Chapter 159: True Panlong City

However, nothing of the sort happened. People either nodded and smiled at him or simply ignored him, quickly passing by without a backward glance.

Were they taking him for a local? He Lingchuan knew that the military and civilians of Panlong were highly vigilant towards outsiders, treating all illegal intruders as spies.

Had he gained passage permission from Dafanghu because he had fought alongside the Great Wind Army last time? Pondering these questions, he continued his journey.

Along the way, verdant hills and clear waters unfolded. Wildflowers carpeted the long slopes, colorful butterflies fluttered in pairs, and the crops in the fields thrived. Everything was exceptionally tranquil, appearing even more serene than most of the rural areas the Auxiliary Army had passed through.

Yet, this was the Panlong Wilderness, a land nourished by the blood and sacrifice of countless people. Panlong City, now visible, grew ever closer and more magnificent.

The outline of this city looked similar to what he had seen in the Panlong Illusion, but it lacked some sharp edges and many defensive structures. Most notably, the menacing crocodile-tooth spikes were missing from the city gate, indicating that Panlong City in this period faced far less pressure than in later times.

Nevertheless, Panlong City still imposed a formidable sense of oppression on any outsider. Upon closer inspection, He Lingchuan found that although there were no crocodile-tooth spikes beneath the battlements, the outer city walls were covered in brownish-grey climbing plants. They clung densely to the wall, making it almost impossible for others to discern the wall's original color. It was springtime, yet the plants were laden with fist-sized, pale red, papaya-shaped fruits.

He had to admit, this attempt at wall 'greening' seemed rather misguided. Why would climbing plants be grown on Panlong City's crucial South Gate? The plant stems were thick, with older vines at the base even thicker than his thigh — weren't they perfectly suited for enemies to climb?

He Lingchuan wasn't the only one; many other outsiders were also pointing. Indeed, Panlong City was unlike his imagination; it wasn't heavily guarded or forbidding to strangers. A casual glance revealed strangers in different clothing, and even with varying skin tones, all around him.

He also recognized several pedestrians as independent merchants, and a caravan ahead was waiting for clearance. The group consisted of at least forty or fifty people, with over a dozen carriages laden with goods.

These were likely all outsiders, as many gazed at Panlong City with expressions similar to He Lingchuan’s, scarcely concealing their surprise. The city gate was ajar, guarded by a small team of seven or eight soldiers responsible for security checks. They were neatly dressed and energetic, yet their demeanor was affable.

They checked the indexes and clearance documents presented by pedestrians, while for caravans, they randomly inspected goods, granting passage if they matched the records. It didn't seem very strict at all. He Lingchuan admitted it was even more lenient than passing through Blackwater City.

Soon, it was his turn. He Lingchuan smiled amiably, but in reality, he was channeling energy into his legs, ready to turn and flee if anything seemed amiss, as he had no identification documents whatsoever. He was just trying his luck. The dream had started here, and he wouldn't know what to do if he didn't enter Panlong.

To his surprise, when the gate guard saw him, he didn't even ask for his documents, simply waving him through quickly. He Lingchuan hesitated, stopping in his tracks. The gate guard directly told him, "Go on, don't block the way!" Not sensing any trickery, He Lingchuan took long strides and swiftly passed through the city gate.

Indeed, it seemed that after fighting alongside the Great Wind Army last time, he had gained Panlong City's favor. He was no longer an outcast. The city gate tower was as magnificent as he remembered, but it only had two layers of gates, unlike the three-layered barbican of later generations.

After passing through, he was immediately confronted by a large square. It was still as vast, but its layout differed from his memory. What was peculiar was a shimmering, steaming lake right at the edge of the square, apparently a hot spring lake. The banks were dotted with fuzzy papyrus plants.

He Lingchuan stood by the lake. The water was so clear he could see the sand at the bottom; there were no koi, but schools of local creek fish swam within. At this time, the Chipa Plateau, with its crisscrossing waterways and abundant forests and grasslands, was a shining pearl in the Panlong Wilderness. He Lingchuan had also seen this lake in the Panlong City of later generations, but by then it had long since dried up, leaving only its outline.

Only by witnessing it now did he realize that the lake banks had been constructed with multiple sets of steps, allowing people to walk directly from the square to the water's edge to draw water, completely unhindered. He tested the water temperature; it must have been over forty degrees Celsius. Fish in water this hot? Would another twenty degrees cook them?

He Lingchuan looked back again and saw scaffolding erected against the high wall beside the city gate, where many craftsmen were hammering away. The sculpture was seven or eight zhang tall; though unfinished, its general form was discernible. That outline, those lines... yes, it was definitely a *jiao* (flood dragon).

In the Panlong Illusion, there was also a black *jiao* sculpture by the city gate, but here, it was still unfinished. Now He Lingchuan knew what era he had entered.

This period was probably after the Panlong Wilderness became an enclave again, when Zhong Shengguang became utterly disillusioned with his homeland, and thus replaced the original golden ox guardian beast behind the city gate with the black *jiao* sculpture.

He Lingchuan casually chose a path and walked inward. The streets were wide and clean, buildings stood side by side, and hawkers called out from outside shops—it was no different from any other bustling city. Having witnessed the desolate and grim state of Panlong City in later generations, seeing its current appearance, He Lingchuan, even knowing he was in a dream, felt an unreality as if separated by an entire era.

