Sun Fuling shook her head with a light laugh. "It's all in the line of duty."
The orange glow of the firelight reflected on her face, bathing it in a warm sheen that made her look like the charming, fresh-faced girl next door.
She sat angled away from He Lingchuan, showing him only the unblemished half of her face.
Naturally, the fool didn't notice her little trick at all.
She retrieved a pork sausage and set it over the fire to roast.
This was the signature dish of Shanxia Restaurant, which was simply named Shanxia—Foot of the Mountain. The spiced pork used for making sausages had a fat-to-lean ratio of three to seven, blended with a touch of starch and pear wine. When roasted, not only was the aroma mouthwatering, but the texture was springy and rich, tinged with the refreshing sweetness of fruit.
"What we're doing is merely gilding the lily," she said. "That newly assembled unit of yours needs something else far more than this."
"Oh? What's that?"
Sun Fuling took a carrot and took a bite. *Crunch.* "You're the commander, aren't you? You tell me."
He Lingchuan rubbed his nose and smiled without a word.
Indeed, what this newly raised army in Yuheng City needed most right now was a victory.
An army's confidence was forged through victory after victory.
Yet the timing wasn't ideal; fewer than thirty percent of the men had ever seen combat.
Then again, war always came without warning. How could it ever wait until you were truly prepared?
"You don't seem very happy." Sun Fuling was perceptive. "You were just promoted to commander. Did something happen?"
He Lingchuan's mind stirred. Several thoughts flickered through his head, and he suddenly asked her, "Do you believe mortal destiny is truly decreed by Heaven?"
Sun Fuling answered without hesitation: "I only believe human effort decides the outcome."
"Why?"
"If destiny were decreed by Heaven, how hopeless would people like you and me, people in Panlong City, be?" She spoke of hopelessness, yet not a shred of despair showed on her face; instead, she looked utterly resolute. "Destiny shouldn't be decided by others—not even by the will of Heaven."
Her conviction was effortless, untainted by the slightest pretension. He Lingchuan could tell she spoke from the bottom of her heart.
"Between General Red and the gods, who do you think is stronger?"
"The gods?" Sun Fuling asked, surprised. "Can mortal power really rival a deity?"
"Ah, I didn't make myself clear," He Lingchuan clarified. "An avatar descended from a celestial god versus General Red—who would come out on top?"
"Which celestial god?" she asked carefully.
"For example..." Any orthodox god would do, right? "Baizhantian?"
He had seen Baizhantian's statue in Chongshen Hall; later, Baizhantian had descended into Lu Shishi and chased him and Zhu Daniang all over the place.
Just hearing the name made it clear that this deity possessed formidable combat prowess.
"One of Lingxu City's Thirty-Six Orthodox Gods?"
"Yes."
Sun Fuling rested her chin on her hand, pondering for a long moment. "I think General Red would still come out ahead."
He Lingchuan gazed at her. "Why?"
"General Red's strength isn't just about combat prowess." Sun Fuling seemed oblivious to his gaze. "Of course, that's just my guess—and my wish."
She let out a soft sigh. "If only General Red could defeat every celestial god's avatar, how wonderful would that be?"
"Every one?"
"If that happened, Commander Zhong wouldn't have to exhaust his heart and mind, and Panlong City wouldn't be trapped in a single corner."
He Lingchuan looked up at the stars in the night sky. "Speaking of which, I still don't know Commander Zhong's true wish—or rather, his ultimate goal."
Under Zhong Shengguang's rule, the soldiers and commoners in the Panlong Wasteland and Yuheng City could muddle through in ignorance, but the man himself surely possessed a clear conviction.
He Lingchuan recalled the origins of the three-piece set he wore. Zhong Shengguang had witnessed the tragic end of the Yuan Kingdom firsthand, yet still insisted on taking them up. What was his goal?
"Oh?" Sun Fuling blinked. "Isn't it to defend the territory and carve out a home for the Xiluo people?"
"Surely that's not all?" He Lingchuan pointed west. "Otherwise, how could a mere Yin River keep us from conquering Jintao?"
Zhong Shengguang and Mitian had no desire to lead their army back to their homeland.
"Is Commander Zhong's goal that important?"
"Of course. It directly determines how we build Yuheng City." He Lingchuan stretched lazily. "Time is short, and the mission is heavy."
"Don't worry," Sun Fuling comforted him. "I believe whatever you do, everything will go your way, as if aided by the gods!"
"Whatever I do..." He Lingchuan beamed with delight. "You really think so?"
He truly did have an urgent task ahead of him, though it lay in reality.
She smiled and nodded.
"Good, good, from your lips to Heaven's ears!" He Lingchuan breathed a soft sigh, murmuring, "I only hope it all goes smoothly."
Right then, the flapping of wings sounded overhead.
Moments later, a silhouette dropped onto a branch beside Sun Fuling.
It was the peregrine falcon.
"Good thing you lit a fire." The peregrine falcon flapped its wings, sending sparks flying from the brazier. "It's pitch-black on this mountain."
Its night vision was poor.
"What's the news?"
"Lu Qing had me bring a message: quite a few men from the Lujia Gang and the Qiuhua Bandits left yesterday and today. They left by boat."
Lu Qing was the bandit He Lingchuan had captured on his journey here. The bandits had ambushed the trade route, only to run headlong into the Gale Army. Over half of them were killed, the stubborn ones eliminated, and a few sent to work in the mines.
As for Lu Qing, under He Lingchuan's gentle "persuasion," he had experienced a sudden change of heart and agreed to return to Longchuan as their undercover informant.
His gang had been scattered, so upon his return, he could only seek out another faction to take him in.
Unfortunately, he and his old gang were bottom-feeders in Longchuan; going back now, he couldn't get into the major syndicates either, leaving him to do odd jobs in a small peripheral outfit.
The only quality He Lingchuan valued in him was his eye for detail—he was always good at spotting little things.
This time, for instance, before the undercover agents Yuheng City stationed in Longchuan had even sent word, Lu Qing had already made a discovery.
He Lingchuan flipped a chestnut over. "Be precise. How many men?"
"Over a hundred combined, but there was no way to get an exact count. A few men from two or three other bandit gangs seem to have left as well; the place doesn't seem nearly as noisy." The peregrine falcon scratched behind its ear with a talon. "They all left over the past two days."
"In which direction?" Since they departed by boat, they weren't going to raid the trade routes.
"Lu Qing tailed a few of them for a short stretch before backing off for fear of being caught. But they were sailing north, and they were fully armed."
"North." He Lingchuan and Sun Fuling exchanged a look. She jutted her chin toward the twinkling lights of Yuheng City below.
"Heading here?"
"Lu Qing couldn't be sure, but either way, they're moving toward northern Longchuan."
Sun Fuling picked up pieces of pork tenderloin and fed them to the peregrine falcon one by one. "Good work. Thank you."
He Lingchuan shot two pointed glares at the peregrine falcon, but the bird remained perched comfortably on the branch. He couldn't hold back: "Don't you have anywhere else to go?" Did it really have to stay here making noise and shedding down?
"I already live on this mountain!" The peregrine falcon snapped up another piece of pork right from Sun Fuling's slender fingers.
Chapter 730