The dispatch rider did not rein in his mount, merely raising his wrist to make a hand signal.
Time was precious; he could not stop.
Seeing the signal match, the kestrel banked twice in midair to shed speed, then swooped down beside his ear, flying parallel to the galloping bo beast.
However fast the bo beast ran, keeping pace was merely a matter of a few flaps of its wings.
"What's the situation in Yuheng City?" He Lingchuan's voice came from beneath the black wind-mask.
Tonight he had dispatched a massive force to wipe out the puppet troops and reclaim Longchuan; he could not afford to return empty-handed.
Yet tonight's main battlefield likely was not in Longchuan at all, so they had no choice but to divide their efforts.
He had left fifteen hundred troops to Hu Min and Door Plank. Combined with the Yuheng Army units that had been deployed around Longchuan over the past two days, as well as the garrison stationed inside Longchuan, their strength for assaulting the Xiji puppet troops' water stockade was sufficient.
As for He Lingchuan himself, he was riding solo back to Yuheng City!
Before setting out, he had instructed the kestrel to report immediately upon spotting anything unusual in the city.
Now, the moment the kestrel appeared, his heart sank.
Sure enough, the bird spoke of an anomaly right away: "Zhao Linyang's house caught fire less than an hour after you—Your Excellency—left, and water couldn't put it out. Many spellcasters rushed over to help, and it took the better part of an hour altogether."
"City Defender Zhao's house caught fire?" He Lingchuan's expression darkened, and he spurred his mount harder.
The kestrel flapped its wings and asked him, "Did the enemy do this?"
"Of course," He Lingchuan replied without hesitation. "The arson was just a feint. Fu Shanlie wanted to test whether I was actually in the city!"
If Zhao Linyang's residence was on fire, as long as He Lingchuan was still in the city, someone would immediately send him word, even if he did not go to inspect the scene or offer condolences.
Thinking of this, he tossed a Hundred Virtues Pill to the kestrel. "Return to Yuheng City at once and deliver word to City Defender Zhao and Chao Qian: Fu Shanlie is about to launch a night raid!"
The Hundred Virtues Pill was an elixir made from Emperor's Flowing Dew. Not only did it greatly replenish true energy and physical stamina, but its effects were mild and long-lasting.
The kestrel paused, stunned. It hadn't even caught its breath, yet it was being ordered to race back for dear life.
Yet what choice did it have? Who told it to have a superior who loved tormenting birds?
Just as it was about to accelerate, He Lingchuan added, "Also, tell Willow that the operation has begun. The new toy she bought a few days ago can now be put to use."
What toy?
"I'll promote you to Sky-Patrolling Commandant—hurry, go, go!" He Lingchuan urged. "Whether Yuheng City stands safe or falls in peril depends on how fast you can fly!"
He patted the kestrel's head, and a faint red glow radiated from the bird's streamlined body.
"Ahhh!" The kestrel squawked like a crow under his prodding. "Got it, got it, I'm going right now!"
Like an arrow loosed from a bowstring, it pierced the night sky in an instant.
A falcon's flight was inherently astonishingly swift, and bolstered by the origin power He Lingchuan had specially infused into it, the kestrel gained another ten percent in speed, carving a streak of light through the darkness.
In the battle of attack and defense to follow, victory or defeat would come down to who was faster.
Watching its silhouette dwindle to a tiny speck in the night sky, He Lingchuan let out a sigh.
Sure enough, tonight he and Fu Shanlie were both trying to raid each other's home base.
The difference was that he was attacking out in the open, while Fu Shanlie was mounting a silent stealth raid.
It remained to be seen whose hands the prize would fall into.
To say he wasn't anxious would be a lie.
Though he had prepared a counter-scheme to turn the enemy's plot to his own advantage, He Lingchuan still harbored concerns.
Having clashed with Fu Shanlie for nearly a year, he knew well that the man was suspicious by nature; unless he confirmed with his own eyes that He Lingchuan was present at Longchuan, he would not believe his ploy to lure the snake from its hole had succeeded.
After drinking and talking with He Lingchuan before the battle lines tonight, Fu Shanlie would immediately proceed to the next step of his plan.
