Chapter 1061: Winner Takes All

It’s no exaggeration to say that with the aid of the Spirit Elixir, even severe injuries quickly become minor ones.

Willow then asked, "Have we truly won?"

He Lingchuan replied, "I stabbed Fu Shanlie through the heart, but he doesn't seem to be dead. The combined forces of Xiji and Jintao have been driven back beyond the border. I don't think they'll dare to return anytime soon."

He patted Willow on her uninjured shoulder twice. "You played General Hong extremely well, holding back Fu Shanlie and performing a great service."

Willow admitted frankly:"I was truly terrified just now."

She had commissioned the replica armor for her collection, occasionally wearing it secretly at home. She never imagined that one day she would wear it into battle to intimidate Fu Shanlie.

Facing such a powerful *ba*, her heart pounded constantly, fearing her disguise wouldn't be convincing and would expose her.

At that moment, the South Gate had already been breached. Thanks to her, she held the line, single-handedly dragging Fu Shanlie into the barbican and preventing the enemy from spreading. This hard-won effort bought precious time for Yuheng City and He Lingchuan; otherwise, Fu Shanlie would have led his army into the city, causing endless devastation.

Even if He Lingchuan could have eventually retaken the city, it would have come at a heavy cost.

From this perspective, Willow's contribution to today's battle was immense.

"What reward would you like? Take your time to think about it while you recover." He Lingchuan was never stingy when it came to those who rendered great service.

Willow agreed at once.

He Lingchuan then looked at the Seven Blessings Wheel beside her.

This was, of course, also a replica. He hadn't expected Willow to be interested in Lu Xun's immortal artifact.

However, having a divine artifact in hand was more fitting for General Hong's persona. Besides, Fu Shanlie had just suffered its effects and should remember it clearly.

Just then, Wen Daolun also rushed in from outside, his first words identical to He Lingchuan's:"How is she doing?"

"Old Wen!" He Lingchuan gripped his shoulders and shook him vigorously several times. "It's good that you're alright!"

Wen Daolun was momentarily stunned, unaccustomed to such intimate gestures. But sensing He Lingchuan's genuine and unconcealed joy, he was deeply moved. "Thank heavens, I'm safe and sound. It's thanks to your bravery that Yuheng City was saved!"

If Yuheng City had fallen, how could he have faced Commander Zhong?

"The battle at the East Gate was equally difficult; fortunately, you managed to hold them back." While Willow was impersonating General Hong to deceive Fu Shanlie, the Jintao army was also fiercely attacking the East Gate. Although they were a feinting force, turning a feint into a real attack was not out of the question for them.

After a brief conversation with He Lingchuan, Wen Daolun quickly departed.

He and Chao Qian, who were responsible for the East Gate, had also expended immense effort.

But Wen Daolun had no idea how conflicted He Lingchuan was deep down:The fact that Wen Daolun had escaped certain death indicated that his own fate could be altered!

Yet Zhao Linyang was gone; the prophecy of "Yuheng City's guardian dying suddenly" had still come true.

Although tonight's upheaval ended in Yuheng City's victory, the twists and turns within it were truly harrowing.

Yuheng City had almost, *almost* returned to its original historical trajectory.

He Lingchuan felt a momentary sense of bewilderment.

What about Panlong City in the future? And General Hong?

Could predetermined fate truly be altered?

Previously, changing the outcomes for General Nanke and Zhu Erniang hadn't been difficult.

If he had known this, he should never have allowed the Grand Square Pot to devour Naraka's clone!

Since that wretched pot consumed something it shouldn't have, who knows what kind of karma it has been secretly shaping?

It seemed that whenever someone dared to deviate from their original destiny, an unseen force would pull them back.

This was... truly terrifying.

As he was deep in thought, a maid approached with a medicine tray, intending to apply ointment to his wounds.

He Lingchuan was deep in troubled thought, and with traces of blood still on his face, his gloomy and agitated gaze startled the maid, who nearly dropped the tray.

The Commander's expression was terrifying.

Fortunately, someone nearby grasped her wrist and gently took the tray from her:"I'll do it."

Sun Fuling had arrived.

The Scholar, clad in green, stood under the eaves, holding the tray, with bustling soldiers visible behind her.

He Lingchuan stared intently at her.

If Panlong City's ultimate fate could not be changed, what about hers?

He still remembered the Qingyang Grand Master's words, and how she had described the original owner of the Heavenly Centipede Bone Flute.

As he stared at her, Sun Fuling gently dampened a cloth and wiped the bloodstains from his face.

The cloth immediately turned red. "What are you thinking about?" she asked casually. "Your gaze is quite frightening."

"I'm wondering if fate is unavoidable, if it can only be faced?" He had sent Wen Daolun back to Yuheng City, hoping he would escape his predetermined death, but the man had returned before the great battle, and indeed, death had sought Wen Daolun out repeatedly. Then, thinking of himself, his original destiny was likely to become Naraka's vessel, but he hadn't evaded it; instead, he had resolved that problem in Panlong City.

Fleeing doesn't solve problems.

Sun Fuling smiled. "Fate, you either accept it or conquer it."

"You're right, Scholar, as always, your words are precise." He Lingchuan gently pressed her hand. "Why are you here?"

"There was chaos in the city; I came to help." Sun Fuling pulled him to sit under a tree and began treating his wounds.

He Lingchuan removed his outer armor to make it easier for her to apply the medicine. During the recent chaotic battle, he had sustained no fatal injuries, but he was covered in wounds. A half-finger-deep hole on his left shoulder had been gouged by a worm demon's foreleg. On his broad back were three wounds, the longest nearly a foot long and so deep that bone was almost visible.

