[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-after-the-immortals-disappeared":3,"chapter-after-the-immortals-disappeared-after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-14":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},2283898,4468,"Chapter 14: You Need to Be More Sensible","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-14",14,"\u003Cp>He Lingchuan coughed once: \"You travel in and out of the Endless Sea, surely you have guides?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Naturally, we do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But from September every year until February or March of the next, sometimes even April, there are simply no guides in the Panlong Desert. No one dares to go!\" He Lingchuan looked at his father, \"Over the past fifty years, this desert has swallowed at least four thousand lives, and that is only counting those reported by the aggrieved; the true number is impossible to verify. And when the desert truly unleashes its power, do you know how many people manage to return alive?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One!\" He held up a finger, \"In fifty years, only this one, and the person has already gone mad. According to the Shaman's diagnosis, he lost one soul and one spirit; it is impossible for him to recover his sanity in this lifetime.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Fuping’s eyelids lifted slightly, the bearing of a State Preceptor naturally emerging: \"The Grand Marshal has already sent people to search for an object. As long as we find it, our travel in and out of the Panlong Desert might be safe. Besides, I will also do my utmost to protect the team’s safety.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Chunhua sneered inwardly. After such a long detour, the truth was finally coming out, wasn't it? But on the surface, he still appeared surprised: \"What object is that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was the Grand Marshal searching for that caused his son to fall off a cliff? \"It is a relic left behind by Zhong Shengguang. By using it to enter and exit the Panlong Desert, the vengeful spirits guarding the ruins will very likely allow us passage.\" Nian Songyu said, \"The clues the Grand Marshal found all point to the Sand Leopard tribe on the Red Cliff Road. Does Lord He know that Zhong Shengguang’s spiritual pet in the past was a Sand Leopard?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed, I seem to have heard of it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now its descendants and clansmen are all in the Panlong Desert. We went to inquire, and a small conflict occurred.\" Nian Songyu said dismissively, \"A few Sand Leopards left. We spent forty or fifty days searching for them one by one, and later discovered that one might have already entered Heishui City.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan smiled: \"Simple, just post notices all over the city looking for the leopard. It’s Heishui City, after all; monsters walk the streets everywhere.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Fuping said to He Chunhua: \"That will require the help of the Commandery Governor. Time is precious; the battle at Woling Pass brooks no delay. In the time we have been speaking, who knows how many more lives that battlefield has harvested. Only by finding the Great Square Pot as soon as possible can such an unjust war be ended.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Chunhua thought for a moment: \"If the token is found, I will dispatch the best guides to show you the way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just us twenty or so people won't be enough; we need at least an army.\" Nian Songyu was somewhat dissatisfied, \"The Panlong Ruins are a place of supreme evil; only the fortune of a nation can suppress it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant at least two hundred men, and the leading military officer would have to wear the State Decree, otherwise, how could they mobilize the national fortune to protect their bodies? He Chunhua’s face showed difficulty; for a task that was clearly a death sentence, how big-hearted would a general have to be to accept it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Sun Fuping immediately said: \"There is something I perhaps shouldn't say, but back then, Lord He was able to emerge unscathed from the God-Appeasing Case, and on the journey to Qiansong Commandery, you were well-provided with travel funds and had people looking after you. The two extraordinary promotions that followed were not without the Grand Marshal’s repeated lobbying.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Criminals exiled to the frontier had to have characters tattooed on their faces and labor in barren lands for over ten years. Although He Chunhua was not such an unlucky soul, the distance from the capital to Heishui City was over a thousand miles. He was only an eleven-year-old child at the time, and his entire family had perished; if no one had looked after him from the sidelines, sent him travel funds, and given enough benefits to the escorting officials, the hardships and obstacles on that journey could easily have claimed He Chunhua’s life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The number of wronged souls on the road of exile was countless; one more or one less made no difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention the subsequent meritorious service and extraordinary promotions; while it was certainly due to He Chunhua’s own efforts, it would have been difficult to catch the Son of Heaven’s eye without someone in the court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good wine doesn't fear a deep alley? Hah, a load of nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That there were noble people speaking up for him above, He Chunhua had guessed, but he hadn't expected it to be the Grand Marshal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Fuping continued: \"Taking the Great Square Pot and capturing Woling Pass is a monumental achievement. My King has personally decreed that those who perform meritorious service on this trip will be promoted by one rank.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Chunhua was silent for a while, then finally said: \"This subordinate will arrange the personnel now. State Preceptor Sun and Commandant Nian, please move to the guesthouse first. Later, we will host a welcoming banquet for you both at the Songhe Tower.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having achieved their goal, the two stood up happily, were escorted by the He father and son to the main gate, and strode away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>￥￥￥￥￥\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the two figures disappear around the street corner, He Lingchuan asked his father: \"Are you really going to send people to follow them into the Panlong Desert?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Chunhua did not speak, looking troubled. He still had commandery affairs to handle, so he told his son: \"Do not speak of this matter to your mother,\" and left in a hurry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan walked back into the manor, where He Yue was accompanying their mother as they walked out, and encountered his elder brother in the garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Ying asked her eldest son: \"What is the background of those guests?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan said solemnly: \"The State Preceptor and the second son of the Xunzhou Governor, here to discuss confidential matters with Father!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"State Preceptor?\" Lady Ying was startled, \"Which State Preceptor?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It should be 'which' State Preceptor,\" He Lingchuan corrected her, \"It is State Preceptor Sun Fuping, who traveled thousands of miles from the capital.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a top-tier big shot, whom even princes and nobles would treat as an honored guest. Lady Ying was very surprised but did not probe further, only asking He Lingchuan, \"Is it a good thing or a bad thing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it was \"confidential,\" it was not appropriate for a woman like her to ask casually. He Chunhua usually handled commandery affairs, and Lady Ying never interfered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Half good, half bad.\" He Lingchuan was very serious, \"It just depends on how Father handles it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Ying’s eyes rolled: \"Why did he ask you to go along?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it concerned confidential matters, her husband should have called for the more reliable younger son instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am also involved in it.\" He Lingchuan’s expression darkened, \"Mother, what do you mean by that? Should Father not call me when he has matters?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt a bit annoyed again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are also involved?\" Lady Ying looked him up and down, \"Don't tell me you’ve stirred up trouble again?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that how you see me?\" He Lingchuan also stiffened his face, \"Only capable of causing trouble?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time, it seemed Lady Ying had guessed right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ying Hongchan’s tone softened, and she earnestly advised: \"Lingchuan, you are grown up; you need to be more sensible and steady so you can help your father share his burdens.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced toward the main gate: \"I am going outside to distribute food; you brothers can chat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She left, supported by a maid, but He Yue remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Big Brother, shall we have some tea?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan understood and walked with him to the side hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After taking only two steps, He Yue said to him: \"Mother is straightforward and has no ill intent; don't take it to heart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Her mother is my mother too; do you need to comfort me?\" He Lingchuan looked at him sideways, \"She finds me annoying as hell and treasures you like a gem; it’s been like that since we were kids. Hey, you don't need to explain; explanation is just a cover-up!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1425,"2026-06-20T02:23:30.219Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","5d42f15785cd3b26b00fc6efc674706a13f7524e5c985dc7e9a451416e75a0eb","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-15","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-13",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-the-immortals-disappeared-cover.jpg"]