You Need to Be More Sensible

Nian Songyu spoke with a touch of haughtiness. "Governor He, are you familiar with the Endless Sea south of the Firmament? Hurricanes rage there through all four seasons, undercurrents surge violently, and sea monsters roam freely. They say it is a sea forbidden to the living, too. Yet I once followed the King's decree south and ventured into the Endless Sea twice, returning completely unscathed both times." These country bumpkins truly had no idea how vast the world was. He Lingchuan gave a cough. "When you went in and out of the Endless Sea, you had a guide, didn't you?" "Naturally." "Well, from every September through February or March of the following year—sometimes even through April—there are no guides in the Panlong Desert at all. Nobody dares to go!" He Lingchuan looked at his father. "Over the past fifty years, this desert has swallowed at least four thousand lives. And that's only counting the reports filed by victims' families; the true number is beyond reckoning. When the desert truly unleashes its fury, do you know how many people come back alive?" "One!" He held up a single finger. "In fifty years, exactly one person. And he had already gone mad. According to a shaman's diagnosis, he lost a soul and a spirit; he won't ever regain his sanity in this lifetime." Sun Fuping's eyelids lifted slightly, radiating the natural aura of a National Preceptor. "The Grand Marshal has already sent people to seek a certain item. As long as we find it, entering and leaving the Panlong Desert may well be safe. Besides, I will do my utmost to keep the party out of harm's way." He Chunhua sneered inwardly. After dancing around the subject for so long, had they finally revealed their dagger? Outwardly, however, he looked astonished. "What manner of item is that?" What had the Grand Marshal sent people looking for that ended up causing his son to fall off a cliff? "A relic left behind by Zhong Shengguang. If we rely on it to enter and leave the Panlong Desert, the vengeful spirits guarding the ruins are very likely to grant us passage," Nian Songyu said. "Every clue the Grand Marshal uncovered points to the sand leopard clan on Red Cliff Road. Does Governor He know that Zhong Shengguang's spirit pet back in the day was a sand leopard?" "Yes, I seem to have heard of that." "Today, its descendants and kin all live in the Panlong Desert. We went to question them, and a minor clash ensued," Nian Songyu said nonchalantly. "A few sand leopards got away, and we spent forty or fifty days tracking them down one by one. Later, we discovered that one of them may have entered Blackwater City." He Lingchuan chuckled. "Simple enough, then. Just plaster missing leopard notices all over town. After all, Blackwater City is crawling with monsters." Sun Fuping said to He Chunhua, "Then we must rely on the Governor's assistance. Time is precious; the battle at Woling Pass brooks no delay. Even as we speak, who knows how many more lives that battlefield has claimed? Only by finding the Dafang Pot as quickly as possible can we put an end to this unjust war." He Chunhua thought it over. "If the token is found, I will dispatch the finest guides to lead your way." "Just the twenty or so of us won't be enough. We need at least an army," Nian Songyu said, sounding somewhat dissatisfied. "The Panlong Ruins are a place of ultimate evil; only dynastic fortune can suppress it!" That meant at least two hundred men, and the commanding officer would also have to wear a State Token—how else could they channel dynastic fortune for protection? He Chunhua looked troubled. For a task that was so blatantly suicidal, what kind of reckless general would dare accept it? Seeing this, Sun Fuping immediately said, "Perhaps I shouldn't say this, but back then, Governor He was able to walk away unscathed from the deity sacrifice case, had ample traveling funds and people smoothing the way during your exile to Qiansong Commandery, and later received two extraordinary promotions. All of that might well have owed something to the Grand Marshal's lobbying on your behalf." Criminals banished to the frontier were branded on the face with ink and forced to labor in barren wastelands for ten years or more. While He Chunhua hadn't been that unfortunate, how could the journey from the royal capital to Blackwater City be merely a thousand li? At the time, he was only an eleven-year-old child whose entire family had perished. If no one had looked after him from the sidelines, providing traveling funds and greasing the palms of the escorting officers, the hardships along the road could easily have claimed his life. Countless wronged souls haunted the road of exile; one more wouldn't have made a difference. Not to mention his later meritorious service, promotions, and extraordinary advancements. While He Chunhua's own diligence certainly played a part, without allies at court, it was difficult to catch the Emperor's eye. Good wine needs no bush? Bah, utter nonsense. He Chunhua had guessed long ago that an influential benefactor had spoken up for him from above, but he had never imagined it was the Grand Marshal. Sun Fuping continued, "Retrieving the Dafang Pot and recapturing Woling Pass are accomplishments of immense magnitude. Our King decreed in person that anyone who distinguishes themselves on this mission will be promoted by one rank." He Chunhua remained silent for a moment before finally saying, "This humble official will arrange the personnel at once. National Preceptor Sun and Commandant Nian, please relocate to the guest lodge for now. Later this evening, we will host a banquet at Songhe Tower to wash the dust of the road from you." Their goal achieved, the two rose with satisfaction. Escorted by the He father and son past the main gates, they strode off. Watching their silhouettes vanish around the street corner, He Lingchuan asked his father, "Are you really going to send men with them into the Panlong Desert?" He Chunhua remained silent, looking heavy with worry. With administrative duties awaiting his attention, he gave his son a parting instruction—"Do not let Madam know of this"—and hurried away. He Lingchuan walked back into the manor. He Yue was escorting their mother outside, and the two encountered his elder brother in the garden. Madam Ying asked her eldest son, "What was the background of those guests?" He Lingchuan replied solemnly, "A National Preceptor and the second son of the Xunzhou Governor. They came to discuss top-secret state affairs with Father!" "A National Preceptor?" Madam Ying froze. "What National Preceptor?" "'Which National Preceptor' is the right question," He Lingchuan corrected her. "It is National Preceptor Sun Fuping, who traveled thousands of li from the capital." He was a supreme dignitary whom even princes and marquises would treat as an honored guest. Madam Ying was astonished, but she pressed no further, only asking He Lingchuan, "Is it a good thing or a bad thing?" Since it was "confidential state business," as a woman of the household, she knew better than to pry carelessly. Whenever He Chunhua managed commandery affairs, Madam Ying never meddled. "A bit of both," He Lingchuan said gravely. "It all depends on how Father handles it." Madam Ying's eyes rolled slightly. "Why did he have you go with him?" Given that confidential matters were involved, her husband ought to have brought their more reliable younger son instead. "I'm involved in this too." He Lingchuan's face darkened slightly. "What do you mean by that, Mother? Is Father not supposed to call on me when something comes up?" A twinge of annoyance rose in his chest once more. "You're involved too?" Madam Ying looked him up and down. "It couldn't be that you've caused trouble again, could it?" "Is that all you think of me?" He Lingchuan stiffened his face. "That I'm only capable of stirring up trouble?" Though this time, it seemed Madam Ying had hit the mark. Ying Hongchan softened her tone and offered earnest counsel. "Lingchuan, you're grown now. You need to be more sensible and level-headed so you can share your father's burdens." She glanced toward the main gate. "I am going out front to distribute food. You two brothers can chat." Supported by a maidservant, she took her leave, while He Yue remained behind. "Elder Brother, shall we have some tea?" Understanding his intent, He Lingchuan followed him toward a side hall. They had only taken a couple of steps when He Yue told him, "Mother speaks frankly without malice. Don't take it to heart." "Your mother is my mother too. Do I need you comforting me?" He Lingchuan shot him a sidelong glance. "She's annoyed to death by me and treasures you like a jewel; it's been like that since we were little. Hey, no need to explain. Explaining is just covering it up!"