Chapter 489 - 488: Chicken Dinner

Chapter 489: Chapter 488: Chicken Dinner

’Isn’t the Crown Prince Envoy sent by the Monarch and his son? Why is he asking me this sort of question?’

Jiao Yu chimed in, "The Special Envoy has just arrived in our kingdom. He isn’t aware of many of the internal matters."

The implications of his words ran deep. Xiang Yan was momentarily speechless, his mind racing to solve the puzzle.

Hee Lingchuan smiled. "I’m not one of the Chiyan People. I would have preferred to stay out of it, but Fushan Yue shamelessly begged me to take this case."

Xiang Yan’s eyes went wide.

’The Crown Prince actually appointed a foreigner as a Special Envoy to investigate a case? This... this case must be incredibly deep.’

After a long silence, he finally said, "In all the world, only Lingxu City can create the Fountain of Youth."

"So the Fountain of Youth pills in the hands of the various Demon Kings are also bestowed by Lingxu City?" Hee Lingchuan understood. "And they, in turn, grant them to their own meritorious subordinates?"

Xiang Yan nodded.

"Then where do the ingredients for it come from?" Hee Lingchuan asked before he could speak. "Elder Xiang, you spent over a decade in Lingxu City. You must have heard some rumors, right?"

Xiang Yan opened his mouth, but only managed a bitter smile after a moment. "How could anyone spread such tales? If the source of the rumor was traced, it would be a death sentence."

"You haven’t heard even a whisper?"

"I’ve only heard that some of the ingredients for the Fountain of Youth are purchased from abroad. As for the specifics, I truly don’t know," Xiang Yan said softly. "A Supreme Treasure like the Fountain of Youth is exceedingly precious even in Lingxu City; only a few officials are able to partake. I was fortunate enough to consume one because I rendered great service and earned the Celestial God’s favor. Otherwise, I would never have been so blessed. You can ask Lord Jiao—of all the civil and military officials in the court, how many have ever had the Fountain of Youth?"

Hee Lingchuan looked at Jiao Yu, who shook his head and said, "Over the past hundred-plus years, the Monarch has only bestowed thirty-nine pills."

In the 160-plus years since its founding, how many officials had the Chiyan Kingdom had? Yet among them, only thirty-nine had ever taken the Fountain of Youth.

The preciousness of this medicine went without saying.

’No wonder the old man looks so smug. To be fortunate enough to take the Fountain of Youth, to be one of only thirty-nine... what an immense honor that must be!’

"Why so few?"

"I hear the ingredients are hard to come by."

Hee Lingchuan recalled what the Great Alchemist from Panlong City, Helian Chen, had said: the Fountain of Youth required an incredibly precious catalyst—Divine Blood.

’That might be hard to get.’

’But even if the other ingredients were rare, couldn’t they be procured with the full might of Beiga?’

’It probably all came down to a simple principle:’

’Artificial scarcity.’

’The effect is so good, the supply so limited—wouldn’t people be climbing over each other to get it?’

Hee Lingchuan’s eyes darted. "In that case, who holds the Pill Recipe for the Fountain of Youth?"

"The Celestial God, of course," Xiang Yan said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Lingxu City offers up the ingredients, the Celestial God refines the Fountain of Youth, and personally bestows it."

Hee Lingchuan was momentarily confused.

’If only the Celestial God could create the Fountain of Youth, then why would the true culprit behind this case be collecting Pulp Pearls? Besides, this doesn’t quite line up with what Helian Chen said.’

But after a moment’s hesitation, Xiang Yan added, "However, I did hear a rumor in Lingxu City."

Hee Lingchuan’s spirits lifted. ’Finally, some real inside information?’

"Please, do tell."

"I can’t tell you the source of this information, but there seems to be a story—just a story, mind you."

"Mm-hm, it’s all just baseless rumor. You just say it, and I’ll just listen." ’This old man sure knows how to cover his bases.’

