[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-after-the-immortals-disappeared":3,"chapter-after-the-immortals-disappeared-after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-110":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","After the Immortals Disappeared",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2283994,4468,"Chapter 110: Taking a Prisoner Back","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-110",110,"\u003Cp>With government soldiers backing him, He Lingchuan had felt relaxed facing the fatty earlier, but now he felt something was wrong. Townships were different from small villages; wealthy gentry would pay out of their own pockets to organize local defense militias and train their own troops, especially in chaotic times when such armed forces were even more necessary. Since this group of fierce bandits could take down a town, they certainly had a numerical advantage. If the fatty could lie about one thing, he could lie about everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan stuffed the flatbread back into his mouth, opened his shirt, and used a dagger to carve a cross over his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood flowed out immediately, and very quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fatty let out a pained cry, but the sound was mostly blocked by the flatbread. The muscles on his face twisted, and a rattling sound came from his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, He Lingchuan handed the dagger to Zhu Xiuer, guiding her to press the tip of the blade into the cross: \"Hold it steady. One more inch, and he will surely die.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Xiuer hesitated for a moment, then gripped the dagger with both hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you scream, she stabs your heart; if you answer randomly, she also stabs your heart.\" He Lingchuan patted the fatty's shoulder. \"She hates you to the bone; you had better not try it. Understand?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fatty nodded cautiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's play a game called 'racing against time'.\" He Lingchuan smiled. \"If you answer all my questions before you bleed out, I can stop your bleeding and spare your life. How about that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The speed of the fatty's nodding increased significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan also nodded with satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a few months ago, he wouldn't have been able to be this ruthless. But after experiencing several life-and-death struggles, he finally understood one principle: being kind to the enemy is being cruel to oneself, especially when the other party is bent on doing harm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He removed the flatbread and asked again: \"In which town do you still have men?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Qianteng... Town.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How many men?\" He Lingchuan said with displeasure. \"Can't you be more proactive? Must you be like a marionette, only answering when I ask?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fatty said with difficulty: \"The town was taken the day before yesterday, there are two hundred men left.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This group of bandits had a total of four or five hundred people? \"Ordinary bandits don't have this scale. Where did you come from?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hongchuan!\" the fatty replied. \"There was a great flood back home, and we couldn't get any money there, so we wanted to change places.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Change to here?\" He Lingchuan asked Zhu Xiuer. \"Is this place very wealthy? What is the population?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Xiuer shook her head: \"The land is not fertile, and there are few people.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fatty hurriedly said: \"We are just passing through! Boss Lu still wants to head south!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Passing bandits are the most ruthless killers because they only do business once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as they were speaking, a commotion arose outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan said to a personal guard: \"Go out and take a look.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The personal guard walked a circle outside and quickly returned to report: \"There is a sudden fish tide in the lake, they've rushed onto the shore. Now the ground is covered in jumping live fish.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fish?\" He Lingchuan never expected this answer. But at this moment, rapid footsteps sounded outside again, along with the crunching sound of shoe soles stepping on gravel and mud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by the movement, there were at least a dozen or more people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had the fatty's reinforcements arrived? The four of them tensed up instantly. He Lingchuan pressed his hand to his sword hilt and pointed at Wang Pangzi: \"Drag him into the inner room.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the footsteps moved from far to near and passed directly in front of the door without stopping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire east side of the village seemed to be filled with such footsteps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan couldn't help but open the door and go out. Seeing a large group of government soldiers also running quickly, he beckoned the nearest one over to ask: \"What happened?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We got into a fight with the villagers, and the Prefect is also by the lake on the west side of the village!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were already fighting? He Lingchuan was startled: \"Is my father alright?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not sure. The three blasts of the flying whistle ordered us to rush over for reinforcements.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flying whistle was the assembly order for the Heishuicheng army, with different instructions issued based on the length and variation of the whistle sounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan closed the door and retreated back inside. The personal guard immediately asked: \"Should we go over to help?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait, wait a moment!\" He Lingchuan's mind raced. He wasn't by the lake and didn't know the cause of the battle, but starting a war at this time was undoubtedly too early, unless his father had seized a sudden opportunity... or perhaps Boss Lu had seized one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To put it coldly, he, He Lingchuan, was not the leader of the personal guard unit; even if he rushed over now, he couldn't stabilize the situation or turn the tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What else could he do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dozen ideas popped into his mind, all of which he crossed out one by one. Finally, He Lingchuan sent another personal guard to the west side of the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A short quarter-hour later, the man returned, saying urgently: \"The Prefect has reached a truce with the other side.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He wasn't injured?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are there any bandits outside the house?\" He Lingchuan already had an idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No one left, they've all rushed to the lake.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan felt relieved and let out a breath: \"Alright, you go into the inner room and help.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three of them walked into the inner room. Wang Pangzi was placed there, guarded by Zhu Xiuer. The wound on his chest had been simply treated and was no longer bleeding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fatty was still gagged, his face a bit pale, but otherwise, he was in no serious condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take him to Father's room.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three of them lifted the fatty. Before leaving, they looked left and right; it was indeed empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether bandits or government soldiers, everyone was gathered by the lake at this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, they escorted Wang Pangzi and quickly headed toward He Chunhua's lodging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A quarter-hour ago, there were bandit eyes and ears everywhere; how could they have openly escorted a prisoner? Fortunately, once the struggle broke out, both sides' attention was diverted, allowing He Lingchuan to take the opportunity to escort Wang Pangzi back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good things are always fraught with difficulties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were forty or fifty steps from their destination when a nearby cottage door suddenly opened, and a woman poked her head out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She probably wanted to check the situation, but she caught sight of He Lingchuan and the others escorting Wang Pangzi, and also saw Zhu Xiuer accompanying them, and couldn't help but widen her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Zhu Xiuer saw her too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman was stunned for two breaths, then pulled her head back, intending to close the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Xiuer rushed forward and pushed the door panel, not letting her shut it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman cried: \"You can't do this, you're going to get us killed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Xiuer gritted her teeth: \"Come with me, or I'll kill you!\" She was afraid this woman would go and report to the bandits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you crazy? The government soldiers won't stay!\" the woman shouted. \"The soldiers will leave, but the bandits will still be here!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the two sides tugged, the personal guard asked He Lingchuan: \"Young Master?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan said in a low voice: \"Go help!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The personal guard rushed forward, intending to help Zhu Xiuer pull the woman out. The woman was terrified; she raised her voice and let out a heart-wrenching scream: \"Someone, help!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Xiuer let go immediately, stepped back two paces, and said: \"Forget it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forget it?\" He Lingchuan reiterated. \"Are you sure?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sure!\" Zhu Xiuer's eyes quickly switched from confusion to determination. \"Let's go quickly!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four of them ignored the woman and continued on, escorting Wang Pangzi; the wooden door closed, and the woman stopped screaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were no more twists and turns further ahead, and not even any other villagers poked their heads out, even though they had all heard those few high-pitched cries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1400,"2026-06-20T02:23:30.219Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","93d3288166dd24de1cb937b40eb1b9fa8b458b91cf5ce823270c240294132629","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-111","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-109",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-the-immortals-disappeared-cover.jpg"]