Since this errand was so vital, He Lingchuan—as the one to undertake it—became equally vital.
Yet he still pointed toward Fang Canran. "Why not assign it to Brother Songyuan?"
Fang Canran replied at once, "Martial Uncle Wang didn't give it to me most likely because he deemed me unsuitable."
Wang Xingyi gave an assenting grunt. "Songyuan has a resilient nature and can bear heavy burdens and humiliation, but this mission requires exceptional cultivation and sharp adaptability. Sending Songyuan would only put him in danger."
Before arriving in Yangshan, Wang Xingyi had already felt intrigued when Fang Canran mentioned He Lingchuan's track record, which was why he had come in person to observe him.
Seeing how He Lingchuan handled the hurricane, the Emperor's Flowing Dew, the sudden revolt of the Bailong people, and Beijia's provocation with poise and ease, he indeed matched the organization's needs. Only then did Wang Xingyi make the offer.
He had not expected the young man to beat around the bush and make excuses.
Wang Xingyi saw through it at a glance: it wasn't that He Lingchuan refused to do it; he simply wanted to negotiate terms.
He wasn't a member of Lingshan. If Lingshan wanted to commission him and send him into danger, they had to pay a price.
Wang Xingyi took no offense. Talented men were often proud of their abilities—as the saying went, capable people were useful but hard to manage, while servile flatterers were easy to manage but useless.
"The mission is difficult, and I cannot expect you to take risks for nothing. For that reason, I discussed it with Songyuan," Wang Xingyi said. "First, you are just starting out as island master and need support. If you accomplish this mission, the Mou Kingdom can purchase all output from the Yangshan Archipelago over the next seven years at ten percent below market price."
He Lingchuan looked visibly moved, sorely tempted to give a thumbs-up and praise him as a generous patron.
This was effectively guaranteeing an economic safety net for the Yangshan Archipelago. If he agreed, the archipelago's revenue over the next seven years would remain exceptionally stable.
The greatest risk in business was uncertainty. Wang Xingyi providing such bright prospects would fuel Yangshan Archipelago's economic growth and fatten He Lingchuan's own pockets.
Yet he merely grunted in acknowledgment and nodded.
The offer was decent, but not enough to sway him completely.
Wang Xingyi continued, "Second, once this matter is accomplished, I originally intended to recommend you as the Land Commissioner of the Mou Kingdom's Eastern Three Prefectures. You would oversee the surveying, verification, and measurement of mountain forests, arable land, and urban areas—a post of immense authority."
In this era, land was a nation's most vital means of production. Wielding power over land was a privilege envied by all.
Fang Canran added from the side, "Several successive Ministers of Agriculture in the Mou Kingdom served as Land Commissioners in their earlier years."
Wang Xingyi said leisurely, "However, since you have no desire to serve as an official, we shall disregard this one."
He Lingchuan gave a wry smile. If it was disregarded, why bring it up at all? National Preceptor Wang was deliberately dangling wealth and status to bait him.
"Furthermore, I will personally give you several magic artifacts—right now." The first two conditions could only be fulfilled after He Lingchuan completed the mission and returned alive, much like empty promises on paper. Only this final condition offered something tangible and immediate.
Lingshan had laid out its terms and now waited for He Lingchuan's reply.
Truth be told, negotiating like this was hardly fair. He Lingchuan had no idea how much risk he would actually be taking.
Returns matching the risk had always been his guiding principle.
Yet an individual negotiating with a behemoth like Lingshan was inherently at a disadvantage.
No matter. What he sought was not short-term gain.
After pondering for a long while, He Lingchuan said, "Regarding the first term, I want the right of choice when selling the Yangshan Archipelago's produce to the Mou Kingdom."
Meaning he could sell if he wished, and withhold if he chose not to?
Wang Xingyi chuckled. "When the Mou Kingdom purchases bulk commodities like grain and oil, it generally places orders half a year or a year in advance. You cannot renege at the last minute."
"If the Mou Kingdom has needs, negotiating several months or half a year in advance is no problem at all," He Lingchuan replied, having always held a strong sense of contractual duty. "The Mou Kingdom is currently at war with Beijia, which is bound to affect its finances to some degree. If you take on all of Yangshan's goods wholesale, buying items you don't actually need would be a waste of money."
He said earnestly, "It is best for each of us to take what we need. Therefore, Yangshan asks only for priority in sales. Provided the quality is equal, it will suffice if the Mou Kingdom agrees to give priority to purchasing Yangshan's goods."
Inside his robes, the soul-snatching mirror cried out, "Hey, hey! Someone is offering to guarantee a financial floor for the Yangshan Archipelago, so what's wrong with that? Why on earth did you refuse?!"
No matter what they produced, someone would buy it, and whatever quantity they made, it would all be sold—what could feel better than that?
He Lingchuan smiled without answering.
Seven years was a long time. Who could predict what the world would look like seven years from now?
At present, the war between Beijia and the Mou Kingdom was merely a series of minor skirmishes. Neither great power had exerted full strength, roughly equivalent to fighting with only one fist.
Yet who knew when the war might expand or escalate? When that time came, could the Mou Kingdom's treasury remain so relaxed?
If the Mou Kingdom fought until its coffers ran dry but was still obligated to purchase all of Yangshan's output, what would it do?
It would have no choice but to exploit loopholes in the agreement, buying as little as possible or backing out entirely.
Talking money always strained goodwill, and once cordial ties were broken, things would turn ugly for both sides. Judging from the intelligence He Lingchuan had continuously gathered, the Mou Kingdom had an even shorter temper than Beijia. Who knew if it might suddenly turn on Yangshan?
Thus, it was better to settle for second best right from the start and maintain an amicable, mutually beneficial relationship of consultation.
