Chapter 170: Songyang Prefecture

This time, there were no new encounters in his dream; Hu Min and A Luo were absent. He simply strolled around Panlong City for a while before returning to his small cabin to practice archery and blade techniques.

Practicing meditation and breathing exercises in the dream did not enhance his cultivation in reality. However, the proficiency gained from honing his martial arts skills synchronized with reality and was not lost upon waking. He Lingchuan was overjoyed when he confirmed this, as it meant he had at least twice the time of an ordinary person to practice martial arts, both in reality and in his dreams.

He had also heard the idiom "a dream of yellow millet," referring to someone who fell asleep while cooking yellow millet and dreamt through the latter half of their life. He hoped that one day in the Panlong dream, time could be infinitely extended until all his techniques were perfected.

However, that was wishful thinking. No matter how much he wished for it, he only seemed to stay in the dream for a little over twenty hours.

He Lingchuan also noticed that his ability to enter and exit the Panlong dream had become regular, seemingly starting after he trespassed into the immortal's cave. In the months prior, he had only entered the dream twice in total.

Of course, all of this began with the broken saber.

But what exactly did the divine bone necklace do to the immortal's cave? The cave immediately closed, and the Panlong dream began to open frequently for He Lingchuan.

Oh, and the black talisman he obtained from Lu Yao, he also fed it to the divine bone necklace.

What was this, a reward?

Does this mean that any strange items he finds in the future should first be offered to the divine bone?

The next morning, a hand-breadth of snow had accumulated on the ground, and the weather was exceptionally cold.

The Zhu family sent an invitation, requesting the He family's presence tonight at Zhu Xiuer's welcome banquet.

"This shouldn't have been so rushed, but Master Zhu knew Commander He wouldn't be staying in Shihuan City for long, so time was pressing," the messenger explained, then remained there.

This person, surnamed Liu, was a Bangban. After Zhu Xiyan took away his long-lost granddaughter, he immediately sent a Bangban to the inn for the He family to utilize.

A "Bangban" essentially means someone who helps others with tasks. They weren't exclusively employed by the Zhu manor but were general fixers in Shihuan City, having contacts from high-ranking officials and nobles down to people from all walks of life. Wealthy families often hired Bangbans for matters they found inconvenient to handle themselves.

When outsiders arrived in Shihuan City, their needs typically revolved around dining, entertainment, trade, and social calls. Experienced Bangbans guaranteed that everything would be handled perfectly.

Such people also existed in Blackwater City, where they were called "errand runners."

The Zhu family knew He Chunhua was unfamiliar with the place, so they specifically found someone who was a jack-of-all-trades, which was a very thoughtful gesture.

He Chunhua had originally intended to go for a stroll, but before he could even take a step, Steward Old Mo delivered several visiting cards.

Madam Ying asked in surprise, "Zhu Xiuer only returned home last night. How is it that people already know our master has arrived in Shihuan City today?"

He Chunhua waved his hand, "It's not strange. I had someone register with the authorities yesterday."

He was now a high-ranking local official. Unless specifically summoned by imperial decree, he was forbidden to enter the capital privately. Even visiting Shihuan City required immediate registration, or the consequences would be severe.

Liu Bangban smiled, "This is right under the Emperor's nose; news travels incredibly fast here. First-tier noble families already knew last night that the new Commander of Xiazhou had found Master Zhu's granddaughter. Second-tier noble families might have found out this morning. Those who received the news only after this evening are all third-tier noble families or below."

It seemed these rules applied everywhere.

As He Chunhua and his wife couldn't spare the time, He Lingchuan tossed a silver ingot to Liu Bangban and said, "I'm new to Shihuan; take me sightseeing."

Liu Bangban pocketed the silver and thumped his chest, "With me around, Young Master can explore Shihuan as if it were his own backyard!"

No sooner had the two stepped out of the inn than Maotao popped up from somewhere, wanting to tag along with He Lingchuan as a follower. "Young Master, where are we going to play?"

Shihuan City's prosperity had already made him eager to explore.

"First, let's take care of business," He Lingchuan told Liu Bangban. "I've heard Shihuan is famous for its craftsmanship. My beloved saber is broken, and finding a skilled artisan to repair it will be very difficult."

Finding a craftsman's workshop in Shihuan City was easy, but for an outsider like him, locating the most highly skilled artisan would be challenging.

This was where a Bangban came in handy. Liu Bangban immediately chuckled, "No problem, Young Master, follow me!"

A carriage was already waiting at the inn's entrance.

The carriage was made of redwood planks, without exaggerated carvings on the exterior, but its interior soft furnishings were very comfortable. Three large men could sit facing each other and still stretch their legs without feeling cramped.

As the carriage began to move, Liu Bangban began his introduction: "Shihuan is one of the secondary capitals. It's teeming with famous artisans and many crafting sects, but the most prominent among them is undoubtedly Songyang Manor."

Songyang Manor? The other two indicated they hadn't heard of it.

"Songyang Manor is also a Daoist sect, established over fifty years ago. Its first lord was a prince enfeoffed by our Great Yuan's founding ancestor. He founded the sect as an official, and its disciples particularly excel at artifact forging. Their products are popular among military officers and upper-class youths."

So, Songyang Manor catered to the elite and also had a semi-official background, which explained its unassailable position in the fiercely competitive Shihuan City.

He Lingchuan suddenly understood but chuckled, "I always thought Daoist sects were hidden deep in the mountains, very mysterious. I never expected them to be openly established right in the bustling city."

