Chapter 00255: Nature
# Nature
Chapter 255
Novel: After the Immortals Disappeared
Chapter 255: Nature
Within the pages of the book, not only did various demonic creatures take turns to make an appearance, but also an array of monsters donned their makeup, and between the realms of humans, various sects, and the interactions between humans and these celestial entities, conspiracies and secrets from the annals of history emerged one after another.
The cruelty of the celestial beings and demons, the despicableness of human hearts, the barbarism of the world, and the entanglements of karma were laid bare without any doubt.
The book even mentioned deities, hinting at their significant influence over the world despite never showing themselves.
Figures like Zhong Shengguang, Hong Xiangqian, Nian Songyu, and Sun Fuping—all of their life experiences seemed to exemplify this viewpoint.
He Lingchuan grew more and more unsettled as he read, feeling that beneath the strange surface of these two books lay a grim reality, which upon closer contemplation, turned eerily terrifying.
An important viewpoint mentioned in the book was the revival of spiritual energy.
The author believed that during the medieval period, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth should have gradually begun its resurgence, yet due to certain reasons, this had yet to be realized.
“Certain reasons,” even this unabashed author did not elaborate further.
He Lingchuan discovered the name of the author: Ao Xun dictated, Sun Yang transcribed.
It turned out this book was a collaborative effort between two individuals, one speaking while the other recorded.
He Lingchuan had read many books in the Wenxuan Pavilion, but now he felt that none compared to the allure of these two.
Sun Fuping's recommendation was truly reliable; it was the difference between knowing how to find a good book and being completely oblivious to it.
Unknowingly, as he read, dusk crept upon him, painting the sky with vibrant hues.
From the neighbor's house, he heard the sounds of children and adults arguing, with occasional sharp slaps that could be from a bamboo paddle hitting meat.
Yet, there was a profound silence in Sun Fuping's home; not a single sound could be heard.
He knew she enjoyed peace and often went out, so he had not thought much of it before.
But after today’s altercation, he felt increasingly that something was amiss: she was home, yet why was there not even a sound of her footsteps?
The two houses were separated by only a low wall, and with his current hearing ability, he should have easily been able to hear movements from her inner chambers.
Could it be that she returned home and remained entirely still? Or was she, like him, a cultivator with profound inner strength?
He Lingchuan's identity in this dreamscape felt akin to both a player and a passerby.
So far, he was still unclear as to why he had come here, but Sun Fuping’s appearance was undoubtedly a deliberate arrangement by the dream itself.
Should he take the chance to explore her home while she was away one day? This thought, once it emerged, became relentless.
Fortunately, at that moment, someone outside rang a gong, striking it twice and shouting, “Decree from the government: The curfew begins tonight at the sixth watch of the hour of the rooster! Citizens must not venture outside!”
The sixth watch of the hour of the rooster equated to around six-thirty in the evening, and counting from now, it would be less than half an hour before everyone was expected to return home and close their doors, suggesting that this curfew had been declared quite suddenly.
After receiving the order, people hurriedly went home.
Soon, He Lingchuan heard the clamor and rush of many feet in the alley outside.
The neighbors murmured among themselves, “What has happened this time?”
“Ever since the Emperor's decree arrived, things have been chaotic. We finally enjoyed a few days of peace, but alas!”
He Lingchuan harbored a faint feeling that this sudden curfew might be related to the monstrous appearance earlier in the afternoon.
It indicated that this matter had caught the attention of the high officials of Panlong City.
Undoubtedly, the city’s patrol forces had intensified their efforts.
Originally, only one group of officers passed by before his door within a quarter of an hour, but now at least three groups were seen.
The patrolling puppet beasts had also grown in size.
The city was concentrating its efforts to search for the monster’s whereabouts.
He Lingchuan was not optimistic about the search results; the creature’s speed was too fast, and it likely had the ability to shrink its size, slipping quietly into someone’s henhouse and vanishing without a trace.
As expected, the following two watches passed in silence.
He Lingchuan heard neither the sound of alarms nor saw any signals of arrows shooting into the sky.
The moon was past its zenith and began to journey westward.
He Lingchuan leaped onto the rooftop and observed that most houses had extinguished their lights.
At midnight, even the dogs were silent, and frost clung to the branches.
By this time, most people had already fallen into slumber.
Only the chill winds and the lantern-bearing night watchmen wandered the streets.
From his elevated position, He Lingchuan glanced towards Sun Fuping’s courtyard.
The door was tightly shut, yet light trickled through the paper windows.
She had not fallen asleep?
The tree in the courtyard swayed with its branches, which had inexplicably stilled; the ubiquitous wind seemed to have ceased.
Unbeknownst to him, Panlong City had descended into a wordless solemnity.
He Lingchuan keenly sensed an oddity in the air, as if something were approaching?
He sat on the rooftop beneath a bright moon, surrounded by utter silence.
Yet he felt as if he were being scrutinized and watched, soft, fragmented whispers buzzing in his ears, sounding like murmurs or mockery; they made his heart feel restless, but when he focused on listening, there was nothing there.
This feeling did not seem unfamiliar?
After pondering for a moment, He Lingchuan took out a pill from his pocket and swallowed it.
Then he suddenly turned around and saw a swarm of enormous Three Corpse Insects!
Indeed, it was these creatures.
Ever since leaving the Panlong Desert, he had not seen such a breathtaking army of Three Corpse Insects.
They swam around every building, flitting in and out through doors and windows like schools of tropical fish among coral reefs.
