Chapter 1419: Exploration

Chapter 1404: Discussion (Part 1)

The travel-worn, scruffy General Chongwu stood beside him, immediately overshadowed.

“Let’s go eat!” He Lingchuan, having changed into fresh clothes, exuded his usual consistent warmth in welcoming guests. “Where’s Brother Fan?”

“He’s still resting,” Wan Qifeng replied, trailing closely behind them. “Lord Fan suddenly got up in the middle of the night, wanting to drink with our master again.”

He Lingchuan was greatly surprised. “Oh? How did I not know about this?”

He had just returned and genuinely didn't know about this incident.

“We persuaded him to go back halfway.”

“Is Brother Fan doing well?”

“Half an hour ago, the palace guards just went in to check on him. Lord Fan was sleeping soundly as before.”

General Chongwu looked at Wan Qifeng, Wang Fubao, and the others, then smiled at He Lingchuan. “All your subordinates are elites, no less capable than regular soldiers, and what’s more, they are remarkably loyal.”

As someone who commands and trains troops, he could tell at a glance that Wan Qifeng and the others had a different demeanor; they were seasoned veterans forged in battle. It’s not unusual for a powerful merchant to have a few capable bodyguards. But for every guard around this Island Lord He to be a one-in-a-hundred warrior, that’s truly remarkable.

“General Chongwu, you might not know this, but they are from Bailong. They were once a valiant and skilled warrior tribe in Ya, but after being pursued by Ya and forced to flee their homeland, they resettled on my archipelago.”

“Such good fortune!” General Chongwu exclaimed. “Give me ten more tribes like that, skilled in battle!”

“It’s not entirely good fortune. Ya was quite displeased and severed several trade ties with Yangshan.” He Lingchuan sighed. “I can no longer buy good horses from Ya, so I had to turn to Jia for assistance.”

General Chongwu was aware that Yangshan had multiple trade agreements with Jia. “Island Lord He’s choice is very wise. I’ve been to Ya and ridden their good horses. Honestly, our Chigu horses are superior.”

“That’s excellent then! I’m not losing out.” The mention of Chigu reminded He Lingchuan of Ah Xun. Chigu was once the territory of the Ying people. Now, other tribes have settled there, but no matter who lives there or who raises horses there, Chigu is still considered Jia’s own, and Chigu horses are regarded as Jia’s resources.

The Ying people moved their entire tribe, paying a huge price to finally escape the curse of the Shanjin Plain. But when will the other inhabitants of this plain be able to escape their own misfortunes?

He Lingchuan smiled, changing the subject. “By the way, it seems other travelers at this inn were also robbed. Have their belongings been recovered?”

No sooner had he asked than General Chongwu’s subordinate rushed over to report.

General Chongwu casually said, “Just speak openly; it’s not a secret.”

“Yes. Five merchant groups are claiming the recovered stolen goods. As for one other group, the innkeeper said they checked out and left before dawn, so a few boxes are still unclaimed.”

“They didn’t care about their stolen belongings and left before dawn?” General Chongwu stroked his chin. “Hmm, suspicious. Go after them.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Were there any other incidents with those merchant groups?”

“They all said the only unusual thing last night was the theft of their money and goods.”

General Chongwu nodded. “What are their origins?”

“Deyou Merchant Guild, Prince Qing’s Residence…” His subordinate rattled off the backgrounds of five groups in one breath.

“Prince Qing’s Residence also has a group staying here?” General Chongwu was a little surprised. “So discreet?”

Chapter 1404: Discussion (Part 2)

If he hadn’t sent someone to investigate, he wouldn’t have known.

“Is it strange?”

General Chongwu smiled. “If Island Lord He ever interacts with Prince Qing’s Residence in the future, you’ll understand.”

Could it be that the mastermind was targeting these noble and powerful merchant groups? And the theft from other groups was merely a smokescreen?

“I hope to have that opportunity,” He Lingchuan said casually. “Deyou Merchant Guild is also a major merchant guild in Jia, and they have dealings with my Yangshan.”

The two men sat down in the inn’s front courtyard and began eating a steaming hot breakfast.

The local breakfast was a bit strange, resembling the oatmeal He Lingchuan had eaten in another world, but it was savory, with minced meat and pickled long beans added. He Lingchuan took a couple of bites; initially, he found the sticky texture hard to get used to, but gradually, he grew to accept it.

General Chongwu, however, couldn’t eat it and ordered a large bowl of clear beef noodle soup instead.

He Lingchuan asked about the night’s pursuit, and General Chongwu recounted it from beginning to end. Then he said, “Island Lord He has always been known for his talent in Lingxu City. What’s your take on the peculiarities of this incident?”

Of course, he had heard about He Lingchuan’s actions in Lingxu City.

“Luring the tiger away from its mountain lair,” He Lingchuan said plainly, leaving a mouthful of the gruel. “The mastermind wasn’t after the money and goods at all. They had another target within the inn. By drawing away the people guarding that target, they could make their move.”

“Why steal from six or seven groups consecutively?”

“Perhaps to create a diversion,” He Lingchuan mused. “For example, General Chongwu, even though you recovered the stolen goods, are you still unclear about the culprit’s true objective?”

“Precisely,” General Chongwu nodded. “Those two petty thieves couldn’t have been my objective for an entire night’s pursuit. In Island Lord He’s view, the mastermind’s target was among those six or seven groups, and they have already succeeded?”

“Whether they succeeded, only the parties involved would know,” He Lingchuan added. “By ‘parties involved,’ I also mean these few stolen groups.”

General Chongwu hummed in acknowledgment. Indeed, if there were any hidden truths, even if he sent his subordinates to inquire, these groups wouldn’t likely disclose them openly.

It seemed, then, that yesterday’s theft might not have been targeted at him. He was simply unlucky and caught in the crossfire.

“Island Lord He and Envoy Fan weren’t robbed, were they?”

“After the general left in pursuit last night, we sent people to conduct our own checks. Fortunately, all our tribute gifts are still here.”

“It seems last night’s theft will end up unresolved,” General Chongwu said, rising after finishing his noodles. “I’m in a hurry to get on my way, so I’ll go ahead. Island Lord He, we’ll meet again in Tianshui City.”

He Lingchuan stood up and insisted on seeing him to the inn's entrance. There’s no harm in being courteous.

General Chongwu’s subordinate led over a magnificent steed with a black body, white tail, and red eyes. It was calm in demeanor, steady in gait, and exceptionally powerful.

At first glance, He Lingchuan couldn’t help but exclaim, “What a fine horse!”

In fact, when he had initially led the Rakshasa Evil Armor to attack General Chongwu, he had seen General Chongwu riding this very steed and had even felt a touch of envy.

He had good horses in the Coiling Dragon World, but not in reality, nor was it convenient to have them. Divine steeds are too conspicuous and easily remembered. The famed Chigu horses of the Shanjin Plain were merely good horses in a general sense; their average quality was excellent, making them suitable companions for cavalrymen.

General Chongwu smiled, swung onto his horse, and patted its neck, his affection evident. “Its name is Mo Bai. I raised it from a young age.”

This magnificent steed possessed at least half the bloodline of a true Boru, and even had the innate ability to move lightly and command the wind, making its speed and endurance far superior to ordinary horses.