HCAW 36

Chapter 36: A Stranger to His Face

From outside the wooden door came a flurry of knocks, like a sudden downpour. “Officier Fang, are you and that captain at home?” Not long after, a silvery peal of laughter rang out. “We know you’re in there! We’ve brought something good for you!”

The knocking went on all morning, the echoes bouncing around the courtyard. Fang Jingyu had no choice in the end—he climbed off the bed, pulled on an inner robe, and dragged his sickly body to open the door.

Sure enough, a crowd had gathered outside. Old Fan, the man who sold glutinous rice, Master Suo from the smithy… and many others whose names Fang Jingyu couldn’t recall—neighbors and townsfolk all. When they saw him, they broke into a lively chatter. Aunt You, who lived nearby, smiled and said, “Officier Fang, we heard you were recovering from an injury. Are we disturbing your rest?”

Fang Jingyu shook his pale face. Though the neighbors saw he was unwell and didn’t linger too long, they couldn’t contain their curiosity. Craned necks and peeking heads abounded.

“We brought some food—figured maybe no one’s cooking in your home. Is that captain around?”

“He is, he is…”

“In a bit, the Xian Mountain officials will be escorting the ‘Immortal Elixir’ here. They’ll be clearing the street, and we won’t be able to stick around. We wanted to catch a glimpse of him while we could!” A young lady blushed and added, “He must be quite the heroic figure, no? I wonder if he’s married?”

“He already has two sons.”

The crowd sighed in unison, full of regret. The heavily made-up girls immediately shifted their attention to Fang Jingyu, giggling. “In that case, Captain Fang, do you have someone in your heart? How about letting us move into your room?”

Fang Jingyu answered flatly, “Not yet. But I’m poor and frail—thank you all for the misplaced affection.” He coughed a few times, his body wavering slightly. Seeing that his wounds had yet to heal, the crowd had the good sense not to press further. Soon after, a contingent of Xian Mountain officials arrived in full formation outside the Fang residence, forcing the neighbors to disperse.

Why were so many Xian Mountain officials here? Fang Jingyu looked closely—many were familiar faces. He asked one of them in surprise, “Brothers, what brings you all here?”

Someone laughed and said, “Brother Fang, we’re all here to guard the ‘Immortal Elixir’! We heard that the head officer from the Jueyuan Cavalry, who recently made great merit, has been staying at your place these past few days. So the Grand Preceptor ordered the Xian Mountain officials to deliver the reward.”

In Penglai, anyone who performed great deeds could be awarded “Immortal Elixir.” Consuming it often enough could allow one to ride side by side with the Xian Mountain Guards. Fang Jingyu was naturally happy for the captain, and his furrowed brows relaxed slightly. He also wondered—if the Xian Mountain Guards were escorting these delicacies… could it be Master herself? Penglai was guarded by the Yu Yin Guard, and it was likely she had come to protect the divine elixir brewed by the Grand Preceptor.

Many townsfolk had left food boxes filled with warm dishes at his door—stacked high like a small hill. Fang Jingyu called out a few times to return them, but no one would take them back. So he had no choice but to bring a few into the room, adding yet more to his list of social debts.

Just as he changed into a clean black robe in the room, he suddenly saw the one-eyed man walk in, covered in dust, with a few bloody streaks still on his face.

Startled, Fang Jingyu exclaimed, “Captain, what happened to you?”

The one-eyed man said, “It’s nothing. That black steed kicked out—caught me by accident.”

“A horse can kick like that? Looks more like a cat scratched you.” Fang Jingyu narrowed his eyes.

Seeing he couldn’t keep it hidden, the one-eyed man scratched his head and admitted, “I got impatient earlier and had a scuffle with your brother Chu.”

Fang Jingyu let out a breath. “If it was a fight, then it must’ve been his fault. That servant of mine is half-mad, always saying wild things—please don’t hold it against him.” He asked again, “What did you two argue about?”

The one-eyed man fell silent.

He thought of how Chu Kuang had shouted curses even as he was pinned to the ground, and how “King Yama” had shed tears before his eyes. For a moment, the man’s heart wavered, and he loosened his grip. Chu Kuang had taken the opportunity to twist free and roll away, breaking loose and fleeing without a trace.

The man stood there stunned for a long time. Strangely, even after finally encountering the long-sought enemy, he didn’t feel the joy he’d expected. That night in Milu Village—if not for “King Yama” shooting the “Immortal Yonghe” in the eyes with his godlike archery—how would any of them have survived?