"Legend has it that the Celestial God once bestowed the Pill Recipe for the Fountain of Youth, but Lingxu City entrusted it to the wrong person, causing it to be leaked. In a rage, the Celestial God revoked their Alchemy Authority. Since then, He has only granted Finished Pills, forbidding any from being refined in the Mortal World."

This was the second time Hee Lingchuan had heard this story. "So, about this leaked Pill Recipe?"

"The Emperor, of course, launched a severe investigation and set a deadline for self-surrender. Anyone found with it after the deadline would have their entire clan exterminated."

Hee Lingchuan thought of the fate of the Yuan Kingdom’s descendants and knew that the Beiga Demon Emperor never hesitated to kill.

’How could a Great Demon like that have even a shred of pity for human life?’

"How many people were killed in total?"

"I don’t know."

"Huh?" Hee Lingchuan asked, surprised. "How could you not even know how many were killed?"

"Even if the Pill Recipe had leaked, very few people would have been qualified to see it. Thus, the number of people killed by the Emperor over it would have been just as few." Xiang Yan gave a self-deprecating laugh. "An official from a Vassal Kingdom like me would never have had a chance to even get near it."

’That was a high-stakes game. Low-level officials like them, officials from Vassal Demon Kingdoms, didn’t even have the qualifications to play.’

’Want to get killed over it? Not a chance.’

"So no one had their clan exterminated during that time?"

"That, I don’t know. It’s an old affair from two or three hundred years ago, and just a rumor at that. It’s impossible to know how much of it is true and how much is false."

Hee Lingchuan grunted in acknowledgment. "As long as it leaked, that makes things easier."

Xiang Yan asked cautiously, "Are you suggesting that the current case is related to the Pill Recipe that was lost back then?"

Hee Lingchuan gave him a look, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. "Those are your words, not mine."

Xiang Yan waved his hands in a panic. "No, no, no, this humble old man was just spouting nonsense. You didn’t hear a thing."

"Exactly," Hee Lingchuan laughed heartily. "I didn’t hear a thing."

He saw the thin sheen of sweat on Xiang Yan’s forehead.

"So, what’s it like to take the Fountain of Youth?" ’Time to switch to a more lighthearted question.’

As expected, Xiang Yan relaxed considerably.

"After taking it, the internal effects are immediate. For example, your body feels lighter, your legs become more nimble, your appetite improves, and old illnesses heal without medicine. However, it can’t regrow severed hands or feet. I’ve heard that some Demon Generals who took the Fountain of Youth couldn’t heal their old wounds either."

Hee Lingchuan nodded. ’It seems the main effect of the Fountain of Youth is life extension.’

"So there are internal and external effects?"

"Well, the external effects aren’t as obvious," Xiang Yan said with a smile. "I was fifty-two when I took the pill, and my appearance barely changed. It didn’t reverse my age by thirty years. But in the thirty years since I took it, I’ve almost constantly maintained the appearance of a fifty-two-year-old."

’So it’s a slow-release pill?’

Hee Lingchuan now had a rudimentary understanding of pharmacology. Combined with Aluo constantly roaring in the team members’ ears, he knew that a so-called good medicine’s value lay in its stability and longevity, allowing the effects to be released gently, continuously, and over a long period, which was most beneficial to the human body.

Not to mention anything else, the Emperor’s Liquid had this exact effect, which was why it was the king of all medicines.

"So it’s inaccurate to call it a Rejuvenation Pill?"

"Calling it an Anti-Aging Pill or Longevity Medicine might be more appropriate."

Hee Lingchuan stood up. "Thank you, Elder Xiang. This information has been very useful. I apologize for disturbing you today."

"It was just a friendly chat, what information?" Xiang Yan smiled warmly. "Special Envoy, why don’t you stay for a meal?"

He was just being polite, but to his surprise, Hee Lingchuan readily agreed. "Excellent! General Antelope told me that the white-cut chicken at your residence is exceptionally tender and made with a secret recipe."

