Nian Songyu said with so arrogance, "Mr. Hee, are you aware of the Endless Sea south of the Celestial Vault? Hurricanes blow year-round, the undercurrents are treacherous, and sea monsters roam free. It’s said to be a sea forbidden to the living. I was ordered south by the Prince and entered and exited the Endless Sea twice, returning unscathed both tis." ’These country bumpkins really don’t know their place.’
Hee Lingchuan cleared his throat. "When you entered and exited the Endless Sea, you had guides, didn’t you?"
"Of course."
"But from September to February or March of the next year—sotis even into April—there are absolutely no guides for the Panlong Desert. No one dares to go!" Hee Lingchuan looked at his father. "In the past fifty years, this desert has claid at least four thousand lives, and that’s just from reported cases. The true number is unknowable. When the desert truly shows its might, do you know how many people make it back alive?"
"One!" He held up a single finger. "Just one in fifty years, and he went completely mad. A Shaman diagnosed him as having lost a piece of his soul, saying he’d never regain his sanity."
Sunx Dongfu’s eyelids lifted slightly, and he exuded the natural air of a National Preceptor. "The Grand Commandant has already sent n to find an item. Once we find it, entering and exiting the Panlong Desert should be safe. Besides, I will do my utmost to protect the expedition."
Hee Chunhua sneered inwardly. ’After beating around the bush for so long, they’re finally showing their hand, aren’t they?’ Outwardly, however, he looked surprised. "And what might that be?"
’What did the Grand Commandant send his n to find that caused my son to fall off a cliff?’
"A relic left behind by Zhong Shengguang. With it, the Vengeful Spirits guarding the ruins will likely allow us safe passage through the Panlong Desert," Nian Songyu said. "The clues the Grand Commandant found all point to the Sand Leopard clan on Red Cliff Road. Did you know, Mr. Hee, that Zhong Shengguang’s Spirit Pet back in the day was a Sand Leopard?"
"Indeed. I seem to recall hearing that."
"Its descendants and kinsn are now in the Panlong Desert. We went to question them and had a... minor conflict," Nian Songyu said, downplaying the event. "A few of the Sand Leopards left, and we spent forty or fifty days searching for them individually. We later discovered that one of them may have entered Black Water City."
Hee Lingchuan laughed. "Simple. Just post ’lost leopard’ notices all over the city. It is Black Water City, after all. Demons are a di a dozen here."
Sunx Fuping said to Hee Chunhua, "Then we must rely on your strength as Prefect. Ti is of the essence; the battle at Woling Pass cannot wait. In the ti we’ve spent talking, who knows how many more lives have been reaped on that battlefield. Only by finding the Grand Square Pot as soon as possible can we end this unjust war."
Hee Chunhua thought for a mont. "If you find this token, I will dispatch my best guides to show you the way."
"Just the twenty-odd of us won’t be enough. We’ll need an army, at least," Nian Songyu said, sowhat displeased. "The Panlong Ruins are a place of extre evil. Only the fortune of the nation can suppress it!"
That would an at least two hundred n. Furthermore, the leading Military General would have to carry the Society Command. How else could they mobilize the nation’s fortune for protection?
Hee Chunhua’s expression grew troubled. ’This is a clear suicide mission. What kind of general would be foolhardy enough to accept it?’
Seeing his hesitation, Sunx Fuping said, "Pardon my speaking out of turn, but for you to have erged from the God-Appeasent Case unscathed back then... and then on your long road of exile to Qiansong County, to have had ample travel funds and connections to smooth the way... and your two subsequent special promotions... none of that would have been possible without the Grand Commandant lobbying on your behalf multiple tis."
Criminals exiled to the frontier were forced to have their faces tattooed with ink and labor in the barren lands for more than ten years. While Hee Chunhua wasn’t one of those unfortunate souls, the journey from the National Capital to Black Water City was thousands of miles long. He was only an eleven-year-old boy at the ti, and his entire family had been wiped out. If no one had looked out for him, given him travel money, and paid sufficient bribes to the escorting officials, the trials and tribulations of the road would have easily claid his life.