"You're talking about Immortal Sects! Immortal Sects only appear in legends," Liu Bangban casually remarked. "Now, there are only Daoist sects left. As for those high-and-mighty Daoist sects, aside from a few with long histories, the rest can't afford to put on airs. Although both Immortal Sects and Daoist sects possess supernatural abilities, do you know the difference between them?"

"Tell me," He Lingchuan invited. These Bangbans were indeed seasoned veterans; they could chat about anything.

"In the past, immortals could fly on swords, appear and disappear at will, were invulnerable, and could take someone's head from a thousand miles away. Who wouldn't worship them?" Liu Bangban pointed at the sky. "Now look at today's martial artists and sorcerers. At best, they have some supernatural powers, but they bleed when cut, die when their heads are severed, still rely on horses to travel, haven't achieved immortality, and can't even defeat the imperial army, yet they still scramble for royal enfeoffment... To speak disrespectfully, there's not much difference between them and us ordinary folk, is there?"

Maotao nodded repeatedly, "That's certainly true."

When they are no longer powerful enough, they will fall from their pedestals.

He Lingchuan's heart stirred slightly as he recalled the skeleton in the immortal's cave by Xianling Lake, once again curious about its cause of death.

Looking out the carriage window, the streets of Shihuan City were far wider than those of Blackwater City, and much cleaner and tidier. The main thoroughfares were even paved with bluestone blocks, wide enough for at least ten carriages to drive abreast.

Shihuan was a crucial hub for land and water transport, with half of the capital's goods transiting through it, making trade exceptionally prosperous. As He Lingchuan observed, buildings were densely packed, many of them grand and luxurious. Besides the usual facilities found in every city, such as restaurants, inns, theaters, and casinos, Shihuan City also boasted numerous entertainment venues. He Lingchuan noticed one shop with a wooden sign prominently displaying the red characters "Labyrinth of Enchantment."

"What's that?"

"A maze," Liu Bangban explained to the two provincials. "These are formations set up by sorcerers and monsters for guests to play in. Some even incorporate illusion arrays with flowers, birds, insects, and fish, which are very popular with young women."

He chuckled, "There are also special formations called 'Soul-Melting Arrays,' where there are beautiful songs and dances, specifically for gentlemen like us to enjoy. They're in high demand and require advance booking. I've seen customers stay inside for two days straight, refusing to leave."

Maotao asked curiously, "Everything in an illusion array is fake. How can it compare to a pleasure house where you can touch and feel?"

"You don't understand," Liu Bangban winked. "Sometimes, what you can't touch is the best. The women in illusion arrays can be as beautiful as you wish, as noble as you wish, as innocent as you wish, as enchanting as you wish, all for a price. A pleasure house can't offer that, can it?"

Maotao listened, lost in reverie, wishing he could jump out of the carriage immediately to experience it for himself.

At this point, the carriage turned off the main thoroughfare onto a side street.

Although it was a side street, it was as wide as Blackwater City's main road, with shops on both sides featuring at least four-panel wide doors and dazzlingly polished signs.

"This entire street is lined with the storefronts of crafting sects," Liu Bangban said, opening the carriage door. "We've arrived at Songyang Manor's old shop; it's been open the longest."

He Lingchuan stepped out and observed, confirming its impressive appearance. "How many shops does Songyang Manor have in Shihuan City?"

"Two," Liu Bangban added. "And three more in the capital." With that, he led He Lingchuan and Maotao inside.

The interior of the shop was tastefully arranged, with weapons decorating all four walls, giving it a distinctive character.

In the center of the main hall stood a large bronze cauldron, reaching Maotao's shoulder height. Passing guests often paused here. He peered inside and saw a miniature landscape at the bottom of the cauldron, complete with mountains, water, and rustic bridges.

What was remarkable was the white mist hovering near the cauldron's rim, which served as clouds within the miniature scene.

He exclaimed in curiosity, "Oh? There are fish in the river, and they're actually moving!"

Luckily, his eyesight was excellent, allowing him to discern something moving in the river at the cauldron's bottom. Upon closer inspection, they were indeed swimming fish.

Liu Bangban introduced, "This is Songyang Manor's old shop's most prized treasure, the 'Mountains and Rivers in the Cauldron.' It was crafted forty years ago."

He Lingchuan also praised, "Lifelike."

"This is a living scene," Liu Bangban chuckled. "We living people can actually enter it. I've been inside to explore; the scenery is quite exquisite and ethereal."

Other guests who overheard also expressed their amazement.

Songyang Manor's old shop was divided into three sections: the front for display, the middle for storage and negotiations, and a large space at the back for forging artifacts.

Liu Bangban, familiar with the layout, walked straight in and soon found a Steward Zhao, whom he introduced to He Lingchuan: "This is the eldest son of Master He, the new Commander of Xiazhou. He has specially come to your esteemed shop to repair a precious saber. Young Master He has consulted many artisans, but none have been able to fix it."

"This must be no ordinary item. Please, have a seat," Steward Zhao said, immediately leading them to seats and offering tea, then turned to fetch someone.

The man was just over fifty, with sharp, gleaming eyes and dark skin.

"This is Li Fubo, the chief grand master of the Central Forge at Songyang Manor."

Li Fubo did not exchange pleasantries with He Lingchuan. He took the broken saber and slowly drew it from its sheath; the blade's cold gleam immediately illuminated his glabella. His apprentice placed a wooden board on the ground, and Li Fubo raised the saber and brought it down in a light, empty strike.

Nothing happened. The wooden board remained perfectly intact.

Maotao couldn't help but touch his nose, but Li Fubo handed the broken saber back to its owner. "You try."