Staring at the retreating figure, the one-eyed man was momentarily dazed. “King Yama” was around the same age as Fang Jingyu, the same age as his own eldest son. That criminal who’d stirred up chaos more than twenty years ago—was still so young?

What a strange thing. After everything, he was starting to feel a bit of forgiveness toward “King Yama.”

Because of various concerns, the one-eyed man did not pursue Chu Kuang further, nor did he tell Fang Jingyu about their exchange. They sat in silence for a while before the one-eyed man suddenly said, “Just roughhousing with Brother Chu—don’t take it to heart, Brother Fang. By the way, has the Immortal Court heard about what happened that night in Milu Village?”

Fang Jingyu nodded.

They had only reported to Penglai that they had slain the leader of Da Yuan Dao. As for the grisly scene of corpses littering Milu Village and the leader’s inhuman appearance—that, they had kept to themselves.

“The sect leader impersonated the ‘Immortal Yonghe,’ every word from his mouth was defiant and treasonous. If we were to report this to the Penglai Prefecture, it would surely stir up a bloodbath. The Immortal Court would also suspect that we’d been swayed by his forked tongue and thus harbored thoughts of rebellion,” Fang Jingyu said. “It’s best to keep things quiet and stable.”

The one-eyed man nodded, agreeing with Fang Jingyu’s view.

At that moment, a commotion was heard outside the door. Fang Jingyu said, “It’s probably the Immortal Court delivering the ‘Immortal Elixir.’”

The two of them quickly tidied themselves, dressing neatly, and went outside to greet the arrivals. After kneeling to receive the imperial decree, the Xian Mountain officials carried forward a gold-inlaid box adorned with agate, dragon patterns carved into the surface. From within, they reverently brought out a camphorwood-patterned jug—this was the vessel for the ‘Immortal Elixir.’ The captain received it with utmost respect, bowing repeatedly.

After the ceremonial procession withdrew, the one-eyed man cradled the jug and stood up, smiling at Fang Jingyu. “I didn’t see the Xian Mountain Guard today. Was it that your master didn’t want to disturb your recovery, so she didn’t come?”

Fang Jingyu said, “If she had come, my whole body would’ve tensed up like a board of pine—I’d probably end up tearing my wounds open again. Her not coming has spared my life!”

The two burst out laughing, carrying the jug into the main hall. The one-eyed man set the jug on the ironwood table and let out a sigh. “This jug may look small enough to fit in the palm, but it holds the hopes of the whole world.” Fang Jingyu’s heart pounded at the sight, as if they were about to unveil the truth behind a legend. The corners of his lips curled up. “This is a rare treasure. I’ll have Xiao Jiao and that laborer come take a look too.”

Ignoring the one-eyed man’s dissuasion, he forced his injured body to make a round through the kitchen. Xiao Jiao was there, fretting because she couldn’t get the flint to light, squatting before the stove in concentration, and called out, “Dead gourd, don’t come bother me! So what if it’s ‘Immortal Elixir’? It’s not as real as plain rice, I’m not interested in seeing it!”

Fang Jingyu was helpless and went to look for Chu Kuang, but Chu Kuang had curled up in the stable like a rabbit in its burrow, cutting chaff, and refused to step foot in the main hall while the captain was there. Fang Jingyu had to give up and return to the hall.

The two of them then sat down in the hall, gazing intently at the jug of ‘Immortal Elixir’ The one-eyed man broke the seal, slowly lifted the lid, his expression devout as if he were receiving an imperial audience. The moment the lid was lifted, a pure and cold fragrance, like snow and dew, filled the room, intoxicating the heart.

Fang Jingyu couldn’t help but exclaim, “What a marvelous aroma!”

The one-eyed man brought out the imperial blue-and-white twin-eared cups they’d received, poured a cup, and handed it to Fang Jingyu first. Fang Jingyu glanced at the ‘Immortal Elixir’—the liquor inside was pitch black, sprinkled with tiny peach blossom petals, like fragments of floating jade, and the fragrance was overwhelming. This was the ‘Immortal Elixir’ coveted by all the world.

“Brother Fang, I offer you a cup,” the one-eyed man said with a smile. “You’ve led us through life and death, always charging ahead without flinching. If not for you, we’d have met the real King Yama (the one in the underworld) long before catching ‘King Yama’ himself!”

Fang Jingyu declined, “Head officer, I’m only a humble soldier—how could I touch a gift from the imperial court? There’s only enough ‘Immortal Elixir’ for one person; if it’s divided, it loses its effect. Please, you use it. Don’t ruin me with such honor.”