What struck him most was the constant flow of peddlers, commoners, and wealthy merchants, all going about their daily lives: laughing, bargaining, arguing, or rushing with purpose—the city brimmed with vitality. The tragic, somber, and austere atmosphere He Lingchuan had imagined simply did not exist.

Was the dream he was in once a reality? People here still went about their lives: toiling for meager wages, buying candied haw berries for two dazi for their children, and even cheating and swindling—

As He Lingchuan walked to the entrance of a restaurant, a child rushing from the opposite direction crashed right into him. The boy was short and thin as a monkey, yet surprisingly strong; an ordinary person would likely have been knocked over. However, He Lingchuan, having practiced martial arts for years, had a base as stable as a bell. Not only did the boy fail to knock him down, but he himself was bounced back a couple of feet and landed on his bottom.

The boy glared angrily: "Can't you watch where you're going?" "You little brat, why are you pulling my necklace?" He Lingchuan looked down to see his necklace, which was normally against his skin, pulled out from under his clothes. That small piece of divine bone was actually glowing with a faint red light.

When the boy hit him, He Lingchuan felt a tug at his neck. Luckily, the chain, though thin, hadn't broken. The boy scrambled to his feet and ran off.

He Lingchuan was about to chase after him to give him a good smack, when suddenly a heavy hand clapped his shoulder, and a voice called out: "Hey, He Lingchuan!"

Someone here actually knew his name! He Lingchuan jolted, abandoning the chase, and turned to look at the newcomer. The person was of medium height and rather thin, with round eyes, a lively young man. However, he leaned on a crutch, one leg suspended, not daring to touch the ground.

"It really is you!" he said, smiling at He Lingchuan and revealing a mouthful of white teeth. "Hu Min!" He Lingchuan was also pleasantly surprised, going up to him and patting his shoulder and back. "Where did you lame man pop out from?"

His surprise stemmed not only from meeting an old acquaintance in a dream, but also from the fact that the other person actually remembered him! This meant he had left an imprint in the dream, proving he was more than just a bystander or passerby. This discovery was incredibly significant.

"I was on my way to Frost River Tavern for a measure of wine, but then I saw you standing here, foolishly letting that brat pick your pocket!" They looked at each other and burst out laughing.

Hu Min was his comrade from the Great Wind Army, with whom he had jointly defended the wagon formation in his previous dream. He Lingchuan had a broken arm, and it was Hu Min who had helped him load all those crossbow bolts. True male friendship isn't just about sharing a classroom; it's about fighting side-by-side.

"Come on, let's go have a few drinks." He Lingchuan turned and saw Frost River Tavern. Huh? Wasn't this the place where Sun Fuping had gathered the expedition team to discuss countermeasures after they entered the Panlong Ruins? Back then, the tavern was just a sign swaying in the wind, its characters barely discernible.

But the Frost River Tavern before his eyes had large, gilded characters on its plaque, and the place was bustling with numerous patrons. The two happily entered the tavern and sat down. It was only when the waiter came to ask what they wanted to eat and drink that He Lingchuan belatedly felt his pockets.

Oh no, they were completely empty! Had the Broken Blade only allowed him to bring a single set of clothes when it sent him into the dream? Shouldn't it have provided some starting capital? This was far too stingy.

Hu Min, however, was happily ordering: "A jar of Old Luobai first, then stir-fried greens, a plate of pork cracklings, and some mixed pig's head meat for us! Oh, right, do you want goose or chicken?"

"I..." Do people without money have choices? He Lingchuan's smile was a little bitter. "Anything is fine with me." "Then let's have a sliced marinated goose leg, the biggest and fattest one!"

When He Lingchuan heard "biggest," he quickly said: "Isn't that too much? I've already eaten, let's not waste anything." Hu Min glared: "You're full, but I'm still hungry. This little bit won't be enough for this jar of wine! You can order more—"

At this point, he suddenly realized: "Oh! No worries, eat and order whatever you like, this meal's on me today!" "This..." "...How can I let you! Am I the kind of person who just takes advantage of others?"

He Lingchuan also glared back, and Hu Min smiled: "Between brothers, why say such things?" In less than two blinks of an eye, the pork cracklings were served.

These were actually the scraps left over from rendering pork fat in the kitchen, with a bit of pepper added. Meat was so expensive that they couldn't throw them away, so they sold them to tavern patrons for just two dazi a plate. He Lingchuan picked one up and put it in his mouth. It was crispy and crunchy, becoming more fragrant with each chew. It was clear Hu Min was an old regular, knowing the simple goodness of pork cracklings.

"How did you survive?" Hu Min asked him. "We held out until dawn, and finally General Hong himself came to support us, but you were knocked into the water. After the enemy retreated, even Commander Xiao personally went into the water, but couldn't find you."

Commander Xiao jumped into the water to look for him? He Lingchuan was touched. He remembered climbing onto a large rock, intending to admire General Hong, only to be shaken awake by his servant, a fact he still regretted. But it turned out that in the eyes of Hu Min, Commander Xiao, and the others, he had been knocked into the water by the enemy and had disappeared?