After the Immortal Disappeared

Chapter 370: Chapter 369: The Fate of Third Master Gan

This fellow entered Beiga two hundred years ago, at which time the Beiga Kingdom had long been established. It should know a thing or two. Hee Lingchuan wasn’t in a hurry and returned to his previous question, ”This Nightmare Qi you speak of, can it also refer to life?”

”Nightmare Qi is Nightmare Qi, and life is life. They intersect, but they can’t be completely conflated,” the Mirror hastily corrected him. ”You are one life, and the old man who guards the gate at Purple Bamboo Garden is also one life. Fundamentally, there’s no difference. But Nightmare Qi is another matter entirely. As a human grows from an infant to a strapping youth, their Nightmare Qi becomes more abundant. Then, as they transition from youth to old age, it gradually dissipates, returning to the world to complete its cycle. So the Nightmare Qi you and that old gatekeeper possess are worlds apart in both quality and quantity!”

Hee Lingchuan said thoughtfully, ”I am a Cultivator.”

”You are a Cultivator, so it’s only natural that you possess even more abundant Nightmare Qi,” the Mirror lectured. ”The Immortals of Ancient Times possessed far too much Nightmare Qi and couldn’t adapt to the world after the cataclysm. That’s why they disappeared.”

”So, in essence, Nightmare Qi—Nightmare Power—is just Spiritual Qi?”

”Correct!”

Nightmare Qi, Profound Crystals... they were all just different manifestations of Spiritual Qi. ’In the end, this thing just needs to be topped up with Spiritual Qi to be repaired.’

”This is too much trouble. I’ll just find you a Caster to patch you up.”

”W-well, that’s acceptable, I suppose.” The Mirror sounded very reluctant. ”But you’ll have to use Zhu Gold, at the very least.”

”...Damn it!”

’So the most basic methods can repair it after all!’

’This thing is just trying to take advantage of me, isn’t it? Trying to get some Profound Crystals or precious metals to munch on?’

Hee Lingchuan couldn’t help but rub his temples. ’Adding such a big spender to our already struggling household... it’s like making a bad situation worse.’

At that moment, Shi Congshan, the second-in-command of the Stone Gate Commerce Association, came to see him. When he heard that the guards of the Grand Tutor to Beiga’s King of Treasure Tree were also staying here and would even be traveling with them, he was overjoyed.

The territory of the King of Treasure Tree alone was larger than the Fu Kingdom and also close by. If the Stone Gate Commerce Association could get in with the Grand Tutor’s Mansion, they could expand their business empire significantly in one fell swoop. Hee Lingchuan knew exactly what these merchants were thinking, so he knocked on Wu Jingsong’s door and invited him and his companion over for drinks, taking the opportunity to introduce Shi the Second to them at the table.

The four of them got along splendidly. Wu Jingsong couldn’t very well spread the news about Young Master Sha losing his soul, so he merely said he was in Wuze County on official business but had encountered a Mirror Demon. Hee Lingchuan then retold the events of the previous night, embellishing the story, which left Shi the Second marveling. To think that while he was sleeping, such terrifying events had unfolded by Mochou Lake.

When he heard that Third Master Gan had been implicated, Shi the Second downed three bowls of wine in a row and cried out in delight.

”That scoundrel! Retribution has come!”

Fueled by the wine, he recounted many past stories about the Gan Family. To Hee Lingchuan’s surprise, although Third Master Gan had done his share of despicable things, the one who truly cornered others and left them with no way out was actually Boss Gan.

”Now that Boss Gan is dead, the Gan Family is in for a good show.”

As if to prove Shi the Second’s words, by the next afternoon, news that the Demon Nest Swamp’s Passage Command had changed hands had already spread like wildfire throughout the county.

Hee Lingchuan would bet ten Copper Plates that the Stone Gate Commerce Association had started the rumor. The news didn’t specify who the Passage Command had fallen to; otherwise, his next few days would have been anything but peaceful.

Creditors, hearing the news, nearly broke down the Gan Family’s doors.

