Chapter 62: We Were All Deceived

He Lingchuan sneered, "Grand Preceptor Sun previously ordered us to return to the South Gate immediately after finishing our task, giving us both stern warnings and threats, and even setting a two-hour deadline. Don't you feel honored by such 'attentiveness'? They treat you like expendable labor; when have they ever been this thoughtful?"

Maotao instantly recalled Grand Preceptor Sun's two earnest "Remember this" admonitions.

"But what if..."

"What if what?" Sudden concern often masks ulterior motives. "If something goes wrong, how is being here any different from being at the South Gate? If we truly need their help, we can always rush over then."

He added earnestly, "Do you honestly think they care whether we live or die? If not, why should we care about their instructions?"

Maotao considered this, then nodded. "You're right. I'll follow your lead!"

***

He Yue was writing furiously in the government office.

The weather in Qiansong County was far better than in the Panlong Desert, but late August was still oppressively hot. Everyone in Blackwater City longed for a thunderstorm to bring relief.

The day was particularly stifling. He wiped sweat from his brow while reviewing official documents.

Noticing this, a clerk behind him brought over a large palm-leaf fan. "Second Young Master, let me help."

He had barely fanned twice when urgent news arrived from outside:

"The Panlong Desert is acting up; the sandstorm season has started early."

*Plop.* The pen slipped from He Yue's grasp, landing on the desk and staining several documents.

The sandstorm season had begun, but his father and elder brother were still not back.

This was truly terrible news.

The clerk called his name softly several times before He Yue finally came to his senses. "Increase security patrols," he said hoarsely. "The city won't be peaceful for the next few days."

Every premature onset of the sandstorm season led to loss of life and property. Disputes between affected individuals, aggrieved families, and merchant caravans always surged.

In previous years, He Chunhua often had to deal with cases of fatal brawls that erupted after the sandstorm season began.

A wave of cold dread washed over He Yue as he thought of his father.

Madam Ying was anxiously awaiting news at home every day. Should he send this terrible news back to her?

That afternoon, he remained in the office for hours, unable to process a single additional document.

It wasn't until dusk that the young man dejectedly rose, preparing to head home.

Never before had the thought of returning home filled him with such reluctance.

Just then, a courier unexpectedly arrived, presenting him with eleven crumpled, wax-sealed letters:

"The eastern route is now open. These letters had accumulated at Jiaxin Pass and are being delivered all at once."

Seeing so many letters, He Yue's heart sank. How many significant events had transpired in the east?

Qiansong County was a remote region with no direct waterway linking it east to west. Letters from the capital had to pass through Woling Pass and Jiaxin Pass to reach this area.

The mountain ranges along that route were steep and treacherous. A detour would add three months to the journey and involved extremely poor road conditions, so it was rarely attempted.

Before He Chunhua left for the Panlong Desert, he had been deeply concerned about the situation in the east. Even if only to fulfill his father's unspoken wish, He Yue felt compelled to read every letter.

He casually tore open one envelope, glanced at it, and his brows immediately furrowed. He quickly opened another.

Then the next.

"This is outrageous!" He Yue slammed his fist on the table with a resounding *bang* that startled the nearby clerks.

Second Young Master He was typically gentle and refined, much like the prefect himself. What could have caused such a sudden outburst of anger?

He Yue's eyes were red-rimmed. For the first time in his life, he felt such profound sorrow and hatred.

"Father, Eldest Brother, your deaths were in vain!" he ground out through clenched teeth. "We've all been deceived!"

The young man stood up and walked out immediately.

Now, he had two pieces of terrible news to deliver home.

***

Nian Songyu lifted the final crate of crossbow bolts onto the battlements.

Each crate weighed several hundred catties. Even with his advanced martial arts training, hauling forty crates onto the wall left his arms aching and numb, and his feet heavy.

Sun Fuping was already atop the wall, gazing down. "Is everything up?" he asked. Being older and of higher status, he naturally avoided such menial tasks.

With He Lingchuan and the other man absent, these duties fell to Nian Songyu.

"Yes, that's everything," Nian Songyu panted. "Those two good-for-nothings must have disappeared somewhere. So slow!"

After a short rest, he began coating the weapons with a special oil, also known as napalm.

Both crossbow bolts and trebuchet projectiles, once ignited, would have their destructive power greatly amplified, effectively neutralizing enemies. At present, however, the two men were more interested in their ability to set the city ablaze.

Nian Songyu casually opened a crate, paused in surprise, then exclaimed with delight, "It's nail bombs!"

Cannons had long existed, but their power was unremarkable and their firing intervals long. While adequate for targeting individuals, they could at best create a crater when used against walls. Aside from the deafening noise, they offered little advantage over a ballista.

However, these "nail bombs" were crude iron cannonballs packed with tiny iron nails. Upon impact, they would explode with flames, scattering shrapnel in all directions, causing not only physical harm but also a high risk of infection.

Nian Songyu loaded a nail bomb, then dusted off his hands. "It's been two hours, hasn't it?"

"Almost," Sun Fuping replied, sitting on a crate and looking ahead. "The northern side still hasn't caught fire."

"The north side was assigned to that sand bandit. Did he escape?" Nian Songyu walked over, cupping a hand over his eyes to shade them. "Should we start firing anyway?"

"Wait a little longer."

If the Grand Preceptor said to wait, then they would wait.

Another half hour passed in the blink of an eye.

The main street below the city walls remained deserted.

Nian Songyu gulped down some water. "What's your assessment?"

"Should we give them a reminder?"

Nian Songyu shrugged, then took a deep breath and bellowed, "He Lingchuan, return to the South Gate immediately!" He also meant the sand bandit, but couldn't recall his name.

He shouted three times, his voice echoing throughout South Panlong City.

Perhaps due to the vast emptiness of the area, his shouts echoed. If He Lingchuan was indeed on his way, he should have heard it.

After waiting for quite some time, the area below the city walls remained empty.

He then roared, "South Gate will be set ablaze! Your lives are your own responsibility!"

Once the fires were lit, not only other mishaps, but the inferno itself might well consume those two!

Another half hour passed before Sun Fuping finally stood up. "The sand bandit is with He Lingchuan," he stated. "They're on guard; they won't be coming."

The fire in the north had never been lit. If the sand bandit hadn't met with an accident, he must have gone to join He Lingchuan.

"That brat from the He family always held a grudge against me," Nian Songyu remarked. "What do we do now?"

"The houses to the east and west are burning without incident, so the crucial point for our plan is indeed the south, just as I deduced. Those two young men—no, it's the He family's boy who grew suspicious. He's not as rash as we thought." The distant flames seemed to flicker in Sun Fuping's eyes. "Do they truly believe they're safe this way? How naive! Light the fires."

His last three words were directed at Nian Songyu.

Nian Songyu hesitated slightly. "What about your original plan for the Blackwater City army?"

"They are standing within my magic array."

That single sentence dispelled Nian Songyu's doubts, and he proceeded to ignite and load the crossbows.