[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-after-the-immortals-disappeared":3,"chapter-after-the-immortals-disappeared-after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-15":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},2283899,4468,"Chapter 15: Tidying Up","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-15",15,"\u003Cp>\"She is a bit strict, hoping that after we become successful and return to the capital, we can achieve something.\" He Lingchuan laughed heartily. \"Forget it, she just wants you to complete your studies and return to the capital to be the talk of the town. What does that have to do with me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words were full of resentment. He Yue was displeased. \"Big Brother, why must you belittle yourself? Have you ever thought about what you would do after returning to the Great Capital?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Return to the Great Capital?\" He Lingchuan stroked his chin. \"No!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The original owner had never thought that far ahead, and naturally, he had no plans either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To outsiders, Qiansong Prefecture was a place of bitter cold, but in truth, both he and the original owner felt it was quite good. The He family were the local kings here, accustomed to throwing their weight around; they were comfortable whether standing or lying down. But if they were sent to the Great Capital of the Yuan Kingdom, they would be nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of heritage, financial resources, connections, or even the ability to spend money, the He family wasn't even fit to tie the shoelaces of those high-ranking, powerful clans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So why go? Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yue reminded him, \"This is Father's long-cherished wish. We must do our utmost to fulfill it; we swore an oath during the family memorial.\" If a man has no long-term plans, he will have immediate worries. With Big Brother's attitude, it would be a wonder if Mother liked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know.\" He Lingchuan patted his shoulder, indifferent. \"You study literature, I practice martial arts; together, we are well-versed in both. One day when we return to the Great Capital, if anyone gives you trouble, I'll just secretly cripple them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Big Brother, you really are...\" Faced with such unreasonable behavior, He Yue was speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But looking on the bright side, his brother's reckless behavior in Black Water City was all out in the open. At least he knew that returning to the Great Capital required acting in the shadows; that could be considered a kind of progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppose so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They met Uncle Hao on the road, who gave He Lingchuan a look and followed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did another accident happen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They reached the side hall and sat down. Uncle Hao walked to the door to stand guard, ensuring no one came within five zhang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yue picked out a tea set and touched the cold cup. \"Are the State Preceptor and the Xunzhou Governor here to cause trouble?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan yawned, listless. \"They aren't even the most troublesome ones. The mastermind behind the scenes is the Emperor's father-in-law.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Grand Marshal?\" He Yue's expression changed drastically. \"You don't mean... Dong Haoming?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh-huh, otherwise how many fathers-in-law of the Emperor do we have?\" He Lingchuan thought for a moment; Father only said not to tell Lady Ying, but didn't mention keeping it from He Yue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kid had been helping with prefecture affairs since he was nine; he probably didn't need to be kept in the dark about this major event either. In any case, in a few days when He Chunhua sent people into the desert, He Yue would inevitably find out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, he readily explained the intentions of State Preceptor Sun and the other man, from beginning to end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yue listened carefully, occasionally interjecting with a question, but mostly he was busy boiling water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His brother was too lazy, so he had to do it himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time he had boiled the water and brewed the tea, He Lingchuan was parched from talking and casually grabbed the hot tea, downing two large gulps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Second Brother, what do you think?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Grand Marshal wants to use us as blades, but Father will likely agree, and our opposition would be useless,\" He Yue analyzed. \"Given Father's age and experience, there is still much he can achieve by returning to the Royal Capital.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both sons were nearly adults, yet He Chunhua himself was not even thirty-five, still in the prime of his life, strong and energetic. He had already wasted the best twenty years of his life in a barren land; how could he tolerate being ignored and buried any longer?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fortunately, the whereabouts of Zhong Shengguang's token are unknown. If they find nothing after searching for a few dozen days, they won't be able to go to the Panlong Desert.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan coughed lightly. \"Actually, the token has already been found.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What? Where?\" He Yue was startled, his gaze toward his brother growing increasingly suspicious. \"You, how do you know?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's with me.\" He Lingchuan patted his chest and said slowly, \"Actually, this goes back to when I was seriously injured over a month ago...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he tried to keep the story short.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nian Songyu only said he went to find the leopard demons, but didn't mention wiping out their entire clan,\" He Yue frowned. \"Besides, what exactly did the Xunzhou Governor send him here for?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Supposedly to assist State Preceptor Sun.\" He Lingchuan stroked his chin. \"It seems Father will soon come to me to get the sand leopard relics.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yue reminded him, \"The Red and White Path is still holding two guards from the Donglai Prefecture. Now that you know their intentions, how do you plan to deal with them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How else? Release them, of course.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Release them?\" He Yue was a bit surprised. \"I thought you wanted to destroy the evidence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The best way not to offend Donglai Prefecture was to never let them know they had been offended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that necessary?\" He Lingchuan scratched his head. \"They're just two second-rate guards; what are they to Donglai Prefecture?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm, you're right.\" He Yue thought to himself: the mystery of these two men's whereabouts would eventually be a problem. What if the Red and White Path slipped up again? If Father decided to help them seize the Great Square Pot, it would be best to show some sincerity now, lest they be stabbed in the back when it came time to distribute rewards. Either way, they were just two guards; in the grand scheme of things, they were nothing. Donglai Prefecture needed them right now, so they likely wouldn't make an issue of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan felt uneasy under his gaze. \"What kind of look is that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to before, his brother seemed to have changed, yet not entirely. He Yue pulled back his thoughts. \"There are many suspicious points in this matter, and entering the Panlong Desert is a life-or-death gamble, even with the token in hand. Let them take the risk; you and Father must not wade into these muddy waters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Got it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Uncle Hao came to report that the Red and White Path had sent someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan met the person in the garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yue watched through the window as his brother sat on a garden bench, crossing his legs. \"Are those two things still alive?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They're alive.\" This was the Red and White Path member who had tipped him off last time. \"Does the Young Master have any instructions?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get them out of the cell and clean them up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Clean them up?\" The man understood. \"Should I burn them to ash or dissolve them in water?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I said clean them up, not kill them!\" What was in these guys' heads? \"The people backing them are here; they'll probably have to be released in a day or two, alive!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cult member said, \"Ah?\" \"Released?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What, are they missing parts?\" He Lingchuan frowned. This was bad. If he returned them to the Donglai Prefecture people missing arms or legs, that wouldn't be a gesture of goodwill, but an act of enmity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They're complete, they're complete, but... but...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan's heart skipped a beat. These guys were such a headache. \"But what?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man coughed. \"One of them tried to escape yesterday, and we accidentally sliced off half his butt while catching him. You know, Chen Laoqi is a bit heavy-handed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know? How would I know?\" He Lingchuan glared. \"I thought they just ate too much rotten food and got a few extra bug bites. If this gets out, it won't be their butts that get hurt, but the face of Donglai Prefecture!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the study, He Yue heard this and reached up to cover his face. So it really was an illusion earlier; Big Brother hadn't changed at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1426,"2026-06-20T02:23:30.219Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","880a283907ae1bd2f9a52d6aa97ad30e411997f10cd7be78122930121abf9791","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-16","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-14",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-the-immortals-disappeared-cover.jpg"]