Chapter 802: Naraku Ten's Decision

"I think we can go back and take a look," He Chunhua whispered. "I've heard that many factions are heading to the Coiling Dragon Desert, all hoping to seize treasures and try their luck. Given our understanding of the Coiling Dragon Desert, we might gain more if we go."

Without waiting for Naluo Tian to speak, he continued, "After I left the Coiling Dragon Ruins last time, I've had a feeling that something wasn't quite right, but I couldn't put my finger on it."

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

"If the Grand Square Pot truly appears, I'll need your assistance. You also want to acquire this treasure, don't you?" It seemed that any deity would be tempted at the mention of the Grand Square Pot.

"So?"

"You can't descend twice in a short period, can you? Why don't you leave Chuan'er here for now, instead of rushing with the divine descent?" He Chunhua urged. "Good steel should be used on the blade; let's discuss it when we're at the Coiling Dragon Desert."

"You're not going south to suppress the rebellion?"

"No conflict," He Chunhua's mind raced. "I'll make proper arrangements."

Naluo Tian let out a few cold chuckles. "You're trying to delay the divine descent, aren't you?"

Mortals were just so drawn out, always playing little tricks.

"It won't harm you!" He Chunhua said, steeling himself. "Both officially and personally, my suggestion is good, isn't it?"

Naluo Tian grunted.

It remained silent for a long time. He Chunhua didn't know if it was divining or calculating, and he felt somewhat apprehensive.

Then, Naluo Tian slowly said, "This trip to the Coiling Dragon Ruins might involve significant unforeseen changes."

He Chunhua had to take the God of Fate's warning seriously. "Lord God, what are these changes?"

"Unknowable," Naluo Tian replied, its tone grave. "I've long found that all divinations related to divine artifacts like the Grand Square Pot are unknowable."

It then added, "However, judging by your fate, it's getting better and better, with a very small chance of great disaster. So, there's no harm in you going."

In short, He Chunhua's life was not meant to end; on the contrary, he might benefit from this trip to Coiling Dragon.

He Chunhua was overjoyed. "Your wisdom is unmatched, Lord God!"

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief. One month gained was one month gained.

Naluo Tian then said, "For this divine descent, I also need to make some preparations." Its experience after Nian Songyu's summoning last time had made it vigilant:

The Grand Square Pot was dangerous.

Although it couldn't divine its own future, it still sensed an ominous feeling in the unknown, a warning from "Fate."

However, high returns inevitably come with high risks. How could one acquire the Grand Square Pot without taking any risks?

Other figures, other deities, despite their unknown fates, were still flocking towards the Grand Square Pot. Were they afraid?

Besides, at worst, it would only lose a clone, not its true form.

He Chunhua asked, "How do you plan to proceed, Lord God, and how can I assist you?"

"The lost treasure of the Heavenly Palace is connected to the Grand Square Pot. I happen to know a secret." Naluo Tian gave a cold smile. "If anyone dares to plot against me, they will face terrible misfortune!"

The last sentence was spoken chillingly, making He Chunhua instinctively shiver.

Naluo Tian then said, "You just need to act according to the plan."

How could it reveal its backup plans to a mere mortal?

He Chunhua waited for a while, but Naluo Tian said nothing further.

It had already left.

He Chunhua secretly exhaled in relief, then put away all the items and opened the doors and windows to air out the room.

When the time came, he tidied his attire and went to the palace to lobby the king.

Since the evaluation work wasn't his to do and specialists would handle it, He Lingchuan simply wandered around Yuan Capital until evening before leisurely returning to his residence.

As he explored, he noticed that while Yuan Capital's busiest street was still bustling, just one street over, many shops were empty, and grass grew in the cracks between the bricks on the roadside.

This place was even less prosperous than Shiheng City, as he remembered it.

Of course, whether Shiheng City still looked like that now was hard to say.

The decline of a nation had many causes, but war was certainly one of the biggest scourges for Yuan State.

Fortunately, some local specialties were still sold here, so He Lingchuan bought many souvenirs and gave them to Madam Ying and He Yue when he got home.

Before dinner, Shan Youjun came to find him:

"Young Master, I've found out. Steward Zhao, who's in charge of purchasing for the manor, said that Sun Hongye came to ask him some questions seven days ago."

"What did he ask?"

"He asked about food procurement."

This answer was a bit unexpected. "Lead the way."

When the young master suddenly came looking for him, Steward Zhao's attitude was very respectful:

"Mr. Sun? About seven or eight days ago, he came to ask me where the manor sourced its mutton, saying it tasted exceptionally delicious. He wanted to buy some for himself. I offered to report to the madam and have the kitchen prepare more for him, but Mr. Sun insisted it wasn't necessary."

"And then?"

"Then I introduced him to the mutton supplier," Steward Zhao said. "I don't know if he contacted them."

That was Sun Hongye's own business; he couldn't be bothered to ask.

"That's all?"

"That's all. Since coming here from Xiazhou, Mr. Sun hasn't spoken more than twenty sentences to me in total."

"Alright, you're dismissed." He Lingchuan thought for a moment, then turned and walked out.

Shan Youjun quickly followed.

Qiu Hu came over, looked at He Lingchuan's expression, and seeing him shake his head, didn't approach further.

It was almost dinner time. He Lingchuan didn't want to be caught and lectured by Madam Ying if he left the manor now, so he simply climbed over the wall in the backyard.

Ignoring the strange looks from passersby, he and Shan Youjun went to the Cattle and Sheep Slaughterhouse to find someone.

The Cattle and Sheep Slaughterhouse was a dedicated slaughterhouse and also Yuan Capital's meat wholesale and distribution center. Lingxu City had similar places, but Yuan Capital's regulations were looser than Lingxu City's; many privately slaughtered meats were traded here, and the authorities didn't necessarily crack down on it.

The place reeked of blood, and the mournful cries of livestock often echoed from the inner rows. Following Steward Zhao's directions, He Lingchuan found Butcher Wang in the outer rows.

The outer rows were where meat was sold and weighed.

People generally imagined butchers as having burly, fleshy faces, but this man was tall and thin, and a bit vacant-looking when he wasn't holding a knife.

"A customer named Sun?" He shook his head while chopping meat. "I don't recall. People come and go here, and I'm not good at remembering faces."

He Lingchuan had to rephrase his question: "He might have asked about the mutton you supply to General Changning He's manor."

"General Changning?" Butcher Wang thought for a long time before letting out a long "Oh." "Now that you mention it, I think there was someone. The person you're talking about came to chat with me and also bought a few *jin* of mutton, ha."

He sold wholesale, usually half a carcass at a time, so a few *jin* was indeed very little, which was why he remembered.

He Lingchuan glanced at Shan Youjun, who handed over a piece of broken silver. "What did you talk about?"

"Just some small talk. I told him my place had a good reputation, and that the famous He manor indeed ordered meat from me, needing pork, beef, and mutton every month, which I'd bleed, clean, butcher, and deliver."

"That's all?"

"That's all, just like that." He was a butcher; what else would customers talk to him about in a place like this?

"What were your exact words at the time?"