Chapter 2125: Reunion

Now that business was concluded, it was time for some personal conversation.

In this moment, he was not the Great Emperor of Nine Hells, but He Yue's elder brother. A familiar smile, familiar gestures. As his demeanor and attitude shifted, He Yue's eyes reddened slightly: “Big Brother, I… Mother and I have missed you so much.” The brothers hadn't seen each other in five or six years!

“Did you send the jade pendant from Naraku because you knew about the past?” The divine art from Naraku, embedded in the jade pendant, had removed the mark planted in He Lingchuan’s sea of consciousness. He Yue had watched from the side without showing much surprise. Moreover, before he left the country, He Chunhua must have confessed the truth that He Lingchuan was still alive. It couldn't have been covered up by lies alone. Indeed, He Yue nodded vigorously: “Father confessed everything!” He forgot to call him 'Your Majesty' again: “Mother and I were stunned on the spot. Mother lost her composure and severely reprimanded Father.” “Big Brother, all these years, I never imagined Father had such intentions towards you! I…” His chest heaved twice before he managed to swallow his words, “We never thought he would trade you with a celestial god.”

He had long known his father's character, but this secret still astonished him anew. But what could be done, even after knowing? No matter how much he disdained his father's actions, his father was still his father. The natural order of father and son remained immutable. Furthermore, He Yue himself had benefited from He Chunhua's deal with Naraku, rising steadily through the ranks over the years and now ascending to the position of Crown Prince. His brother suffered, yet he was the one who benefited. He Yue's inner turmoil was too complex for him to articulate.

He Lingchuan, however, understood. He reached out and patted his shoulder again: “It’s fine; that doesn’t affect our bond as brothers.” Whether the original He Lingchuan resented or forgave He Chunhua, that was the original He Lingchuan's business, not his. In his eyes, He Chunhua was a ruthless and ambitious leader who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. In a chaotic era, how could such a person be simply judged by good or bad, right or wrong?

He Yue nodded forcefully. Having been tempered in battlefields and officialdom over the past few years, his mindset was actually quite steady. But after five or six years, seeing his ‘resurrected’ brother again, he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion, unable to compose himself. He Lingchuan smiled, watching him. He Yue’s affection for him was genuine, and even though he wasn't the original person, he still felt warmth from this familial bond.

He Chunhua knew his second son too well; he had long calculated that He Yue would lose composure when facing He Lingchuan. But it was precisely this genuine outpouring of emotion that could move the Great Emperor of Nine Hells. The Great Emperor of Nine Hells, being nostalgic, would be gentler towards the State of Shen, and future cooperation would be more sincere and smoother. He Chunhua, that shrewd man, truly calculated every little detail. However, He Lingchuan wouldn't mention any of this to He Yue. He simply pointed to the stone house and said to his brother, “Wash your face, then come in for some tea!” After speaking, he glanced at Dong Rui, who, understanding the hint, chuckled and quietly slipped away. It was time for the brothers to have a private chat, and it wasn't appropriate for him to be involved.

He Yue crouched down and cupped a handful of water to wash his face. “Is this the Sacred Spring cherished by the Ya people?” It didn't seem particularly special, other than the water being cool and refreshing, with a faint sweetness.

“That’s right. Legend has it that the ancestors of the Korin people, pursued by enemies with nowhere to go, hid in Baichiu Spring by jumping into the hollow of this white rock.” He Lingchuan pointed to the rock lying in the lake. “At that time, the water level was very high, and the enemies left without checking the pool. The Korin ancestors escaped, settled in Baichiu Spring, and prospered for generations.” “Later, as the Korin clan grew and gradually became the dominant tribe of the Ya State, they moved to live in the Royal City. This place was then revered by them as their sacred origin. For the past few decades, the King of Ya would come here every spring and autumn, bathe and fast for three days, then offer sacrifices to his ancestors and pray for good fortune.”

He Yue looked at the stone hut, a little surprised: “So this is where the King of Ya stays?” “Exactly. The King of Ya lives here just as their ancestors did, without extravagance in this sacred place.” The furnishings inside were simple: just a stone bed and a table with chairs. He Lingchuan had already drawn a jar of clear spring water from the pool and casually took out a tea set to brew tea. The tea snacks were precisely the hawthorn jelly sent by Madam Ying, along with roasted rice cakes and dried venison that He Lingchuan had brought out. These rice cakes were made by toasting rice until fragrant, grinding it into powder, then adding brown sugar, sesame, and peanuts, shaping and baking them. When steeped in hot water during a march, they would expand into a filling bowl of rice porridge. But currently, it was a large, flat cake, and the brothers broke off pieces to eat. The dried venison was also tough; they could only peel off thin strands to chew.

“When on campaign, there aren’t many good things to offer. I’ll treat you to a grand feast once we win the war.” Both brothers smiled. He Yue recalled how his brother used to be unhappy without good food at home, yet now he could eat tough dried venison with just water. Ah! When did his brother change so much? He couldn't remember.

During wartime, alcohol was forbidden, so the brothers drank tea instead. He Yue then inquired about his brother's experiences after leaving the State of Yuan. He Lingchuan recounted what he could, lightly sketching his adventures, which was enough to make He Yue exclaim in constant admiration and regret: “What a pity! If only I could have been by your side, Big Brother, and experienced it all from beginning to end!” But then he reconsidered: hadn't he been following the very path his brother had taken, ever since he came from Baishawan? Along the way, his brother’s great deeds and achievements were sung everywhere. Everywhere along the route, there were people connected to his brother through favors and relationships. The journey was long and distant; it was already so arduous just for him to travel it once. Back then, when his brother embarked on his sea journey, he had fought his way through! Until he left the State of Shen, he hadn't realized how vast the chasm was between his father and himself, and his elder brother.

“Your campaigns alongside the King of Shen to help him ascend the throne were also a rare experience, weren't they?” He Lingchuan shifted the topic. “Come, tell me how you abolished Yuan and established Shen.” He Lingchuan had referred to He Chunhua only as “the King of Shen,” and He Yue understood. He then recounted how He Chunhua defeated the Grand Marshal and overthrew the dynasty, and briefly described the situation in the State of Shen since its founding over a year ago. “Good,” He Lingchuan clapped his hands. “The King of Shen may not be a good father, but in terms of governance and administration, he is incomparably superior to the likes of Grand Marshal Dong Haoming. The people of Shen State will at least have a few good years.” Before this, the State of Yuan had suffered incessant warfare, with collapsed order and immense civilian hardship. Once He Chunhua ascended the throne and began to govern, he would undoubtedly focus on recovery and diligent administration in the early stages. He was a very capable man; as long as he genuinely intended to do well, he would certainly achieve results. He also seized a good opportunity: the frequent outbreaks of Imperial Nectar in recent years aided the nation’s recovery. If He Chunhua couldn't seize such a good opportunity, he wouldn't have been able to rise from Blackwater City in the first place.

“Spirit Void City already knows my origins,” He Lingchuan asked. “Has Beijia exerted any pressure on the State of Shen?”