Chapter 206: Snowy Night in the Dead Village

He Lingchuan suddenly opened his eyes and sat up.

He was inside a cramped carriage. On a low table in front of him lay a half-finished game of chess, and on the opposite wall was a small stain. At his feet, an incense burner slowly emitted a calming fragrance.

He had returned to reality.

He Lingchuan instinctively touched his neck; both his hands were covered in cold sweat. He was unharmed. He took a long, deep breath. It was good to be alive.

This was his third experience with death, and the sensation of a cold blade severing his windpipe lingered—he had even done it himself. The only drawback of the Coiling Dragon dream was its extreme realism. How long would it take him this time to emerge from the shadow of death? He Lingchuan optimistically wondered if, after dying enough times, he would eventually become numb to it.

He lifted the carriage curtain, and the whistling wind immediately grew clearer. Right, his father was anxious to travel and had missed their lodging, so the support army now had to press on through the sudden wind and snow. He Yue had been playing chess with Sun Hongye, He Lingchuan's newly acquired advisor, to pass the time, and He Lingchuan had "accidentally" fallen asleep while watching them in the carriage. There was nothing for it; the wind outside the window had been too gentle, and the chess game between the two of them too boring.

The curtain was drawn back, and Sun Hongye poked his head in. "Oh, young master, you're awake?"

He Lingchuan yawned, "Why did you two leave the game halfway?"

Sun Hongye gave a slight cough. "Young Master Er said it was better not to disturb your rest." The truth was quite the opposite: He Lingchuan's snoring had been thunderous, making it impossible for them to concentrate on their game.

"Come in and talk," He Lingchuan said, picking up a cup and taking two sips of cold tea. "I'm so exhausted!" No one knew that while he lay quietly sleeping here, his consciousness had entered the Coiling Dragon Wilderness to experience a fierce battle, and he had even died once, still feeling the lingering aftereffects. He had just been through something harrowing, yet the world around him remained completely oblivious.

"Earlier, I think I heard you say that Generals Ke and Ji used your tactics to break through Woling Pass?" He had then fallen asleep.

"Yes, I presented the strategy to the Imperial Censor, who was very pleased. He immediately went to the palace that night and presented the plan exactly as I had given it to the King." At that time, Sun Hongye was a companion reader at the home of Imperial Censor He Limin, so meeting Imperial Censor He was not difficult.

"I've heard the stories of the two generals breaking through Woling Pass; storytellers in the market are already recounting them. But your name never appeared in them." He Lingchuan mused. "Did that old man He shamelessly claim it was his own idea?"

"No, not exactly."

It seemed Imperial Censor He still had some self-respect.

"Lord He reported that this strategy was conceived by his third son, He Jing, who had been so worried about national affairs that he suffered sleepless nights for over two months." Sun Hongye gave a bitter smile. "Afterward, the King heavily rewarded He Jing."

He Lingchuan couldn't help but laugh as well. "Taking credit for others' achievements and claiming them for one's own children—that's an old trick among officials. Nothing new, nothing new!"

"I was foolish; I couldn't help but express my indignation in my words, and it reached Lord He's ears. He then expelled me from the He family."

The tea had long gone cold, and there was no charcoal in the carriage. He Lingchuan grasped the teapot and channeled his true energy; soon, steam began rising from the spout. Then, he personally poured Sun Hongye a cup of hot tea. "At Luming Garden, He Su, the second son of the He family, was disrespectful to both Zhu Xiu'er and me. The trouble with your carriage descending the mountain also couldn't be unrelated to him. I originally planned to teach him a lesson myself, but then I thought, why not leave this opportunity to you?"

Sun Hongye's expression shifted slightly. If it were anyone else, they would only advise him to let it go. What right did a mere commoner have to challenge a powerful court official?

He Lingchuan continued, "Don't underestimate yourself. Just look at the behavior of He Su and his third brother; you can tell the He family's fortune isn't prospering. Come with me to the northern lands for a few years, and opportunities will arise in no time."

Sun Hongye thought for a moment, then nodded earnestly. "Alright!" He greatly anticipated the chance to make his mark by going north with the He family.

"Oh, right," Sun Hongye said with a smile, "earlier, we spotted a cluster of lights on the opposite mountain, probably a village or town. Lord He has already sent people to investigate." He added, "Lady Ying has some reservations."

He Lingchuan poured himself a cup of hot tea as well and drank it to warm his stomach. "She was terrified by the bandits by Immortal Spirit Lake and now thinks every village in the world harbors ill intentions towards us."

"Hunger and cold can breed thievery; Lady Ying's worries aren't unfounded." Sun Hongye lifted the curtain and looked out at the great mountains in the night. Sure enough, he saw scattered lights ahead, appearing especially welcoming in the wind and snow. "However, with our strong forces, petty criminals wouldn't dare covet what we have."

He Lingchuan said lazily, "Why fear bandits? Our own retinue includes bandits." Wu Shaoyi, along with several hundred of his subordinates who had also been pacified, had been incorporated into He Chunhua's support army, though they didn't yet have military uniforms to wear.

Sun Hongye composed himself. "Young Master Er told me about the Battle of Immortal Spirit Village. Your decision to stay behind and cover the retreat showed courage; surviving the fall from the cliff demonstrated luck; and your seizing the opportunity to subdue the crocodile demon and Wu Shaoyi proved your wisdom. With courage, luck, and wisdom all combined, you are not as simple as you appear on the surface."

"Do I really look simple on the surface?" He Lingchuan rolled his eyes. "Flatter me well, and I might just give you a raise."

"Young Master, you are cynical yet without vices, and meticulous yet decisive—precisely the kind of military talent most needed for campaigning in the northern lands." Sun Hongye smiled. "If Lord He possesses keen insight, he will surely entrust you with important responsibilities."

Suddenly, the sound of hoofbeats came from not far ahead. He Lingchuan lifted the curtain and saw a single rider gallop from the mountain path opposite, joining the vanguard of the support army. It appeared the scout sent to reconnoiter the path ahead had returned.

Sure enough, not long after, an officer rode back and forth, relaying orders for the soldiers to remain vigilant and prepare for any sudden developments. He Lingchuan reached out and stopped him. "What happened up ahead?"

"A massacre," the officer replied. "Seventy or eighty men and women in the village ahead have been killed; the perpetrators spared no one, not even young children."

"Bandits in the village again?" The public order in Great Kite was truly abysmal.

"It doesn't look like injuries from conventional weapons. Lord He has ordered us to continue forward, but to be ready for battle."

The wind and snow grew heavier, and the support army needed to find a place to rest. Although the village ahead was a scene of brutality, if they bypassed it, who knew how far the next settlement would be? Marching in wind and snow was more perilous than hurrying through a rainy night. Besides, He Chunhua now commanded several hundred soldiers. Even in the wilderness, what force could truly threaten him? Therefore, the entire army continued to advance as planned.

Since there was trouble ahead, He Lingchuan couldn't well remain in the carriage. He mounted a horse and rode to the front to find his father.

Two quarters of an hour later, the support army arrived at the village nestled halfway up the mountain. This village was even smaller than Immortal Spirit Village, though it had dozens of structures, including residences, woodsheds, animal pens, and storehouses. Most of the houses were lit. There were bloodstains on the ground and walls. He Lingchuan saw no corpses, but he did notice drag marks on the ground.