Chapter 19: The Commander's Token

He Yue quickly retreated, yelling, "Commander Nian, please mind yourself!"

Nian Songyu not only failed to mind himself, but also tried to yank the young man over.

He Yue's face went ashen with fright.

Fortunately, someone lunged out from the side, aiming a punch at Nian Songyu's face! The heavy punch whistled through the air; if it had connected, Nian Songyu would have been sent flying at least ten feet, bruised and swollen.

But he reacted quickly, shrinking his body slightly and meeting the punch with his own fist, while simultaneously kicking his opponent's chest with great force, clearly enraged. However, this action caused him to release He Yue.

The attacker's punch was actually a feint; his true killing move was the short blade in his left hand, which he silently thrust towards Nian Songyu's ribs. Having already perceived, Nian Songyu also stepped back two paces, instinctively dodging that kick.

He Yue's cry finally reached them: "Stop! Don't fight!"

The person who had arrived was He Lingchuan. Without waiting for Nian Songyu to speak, he tilted his head, feigning surprise: "Commander Nian, is that you!"

"I thought some shameless scoundrel had sneaked in, trying to tarnish my second brother's reputation," He Lingchuan said, feigning curiosity. "Commander Nian, what are you doing standing outside his latrine?"

"I have trouble sleeping in strange beds, so I was just wandering around last night and ran into Young Master He, so we had a little chat," Nian Songyu said, patting his sleeves. "The capital is truly a melting pot, and as newcomers from the countryside, you'll need extra care." He smiled mildly at He Yue. "Young Master He, it's rare that we connected so well. How about I find you for a drink again tomorrow night?"

He Yue's face was chalk-white; he said nothing.

"Alright, then my second brother and I will certainly keep you company until we're thoroughly drunk!" He Lingchuan quickly interjected. "It's just that I tend to get a bit carried away when I drink and party, Commander Nian, so you'll have to bear with me."

Nian Songyu chuckled twice, finding the fellow's demeanor somewhat distasteful and not wishing to engage further.

He Lingchuan then added, "Oh, by the way, have you found out who leaked the news of my serious injury? I suspect it was an inside traitor!"

Nian Songyu's smile slowly faded. "Not yet," he replied, before turning and walking gracefully away.

As soon as he disappeared, He Yue rushed to the pond to wash his hands, moving as fast as a rabbit shot in the tail. He Lingchuan heard him utter a rare curse word and saw his face was pale, washing his hands repeatedly as if he wanted to scrub off a layer of skin. "Brother," He Yue said, "I'm glad you were here."

He was, after all, only fourteen. No matter how precocious he was, at times like this, he still needed to lean on his older brother for support.

"Seeing his punchable face, my hands were itching too," He Lingchuan comforted him. "But even if I hadn't been here, he wouldn't have truly laid a hand on you today."

"He was faking it?" He Yue frowned. "I've looked into Nian Songyu, and he apparently really does have such a predilection."

For generations, the Kite Emperors harbored a fondness for male beauty, which subsequently became a popular trend in the capital, with upper-class elites frequently keeping male concubines. Handsome young men like He Yue, with their clear features, were precisely the kind of prey certain individuals sought.

"Whether he was faking or not, it's hard to say," He Lingchuan chuckled. "But he was intimidating you. To protect your reputation, our family would then have to speed up our efforts. Luring in the afternoon, threatening in the evening—that's hitting them with both barrels." He playfully squeezed his brother's cheek. "Look at that delicate skin! No wonder people have ill intentions. I told you to train martial arts with me ages ago, but you refused."

He Yue slapped his hand away. "They're already impatient. Is it because the Coiling Dragon Desert is about to change?"

"Perhaps," He Lingchuan said, turning to walk out. "Get some sleep. I'm going to find something to eat."

"The low cabinet in the main kitchen often has snacks hidden in it."

"What is it today?"

"A plate of walnut cakes," He Yue coughed. "But only half is left."

"Not apple honey crisps?" He Lingchuan suddenly realized. "No wonder I sometimes couldn't find them—so you've been secretly eating them!"

Only when he reached a quiet, secluded spot did he vigorously shake his left fist. "Hiss, that stings," he muttered, examining his reddened knuckles. The skin wasn't broken, but it was slightly swollen. "That Nian Songyu fellow actually has some skill." His fists, tempered for years with iron sand and flint, could easily snap a piece of wood as thick as a bowl. Yet, the force from the punch he landed on Nian Songyu vibrated back, making his knuckles ache.

***

Early the next morning, the two guests were invited to the main hall, where He Chunhua personally delivered the good news.

"The entire leopard carcass has been recovered," Governor He announced. He had been busy until late last night and had only slept for an hour, yet he looked radiant and more energetic than his two sons. "However, I imagine you two are only interested in this leopard tooth." He spread his palm, revealing the leopard tooth.

Nian Songyu eagerly leaned closer. "Let me see!"

No one cared how the leopard carcass had been recovered. It was merely a pretense, and everyone was well aware of it.

But He Chunhua sighed. "I initially thought it was some adversary secretly at work, given that Blackwater City is on the frontier, surrounded by foreign enemies. I never imagined there would be so many internal complexities. I apologize profusely for delaying the Grand Tutor's important mission."

What else could Grand Tutor Sun say? He could only be magnanimous. "It's fine; ignorance is no crime. Besides, Young Master He himself was gravely injured."

He Chunhua then took out the leopard tooth and poured its contents onto a brocade tray. "They are all here, Grand Tutor. Please see which one is the token?"

Everyone gathered around to look, while Sun Fuping requested a cup of water and dropped a single grass seed into it. After just two gentle swirls, the grass seed began to sprout roots and shoots, growing at a visibly rapid pace. In just over ten breaths, it grew into a flowering plant, bearing a single fuzzy white flower with six petals, roughly the size of a fingernail.

Sun Fuping picked up the items from the brocade tray, bringing each one close to the small flower, one by one. The flower showed no reaction until—

Until He Lingchuan brought the half-broken comb closer; then, the white flower suddenly wilted, its stem and leaves shriveled, and it ultimately dissolved into powder, dispersing in the water.

"That must be it," Sun Fuping said. He was about to reach for it, but He Chunhua preemptively took the comb, examining it closely. "More than a hundred years have passed, and the attached resentment is still so potent."

Nian Songyu asked in surprise, "The token of the esteemed Commander of Coiling Dragon City is actually a comb?"

He Lingchuan shrugged. "He once had a wife and daughter."

He Yue interjected with a question. "There's something I don't understand: when the Xiayou Kingdom finally broke through Coiling Dragon City, why didn't they seize the Great Square Jar? They suffered significant losses, so they should have known its value."

"According to the historical records of the Xiayou Kingdom," Grand Tutor Sun said, taking a sip of tea, "after their army breached Coiling Dragon City and massacred its inhabitants, on the third day, the rivers and wells dried up, and even the moat water vanished overnight. On the fifth day, vegetation turned black and rotted; all crops and withered grass died. By the seventh day, all livestock had fallen dead. The Xiayou army deemed the place highly inauspicious and had no choice but to withdraw as quickly as possible, especially since there was no water or food, making it impossible for humans to endure. Furthermore, this army was immediately transferred to fight in the north and never deployed the Great Square Jar. What's more, I've scoured all Xiayou historical texts and found no record of any battles where mind-bewitching insects were suspected to have been used. Such a precious treasure—once the Xiayou Kingdom acquired it, why would they not deploy it on the battlefield?"