"..." Xiang Yan could only force a wider smile. "Come, come, this way please."

’What the hell is wrong with that old goat! He’s a goat, he should be eating grass! Why recommend chicken to people?!’

***

「Meanwhile, at the inn where Hee Lingchuan was staying.」

The occupant was out, so Hee Lingchuan’s room was, of course, empty.

The door suddenly opened, and an inn attendant slipped inside. After scanning the room to make sure no one was there, he gently closed the door behind him.

He went straight for the wooden bed.

The funds Fushan Yue had allocated for the Special Envoy were ample. The inn Hee Lingchuan was staying at was one of the best in Baisha Jue, and he had booked a premium suite for several days.

It had a living area, a master bedroom, and even a spare guest room, all elegantly furnished. Even the bed frame provided for the guest was made of huanghuali wood, known as a "bed of a hundred craftsmen."

As soon as the attendant reached the bed, he leaned forward, eyes wide, searching for something on the pillow.

"Where’s the hair?"

The inn used soft pillows, and this distinguished guest had been staying for several days straight. How could there not be a single stray hair on the pillow?

But there really wasn’t. The attendant searched for a long time and found nothing.

If he took the pillow directly, it would likely alert the guest, so that was out of the question.

He paced around the room twice, trying to think of a solution.

Even if he found a stray hair elsewhere in the suite, it would be useless; it might not belong to the guest named Hee. After all, this was an inn, and this suite had hosted many other guests before.

Only the bedding was changed for each new guest.

This was a high-end inn, after all.

’So, how can I get something that belongs exclusively to Hee Lingchuan?’

The attendant’s gaze fell on the folding screen.

Behind it was the chamber pot.

’Should I?’

It was a pungent thought, and it startled even the attendant himself.

The inn changed the chamber pots and emptied the night soil for guests every day. Timing-wise, that should happen in about two double-hours.

’Do it?’

’Don’t do it?’

He really didn’t want to do it, but someone was paying him far too much.

The attendant didn’t hesitate for long. He walked behind the screen, held his nose, and yanked off the chamber pot’s lid!

No matter how filthy the job, as long as the pay was good enough, someone would always be willing to do it.

But in the next instant, he froze in shock.

The chamber pot was completely empty.

No, it would be more accurate to say it was bone-dry.

It was one thing to say someone didn’t lose hair in their sleep; that was plausible.

But did this guest not need to relieve himself all day?

An absurd thought popped into the attendant’s mind.

’Could this distinguished guest be so wary of others that he even goes to a public latrine for the Five Grains Reincarnation?’

’What now?’

...

「The next day, Hee Lingchuan went to the Prefecture Yamen to find the Baisha Jue County Magistrate.」

County Magistrate Tian came out with two large dark circles under his eyes. Hee Lingchuan was slightly taken aback. "County Magistrate Tian, what happened to you?"

’He’d been tossing and turning for days, and the very person who caused it was asking him what happened?’

"It’s nothing. Alley cats were wailing outside my window for most of the night." County Magistrate Tian had to force back a yawn in Hee Lingchuan’s presence to avoid being disrespectful. "Lord Special Envoy, what are your orders for today?"

"I have a task for County Magistrate Tian, but it must be done discreetly."

"Oh?" The Baisha Jue County Magistrate understood what "discreetly" meant. "You mean, without the Inspector knowing?"

"That’s a must," Hee Lingchuan added. "And it would be best if no one else in the city knew either."

"Please, go on."

"Find a repair crew."

"Ah?" County Magistrate Tian was a little confused, not knowing if it was from lack of sleep, but he felt his mind wasn’t working properly. "To repair what?"

"Tide Lake Tower."

"Oh... Alright, that’s a small matter."

"But I have other requirements." Hee Lingchuan leaned in and whispered a few words in his ear, then said, "Before the work begins, don’t let anyone in the city know. Can you do that?"