Chapter 54: Panlong City of a Different Time

At this time, the water sources at Chipa Plateau were unusually abundant. With the natural difference in elevation, just a few waterwheels could supply water automatically, day and night.

This only made sense. After all, the Panlong Wasteland had always been a vital corridor connecting West Luo to distant lands. The strategic importance of Panlong City’s location far surpassed that of Heishui City in later generations.

And really, if the region had not been rich in resources, how could Panlong City have held out for more than thirty years, surrounded by powerful enemies on all sides?

Of course, as he walked through this city rich in history, He Lingchuan could not help but feel both awed and wary.

The two of them have already looked for the Temple of Mitian, as well as the Red General’s residence, but why did they leave out Zhong Shengguang’s former home for last?

There has to be something off about that place.

He Lingchuan felt a growing sense of unease, though outwardly he simply turned to Sun Fuping for guidance. “State Preceptor Sun, do those wrathful souls really just live here year after year, only leaving when it’s the ninth month?”

“That’s most likely the case.”

“If they could live in peace here, why would they go out at all?”

“That’s something we’ll only know once we get our hands on the Generous Pot.”

He Lingchuan could not help admiring the state preceptor’s gift for turning “I don’t know” into such a sophisticated answer.

Earlier, when tasks were assigned back in the desert Panlong City, Nian Songyu had already gone to check Zhong Estate, so he now led the way as if he knew it by heart.

But as they arrived, Nian Songyu paused.

Before them stood a gray-brick mansion with a black-tiled roof and a tall lintel. Before them was an impeccably kept home, with clusters of bamboo peeking over the high walls. The place had all the hallmarks of a wealthy household. Two large words were inscribed above the door: Glossy Garden.

“This is it?”

Nian Songyu hesitated before saying, “The address is right, the house is right, but when I went in earlier, the people living here had the surname Chen.”

He Lingchuan was startled. “What?”

They entered Glossy Garden. It was a grand estate with four courtyards, the buildings and furnishings all crafted from the finest materials. He Lingchuan even noticed that the wall was made of intricate brick carvings from Tong Province. Over three hundred bricks had been pieced together to create continuous scenes of figures, landscapes, and even whole storylines. The wall was as exquisite as a comic strip. Such brickwork was prized even now; it would take over four months just to ship from Tong Province to Heishui City.

He knew all this because the He Family’s own estate in Heishui City used these very bricks to decorate their entrance.

Naturally, a garden with such elegant walls also boasted a flower garden, along with rockeries and streams as standard features, tall red maples, as well as rare and exotic plants tucked into the shady corners beneath the trees.

He could barely recognize the first dozen or so, though he did not exactly know what species they were. As for those farther back, hidden in the dim shade, he could not make them out at all.

Nian Songyu pointed to the garden and said, “Back in the current Panlong City, this was just a wooden storeroom packed with cabinets, a complete mess. Over by the side hall, I even saw a few visiting cards. It turns out the owner here is surnamed Chen, courtesy name Huisheng.”

He Lingchuan was dumbfounded. “When exactly was this how it was for Panlong City?” The land was rich, people lived in peace, and the city was prosperous. There was not a trace of war to be seen anywhere in the city. Additionally, a famous figure like Zhong Shengguang did not even live where he should have. He could not help but wonder if they had somehow ended up in an alternate timeline of Panlong City.

Sun Fuping took over, “If Zhong Shengguang did not live here, then he must have had another residence. Young Master He, can you think of anywhere?”

“Me?” He Lingchuan pointed to his own nose. “How would I know?”

Nian Songyu pressed him for an answer, “Think. Think hard.”

Sun Fuping added a hint, “The legends of the Panlong Desert have circulated in Qiansong Commandery for decades. You grew up hearing them and should know stories beyond what’s in the official records, even trivial local tales. For example, Commander Zhong Shengguang must have worked his way up the ranks. Where did he live before his promotion?”

Realization dawned upon He Lingchuan. “Wait, do you suspect that we’ve landed in Panlong City from before Zhong Shengguang became a commander?”

“That’s indeed most likely the case,” said Sun Fuping with a nod. “Finding clues in a city this size is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Right now, the most promising variable is Zhong Shengguang himself.”

He had done his homework beforehand, but there was only so much he could know, so he had to consult He Lingchuan, the local.

He Lingchuan racked his brains for a long while, then shook his head and said, “No. I really don’t remember anything.”

He did not know more about Panlong City than any average Heishui City resident. Details like where Zhong Shengguang lived before becoming famous, or how many times he moved house, or how many women he had throughout his life were all far beyond him.

“Haven’t you basically lived in Heishui City all your life? Has drinking and eating been all that you’ve done all this time?” Nian Songyu said coldly. “Hmph, we’d probably be better off bringing He Chunhua down here.”

“You...” He Lingchuan bristled with anger.

Nian Songyu clenched his fist, ready to teach him a lesson if he started mouthing off. However, He Lingchuan abruptly changed tack and said, “You’re right. We should go back and get someone else.” After saying that, he turned to Sun Fuping and asked, “State Preceptor, how do we get back?”

Is this cowardice or cleverness?

Before Sun Fuping could answer, Mao Tao came running in from a winding corridor, face bright. “I found something! Come quick!”

Only then did the others realize that he had even wandered off. “What did you find?”

“A corpse! Bones, in the cellar!”

Nian Songyu grumbled, “A corpse? What’s so—” He was just about to continue on asking if there was even anything special about finding a corpse. In the current Panlong City, the ground was littered with bones, each one proof of the slaughter by the coalition. However, he caught himself and bit off the rest, saying instead, “Let’s go have a look.”

This was not the outside world. This was a Panlong City frozen in time. Anything out of place here was a precious clue.

They hurried to the cellar, lit a candle, and sure enough, they found several skeletons.

Panlong City had hot summers and cold winters. Households like the Chen Family dug multiple cellars, each for storing meat, produce, pickles, or ice.

Yes, they would keep blocks of hard ice through the winter to enjoy chilled drinks in summer. The ice could be used for desserts, wine, or to cool the bed on the hottest days; they were luxuries that only the wealthy could enjoy.

What Mao Tao had found was the ice cellar. It was probably early summer now, and the place was still filled with chill. But as soon as they entered, they spotted bones scattered in the corner. At a glance, they saw three skulls.

Sun Fuping picked up one and examined it closely, his tone grave as he said, “They’re real.”

This was most unusual. Why would real human remains appear in an illusion?

All four of them immediately sensed the implication, and Nian Songyu blurted out, “The State of Baling’s expedition team! They entered the illusion too!”

That was right. The team from the State of Baling was the first to find the entrance, so of course, they could have entered this version of Panlong City.

Now came the key question: how did they die?

“Judging by the way the bones lie, their bodies were moved here after death,” Mao Tao said after some observation, crouching to examine the mess. Suddenly, he sucked in a breath and added, “No, look at this, the bones are all jumbled up. Unless they were disturbed afterward, it’s... it’s—”

“They were dismembered after death,” Nian Songyu said, holding up a radius bone and a scapula, examining both by candlelight. “See these cuts? Every bone’s marked. These aren’t wounds from when they were still alive.”