Chapter 84: Eating Tofu

The blacksmith quickly responded, clearly apprehensive about damaging the artifact: “No, no, this magical artifact has developed its own consciousness and possesses a self-preservation instinct. Besides, it has been tempered countless times, making it inherently resistant to high temperatures. I’m afraid my forge simply can’t reach the heat needed.”

Would a treasure with such sentience allow itself to be melted?

“Then who can do it?”

“No one in Blackwater City can do it, and it would be difficult even in Jinzhou,” the blacksmith said after a slight hesitation. “It would be best to go to a major city in the east or the national capital. I’ve heard the Spirit Artifact Sect has outposts there. They might have the secret techniques or specialized furnaces capable of removing the tungsten-gold from the staff head.”

Simply put, only a magical artifact can subdue another. His forge only had ordinary furnaces; the staff would merely get a “sauna” inside. Only sects specializing in forging magical artifacts would possess the necessary specialized equipment.

He Lingchuan knew it was useless to press the blacksmith further. He tossed him a small silver ingot, stood up, and left.

Zeng Feixiong quickly followed him. “Let me treat you to a drink, Young Master,” he offered.

On the third day after returning from the desert, Zeng Feixiong received a generous reward. Governor He also kept his word, dispatching dedicated personnel to provide round-the-clock care for Old Man Zeng.

The pressure on Zeng Feixiong instantly decreased. He felt the sky was bluer, his breathing easier, and his wallet fuller.

He Lingchuan was instrumental in his survival. Moreover, the desert journey significantly changed Zeng Feixiong’s perception of Young Master He.

He Lingchuan, however, shook his head. “Another time,” he said.

The initial joy of surviving the ordeal had passed. Back to the routine of leisure and pleasure, he suddenly found himself feeling apathetic.

He decided to just go home and sleep.

After taking a couple of steps, his mind stirred. He suddenly turned around and said, “Let’s make it tonight. I’ll have Liu Baobao treat us.”

Upon returning to the manor, He Lingchuan didn’t immediately lie down to sleep. Instead, he first went to the small practice field to practice his saber techniques.

This trip to the Coiling Dragon Desert made him truly feel the gap between himself and Nian Songyu. After falling into the illusion and losing the support of his father and the Blackwater City army, his primary thought when facing Nian Songyu’s malice was always how to save his own life; he couldn’t even afford to be angry.

He only realized afterward that Nian Songyu’s true nature was even more malicious. In the Coiling Dragon illusion, he had only subjected him and Maotao to verbal taunts because he and Sun Fuping had already planned to sacrifice them later and thus couldn’t be bothered to argue with people destined to die.

The family’s inherited Pulling Technique only provided He Lingchuan with a foundation. While self-motivating, he also needed more advanced and profound techniques.

For the first two months after arriving in this world, he just wanted to lay low and enjoy a life of wealth. However, the appearance of Sun Fuping and others taught him that in this world, trouble likes to find you.

In the past two days, he had also sought out He Chunhua, hoping his father could find him more powerful and suitable cultivation methods. He Chunhua readily agreed.

Saber light flashed as an hour passed in the blink of an eye.

The intensity that once made him sweat profusely only left his back slightly damp this time. Perhaps the experience between life and death had increased his physical strength and resilience.

Finally, He Lingchuan stopped. He wiped his face, which had become rough from the desert sun, and decided to go to the back kitchen for something to eat.

He seemed to be getting hungry faster than before.

He Manor was very quiet today. He Chunhua was at the official residence, and Ying Hongchan was out, so He Lingchuan didn’t have to deal with anyone.

He Lingchuan, knowing his way around, found the cabinet where the cook kept food. He opened it and was pleasantly surprised. Besides a small mountain of red date cakes, the cold cabinet also held tender white osmanthus almond tofu, which quivered delicately at the touch of a spoon.

The preparation and preservation of this almond tofu required stored summer ice. September in Blackwater City had just entered the rainy season, and the weather was muggy and hot. At such a time, a few spoonfuls of cool, sweet almond tofu could dispel all the heat from one’s forehead.

He Lingchuan took a large bowl and poured out almost half a pot directly.

He had just eaten a few pieces when someone nearby hastily said, “Hey, save some for me!”

He turned his head and saw He Yue.

“Why are you back?” he asked, knowing the little bookworm wasn’t supposed to be home today.

“I came home to get some ledgers,” He Yue replied, ladling some dessert for himself with refined movements, though his bowl was as large as He Lingchuan’s. “I wanted something to cool down.”

Watching his elder brother devour his food, He Yue hesitated, on the verge of speaking.

He Lingchuan, always observant when sneaking food, said, “Go on, don’t hold back what you want to say.”

“Father and I have been incredibly busy lately, barely touching the ground,” He Yue began. “One hundred and five people died during the Coiling Dragon expedition, and thirty-seven were injured. The compensations, rewards, and promotions are a huge expense; we only finalized all the entries today.”

“Oh,” He Lingchuan replied. What did any of that have to do with him? Young Master He had always been carefree and irresponsible.

He Yue hesitated.

“What else?” He Lingchuan prompted, noticing the deep furrow in the boy’s brow. “You look like you’re constipated. Eat more almond tofu; it’s a laxative!”

He Yue subconsciously moved his bowl away.

“Most of these tasks were given to me because Father has been busy meeting with numerous merchant guilds and diplomatic envoys these past few days. He’s been to the taverns four times already.”

“I know. He even asked me to arrange a meeting for him with the Liu family merchant guild, Liu Baobao’s family,” He Lingchuan said, not thinking much of it. “What’s the problem? Isn’t that his job?”

He Chunhua was always very busy when the Sandstorm Season began and ended, as there was a great deal of trade activity in Blackwater City at that time.

This year’s Sandstorm Season had just begun, and merchant caravans and diplomatic envoys who caught the last “Red Cliff Road” transport entering Dayuan all had to clear customs here first before dispersing into the eastern and central regions. The workload for He Chunhua’s entire team was immense.

“All other major and minor meetings were handed over to the officials in the government office,” He Yue continued. “Do you know what was special about the guests Father has been meeting these past few days?”

He Lingchuan shook his head.

“They’re all heading to the capital,” He Yue said with a grave expression. “The earliest group left three days ago. The road east to Woling Pass is now open, and if they take a boat from there and travel by water, it’s downstream, so they’ll reach the Great Capital in just a few days!”

“So?”

“My office is not far from the meeting hall,” He Yue explained, “and I often hear laughter and cheerful voices from within.”

“What’s wrong with that?” He Lingchuan asked, finding nothing unusual about this.

“Big Brother,” He Yue said, “Father is usually quite authoritative when meeting with merchants. This isn’t his usual style.”

“What are you trying to say?” He Lingchuan asked, searching for water as the red date cakes were a bit dry. “Stop beating around the bush like a woman.”

“Let’s just keep this between us. Don’t spread it,” He Yue said after another moment of hesitation. “I suspect Father wants them to go to the capital to build momentum and spread the rumors first.”

“What rumors?”

“The news that we defeated Sun Fuping and Nian Songyu,” He Yue said with a slight smile. “Haven’t you all been boasting about it in Blackwater City these past few days?”

He Lingchuan retorted, “Isn’t it the truth? How can it be called a rumor, or boasting?”

“If Father hasn’t yet submitted his report,” He Yue explained, “and this news spreads first, then it’s called a rumor.”

He Lingchuan was startled. “Father hasn’t submitted his report yet? How is that possible?”