Chapter 19: The Commander's Token

He Yue scrambled backward, shouting angrily, "Commander Nian, please show some respect!"

Nian Songyu was not only showing no respect, but he also intended to grab the youth by the collar.

He Yue was so terrified his face turned pale.

Fortunately, someone charged in from the side, throwing a punch toward Nian Songyu's face!

This heavy punch carried a fierce wind; if it had landed, Nian Songyu would have been sent flying at least ten feet away, bruised and battered.

However, Nian Songyu reacted quickly. He shrunk his body slightly, meeting the punch with his own fist while simultaneously kicking out at the man's chest with great force, clearly fueled by rage.

But in doing so, he let go of He Yue.

The man had actually thrown a feint; his true killing move was the short blade in his left hand, which silently lunged toward Nian Songyu's ribs.

Since Nian Songyu had detected it, the man also took two steps back, preemptively dodging the kick.

He Yue's shout arrived just then: "Stop! Stop fighting!"

The newcomer was none other than He Lingchuan.

Without waiting for Nian Songyu to speak, he tilted his head with a look of surprise. "Commander Nian, what are you doing here!"

"I thought some shameless lecher had snuck in to ruin my second brother's virtue," He Lingchuan said curiously. "Commander Nian, what are you doing standing in front of his latrine?"

"I am restless in new environments and couldn't sleep, so I was just walking around. I happened to run into the Second Young Master He and decided to have a little chat." Nian Songyu patted his sleeves. "The Great Capital is truly a place where all sorts of people mingle. Since you are heading toward the countryside, you need more people to look after you."

He gave He Yue a gentle smile. "Second Young Master He, it is rare that we hit it off so well. How about we find you for a drink tomorrow night?"

He Yue's face was deathly pale, and he remained silent.

"Sure! My second brother and I will definitely join you. We won't stop until we're drunk!" He Lingchuan eagerly took up the mantle. "It's just that my enthusiasm for drinking and playing is a bit intense, so Commander Nian, you'll have to bear with me."

Nian Songyu gave a hollow chuckle, feeling that this fellow's demeanor was somewhat sleazy and choosing not to respond.

He Lingchuan added, "By the way, have you found the person who leaked the news of my heavy injury? It must be a traitor!"

Nian Songyu's smile slowly faded. "Not yet." With that, he turned and walked away leisurely.

As soon as he disappeared, He Yue rushed to the edge of the pond to wash his hands, moving as fast as a rabbit with its tail on fire.

He Lingchuan heard him mutter a rare curse word and saw him washing his hands over and over again, as if trying to scrub his skin off. "Big brother, thank goodness you were there."

He was only fourteen years old after all; no matter how mature he acted, he still needed to rely on his elder brother for support in times like this.

"Seeing how much of a target he is, my hands are itching too," He Lingchuan comforted him. "But even if I hadn't been here, he wouldn't have actually laid a hand on you today."

"He was faking?" He Yue frowned. "I looked into Nian Songyu; it seems he really does have those kinds of interests."

For several generations, the capital of the Yan Empire had favored male beauty, which became a trend among the upper class, where it was common to see powerful elites keeping beautiful men. A youth with delicate features like He Yue was exactly the kind of prey certain people favored.

"Whether he was faking or not, I don't know," He Lingchuan chuckled. "But since he's intimidating you, for the sake of your virtue, our family has no choice but to step up our efforts. Inducement in the afternoon, intimidation at night—it's a two-pronged approach."

He gave his brother's cheek a firm pinch. "Look at this tender skin; no wonder others have ill intentions. I told you to practice martial arts with me long ago, but you refused."

He Yue slapped his hand away with a *thwack*. "They are already getting impatient. Is it because of the impending changes in the Panlong Desert?"

"Perhaps." He Lingchuan turned to walk out. "Go to sleep early. I'll go find something to eat."

"There are often snacks hidden in the low cabinets of the main kitchen."

"What is it today?"

"A tray of walnut cakes." He Yue coughed. "But only half is left."

"Wasn't it the apple honey pastries?" He Lingchuan realized. "I was wondering why I couldn't find them sometimes; it turns out you've been stealing them!"

Only when he reached a quiet, deserted spot did he forcefully shake his left fist.

"Sss, that hurts." He looked at his reddened knuckles; the skin wasn't broken, but they were slightly swollen. "That fellow Nian Songyu... he's got some strength."

His fists had been tempered with iron sand and flint for years, allowing him to easily break wood as thick as a bowl's mouth. Yet, the force from that punch against Nian Songyu had sent a shock through his finger bones that made them ache.

***

Early the next morning, the two guests were invited to the main hall, where He Chunhua personally delivered the good news.

"The entire leopard carcass has been recovered." Governor He had been busy until late last night and had only slept for an hour, yet he looked radiant and even more energetic than his two sons. "However, I believe you two only require this leopard tooth."

He opened his palm to reveal the tooth.

Nian Songyu leaned in impatiently. "Let me see!"

No one cared how the leopard carcass had been recovered; it was merely a convenient explanation that everyone understood.

However, He Chunhua sighed. "I thought it was some rival acting in the shadows. After all, Blackwater City is located on the frontier, surrounded by foreign enemies. I didn't expect there to be so much internal treachery. Please forgive us for delaying the State Preceptor's important business."

What could State Preceptor Sun say but to be magnanimous? "It is no matter. Ignorance is not a crime, and besides, Young Master He was also once seriously injured."

Thus, He Chunhua took out the leopard tooth and poured its contents onto a brocade plate. "It is all here. State Preceptor, please look—which one is the token?"

The crowd gathered to watch, while Sun Fuping requested a cup of water and dropped a single grass seed into it.

After only a few ripples, the seed began to take root and sprout, growing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

In just over ten breaths, it had grown into a flowering plant, bearing only a single fuzzy white flower with six petals, about the size of a fingernail.

Sun Fuping picked up the items from the brocade plate, bringing them one by one close to the small flower.

The flower remained still until—

Until He Lingchuan brought the broken half of the comb close. The white flower suddenly withered, its stem and leaves shriveling away until it turned into powder and drifted away in the water.

"That should be it." Just as Sun Fuping was about to reach out, He Chunhua preempted him by taking the comb and examining it closely. "Even after over a hundred years, the attached resentment is still this intense."

Nian Songyu asked in surprise, "The token of the grand Commander of Panlong City was actually a comb?"

He Lingchuan shrugged. "He once had a wife and daughter."

He Yue followed up with a question. "There is one thing I don't understand. Back then, when the Xianyou Kingdom finally managed to break through Panlong City, why didn't they seize the Grand Square Pot? They suffered quite a bit; they should have known its value."

"According to the historical records of the Xianyou Kingdom, after the army breached Panlong City, they massacred the city. On the third day, the rivers and wells ran dry, and even the water in the moat vanished overnight. On the fifth day, the vegetation turned black and rotted; the crops and grass all died. On the seventh day, all the livestock collapsed and died. Seeing this great omen of misfortune, the Xianyou army had no choice but to retreat immediately; moreover, without water or food, humans could not endure. Furthermore, this unit was immediately redeployed to fight in the north, and they never utilized the Grand Square Pot." State Preceptor Sun took a sip of tea. "Not only that, but I have scoured the Xianyou historical texts and found no mention of any battle where the Heart-Confusing Insect was used. With such a supreme treasure, once the Xianyou Kingdom obtained it, there is no reason they wouldn't have deployed it on the battlefield."