Chapter 22: Old Man Traps Son

"Originally, it was only thirty percent, but now it has increased to at least fifty percent," said Master Sun, glancing towards the Dragon-Coiling Desert. "That's assuming the anomalies in the desert don't exceed the information I have."

He Chunhua returned, his expression gradually hardening. "Alright, I'll go!" he declared.

The soldiers watching immediately regarded him with greater respect.

The He brothers were greatly alarmed. "Father, why go that far?" they exclaimed.

They attempted to rush forward but were halted by a sharp cry from He Chunhua.

The Prefect, slightly annoyed, chastised them, "What kind of disorderly conduct is this? Don't you see how many people are watching?" He then turned to Zeng Feixiong and commanded, "Depart!"

A contingent of nearly three hundred people set off north along the official road.

Only then did He Chunhua sigh and tell his sons, "I have squandered twenty years on the frontier, but you are still young and must not be held back any longer. If this mission succeeds, your future begins in the Great Capital!"

Twenty years of firsthand experience had taught him that even with the talent to govern the world, one could achieve nothing while stuck in a desolate backwater. Taking this single risk, which could restore the He family's standing in the Great Capital, was, in fact, a very sound investment.

"The nation is in turmoil, yet this place remains a haven," He Lingchuan couldn't help but interject. "Father, there's nothing wrong with Blackwater City. A vague treasure hunt isn't worth risking your life for!"

Truly, this place was quite good; he liked it immensely, despite the strong winds and sand, the coarse food, and the fact that too much beef and lamb became tiresome… But seriously, could they not create more trouble?

If the Prefect were to die, who would succeed him? Who could maintain order? The family's comfortable life would surely come to an end.

"It is only right to serve the nation with all one's might. You will understand when you are older." In truth, with the Imperial Advisor present and the King's decree issued, refusal was not an option. *This child, sixteen years old and still so naive!* He Chunhua patted his eldest son's shoulder, then turned to He Yue. "While I am away, Yue'er will assist in managing the prefectural affairs. You have always been steady and resourceful. If I do not return, you must care for the He family and your mother."

He Lingchuan couldn't help but turn to Sun Fuping. "Can't we wait a little longer? We could find someone else to lead the team!"

"We could wait, but every official we bring in would have to undergo this test," Sun Fuping replied, pointing to the large water tank. "An army's momentum is strongest at the outset; repeated delays only lead to exhaustion and flagging morale. By then, we wouldn't stand a chance against the Dragon-Coiling Desert."

Morale was at its peak now; if they were to try a few more times, the soldiers would grow weary.

Besides, the contingent had already departed; an arrow shot from a bow cannot return.

He Yue's eyes reddened. He gripped his father's hand, pulled him aside, and lowered his voice. "Father, this is a trap they've laid!"

"How could I not know?" He Chunhua shook his head slightly, glanced at He Lingchuan, who had followed, and after a moment of hesitation, said, "Chuan'er, you will accompany me."

Those words struck He Lingchuan like a thunderbolt, leaving his head buzzing.

"What? Father, I…" *I don't want to go!*

Why should he join a near-fatal adventure?

Didn't He Chunhua dote on his eldest son? Why would he call him to his death?

"Since your birth, the Great Shaman prophesied you were a lucky general, capable of turning even the direst misfortunes into blessings," He Chunhua began, seemingly finding the words difficult to utter. "For over a decade, the He family's prosperity has proven this prophecy true. This journey into the Dragon-Coiling Desert is fraught with unpredictable dangers, which is why I, I need your good fortune! Furthermore, your martial skill is considerable, and having a family member by my side brings me peace of mind."

He gripped He Lingchuan's arm, then subconsciously glanced at Sun Fuping twice before lowering his voice. "I have a strong feeling this could also be a tremendous opportunity for the He family. Chuan'er, your father's safety depends on you!"

He Lingchuan felt a bitter taste rise in his mouth, as if it might bubble over. He wanted to refuse, but could he?

From its very inception, the Great Kite Dynasty, like other regimes, had strenuously indoctrinated its officials and common people with the ethics of loyalty to the ruler and filial piety between father and son. For He Chunhua to ask his eldest son to accompany him, out of concern for his own safety, was thus considered perfectly normal.

The Prefect of Xunzhou had done something even more extreme, directly sending his own son into danger. In comparison, He Chunhua's request was hardly significant.

Furthermore, under the watchful eyes of so many, could He Lingchuan truly open his mouth and say "I won't"?

He could.

"Father, I don't..."

He Lingchuan was about to resort to his usual unreasonable antics, but He Chunhua knew his son too well. Before He Lingchuan had a chance to consider, waver, or refuse, his father preemptively raised his voice to Sun Fuping, "Imperial Advisor, Chuan'er will accompany me!"

His voice was exceptionally loud, causing the front ranks of the army to turn their heads.

Well, that settled it.

It also stifled He Lingchuan's final attempt at refusal.

He Chunhua patted his eldest son's shoulder and said with emotion, "Good boy!"

He Yue watched from the side, dumbfounded. Although it was common for fathers and sons to go to battle together these days, hadn't his father always favored his elder brother? Why insist on taking him into such grave danger?

It was clear that refusal was etched across his elder brother's face.

Nian Songyu, who had also overheard, waved to He Lingchuan. "Excellent, we'll get to know each other better on the journey."

What more could He Lingchuan say? His mouth felt dry and bitter as he looked at Nian Songyu's cheerful smile. "Alright, I'll go prepare some supplies."

What began as a farewell for the expedition team turned into a farewell for his father, and ultimately became a farewell for himself.

One could only conclude that life was full of surprises.

His second brother, with reddened eyes, now gave warnings about the journey's dangers, but surprisingly, to him.

He Yue grabbed his arm, then suddenly lowered his voice. "Be wary of those two."

"Do you really need to tell me that?" He Lingchuan rolled his eyes. "Uncle Hao, I'm entrusting my second brother's safety to you."

Uncle Hao nodded.

He and Nian Songyu had a personal feud, so He Chunhua had decisively kept him from joining this challenging expedition to the Dragon-Coiling Desert, to avoid any complications.

He Lingchuan was extremely envious of being left out of the trip, but at that moment, he could only offer a strained smile and wave goodbye.

As he looked at He Chunhua once more, a thought suddenly struck him:

Could it be that this father's affection for his eldest son wasn't as profound as He Lingchuan, in his original body, had always believed?

Recalling the memories of his original self, this father was indeed a man capable of great feats—thorough in his planning yet daring in his risks, rarely hesitant. However!

The thing was, whenever his father embarked on a risky venture, his eldest son seemed to always be at his side.

Was his status as a "lucky general" truly authenticated?

...

The Dragon-Coiling Desert had not yet entered its season of intense sandstorms, and Red Cliff Road was bustling with people.

With only a little over ten days left until the deadline, everyone was moving with a sense of urgency.

Before departing, He Lingchuan had already changed his mount, loaded supplies, and now wore a white robe, with only his face uncovered.

As the sun rose, the desert became terrifyingly hot. After walking for fifteen minutes without any shade, He Lingchuan felt his body growing scorching hot; he suspected that if he poured water on himself, he would simply steam.

In truth, they hadn't yet entered the actual desert. Around them, dwarf sea buckthorn, winterfat, and Nitraria tangutorum were frequently visible, with scattered saxaul trees and purple-stemmed willows interspersed.

As the only route in and out of Blackwater City, the path was littered with various items: dilapidated boxes, discarded cloth, bottles, and half-decomposed jackal carcasses. He Lingchuan even noticed a small tuft of black hair, swaying in the wind from a Nitraria tangutorum bush, which appeared to be human.