"Originally, the odds were only three in ten. Now they've risen to at least five in ten." State Preceptor Sun glanced toward the Coiling Dragon Desert. "That is, if the strange phenomena in the desert haven't exceeded what my intelligence suggests."
He Chunhua came back, his expression gradually hardening. "Fine. I'll go!"
The soldiers below looked at him with even greater respect.
The He brothers were shocked. "Father, is this really necessary?"
They tried to rush forward, but He Chunhua shouted, "Enough!" and drove them back.
The prefecture governor's face darkened. "What kind of behavior is this? Can't you see how many people are watching?" He turned to Zeng Feixiong and ordered, "Move out!"
The force of nearly three hundred set off north along the main road.
Only then did He Chunhua sigh and address his sons. "I've wasted twenty years here on the frontier, but you're still young. You mustn't be buried here too. If we succeed on this trip, your starting point will be the Great Capital!"
Twenty years of firsthand experience had taught him that even the most brilliant talent was useless in some remote backwater, with no chance to put it to work. Taking one risk could bring the He family back to the Great Capital. It was a worthwhile gamble.
"The country is in turmoil. This place is a paradise by comparison." He Lingchuan couldn't hold back any longer. "Father, there's nothing wrong with Blackwater City. An uncertain treasure hunt isn't worth risking your life!"
Honestly, this place was pretty great. He liked it a lot, even if the sandstorms were fierce, the food was rough, and eating beef and mutton all the time got tiresome... Hey, couldn't they just leave well enough alone?
If the prefecture governor died, who would take over? Who could keep things under control? Their family's good days would be over.
"Giving your all for the country is only right. You'll understand when you're older." In truth, with the State Preceptor here and the king's order in hand, he had no choice but to accept. This boy was already sixteen and still didn't understand how the world worked! He Chunhua patted his eldest son's shoulder, then turned to He Yue. "While I'm away, Yue'er will assist in managing the prefecture's affairs. You've always been steady and good at planning. If I don't return, take care of the He family and your mother."
He Lingchuan couldn't help turning to Sun Fuping. "Can't we wait a little longer? Find someone else to lead the team!"
"We can wait, but every official we find will have to undergo this test." Sun Fuping pointed at the large water vat. "An army sets out with a single burst of momentum. If it has to do so again and again, that momentum will fade. By then, we won't be able to contend with the Coiling Dragon Desert."
Morale was at its peak now. If they went through the test two or three more times, the soldiers would be exhausted.
Besides, the force had already set out. An arrow loosed could not be called back.
He Yue's eyes reddened. He took his father's hand and led him aside, lowering his voice. "Father, this is a trap they've set!"
"Do you think I don't know?" He Chunhua gave a slight shake of his head. He glanced at He Lingchuan, who had followed them over, and hesitated before saying, "Chuan'er, come with me."
The words struck like thunder, leaving He Lingchuan's head buzzing.
"What? Father, I..." Don't want to go!
Why would he want to join a perilous adventure where death awaited at every turn?
Wasn't He Chunhua supposed to dote on his eldest son? Why was he dragging him along to die?
"Ever since you were born, the Great Shaman has said you're a lucky star, able to turn disaster into fortune in times of crisis." He Chunhua seemed to find it hard to say, but pressed on. "For more than ten years, the He family has gone from strength to strength, proving those words true. No one knows whether this trip into the Coiling Dragon Desert will bring fortune or disaster. That's why I... that's why I need your good luck! Besides, you're a skilled fighter. I'll feel at ease with one of my own there to protect me."
He held He Lingchuan by the arm, unconsciously glancing twice at Sun Fuping. Then he lowered his voice. "I can't shake the feeling that this is also a tremendous opportunity for the He family. Chuan'er, your father's safety is in your hands!"
He Lingchuan felt as if bitter water were about to bubble up from his mouth. He wanted to say he wasn't going. Could he really say no?
Since the founding of Great Yuan, it had spared no effort in drilling the bonds between ruler and subject, father and son, into its officials and people, just like any other regime. Wasn't it perfectly normal for He Chunhua to worry about his own safety and have his eldest son accompany him?
The Governor of Xun Prefecture had gone even further, sending his own son along to risk his life. By comparison, He Chunhua's request was nothing.
Besides, with everyone watching, could He Lingchuan really open his mouth and say, "I won't"?
He could.
"Father, I don't—"
He Lingchuan was about to use the original owner's talent for sheer unreasonable stubbornness. But He Chunhua knew his son too well and didn't give him a chance to think, hesitate, or refuse. He called out to Sun Fuping first, his voice raised. "State Preceptor, Chuan'er will accompany me!"
His voice rang out so loudly that the vanguard turned to look.
Well, that settled it.
And it choked off He Lingchuan's last chance to refuse.
He Chunhua patted his eldest son's shoulder and sighed with feeling. "Good boy!"
He Yue stared, dumbfounded. It wasn't unusual for fathers and sons to fight side by side, but their father had always favored his big brother. Why insist on bringing him along when they were facing such danger?
His big brother's face was practically covered in refusal.
Nian Songyu had heard, too. He waved at He Lingchuan. "Excellent! We'll have plenty of time to bond on the road."
What could He Lingchuan say? Looking at Nian Songyu's hearty smile, he felt his mouth go dry and bitter. "Fine. I'll go get some supplies."
The send-off, which had started as a farewell to the expedition team, became a farewell to his father, and finally a farewell to himself.
You had to admit, life's surprises were everywhere.
The person his second brother, eyes red, told to be careful on the road had turned out to be him.
He Yue grabbed his arm and suddenly lowered his voice. "Watch out for those two."
"You don't have to tell me." He Lingchuan rolled his eyes. "Uncle Hao, I'm counting on you to keep my second brother safe."
Uncle Hao nodded.
He and Nian Songyu had a score to settle. He Chunhua had firmly refused to let him join this expedition into the Coiling Dragon Desert, to avoid stirring up trouble.
He Lingchuan envied him immensely for being able to stay out of it. All he could manage now was a stiff smile and a wave goodbye.
He took one more look at He Chunhua, and a thought suddenly occurred to him.
Could it be that his father's affection for his eldest son wasn't as deep as the original He Lingchuan had believed?
Thinking back over the original owner's memories, his father had been cautious and thorough, but also daring, rarely fretting over what might go wrong. He was certainly a man capable of great things. But!
Here came the but: whenever his father took a risk, his eldest son always seemed to be right there beside him.
Had this lucky-star business of his actually been put to the test?
The Coiling Dragon Desert had yet to enter the Furious Sand Season, and the Red Cliff Road was still crowded.
With no more than a dozen days before the deadline, everyone was in a hurry.
Before setting off, He Lingchuan had already changed mounts and loaded up on supplies. Now he wore a white robe that covered everything but his face.
The sun climbed higher, and the desert grew scorching hot. After fifteen minutes of walking under the unrelenting sun, He Lingchuan was burning all over. He suspected that if he poured water over himself, steam would rise.
They hadn't even reached the true desert yet. Dwarf saxaul, sea buckthorn, and needle grass were common along the way, with scattered saxaul trees and purple-stemmed willows.
As the only road in and out of Blackwater City, the roadside was strewn with all sorts of things: battered crates, scraps of cloth, bottles, and the half-rotted carcass of a jackal. He Lingchuan even spotted a small tuft of black hair fluttering from a clump of needle grass. It looked human.
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