Chapter 793: Again Face Off

"At first, it was like a spring breeze." He Chunhua recalled that audience and smiled. "The Monarch asked me what was going on. I repeated what you said, but I changed the reason for Mount Rong Sect's loan, attributing it to your active lobbying efforts. The Monarch was very pleased, saying that Heaven blessed Great Yuan, and then ordered me to urge you to sign the agreement quickly."

After He Lingchuan signed the agreement, Yuan would receive the first installment of 3.7 million taels.

Over three million taels... he sighed inwardly. This amount could only buy a few true immortal sword tips in the decadent city of Lingxu, yet it was Yuan's lifeline.

Some die from drought, others from flood; this world is truly absurd.

"What did Father say?"

"Of course, I agreed immediately," He Chunhua laughed. "The Monarch was in high spirits; I thought it best not to dampen them."

He Lingchuan instantly understood his meaning.

He Chunhua would surely make good use of this opportunity. The loan couldn't be approved too early, otherwise He Chunhua wouldn't be able to pressure the Yuan Monarch; but it also couldn't come too late, as money was urgently needed for the war.

He Chunhua sighed again, "The Monarch also asked me why, with such a great matter, I didn't report to the palace first, but instead let you, as a foreign envoy, meet with the Minister of Rites first!"

His father always tried to reprimand him. He Lingchuan didn't fall for it: "Public matters come first, and they must be handled officially. Otherwise, the citizens of Yuan Capital who are closely watching Father would privately criticize the He Residence for blurring the lines between public and private affairs, putting private interests before public ones."

That boy, his tongue is getting sharper and sharper.

"The clause that states the special envoy must approve all expenditures — that's truly impressive!" He Chunhua said, making the Yuan court grit its teeth. "Was that truly instructed by Sect Leader Xue of Mount Rong?"

He Lingchuan didn't bat an eyelid. "Naturally," he replied. (It wasn't, of course.)

Sect Leader Xue of Mount Rong had only told him to act independently. He had actually obtained this authority from Sect Leader Xue himself.

However, in the society He Lingchuan came from, it was standard practice for creditors to interfere in debtors' businesses, control their cash flow, and even dictate how they should manage their affairs.

If I lend you money, I must monitor its use. Otherwise, if you squander it again, how will you repay me?

The crumbling Yuan was a bottomless pit. If He Lingchuan didn't help Mount Rong oversee the situation, not to mention a few million taels, even tens of millions wouldn't be enough to fill it.

From this perspective, Mount Rong Sect also needed him to ensure proper oversight and protect its own interests.

He Chunhua continued, "Just yesterday we spoke of the war in the south, and today the news has arrived. I just caught wind that the rebellion suppression efforts in the south aren't going well; they've lost two out of three battles. Now, the morale of the government troops is low, and even a force of two thousand can be scattered by five hundred bandits."

"Father's opportunity has arrived." It was a matter of timing and luck. He Lingchuan had to admit that He Chunhua's luck had been quite good in recent years; whatever he desired seemed to come true.

"These battle reports will likely reach the Monarch tonight," He Chunhua said, stroking his chin. "Chuan'er, you must stall for at least another seven or eight days. There's still strong opposition in the imperial court to me taking command of the three states' military."

"Can you withstand such immense pressure?"

"What can I do? I am also thinking for Yuan's sake," He Chunhua sighed. "If we advance rashly, the current southern war serves as a cautionary tale."

He Lingchuan smiled. "How long we can stall depends on the audit's progress. Seven or eight days? I can't guarantee that."

He Chunhua's expression darkened slightly. "What do you mean by that?"

"Father, I also have another identity: Mount Rong's special envoy. I secured the loan, and I must bear the responsibility," He Lingchuan said unhurriedly. "If Yuan truly rectifies the loopholes in their collateral assets, then I'll have no reason to hold them back any longer."

"Preposterous!" He Chunhua stared at him. "You are my son, a member of the He family, a citizen of Yuan, and *then* a disciple of Mount Rong! Don't get that order confused!"

He Lingchuan asked, surprised, "Didn't Father just say this morning that bilateral relations require integrity?"

"What bilateral relations? I'm talking about you!" He Chunhua retorted, displeased. "At this critical moment, how can you not understand the importance of a father and son being of one mind?"

"Father and son of one mind?" He Lingchuan suddenly changed the subject. "After I fell into the water, everyone thought I was dead. Why did you insist I was still alive, Father?"

He Chunhua was startled. "It was a belief! Besides, you are a lucky general; you've survived danger several times before. What's wrong with me holding onto some hope in my heart?"

However, He Lingchuan knew there was a divine mark in his mind, meaning the deities likely knew full well whether he was dead or alive.

He Chunhua's tone softened. "Chuan'er is beginning to understand the meaning of integrity and loyalty; my heart is greatly comforted! But this matter you're handling is too important, and I too am dedicating myself entirely to the country and our family. You absolutely must listen to my words and never act on your own!"

He Lingchuan's mind raced through several thoughts, but he replied, "Father's earnest advice, your son naturally understands."

At that moment, a servant knocked on the door, saying dinner was ready and Madam Ying was urging the father and son to eat.

"Let's go." The conversation ended there.

Dinner was cordial and harmonious; no one brought up the subject again.

After dinner, He Lingchuan returned to his courtyard and practiced with his wooden sword for an hour.

Even with a wooden sword, the courtyard was filled with pervasive sword energy, making the flowers and trees lose their color and tremble.

When he finished his practice and returned to his room, crape myrtle petals lay scattered all over the courtyard.

The mirror said, "Your sword practice this time was too full of killing intent."

The last time He Lingchuan couldn't contain his killing intent during practice was before the Mount Xu plan was about to commence in Lingxu City. At that time, he was under immense pressure. Was he now as well?

"I thought you would confront Father today."

"Not yet," He Lingchuan said, setting up a barrier and wiping his sweat with a towel. "If he truly has a connection with Naraka, this is likely an important secret deep in his heart. If I rashly expose it, I might provoke an overreaction. If he were to summon Naraka right then and there..."

That would be troublesome, after all, he still had a divine mark in his sea of consciousness.

"Should I kill him immediately?"

His purpose in returning was not to confront his father, but to find a way to resolve Naraka's mark, or rather, to lift Naraka's threat against him. That was the main point.

"Shinan also said that even with the divine mark on me, Naraka's first descent requires a ritual performed by a summoner. If this procedure isn't followed, it consumes an astonishing amount of energy. This means that whether I kill my father or not, Naraka can still descend upon me; it's just a matter of cost." He Lingchuan's eyes flickered. "But conversely, unless it's an extreme emergency, it won't directly possess me. This highlights the importance of the summoner—who, well, might be my father."

"I need to ensure he won't perform a ritual anytime soon, so Naraka won't be able to descend easily."

His identity as Mount Rong's special envoy and the loan Mount Rong provided to Yuan were all his bargaining chips against He Chunhua. Otherwise, why would he have traveled thousands of miles to Mount Rong?