Boss Gan was dead, and the Gan Family had lost the Demon Nest Passage Command. What future was left for the Gan Family Commerce Association? They had to be the first to collect their debts; otherwise, they feared they would lose their entire investment.

How could the Gan Family possibly handle such a scene? It was said that Second Master Gan couldn’t stand the creditors’ taunts and ended up hitting someone, which brought the constables to his door at once. Fortunately, the County Magistrate still owed Boss Gan a small favor, and the creditor was willing to take money to settle the matter. Second Master Gan paid a hefty sum to avoid being thrown into the County Government’s jail.

The incident became the talk of the county.

On the third day, the mentally and physically exhausted Mrs. Maoo fell ill, with only two old servants to attend to her. The Gan Family’s servants spread even more rumors and juicy gossip.

At this time, Steward Zhao came to find Hee Lingchuan, asking if he would accept the Gan Family’s apology and agree to return the Passage Command to them after his trip to Lingxu City. The Gan Family Commerce Association was willing to offer generous compensation.

Hee Lingchuan, of course, refused. He smiled at Steward Zhao. ”You don’t sound very sincere delivering this message.” He didn’t even bother with pleasantries.

Steward Zhao was slightly embarrassed.

The Shi Brothers were also present, and seeing the situation, one of them broke the silence. ”The Gan Family’s downfall is a foregone conclusion. Steward Zhao knows Brother Hee is a discerning man, so why bother sugarcoating it?”

Hee Lingchuan knew that Steward Zhao was secretly their man already, so he didn’t press him. Instead, he changed the subject. ”Perhaps the Gan Family has one more option to survive this crisis.”

”Oh? And what is that?”

”Cooperate with you,” Hee Lingchuan said with a smile. ”You have the Passage Command, and the Gan Family Commerce Association has the connections and trade routes. It’s a perfect match. At the very least, it would help the Gan Family weather their current crisis.”

Shi the Second snorted. ”Cooperate with them? They can dream on.”

But Eldest Master Shi thought for a moment and said, ”It’s not entirely out of the question.”

’Business is business. As long as the Gan Family is willing to bleed enough money, what’s not negotiable?’

’The Gan Family is so fat with wealth. Who wouldn’t be tempted?’

Unfortunately, it seemed the Gans truly hadn’t thought of this solution, as they never approached the Stone Gate Commerce Association to negotiate.

Another day passed. Several managers and stewards of the Gan Family Commerce Association suddenly disappeared, along with a huge sum of money from the accounts. The figure was so large that even Hee Lingchuan was astonished. ’Boss Gan must have built up quite a thick foundation,’ he thought. ’Even his cash flow was that abundant.’

But with them absconding with the funds, the Commerce Association was immediately unable to pay wages or for goods. Morale was already low, and now the subordinates wouldn’t stand for it. They rushed to the Gan Residence, surrounding it and demanding what they were owed.

Second Master Gan, unable to withstand the pressure from creditors, agreed to sell off family and Commerce Association assets to pay the debts. The moment he made that decision, Third Master Gan—disregarding his sick mother—greased the soles of his feet and slipped away!

Of course, he also took many of the family’s valuables with him.

After all, the Gan Family still had some assets left. Third Master Gan was useless at business, but he had a great eye for appraising treasures and knew exactly what was valuable in the house.

By the fifth day, the Stone Gate Commerce Association’s caravan was setting off for Lingxu City in the Beiga Kingdom. Shi the Second lamented that he wouldn’t get to hear the exciting conclusion to the Gan Family’s saga.

But Hee Lingchuan said leisurely, ”I’ll bet you that Third Master Gan won’t get away. If you don’t believe me, let’s just wait a little longer.”

”Really?” Shi the Second immediately ordered a delay in their departure. ”I’ll bet you ten taels of silver on that.”

And as it turned out, by that afternoon, the latest news was in:

Third Master Gan hadn’t gotten far.

He was ambushed in a small wood on the outskirts of the county.

