On the return journey from Storm Bay, the Lu siblings had shared drinks and conversation with He Lingchuan. Having fought side by side and received life-saving grace, the distance between them had shrunk drastically. They had become exceptionally candid, talking about nearly anything.
Having had too much to drink, Lu Qingbang had thumped his chest and told He Lingchuan that whenever He Lingchuan needed anything in the future, he only had to ask, and Lu Qingbang would go through fire and water without hesitation.
As she disembarked, Lu Feiyan grinned and said, "That fight was truly satisfying! I really hope I can join your next operation."
He Lingchuan gave a wry smile. "I'd rather have as few operations like this as possible."
Fewer operations meant the Yangshan Archipelago was peaceful and running smoothly.
Just then, Ding Zuodong walked over and chimed in, "Lady Lu fought as well?"
As a non-combatant, he had remained aboard the ship the entire time and had not set foot on the battlefield.
Lu Feiyan, however, had charged ashore at the very first moment.
Moqi Feng picked up the thread. "Lady Lu took down only ten fewer enemies than I did."
"Really?" Lu Feiyan cut her eyes at him. "Care to count again?"
Lu Qingbang also took his leave of He Lingchuan. "Brother He, your noble righteousness has placed an immense debt of gratitude upon my sister and me, as well as on Bailie. We will engrave this upon our hearts and await the day we can repay you!"
The soul-snatching mirror grunted inside He Lingchuan's lapel. "Anyone who constantly keeps debts and gratitude on their lips never truly holds them in their heart."
"What is between us that calls for such formalities?" He Lingchuan said solemnly. "Today, I will write to National Preceptor Wang detailing your meritorious deeds at Storm Bay."
Lu Qingbang was overjoyed. He bowed deeply toward He Lingchuan. "Thank you, Brother He!"
That He Lingchuan had ties with National Preceptor Wang was known throughout the Lu family. Bailie opening trade and interaction with the Yangshan Archipelago had been achieved solely through the power of a handwritten letter from the National Preceptor.
Now that He Lingchuan was willing to put in a good word for him before National Preceptor Wang, it was far more effective than anything else!
The battle at Storm Bay had been a bloody, brutal ordeal, but Lu Qingbang had remained worried in his heart that when Clan Leader Lu Zhensheng reported the achievements, his own contributions would be brushed off with a casual stroke of the pen.
Doing the hardest work, taking the greatest risks, only to end up with nothing—Lu Qingbang had no desire to be that sort of obliging fool.
Yet what could he do about it?
Now, with this letter from He Lingchuan commending his merits, Lu Zhensheng could forget about covering up his contributions!
With his final worry swept away, Lu Qingbang felt the sky turn bluer, the sea calmer, and his spirits soar.
He Lingchuan patted him on the shoulder. "I wish you every success on Bailie's eastern front. If you find yourself in short supply of anything, just come to me."
Lu Qingbang nodded vigorously, while Lu Feiyan beamed. "Sounds good! If we run low on clothes or food, we'll come right to you."
She waved goodbye to Moqi Feng, Qiu Hu, and the others, bestowing a bright smile upon them before following her brother onto another ship to depart.
Watching the vessels sail toward Blade Harbor, He Lingchuan knew that once the Lu siblings returned to Bailie, they would give an honest account of the battle.
This time, he had maxed out his goodwill with the siblings, and Sixth Lu owed him a massive favor as well.
Still, Lu Qingbang's performance at Storm Bay had truly exceeded He Lingchuan's expectations.
Lu Qingbang lacked extensive command experience, having led troops for less than two years, yet he had withstood enormous pressure at Storm Bay. In particular, after Moqi Tong had been gravely wounded and fallen unconscious, he had directed the Bailong people to continue resisting.
Most importantly, the Bailong people had actually been willing to listen to him, obeying a young commander they had known for less than two days!
That steady poise, affinity, and resilience under pressure were exceedingly rare qualities.
Warfare relied far too heavily on talent; some were born with the knack, possessing it in their very bones.
Others could study and drill endlessly and still never grasp it.
Truly, it was easier to raise an army of ten thousand than to find a single general.
He Lingchuan felt his luck was indeed excellent—for Bailie to produce such a homegrown commander, someone already showing his mettle before fully coming into his own.
When Lu Zhensheng and his son received this news, their feelings would surely be a tangled mix.
Afterward, the Yangshan fleet returned to the archipelago.
The ships carrying the Yangshan Guard headed straight for Suoding Island. This had become a tradition after every exercise or battle, for the soldiers were eager to celebrate in grand fashion.
Why had He Lingchuan pulled the guard force out for a fight? Aside from flexing his muscle before Ya Kingdom, he needed this force to transition from drills to actual combat.
The time had come.
An army's confidence came from a record of frequent victories.
A commander's prestige came from one triumph of leadership after another.
After pummeling the Qinglong tribe and rescuing the Bailong people, the Yangshan Guard's demeanor transformed at once.
They were confident, swaggering.
Although the victory at Storm Bay had not been won because they were stronger than Ya Kingdom's army, but rather because He Lingchuan had brought down the enemy's commanding general, Wulu...
A win was a win. Never mind the details.
The victors had earned their right to gloat.
What He Lingchuan needed to do next was find suitable opponents for his guard force, honing them through real combat while steadily building their confidence.
Not too weak, but not too strong either.
He waved a hand, and Qiu Hu hurried over.
"Gather intelligence on pirates operating between the Yangshan Archipelago and Platinum Island. We'll be clearing the sea lanes later on to create a good commercial and transit environment for our business partners."
Qiu Hu was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly.
His Lord's intention was plain: Yangshan would be proactively seeking out fights soon. He had been leading the guard force for nearly a year, cooped up in the archipelago, doing nothing every day but drilling troops. His hands had long been itching for action; now, at last, he could cut loose and fight under orders!
Wang Fubao asked foolishly, "What about the sea routes west of the Yangshan Archipelago?"
There were pirates to the west too.
He Lingchuan only smiled without answering.
Lü Qiuwei rapped Wang Fubao on the back of the head with his knuckles. "You and your big mouth!"
If the Lord didn't mention it, that meant he wasn't addressing it for now. Did he understand nothing?
"All right, dismissed."
At He Lingchuan's order, everyone began calling on friends and heading for the taverns together.
Having just won a great battle, who wouldn't want to drink wine and brag?
Meanwhile, the vessels carrying the Bailong tribe sailed toward other inhabited islands.
To the Bailong people, this was also an island landscape of clear sands and clean waters, but the Yangshan Archipelago had one thing entirely different from Storm Bay: it bustled with people.
There were people everywhere, yet all of them walked in a hurry, busy with their own affairs. No one spared them a second glance—which was precisely what the Bailong people longed for.
In the past, wherever they went, people had cast wary, hostile glances their way.
After all, most of the inhabitants here had also been newcomers who arrived only months ago; they too had walked the very same road the Bailong people were walking now.
In accordance with the Island Master's instructions, Lei Ni and Guan Ke arranged for the Bailong people to be dispersed across three islands for temporary settlement. The largest among them was Centipede Island, which conveniently made them neighbors to Moqi Feng and his kin.
These were all Yangshan residential areas, closed to merchants and outside travelers, though regular ferry routes connected them directly to the main island.
The Yangshan Archipelago had constantly been taking in new blood and striving to expand. The rules governing towns, streets, and wards had gradually become sound and orderly. There was even a temporary residency area specifically designated to accommodate arrivals from outside, where the bamboo and palm huts were relatively simple and crude, with a dozen people often dwelling under a single roof.
Chapter 1076