Buy when possible, and let it be when not—that way, the Mou Kingdom would face no pressure either.
Naturally, He Lingchuan wasn't doing this out of consideration for the Mou Kingdom. The Yangshan Archipelago intended to do business with the entire world and would not tether its fortunes to the Mou Kingdom's warship alone; otherwise, they would rise and fall together.
If one's economic lifeline depended entirely on another nation, one would forever have to live at their mercy.
In the end, one's own bones had to grow their own flesh.
Wang Xingyi thought it over and said with approval, "You have ambition, young man."
Such terms were also favorable to the Mou Kingdom, making him far more confident when lobbying the imperial court.
"As for the second item..." He Lingchuan smiled. "I do not wish to be an official, but I do face a small trouble at present."
He Lingchuan had long made up his mind never to enter the Mou Kingdom as an official, or he would fall entirely under Lingshan's control.
Keeping his distance while remaining friendly was the most comfortable stance for him.
Wang Xingyi gave a nod. "Speak."
Since He Lingchuan was undertaking a task for Lingshan this time, Lingshan naturally had to foot the bill... or step in on his behalf.
"I have only just arrived in Yangshan, my footing is unsteady, and the neighboring powers all harbor ill intent," He Lingchuan said solemnly. "If I leave to handle an errand for Lingshan, there is no guarantee that outsiders will not take advantage of Yangshan."
This... Wang Xingyi and Fang Canran exchanged glances. If He Lingchuan went away on a mission for Lingshan only to have his home base raided, it would be unacceptable in both reason and sentiment.
"You have disputes with both Bailie and the Qing Kingdom?"
He Lingchuan glanced at Fang Canran, who promptly said, "After selling the Yangshan Archipelago to Brother He, the Lu family of Bailie regretted it and have constantly sought underhanded means to take it back."
He Lingchuan picked up from there: "The rioting Bailong people were funded by Bailie. Ships, silver, weapons—all had Bailie's backing. Even the Beijia squad hunting the spider demon was brokered by Bailie to collude with the Bailong."
Hearing this, Wang Xingyi furrowed his brows slightly.
So tonight's chaos also owed something to Bailie?
Before either of them could speak, He Lingchuan added earnestly, "As a newcomer, I naturally wished to foster good relations with all sides, but their malice toward me runs too deep! They dared to make a move while I was still on the island. If I leave Yangshan to attend to business elsewhere..."
"I wondered what major dilemma it was; this is a trivial matter, a mere flick of the hand," Wang Xingyi said, caught between amusement and exasperation. "I can wipe away this enmity on your behalf, but you must not actively provoke conflicts or disputes."
This young man saw large affairs with clarity, yet grew short-sighted when it came to minor matters concerning himself.
He Lingchuan nodded. "Precisely. All I desire is this modest plot of land, enough to secure a footing and make a living."
Wang Xingyi studied him intently for a couple of breaths, then suddenly said, "How about this: I will write personal letters to both Blade Harbor and the Lu family so that you and your commerce can pass unhindered in both places. How does that sound?"
He Lingchuan was overjoyed. "If the National Preceptor intervenes personally, nothing could be better!"
Wang Xingyi nodded with a smile, then steered the conversation in a firmer direction: "However, you must also keep neighborly goodwill in mind. Trade frequently with your neighbors and share what each possesses—never treat them as a dumping ground for trouble! As for Bailie, it shares ties with both the Mou Kingdom and Lingshan. I do not wish to see you clash with them in arms."
He Lingchuan felt a jolt of vigilance in his heart.
Had National Preceptor Wang seen through his designs on Bailie?
Why else would he issue a deliberate warning?
Outwardly, however, he maintained a deferential posture. "I shall bear it firmly in mind!"
With the first two conditions settled, they moved to the main subject.
Fang Canran rose and took his leave, making sure to close the door behind him.
Even though he possessed Wang Xingyi's deep trust, this matter required complete discretion.
"He Xiao, after the ancient Immortal-Demon War, the immortals founded 'Lingshan' to oversee the order of the world and hunt down the remnants of the Heavenly Fiends," Wang Xingyi said with a solemn expression. "Lingshan's founders included high immortals as well as ordinary immortals. Yet in subsequent eras, spiritual energy gradually waned until it was no longer suitable for immortals to survive. Some of Lingshan's immortals faded away helplessly with time, but another portion—"
He Lingchuan pricked up his ears, knowing the crucial point had arrived.
"—retreated into secret realm pocket worlds, the so-called 'grotto-heavens and blessed lands', far away from this mortal domain of depleted spiritual energy."
"Does spiritual energy still exist within those grotto-heavens and blessed lands?"
"Some pocket worlds produce a small amount of spiritual energy on their own, but they can sustain very few living beings. In other grotto-heavens, time flows at a different pace from this realm, so spiritual energy drains far more slowly."
"Logically, these grotto-heavens should have helped the immortals endure the dormant era until the next eruption of the spiritual tide," Wang Xingyi said in a heavy voice. "Yet Lingshan did not know at the time that the Heavenly Fiends had been secretly siphoning the human realm's nightmare energy through the Tianluo Star. The spiritual tide for which the immortals waited so bitterly never arrived. In some grotto-heavens where immortals harbored themselves, the spiritual energy dried up completely. They fell into an unending slumber, remaining so until they passed into death."
He Lingchuan felt a chill run through him, instantly recalling the cave manor at the bottom of Xianling Lake.
That place had originally been a pocket world as well. Yet once its spiritual energy ran dry, Master Dongli, who had sought refuge within, also passed away while meditating, never able to see his revered master one last time in his lifetime.
Those immortals had been truly unfortunate, trapped to death within their own 'grotto-heavens and blessed lands' without any chance of leaving alive.
How was that any different from a life sentence?
Chapter 1016