Chapter 743: Fate is Determined by Heaven, but Actions Depend on People

Chapter 736: Fate is Predetermined vs. Man's Efforts

Sun Fuling shook her head and chuckled, "Just doing my part."

The orange-red firelight reflected on her face, casting a warm glow that made her look truly like a fresh and charming girl next door.

She was actually sitting sideways, facing He Lingchuan, only allowing him to see the undamaged half of her face.

Of course, the fool didn't notice this subtle trick.

She took out a pork sausage and placed it over the fire to roast.

This was a specialty of the Downstream Restaurant, which was its actual name. The sausage was made from fragrant pork with a fat-to-lean ratio of three to seven, along with a bit of starch and pear wine. When roasted, it was not only incredibly aromatic but also wonderfully chewy and rich, with a refreshing hint of fruit.

"What we're doing is merely adding icing to the cake. What your newly formed team needs most isn't this."

"Oh? What is it?"

Sun Fuling picked up a carrot, took a crisp bite, and said, "You're the Grand Commander; you tell me."

He Lingchuan touched his nose, smiling without a word.

Yes, the army that Yuheng City had just assembled desperately needed a victory right now.

An army's confidence is built through successive victories.

However, the current timing wasn't ideal, as less than thirty percent of the soldiers had combat experience.

Then again, wars always break out suddenly; they don't wait for you to be truly ready.

"You don't seem very happy?" Sun Fuling was perceptive. "You've just been promoted to Grand Commander. Has something happened?"

He Lingchuan's heart stirred. After a few thoughts, he suddenly asked her, "Do you believe that mortals' fates are truly predetermined by heaven?"

Sun Fuling replied without hesitation, "I only believe in what man makes happen."

"Why?"

"If fate were predetermined, how desperate would people like us, and those in Panlong City, be?" As she spoke of despair, there wasn't a trace of it on her face; instead, she was incredibly firm. "So-called destiny shouldn't be dictated by others, or even by divine will."

Her resolve was natural and unforced. He Lingchuan clearly saw that she spoke from the heart.

"Comparing General Hong and a god, who is more formidable?"

"A god?" Sun Fuling asked, surprised. "Can human power truly compare to that of a god?"

"Oh, I wasn't clear," He Lingchuan added. "Comparing a divine avatar descended from a god to General Hong, who is more powerful?"

"Which deity?" she asked rigorously.

"For example..." A righteous god would do, right? "Bai Zhantian?"

He had seen a statue of Bai Zhantian in the Temple of Deities, and later, when the God of a Hundred Battles descended into Lu Shishi, he and Madam Zhu were sent scrambling.

Just by his name, one knew his battle prowess was formidable.

"One of the thirty-six righteous gods of Lingxu?"

"Yes."

Sun Fuling rested her chin on her hand and thought for a while. "I think General Hong would still win."

He Lingchuan gazed at her. "Why?"

"General Hong's strength goes beyond mere combat power." Sun Fuling didn't seem to notice his gaze. "Of course, this is just my personal speculation, and also my hope."

She sighed softly, "How wonderful it would be if General Hong could defeat all divine avatars?"

"All of them?"

"That way, Commander Zhong wouldn't have to rack his brains, and Panlong City wouldn't be confined to just one corner."

He Lingchuan looked up at the stars. "Speaking of which, I still don't know Commander Zhong's true wish or goal."

While the soldiers and civilians in Panlong Wasteland and Yuheng City under Zhong Shengguang's rule might live in ignorance, he himself must have a clear conviction.

He Lingchuan recalled the origins of the three items he was wearing. Zhong Shengguang had personally witnessed the tragic fate of Yuan State yet still insisted on taking over. What was his objective?

"Huh?" Sun Fuling blinked. "Isn't it his duty to protect the land and provide a safe haven for the Xiluo people?"

"More than that, isn't it?" He Lingchuan pointed west. "Otherwise, how could a mere Yin River stop us from conquering the Jinshou Kingdom?"

Zhong Shengguang and Mitian did not wish to lead their army back to their homeland.

"Is Commander Zhong's goal important?"

"Of course, it's crucial for how we build Yuheng City." He Lingchuan stretched. "Time is short, and the task is heavy."

"Don't worry," Sun Fuling comforted him. "I believe whatever you do, everything will go smoothly, as if aided by the gods!"

"Whatever I do..." He Lingchuan was overjoyed. "Do you really think so?"

He did indeed have pressing matters to attend to at the moment, but in reality.

She nodded with a smile.

"Good, good, I'll take your word for it!" He Lingchuan exhaled softly and murmured, "It really needs to go smoothly."

Just then, a flapping sound came from the air.

Immediately after, a figure landed on a tree branch next to Sun Fuling.

It was the peregrine falcon.

"Thanks to you for lighting a fire," the peregrine falcon flapped its wings, sending sparks flying from the brazier. "It's really dark on this mountain."

Its night vision wasn't good.

"Any intelligence?"

"Lu Qing sent me with a message: many people from the Lu Family Gang and the Ball-Flower Thieves left yesterday and today, by boat."

Lu Qing was a bandit He Lingchuan had caught on his way. They had been robbing trade routes when they were ambushed by the Great Wind Army. Over half of them died, the tough ones were gone, and a few others were sent to work in the mines.

As for Lu Qing, under He Lingchuan's gentle "persuasion," he had a change of heart and decided to return to Longchuan as an undercover agent for them.

His bandit gang had been disbanded, so upon returning, he had to find another faction to join.

Unfortunately, this fellow and his original gang were nobodies in Longchuan. After returning, he couldn't join a major gang and could only continue doing odd jobs for a smaller group on the outskirts.

The only quality He Lingchuan valued in him was his meticulousness, always noticing many details.

For instance, this time, even before Yuheng City's undercover agents in Longchuan sent back any news, he had already made a discovery.

He Lingchuan flipped a chestnut. "Be more precise. How many people?"

"Over a hundred people have left in total, it's impossible to count precisely. People from two or three other bandit gangs seem to have left as well; it's not as noisy anymore," the peregrine falcon scratched behind its ear with a claw. "They left just these past two days."

"In what direction?" If they all left by boat, they weren't going to rob trade routes.

"Lu Qing followed a few of them for a short distance, then was afraid of being discovered and didn't dare to continue, but these people were sailing north, and they were fully armed."

"North." He Lingchuan and Sun Fuling exchanged a look. She pursed her lips toward the lights of Yuheng City before them.

"Coming here?"

"Lu Qing isn't sure, but they were definitely heading north from Longchuan."

Sun Fuling picked up pieces of dried plum meat and fed them one by one to the peregrine falcon. "That was hard work. Thank you."

He Lingchuan gave the peregrine falcon two meaningful glances, but it remained calmly perched on the branch. He couldn't help but ask, "Don't you have somewhere else to go? Do you have to make noise and shed feathers here?"

"I live on the mountain already!" The peregrine falcon, taking advantage of Sun Fuling's delicate fingers, swallowed another piece of dried plum.