Chapter 442: Old Friends' Stories

"Exactly!" Li Qingge had already figured it out. "If Nian Zanli also sends a victory report to Beijia, the reason will likely be the annihilation of thirty thousand elite soldiers from the Yuanguo Kingdom. You know the situation in Yuanguo; they don't have many capable fighting forces. General Zhao's thirty thousand... they truly are a rare elite force in our country." She sighed deeply towards the end.

Yuanguo's elite forces were either on the western front fighting against the former Grand Marshal Dong Haoming, or on the northern front resisting Governor Nian Zanli of Xunzhou. Only a small contingent remained to guard the capital.

Beyond that, there were almost none left.

He Lingchuan felt keenly that the remaining troops had severely weakened combat power.

Even the Xia State army, hastily raised by He Chunhua within a few months, was still far inferior compared to Zhao Pan's troops.

What Nian Zanli had indeed eliminated was a significant force of the Yuanguo Kingdom.

"'Each reporting their own victory, each claiming their own merits,'" He Lingchuan smiled helplessly. "'A major battle actually results in a win-win situation?'"

"'Victory and defeat depend on perspective,'" Li Qingge twirled her cup a few times in her hand. "'From each side's standpoint, there are points of triumph. I see the people of Xia State are also joyful, praising your esteemed father's bravery and wisdom everywhere.'"

"'Father's time in Dunyu should be going very well now, shouldn't it?'"

"'Indeed!'" Li Qingge chuckled. "'Chief Steward He's decrees are widely implemented, his prestige is soaring, and there isn't a single county or prefecture that doesn't comply.'"

He Lingchuan leaned back slightly. "'It seems I've been worrying for nothing all this time.'"

"'How did you survive?'" Li Qingge was bursting with curiosity. "'I didn't have time yesterday, so explain it clearly to me now!'"

She and He Lingchuan weren't particularly close, yet their conversation was very familiar and natural, even with a hint of playful coquetry.

What was even rarer was that it wasn't annoying; instead, it made one feel flattered.

He Lingchuan simply started from the Battle of Han River, then mentioned meeting Zhu Erniang in the Demon's Nest Swamp, his experiences in the Baoshu Kingdom, the turmoil on the Gusty Plains... right up to the present.

Of course, some things could not be mentioned.

This narrative took at least two hours. Wine had been refilled three times.

Li Qingge clapped and said, "'How interesting, how interesting! I wish I had such experiences myself.'"

"'Your Grace has traveled widely, so your experiences are naturally richer than mine.'"

"'Too many trivial matters; unlike you, whose life is so pure,'" Li Qingge propped her chin with her hand. "'After you visit Xu Mountain in Lingxu City, what are your plans? Are you returning to Dunyu in Xia State?'"

He Lingchuan hesitated slightly. "'We'll see when the time comes. I always feel that this trip won't be peaceful.'"

He didn't mention the details of Zhu Erniang's commission, but it would surely have an impact on Xu Mountain.

He was a man of his word; secrets that needed keeping would be kept.

Hearing him say this, Li Qingge's eyes flickered.

He Lingchuan still had something on his mind. "'By the way, what happened to my subordinates?'"

At this, Li Qingge's smile faded. "'Oh, I heard that the wolf demon disappeared after the Battle of Han River, and it's... hard to find now.'"

He Lingchuan waved his hand. "'It's not dead.'"

He could feel that the immortal pet contract he had signed with Lu Xin was still active, which was why he had been more worried about Lingguang before.

"'Oh, and your medicine ape has already returned to Dunyu and I've invited it to Songyang Manor.'"

He Lingchuan was overjoyed and solemnly raised his cup to her. "'Thank you for taking it in.'"

Li Qingge then told him that during the Battle of Han River, Lingguang had initially been hiding in a tree. When the floodwaters overflowed southwards, it had to retreat west, and couldn't find He Lingchuan anywhere throughout the ordeal. It wasn't until the floodwaters receded and the battle ended that it heard He Lingchuan had been swept away by the deluge.

That kind of monstrous flood also carried endless fallen timber. Anyone falling into it would have little chance of survival unless they were an immortal.

Lingguang searched for He Lingchuan along the riverbank for half a month with the Xia State army but couldn't find him. It had no choice but to quickly return to Dunyu with the troops.

But upon returning, an awkward problem arose. Its employer had disappeared, and its employment contract was automatically terminated. The Chief Steward's Manor didn't need an alchemist, and its monthly salary of fifteen taels was quite expensive. For a time, Lingguang had nowhere to go.

Li Qingge must have heard about it somehow, as she decided to hire it. Songyang Manor happened to need an experienced alchemist.

"'This little monkey thought it had jinxed you to death and was depressed for many days, vowing never to harm anyone again,'" Li Qingge chuckled. "'Although it's at my manor, it hasn't signed an employment contract yet.'"

"'It thought it could jinx me?'" He Lingchuan burst into laughter. "'With its paltry cultivation? It thinks too highly of itself.'"

"'Besides that, four or five of your subordinates, including Shan Youjun, also survived and returned to Dunyu. As your whereabouts were unknown, they were absorbed into the Chief Steward's Manor. It seems there was also a young man named Sun.'"

"'Only four or five returned?'" Before the Battle of Han River began, he had brought more than ten cavalry guards to the battlefield.

"'Yes. And your subordinate, Jiao Tai, is also gone.'"

He Lingchuan fell silent.

He had rescued Jiao Tai from the Dunyu prison, but the man hadn't lived for more than a hundred days.

Li Qingge hadn't been in Xia State for long, yet she seemed to be a walking encyclopedia of Dunyu. "'That capable steward, Ding Zuodong, is temporarily working under Madam Ying.'"

