After the Immortal Disappeared

Chapter 159: Chapter 160: The Real Panlong City

But nothing happened.

People either nodded and smiled at him or ignored him completely, quickly brushing past without a second glance.

’Are they treating me like a local?’

Hee Lingchuan knew that the Panlong Soldiers and People were extremely wary of outsiders, treating any illegal intruders as spies.

’Is it because I fought alongside the Great Wind Army last time that I’ve been granted passage into the Grand Square Pot?’

With these questions in mind, he continued forward.

The path was lined with green mountains and clear waters. Wildflowers carpeted the long slopes, colorful butterflies flew in pairs, and the crops in the fields were growing splendidly.

Everything was exceptionally tranquil, seeming even more peaceful than most of the countryside the Supporting Army had passed through.

And yet, this was the Panlong Wasteland—land irrigated with the blood and flesh of countless people.

Panlong City, now coming into view, grew closer and more magnificent.

The city’s silhouette looked similar to what he had seen in the Coiling Dragon Illusion Realm, but it lacked some of the sharp angles and many of the defensive structures. The most obvious difference was the absence of the ferocious-looking Crocodile Tooth Stakes above the gate, indicating that Panlong City faced far less pressure during this era than in later times.

Nevertheless, Panlong City still exuded a powerful, oppressive aura to any outsider.

As he drew closer, Hee Lingchuan noticed that although there were no Crocodile Tooth Stakes below the crenellations, the outer wall was covered in brownish-gray climbing vines. They clung densely to the wall’s surface, making it nearly impossible to see its original color. It was spring, yet the plants were laden with pale-red, papaya-shaped fruits the size of a fist.

’I have to say, this "wall greening" project is a bit of a failure.’

’Why plant climbing vines on the most important South Gate of Panlong City? The stems are thick and sturdy, with the old vines at the bottom thicker than my thigh. Aren’t they practically an invitation for enemies to climb?’

Hee Lingchuan wasn’t the only one; many other outsiders were also pointing and murmuring about it.

Indeed, Panlong City was different from what he had imagined. It wasn’t heavily guarded or hostile to strangers. A casual glance around revealed foreigners in different attire and even with different skin colors all around him.

He even recognized several pedestrians as lone traveling merchants, and up ahead, a caravan was waiting to pass through the gates. The group consisted of at least forty to fifty people, with over a dozen horse-drawn carts laden with goods.

These people must all be outsiders, as many of them had the same expression as Hee Lingchuan upon seeing Panlong City, and they didn’t bother to hide their astonishment.

The city gate was half-open, and the seven or eight soldiers in charge of security checks—a small squad—were neatly dressed and looked sharp, but their expressions were amiable.

They checked the permits and passage Documents pedestrians presented. For merchant caravans, they would spot-check the cargo, letting them pass if it matched the records on the Document.

’The inspections don’t seem very strict.’

Hee Lingchuan had to admit, this was even more lax than passing through the gates of Black Water City.

Soon, it was his turn.

Hee Lingchuan put on an amiable smile, but in reality, he was channeling energy to his legs, ready to turn and bolt at the first sign of trouble. After all, he had no identification whatsoever.

He was just here to try his luck. The Dream Realm had started here; if he didn’t enter Panlong, he wouldn’t know what else to do.

To his surprise, when the City Gate Guard saw him, he didn’t even ask for his papers or Document, simply waving him through impatiently.

Hee Lingchuan hesitated, his steps faltering.

The City Gate Guard said bluntly, "Move it, don’t block the way!"

It didn’t seem like a trap, so Hee Lingchuan took long strides and quickly slipped through the gate.

’So it’s true. After fighting alongside the Great Wind Army, I’ve earned Panlong City’s... favor? I’m no longer a rat scurrying through the streets.’

The gatehouse was as magnificent as he remembered, but it only had a two-layered gate, not the three-layered Weng City of later eras.

After passing through the gate, the first thing he saw was a large public square.

The square was just as vast as he recalled, but its layout was different. Strangely, there was a lake at its edge, shimmering and steaming. It was actually a hot spring lake.

The shore was dotted with fluffy papyrus reeds.

Hee Lingchuan stood by the lakeside. The water was so clear he could see the sand on the bottom. There were no koi fish, but local stream fish swam about in large schools.

At this time, the Chipa Plateau was a network of crisscrossing waterways with lush forests and meadows, a Bright Pearl on the Panlong Wasteland. Hee Lingchuan had seen this lake in the Panlong City of a later age, but by then, it had long since dried up, leaving only its outline behind.

Only by seeing it in person now did he realize that the lakeshore had been built with several sets of stairs, allowing people to walk directly from the square to the water’s edge to fetch water without any obstruction.

He tested the water temperature. It had to be over forty degrees.

’There are fish in water this hot? Could you cook them by just raising the temperature another twenty degrees?’

When Hee Lingchuan looked back, he saw scaffolding erected against the high wall next to the city gate, with many artisans hammering away.

The sculpture was seventy or eighty feet high, and though it was unfinished, its general form was already clear.

The silhouette, the lines... yes, it was a Flood Dragon, no doubt about it.

In the Coiling Dragon Illusion Realm, there had also been a sculpture of a Black Flood Dragon by the city gate, but here, it was still incomplete.

Now Hee Lingchuan knew which era he had entered.

This was likely the period after the Panlong Wasteland had once again become an exclave, and Zhong Shengguang, completely disillusioned with his former kingdom, had replaced the original National Guardian Beast, the Golden Bull, behind the city gate with the sculpture of the Black Flood Dragon.

Hee Lingchuan picked a random street and began to wander. The avenues were wide and clean, lined with rows of buildings, and vendors hawked their wares outside the shops... It was no different from any other bustling city.

