Chapter 77: Good Good Good

“The Grand Square Pot can absorb vengeful spirits from the Coiling Dragon Wasteland. Zhong Shengguang, who committed suicide after his defeat, was one of them,” He Lingchuan recalled. “You wouldn’t know this, but when I first entered the secret realm, Coiling Dragon City was peaceful and prosperous, far more bustling than Blackwater City. Zhong Shengguang had just taken office in Coiling Dragon City then, and I guess that was the happiest time of his life, which is why the illusion perfectly replicated Coiling Dragon City during its peaceful era.”

Life can be so bitter that people, living or dead, often find solace only in illusory beauty.

“Later, Nian Songyu climbed the city gate, mounted a crossbow, fired cannons, and set the city ablaze. Crucially, he destroyed the Zhong residence, shattering the illusory dream, and this is what awoke the Black Jiao,” He Lingchuan shrugged. “What could be done? Everyone has a bad temper when disturbed from sleep.”

“The Grand Square Pot was in Coiling Dragon City for over twenty years, and Zhong Shengguang had already established a close connection with it. It makes sense that after his death, his soul was absorbed by the Grand Square Pot, becoming an artifact spirit,” He Chunhua said, applying ointment to his eldest son’s cheek. The skin and flesh of the wound here were curled outwards, and the special ointment would accelerate healing.

“If we can’t take the Grand Square Pot with us, the Red Cliff Road will likely still experience wild sand seasons in the future.” He paused in thought, then asked, “By the way, I heard the Heavenly God first possessed you. Why did it then leave?”

“I don’t know,” He Lingchuan said with a bewildered expression. “When the white light enveloped my face, my mind went blank. By the time I regained consciousness, it had already gone to find Nian Songyu.”

“How long did this process take?” He Chunhua asked the other witnesses.

“About three to five breaths,” Situ Han recalled.

“Did you experience headaches or dizziness?”

“Yes, yes! How did you know, Dad?” He Lingchuan asked, surprised. “My temples were throbbing incessantly, and they still hurt terribly.”

He Chunhua thought for a moment: “Go back and have the Grand Shaman check again to see if your soul was damaged.”

“Oh.” What did “again” mean? He Lingchuan became slightly wary. When had the Grand Shaman ever examined him before?

The conversation quickly returned to the Grand Square Pot.

“Is this divine artifact truly integrated with Coiling Dragon City?”

“Perhaps it’s true?” He Lingchuan considered in turn. “Otherwise, if the Grand Square Pot could use the Three Corpse Worms to make enemies defect, and the Great Wind Army was invincible, why didn’t Zhong Shengguang seize the opportunity to reclaim his homeland? This suggests the artifact has limitations in its use.”

“Things of the Heavenly Gods are not so easily used,” He Chunhua nodded. “What a pity, there’s no way to use it to quell the rebellion. By the way, the Black Dragon said at the end that its mission was complete. What do you think that meant...?”

Seeing the four men staring intently at him, He Chunhua gave a slight smile and stopped speaking.

What could he learn by asking these four straightforward men? It would be better to discuss it with He Yue back home.

He Chunhua was very reluctant to leave without this treasure. It was the first time He Lingchuan had seen his father so keen on something, even sighing deeply and lamenting its loss.

He felt an impulse to obtain it for him, no matter the cost.

Of course, this was the original body’s subjective emotion, not his own.

Fortunately, He Chunhua also understood that the expedition had to end. Merely opening the Pool Well passage had exhausted all their resources, and the possibility of finding a second way to obtain the Grand Square Pot was remote.

Furthermore, the heroic spirits of the Great Wind Army patrolled the entire city, seemingly protecting, but actually observing.

If living people wanted to undertake major construction in the desolate Coiling Dragon City, these heroic spirits might not agree.

They could only obediently return; they had no capital to act recklessly.

At that moment, the food in the pot was ready.

Fried rice cakes boiled with water turned into a rice porridge. Its texture was a bit gritty, not as smooth and silky as specially cooked congee, but its advantage was that it was filling, especially when served with flatbreads and cured meat.

Everyone slurped down their meal. Sitting like this in the desolate, isolated city, listening to the rain on the eaves while watching the heroic spirits of the Great Wind Army wander about, they all felt as if they were in another world.

He Lingchuan also took out good wine and shared it with everyone.

After eating and drinking their fill, sleepiness set in.

After more than ten hours of heart-pounding events, exhaustion overwhelmed them. Zeng Feixiong called personal guards to stand watch, and everyone fell asleep as soon as they lay down.

***

He Yue had gone to bed early but tossed and turned until he finally managed to fall asleep around midnight.

The past few days had been the most difficult for the He family. During the day, he had to handle heavy county affairs, and in the evenings, he returned home to comfort his grieving mother. Both were arduous tasks.

By the time he finally lay back in bed, he was wide awake again, his mind filled with thoughts of how he could support his mother and himself in the future. His father’s passing was a devastating blow to the family.

After several days, the energetic young man was nearly worn out.

However, at dawn that day, there seemed to be some commotion outside. Immediately after, He Yue heard urgent banging on the door: “Second Young Master, wake up quickly! Master and First Young Master are back!”

The usually dignified old steward was now so excited that his voice had changed pitch.

He Yue scrambled out of bed, paused for a few breaths, then suddenly grabbed the long robe by his bedside and rushed out.

The front yard was bustling, and everyone was beaming as if they had found a large silver ingot.

The dark clouds of sorrow that had hung over the He residence for the past two days suddenly vanished.

Who else could be surrounded by the crowd in the center but He Chunhua and his son, He Lingchuan? Although they were dusty and somewhat haggard.

The usually composed Second Young Master He disregarded decorum, cried out, and embraced his father and elder brother.

He Chunhua patted his head, “Alright, alright, you’ve had a tough time these past few days.”

He Lingchuan chuckled, “You need to wag your tail to properly welcome us home.”

He Yue rubbed his eyes, overjoyed yet incredulous: “The wild sand season isn’t over yet. How did you get back? Did you not cross the desert?”

“It’s a long story!” He Lingchuan rubbed his face. “First, let us clean up. I must have a good deal of dust to scrub off.”

“I also have important news to report!” He Yue, understanding the urgency, grabbed his father’s arm and said word by word, “News from the east has finally arrived! The rebel army at Woling Pass has been suppressed, and Grand Commander Dong Haoming has launched a rebellion!”

This bombshell left the He father and son stunned.

He Chunhua suddenly burst into laughter, looking up at the sky, as if all his worries and troubles had been swept away: “Good, good, good!”

At this moment, Lady Ying also arrived, looking at her husband with tear-filled eyes: “You’re finally back!”

***

It wasn’t until dawn that He Lingchuan finally climbed out of the bathtub, stretching comfortably, feeling reborn.

Where could one enjoy such luxury in the desert?

He soaked in two large tubs of hot water, and with the help of a bath attendant whom the He family had paid extra for, he finally scrubbed off all the old dirt and grime.

He felt like he had come back to life.

The wild sand season was far from over. The group’s safe passage out of the Coiling Dragon Desert relied on the escort of the Great Wind Army’s heroic spirits. Wherever these spirits went, the vengeful souls and Three Corpse Worms would automatically disperse, and even the sandstorms became less severe, allowing humans to pass.