Even if He Lingchuan had anticipated this step, he still had to rush back to Yuheng City from Longchuan; the distance between them could not be skipped.
At moments like this, he sorely missed Dong Rui's snail-toad. With the power of the divine artifact "Mud Palace," that behemoth possessed incredible mobility through damp earth, traveling even faster than a horse.
Thus, during his return journey, Yuheng City was left without its supreme commander.
This was a window of vulnerability.
Naturally, Yuheng City possessed sturdy walls and potent artillery, unified troops, thorough contingencies, and had held repeated drills. Even in his absence, short-term defense ought not to be an issue.
Yet for Fu Shanlie to dare organize such a night raid, he must possess some trump cards.
At most, He Lingchuan could anticipate Fu Shanlie's moves, but he could not gauge the cards up his sleeve.
Especially when Wen Daolun was also in the city!
In the real world, he had seen Wen Daolun's historical record:
Died suddenly.
Although the narrator, the Old Water Lizard, didn't know the exact details either, He Lingchuan deduced that Wen Daolun's death was inextricably tied to the river bandits.
In the Panlong World, he had gone through great pains to provoke Wen Daolun into returning to Panlong City.
Yet, as fate would have it, Wen Daolun had returned anyway—right on this very night when He Lingchuan ordered the bandit purge and Fu Shanlie was most likely to attack the city!
Was Wen Daolun destined never to escape this fatal calamity?
Furthermore, while He Lingchuan aimed to settle everything in one decisive battle, wasn't Fu Shanlie thinking the exact same thing?
If Fu Shanlie succeeded in taking Yuheng City, would this stretch of history snap back to its original track?
He Lingchuan had prepared an extra card for this interim period, but no plan under heaven was flawless. Having carried out so many missions, he knew deep down that the unexpected could strike at any moment.
After doing everything humanly possible, one often still had to resign oneself to fate.
Was he taking a gamble? Of course.
Yet warfare was inherently fraught with risk; no matter how meticulous the preparations, there was no guaranteeing against the unforeseen.
After riding another thirty li, rain began drifting from the night sky.
The rainwater had a pale greenish tint, carrying a rich, intoxicating fragrance.
He Lingchuan looked up in astonishment and couldn't help cursing under his breath.
Are you kidding me? The Emperor's Flowing Dew is descending now?
Was heaven playing a joke on him?
Based on Panlong City's forecasting track record, the Emperor's Flowing Dew was expected to arrive in two days at the earliest, which was why he had launched the night assault on Longchuan ahead of time.
Who would have thought that after all his calculations, he still could not outcalculate the heavens and the earth?
Fortunately, the bo beast he rode possessed demon blood; though the Emperor's Flowing Dew made it restless and temperamental, it still barely obeyed, unlike ordinary horses that would abandon their riders without a second thought.
With the spiritual rain striking his face, He Lingchuan opened his mouth against the wind and swallowed several mouthfuls.
Just whose side was Heaven favoring this time?
Once the Emperor's Flowing Dew descended, ordinary horses became useless. No matter how well-trained they were, they either tilted their heads up to catch the spiritual rain falling from the sky or bent down to graze on grass coated in the dew, completely ignoring their riders' whips and curses.
If whipped too hard, they would even lash out with their hooves and kick.
Thus, the arrival of the spiritual rain was bound to cause trouble for someone.
He Lingchuan sincerely hoped it wouldn't be his own people who drew the short straw.
...
Inside Yuheng City.
Seeing his residence ablaze, City Defender Zhao Linyang frowned deeply, but he did not step forward.
Setting fire to his home was clearly targeted at him. Guards encircled him tightly, fearful that someone might take the opportunity to assassinate him.
The blaze was fierce, impossible to douse with water.
Several spellcasters rushed forward and wielded mystical arts and divine powers, finally extinguishing the inferno. Fire-squad soldiers tasked with fire emergencies carried tools into the Wen residence, checking the embers to ensure they would not flare up again.
The city guard was also working to disperse the onlookers.
In addition to local residents, traveling merchants temporarily staying in Yuheng City had also run out to watch the commotion.
Chapter 1033