Having seen the grim desolation of Panlong City in a later age, seeing it in its current state gave Hee Lingchuan a surreal feeling of being in a different world, even though he knew he was in a dream.

The city was brimming with the energy of daily life, especially with the constant flow of peddlers and porters, commoners and wealthy merchants—those who were laughing, laughed; those who were haggling, haggled; those who were arguing, argued; and those who were hurrying, hurried.

The tragic, somber, and desolate atmosphere Hee Lingchuan had expected was nowhere to be found.

’Is this Dream Realm I’m in a reflection of a real past?’

The people living here went on with their lives as usual. They bowed their heads for a meager living, bought their children candied hawthorns for two wens a stick, and cheated and swindled each other—

As Hee Lingchuan reached the entrance of a tavern, a child running from the opposite direction crashed right into him.

The little rascal was short and scrawny like a monkey, but surprisingly strong. A normal person would have been knocked over, but Hee Lingchuan had practiced martial arts for years, and his stance was as solid as a bell. Not only did the boy fail to knock him down, but he himself was sent flying back two feet, landing hard on his backside.

He glared, infuriated. "Hey, you! Why don’t you watch where you’re going?"

"You little brat, why were you grabbing my necklace?" Hee Lingchuan looked down and saw that the chain, which usually rested against his skin, had been pulled out over his collar. The small piece of Divine Bone on it was even glowing with a faint red light.

When the boy had bumped into him, he’d felt a tug on his neck. Luckily, though the chain was thin, it hadn’t been broken.

The boy scrambled up from the ground and took off running.

Hee Lingchuan was about to chase after him and give him a good smack, but he was stopped by a heavy pat on the shoulder and a voice calling out, "Hey, Hee Lingchuan!"

Someone here actually knew his name! Hee Lingchuan started, forgetting about the little thief and turning to see who it was.

The man was of medium height and slender, with very round eyes. He had the look of an energetic young man, but he was leaning on a crutch, one leg dangling, unable to touch the ground.

"It really is you!" He grinned at Hee Lingchuan, revealing a set of bright white teeth.

"Hu Min!" Hee Lingchuan was just as surprised and delighted. He went up, clapping him on the shoulder and back in a half-embrace. "Where’d you spring from, you old gimp?"

His surprise stemmed not just from meeting an old acquaintance in a dream, but from the fact that the other man actually remembered him!

This meant he had left a mark on the dream; he wasn’t just a spectator or a transient visitor.

The significance of this discovery was immense.

"I was heading to the Frost River Tavern to grab a drink, and what do I see? You, standing here like a fool, getting your pockets picked by a little brat!"

The two looked at each other and burst out laughing.

Hu Min was his comrade from the Great Wind Army who had fought to the death with him defending the wagon circle in the last Dream Realm. Hee Lingchuan had lost an arm, and it was Hu Min who had loaded all those Crossbow Arrows for him.

The truest friendships between men are forged not in the classroom, but on the battlefield.

"Come on, let’s go have a few drinks." Hee Lingchuan turned and saw the Frost River Tavern right there.

’Huh? Isn’t this the place where Sunx Fuping gathered the expedition team to discuss their plans after they entered the Panlong Ruins? Back then, though, all that was left of the tavern was a sign swaying in the wind, its characters barely legible.’

But the Frost River Tavern before him now had a plaque with large, gold-gilded characters, and the place was packed with customers, its business thriving.

The two happily entered the tavern and took a seat. It was only when the waiter came over to ask for their order that Hee Lingchuan belatedly patted his pockets.

’Uh oh. As empty as if they’d just been through the wash!’

’Did the Broken Blade send me into this Dream Realm with just the clothes on my back?’

’Couldn’t it have given me some startup funds or something? This is just too cheap.’

Hu Min, however, was already excitedly ordering, "A jar of Old Luobai to start! And stir-fried clover, a plate of pork cracklings, and some dressed pig’s head meat! Oh, right, do you want goose or chicken?"

"I..." ’Do beggars get to be choosers?’ Hee Lingchuan’s smile was a bit strained. "I’m good with anything."

"Then we’ll have the sliced wine-marinated goose leg! Get us the biggest, fattest one!"

The moment Hee Lingchuan heard "biggest," he quickly said, "Isn’t that too much? I already ate. Let’s not waste food."

Hu Min’s eyes widened. "You might be full, but I’m starving! This little bit of food won’t even be enough to get through this jar of wine! You go ahead and order more—"

At that, he suddenly caught on. "Oh! Never mind, never mind. Eat and order whatever you want. This one’s on me!"

"This..." ’Thank goodness!’ "...how could I let you do that! Do I look like the kind of person who just takes advantage of his friends?"

Hee Lingchuan put on a stern glare, and Hu Min just laughed. "What’s the point of saying all that between brothers?"

In the blink of an eye, the pork cracklings were served.

These were really just the leftover bits from rendering lard in the kitchen, sprinkled with some pepper powder. Meat was too expensive to just throw away the scraps, so they were sold to the tavern patrons for just two big coins a plate.

Hee Lingchuan popped one into his mouth. It was crisp and crunchy, and the flavor grew richer the more he chewed. It was clear Hu Min was an old drunkard who knew the simple pleasure of pork cracklings.

"How did you survive?" Hu Min asked him. "We held out until dawn, and the Red General finally arrived with reinforcements, but you were knocked into the water. After the enemy retreated, even Commander Xiao personally went into the water, but they just couldn’t find you."

’Commander Xiao jumped into the water to look for me?’ Hee Lingchuan was touched.

He remembered climbing onto a large rock, wanting to get a good look at the Red General, only to be shaken awake by his servant—a regret that lingered to this day. But in the eyes of Hu Min, Commander Xiao, and the others, had he been knocked into the water by the enemy and vanished?