Chapter 1360: Where to Go

He Lingchuan nodded to himself.

With Situ Yu's recent death, the allied forces were bound to be unsettled. Situ He needed to consolidate his power quickly before the news spread widely. The Yangshan Archipelago was a vital source of funds and provisions for the allied forces. As long as He Lingchuan clearly stated his continued support for Situ He, he would have a much stronger foundation for taking over command of the allied forces.

At this critical juncture, He Lingchuan's strong support was naturally deeply appreciated by Situ He.

He composed himself and then said, "Brother He, I have another matter to consult you about."

His father had just died. He had left behind his father's funeral arrangements, the pursuit of the killer, the military affairs on the front lines, and the various dealings of the allied forces. He had rushed to Jucheng first, not only to immediately ascertain He Lingchuan's stance and secure his support, but also because he was feeling uncertain and hoped to hear what he needed from He Lingchuan.

He Lingchuan had saved Situ He himself, helped him and his father, killed the Ghost King Xuanlu, provided stable provisions for the allied forces, and even devised a plan to resolve the conflict between the Poliu and Kan tribes. In Situ He's heart, Island Lord He was the most trustworthy person, capable of turning the tide. When his father met with disaster, the first person he thought of was He Lingchuan.

"Tell me," He Lingchuan said, knowing he needed to show his willingness to help at this moment.

"My mind is currently consumed with avenging my father and leveling Bixia to the ground! So, Brother He, I want to ask you—" Situ He's eyes were filled with resentment, "Should I stop?"

"Should the allied forces cease operations?"

"Brother Situ, well done!" He Lingchuan patted his shoulder, offering both comfort and admiration.

Despite being overwhelmed by grief and indignation, Situ He feared that his hatred would cloud his judgment, which was why he sought He Lingchuan's objective perspective. Months ago, when He Lingchuan rescued him from a clone of the Ghost King Xuanlu, Situ He had acted solely on impulse and raw passion. But now, even with his fury surging and threatening to erupt, he clung desperately to a shred of clarity, mindful of the bigger picture. War, indeed, was the fastest and most ruthless crucible for tempering a person.

He Lingchuan turned and walked towards the back garden. "Follow me," he said.

The garden of the Yangshan Merchant Guild was deep and secluded. Situ He walked along, bewildered. "Brother He?" he asked.

"We have time before answering your question," He Lingchuan said, leading him deeper into the garden.

There were no idlers here. Under an old pear tree stood two grayish-brown wooden dummies, clearly used for practicing martial arts. One was a bare wooden dummy, while the other was wrapped from head to toe in thick leather. These were crafted by the Songyang Manor from ancient sunken wood found at the bottom of a cold pool. Though called wooden dummies, they were in fact magical artifacts, whose sole characteristic and advantage was their extreme hardness. They were so hard as to be impervious to blades and spears.

Whenever He Lingchuan felt troubled, he would come here to punch the dummies and vent his frustration. Although he only used his fists and feet, two sets of these dummies had already been broken; this was the third set. Now, pointing to the dummy wrapped in leather, he told Situ He, "Hit it."

"Huh? Brother He?"

"Just do as I say. Hit it."

Situ He looked bewildered. He had come to He Lingchuan burdened with a profound blood feud and an immense responsibility, only for the other man to tell him to practice punching in the garden? Yet, without a word, he swung his fist and struck.

"Good," He Lingchuan encouraged him. "Keep going."

Situ He punched a few more times. He started slowly, but the more he hit, the angrier he became, the more enraged, and consequently, the faster he struck.

Bang! Bang, bang, bang!

Seeing his eyes gradually redden from the exertion, He Lingchuan promptly added:

"Imagine it's the killer of your father, a Bixian!"

"Ah—"

Situ He let out a loud cry, his fists raining down blows, sending scraps of leather flying from the dummy. The fury that had been suppressed in his heart for so long finally found an outlet and burst forth! Sweat poured down his forehead, veins bulged on his neck, and his eyes were bloodshot. If the killer were right before him, he would use a knife, his fists, or even his teeth to fight the enemy to the death!

He wanted revenge! He wanted revenge! He wanted revenge!

He Lingchuan stood by, hands clasped behind his back, watching Situ He vent his emotions like a storm for over fifteen minutes. Eventually, Situ He was panting heavily, and his punches gradually slowed. His cultivation and physical stamina were not as good as He Lingchuan's. After the initial surge of anger and fury passed, his strength plummeted, and exhaustion set in.

"Already out of steam?" He Lingchuan usually trained with the dummies for at least half an hour.

"No, no more," Situ He panted, gripping his legs, unable to stand straight. Both of his fists were red and swollen, almost the size of steamed buns.

"Thank you, Brother He!" Earlier, overwhelmed by fury, he hadn't been able to think clearly. Now, as his agitation drained away with his physical energy, his calmness and reason partially returned. Only after venting his rage could he think more calmly.

He Lingchuan handed him a cup of cool well water, which Situ He gulped down in a few mouthfuls. Only then did He Lingchuan ask him, "Who exactly is your enemy?"

"The Bixians, it must have been assassins sent by the Bixians." Situ He had just finished speaking when he shook his head repeatedly. "No, no, the Bixians don't have that capability. It must have been Yaoguo acting in secret!"

While Situ Yu and his son were openly at war with Bixia, their true hatred lay deep down for Yaoguo. They had fought against the Bixians for so long that they knew exactly how formidable their opponents were. Killing Situ Yu within Situ's own territory should have been beyond the Bixians' capabilities. He Lingchuan and Situ He shared the same thought: The Bixians had most likely enlisted external assistance. Their reputation was poor in the central region of the Blazing Gold Plains, and they had even provoked seven enemies to unite against them. The only ones daring to offer assistance despite the pressure would likely be Yaoguo and its vassals. Yaoguo had provided money, provisions, and mercenaries; they were practically on the battlefield themselves. Neither of them would be surprised if Yaoguo had sent assassins to attack Situ Yu.

Failing to divide the allied forces' northern front, Bixia and Yaoguo conceived another plan: to strike at the head of the snake first. With the death of their key figure, Situ Yu, the allied forces would crumble, and the enemy's objective would be achieved.

"Even if the allied forces cease their attack now, the former territories of Gaopu Kingdom have all been recovered. The Bixians, having been dealt a painful blow, should behave themselves for a few years. These two achievements, you have already secured," He Lingchuan said, handing Situ He a jar of anti-swelling and anti-bruising ointment for his hands. Despite the new dummy being padded, his fists should have been wrapped in soft cloth strips.

"Yes."

"The key question is, what is your next objective? What do you truly want? Think carefully," He Lingchuan analyzed for him, "aside from revenge."

Aside from revenge.

Situ He closed his eyes, striving to clear his mind, and took several deep breaths. Both the allied forces and he had arrived at a crossroads of decision. How should they proceed next? Should they abandon fighting and revenge, focusing instead on developing the former territories of Gaopu and the Situ family's lands? Or should they continue their offensive against Bixia, uprooting this menace completely? The former was certainly easier; simply stopping would lead to widespread satisfaction. Choosing the latter, however, would mean facing an even more desperate counterattack from Bixia and greater pressure from Yaoguo.