It went without saying that they were inspecting every living creature endowed with wisdom.
It was also clear that these insects had been dispatched by Zhong Shengguang through the Great Square Pot, capable of infiltrating everywhere.
But unlike He Lingchuan’s encounters in the Panlong Desert, these grotesque little beings posed no harm to any of the citizens, merely circling around them as if inspecting before seeking the next target for inquiry.
Even when He Lingchuan was swept by them, he felt merely a faint irritation in his heart, not to the point of driving him mad.
The people lost in their dreams were even less aware.
This showcased the formidable degree of control the Great Square Pot had over the Three Corpse Insects, to the extent that they could defy their very nature.
Such methods were indeed beyond human capabilities.
At that moment, however, He Lingchuan was more concerned about whether they could find their target.
Zhong Shengguang surprisingly mobilized the army of Three Corpse Insects to scour the entire city, indicating a serious regard for the monster.
After waiting for yet another hour, there was still no commotion outside.
He Lingchuan’s eyes had grown heavy from reading, and his mind’s final thought seemed to be: Right, his blade had broken; he needed to find another weapon quickly.
In the summer’s vast plains, in Bailu Town.
On a wooden platform erected at the east end of the town, three teenagers were bound, the youngest around fifteen, and the oldest barely twenty.
The executioner stood nearby, holding a blade, while the watchman on the platform loudly read out the charges.
It turned out that when the grain transport army passed through Bailu Town last time, these three succeeded in stealing two carts of grain.
One cart was buried, and the other secretly distributed under the cover of night to the equally starving townsfolk.
After days of pursuit, the three were finally caught.
According to the Da Yuan laws, theft of military grain during wartime was punishable by death, and this was to be executed on the spot without needing to report to the royal court.
As the charges were read out, the watchman asked them, “Do you have any final words?”
The oldest boy shouted fiercely, “Final words? My final words are ********! I have no regrets; I at least had a full meal last night!”
“You took the last grain, you suck blood off the townsfolk, you’re worse than any robber, what sort of officials are you!”
“Why didn’t the righteous army at Woling Pass break into the capital and strangle your kind of dogs until your guts are on display?”
“I’m just putting my head out for you to kill; even if you kill me, there will be successors. One day, you’ll all lose your heads like me!”
His passionate outcry drew a thick crowd around the platform, villagers lifted their heads to watch, silent as some gaped in shock.
The watchman gestured to the executioner, who stepped forward and struck down the boy’s hands with a swift chop.
Two bloodsprays erupted from his wrists.
The boy cried out in pain yet continued his loud cursing.
The executioner delivered another blow, severing his feet.
The boy fainted instantly.
With the third strike, his head fell to the ground.
For the principal offender in the theft of military grain, this procedure was standard.
Blood flowed freely on the platform, the severed head rolling in front of the other two boys, who had originally knelt and could not rise.
At this moment, they were so frightened they wet themselves, screaming and crying, “Lord, spare us! He tricked us into stealing the grain!”
“We had no prior knowledge!”
The watchman scoffed coldly, “Isn't it also him who tricked you into distributing the grain? Did you not know when you were doing this?”
The two pleaded desperately for mercy, but the executioner’s blade was quick and merciless.
As accomplices, they met a swift end.
“I’ll reiterate the decree of the Xiangzhou provincial government: The frontline war is stalemated, and military supplies are critically important; all thieves shall be executed on the spot!” The watchman declared loudly, before stepping back, leaving behind others to wash away the blood, while the family members sobbed as they gathered the remains.
In the chaos, someone stealthily slipped off the shoes from the corpse’s feet.
Once the commotion had passed, the dazed audience began to disperse.
A tall figure turned to follow the crowd, tightening his hat against the wind.
As he passed the pawnshop’s screen, he noticed there were quite a few people inside, and they were even lined up.
Those leaving the counter appeared either angry or dejected.
Before long, it was his turn.
The young attendant sitting above asked, “What will you pawn?”
The tall man unfastened his coat and pushed it forward to show, “The lining is made of wet mouse fur; it can resist water and keep warm.”
The attendant took it, squeezed it a little, and said, “Too old; the fur is all worn off. I’ll offer you two coins.”
The tall man was disheartened, “I paid much more for it back then…”
“That was in the past.” The attendant appeared uninterested in listening to his nostalgic lament.
Who among those that came here had not been a hero back in the day?
“Can you give a bit more?” He spoke humbly, though he had grown accustomed to this over the years.
“If it’s not worth it, then forget it.” The attendant pushed the large coat back, “There are too many clothes being pawned recently; we don’t need yours.”
“Come on, I’ll add this.” The tall man removed his hat, “This is made of silver rat fur.”
“It’s been worn for so long; all types of rat fur are the same.” The attendant touched it and said, “Seven points.”
The tall man choked out an exclamation, voice rising, “Only two coins and seven points in total?!”
Another old attendant leaned over, asking, “What’s going on? What’s so expensive?”
“It’s nothing.” The young attendant laughed back, “Just a mouse fur coat.”
As he took the coins, he leaned closer and spoke hurriedly, “Mr. Hong, I’ve already given you too much; take the money and leave quickly.”
Tall Mr. Hong was momentarily stunned, hearing footsteps from inside the counter.
When he saw the young attendant nod at him, he had no choice but to grab the two coins and seven points, keeping his head down as he quickly departed.
The wind was strong today, and without his coat, the spring streets felt chillier than ever.
(End of Chapter)