Zhong Shengguang's Graveyard

State Preceptor Sun stood up. "Since Governor He and I share the same view, let us start by following this lead."

"How do we search?" Nian Songyu frowned. "Do you intend to pray for rain in the Coiling Dragon Ruins?"

"The success rate of praying for rain here is less than five percent, yet the effort required is more than five or six times the usual," State Preceptor Sun said with a wry smile. "I tried to summon the mountain and marsh spirits just now, but I received no response at all."

To summon mountain and marsh spirits here was truly imaginative. He Lingchuan couldn't help but laugh. "This place is so parched that even the Earth Deity has dried to death."

"If we cannot pray for rain, we shall use water to irrigate; perhaps that is how the Baling Kingdom's team did it." Nian Songyu pondered. "It is impossible to summon rain for the entire city, nor is it necessary. We must pinpoint the exact location."

The Baling Kingdom's team could not have summoned a city-wide downpour in Coiling Dragon City either; they had to apply their limited water to a precise spot. With a successful precedent, State Preceptor Sun and his party only needed to deduce the location based on the circumstances.

"In my analysis, the locations where irrigation could trigger the Furious Sand Season are limited to a few: the Mitian Temple, the Zhong Shengguang Shrine, the Red General Shrine, Zhong Shengguang's tomb, and the mass grave of Coiling Dragon City." State Preceptor Sun added, "Those two shrines were built while the men were still alive; they are rare 'living shrines'."

It is common knowledge that only the dead or deities may enjoy the incense offerings in a shrine. If a living shrine is built for a living person, it is not an act of worship, but an act of malice, as the living are rarely blessed enough to endure it—at best, it shortens their lifespan; at worst, it claims their life.

Clearly, Zhong Shengguang and the Red General were exceptions, figures who were deified while still alive.

He Lingchuan asked curiously, "Why not include the Red General's tomb?"

He Chunhua replied, "He was never buried; at most, it is a cenotaph. It has no value for searching."

Nian Songyu asked, "Even if we find these locations, how do we determine which one to irrigate?"

"We cannot, but the Three-Corpse Insects can." State Preceptor Sun ordered his men to bring over several sealed glass jars, inside which mist seemed to swirl.

Everyone looked closely and realized—good heavens, that was no mist! There were clearly four or five Three-Corpse Insects swimming inside the jars!

They were quite lively, each pressing its head against the edge of the jar, looking somewhat like eels kept in captivity.

"They only move in one direction: away from the Great Square Pot," State Preceptor Sun explained. "That is to say, the direction opposite to their movement is where the Great Square Pot lies. If you take these jars and walk around the target locations, you will find it."

This old man is deep; he plans everything in advance. If he were harboring ill intent, he would likely be just as meticulous... He Lingchuan glanced at him quietly, his vigilance growing.

The group then picked up the glass jars and split up to act.

The He father and son naturally walked together toward Zhong Shengguang's tomb.

Walking through the ruins of a city on a bleak, windy night, the sense of loneliness and decay reached its peak when they saw Zhong Shengguang's tomb.

Located in the northwest corner of the South Gate Plaza, which they had passed earlier, the tomb was surprisingly large and grand. It was constructed entirely of bluestone and covered a full two acres. Judging by the surroundings, the person who buried him had deliberately demolished many houses to clear space for this massive grave.

The epitaph, however, was simple: Tomb of Xiluo Commander Zhong Shengguang, followed by his dates of birth and death.

After more than a hundred years, despite signs of being excavated by later arrivals, the tomb remained intact; not even a corner of the stone slabs forming the mound was chipped.

The He father and son both let out long sighs as they reached it.

The stories of Coiling Dragon City and the Great Wind Army have been sung for year after year, echoing endlessly in the Blackwater City of today, but how many have been able to come in person to pay respects to this legendary general who gave his life for his country?

He Lingchuan remarked with emotion, "The enemy actually built such a large tomb for him."

Zhong Shengguang had committed suicide when the city fell, fulfilling his vow: "While the city stands, I stand; when the city falls, I die." After Coiling Dragon City was subsequently slaughtered, there were, of course, no compatriots left to bury him. The ones who built this tomb could only have been his enemies.

"The Xianyou Kingdom had no choice. After Zhong Shengguang died, he was beheaded. His head was sent to the Xianyou capital to claim credit, and the whole nation celebrated; the royal palace kept it as a collection piece. However, ever since then, the Coiling Dragon Wilderness has encountered strange occurrences—men and beasts died, and no grass would grow. The Xianyou Kingdom wanted a mineral-rich wilderness, not a desert where no living thing could enter, so they sent men back into Coiling Dragon City to give Zhong Shengguang a proper burial, hoping to appease the wrath of his vengeful spirit."

"And they failed." There is no need to elaborate on what became of the Xianyou Kingdom or the Coiling Dragon Desert afterward.

He Chunhua produced two bundles of incense from somewhere, lit them, and handed one to He Lingchuan. "It was not easy to make this trip."

Let us pay respects to a heroic soul.

The two bowed solemnly, and He Lingchuan took a flask of mare's milk wine from his robes, then produced three cups and filled them.

The He father and son offered a silent toast toward the tombstone and drained their cups in one gulp.

He Lingchuan gently sprinkled the wine over the grave mound and whispered, "General Zhong, you must protect us so we can enter and exit the Coiling Dragon Desert safely; only then will we have the chance to come back and offer you wine again."

He Lingchuan took out the glass jar and walked around Zhong Shengguang's tomb, but the Three-Corpse Insects inside did not change their orientation; they remained pressed against the southern wall of the jar.

In other words, this grand tomb was not their target.

He walked a full circle and returned to see He Chunhua lost in thought. "Father, what are you thinking about?"

"I was thinking, if we truly find the Great Square Pot and send it to the inland battlefield, will the Furious Sand Season of the Coiling Dragon Desert become a thing of the past?"

"Certainly. Isn't that a good thing? The Coiling Dragon Wilderness looks barren, but it is actually rich in resources; otherwise, the allied forces wouldn't have fought so desperately for Coiling Dragon City back then. If it lets us pass, Qiansong Prefecture wouldn't be so poor anymore." Having said this, He Lingchuan noticed He Chunhua's expression and paused. "What, did I say something wrong?"

"Everything you said is correct, but I feel it is best for the Coiling Dragon Desert to remain as it is."

He Lingchuan asked in surprise, "Why?" Was there someone who actually liked guarding a temperamental, barren desert?

"The Coiling Dragon Desert is an obstacle, a scourge, and a source of uncertainty, but it is also a safeguard. The Great Yuan is no longer as strong as it once was; if this layer of protection were removed, the consequences would be unpredictable."

"What kind of safeguard is the Coiling Dragon Desert?" He Lingchuan silently praised Governor He's subtlety, but on the surface, he laughed, "If we can retrieve the pot, our whole family will move to the capital. Why would we care about some Coiling Dragon Desert? Whether it blows wind or rains here will have nothing to do with us."

This line of reasoning was perfectly in character for He Lingchuan's original self, and Governor He smiled at him. "You are quite insightful when it comes to the ways of officialdom."

Regardless of promotion, any trouble would be for the next local official to deal with; he could just walk away. As his eldest son said, why worry for others?

When the sky falls, there will always be someone else to hold it up.

In truth, He Lingchuan understood immediately: the Coiling Dragon Desert served as a buffer zone between the major powers. It was difficult for anyone to cross it to attack the Yuan Kingdom, and the nearly half-year-long Furious Sand Season was a nightmare for any expeditionary force. During this period, unless they could sustain the war through plunder to supply the army, their logistics would be completely severed.