Where Immortals Once Walked

He Lingchuan’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“When you eat roast chicken, do you start with the legs and wings, or do you go for the breast first?”

“Of course the legs! If I don’t, someone else will snatch them up.” He remembered well how, in the men’s dorms, mealtime was practically a reenactment of the “Legend of the Hungry Wolves[1].” However, he quickly caught on to what Nian Songyu was hinting at, and he asked, “Wait... Are you saying that they were eaten?”

Mao Tao picked up another bone from the ground. “Look, there are scorch marks.”

Not only had people been eaten, but it now seemed like they had even been roasted first. He Lingchuan felt his stomach churn.

Just when he thought that he had gotten used to this world, his expectations were shattered all over again. “Did they go mad? Why would they eat their own comrades?”

“I doubt that.” Nian Songyu turned over a few more broken bones, half of them blackened. “Have you ever seen a madman build a fire and roast meat?”

Mao Tao let out a sigh. “Young Master, when people eat people, it’s usually because they’re starving.”

Peace was a rarity in this world. In times of famine, families would sell a son one day, a daughter the next, sometimes even swapping children with other families to eat; during wars, it was common for armies to seize civilians as living food stores, calling them two-legged sheep. There were even generals who published books, teaching which parts of the human body tasted best and how to cook them.

Cannibalism was nothing new in history, nor had the present day escaped it.

“There’s no food or water here. They were trapped until they died!” Nian Songyu looked toward Sun Fuping. “State Preceptor, what do we do?”

Panlong City might appear prosperous, but for the living, there was nothing here that could be consumed. The longer one stayed, the more likely they were to die of thirst or hunger.

If they did not find the Generous Pot, they would end up just like the Baling expedition team.

Yet Sun Fuping remained perfectly calm. “No need to worry. Keep searching. Don’t forget we still have something to rely on.”

He really did seem unflappable, maintaining the air of a man with countless aces up his sleeve. Maybe that was why Nian Songyu dared follow him this deep into danger? He Lingchuan stared intently at the two, and he noticed that after Sun Fuping finished speaking, Nian Songyu glanced his way.

It was a reflexive look, just a fleeting glance before Nian Songyu looked away as if nothing had happened. However, He Lingchuan’s nerves instantly tensed. “Why did you just look at me? Does this supposed trump card for survival have something to do with me?”

The very thought made his heart skip a beat.

But then again, it was not yet the final hour. Sun Fuping would not lay all his cards on the table yet.

With just himself and Mao Tao, there was no way they could take on Sun Fuping and Nian Songyu. He Lingchuan made up his mind that if the two made a move, he would not hesitate to turn and run on the spot. The Panlong Wasteland was vast. Those two might not even be able to find him.

But for now, their best hope for survival still rested with Sun Fuping.

He could practically smell the crisis closing in. His mind was sharper than usual. “If they reached the point of cannibalism, they must have been trapped here for ages. Didn’t they manage to discover anything useful? If we could find something, it’d save us a lot of effort.”

He walked over to the two large vats nearby. They were littered with assorted junk that clearly did not belong in an ice cellar.

It was a sound suggestion, and Sun Fuping and Nian Songyu exchanged a glance before nodding in agreement.

The clothes and rags on the floor were much the same. There were a few empty bottles and a mess of miscellaneous items. The four of them could safely conclude that these were the things left by the Baling expedition team, but after rifling through everything, they failed to find anything useful.

Still, Sun Fuping was not discouraged by this. He stood up and said, “This cellar was only used to dump the bones. Whoever ate them isn’t here. We’ll split up and keep searching.” He then pointed at Mao Tao and said, “You and Commandant Nian shall be a team, while I’ll go with Young Master He.”

He Lingchuan’s eyes flickered as he suggested, “Why not just split into four and move around on our own? We’d cover more ground that way.”

“There might be unknown dangers still lurking in the city. It’s best not to separate further.” As soon as Sun Fuping finished, Nian Songyu led Mao Tao away.

Is this to keep me from sneaking off? He Lingchuan grew more certain that the pair were plotting something against him, but he still had to bow and scrape before Sun Fuping. “After you, State Preceptor.”

* * *

Walking down the empty street, He Lingchuan could not help but ask Sun Fuping, “Even if we find the Generous Pot, will it really be able to turn the tide and crush the rebels at Woling Pass?”

“In theory, yes. Otherwise, why would we go to all this trouble?” Sun Fuping walked briskly, as if he had no particular destination on this stretch of road.

“If it’s really that useful, then why didn’t Zhong Shengguang use it to retake West Luo?” This question had bothered He Lingchuan for a long time. “In the end, he and the people of this city just stayed stranded here until they were surrounded and killed.”

“A divine artifact like that always comes with all sorts of restrictions, or perhaps the god who bestowed it had other plans in mind.”

“So what if we can’t deal with those restrictions either?”

“That’s nothing for you to worry about.” Sun Fuping was full of confidence. “As long as we find the Generous Pot, I have my own ways to break those restrictions.”

He Lingchuan was skeptical. The old man had never even seen the Generous Pot, nor did he know a thing about its seals or restrictions, yet he actually dared to claim that he could break them. It was like a doctor prescribing medicine after asking several questions, without ever having seen the patient, without taking a pulse, and without getting the whole story.

Besides, seeing as he had used the word “break,” it seemed as if he was just going to brute-force it.

Still, the old man did not seem the least bit uncertain.

Sun Fuping glanced at him, so He Lingchuan continued, “Once we retrieve the Generous Pot, my father and I will be able to return to the capital. When the time comes, I’ll have to ask for your guidance, State Preceptor.”

Sun Fuping smiled faintly. “That’s only a matter of course. There could be no greater merit than helping me retrieve this divine artifact.”

“Commandant Nian seems to have a bit of a... misunderstanding with me.” He Lingchuan gave a slight cough. “Did I offend him somehow?”

“The Provincial Governor of Xun Province is leading troops to suppress the rebellion. Commandant Nian probably has some concerns on his mind,” Sun Fuping offered offhandedly. “Young men get irritable if they lose a few nights of sleep. Their tempers flare up, and their patience wears thin.”

He Lingchuan looked a little embarrassed. “State Preceptor, could I trouble you to mediate between us?”

So, he’s finally learned a little respect? Well, fear is only natural. First, with He Chunhua and the Heishui City troops nowhere near, he’s completely without backing. Second, he and He Chunhua merely dream of returning home in glory, and in the capital, a minor official wouldn’t dare offend the Grand General of the Northern Expedition.

It’s only natural that he keep his head down, be polite, and stay on good terms with important people.

With that in mind, Sun Fuping’s smile grew even more amiable. “That’s a trivial matter.”

He Lingchuan, as expected, looked grateful. “Thank you!”

By now, the two of them had already left the Chen Residence by over a hundred meters, but still had found nothing. He Lingchuan leaped onto a rooftop, scanning the area as he muttered to himself, “If I were one of those from Baling, about to die of thirst and hunger, where would I try my luck?”

I need luck too, after all. If we remained trapped here, once Sun Fuping and Nian Songyu finish off their own supplies, who knows if Mao Tao and I end up on the menu?

If it really comes to that, the one to make the first move might just be State Preceptor Sun.

No, they’ll probably act before then. After all, rations can be stored for a long time, but flesh can’t.

Compared to working through the rations, it would actually be more reasonable to eat the fresh meat first. After all, meat is tastier, more tender, and far more nourishing...

1. This should be a reference to the song by Jacky Cheung. ☜