Chapter 1282: The Fight Has Started

"Can someone so unperceptive truly serve as an envoy?" He Lingchuan glanced at Sun Fuling, who blinked back, indicating she didn't mind.

So, He Lingchuan proactively ordered a meal set for Xin Yi and two pots of wine.

After tasting a bite of chicken, Xin Yi closed his eyes for a moment.

"Such rich, savory flavors—it's been so long since I've tasted anything like this!"

He Lingchuan crunched on a clove of garlic. "Don't the roasted chickens in the Sand River basin taste like chicken?"

Xin Yi imitated him, taking a bite of meat followed by a garlic clove. "Far from it! For this very taste, I'll have to find someone to secretly learn the recipe."

These few actions significantly changed He Lingchuan's impression of him. He had initially thought this fellow would be refined and elegant like Xu Shichu or Lu Xun, but to his surprise, he could drop his pretense and dignity in an instant, getting his fingers oily.

"You'll have to offer the old man an irresistible price." He Lingchuan gestured toward the kitchen. "He has a secret recipe."

Sun Fuling interjected, "May I ask your age, Mr. Xin?"

He Lingchuan raised an eyebrow, as the term "your esteemed age" is typically used for older individuals.

Chewing on his chicken, Xin Yi replied, "I'm forty-eight!"

He Lingchuan was surprised. Forty-eight and looking so young? He couldn't be much older than He Lingchuan himself.

"Is this some kind of age-reversing technique?"

Xin Yi waved his hand. "Just a family secret technique, combined with a very long period of secluded cultivation."

He then asked Sun Fuling, "How did you figure that out, Master Sun?"

Sun Fuling gently swirled the wine in her cup. "Your eyes are different."

Men and women in their teens and twenties are full of burgeoning vitality and overt sharpness, their gazes filled with vibrant youthfulness.

By their thirties or forties, their eyes naturally become much more reserved and steady.

This change and expression are natural and difficult to feign.

Xin Yi looked at Sun Fuling with surprise. "Impressive! Is Master also a person of hidden talents?"

"Just a simple teacher from the marketplace," Sun Fuling chuckled. "Having seen so many innocent eyes of children, one learns how different they are from adults."

He Lingchuan continued to chat with the envoy as they ate, eventually learning that Xin Yi was the younger brother of the Han Yuan Estate head. He specialized in a secret family technique and had been in secluded cultivation for fifteen years straight, only emerging and rejoining society two years ago.

Shortly after, he was assigned the task of replacing Lu Xun as envoy to Panlong City. However, he was only responsible for relaying messages between Spirit Mountain and Panlong City, without interfering in other matters.

He Lingchuan also knew that someone else was primarily responsible for bilateral negotiations.

As there were no other customers in the shop, He Lingchuan began to inquire in detail about the Han Yuan Estate: the size of its territory, its main industries, how it typically interacted with Spirit Mountain, any strange or notable incidents within its lands, and so on.

The interrogation was so thorough that even Sun Fuling frequently looked at him.

Xin Yi good-naturedly answered each question but also found it odd. "I didn't expect Brother He to be so interested in my family."

"Just curiosity," He Lingchuan said with a smile. "'Xin' isn't a common surname. You seem to be the only person I know with it."

Xin Yi also asked about Panlong City's past battles, specifically saying: "I heard that the Beijia demon general Fushan Lie launched a sneak attack on Yuheng City, but General He completely defeated him. Since the main person is here, could you tell me about it in detail?"

"It was merely a risky maneuver," He Lingchuan then briefly recounted the battle of that day.

After listening, Xin Yi said, "Is this Panlong City's first direct defeat of a Beijia general? They won't let this go."

"Beijia is indeed furious." Since the Battle of Yuheng City, Beijia's attention on Panlong City had increased, and the pace of the war seemed to have accelerated compared to history.

"Beijia's plans are usually long-term; a single move often affects the entire situation. Fushan Lie is also a newly rising general with an innovative fighting style. General He's great victory at Yuheng City this time is not simple either."

He Lingchuan was slightly startled. When he commanded Yuheng City, his strategies against the Takigawa river bandits and Fushan Lie were extremely detailed and intricate. Even an observer with access to information would find it difficult to summarize or extract the essence.

Not to mention this guest from a foreign land, even the soldiers and citizens of Yuheng City who experienced it firsthand didn't fully understand everything the Grand Commander did at the time, or which actions truly yielded results.

Xin Yi's insight came not from a deep study of He Lingchuan's strategies, but from his understanding of Beijia.

From Beijia's perspective, he could also draw accurate conclusions.

Just then, a fluttering of wings was heard from outside.

The three looked up. A kestrel landed on the window, speaking in human tongue to He Lingchuan:

"There's trouble at Frost River Tavern. Menban asked me to inform the General."

"Who?" Brawls at taverns were not uncommon; people behaved in myriad ways after drinking. The question was, why would Menban bother his superior with such a trivial matter?

"Soldiers under Menban's command, and people from the east."

"The east?" He Lingchuan glanced at Xin Yi upon hearing this. "How many people?"

"About seventeen or eighteen on each side," the kestrel replied. "It started because the people from the east were noisy while drinking. Two soldiers under Menban's command went to stop them, and the other party cursed... well, they complained about too many rules here. Words escalated between both sides, and it turned into a fight."

He Lingchuan and Sun Fuling exchanged glances, understanding immediately.

"Complained"? More likely, they hurled insults.

Panlong City had extremely strict rules, hundreds of prohibitions. And this was even after major adjustments following its opening to outsiders; previously, merely picking fruit by the roadside could lead to a flogging.

The city's residents were long accustomed to them. However, newcomers from out of town would certainly find such strict regulations hard to adapt to, easily violating laws or rules by accident. Normally, it might pass, but with too much alcohol, loose talk could easily lead to trouble.

"More and more people got involved on both sides. When Menban rushed over to see, he sent me to find you."

Since people from Spirit Mountain were involved, Menban couldn't decide on his own and had to report it higher up.

Xin Yi interjected from the side, "Which side is more seriously injured?"

He Lingchuan shot him a glance. This person certainly had a strong competitive streak.

The kestrel ruffled its feathers, ignoring Xin Yi, and reported only to He Lingchuan: "After smashing four or five tables, they rushed to the Martial Arts Hall, saying the fight couldn't be for nothing and they would settle it on the arena stage."

No wonder Menban insisted on reporting: "Whose idea was that?"

Private duels were strictly forbidden within Panlong City, but those who truly wished to fight could resolve conflicts through official arena matches. Newcomers from out of town typically weren't aware of this method; only locals would propose it.

"Menban. He said since they couldn't be stopped anyway, it was better to guide them than block them. Oh, and the loser has to compensate the tavern for damages."

He Lingchuan smiled. "Spending so much time with Liu Tiao, he's become smarter too."

His eyes flickered, and Sun Fuling immediately understood his meaning, rising quickly. "I'm full," she said. "I have a class at the academy this afternoon, so I'll take my leave now."

With that, she nodded farewell to Xin Yi and turned to leave.

He Lingchuan tossed some loose silver onto the table. Just as he stood up, Xin Yi said, "I just arrived in Panlong City and already heard about the Martial Arts Hall. General He, would you mind showing me around?"

Of course, He Lingchuan wouldn't refuse:

"Please follow me."