Chapter 1031: Some Things I Want to Ask You

Chapter 1021: There's Something I'd Like to Ask of You

As for Ding Zuodong, Qiu Hu, and others, it went without saying that the benefits they reaped were truly enviable.

The reason He Lingchuan didn't sell all the elixirs was because he needed to save some for his own people as a dividend, and also reserve a portion for future military merit rewards. Rewards and punishments needed to be clear and timely, so everyone would know that if they worked hard under him, their lives would only get better.

Naturally, as the island master, He Lingchuan kept the most generous share of the rewards for himself. This was what he deserved.

He Lingchuan also keenly noticed that the spirit and morale of the guard team were different from two days prior; they were more spirited, more confident, and even unconsciously walked with straighter backs. This was because the confrontation the previous night had been a unique battle for them, and they had won.

Where does a soldier's confidence come from? Past victories. The more they won, the more confident they became. Currently, the guard team had no battles to fight, so the experience from the night before last served as an excellent trial.

He clapped his hands and told everyone, "Alright, no slacking off! Go work on the other islands!"

The recently expedited production of Wind Lions was limited, barely covering the important areas of the islands. After the hurricane, roads on all islands were blocked, requiring clearing.

He then called for Wang Fubao: "I have a task for you: Go to Baijiao Village, west of Blade's Edge Port, and find clues about Old Yu — that is, Yu Rong."

Old Yu was a pawn of the Lu family father and son, who used him to instigate the Wanqi uncle and nephew. For the past few days, He Lingchuan had been extremely busy; now that he finally had some free time, how could he let this go easily?

"Once the news of my safety reaches Blade's Edge Port, Yu Rong will know that the Wanqi uncle and nephew failed to seize the island. He might not stay in Blade's Edge Port, nor might he return to Baijiao Village, but his hometown is Baijiao Village, and there must be his personal belongings there," He Lingchuan instructed Wang Fubao. "Find these items for me; the more personal and numerous, the better."

"Yes, sir!"

"Also, try to ascertain his birth details."

The next evening, another Imperial Dewfall descended. With the previous experience and no hurricane to cause trouble, the Yangshan Archipelago handled the Imperial Dewfall with much greater ease. That night passed smoothly. By then, both Imperial Dewfalls had concluded.

The next morning, Wang Xingyi prepared to leave the island. As a high-ranking member of Lingshan and the Imperial Advisor of Mou Nation, he naturally knew the approximate timing of the Imperial Dewfall's descent, so he waited until both occurrences had passed before departing. Delayed by the hurricane for two full days, his return journey to Mou Nation became more urgent.

He Lingchuan received the message and came to White Wave Villa, where Wang Xingyi had already packed and was waiting specifically for him.

"You've done very well these past few days; I've seen it all," Wang Xingyi said, glancing at Fang Canran. "I've thought about it for two days, and there's something I'd like to ask of you."

He Lingchuan understood that Wang Xingyi meant he had observed him for two days, deemed him reliable, and therefore had something to entrust him with. It seemed he had passed the Imperial Advisor's test, and a slight weight lifted from his heart.

"Imperial Advisor, you're too kind. Is it a personal matter or a public one?"

"A public matter."

He Lingchuan understood. He immediately dismissed everyone, then personally checked outside the door to ensure no one was around before casually setting up a barrier.

"Please speak."

Fang Canran spoke first: "Lingshan occasionally encounters minor troubles that require specialized people to resolve. Sometimes, it's inconvenient for Mou Nation to get involved directly."

Even large entities have their difficulties. He Lingchuan understood instantly and immediately patted his chest in declaration: "I, He, am willing to share Lingshan's burdens."

When first getting to know Lingshan, solving more problems for them would quickly build rapport, making it easier for him to implement his plans later.

"I'll have Song Yuan convey these matters," Wang Xingyi said. "Of course, there will be appropriate compensation."

He Lingchuan accepted readily. From now on, Fang Canran would become Lingshan's task dispatcher.

Wang Xingyi pondered for a moment: "Alright, let's get to the main point. You already know there are immortals within Lingshan."

He Lingchuan nodded: "Yes."

Not only had he heard of them, but he had also seen one firsthand, on the night Fang Canran caused chaos in Lingxu City. The green bird flying in mid-air, summoning storms at will, was believed by Granny Zhu to be at least a demi-immortal.

Wang Xingyi sighed: "You are not yet a member of Lingshan, yet I must reveal a few core secrets to you."

He Lingchuan smiled: "It's entirely up to your discretion, Imperial Advisor. In fact, I can choose not to hear them."

If he didn't listen, the matter couldn't be done. He wasn't a Lingshan disciple, nor was he even in a cooperative relationship with Wang Xingyi. Yet, this old man wanted to assign him a task?

Wang Xingyi chuckled, intentionally provoking him: "What, are you scared?"

Fang Canran had been winking from the side, signaling He Lingchuan to accept, but the latter was not provoked at all: "Please speak, Imperial Advisor. I will assess the risks myself."

"This is a top-tier secret, even for Lingshan," Wang Xingyi said, his smile fading as he grew serious. "If I tell you, and you then refuse to take on the task, it will be your undoing."

He Lingchuan understood immediately: if he heard these secrets and then refused to work for Lingshan, they would have no choice but to silence him. His own future plans also required Lingshan's cooperation, or perhaps their protection. He had been wondering how to strengthen his relationship with Lingshan without joining them, and now this old man, Wang, had arrived to offer a timely solution—no, to give a task.

He would not refuse such a good opportunity. But before committing, He Lingchuan wanted to secure some benefits for himself.

"May I ask, since it's a top-tier secret, why isn't it handled by someone from Lingshan?"

His expression was sincere, and his question was pertinent.

This time, Wang Xingyi hesitated longer before softly saying, "Who do you think understands Lingshan best in this world?"

He Lingchuan replied without hesitation: "The Heavenly Palace, or rather, Lingxu City."

Those who understand you best are often your arch-rivals; any flaw in your character would be magnified infinitely in their eyes.

"Indeed. The Heavenly Palace understands Lingshan just as Lingshan understands the gods. This pair of arch-rivals has existed for too long," Wang Xingyi murmured. "We have people within the Heavenly Palace, and the same is true in reverse."

He Lingchuan pressed: "Are you saying Lingshan also has...?"

Six hundred years. They had long since infiltrated each other.

"Lingshan is elusive and leaves no trace, but the Daoist sects and individuals Lingshan is connected to exist in reality," Wang Xingyi sighed softly. "It's hard to know what's in another person's heart."

Elder Dao of Rongshan Sect had said that Lingshan was a very "loose" organization, with few people at the top, making it difficult for Beijia spies to infiltrate. However, Lingshan maintained intricate connections with Mou Nation and other Daoist sects. What were these intricate connections? People.

Wang Xingyi was an old hand who had spent his life in organizations. He knew perfectly well that no matter how much one guarded against it, as long as an organization was large enough and had enough people, internal spies and traitors were inevitable. So it was with Beijia, and so it was with Lingshan.

From this, He Lingchuan could infer that Wang Xingyi's entrustment was indeed a top-tier secret, so important that he dared not trust even his own internal personnel.

(End of Chapter)