[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-after-the-immortals-disappeared":3,"chapter-after-the-immortals-disappeared-after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-111":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},2283995,4468,"Chapter 111: Her True Identity","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-111",111,"\u003Cp>Very quickly, He Lingchuan hauled Wang Pangzi into He Chunhua’s temporary residence, where two guards left behind by He Chunhua were still stationed. The mistress of the house was also there, trembling as she watched the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan asked her, \"The man who was in this house earlier—was he also a bandit?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The children's father was killed; that god-damned thief impersonated him to keep watch on you all.\" The thief had done more to her than just that. The mistress’s tears began to fall. \"I beg you, official, save our lives!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan sighed. \"Go inside, lock the door from the inside, and whatever happens in this outer room has nothing to do with you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mistress nodded silently, turned, and walked into the main room; everyone heard the metallic sound of the door being locked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan placed Wang Pangzi and Zhu Xiuer in the kitchen, and the five of them stood guard at the doors and windows, all gripping their weapons tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, footsteps sounded from outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan listened carefully; there were quite a few people, and their pace was unhurried. Clearly, the people walking over were steady and not in a state of panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, he also heard small, quick steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were Lady Ying’s steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately threw open the main door and stepped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, He Chunhua had returned with his wife and son, followed by the guard Zhao Qinghe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another person named Mo Zhejingxuan, whom He Lingchuan also recognized, was a strategist his father had brought back from Heishuicheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone was startled to see He Lingchuan open the door. He Chunhua let out a sigh of relief: \"You’ve returned. Good, good!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the chaotic battle by the lake just now, he had been worried about his eldest son, who had not appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, everyone entered, and the personal guards took up positions around the perimeter to ensure the safety of their masters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Ying asked her eldest son, \"Where did you go just now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I prepared a gift for Father.\" As He Lingchuan said this, he led his father inside, pointed to Wang Pangzi on the ground, and said, \"This fatty is someone close to Boss Lu, and he holds a high position among the bandits. I was worried I wouldn't be able to bring him back while he was staying with Zhu Xiuer, but it just so happened that the battle broke out by the lake...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that this fatty was a close associate of Lu Han, He Chunhua’s perpetually furrowed brows relaxed slightly. He patted He Lingchuan on the shoulder and said, \"Well done!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He has already made a preliminary confession: the bandits occupied Qianteng Town the day before yesterday, and they currently have over two hundred accomplices in the town.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Accomplices?\" He Chunhua was taken aback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The interrogation was interrupted just now; I can still...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before He Lingchuan could finish, He Chunhua interrupted: \"No need. Leave the rest to me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sent someone to interrogate Wang Pangzi, and Zhu Xiuer, who had been in the kitchen, hurried out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the small dining room, there were now six or seven people standing. She walked straight up to He Chunhua and dropped to her knees with a thud: \"Lord He, save me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was so unexpected that even He Chunhua was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Ying stepped forward to help the woman up from the ground and said softly, \"Get up and speak.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My name is Zhu Xiuer. I am the granddaughter of the Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud, Zhu Xiyan. Seven years ago, at the Flower Festival in Xin'an, I was drugged and abducted, then sold to a wealthy merchant from the coast. His wife was jealous, and she secretly sold me here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She rolled up her sleeves, revealing mottled old scars on her thin arms, looking like those left by whips or ropes. \"I tried to escape several times but was caught and brought back; these are the marks that remained. The other scars are in hidden places and are not convenient to show.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone looked at each other, speechless for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, He Chunhua said in a low voice, \"Lord Zhu lost his granddaughter seven or eight years ago and searched for a long time without success. This matter was widely circulated in the capital, and the Assistant County Magistrate of Xin'an even lost his position because of it. However, how can you prove that you are Zhu Xiuer?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kind of \"you have to prove you are you\" dilemma was the most troublesome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhu Xiuer was clearly prepared. She turned around, lifted her hair, and showed everyone the mark on the back of her neck: \"This lotus-petal-shaped red mark has been there since I was born. When my grandfather first saw it, he said that when I grew up, I would be as graceful as a lotus orchid. My grandfather loved wine and always warmed it under the cooling rack in the backyard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She paused: \"I can tell you about things from my childhood; every single detail can be verified.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her fluent responses and her look of having nothing to hide, the strategist said to He Chunhua, \"My lord, this matter is very easy to verify.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Chunhua also nodded: \"Good, you will travel with us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Xiuer was moved to tears and bowed deeply: \"Thank you, my lord!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You have helped us greatly; we should be the ones thanking you,\" He Chunhua waved his hand. \"Otherwise, the mountain bandits would still be plotting against us in the shadows.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Lady Ying, who understood, stepped forward, took Zhu Xiuer’s hand, and pulled her aside to talk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that her husband and mother-in-law had been killed and her two children taken hostage by the mountain bandits, Lady Ying sighed: \"These villains should all be brought to justice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan took out a green apple and crunched into it: \"Justice? Justice doesn't care about these things; only villains can deal with villains.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouch, why were the apples in the mountains so sour? He clutched his cheek, feeling as if his teeth were going to fall out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Ying glared at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Comfort, this was comfort—what did the brat know?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the leaders on both sides nodded, the government troops and the routed soldiers quickly retreated to their respective territories; the former occupied the east of the village, and the latter occupied the west.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, He Chunhua wanted the other side to safely release the residents in the west of the village as well, but Lu Yao was not stupid; he knew these were excellent hostages and refused to agree no matter what.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this news, the villagers on the west side wailed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yao originally ignored it, but the wailing was so loud it annoyed him, so he waved his hand: \"Tell them all to shut up, or I’ll cut out their tongues to go with my wine later.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had done this before, but with the government troops right across the way, it wasn't good to be too provocative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking of which, he looked around: \"Where is that fatty?\" Usually, he didn't need to speak up for such annoying little things; Wang Pangzi would be the first to rush out and settle them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he couldn't see the fatty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several bandits were starting a fire to grill fish, and Lu Yao took a sip of wine. Although they had just had a fight, he was in quite a good mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had previously been worried that this unreliable group of subordinates would show their true colors and be exposed by the government troops; now it was fine—everyone had stopped pretending, and establishing a village alliance had actually led to peace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A trusted aide on the side advised: \"General, drink less wine, in case they launch a night raid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yao laughed with a \"pssh\": \"Them? A raid? Don't overestimate that corrupt official too much!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wiped his mouth: \"The official is on his way to Xiazhou to take office, and these three hundred men are his entire foundation, just like you are to me. Without these core troops, he’s a stranger in a strange land in Xiazhou, and nothing will be easy to handle! Let alone losing half, even if he lost thirty percent, he couldn't afford it! Tell me, is he thinking about waiting for dawn to get on his way, or sneaking an attack on us at night?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course he wants to escape early,\" another person flattered. \"That corrupt official’s insight and courage are far inferior to our General’s. Besides, he’s just a passing official; why would he bother with local troubles? As long as you tell him they can safely go their separate ways tomorrow morning, he definitely won't make a move tonight!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yao narrowed his eyes and put down his wine cup: \"Strengthen the guard after the fourth watch; don't let them run away. By the way, where did you say the troops of Wu Shaoyi and Pei Xinyong have reached?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1514,"2026-06-20T02:23:30.219Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","6d3a06304c0b1891570918b658ff197435cb855119acdaad19a70a7bb432624e","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-112","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-110",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-the-immortals-disappeared-cover.jpg"]