Chapter 14: You Need to Be More Sensible

Nian Songyu looked somewhat arrogant: "Does Lord He know of the Endless Sea south of the Firmament? Hurricanes rage there throughout the four seasons, the undercurrents are treacherous, and it is infested with sea monsters; it is known as a forbidden zone for the living. I once went south under the King’s orders, entering and exiting the Endless Sea twice, and both times I returned unscathed." These country folk really had no idea how high the sky was or how deep the earth.

He Lingchuan coughed: "When you entered and exited the Endless Sea, you must have had a guide, right?"

"Naturally."

"But from September every year until February or March of the next—sometimes even April—there are simply no guides in the Panlong Desert. No one dares to go!" He Lingchuan looked at his father. "Over the past fifty years, this desert has swallowed at least four thousand lives. That is only counting those reported by the bereaved; the true number is incalculable. And when the desert truly unleashes its fury, do you know how many people return alive?"

"One!" He held up a finger. "Only one in fifty years, and he was already insane. According to the shaman’s diagnosis, he lost a soul and a spirit; he will never regain his sanity in this lifetime."

Sun Dongfu’s eyelids lifted slightly, the bearing of a State Preceptor naturally manifesting. "The Grand Marshal has already sent men to find an object. Once we find it, our passage through the Panlong Desert may become safe. Besides, I will do my utmost to ensure the safety of the team."

He Chunhua sneered inwardly. After such a long-winded detour, the truth was finally coming out, wasn't it? However, he feigned surprise on the surface: "And what object is that?"

What was the Grand Marshal looking for that caused his son to fall off a cliff?

"It is a relic left behind by Zhong Shengguang. With it, the vengeful spirits guarding the ruins are likely to allow us passage," Nian Songyu said. "The clues the Grand Marshal found all point to the Sand Leopard tribe on the Red Cliff Road. Does Lord He know that Zhong Shengguang’s spirit pet in the past was a Sand Leopard?"

"Indeed, I seem to have heard of it."

"Now its descendants and clansmen are in the Panlong Desert. We went to inquire, and a small conflict occurred," Nian Songyu said dismissively. "A few Sand Leopards left. We spent forty or fifty days searching for them one by one, and later discovered that one might have already entered Blackwater City."

He Lingchuan smiled: "Simple. Just post 'Lost Leopard' notices all over the city. It’s Blackwater City, after all; monsters walk the streets everywhere."

Sun Fuping said to He Chunhua: "That will require the help of the Prefect. Time is precious; the Battle of Woling Pass brooks no delay. In the time it takes us to speak, who knows how many more lives that battlefield has harvested. Only by finding the Great Square Pot as soon as possible can we end this unjust war."

He Chunhua thought for a moment: "If the token is found, I will dispatch the best guides to show you the way."

"Our twenty or so men are not enough; we need at least an army," Nian Songyu said with some dissatisfaction. "The Panlong Ruins are a place of supreme evil; only the national fortune can suppress it!"

That meant at least two hundred men, and the commanding general would have to wear the State Seal, otherwise, how could they mobilize the national fortune to protect their bodies?

He Chunhua looked troubled. For a task that was clearly a death sentence, how broad-minded would a general have to be to accept it?

Seeing this, Sun Fuping immediately said: "There is something I perhaps shouldn't say, but back then, when Lord He was able to walk away unscathed from the 'Worshiping the Gods' case, and was demoted to Qiansong Prefecture, the journey was well-provisioned and people were looking out for you. Even your subsequent extraordinary promotions were not without the Grand Marshal’s lobbying on several occasions."

Criminals exiled to the frontier had to have their faces tattooed with ink and labor in barren lands for over ten years. Although He Chunhua was not that unlucky, the distance from the capital to Blackwater City was more than a thousand miles. He was only an eleven-year-old child at the time, and his entire family had perished. If no one had looked after him, provided him with travel expenses, and given enough bribes to the escorting officials, the hardships of that journey could have easily claimed He Chunhua’s life.

The number of wronged souls on the road of exile was countless; one more or one less made no difference.

Not to mention his later merits and promotions—while it was true that He Chunhua had earned them through his own efforts, it was difficult to catch the Emperor's eye without someone in the court.

"Good wine doesn't fear a deep alley"? Ha, pure nonsense.

He Chunhua had guessed that someone of status had spoken for him, but he hadn't expected it to be the Grand Marshal.

Sun Fuping continued: "Retrieving the Great Square Pot and seizing Woling Pass is a monumental merit. My King has personally decreed that those who contribute to this mission will be promoted by one rank."

He Chunhua was silent for a while, then finally said: "This official will arrange the personnel immediately. State Preceptor Sun and Commandant Nian, please move to the guesthouse first. Later this evening, we will host a banquet at the Songhe Tower to welcome you."

With their goal achieved, the two stood up happily and were escorted by the He father and son to the main gate, where they departed.

￥￥￥￥￥

Watching the two figures disappear around the street corner, He Lingchuan asked his father: "Are you really going to send men to follow them to the Panlong Desert?"

He Chunhua did not speak, looking preoccupied. He still had prefectural affairs to handle, so he told his son, "Do not mention this matter to your mother," and left in a hurry.

He Lingchuan walked back into the residence. He Yue was accompanying their mother as she walked out, and he met his elder brother in the garden.

Madam Ying asked her eldest son: "What is the background of those guests?"

He Lingchuan said solemnly: "The State Preceptor and the second son of the Xun Prefecture Governor, here to discuss confidential matters with Father!"

"State Preceptor?" Madam Ying was startled. "Which State Preceptor?"

"It should be 'who' is the State Preceptor," He Lingchuan corrected her. "It is State Preceptor Sun Fuping, who traveled thousands of miles from the capital."

That was a top-tier big shot, someone even princes and marquises would treat as an honored guest. Madam Ying was very surprised but did not probe further, only asking He Lingchuan, "Is it a good thing or a bad thing?"

Since it was "confidential," it was not appropriate for a woman like her to ask casually. He Chunhua usually handled prefectural affairs, and Madam Ying never interfered.

"Half and half," He Lingchuan said seriously. "It just depends on how Father handles it."

Madam Ying’s eyes rolled: "Why did he ask you to go along?"

Since it concerned confidential matters, her husband should have called his more steady younger son instead.

"I am involved in it as well," He Lingchuan’s face darkened slightly. "Mother, what do you mean by that? Should Father not call me when he has matters to attend to?"

He felt annoyed again.

"You are involved too?" Madam Ying looked him up and down. "Don't tell me you’ve stirred up trouble again?"

"Is that how you see me?" He Lingchuan also stiffened his face. "Only capable of causing trouble?"

But this time, it seemed Madam Ying had hit the mark.

Ying Hongchan’s tone softened, and she exhorted him earnestly: "Lingchuan, you are grown up now. You need to be more sensible and steady so you can help your father share his burdens."

She glanced toward the main gate: "I am going outside to distribute food. You two brothers have a chat."

She left, supported by a maid, but He Yue remained.

"Big Brother, shall we have some tea?"

He Lingchuan understood and walked with him to the side hall.

Before they had taken two steps, He Yue said to him: "Mother is straightforward and meant no harm. Don't take it to heart."

"Your mother is my mother too; do you need to comfort me?" He Lingchuan glanced at him sideways. "She finds me annoying as hell and treasures you like a jewel; it’s been like that since we were kids. Hey, you don't need to explain—explanations are just excuses!"