These were souvenirs left by the Bega elites behind him after he had stabbed Fu Shanlie. If he hadn't quickly turned sideways, he would have been skewered.

He also had countless other minor injuries.

As Sun Fuling cut open his upper garment, He Lingchuan's facial nerves twitched. Just moments ago, while pursuing the Jintao army, the blood and flesh from his wounds had adhered to his clothes; now, to apply medicine, they would have to be peeled off.

"That hurts like hell."

Sun Fuling gave him a painkiller. "You need good armor," she said.

"Indeed." His clothes were torn to shreds. He Lingchuan took out a fresh garment. "I'll take my time looking for one."

Good blades and good armor both need to grow with their owner; armor, in particular, often requires "tuning." He had personally experienced the formidable power of General Hong's battle armor.

But this was not something that could be rushed. He would search for it or have it forged over time.

Sun Fuling then said, "There are many injured in the city, but they have mostly been attended to."

This was still Yuheng City's victory.

If the city had fallen, who knew how many lives would have been lost tonight.

Sun Fuling seemed to hear his sigh. She turned her head and said, "Nothing in this world is perfect, but you have done exceptionally well. The Takikawa flood calamity is about to be resolved, and Yuheng City is safe and sound. In this contest between you and Fu Shanlie, you are the victor."

"But the process..." The process had indeed been perilous.

"The process isn't important." Sun Fuling's fingertips were still stained with He Lingchuan's blood. She happened to receive two more drops of Imperial Elixir, and without a second thought, put them into her mouth and absorbed them. "War only cares about the outcome—success or failure. Fu Shanlie almost captured Yuheng City, but 'almost' means he didn't."

*Almost* meant it didn't happen.

As a result, Fu Shanlie was driven back to Jintao, while He Lingchuan reaped the fruits of victory.

"Do you think—" He Lingchuan glanced at her as he asked, "If General Hong and I were to switch places, would she have attacked Takikawa tonight?"

"That would depend on whether the reasons for attacking Takikawa were sufficient, but I believe you would have ample reasons." Sun Fuling blinked. "I also understand that you are both individuals who bear immense responsibility, having neither the luxury of being soft-hearted nor the time for regret."

He Lingchuan took her hand. "So, what about the future?"

"The future? We forge ahead, as always," she said softly.

He Lingchuan gave a wry chuckle. "You always know how to guide people."

She hadn't uttered a single comforting word, yet He Lingchuan understood.

He was already the commander of a city, and every action he took would have consequences; every mistake would incur losses.

The higher the position and the greater the power, the more these consequences and losses would be amplified.

But what did that matter? Some decisions simply had to be made, some risks had to be taken, and some mistakes were unavoidable, even if they demanded immense costs and sacrifices—

Sacrificing oneself, or sacrificing others.

This was what it meant to act despite knowing the insurmountable.

The responsibility of those in power was not merely to do good, but at times, even to inflict harm.

"Was that helpful?" Sun Fuling's dimples reappeared on her cheeks. "Treat me to a meal tomorrow morning."

Dawn was only a few hours away.

"Not tomorrow morning. The day after tomorrow at noon... no, the day after tomorrow night, I'll treat you to a grand feast."

"It's a deal." Knowing he had countless affairs to attend to, Scholar Sun said no more and turned to leave.

Next, He Lingchuan assigned tasks to Chao Qian.

The Imperial Elixir's effects hadn't yet faded, and Yuheng City's curfew was still in effect, so city-wide security needed to remain tightly managed.

The recent war had affected many Yuheng City residents; now was the time to restore order.

After giving these instructions, he took several cavalry guards and once again rode out of the city, heading south!

There was still a bandit suppression battle ongoing in Takikawa.

Earlier, he had allowed Hu Min to exercise military authority while he led eight hundred men back. Now that Yuheng City was safe, he needed to attend to that battlefield.

As dawn broke, the Imperial Elixir's influence ceased.

By the time He Lingchuan arrived at Takikawa, the battle there had already entered its mop-up phase.

The elite Xiji puppet army, originally tasked with defending Takikawa, had already been taken by Fu Shanlie. After their failed sneak attack on Yuheng City and being pursued by He Lingchuan's army, they had directly retreated into Jintao territory.

Consequently, only a portion of monsters and water bandits remained at the puppet army's base in Takikawa.

Fu Shanlie had assigned them to guard the base, but in reality, they were expendable pawns, ready to be sacrificed at any moment.

Hu Min, exercising military authority, led his troops into Takikawa, first clearing the demonic vines and forging a path. Due to the Imperial Elixir, the enemies were somewhat disoriented, and their resistance was minimal, making the Yuheng army's sweep far easier than anticipated.

On the night of the Imperial Elixir, He Lingchuan and Fu Shanlie had effectively launched simultaneous attacks on each other's strongholds.

The rule of this game was winner-takes-all. He Lingchuan had won, and Takikawa was his rightful spoil, effortlessly brought under his control.

This was an unspoken understanding between the two sides. Thus, Fu Shanlie did not return to Takikawa but retreated to Jintao with his remaining elite forces.

Takikawa was no longer a place where he could stand.

After this battle, all captives were sent to work in the mines.

With this, the Panlong City faction finally gained complete control of the entire Xiji kingdom. They renamed the territory the Maohe Plains, and the name "Xiji" vanished from then on.

Upon receiving this joyous news, both the Panlong Wasteland and the Maohe Plains celebrated for three days!