At this time, water on the Chipa Plateau was exceptionally plentiful. Relying on the natural difference in elevation, a few waterwheels were enough to provide an automated, round-the-clock water supply.
This was understandable; the Panlong Wasteland had always been a vital transportation artery connecting the Xiluo Kingdom to foreign domains. The strategic significance of Panlong City's location far surpassed that of the later Blackwater City.
Besides, if the land had not been bountiful, how could Panlong City have held out for more than thirty years while surrounded by formidable enemies?
Naturally, walking through such a historic city, He Lingchuan felt vigilance beneath his sigh of wonder.
These two had searched for the temple and the temple of General Red; why had they not searched Zhong Shengguang's former residence as well, instead of waiting for him to come along?
Nine chances out of ten, something was wrong with that place.
He Lingchuan grew privately anxious, yet on the surface he politely consulted Sun Fuping, "National Preceptor, do those resentful souls truly live here year after year, only venturing outside every September?"
"I am afraid so."
"Since they can live and work in peace here, why go outside?"
"That will only be known once we obtain the Dafang Pot."
He Lingchuan thought to himself that he truly lived up to the title of National Preceptor—managing to phrase "I don't know" so tactfully.
When tasks were assigned earlier, Nian Songyu had already gone to look for the Zhong residence, so he knew the way well now.
Yet upon arriving at the location, Nian Songyu halted in his tracks.
Before them stood a gray-brick mansion with a black-tiled roof and high lintels. Its facade was neat and stately, with clumps of green bamboo peeking over the tall perimeter wall, carrying the undeniable aura of a prominent household. Two large characters hung above the gate:
Runyuan.
"Here?"
Nian Songyu hesitated visibly before saying, "The location is right, and the house is right, but I already went inside to search—the family living here is named Chen!"
He Lingchuan was astonished. "What?"
Stepping into Runyuan, they found a sprawling four-courtyard mansion compound. The materials used for the architecture and furniture were exquisite. He Lingchuan even discovered that the screen wall featured Tongzhou brick carvings; over three hundred bricks formed figures, landscapes, and even a coherent plot, coming together like an illustrated picture-scroll story. Even in modern times, such brick carvings were highly sought after, taking more than four months just to transport from Tongzhou to Blackwater City.
He Lingchuan knew this so well because the He residence in Blackwater City had also used these carvings to adorn its facade.
A compound as refined as Runyuan naturally had a garden. Rockeries and flowing water were standard, and the garden was planted with tall red maples, beneath which exotic flowers and rare plants were tucked away in the corners.
The first dozen or so could barely be recognized by shape, though their species remained a mystery; those further back were half-concealed in the dim shadows of the trees, beyond He Lingchuan's ability to make out clearly.
Nian Songyu pointed at the garden and said, "Back in that residence in the desert ruins, this spot was a wooden storeroom packed with cupboards, a total mess. Also, I saw several visiting cards in the side hall indicating that the master of this place was named Chen, courtesy name Huisheng."
He Lingchuan was flabbergasted. "Just what period of Panlong City is this?" The land was lush and fertile, the people lived in peace, the city was prosperous without a trace of the shadows of war—and even a famous figure like Zhong Shengguang did not live where he was supposed to.
He suspected he had stumbled into a Panlong City of another time and space.
Sun Fuping chimed in, "If Zhong Shengguang does not reside here, he must have another dwelling. Young Master He, can you think of any?"
"Me?" He Lingchuan pointed at his own nose. "How would I know?"
"Think! Think carefully!" Nian Songyu pressed.
Sun Fuping prompted, "Legends of the Panlong Desert have circulated in Qiansong Commandery for decades, and you grew up listening to them. You ought to know many anecdotes outside official histories, even local folk tales. For instance, Zhong Shengguang must have risen to the position of Commander step by step. Where did he live before his promotion?"
Understanding dawned on He Lingchuan. "The National Preceptor suspects we have arrived in Panlong City from before Zhong Shengguang became Commander?"
"Very likely," Sun Fuping nodded. "Finding clues in a city this large is like searching for a needle in the sea. Right now, the most identifiable variable is Zhong Shengguang himself."
Though he had prepared beforehand, his knowledge was limited after all, unable to encompass every minute detail. That was why he had to ask a local like He Lingchuan.
He Lingchuan fell deep in thought for a good while, then shook his head. "No, nothing comes to mind."
His knowledge of Panlong City was no greater than that of an average Blackwater City resident. Trivia like how many times Zhong Shengguang moved before rising to fame, how often he fell ill, or how many women he had were well beyond his syllabus.
"You spent over a decade in Blackwater City just being a good-for-nothing glutton?" Nian Songyu said coldly. "We'd have been far better off bringing He Chunhua down here."
"You..." He Lingchuan's face darkened with anger.
Nian Songyu clenched his fists, prepared to teach the brat a lesson the moment foul language spewed from his mouth. To his surprise, He Lingchuan pivoted smoothly. "Fair point. We should head back and get someone." Turning to Sun Fuping, he asked, "National Preceptor, how do we get back?"
The kid knew how to read the room—was he a coward or just clever? Before Sun Fuping could speak, the sand bandit Maotao came sprinting along the covered corridor, shouting excitedly, "A discovery! I found something!"
Only then did the three recall that the fellow had wandered off at some point. "What did you find?"
"Dead people! There are human bones in the cellar!"
Nian Songyu snapped irritably, "What's so special about dead..." What was strange about dead bodies? Skeletons were everywhere in the ruined desert city; they had seen them all along the way, bloody proof of the massacre carried out by the Xian-Ba allied army.
Yet he caught himself immediately, swallowing the rest of his words. "Let's go have a look."
This was not the outside world; this was Panlong City frozen in time. Anything out of place was a precious clue.
The group rushed to the cellar, lit a candle, and descended. Sure enough, they discovered partial skeletal remains.
Panlong City was blistering hot in summer and bitterly cold in winter. Wealthy households like the Chen family would dig multiple cellars to store meats, fruits, vegetables, pickles, and ice separately.
Indeed: harvesting solid ice in winter to enjoy chilled drinks in summer. Cellared ice could also be used to make iced fruits and chilled wine, or to cool bedchambers during the dog days of summer—an indulgence exclusive to prominent households.
The cellar Maotao had found was an ice cellar. Panlong City was currently around early summer, and the chill in the cellar was biting. Yet as soon as they walked down, they saw bones scattered across the corner; counting the skulls revealed there were three dead.
Sun Fuping picked up a skull, examined it closely, and said in a heavy voice, "Real."
This was highly unusual. Why would real human remains appear in an illusory realm?
A flash of realization struck all four. Nian Songyu exclaimed, "The Baling Kingdom expedition! They entered the illusory realm too."
Of course. The entrance to the illusory realm had been discovered first by Baling Kingdom's expedition, so they naturally had the opportunity to enter Panlong City.
Now came the crucial question: how did they die?
"Looking at their posture, they were moved after death." Maotao crouched down to look closer, then suddenly drew in a sharp breath. "Wait, the bones are in complete disarray. If they weren't disturbed afterward, then... then..."
"They were dismembered right after dying." Nian Songyu held up a radius bone, then found a scapula, inspecting both against the light. "There are marks from sharp blades on the bones—every single one of them. These couldn't have been wounds suffered while they were alive."
Chapter 48