Chapter 375: Sun Fuling Fulfills Her Promise

With all these clues linked, if He Lingchuan still couldn't understand, he would have wasted all his time spent with He Chunhua.

Tracing back even further, Wen Daolun's son had died, killed by the Jin Du Zai.

Zhong Shengguang's only beloved daughter was also gone, personally sent by him to the God-Descent Pillar.

Ji Yu's two sons, Sun Fuling's brother, and countless children of Panlong City's residents had all died on the battlefield.

Beneath the veneer of ideals, legends, and fairness, always lay brutality, cruelty, and compromise.

Hu Min had said that the first task for promotion to the Great Wind Army was always difficult. He Lingchuan could tell that Willow and Door Plank were unwilling to kill unarmed and defenseless people.

That's why he was here.

Since it was a task, someone had to carry it out.

But why did the dream arrange such a task for him?

The three returned to Panlong City, each lost in thought. Door Plank and Willow left, and He Lingchuan, as captain, went to the Pengcheng Department to submit the mission report.

Because it was a secret execution, Adjutant Liu didn't know the mission content. He just took out a ledger and marked it as 'completed,' then smiled at He Lingchuan, saying, "Your first mission to get promoted to the Great Wind Army was completed in just half a day. That's impressive."

"We were lucky," He Lingchuan replied with a smile. "It wasn't difficult."

Next, he went home first, to shower and change.

However, just as he entered his home, he saw a note tucked into the door crack. He opened it and saw that it was written by A-Luo:

"If you want the recipe, find me at the Elixir Department."

Had this guy finally bothered to get out of bed and go to the Elixir Department?

He Lingchuan quickly took a cold shower, splashing water all over the courtyard floor.

He had just put on his clothes when he heard a sound from next door, and someone called out, "Hey, He Lingchuan."

He looked up and saw Sun Fuling perched on the wall, smiling at him.

Her smile was bright and warm. He hadn't seen her in a long time and had missed her dearly.

But how long had she been perched there?

He couldn't shake the feeling that Sun Fuling's smile seemed rather pleased.

"Miss Sun?" He Lingchuan didn't mince words. "Haven't seen you in ages. You're not hiding from me, are you?"

"What do you have to be afraid of?" Sun Fuling raised an eyebrow, a hint of challenge in her gaze. "Do I need to hide from you?"

"I defeated Meng Shan, so shouldn't you fulfill your promise?" He Lingchuan tapped his cheek. "If you drag this on any longer, I'll start charging interest."

Sun Fuling dropped the act. With one hand on the wall, she leaped over the low barrier. He Lingchuan's vision blurred, and a warmth touched his cheek, as if a butterfly's wing had brushed him—light and soft.

He instinctively reached out with his backhand, but Sun Fuling had already retreated five feet and said with a smile, "Promise fulfilled!"

"That's it?" Sun Fuling's speed could be described as "like a startled swan," startling even him, a Great Wind soldier.

"I was beaten half to death by Meng Shan for this?!" He cried out in mock indignation, but a chill ran through his heart.

Sun Fuling's movements were simply too fast; he hadn't reacted at all.

Both in Panlong City and in reality, he had experienced a series of fierce battles, and his alertness far surpassed that of ordinary people.

Yet, it wasn't enough.

At her speed, if she had intended to stab him instead of just brush against him, he would have been utterly unable to dodge.

This girl was not someone an ordinary person could afford to offend.

Sun Fuling laughed, "Clearly, it was Meng Shan who was beaten half to death by you… Alright, I'll treat you to another meal."

"Today?" Her casual and unblushing demeanor significantly diminished his sense of accomplishment.

"Yes, today." Sun Fuling glanced at herself. "But I need to change first. Wait for me."

With that, she hopped over the wall again and left.

Once they got familiar, they stopped using the door? He Lingchuan secretly rolled his eyes. Their friendship was truly one forged by jumping walls.

Fortunately, Sun Fuling changed much faster than most women, at least not like Madam Ying, who would take half an hour to do her hair, draw her eyebrows, set her makeup, change her clothes, and apply perfume...

In about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, her voice came from next door: "Alright, let's go."

He Lingchuan pushed the door open and stepped out. He saw his companion for the day had changed into a lake-green spring outfit, with delicate gold speckle patterns on the collar and sleeves, a departure from her usual plain attire. Her beautiful hair was swept up, adorned with the candy-snail hair ornament, and a slender shell hairpin.

This seemed like another side of Sun Fuling: lively and charming.

Seeing He Lingchuan staring intently at her, she instinctively smoothed her temples. "What, does it not look good?"

"It looks good," He Lingchuan said with a wide, toothy grin. "Like you just crawled out of a lake."

"Ahem, I meant, like a lake fairy!" He Lingchuan quickly changed the subject as they started walking out. "Where have you been these past few days?"

They hailed a cart—a donkey cart—and headed straight for the Wenxuan Pavilion.

"A female teacher at Shumin Academy took seven days off, so I went to substitute for her. Coincidentally, my own classes are also very full lately, and commuting two hours a day was too much hassle, so I just stayed at the academy." Sun Fuling sighed. "This teacher's surname is Wen, and her youngest brother recently passed away."

"Wen?" He Lingchuan's heart stirred. "Could it be…?"

"Yes, she's the daughter of Mr. Wen Daolun." Sun Fuling walked beside him. "The old matriarch of the Wen family fell ill from grief after losing her beloved grandson, and they say her pillow hasn't been dry for days. Teacher Wen took leave to go back and nurse her with medicine."