When people found Third Master Gan, he was lying in the mud, groaning. He had a large lump on the back of his head, had been stripped of everything he owned, and his other leg had been broken.

Who was the robber?

Weeping, Third Master Gan choked out a name:

Luo Xunyi!

For his escape, he had brought only his trusted confidant, Luo Xunyi, leaving even his personal attendant behind. He never expected Luo Xunyi to turn on him in the woods, attacking him from behind with a hammer. Third Master Gan’s head was hard, so he wasn’t knocked out. Thus, Luo Xunyi broke his leg...

Of course, Luo Xunyi was no longer in Wuze County. No one knew where he had gone.

Upon hearing this, Shi the Second asked Hee Lingchuan, ”How did you know he was bound for disaster?”

”He’s still too naive. The Gan Family is in turmoil and drowning in debt. Do you think there’s a shortage of people watching him?” Hee Lingchuan chuckled. ”And he has no ability to judge character, running off with an ungrateful traitor. If he’s not a fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered, who is?”

A thrill ran through Shi the Second, and he burst out laughing. ”A good omen! Truly a good omen! This trip to Lingxu City is sure to be smooth sailing.”

Even if he returned to the Gan Family, Third Master Gan’s fate was sealed. The creditors wouldn’t let him go, and neither would the townspeople he had bullied.

Everyone kicks a man when he’s down.

Building a fortune is a skill, and preserving it is also a skill. Unfortunately, the Gan Family had no one with such talent. Awaiting them was only an endless vista of sorrow and gloom.

Shi the Second found it all very satisfying.

Hee Lingchuan asked him, ”Why do you detest Gan the Third so much?”

Shi Congshan was taken aback. He thought for a moment before replying, ”He’s not some great villain; he’s not even worthy of the title. But people like Gan the Third... their deaths would be no great loss.”

”The banality of evil?”

”Yes, yes! The banality of evil, exactly!” Shi Congshan mulled over the phrase, finding it profound. ”The things people like him do... one or two aren’t capital offenses, but add them all up, and they’re more odious than a murderer. Everyone just wants to spit on him and give him a good kick. Ah, Brother Hee, you summarized it perfectly.”

”You look like a magnanimous hero, but I never would have thought...” Over here, the Soul-Catching Mirror also gave Hee Lingchuan a sinister chuckle. ”You had me release the Mirror Slave contract just so you could watch him fall to such a state, didn’t you?”

The Mirror was lying on his chest, performing its duty. ”Controlling the fate of others... watching them live, watching them die, watching them wish for death... doesn’t it feel great?”

Great? It was more than great. Hee Lingchuan let out a long breath. ”Of course.”

As he rode out of Wuze County’s borders, he glanced back from his horse.

’Those words were actually spoken from the heart.’

’If Sunx Fuping and Nian Songyu hadn’t come to Black Water City, if Hee Chunhua hadn’t left Qiansong County, would I have become another Gan the Third? Just one with a stronger backing.’

But he had long since awakened to the truth: rely on a mountain, and the mountain will fall; rely on a person, and that person will die. In these chaotic times, a dandy’s backing was like a soap bubble, ready to pop at the first strong gust of wind.

’And what goes around, comes around.’

’Good thing I realized it early.’

However, although Hee Lingchuan saw a reflection of his past self in Gan the Third—or to be precise, a reflection of his body’s original owner—there were still clear differences between them.

The original owner had also been a dandy with his share of hangers-on, but he had no real sycophants, nor did he have a villain like Luo Xunyi who excelled at instigation.

He hadn’t even committed any truly evil deeds.

Was it that Eldest Young Master Hee didn’t deserve them?

Of course not.

It was because his environment had always been strictly controlled, with all undesirable elements filtered out.

The space he had to act out was, in fact, very limited.

From this perspective, the four-word maxim Wen Daolun had inspired him with, ”Flee when you meet water,” was both a turning point of fate and perhaps a new beginning.

---------- End of Volume I: *Demon Nest*. The next Chapter begins Volume II: *Demon’s Ideal Kingdom*.

2022.12.17