Chapter 1290: One Day

The Situ father and son from Golden Plains had a plan: to overthrow Bixia, then strengthen themselves, and finally curry favor with Beijia. They hoped to gain Beijia's support, thereby acquiring the power to contend with Yaoguo.

The Situ father and son didn't explicitly state it, but He Lingchuan understood: they hoped to become a second Yaoguo.

Which force on Golden Plains didn't aspire to become like Yaoguo? Powerful, wealthy, long-lived, and awe-inspiring across the Golden Plains.

However, after witnessing Beijia's actions against Xiluo, He Lingchuan knew just how naive the Situ father and son's idea was.

The Situ family could no more become Yaoguo than Xiluo could become Baling.

After returning to reality, he would have to re-evaluate everything thoroughly.

Sun Fuling clearly had a poor impression of Xiluo. A look of disdain flashed across her face as she said, "If not for Panlong City, Beijia wouldn't have bothered with Xiluo at all. For that reason alone, Xiluo won't have a good outcome."

Yes, even if Xiluo attacked Maohe Plain, it wouldn't fare well under his command; He Lingchuan was extremely confident of that.

"But the battles for Panlong City will become increasingly difficult, far more than before," He Lingchuan said, turning to her. "If Beijia also enters the fray, the outcome..."

Sun Fuling suddenly reached out and pressed a finger to his lips. "Since the war has begun, we don't consider what happens if we lose!"

She stated, word by word, "We only consider how to win!"

"Yes, yes," He Lingchuan said, grasping her hand. "The Teacher has taught well."

"A great war is coming, but my heart is at peace," Sun Fuling said, gesturing with her chin towards the lights below. "Their hearts are also at peace. Because everyone believes in you all."

"They believe in Commander Zhong, in General Hong, in you, and in the soldiers of Panlong City—always victorious!"

Panlong City had grown through blood and fire; neither its soldiers nor its citizens feared war.

He Lingchuan clasped her soft hand tightly and murmured, "Yes, peace."

Even though a storm was brewing, even if the war environment here was more treacherous than in reality, and even if he no longer had his "death-exempting gold token" in the Panlong world... while in Panlong City, he always felt at ease and peaceful, free from worry or fear.

Why was that?

He had pondered this repeatedly, and the reason was certainly not just Teacher Sun.

In Panlong City, he had astute and decisive superiors like Zhong Shengguang and General Hong, brave and fearless comrades he could trust with his life, and a people who selflessly supported them.

He was not fighting alone.

But in reality, he had to stand at the forefront, facing the harshest challenges and providing shelter for those under him, just like Zhong Shengguang.

Could he perform as admirably as Zhong Shengguang?

One day, could the soldiers and citizens under his rule be as stable, resilient, and fearless as the people of Panlong City?

What exactly should he do to win the hearts of the broadest possible population?

"Lost in thought again!" Sun Fuling lightly tapped his head. Daydreaming during a date was hardly a good habit.

He Lingchuan quickly embraced her and hastily apologized.

After a few flattering words, Sun Fuling's expression brightened, and she looked at him, smiling:

"Both you and Commander Zhong are remarkable heroes," she said, "but in my eyes, you are even more extraordinary."

"Oh? I like the sound of that!" He Lingchuan said, grasping her hand. "Tell me more."

"Commander Zhong always has a furrowed brow and a serious expression. Every time I see him, I always feel a sense of—" Sun Fuling also furrowed her brow, her face serious.

He Lingchuan finished her thought: "A heavy sense of mission?"

She burst out laughing. "Yes, that's exactly the feeling!"

"And me?"

"You clearly have many worries and burdens," Sun Fuling said, gently twisting his hand, her voice soft, "yet you're always smiling and joking, as if no difficulty is a big deal. Being with you feels light and joyful, and you feel that every day holds hope."

What a rare quality this was.

She met He Lingchuan's gaze. "It's not just me; everyone feels this way."

He Lingchuan summarized with a single sentence: "So, I'm more likable than Commander Zhong?"

"At least more likable to me," Sun Fuling said, her dimples reappearing as she smiled. "If I were a soldier, I'd rather follow you."

"Follow me?" He Lingchuan was moved, enclosing her soft hand in his palm. "Teacher! Join the military!"

Sun Fuling rolled her eyes at him.

This concludes Golden Plains Story 3: "The Crossroads of Faith."

Golden Plains, Ju City.

Spring was a damp season. After several days of continuous rain, the streets were wet and slippery. As Dou Wenguan walked to the Yangshan Merchant Guild, his shoe soles squelched, sloshing through the mud.

Several sections of the road were flooded, forcing him to take detours.

At times like these, he particularly missed the cleanliness and tidiness of Suoding Island. The island's main roads were paved with bluestone bricks and had excellent drainage, so no matter how heavy the rain, there would be no standing water or flooding.

The advantages of one's own home were always revealed through comparison.

In the courtyard, even the flower petals were dripping water.

Dou Wenguan went up to the second floor to see his leader. He Lingchuan had already moved a chair and was sitting under the long corridor, enjoying the water dripping from the eaves like a curtain of pearls, a scene of unique charm.

"Island Lord, you wanted to see me?"

Now, like everyone else, he called He Lingchuan "Island Lord."

"Yes," He Lingchuan said, handing him a plate with several preserved fruits. "Have one."

Dou Wenguan casually took one and ate it, nodding as he said, "Thank you."

"How does it compare to the taste of your hometown?"

Dou Wenguan chewed a few times and spat out the pit. "To be honest, the dates from our Sand River Basin are sweeter," he said. "Where did you get this plate of yours?"

"Golden Plains, produced in the Situ family's territory," He Lingchuan replied, then asked him, "Have you always grown up eating dates in the Sand River Basin?"

"Yes," Dou Wenguan replied, thinking He Lingchuan was considering introducing the crop. "My brother said that the soil in the Yangshan Archipelago isn't very suitable for growing dates, so both yield and quality might be limited."

Dou Wuxing had actually considered this feasibility and then dismissed it.

He Lingchuan hummed in acknowledgment.

The Lingshan envoy stationed in Panlong City, Xin Yi, claimed to be from the Sand River Basin, yet had never tasted dates?

The Dou brothers were indeed from the Sand River Basin. When they joined He Lingchuan more than a year ago, among the gifts they brought him was a large bag of dates from the Sand River Basin, stating they were a local specialty.

So, Xin had lied?

He and He Lingchuan were strangers; what would be the point of telling such a lie?

Or perhaps Xin Yi had left the Sand River Basin and entered Lingshan from a young age, and therefore had no memory of his hometown's minor specialty?

That seemed plausible too.

Dou Wenguan picked up another date. Having been away from the Sand River Basin for over a year, he hadn't eaten his hometown's snacks in a long time and felt a sudden longing for them.

"My brother said that the Sand River Basin didn't originally produce dates," he mumbled, chewing. "They were also introduced from elsewhere."

"Introduced?" He Lingchuan's gaze sharpened. "How long ago was that?"

"Approximately three hundred years ago."

He Lingchuan immediately pressed him: "Are there definite records?"