Chapter 17: You Need to Be More Sensible

Nian Songyu said with a hint of arrogance: "Lord He, are you aware of the Boundless Sea south of the Heavenly Dome? It's a forbidden zone for living beings, plagued by constant hurricanes, treacherous undercurrents, and monstrous sea creatures year-round. I once traveled south on royal decree and entered and exited the Boundless Sea twice, each time returning unharmed." These rural folk truly don't know their place.

He Lingchuan coughed. "When you entered and exited the Boundless Sea, you had a guide, didn't you?"

"Naturally, yes."

"But from September each year until February or March of the following year, sometimes even April, there are absolutely no guides in the Coiling Dragon Desert. No one dares to go!" He Lingchuan looked at his father. "Over the past fifty years, this desert has claimed at least four thousand lives. That's just according to the reports from victims' families; the true number is unascertainable. And when the desert truly shows its might, do you know how many people return alive?"

"One!" He held up a single finger. "Only one in fifty years, and that person went mad. According to the shaman's diagnosis, he lost a part of his soul and spirit and will never recover his sanity in this lifetime."

Sun Fudong's eyelids lifted slightly, exuding the demeanor of a Grand Tutor. "The Grand Marshal has already sent people to search for an item. Once it's found, our passage in and out of the Coiling Dragon Desert might be safe. Furthermore, I will do my utmost to protect the entire team."

He Chunhua secretly sneered. After all that beating around the bush, they've finally revealed their true intentions, haven't they? Yet, he feigned surprise. "What item is that?"

What could the Grand Marshal be looking for that caused his son to fall off the cliff?

"It's a relic left by Zhong Shengguang. With it, the vengeful spirits guarding the ruins in the Coiling Dragon Desert are likely to allow us passage," Nian Songyu continued. "All the clues the Grand Marshal found point to the Sand Leopard tribe on Red Cliff Road. Lord He, are you aware that Zhong Shengguang's spirit beast years ago was a sand leopard?"

"Indeed, I've heard as much."

"Now, its descendants and kin are all in the Coiling Dragon Desert. We went to inquire, and there was a minor skirmish." Nian Songyu said nonchalantly, "A few sand leopards left, and we spent forty or fifty days searching for each one individually. Later, we discovered one might have already entered Blackwater City."

He Lingchuan smiled. "Simple. Just post wanted notices for the leopard all over the city. After all, Blackwater City is crawling with demons."

Sun Fudong turned to He Chunhua and said, "Then we will need the Prefect's assistance. Time is precious; the Battle of Woling Pass cannot wait. As we speak, that battlefield is undoubtedly claiming more lives. Only by finding the Great Square Vessel as soon as possible can we bring an end to this unjust war."

He Chunhua thought for a moment. "If you find the item, I will dispatch my best guides to show you the way."

"Our twenty or so people alone won't be enough; we'll need at least an army." Nian Songyu was somewhat displeased. "The Coiling Dragon Ruins are a place of extreme evil; only the nation's destiny can suppress it!"

That means at least two hundred people, and the commanding general must wear a National Seal, otherwise how can they draw upon the nation's fortune for protection?

He Chunhua's face showed difficulty. What kind of general would be audacious enough to take on such an obviously suicidal mission?

Seeing this, Sun Fudong immediately said, "There's something I shouldn't say, but when Lord He escaped the Rite of Atonement incident unharmed and was demoted to Qiansong Commandery, you had ample travel funds and assistance along the way. Your subsequent two exceptional promotions were not without the Grand Marshal's repeated lobbying efforts."

Criminals exiled to the frontier would have their faces tattooed and be forced to labor in barren lands for over ten years. Although He Chunhua wasn't one of those unfortunate souls, the distance from the capital to Blackwater City was over a thousand li. He was only eleven years old then and had lost his entire family. Without someone to look after him, provide travel expenses, and bribe the escorting officials sufficiently, the hardships and perils of that journey could easily have claimed He Chunhua's life.

The wronged souls on the path of exile were countless; one more wouldn't have made a difference.

Not to mention his later achievements, promotions, and exceptional advancements. While He Chunhua certainly proved himself, it would have been difficult to gain the Emperor's attention without connections in court.

Good wine needs no bush? Ha, what utter nonsense.

He Chunhua had indeed suspected that a high-ranking individual had interceded for him, but he had never before realized it was the Grand Marshal.

Sun Fudong then added, "Obtaining the Great Square Vessel and capturing Woling Pass would be an immense service. My King has personally decreed that anyone who achieves merit on this expedition shall be promoted by one rank."

He Chunhua remained silent for a moment before finally saying, "Your subordinate will make arrangements for the personnel now. Grand Tutor Sun and Captain Nian, please relocate to the guest residence for the time being. Later, we will host a welcoming banquet for both of you at the Pine Crane Restaurant."

Having achieved their goal, the two gladly stood up and, escorted by He Chunhua and his son to the main gate, departed with swagger.

Watching the two figures disappear around the street corner, He Lingchuan asked his father, "Are you really going to send people to the Coiling Dragon Desert with them?"

He Chunhua remained silent, appearing deep in thought. He still had prefectural duties to attend to, so he instructed his son, "Do not tell your mother about this," before hurrying away.

He Lingchuan walked back into the mansion and found He Yue accompanying their mother outside. They met his elder brother in the garden.

Lady Ying asked her elder son, "Who were those guests?"

He Lingchuan replied solemnly, "The Grand Tutor and the second son of the Xunzhou Prefect. They were discussing confidential matters with Father!"

"The Grand Tutor?" Lady Ying was startled. "Which Grand Tutor?"

"It's 'which Grand Tutor,' actually," He Lingchuan corrected her. "It's Grand Tutor Sun Fudong, who traveled a great distance from the capital."

He was a top-tier figure, whom even princes and marquises would treat as a guest of honor. Lady Ying was surprised but did not press further, only asking He Lingchuan, "Is it good news or bad news?"

Since it was a "confidential matter," it wasn't appropriate for a woman like her to ask carelessly. When He Chunhua usually handled prefectural affairs, Lady Ying never interfered.

"A mixture of good and bad," He Lingchuan said seriously. "It all depends on how Father handles it."

Lady Ying's eyes darted about. "Why did he ask you to be present?"

If it concerned confidential matters, her husband should have called upon their more reliable younger son instead.

"I'm also involved," He Lingchuan said, his expression clouding slightly. "What do you mean by that, Mother? Shouldn't Father involve me in his affairs?"

He felt a bit annoyed again.

"You're also involved?" Lady Ying scrutinized him from head to toe. "Could it be that you've caused trouble again?"

"Is that how you see me?" He Lingchuan's face also hardened. "That I only cause trouble?"

However, it seemed Lady Ying had hit the mark this time.

Ying Hongchan's tone softened, and she advised earnestly, "Lingchuan, you've grown up. You need to be more sensible and steady to help your father with his worries."

She glanced towards the main gate. "I'm going to distribute food outside the gate. You two brothers can talk."

She walked away, supported by a maidservant, but He Yue remained.

"Big Brother, shall we have some tea?"

He Lingchuan understood and followed him to the side hall.

Just two steps later, He Yue said to him, "Mother is straightforward; she means no harm. Don't take it to heart."

"Your mother is my mother too; do I need you to console me?" He Lingchuan eyed him askance. "She's always been terribly annoyed with me and dotes on you like a treasure, ever since we were children. Hey, you don't need to explain; explaining is just concealing!"