He Lingchuan certainly remembered Wen Jian. Such a vibrant boy, with light in his eyes, had passed away suddenly before he could even contribute to Panlong City. What a great pity.

In this unreasonable world, good people truly don't live long.

"What about Mr. Wen? Is he alright?"

"Not very well. Teacher Wen said he looked haggard and drawn. He also took a few days off, claiming he needed to rest at home, but he's locked himself in his study and isn't seeing anyone."

He Lingchuan fell silent.

Perhaps only he understood that Wen Daolun's pain was even greater than the old matriarch's. He also had to endure the torment of his bloodline and the accusations of his conscience.

Not saving his own son was very likely a decision Wen Daolun made himself.

He Lingchuan gazed at the distant pagoda spire. The pagoda stood beside the Mitian Niangniang Temple, known as the Seven-Tiered Pagoda.

Beneath the blue sky and white clouds, this city held a great secret. Wen Daolun was willing to sacrifice his beloved son and endure day after day of future suffering, just to protect it.

"It's hard on him."

Sun Fuling had promised to treat him to a meal, but He Lingchuan needed to make a quick trip to Wenxuan Pavilion first, to look up something.

Sun Fuling asked him, "What do you want to look up?"

Right, the person beside him was a history teacher. "I want to look into the history of the Pu Kingdom. I heard that General You Shanming of Pu was valiant and skilled in battle, and was also a disciple of an immortal sect. He fought several brilliant battles."

"You Shanming?" Sun Fuling mused. "I recall there being two Pu Kingdoms, but since you mentioned You Shanming, you must be referring to the earliest one, the Former Pu."

"So the two Pu Kingdoms are distinguished by 'Former' and 'Latter'?"

"That's right."

How casual.

"It's clear at a glance, and convenience for later generations is paramount." Sun Fuling smiled. "The Former Pu was an ancient kingdom from 2,600 years ago, its reign lasting just over a hundred years—neither long nor short. However, it was one of the first kingdoms to emerge, pioneering many systems for later generations. For example, the military system used in Panlong City originated from the Pu Kingdom."

"That's right. In ancient times, there were families but no nations; only immortal sects and demon clans each held their own territories." He Lingchuan had spent plenty of time at Wenxuan Pavilion, having read countless scrolls, and had some impression of the ancient and medieval periods. "So-called 'nations' only emerged in the medieval period."

"Yes, that's right. It was in the medieval period that people discovered the existence of elemental energy, providing a solid foundation for the establishment of nations." Sun Fuling nodded. "Hundreds of years after the Great Calamity, humanity was able to contend with immortals and demonic beasts through the strength of their nations. At that time, certain immortal sects had the foresight and made efforts to shed their arrogance and hubris, attempting to send talented individuals to the mortal realms."

He Lingchuan chuckled. "Calling a nation 'mortal realm' and claiming it's not arrogant or hubristic?"

"That depends on who you're comparing them to," Sun Fuling said slowly. "Compared to old immortal sects like the Great Return Sect, the Heavenly Evolution Sect was already quite enlightened. You Shanming was sent to the Pu Kingdom in this manner, later becoming a pillar and a great general, indirectly proving the Heavenly Evolution Sect's strategy was correct."

"In an era where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is gradually thinning, the distance between immortal sects and the mortal realm is destined to draw closer."

Keeping up with the times?

"Hmm?" Sun Fuling saw him instructing the donkey cart driver to take a different path. "This isn't the way to Wenxuan Pavilion. Aren't you going to Wenxuan Pavilion?"

"Not anymore. Having you, a walking dictionary, is enough." He habitually chose laziness. "I'm going to the Elixir Department to find A-Luo. He promised to do something for me."

"So how did You Shanming die?" At that time, the Soul-Capturing Mirror was just a heart-guard mirror on You Shanming.

"I recall that at that time, relations between human nations and immortal sects were still good, but animosity with the demon race was deepening. Both You Shanming and the Former Pu were ultimately destroyed by the demon race. However, the demon immortal who led the attack on the Pu Kingdom—hmm, what was its name?—also sustained serious injuries."

He Lingchuan noticed that her lips would unconsciously part slightly when she was deep in thought.

"Hongluan?"

"Yes, Hongluan! I heard it died not long after that great battle." Sun Fuling was a little surprised. "How did you know?"

"I just… casually read a bit of unofficial history."

"Which book?"

"Uh, I don't remember." No wonder the Soul-Capturing Mirror set that scene as the illusion within it; it was You Shanming's final battle.

"You Shanming and the Pu Kingdom were very strong; even a demon immortal was fatally wounded." For people of today, the word 'immortal' was such an ethereal concept.

"When they went to war with the Pu Kingdom, even the demon immortal wasn't at its peak." Sun Fuling shook her head. "Hundreds of years had passed since the Great Calamity. The tides of spiritual energy waxed and waned, but overall, they had been declining for centuries. The human immortals and demon immortals still active in the world at that time were living off their reserves, only growing weaker with no new gains. Calling them 'immortals' at that point was a bit of a stretch."

He Lingchuan immediately thought of Madam Zhu Er. She had also said that her true form couldn't adapt to the increasingly thin spiritual energy, which was why she had transformed to survive. He frowned and asked, "Since they were getting weaker themselves, why did they still aggressively attack human nations?"

Sun Fuling shrugged. "Less and less spiritual energy means too many wolves and not enough meat, so wouldn't they fight to the death over the last few morsels?"

"Wait a minute, has the spiritual energy never recovered?"