Chapter 50: City of the Undead

“Is this how Panlong City looked before its destruction?” Since the other three held higher status than him, Mao Tao’s voice was small. “The Eldest Young Master and I have been walking all this way, and we haven't encountered a single person.”

“The city is empty as well; at least we took a loop around the vicinity and found nothing,” Sun Fu said steadily. “I was transported into a well, while Lieutenant Nian was dropped directly into the moat.”

The four of them passed through the city gates, which opened onto a large plaza. It seemed that in this era, Panlong City did not yet have its triple walls.

“It appears the year we are in is even earlier than the time before Panlong City fell,” He Lingchuan said, looking around. “There aren't as many defensive fortifications yet.”

The Panlong City they had seen in the vast desert was armed to the teeth, constantly flexing its muscles toward the outside world; the Panlong City here looked quite gentle.

The same city, but different manifestations in different times and spaces.

The group crossed the plaza. There was no desert-style pool here like the one in the desert Panlong City, but fortunately, the Black Dragon totem remained.

Nearby was a row of houses, with inns and taverns in the front and various residences in the back.

“The layout of the houses is different too.” Nian Songyu led the way into a tavern. “When I entered, the stove was still warm.”

The tavern doors were open, with two hanging cloths suspended inside. There were six or seven tables arranged within, and the chairs were somewhat irregular. He Lingchuan noticed that on three of the tables sat wine urns, with dregs remaining in the cups and a dozen or so peanuts in the dishes.

Behind the counter lay an account book; the character for "wine" was only half-written—it was just a "洒"—and the brush had been tossed aside, the ink still fresh and wet.

Nian Songyu walked to a table and tapped it with his knuckles, producing a *thud-thud* sound.

“Everything is physical; this is far too realistic.” Having said that, he picked up a wine cup and shoved it into Mao Tao’s hand. “Drink it.”

Mao Tao was startled. “Ah, drink?” Who would dare eat or drink something so mysterious?

Nian Songyu’s expression did not look like he was joking.

Mao Tao had no choice but to tilt his head back and take a small sip, cautiously smacking his lips

“It is wine. The flavor is very weak; in a corner of Blackwater City, this would be worth at most three large coins.”

“Drink it all.” It wasn't just for a taste.

He Lingchuan remained silent, so under the gaze of the three, Mao Tao had to swallow the liquid into his stomach.

“I’ve finished. Now, how do we... ah, my stomach hurts!” Before he could finish, Mao Tao let out a strange cry, dropped the cup, and ran toward the back.

The latrines were located in the back.

After waiting for a while, Nian Songyu nudged He Lingchuan with his chin. “Go, see if he’s dead yet.” His attitude was extremely arrogant.

Since He Chunhua and the Blackwater City army were not here, he felt no need to show He Lingchuan even a shred of politeness.

In fact, if this kid dared to act high and mighty, Nian Songyu intended to beat him until he was toothless, just to vent the frustration of the past few days.

To his surprise, He Lingchuan neither got angry nor made excuses; he simply turned and walked toward the back of the building, giving Nian Songyu no chance to lash out.

Nian Songyu was actually stunned; the kid was quite sensible.

Halfway through his walk, a gust of wind blew by, making the leaves rustle.

He also felt a sharp gust of wind striking from behind; instinctively, he dodged and drew his blade.

*Eh?* It was just a tree branch swaying in the wind, which had nearly grazed his back.

He Lingchuan did not rush to sheath his blade.

Ever since entering this city, he had felt something strange, as if he were constantly being watched.

That feeling of being shadowed was far too irritating.

At that moment, Mao Tao came running toward him, clutching his trousers. Seeing He Lingchuan with a blade in hand, he was momentarily startled. “Eldest Young Master, are you alright?”

“I'm fine.” He Lingchuan sheathed his blade and took a half-step back. This kid not only had a dark complexion but also reeked of filth, clearly indicating the commotion he had just caused. “And you?”

“I'm not dead, but my stomach feels very empty.” Mao Tao rubbed his belly as he walked out with him.

They returned to the tavern. Sun Fuping carefully observed Mao Tao’s complexion, checking his eyelids and tongue, before saying, “You’ve been poisoned.”

Mao Tao nearly jumped out of his skin, but fortunately, the State Preceptor continued: “The toxicity is weak; you won't die, but I'm afraid you'll be making many trips to the latrine.”

*Wasn't it because that Nian fellow forced me to drink?* Mao Tao sent his heartfelt curses to the ancestors of these men in his mind, yet he maintained a smiling face. “That’s good, that’s good.”

“You ate the things of the dead.” Sun Fupling picked up a peanut, crushed it, and rubbed it until his hand was covered in gray dust. “These were not prepared for the living. No wonder the city is empty.”

Nian Songyu also understood. “Are you saying the residents of this city are those vengeful spirits that rushed out of the pool?”

“It is highly likely. Once they left, this place became an empty city.”

“Those vengeful spirits are the residents of this city?” He Lingchuan asked in surprise. “Surely not. I saw them; they were all quite crazed. What, did they become law-abiding citizens once they settled in this city?”

Although the current Panlong City was an empty city, everything was orderly; it was simply missing people. The vengeful spirits he had encountered outside were filled with deep-seated grievances, looking as if they wanted to tear the heavens apart. If they had lived here for a long time, how could the city remain so tidy?

“It is likely the work of the Great Square Pot,” Nian Songyu said. “Panlong City was destroyed long ago; it is this place that is most abnormal.”

Mao Tao whispered, “How are we supposed to find the Great Square Pot?” He had thought jumping into the pool would provide a clue, only to find another city inside the pool. How was he supposed to handle this?

He Lingchuan suggested, “Let's go to the Mitian Temple. We found the entrance there earlier; perhaps we can find new clues there now.”

“We’ve been there. There is no temple,” Nian Songyu rejected him outright.

He Lingchuan was stunned. “No temple? What do you mean?”

“There is no temple, don't you understand?” Nian Songyu said indifferently. “In that location, there are two wine houses, a theater troupe, and two large shops—one selling jewelry and one selling silk.”

*That's right. If clues were easy to find, would these two be waiting for me?* He Lingchuan thought for a moment. “The Red General’s residence?”

“We looked. It’s not there either.”

“No residence, and still no clues?” He Lingchuan’s patience was growing.

“Neither,” Sun Fupling interjected to smooth things over. “The Red General was granted a demigod's body by the Mitian God. If there is no temple, there is naturally no Red General.”

Without the Red General, there would be no Red General's residence.

“Then there is only one place left?” He Lingchuan scratched his head. “Zhong Shengguang’s residence?”

Sun Fuping stood up. “Let's go.”

The illusion had restored the appearance of Panlong City. He Lingchuan never expected that one day he would tour this legendary city in such a manner. Judging by the markets, buildings, lakes, and rivers he passed, as well as the various vessels and tools used in the streets and by the riverside, the Panlong City destroyed by war had once been exceptionally prosperous, densely populated, and commercially developed.

He even saw waterwheels by the river; these were not for irrigating fields, but for supplying water to nearby shops to avoid manual labor. To facilitate this, there were even specialized bamboo pipelines connecting the river to the water troughs of the shops.