Chapter 1104

The Soul-Capturing Mirror said strangely: "How can you laugh so heartily?" It rarely saw He Lingchuan laugh so openly.

"You don't understand! My chess game has come alive!" He Lingchuan beamed, "I am safe, Big Madam and Second Madam are safe, and the archipelago is safe."

Between Between Between Beijia would not give him money for nothing; the so-called "trade route" was probably just a pretense.

Seeing Fushan Yue was right—Yangshan Archipelago has a superior geographical position. If Between Between Between Beijia could extend its reach here, then contacting Yaguo would have a much closer stepping stone!

The relationship between Yangshan Archipelago and the mainland is delicate; neither Qingguo nor Bailie can control this place, making it a natural offshore hub.

With Seeing Fushan Yue stationed here, Between Between Between Beijia could build an intelligence base here.

An intelligence base in the great rear of Mouguo.

But He Lingchuan did not fear this; Yangshan Archipelago was his, firmly under his control. If Between Between Between Beijia wanted to transmit messages or intelligence from here, it would all depend on his expression! Yet thinking of this, He Lingchuan also realized whose handiwork this was:

The Frostleaf State Preceptor.

If he sent someone else to Yangshan Archipelago to do this, He Lingchuan would certainly resist and be on guard, perhaps even trying to drive the "envoy" back.

Given how He Lingchuan treated Yuzhe Cheng, this was not impossible.

But since the Frostleaf State Preceptor sent the Crimson Yan Crown Prince over, He Lingchuan could only express welcome, and indeed a warm welcome.

This Frostleaf State Preceptor fellow is truly deep in scheming and foresight.

Upon realizing this, the heart that He Lingchuan had long held in suspense finally let go.

After dealing with Yuzhe Cheng, he also wrote a letter to the Frostleaf State Preceptor, the words earnest and sincere.

But the Frostleaf State Preceptor never replied.

In these past months, Between Between Between Beijia has taken no further action against him, against Yangshan Archipelago, or against the Earth-Cave Spider Demons; even Zhu Erniang's second-place wanted notice on the Heavenly List has been cancelled, showing that this great empire does not wish to pursue the matter for now.

Knowing the day Zhu Erniang's wanted notice was revoked, he specially opened several jars of old wine to celebrate.

The archipelago and he were finally, temporarily safe.

But he still did not know the Frostleaf State Preceptor's personal attitude.

Strictly speaking, He Lingchuan dared to act against Yuzhe Cheng's group and dared to turn Between Between Between Beijia's demons into dishes for Yuzhe Cheng to eat, not only because he was in the great rear of Mouguo, but mainly because he had some connection with the Frostleaf State Preceptor! Between Between Between Beijia likely wanted to investigate him and uncover his background, which would probably drag the Frostleaf State Preceptor into it, once again touching the case of the Immortal Elixir.

For his own sake, the Frostleaf State Preceptor would likely choose to pacify and maintain peace.

In this matter, He Lingchuan used the Frostleaf State Preceptor. No matter how sincere his letters were, they could not change this fact.

So, would the Frostleaf State Preceptor secretly retaliate? He Lingchuan had always worried about this.

If not openly, then not in secret either? He had told Lv Qiuwei that Yuzhe Cheng could not represent Between Between Between Beijia, and Yuzhe Cheng's strength did not equal Between Between Between Beijia's strength.

But the Frostleaf State Preceptor could! The Frostleaf State Preceptor is the chief among Between Between Between Beijia's four State Preceptors, with immense forces and countless capable people.

Yuzhe Cheng does not even have the qualification to hand him his boots.

Just thinking of the Frostleaf State Preceptor possibly retaliating made He Lingchuan's back feel icy cold. Even if Yangshan Archipelago were crowded with people now, it could not give him even a hint of security.

He knew the Frostleaf State Preceptor's methods; the opponent was not only strong but also patient.

To overthrow his rival, the Qingyang State Preceptor, the Frostleaf State Preceptor could have hidden Xie Yunhe's snow for over a decade, waiting for the right moment to launch a deadly strike.

Even the Qingyang State Preceptor could not escape his grudge—what virtue or ability did He Lingchuan have to presume he could escape unscathed?

Now, the Frostleaf State Preceptor finally made a response:

He sent Seeing Fushan Yue over.

No matter how many precautions Lingxu City gave Seeing Fushan Yue, his arrival itself was a signal to He Lingchuan: the Frostleaf State Preceptor was not angry, nor did he intend to quarrel with him.

Upon realizing this, how could He Lingchuan not be pleased?

The Frostleaf State Preceptor's tolerance was truly unexpected. But the heart is deep as the sea; he himself had other calculations, which He Lingchuan could not fathom.

All that can be said is that in the Hurricane Night Battle, he gained more from Between Between Between Beijia than he had expected.

After the Yuzhe Cheng incident, the greatest hidden worry was gone, and he could now act freely afterward.

Returning to his residence, he casually opened the paint box, and then froze.

The painting was two ping chi in size; its content was not the usual mountains and flowing water, but a forest, wetlands, and wild deer, the brushwork superb, yet with just a few strokes, the wild spirit of the forest and marshes rushed toward him.

But He Lingchuan always felt the painting's content was somewhat strange yet somewhat familiar.

The Soul-Capturing Mirror cried out: "Look at the signature, look at the seal!"

Hearing the sound, He Lingchuan unfurled the painting to the end, and indeed there was no signature. There, a maple tree had been painted; the spot where the signature should be had only a single drifting leaf, lifelike.

The seal bore no carved characters, only a piece of blood-red.

"Maple leaf, maple leaf..." He Lingchuan murmured, "Could it be the Frostleaf State Preceptor?"

