Chapter 51: Another Dimension's Panlong City

At this time, the Chibra Plateau had exceptionally abundant water sources; relying on the natural elevation differences, just a few waterwheels could provide automatic, round-the-clock water supply.

This was understandable; the Coiling Dragon Wilderness had always been a vital transportation route connecting Xiluo Kingdom to foreign lands. The strategic geographical location of Coiling Dragon City far surpassed that of later Blackwater City. Furthermore, if the resources here were not abundant, how could Coiling Dragon City have survived for over thirty years, surrounded by powerful enemies?

Of course, as He Lingchuan walked through this historical city, his heart was filled not only with sighs of wonder but also with caution. These two had searched the temple and the Red General's temple. Why didn't they search Zhong Shengguang's former residence at the same time, but instead waited for him to accompany them? That place most likely had some kind of problem.

He Lingchuan was secretly anxious, but on the surface, he had to ask Sun Fuping, "Grand Tutor, do those vengeful spirits really live here year after year, only venturing out in September?"

"Probably," he replied.

"If they can live here in peace and prosperity, why would they go outside?"

"We'll only know once we acquire the Grand Cauldron."

He Lingchuan thought to himself that Sun Fuping truly lived up to his title as Grand Tutor, managing to express "I don't know" so subtly.

Nian Songyu had already looked for the Zhong residence when the tasks were assigned earlier, so he was now familiar with the route. However, after reaching the location, Nian Songyu stopped. Before them stood a grey brick house with a black roof and a high lintel. Its facade was neat, and a few clumps of green bamboo peeked out from behind the high walls, indeed giving it the air of a prominent family's residence. Two large characters were inscribed above the door:

Runyuan.

"Here?"

Nian Songyu hesitated visibly before saying, "The location is correct, and the house is correct, but I went inside and found that the family living here is surnamed Chen!"

He Lingchuan was greatly surprised, "What?"

Upon entering Runyuan, they found it to be a large, four-courtyard mansion. The materials used for the architecture and furniture were exquisite. He Lingchuan even noticed that the screen wall featured brick carvings from Tongzhou. Over three hundred bricks combined to depict figures, landscapes, and even a narrative, forming a beautiful story like a comic strip. Such brick carvings were still highly prized today; transporting them from Tongzhou to Blackwater City alone took over four months. He Lingchuan knew this so clearly because the He residence in Blackwater City also used these carvings to adorn its facade.

Naturally, a garden was also present in this exquisite Runyuan. Rockeries and flowing water were standard features. The garden also contained tall red maples, and rare flowers and exotic plants were hidden in the corners beneath the maple trees. The first dozen or so plants were barely recognizable in form, but their species were unknown. Those further back were half-hidden in the dim tree shadows, and He Lingchuan couldn't even make them out clearly.

Nian Songyu pointed to this garden and said, "In the He residence in the desolate city of the desert, this area was a wooden storage room filled with cabinets, and it was in complete disarray. Moreover, in the side hall, I saw several visiting cards indicating that the owner of this place was named Chen, courtesy name Huisheng."

He Lingchuan was stunned. "What period of Coiling Dragon City is this, exactly? The land is fertile, people live in peace, the city is prosperous, and there's no shadow of war. And a famous person like Zhong Shengguang isn't living where he should be." He suspected he had stumbled into Coiling Dragon City in another timeline.

Sun Fuping interjected, "If Zhong Shengguang doesn't live here, he must have another residence. Young Master He, can you think of where that might be?"

"Me?" He Lingchuan pointed to his nose. "How would I know?"

Nian Songyu said, "Think, think carefully!"

Sun Fuping prompted, "The legends of the Coiling Dragon Desert have circulated in Qiansong Prefecture for decades. You grew up hearing them, so you should know many anecdotes beyond official history, even trivial ones. For example, Zhong Shengguang must have risen through the ranks step by step to become a commander. Where did he live before he was promoted?"

He Lingchuan suddenly understood, "Grand Tutor, do you suspect we've arrived in Coiling Dragon City from a time before Zhong Shengguang became a commander?"

"Quite possibly," Sun Fuping nodded. "Searching for clues in such a vast city is like looking for a needle in a haystack. The easiest variable to track down right now is Zhong Shengguang himself." Although he had done his research beforehand, his knowledge was ultimately limited. He couldn't grasp every single detail, which was why he needed to ask He Lingchuan, who was from the area.

He Lingchuan pondered deeply for a while again, then shook his head, "No, nothing comes to mind." His knowledge of Coiling Dragon City was no greater than that of an average Blackwater City resident. Trivial matters like how many times Zhong Shengguang moved before he became famous, how many times he was sick, or how many women he had, were clearly beyond the scope of his knowledge.

"You've been in Blackwater City for over ten years, just living like a glutton and a wastrel?" Nian Songyu said coldly. "It would be better to call He Chunhua down."

"You..." He Lingchuan flushed with anger.

Nian Songyu clenched his fists, ready to teach the fellow a lesson if he dared utter any profanities. Unexpectedly, He Lingchuan changed his tune. "You're right, we should go back and find someone." He then turned to Sun Fuping, "Grand Tutor, how do we get back?"

This kid knew how to assess the situation. Was he cowardly or clever? Before Sun Fuping could reply, Maotao, the bandit, ran over from the corridor, excitedly exclaiming, "I found something, something!"

Only then did the three remember that the kid had somehow gotten separated. "What did you find?"

"Dead people! There are bones in the cellar."

Nian Songyu retorted irritably, "What's so...?" What's so strange about dead people? The desolate city in the desert was full of bones; they saw them everywhere they went. They were also blood evidence of the Allied Immortal-Ba forces' massacre of the city. However, he immediately realized his mistake and swallowed the rest of his sentence. "Let's go see."

This was not the outside world; this was Coiling Dragon City, where time stood still. Anything out of place was a valuable clue.

They hurried to the cellar, lit candles as they descended, and indeed found some remains. Coiling Dragon City was hot in summer and cold in winter. Prominent families like the Chens dug more than one cellar, storing meat, fruits, vegetables, preserved foods, and ice separately. Yes, they stored solid ice in winter to enjoy iced drinks in summer. The stored ice could also be used to make iced fruits and wines, and to cool down sleeping couches during the hottest days of summer. This was an exclusive luxury for wealthy families.

Maotao had found an ice cellar. Coiling Dragon City was likely in early summer, and the cellar was chillingly cold. But as they descended, they saw scattered bones in the corner. Counting the skulls revealed there were three deceased individuals.

Sun Fuping picked up a skull and examined it carefully. He said solemnly, "It's real."

This was highly unusual. Why would real human remains appear in an illusionary world?

A sudden realization struck all four of them. Nian Songyu exclaimed, "The Ba-Ling Kingdom's exploration team! They've also entered the illusion!" That's right. The entrance to the illusion was first discovered by the Ba-Ling Kingdom's exploration team, so of course they had the chance to enter Coiling Dragon City.

The crucial question arose: how did these people die?

"Looking at their positions, they were moved after death." Maotao knelt down to examine them closely and suddenly gasped. "No, the bones are all jumbled. If they weren't disturbed later by someone else, then... then they were..."

"They were dismembered after death." Nian Songyu picked up a radius bone, then found a scapula. He held both up to the light and examined them closely. "There are sharp-edged tool marks on the bones, on every piece. These shouldn't be injuries sustained while alive."