After much back-and-forth, Fang Jingyu resolutely refused to accept. Knowing how stubborn he was, the one-eyed man finally said, “If you won’t drink, then I’ll have to punish myself with three cups. But with your talent, you’ll surely receive ‘Immortal Elixir’ again in the future. When you join the Xian Mountain Guards, the brothers will be counting on you to look after us!”

For once, Fang Jingyu smiled faintly. “Of course.”

He watched as the captain drained the liquor in one go, then had a few more cups until the jug was empty. Only then did he let out a long breath. “This really is fine wine!”

“What does ‘Immortal Elixir’ taste like?” Fang Jingyu asked.

“It’s the richest, strongest wine in the world,” the one-eyed man praised. “I’ve never tasted anything like it—at first sip it bursts like fireworks, with all the sour, salty, bitter, spicy, and sweet flavors together. But once it passes your throat, only one taste remains—an utterly pure, sweet clarity. It truly deserves its name!”

As he spoke, he rubbed his chest and stomach. “Once it’s down, it becomes a ball of fire inside, slowly spreading up.”

“I’ve heard that those who partake of ‘Immortal Elixir’ gain strength and recover from injuries. How do you feel now, Captain?”

The one-eyed man said, “Brother Fang, do you mind if I test it on this table?” Fang Jingyu shook his head, so the one-eyed man stretched out a hand and drew a line with his finger across the ironwood table—immediately leaving a deep groove. After just one drink of ‘Immortal Elixir,’ his finger strength was already this great. Fang Jingyu sighed, “This ‘Immortal Elixir’ is truly the genuine article!”

After a while, the one-eyed man suddenly said his eye felt hot, and removed his silk eyepatch. It turned out that the ‘Immortal Elixir’ also had healing powers—the eye that had been wounded by ‘King Yama’s’ arrow was slowly growing back.

Fang Jingyu watched as the eye gradually regenerated, filled with amazement. With this ‘Immortal Elixir,’ even severed limbs could regrow—it might even bring the dead back to life. No wonder all under heaven coveted it.

As Fang Jingyu was lost in thought, he suddenly heard a low gasp from the one-eyed man.

“How strange.”

“What is it?”

The one-eyed man forced a laugh. “My bad eye… it’s burning, like it’s been scalded with boiling water.”

Fang Jingyu leaned in to look and saw that the previously empty socket now held a new eyeball. He smiled, “It’ll probably just burn for a while. It’ll be fine in a moment.”

The one-eyed man sat there, but grew increasingly restless, a sheen of cold sweat on his face. Fang Jingyu hadn’t noticed anything amiss, but suddenly saw black specks begin to appear on the new eyeball.

All at once, the black spots grew larger, spreading over the eye like mold. In the next instant, countless tiny pupils opened up within his eye, all staring fixedly at Fang Jingyu.

Fang Jingyu was chilled to the core.

By the time he realized something was wrong, it was already too late—the other eye of the captain suddenly rolled upward like a fish belly, and a wild, beastly howl burst from his mouth.

Suddenly, Fang Jingyu was struck with a violent blow. When he came to his senses, the head officer was already swinging a punch at him, the fist hitting his chest and abdomen directly. His wounds instantly split open, blood spraying everywhere. Fang Jingyu was slammed hard against the wall. The man struck again with a fierce punch, the gust of wind roaring.

Something was wrong! Fang Jingyu struggled to steady himself and twisted away. The fist landed on the earthen wall, but the arm—strengthened by the “Immortal Elixir”—was so powerful it shattered the wall. The one-eyed man suddenly lost his mind, convulsing uncontrollably. His skin, like a drought-ravaged wasteland, began to crack.

A terrifying thought flashed like lightning through Fang Jingyu’s mind: the captain’s current state resembled that of the “walking meat” in Milu Village, those mad creatures driven insane after eating the meat porridge of “Immortal Yonghe”!

He glanced again at the cup on the table, which still held a little of the dark liquor. The meat porridge of “Immortal Yonghe” and the blood of the “walking meat” were also pitch black. Moreover, the leader of Da Yuan Dao had repeatedly claimed to be “Immortal Yonghe”… Fang Jingyu suddenly recalled what his master had told him:

“Those who consume this substance excessively risk losing their minds and dying an early death. An ordinary person who drinks even a second cup will often bleed from all seven orifices and die.”

Indeed, consuming “Immortal Elixir” carried mortal danger, but they had been too caught up in their victory celebrations to worry much. What connection was there between this “Immortal Elixir” and the Da Yuan Dao leader? For a moment, all sorts of tangled thoughts crowded Fang Jingyu’s mind. The floral fragrance of the “Immortal Elixir” now smelled sickly sweet. It was like snake venom, numbing the mind but ultimately tearing one’s entrails apart. The “Immortal Elixir” and the meat porridge must share the same origin!

