Chapter 2212: The Most Cherished Entrustment

Lu Family Fortress, originally a wilderness, is the closest horse ranch to Stone Spring City. In recent years, its soil and water have improved, making it an excellent place for raising horses. General Hong is fond of good horses, always keeping seven or eight excellent steeds in her backyard, ready for use.

"No expeditions planned recently?"

Zhong Shengguang shook his head.

"If I were Mitian, the best time for my true form to descend would be amidst chaos, catching Dragon City off guard. So, the first thing I'd need is a disturbance." But Stone Spring City is currently stable, prosperous, and peaceful. What kind of disturbance could possibly occur?

"I originally thought that General Hong, having led troops for many years, remains unshaken even when mountains crumble before her. To make her lose her resolve, there would have to be a major change in her immediate surroundings." He Lingchuan clapped his hands and sighed. "But now, associating it with the change in the Kingdom of Xiluo, this really could be Mitian's doing! Do you think so too?"

"Indeed," Zhong Shengguang said, his brows furrowed into two vertical lines. "The King of Xiluo's favorite concubine's abnormal behavior isn't strange when attributed to a fanatic or someone bewildered by divine magic. Mitian has many followers in the human world, not just in the Dragon Wasteland."

He Lingchuan nodded, recalling the Moon God statue he had seen long ago in the Demon Nest Marsh. That powerful tribe also worshipped Mitian, but Mitian was revered as the "Moon God" in that region.

"Mitain orchestrated the deaths of the King of Xiluo and his two sons, which will inevitably lead to internal strife in Xiluo, followed by its downfall." Zhong Shengguang sighed deeply. "These past few days, the people of Dragon City have shown unprecedented enthusiasm for Xiluo, with countless individuals asking when the army will be dispatched. They absolutely cannot stand by and watch their homeland be taken by others. Mitian calculated this precisely and chose that moment to kill the King of Xiluo."

He Lingchuan followed the line of thought: "The significance of an eastern expedition to Xiluo is extraordinary. We will very likely confront the Beijia army head-on again, so General Hong is bound to go into battle. This is what Mitian wants: a time of 'military chaos and disarray'!"

General Hong's participation in the expedition holds even greater significance than her actual performance on the battlefield.

She is a goddess of war; she is also the soul of the army.

As long as she appears on the battlefield, even without taking action, the morale of the Dragon City army will soar.

Therefore, Zhong Shengguang cannot indefinitely prevent her from leading troops into battle.

"At that time, with battles following one after another, Mitian can descend at any moment!"

War is Mitian's best cover.

Evidently, Xu Shichu was also well aware of Zhong Shengguang's predicament, which is why he expressed his objection earlier in the Hall of War.

"Conquering Xiluo is what the people want; I cannot obstruct it for too long," Zhong Shengguang said, shaking his head. "Mitian knows General Hong will eventually lead an eastern expedition. He just needs to wait!"

Waiting for the optimal moment.

Anything can happen on a battlefield.

At that moment, He Lingchuan truly understood Zhong Shengguang's difficult position.

He knew that Mitian was likely preparing to descend in their true form during General Hong's eastern expedition, but he couldn't tell his subordinates in the Hall of War the truth.

What if Mitian didn't do that? Would Dragon City then miss the grand opportunity to claim Xiluo?

With the homeland desired by the people on one side, and his beloved daughter for whom he had felt guilty for many years on the other, Zhong Shengguang's heart was nearly torn in two.

"I will certainly stay by General Hong's side," He Lingchuan pledged solemnly, "and help her fight against Mitian!"

"You must ensure..." Even with Zhong Shengguang's strength, he choked up for a moment. "...ensure that the timing for the Illuminating Lamp to awaken the Dragon God is neither too early nor too late, but absolutely perfect!"

Too early or too late, and it would lead to disaster!

"You can rest assured!" He Lingchuan clenched his right fist and thumped his chest firmly. "I will protect her with my life!"

"Good, good!" Zhong Shengguang made no attempt to hide the relief in his eyes.

This was the most crucial matter for Dragon City, which he should have handled himself. But now, he had a better candidate.

General Huye had grown remarkably quickly over the years, far exceeding his expectations. What was even rarer was his excellence in both strategy and combat, combined with unwavering loyalty. He was truly the best in every regard!

In particular, his ability to adapt on the fly and his grasp of timing and current situations were praised even by General Hong.

Zhong Shengguang had observed him for a long time before making this decision.

He surprisingly trusted He Lingchuan more than himself.

At that very moment, he entrusted his daughter, the future of Dragon City, and the hope of this world to He Lingchuan, whom he held in the highest regard.

He believed that this young man would not disappoint his expectations.

Enough had been said.

Stepping out of the government office, the crowds on Red Cloud Street bustled, exuding a lively atmosphere.

No one knew that the shadow secretly hovering over the Dragon City territory was growing heavier and heavier.

Zhong Shengguang had finally revealed Dragon City's secret without reservation. He Lingchuan walked through the bustling marketplace on his way home, his heart also pounding.

The falling out between Dragon City and Mitian was one of the two most significant events in Dragon City's history, and he was about to witness it firsthand.

It was late when he returned home. Fluorescent spore lamps illuminated the roadside, but his own courtyard was completely dark.

He Lingchuan pushed the gate open casually; it creaked.

He instantly stopped, for there was a figure hidden in the corner of the courtyard!

His new house in Stone Spring City was twice the size of his previous one in Dragon City. It wasn't grand, but it was standard for a well-off family. Other generals would keep guards or retainers to protect their homes, but He Lingchuan already had too many people living in his actual residence. In the Dragon City world, he sought a quiet place for solitude, and because Master Sun often visited, he never kept a third person in his house.

Now, however, there was an extra shadow beneath the osmanthus tree in his courtyard.

The most peculiar thing was that, despite his keen senses, he hadn't detected the person's presence from outside the gate.

The person slowly turned around only after hearing the gate open.

"General Hong..."

She was dressed in dark, close-fitting attire, with only her hair tie being red.

Of course, He Lingchuan had seen the evil dragon mask she wore many times, so he recognized her at a glance.

It was General Hong.

He closed the gate behind him and set up a barrier. "Why are you here?"

"Have you and Commander Zhong spoken privately?"

The moment General Hong spoke, He Lingchuan understood that she not only knew the military had held a council but also guessed the purpose of Zhong Shengguang's meeting with him.

"Lord Zhong summoned me to discuss preparations before the eastern expedition, and then... he gave me a few extra instructions."

Both knew that the emphasis of He Lingchuan's words was on the latter part.

What private instructions had Zhong Shengguang specifically given He Lingchuan?

General Hong seemed to smile. "No need to elaborate; I don't want to know."

"Understood."

He Lingchuan nodded very decisively. Zhong Shengguang had said that, for safety reasons, he hadn't told his daughter about his plan with the Dragon God. However, General Hong was an extraordinary person and knew Zhong Shengguang very well; she could naturally guess that Zhong Shengguang was secretly plotting against Mitian's true form descent.

But she didn't want to know the details.

After all, once Mitian descended, they would share a consciousness.

Furthermore, since she could sense Mitian's emotions, wouldn't Mitian perceive Dragon City's intent to resist?

Therefore, as one of the parties involved, it was better for General Hong to know as little as possible.