Chapter 17: Ignorant of the Height of the Heavens and the Depth of the Earth

“The scout you sent out was killed on the spot?” He thought for a moment. “That hawk demon has followed Ah Hao for many years; it always perches on his shoulder. I even fed it with my own hands.”

“It was tortured to death.” Hearing his father refer to the hawk demon as a “scout,” He Lingchuan felt a surge of reassurance; that meant it wouldn't be treated as a mere minor monster. “Nian Songyu and Grand Preceptor Sun must have learned from its mouth that I was the one who sent it.”

He could not fight this battle alone; he had to remember that his old man was his solid backbone.

If his father, an official with power, couldn't pull through, then he would be even more hopeless.

However, He Chunhua said indifferently, “It’s just a hawk. If it’s dead, it’s dead. What’s the big deal?” He picked up his brush and continued writing.

He Lingchuan froze. “Father!”

He hadn't expected this reaction from He Chunhua and hurriedly tried to persuade him

“They clearly have business with the He residence, they clearly know that Xiao Hui was sent by me, and they clearly know this was just a small misunderstanding, yet they still crushed it to death!”

He lightly struck the table, causing the Four Treasures of the Study to jump in unison. “Father, these two simply have no respect for our family. They think they can mold us into whatever shape they want, flatten us at will, and force us to bow and work for them without being allowed to utter a word of protest!”

“Sun Fuping is a Grand Preceptor enjoying the Emperor's grace, while I am merely a Prefect of a frontier land; the difference is as vast as heaven and earth. Ordinarily, he would treat me however he pleased—molding me or crushing me—and then kill me with a flick of his pinky. Otherwise, how could there be a strict social hierarchy?” He Chunhua laughed instead of getting angry. “You have been too comfortable in Blackwater City for too long. You don't understand the hierarchy of status or the scale of the world!”

His tone turned grim toward the end.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't indignant; the other party looked down on them from the bottom of their hearts.

*We killed your scout, and you still have to work for us and die for us!*

Yes, that was exactly the sense of superiority they held.

But a higher official can crush a lower one, and Grand Preceptor Sun had come here on imperial orders. What could he, Prefect He, do?

He Lingchuan was unconvinced. “But Uncle Hao...”

“Those in a subordinate position must accept their fate!” He Chunhua frowned. “Is he being unreasonable?” He was already decades old.

He Lingchuan decisively switched topics. “As you said, that was under normal circumstances!”

“Stop complaining, stop being clever, and start thinking of solutions.” He Chunhua dropped his brush, stood up, and gave his eldest son a sharp flick on the forehead. “However, we cannot remain purely passive. This is, after all, the He family's territory. Tell me, how do you intend to make some noise?”

“It would be better to let the second brother come up with ideas; he has plenty of tricks. But in my view—” He Lingchuan sneered, “Even if we eventually have to do their bidding, we might as well use stalling tactics first to dampen their arrogance. Aside from ourselves, who knows the exact whereabouts of the Sand Leopard's relics? Furthermore, they killed our person... well, our demon. Shouldn't there be a price to pay?”

“A price?” He Chunhua pulled a smile onto his face, feeling as though those two words had struck a chord in his heart. “Makes sense.”

His eldest son had grown up; he felt a small sense of gratification.

“By the way, those two guards from Donglai Prefecture?” He Lingchuan knew that He Chunhua had originally intended to let them go.

“Leave them be.” He Chunhua was equally nonchalant. “We'll deal with them in a few days. They don't care about them anyway.”

Nian and Sun cared about the whereabouts of the token, and Donglai Prefecture cared about the Grand Square Pot; the guards themselves were inconsequential.

***

At that day's banquet, both sides chatted merrily, and both hosts and guests were satisfied.

Buoyed by the wine, He Chunhua practically beat his chest to guarantee that he would find the pass to the Dragon-Coiled Desert.

Then, ten hours passed.

Nian Songyu naturally felt that time was passing like years, so he pressed once. While admitting he had found nothing, He Chunhua once again promised to do his utmost.

Only then did he actually dispatch personnel to Blackwater City, putting on a show by posting notices and searching the entire city.

His attitude was excellent, but his efficiency was abysmal.

Of course, searching this way would certainly yield no results.

The He family's advantage was time; they were in no rush.

The dignified Grand Preceptor finally grew restless and visited together with Nian Songyu. Unfortunately, Prefect He was out, so the second son, He Yue, had to receive the guests.

Both men's eyes lit up when they saw He Yue, and they did not hold back their compliments. In particular, after Nian Songyu chatted with He Yue for a few moments, it seemed as if they had met too late in life; he even let slip words like, "We are of similar age; we should communicate more in the future."

He Lingchuan took a sullen sip of tea. Speaking of age, wasn't he closer to Nian Songyu? How could that guy be so thick-skinned? His second brother had a good face and had always been more likable than him, but wasn't the performance of these two a bit exaggerated?

He Yue was following his father's instructions to play the official part: "The entire Blackwater City has been mobilized, but with the Red Cliff trade route nearing its closing date, the influx of travelers in and out of the city has increased significantly. The mixture of all sorts of people has added much difficulty to our search mission."

Fearing his brother would be taken advantage of, He Lingchuan sat beside him to accompany him. He saw that while the boy appeared exceptionally sincere on the surface, he was actually quite impenetrable—looking very much like his father, He Chunhua.

Nian Songyu grew impatient and lost the desire to be polite. "Then close the city gates and search! This matter concerns the fate of the nation; what does it matter if the city is closed for a few days?"

"That won't do," He Yue said with a bitter smile. "The Baling Kingdom delegation will arrive in Blackwater City in a couple of days and then head west from here. This is their last chance to return to their country this year. If there is a delay, it might cause a major misunderstanding between the two nations!"

He paused. "Baling has always been eyeing the Great Yuan hungrily, and there have been many skirmishes at the border. They are just looking for an excuse."

Nian Songyu laughed in anger. "So, you're saying Blackwater City cannot be closed, because closing it would trigger border warfare?"

"It is highly likely!" He Yue said decisively. "Qiansong County cannot afford it!"

Sun Fuping, unable to stand watching them bicker and waste time, simply pushed aside the window screen to speak plainly. "I heard the eldest Young Master He was injured and has been convalescing behind closed doors for forty or fifty days?"

"Yes, it nearly cost me my life." He Lingchuan, who had been sipping tea on the side for a long time, finally had the topic turn to him. He pulled open his collar, revealing the wound on his neck. "Look."

Back then, the Sand Leopard had bitten his neck with all its might. Although the wound had healed, it had left a hideous, jagged scar, testifying to the danger of that day.

Nian Songyu stared at the scar. "How did you get this wound?"

"This was when I went to Gourd Mountain..." He Lingchuan stopped mid-sentence, looking startled. "Eh? Where did Commandant Nian hear that I was seriously injured? Very few people know about this."

Nian Songyu replied without thinking, "My subordinates found out. Just as you said, Blackwater City is full of gossips; information cannot be hidden."

"Those bastards dare to spread rumors about me?" He Lingchuan slammed his cup down indignantly. "Who specifically was it? Tell me, Commandant Nian, and I will certainly not let them off!"

Nian Songyu fell silent, his gaze becoming increasingly sharp.

That feeling of being pricked by needles returned, and He Lingchuan glared back, refusing to back down.

Who had bigger eyes? He never chickened out.