He Lingchuan nodded; none of this was unexpected. With his eldest son swept away by the flood and presumed dead, what was strange about He Chunhua inheriting his legacy and taking over his talents?

Li Qingge then said, "'You said the great demon Zhu Erniang gave you some of her self-produced spider silk?'"

"'Yes.'" He Lingchuan's heart stirred. Remembering that she was the Master of Songyang Manor, a master of creation, he quickly took out cloud brocade and spider fangs from his storage ring.

Li Qingge picked up the cloud brocade and examined it carefully. She even lit a small wisp of true fire to test it, and only then exclaimed, "'Young Master He is truly remarkable; everything you present is a treasure of this caliber.'"

From the broken saber to Sun Fuping's purple-gold pestle, and now the cloud brocade personally made by the prehistoric great demon Zhu Erniang, the treasures He Lingchuan brought out were things even the nobles of Yuanguo couldn't get their hands on. Her investment in He Lingchuan seemed poised for even greater returns in the future.

Of course, He Lingchuan wouldn't say something like 'take it if you like it' to win the beauty's favor. He thought for a moment, then took the grappling hook from his sleeve arrow and placed it on the table.

"'The grappling hook Master Li Fubo made for me is indeed effective, but I'd like to separate it from the sleeve arrow. During my last fall into the Han River, I realized the need for a separate grappling hook. Also, can spider silk be incorporated into the rope?'"

"'Leave it to me!'" Li Qingge readily agreed. "'This rope of yours is already very strong; with the addition of great demon spider silk, I doubt anything could tear it apart.'"

"'That would be excellent,'" He Lingchuan took out another piece of cloud brocade. "'How about this piece as payment?'"

He couldn't take advantage of others for free.

For business to last, it must be mutually beneficial.

"'It's just a bit of handiwork, Young Master is truly generous.'" Despite her words, Li Qingge unhesitatingly put away the cloud brocade and picked up the two venomous fangs. "'As for these, they'd be perfect for crafting a pair of short blades. Naturally venomous, with built-in blood grooves.'"

"'I'll trouble Your Grace then.'" He intended them for his clone.

"'It will be done in three days at most.'" As soon as Li Qingge said this, He Lingchuan knew her skill level was at least on par with Li Fubo's.

"'Thank you, Your Grace.'"

"'If it's not good, please give us feedback promptly so we can improve it.'"

He Lingchuan mused, "'I am no longer the Young Master He of yesteryear. With Your Grace being so generous, how can I repay you?'"

Half of his words were a jest, the other half a probe.

Previously, Songyang Manor's courtesy towards him could be attributed to He Chunhua. After all, the Chief Steward of Xia State held a high position, and Songyang Manor, wishing to develop in that territory, would need to pay respects to the local power.

However, He Lingchuan was now alone in Beijia, without power or influence. Why would Li Qingge still offer him so much convenience?

Snobbery is human nature, and merchants are especially profit-driven.

He, on the contrary, felt a sense of caution regarding this woman's overtures.

Li Qingge chuckled. "'You connected me with Fu Shanyue, which made the Crown Prince of Chiyan owe me a great favor. I should be thanking you! Doing business in Chiyan isn't as easy as in Baoshu Kingdom. Conversely, as long as Fu Shanyue gives his word, my wealth will flow in, and competition will be much reduced. Tell me, shouldn't I thank you?'"

He Lingchuan laughed heartily. "'So I'm not taking advantage of Your Grace for free after all? Very well then, I accept with gratitude.'"

"'Young Master He, you're too polite.'" Saying this, Li Qingge covered her mouth and yawned. "'Alright, we have to travel tomorrow, so I need to rest.'"

He Lingchuan immediately stood up. "'Sweet dreams, then. See you tomorrow.'"

Li Qingge smiled and glanced at him. Her slender waist swayed gracefully as she exited the private room first.

When He Lingchuan returned to his room, he found that it had started raining outside at some point, a gentle drizzle.

The rain stopped during the Chou hour (1-3 AM). The air was filled with the scent of fresh grass and earth.

Before dawn, the rock goat ambled out of the small town. It frolicked into the countryside to graze.

Dew-kissed grass leaves are best in the morning, but the fast-growing summer plants were not as sweet as those in spring. So the rock goat went under tree roots to pick out fresh, tender mushrooms that had just broken through the soil.

He Lingchuan would remove its riding gear every evening and let it roam freely. Thus, it currently looked no different from an ordinary wild goat demon.

It was happily eating, unaware that two pairs of eyes were watching it from behind a thicket a hundred paces away, whispering to each other.

"'Is that a passing demon?'"

"'Of course.'"

"'Are you sure?'" The person who had spoken earlier whispered. "'Don't cause trouble again.'"

"'Nonsense! That's a white-striped rock goat, found only in Baoshu Kingdom. For it to suddenly appear here and be alone, it must be a stray wild demon.'"

"'It's very close to town; maybe it came from the town itself,'" The first person still had doubts. "'Our superiors only allow us to catch new demons born from Imperial Dew Nectar...'"

"'Our superiors also gave us a monthly quota to meet!'" His companion interrupted him. "'And this month we have to deliver an extra thirty. What choice do we have?'"

"'This goat would make a magnificent mount; it's a pity to convert it.'"

"'If we don't catch it, we won't meet the quota. Stop talking nonsense!'"

The two of them somehow obtained a bunch of dark red grass. They went around the hillside and scattered it evenly.

The grass had a faint aroma. As the rock goat ate, it gradually moved closer to the scattered grass. With a flick of its tongue, it began eating the red grass.

This plant, called Sweet Red Grass, had a mild hallucinogenic effect. It made those who ate it increasingly happy and addicted, until they felt like floating immortals, unaware of their surroundings. It was also known as Goat-Deer Bliss Grass.