The road to exile was littered with the souls of the wronged; one more would have hardly been noticed.
Not to ntion his later achievents and promotions. While Hee Chunhua certainly earned his accolades, it’s difficult to catch the Emperor’s eye without soone speaking for you at court.
’Good wine isn’t afraid of a deep alley,’ they say? Hah. Utter nonsense.
Hee Chunhua had guessed that a powerful patron had been pleading his case, but he had never suspected it was the Grand Commandant.
Sunx Fuping continued, "Retrieving the Grand Square Pot and capturing Woling Pass would be a monuntal achievent. His Majesty the Prince has personally decreed that anyone who renders ritorious service on this expedition will be promoted one full rank."
Hee Chunhua was silent for a mont, then finally said, "I will arrange for the personnel at once. National Preceptor Sunx and Captain Nian, please adjourn to the guest lodge for now. We will host a banquet at Songhe Building this evening to welco you."
Their objective achieved, the two n rose to their feet, pleased. The Hee father and son escorted them to the main gate, and they departed with an air of satisfaction.
***
Watching their figures disappear around the corner, Hee Lingchuan asked his father, "Are you really going to send n into the Panlong Desert with them?"
Hee Chunhua remained silent, looking deeply troubled. He still had county affairs to attend to, so he simply told his son, "Do not let Madam know of this," and hurried away.
As Hee Lingchuan walked back into the estate, he saw Hee Yue accompanying their mother on her way out. They t in the garden.
Madam Ying asked her eldest son, "Who were those guests?"
Hee Lingchuan replied with a serious expression, "The National Preceptor and the second son of the Xunzhou Governor. They ca to discuss a confidential matter with Father!"
"The National Preceptor?" Madam Ying was taken aback. "Which National Preceptor?"
"The question is ’which National Preceptor,’" Hee Lingchuan corrected her. "It’s National Preceptor Sunx Fuping. He ca all the way from the National Capital."
He was a figure of the highest importance, soone even a Prince would treat as a guest of honor. Madam Ying was surprised but didn’t probe further. She just asked Hee Lingchuan, "Is it a good thing or a bad thing?"
Since it was "confidential," it wasn’t her place to ask indiscriminately. Madam Ying never ddled when Hee Chunhua handled his official duties.
"A mix of both," Hee Lingchuan said gravely. "It all depends on how Father handles it."
Madam Ying’s eyes darted. "Why did he have you attend?"
’It’s a confidential matter. Her husband should have called on their more reliable younger son.’
"I’m involved in it too." Hee Lingchuan’s expression darkened. "What do you an by that, Mother? Shouldn’t Father call for when there’s business to attend to?"
He felt another wave of irritation.
"You’re involved?" Madam Ying looked him up and down. "Don’t tell you’ve gotten into trouble again?"
"Is that all you think of ?" Hee Lingchuan’s face stiffened. "That I only cause trouble?"
’Although, this ti, she might have hit the nail on the head.’
Ying Hongchan’s tone softened as she earnestly advised, "Lingchuan, you’re a grown man now. You need to be more sensible and composed so you can help share your father’s burdens."
She glanced toward the main gate. "I’m going outside to distribute food. You two brothers have a chat."
She departed, supported by a maidservant, but Hee Yue remained.
"Big Brother, how about so tea?"
Hee Lingchuan took the hint and followed him to a side hall.
They had barely taken two steps when Hee Yue said, "Mother is blunt and speaks her mind, but she ans no harm. Don’t take it to heart."
"Your mother is my mother too. Do I need you to console ?" Hee Lingchuan shot him a sidelong glance. "She can’t stand the sight of , but she dotes on you like a precious treasure. It’s been that way since we were little. Hey, no need to explain. Explanations are just excuses!"
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