Suddenly, chills ran over Fang Jingyu’s whole body.

In that instant, he seemed to understand many things. He had seen Penglai’s daylight, but knew very little of its darkness. There must be many Xian Mountain officials like the captain, maddened by the “Immortal Elixir,” but their fate was only to return to dust.

“Captain—Captain!” Fang Jingyu dodged a strike, ignoring the ripping pain in his chest wound, shouting desperately, “Can you hear me?”

The man ignored him, continuing his furious, thunderous assault. Dust and debris flew about the room. Cold sweat drenched Fang Jingyu. He thought: though the “Immortal Elixir” had restored one eye, it had cost him his sanity!

Outside, there was a clamor of cheers and the crack of whips. Officials shouted and beat gongs. Fang Jingyu vaguely heard someone pounding on the courtyard gate, calling, “Is Fang Jingyu there? The Xian Mountain Guard has arrived!”

This was a matter of life and death—how could he spare time to open the door? Just as Fang Jingyu’s attention faltered for a moment, the captain swung a wide punch directly at his face. The fist struck the wall, which shattered like thin paper. Fang Jingyu broke out in a cold sweat and said,

“Head officer, you’ve already cut my table with your finger; do you intend to leave no place in the hall for me to receive guests as well?”

The man, hair disheveled and eyes bloodshot, looked exactly like the “walking meat” who had followed “Immortal Yonghe” that night. Fang Jingyu rolled through the hole in the wall, crossed the courtyard in three strides, and rushed to the side room. He grabbed a saber from beside the bed and turned to block. The man’s fist landed squarely on the blade, but perhaps corroded by the black blood of “Immortal Yonghe” that night, the blade snapped like spring ice. Fang Jingyu barely felt the pain before scrambling to roll away and snatching Hanguang wrapped in rushes from the corner.

Outside the small courtyard, the sounds of celebration boiled over. Dragon flags fluttered ostentatiously. Crocodile-patterned bronze drums clanged, clearing a path. A blue-wool sedan chair approached from afar. Although the commoners by the roadside bowed low, their curiosity betrayed them with furtive glances. The lead Xian Mountain officials grew anxious at Fang Jingyu’s delay in opening the gate and knocked fiercely, whispering, “Brother Fang, open quickly, the Xian Mountain Guard has arrived!”

After a while, the gate finally opened. But the one who answered was not Fang Jingyu—it was Xiao Jiao her face streaked with ash.

“Qin Jiao, where is Master Fang?” one official said at the gate. “Also, how can you appear in such a black cloth robe? The Xian Mountain Guard is coming!”

“This isn’t a black robe; it was red at first! Who knows what that stubborn gourd has been up to? Making noise with nails and hammers in the room, clanging nonstop.”

The official said, “Go change your clothes; we’ll call him.” Reluctantly, Xiao Jiao returned inside. The officials entered the courtyard and indeed heard a tremendous commotion from within. Passing through the hanging flower gate, they saw a pile of earth beside the side room. The main room was noisy, resounding with harsh sounds, while a group of flag bearers surged through the house gate behind them.

There was no more time to waste. The officials surged forward and stood before the main room. One who knew Fang Jingyu best stepped forward to knock. For some reason, the noise inside suddenly ceased after the knock.

“Brother Fang, your master is already at the door. No matter how untidy you are, you should come greet the guests!” The familiar official called out repeatedly with no answer. Looking again at the gate, he saw not only the flag bearers but also the drummers trying to enter. He steeled himself and pushed the door open.

The door swung wide, revealing Fang Jingyu inside—indeed disheveled.

The officials gaped, breaking out in cold sweat. The drummers’ music stopped, and the courtyard fell into a deadly silence. The scene was so terrifying the wind players had to swallow their breath.

They saw Fang Jingyu holding Hanguang, his hair loose, wearing only a thin garment. His eyes were hollow and lifeless, his face pale as blank paper—yet on that paper were scattered black ink stains, spots of black blood.

The room had already turned into a sea of blood. Dark blood splattered everywhere, dripping even from the beams above, the overwhelming stench of blood assaulting the senses. A man in a gray robe with a badge lay on the ground—none other than the head officer who had just received the favor of the “Immortal Elixir.”

Now, the head officer’s eyes were wide open, his chest and belly ripped open, lying dead before Fang Jingyu.