[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-after-the-immortals-disappeared":3,"chapter-after-the-immortals-disappeared-after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-9":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},2283893,4468,"Chapter 9: Populus Euphratica Mountain Spirit","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-9",9,"\u003Cp>One more step forward, and the child would have been a meat patty. The child grabbed the rattle from the ground, coughing incessantly from the dust kicked up by the horse's hooves. The parent finally squeezed out of the crowd, scooped up the child, and ran off without looking back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People on the street began to criticize, but the white-robed passenger acted as if they hadn't heard, looking up at Uncle Hao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Hao remained expressionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Baobao was right beside He Lingchuan, coughing forcefully: \"Who are you people? Do you know that riding horses through a busy market is punishable by whipping?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who would carry out the punishment?\" The white-robed youth laughed, making no effort to hide his contempt. \"You?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man's gaze was like a needle. Liu Baobao felt his skin crawl under the stare and couldn't help but shrink back: \"Black Water City has strict laws. Why don't you try riding a few more steps?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once these words were out, the youth ignored him, shifting his gaze instead to He Lingchuan, as if he knew he was the one in charge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan smiled at him, but the other party stared carefully for two seconds before urging the horse forward again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gray-robed guest behind him never once looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this brief disturbance, the two slowed their riding speed, and the men, women, and children on the street watched them disappear around the corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That direction led out of the city toward the northeast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Hao said at the right moment: \"Both of these people have cultivation bases, especially the gray-robed guest in the back; I cannot see through his depth. That white-robed brat might be from a military background.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Hao had once slaughtered over a dozen wealthy families in the capital in a single night, later being enlightened by someone from the Daoist sects; he learned techniques, purged his baleful energy, and possessed profound cultivation, enjoying the status of a high-level retainer in the He family. Since he said the gray-robed guest was formidable, He Lingchuan had no reason to doubt him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two didn't look like ordinary merchants; why would they come to this borderland? Just then, a few more people arrived in the center of the street—they were the patrol guards of Black Water City. They had also been alerted and asked the surrounding crowd: \"What happened?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Two people were riding through the market, nearly trampling a child!\" The crowd spoke all at once, the general meaning being this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only two? Then it wasn't the eldest young master of the He family; that was a relief. The patrol guard was even angrier. Looking up, he happened to see He Lingchuan leaning out the window watching the excitement. He quickly greeted him, his face relaxing and the corners of his mouth curling up: \"Is Lord He well?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, very well.\" He Lingchuan smiled. \"Are you here to chase them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Chase!\" The patrol captain was righteous and stern. They had said no riding in the market, yet these people insisted—what was this if not contempt for the law? \"They must be severely punished!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan pointed the way for them: \"Those two went toward the northeast gate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The patrol captain thanked him and led his men off in pursuit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After they left, Uncle Hao said: \"Those few patrol guards won't be able to keep them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know, it was just a way to test the waters.\" He Lingchuan shrugged. \"This is Black Water City; could they really cause a huge scene in broad daylight?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, those few patrol guards returned about a quarter of an hour later, empty-handed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan wasn't surprised by this result, but he had to ask for the truth: \"What about those two?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The patrol leader hadn't expected him to still be waiting for the result and felt a bit awkward. He coughed before saying: \"Those two are subordinates of the Northern Expedition Grand General and the Xunzhou Inspector. They are here in Black Water City on official business and presented a fire-stamped document.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan let out a long \"Oh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew the patrol leader was referring to the Northern Expedition Grand General, Nian Zanli. This man held the post of Xunzhou Inspector, meaning he was the top official in both military and political affairs, with power far greater than the Jinzhou Inspector.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A prefecture was below a province. If the Qiansong County Magistrate, He Chunhua, were to meet this Northern Expedition Grand General, he would also have to respectfully refer to himself as \"your subordinate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The few patrol guards soon left. Liu Baobao also looked a bit uneasy: \"Those two shouldn't remember me, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How big of a deal is it that they would keep it in mind?\" He Lingchuan's comfort was completely insincere, though he wondered to himself: What is the Xunzhou Inspector sending subordinates to Black Water City for? Just then, two claps of thunder rolled across the sky, rumbling so loudly they made people's ears ache, and causing the dogs on the street to yelp and run away with their tails tucked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people of Black Water City were used to it and continued with whatever they were doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan looked west and discovered that the wind was rising and clouds were gathering on the horizon—a massive, thick, dark cloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The storm was coming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The storm is coming.\" The white-robed youth looked at the sky, then at the gray-robed man. \"What do you think, is this place okay?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two of them were, surprisingly, at Mount Hulu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had seven peaks, three of which had exposed rock and soil, as rough and bare as a bald man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although it wasn't much to look at, Mount Hulu actually abounded with rats, rabbits, foxes, and deer; sometimes people could even hunt wild boars and gray wolves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two stood on a game trail, having already checked several caves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Although the land is not rich, there are many living creatures; the quantity is barely enough.\" A purple-gold pestle appeared in the gray-robed man's hand. The top was carved with a bulging-eyed, big-mouthed monster, and at its base were four hanging rings, with the end sharpened like an awl, gleaming with a metallic luster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a flick in the wind, the pestle, which was over a foot long, turned into a seven-foot purple-gold staff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gray-robed man drove the purple-gold staff more than a foot into the soil until it stood on its own, only then asking the white-robed youth for a green copper coin to stuff into the beast's mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beast's mouth closed on its own, biting the coin, and the red light in its eyes gradually intensified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gray-robed man began to shake the top of the pestle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hanging rings beneath the monster's feet immediately began to jingle. At first, it sounded chaotic, but after listening for a while, one could discover it was repeating a specific rhythm, over and over again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And each repetition was clearer and louder than the last, and... traveled even further! The chirping of insects and birds that originally filled the mountain forest vanished entirely, leaving only the ringing sound echoing, lingering endlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-robed youth took a deep breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his concentration, he listened closely to the ringing, but before long, he felt dizzy and his heart was pounding and ears ringing, so he had to disperse his focus and stare blankly at the distant mountain peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By distracting his attention, he could still endure it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a flustered voice came from behind them with a \"clatter\":\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop shaking it, stop, don't let it ring anymore!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The purple-gold pestle stopped at the sound. The two looked back and saw a Populus euphratica tree shaking its branches and leaves, rustling, the voice seeming to come from the leaves themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Populus euphratica was gnarled and vigorous, having weathered many storms; it looked to be at least three or four hundred years old and was the largest tree in the vicinity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-robed youth spoke first: \"Are you the local Mountain Spirit?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am the Mountain Spirit of Populus euphratica Mountain, appointed two hundred years ago. Now this place is called Mount Hulu.\" The Populus euphratica Mountain Spirit's voice was very strange, as if produced by the friction and vibration of countless leaves; at first it was a bit blurry, but the more it spoke, the more fluent it became.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if someone who hadn't spoken for years was relearning the ability to talk. \"I have been asleep for a long time; even the local officials couldn't wake me. Who are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did it sense the copper coin held in the beast's mouth on the purple-gold pestle, and it was very surprised: \"Eh, this is the State Decree of the new dynasty, it seems to be called... something Kite?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kite Coin.\" The gray-robed man tapped the beast's head, and the green copper coin fell into his palm. If an idler were watching, they would see that this object was slightly larger than a standard copper coin, with a hole at the top to facilitate tying a string.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1542,"2026-06-20T02:23:30.219Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","ee2a91a583e4187ffe68ab30a39f43734b1b476d7c0088dc37ff6035fa00f33a","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-10","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-8",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-the-immortals-disappeared-cover.jpg"]