Chapter 53: Where Exactly Does Zhong Shengguang Live

What on earth was he thinking? He Lingchuan rubbed his face.

Perhaps prompted by worry, a sudden flash of inspiration struck him.

Maybe, they needed to return to the question Nian and Sun had been struggling with from the beginning: Where exactly was the Zhong residence?

Why was the illusion containing the Grand Square Flask specifically this period of history? Panlong City had countless glorious moments.

The only clue they—or rather, the Baling expedition team—could follow up on was Zhong Shengguang.

The bones of the Baling team members were abandoned in the Chen residence's cellar, indicating that their original intention, like He Lingchuan's group, was to search for clues at the Zhong residence.

But they found nothing there... Really?

In other words, if they could find the Zhong residence, they would find the remaining members of the Baling expedition team.

He Lingchuan tried hard to recall every legend, storytelling performance, and anecdote he had ever heard about Panlong City, the Great Wind Army, and the Zhong clan.

Almost every historical period was related to Zhong Shengguang. What clue could be hidden within?

In this Panlong City, the beautiful grey-brick mansion still belonged to the Chen family, not Zhong Shengguang. Assuming Zhong Shengguang acquired the mansion from the Chen family later, where would he be living at this time?

At this time, he was still a deputy commander, dispatched by royal decree from central Xiluo Kingdom to take up his post in Panlong City.

As a newcomer, he had no residence in Panlong City and had to find a place to stay.

Would he stay at an inn?

He Lingchuan shook his head, dismissing the idea.

Only bachelors stayed at inns. He had read in several plays that Deputy Commander Zhong, newly wed, took up his post the following month.

Zhong spent the latter half of his life here and later had children; he couldn't have had them by himself.

Therefore, he came with his family and couldn't have stayed at an inn.

Such places were dirty, noisy, and smelly, with walls as thin as paper. If a couple made any noise at night, guests next door would hear everything clearly.

Where would Zhong Shengguang settle his family?

He Lingchuan jumped down from the rooftop. "Grand Master, did we just pass the government office?"

"Yes, why?" asked Sun Fuping. "I already checked the government office before you entered the city, but there were no useful clues there."

"The Chen residence—I mean, the later Zhong residence—is some distance from the government office. But at this time, Zhong Shengguang would be going to and from the office daily, so he might settle nearby. He has family with him."

Sun Fuping, being a clever man, understood immediately. "You're right!" he exclaimed. "I only searched the government office, but I didn't thoroughly check the surroundings!"

Immediately, the two changed direction and ran back the way they had come.

Government offices in any city would invariably occupy auspicious feng shui locations, and Panlong City was no exception.

Before long, the two saw a cluster of plain, grey buildings by the river. In terms of grandeur or facade, they were far inferior to the restaurant thirty zhang away.

"This is it."

Officials did not maintain government buildings; they only sought minor repairs when things broke. Therefore, government offices were generally not opulent; at best, they were neat and solemn.

But its geographical location was truly excellent.

He Lingchuan quickly climbed to the top of the nearest tallest restaurant and looked around.

Sun Fuping heard him shout from above: "To the north is wetland; no one can live there."

"To the west is the market, with shops." Shops usually had a storefront in front and living quarters in the back, and small business owners weren't particularly fussy. "I don't think Zhong Shengguang would live there."

The West Market's environment was not good. Zhong Shengguang, being newlywed and an official, would likely find a better place for his wife.

He then looked south and saw several rows of residences facing the government office across the water. Each unit was similar in size, mostly small courtyards of one or two sections, and appeared to have been built uniformly. Though not grand estates, being by the water, they should be quiet and comfortable to live in.

"To the south!" He pointed south. "Those are the official residences!"

Official residences were housing for civil servants, usually connected to government offices and forming a large compound. He Lingchuan had understood this when he first saw official residences in Blackwater City: they were just like government compounds or collective dormitories!

However, Panlong City's location was unique; the government office was surrounded by water, making the area too small, so the official residences were built on the opposite bank.

Officials assigned to other locations would have accommodation needs. Relevant regulations varied in strictness among different countries.

For instance, the Great Kite Kingdom required officials assigned elsewhere to live in official residences and not purchase private homes. However, Thousand Pines County was truly remote, and at this time, the Kite Kingdom was plagued by internal and external troubles, leaving no time to enforce regulations. Thus, countless officials, big and small, like He Chunhua, acquired good land and beautiful residences elsewhere.

As for Zhong Shengguang, it went without saying. After Panlong Wasteland became an exclave, he was the supreme authority there. The Xiluo Kingdom didn't even know Panlong Wasteland was still its territory, so no one dared question Zhong Shengguang's actions there.

But during this peaceful and uneventful period in Panlong Wasteland, he was not yet a high-ranking and powerful commander. He should have been living in the official residences!

Sun Fuping also realized this, and his eyes lit up. "Let's go!"

There were over forty official residence units, but the two had a clear target, so finding it was not difficult.

Soon, Sun Fuping released a signal arrow from an official residence in the second-to-last row, summoning the others to come quickly!

---

When the others arrived, they found Sun Fuping and He Lingchuan standing in the small courtyard of one of the official residences.

In the courtyard stood a grave mound, with a wooden board erected as a tombstone.

Even Nian Songyu couldn't understand the writing on it.

Sun Fuping read aloud to the group: "Tomb of Loyal Friend Yu Qingyuan. This is Baling script."

Maotao was overjoyed. "We found it, we found it! Uh, we found... another Baling person?"

"But not the last Baling person to die, otherwise, who would have buried him?" He Lingchuan picked up some soil. "What was so special about this person to warrant a proper burial?"

This expedition team was so ruthless they even resorted to cannibalism among themselves. Other eaten team members were merely discarded in the cellar, so why did this deceased person deserve an earth burial?

One must remember this was an illusion; nothing here was truly real. Neither the small courtyard nor the soil was real.

The Baling expedition team resorted to cannibalism for survival, meaning they must have been utterly exhausted. Why would they still bother expending effort to dig earth and build a grave, to do something so utterly futile?

Nian Songyu, however, was examining the tombstone, even reaching out to wipe it, then bringing it to his nose to sniff.

"This ink was mixed with blood; they ran out of water." Without water, ink couldn't be dissolved, so they had to use blood.

"Dig it up!" They had to find out what was inside.

Sun Fuping spoke, and He Lingchuan and Maotao had to laboriously dig up the grave. Fortunately, there were some farm tools in the courtyard, though it was unknown if they were the ones the Baling team had used.

As the two worked enthusiastically, Nian Songyu supervised them, while Sun Fuping, however, gazed up at the sky, lost in thought.

Soon, the grave's occupant was unearthed.

Maotao wiped the mud from his face. "We dug it up, phew, just bones."

"It's been buried for decades; it would be strange if it weren't just bones." He Lingchuan used a shovel to clear away the soil, revealing most of a skeleton.