hee Lingchuan!”

Hee Chunhua was also stunned by the sudden appearance of the bodies. ’Weren’t these two supposed to be locked up in that farmhouse on the Red and White Dao?’

Then he remembered his eldest son had always been reckless and willful.

’He’s been a bit more restrained these past two months, but that doesn’t mean his fundamental nature has changed.’

Nian Songyu had to call his name twice before Hee Lingchuan slowly urged his horse forward, meeting the rage practically erupting from the captain. ”Captain Nian, what’s the matter?”

”Do you recognize these two men?”

Hee Lingchuan studied them for a few moments, inwardly alarmed. ’Did Uncle Hao really vent all his frustration on them?’

”Of course not. So many people pass through Black Water City. How could I possibly remember every single one?” He paused. ”Oh? They actually have tags from Donglai Prefecture. Why would such important figures be found hanging in a remote backwater like this?”

”Fine. Just fine.” Nian Songyu laughed, his anger giving way to a cold smile. He abruptly changed the subject. ”On the Red Cliff Road, what do you people do when a companion dies?”

’He instantly guessed that Hee Lingchuan must have killed the two Guards. This brat is trying to provoke me. Questioning him further will only invite more ridicule.’

’When you can’t see eye to eye, even a single word is too many. There’s no point in pursuing this.’

”If we can’t carry the body back, we give it a sky burial.” Hee Lingchuan shrugged. ”They didn’t die a peaceful death anyway. Let the creatures of the desert thank nature for its gift.”

Hee Chunhua hurried over to cut in. ”Most of the time, it’s a burial.”

”Then a burial it is.” After all, they were men from Donglai Prefecture; it wouldn’t be right to leave their bodies exposed to the elements.

Hee Lingchuan laughed. ”Such a trivial matter. Captain Nian, you should focus on the task at hand. Don’t hold up the party.”

’Finally, I get to throw that line back at him. So satisfying!’

A venomous glint flashed in Nian Songyu’s eyes. He then instructed Zeng Feixiong to have some men cut down the two bodies and bury them on the spot.

The party, of course, did not wait, and continued on its way.

Being targeted by Nian Songyu’s glare felt like having a venomous snake at one’s back—it made his skin crawl. Hee Lingchuan pulled his father back, slowing their pace to stay in the middle of the column.

’A man as proud as Captain Nian would naturally ride at the head of the column. He couldn’t keep turning around to glare at me, could he?’

”What do you think you’re doing?” Hee Chunhua chided his son in a low voice. ”Killing those two men accomplished nothing. It only deepens your feud with Nian Songyu.”

He didn’t know that it was Uncle Hao who had killed them.

”It was cathartic!” Seeing his father admonish him so calmly, Hee Lingchuan couldn’t help but sneer. ”Those two plotted against us without any scruples, and I’m not allowed to slap back? Besides, he needs something from us. This is the worst possible time for him to turn on us.”

”If we make it back alive, in the future...”

”If we return with the treasure, the Grand Commandant will be ecstatic. Why would he care about such a trivial matter?” Hee Lingchuan said listlessly. ”Father, you’re not yet old, but your nerve has certainly weakened.”

Hee Chunhua thought for a moment, his expression dimming. ”You’re right. I’ve been too cautious.”

’He was always thinking about their future serving together as officials at court. Our family has only just returned to the Capital City. Our foundation is unstable; it’s best to make as few enemies as possible.’

’The thought process might not be wrong, but how could he ever achieve anything great with such a subservient, cautious mindset before the rich and powerful?’

As he silently admonished himself, he turned to Hee Lingchuan. ”Chuan’Er, you’re still angry at me for dragging you along, aren’t you?”

’What a question,’ Hee Lingchuan thought. ’Should I be honest and say ’yes,’ or lie and say ’no’?’ He could only manage a dry laugh. ”How would I dare?”

”What father doesn’t wish for his son to have a safe and smooth life? But in this world, that’s impossible.” Hee Chunhua patted his shoulder. ”Chuan’Er, you’re not a child anymore. It’s time you were properly tempered.”

Hee Lingchuan couldn’t hold back any longer. ”When other people get tempered, the difficulty ramps up from low to high.” Only his father would throw him straight into the endgame.

His eldest son was indeed full of resentment. Hee Chunhua smiled. ”Don’t blame your old man for being cruel. With you here, our chances of returning home safely increase by at least twenty percent. The Great Shaman’s words were no joke.”

Hee Lingchuan rolled his eyes. ’If the original owner of this body were really such a lucky charm, why did he die so quietly, leaving his body to be taken over by an outsider like me?’

But he could only swallow that retort.

’Arguing about it now would be pointless. Besides, as a local governor—and as his father—Hee Chunhua didn’t actually owe him any explanation at all.’