The Soul-Capturing Mirror puzzled: "Isn't this the painting Songyang Prefecture sent you?"

"What kind of person is Li Qingge? Roughly speaking, after the Autumn Sacrifice Ceremony incident, she connected with the Autumn Palace." He knew Li Qingge would not miss such an opportunity, "The Frostleaf State Preceptor cannot give it himself, so he used Songyang Prefecture's name."

Why would the Frostleaf State Preceptor send him a painting?

He Lingchuan pondered carefully, and the more he looked, the more he felt the little figure crouched in the grass was deeply sinister.

It seemed to be a five- or six-year-old boy, with a large head and small body, he turned his head to stare at the drinking fawn; though young, he lacked the innocent romance of ordinary children, instead making He Lingchuan feel especially sinister and malicious.

Even stranger, He Lingchuan always felt the boy's build and posture were somewhat familiar.

The place in the painting...

He suddenly blurted out: "The Demon Nest Marsh?"

No wonder it felt familiar—this place indeed resembled Zhu Erniang's former residence. Everywhere were marshes, everywhere wild deer herds, everywhere maple trees, everywhere familiar buildings, and even the corner of the Demon Nest revealed behind the thicket.

Only the trees by the pit were young, unlike what he had seen.

"Is the Frostleaf State Preceptor trying to tell me he has already seen through my origins?"

Zhu Erniang originally lived long in the Demon Nest Marsh; so, having reached an agreement with it, to go to Lingxu City to retrieve the Immortal Transformation, one must have also gone to the Demon Nest Marsh.

This thought truly made one's back turn cold.

Was the Frostleaf State Preceptor reminding him not to think that having escaped one calamity meant he could act recklessly? The Soul-Capturing Mirror asked him: "Then what about this little imp on the painting?"

What was the purpose of painting this little figure? He Lingchuan shook his head, indicating he did not understand.

Could it be the meaning of "the mantis stalks the cicada"? If so, in the eyes of the State Preceptor of Frostleaf, who is the fawn and who is the petty man? "No matter what, I am finally free of this rear worry." He Lingchuan rubbed his hands, unable to contain himself, "At most another month, and our troops will be fully reorganized and trained. Then, we can begin the next step of the plan!"

Adding the newly joined Bailong warriors, the number of the Yangshan Guard now approaches six thousand. This number already stands out remarkably among the small states. If Bailie and Qingguo next door knew he had this many troops, they wouldn't sleep well at night.

Moreover, the combat strength of this army is growing day by day, vastly different from when it was first formed nine months ago, and there are even powerful Bailong warriors readily available to join.

He Daozhu's subordinates have become formidable, and he has had enough of the busy yet peaceful island life.

It's time to stir up wind and waves.

So what is the next plan? The Soul-Capturing Mirror probed, asking: "Bailie?"

"Exactly!" His earnest effort to develop Yangshan's foundation is nothing but facing south and looking north. Now, it's time to annex Bailie. "Yangshan's operations are on the right track; although population, trade, and agriculture are steadily advancing, it's hard to imagine achieving the explosive growth of the early days again."

The Yangshan Archipelago is steadily improving, and while others watch with envy, He Lingchuan feels this growth in strength is too slow.

Especially population.

Since the Yangshan Archipelago vigorously expanded recruitment, neighboring countries and forces have issued migration bans, preventing local populations from moving to Yangshan.

The Yangshan Archipelago now has only 130,000 people, over 40,000 of whom are Bailong.

He Lingchuan's biggest headache is where to get more people.

Once Bailie is taken, this problem will naturally be solved, and his strength will also experience another round of explosive growth.

Bailie is that fat piece of meat he has been eyeing for a long time, constantly calculating how to swallow it whole.

The Soul-Capturing Mirror chirped: "Finally going to act? Are you perhaps a bit too eager?"

How long has this master been managing Yangshan? Less than two years.

"Yes!" He Lingchuan did not deny.

His relationship with Ling Mountain and Mouguo is still in a state of being close yet distant, commonly described as having acquaintanceship but not being close allies. Acting now is not the best timing.

But the problem is, what is there called "the best timing"? As Yangshan Archipelago grows stronger, it becomes more of a thorn in others' eyes. Even if He Lingchuan still wants to lie low and conceal his abilities, with such a strong neighbor nearby, which neighboring state would not be deeply wary?

Moreover, he has another calculation in mind: over the past two thousand years or so, the frequent appearance of Imperial Flowing Gel has foretold great turmoil.

Dealing with the Narakasura's emanation, interacting with Ling Mountain, and occasionally receiving news from Shirenan, all make him feel a sense of crisis and urgency, and intensify his urgent desire for power.

Before the great turmoil arrives, can he come in time to make preparations and accumulate sufficient strength?

Time waits for no one.

……

Early the next morning, Seeing Fushan Yue urged He Lingchuan to take him to the Land of Yin Sha, impatiently.

"Hey, what's the rush?" He Lingchuan was discussing goods with Fang Chanran at Ding Lake, the latter having just brought a batch of supplies from Platinum Island, which included the demon beast essence that Qiu Hu had long been thinking about.

For the ancient demon soul on his body, this is a great tonic.

"Quickly take me and Crown Prince to open our eyes!" Humans' longing for blessed grottoes is as intense as the zombies' yearning for the Land of Yin Sha.

The ferocious tiger Fokyu also came along, yawning while stretching lazily on the ground.

It dislikes killing energy, it's just here to join the fun.

He Lingchuan rubbed its big head, the feel as good as ever.

At this moment, Seeing Fushan Yue sniffed a few times, looking suspiciously at Fang Chanran: "Huh, the smell on you seems somewhat familiar. Where have we met before?"

(End of Chapter)