Chapter 815: Preparation for Solo Flight

Sun Hongye’s information still needs verification, and that shouldn't be difficult. He looked up; it was almost dark. He still had to meet someone.

He Lingchuan left his home and walked back, two streets away. Tall kapok trees lined both sides of the street. He knocked on the door of a house beneath one of the trees.

Birds of a feather flock together; those living here were all well-off families. The person who opened the door was startled to see He Lingchuan and quickly stepped aside, exclaiming, "Oh, Master, what brings you here!" This person was the homeowner, Ding Zuodong.

He had originally been the old steward of the Shu family in Dunyu. After He Lingchuan recruited him, he had successfully managed and acquired property for the young master in Dunyu. He had done very well.

He Lingchuan peered into the courtyard and chuckled, "Nice house. How long have you owned it?"

Of course, it wasn't as grand as the He family mansion, but this small courtyard was spacious, with several fruit trees whose branches were already full. It would be quite pleasant to relax and eat fruit under them in the summer.

"We've only been living here for about seven days, and we haven't quite finished settling in," Ding Zuodong replied, stepping aside. "Please, Master, come in."

"No need to go in," He Lingchuan said, noticing a child peeking out from inside the house. "Let's find somewhere convenient to talk."

"Alright!" Masters don't visit without a reason, so Ding Zuodong's expression turned serious. After giving an instruction to someone inside, he closed the door and came out. "There's an abandoned house nearby, deserted for a long time, so no one will be there."

Less than twenty *zhang* away, they reached the abandoned house. It was surprising to find abandoned properties here, right next to the bustling market of Yandu. The local economy and people's livelihoods were indeed not as good as two years ago.

He Lingchuan expanded his spiritual sense and swept a mirror around, confirming that no one was nearby. He immediately said, "Shan Youjun is problematic."

Ding Zuodong was astonished and quickly asked for the reason. He and Shan Youjun were relatives; in fact, it was Shan Youjun who had initially introduced him to work for the young master He.

He Lingchuan briefly explained Shan Youjun's actions. Ding Zuodong's eyes widened. "Master, you must understand, I knew nothing about Shan Youjun's actions! He's only visited my house once for a meal in the past ten days!"

Lord He was Lord He, and the young master He was the young master He. Although they were father and son, those who served them absolutely could not show misplaced loyalty. Now that the young master He had returned, Shan Youjun's continued secret work for Lord He amounted to deceiving his old master, which no one could tolerate.

Having served as a steward in prominent families for over a decade, Ding Zuodong well understood the taboos of those in power. He immediately distanced himself from Shan Youjun.

He Lingchuan waved his hand. "I know; how could I blame you? But Shan Youjun has already chosen another master. What about you?"

Sweat instantly beaded on Ding Zuodong's forehead. "I will naturally follow you closely, Master, with absolute loyalty!"

Seeing him about to swear an oath to the heavens, He Lingchuan grabbed his arm. "Don't rush to swear. I have something to tell you."

He paused before continuing, "After my trip to Blackwater City, I won't be staying in Yuan Country. You are a Yuan national, with family and property, so you should make plans for your family's future."

Ding Zuodong was surprised. "Where are you going, Master?"

"I plan to travel east and establish my own enterprise. The exact destination is undecided, but leaving Yuan Country is definite," He Lingchuan reminded him. "I probably won't be returning in the future."

After He Lingchuan's disappearance in the water, Ding Zuodong had no choice but to seek refuge with He Chunhua. However, when He Lingchuan returned to Yuan Country, Ding Zuodong immediately resigned from He Chunhua's service and came back to He Lingchuan's side, showing his loyalty and gratitude.

That was why He Lingchuan had come to invite him. Ding Zuodong suppressed his turmoil and, after a few moments of serious thought, asked, "Master, for your distant journey, do you truly need someone like me?"

"Indeed!" He Lingchuan nodded. "Going to a new place, I naturally need someone to acquire and manage things for me. Such a person is actually hard to find."

First, they must be trustworthy. How could someone found now have a foundation of mutual trust?

"But you have children and grandchildren, so consider it carefully." For an ordinary person, this journey would truly mean leaving their homeland, perhaps never to be buried in their native soil.

Ding Zuodong took a deep breath. "No need to consider. I'll go with you, Master."

He Chunhua was certainly capable, and staying would mean a comfortable life. However, he had a stronger belief in the young master He! And the Master had also said that this journey was to establish his own enterprise.

Since it would be starting from scratch, an older person like Ding Zuodong, who would work with him from the beginning, would surely be the most trusted and relied upon. Perhaps he could also rise with the tide.

Ding Zuodong was not content to remain merely a well-off commoner!

He Lingchuan was not surprised. "What about your family? How will they be settled?"

Someone as driven as Ding Zuodong likely harbored a strong ambition.

Ding Zuodong answered without hesitation, "They listen to me."

He Lingchuan patted his shoulder with satisfaction. "Good, excellent."

People approaching fifty rarely had such drive.

"Then gather your family and head south to Baishawan Port. I'll meet you there within three months," He Lingchuan instructed him. "Keep these matters confidential."

"Yes!" Ding Zuodong bowed to him and hurried home. He Lingchuan's request had been sudden; he needed to figure out how to tell his family.

As He Lingchuan walked back himself, the Soul-Snatching Mirror in his arms asked him, "Hey, do you really plan to leave?"

"Yes." The current chaotic situation in Yuan Country was rotting to its core. Moreover, He Lingchuan had a premonition that Yuan Country's troubles were far from over.

As a transmigrator, he didn't have deep feelings for this country, so why stay?

A tree dies when moved, but a person thrives. The world outside was vast; what was the point of him struggling on this small plot of land in Yuan Country? It would be better to choose another propitious place and start from scratch than to remain here and begin from a deficit.

"Why don't you go back to Rongshan?" the mirror asked. "It's nice to lean against a big tree and enjoy the shade." It thought Rongshan was quite good—not only prosperous but also aligned with its master's ambitions.

He Lingchuan remembered a famous saying from his original world and couldn't help but smile, "How can a true man remain subservient for long?"

If you enjoy the benefits within a system, you must endure its rules. But a person as unconstrained and free-spirited as him disliked being bound by rules and preferred not to follow the beaten path. In that case, he could only start anew. It would be better to build his own system and bind others instead.

The mirror asked curiously, "Then where do you want to go?"

He Lingchuan was also pondering this question. "No worries, it's still early," he said. "We'll know when the time comes."

The dew lay heavy, and the evening breeze whispered.

A chorus of frogs in the pond kept Lady Ying tossing and turning, unable to sleep. With a whoosh, the window blew open, and a gust of wind swept in, extinguishing the perpetual lamp. The dressing mirror on the table clattered and fell over. Papers fluttered everywhere.

"Xiaolan!" Lady Ying's personal maid usually slept in the outer room and would rush in at the first sign of movement.

However, no matter how Lady Ying called tonight, Xiaolan didn't come. Lady Ying had no choice but to get out of bed and close the window herself.

She righted the mirror and, just as she adjusted its position, saw a second figure clearly reflected within it! It was a woman in white.