Chapter 186

He Lingchuan yearned for a little while, then said: "The immortals really have many tricks. I don't know what ancient times were like; I really want to see it."

"According to historical records, at that time, immortals and demons came and went between heaven and earth, and giant demons ran rampant; ordinary people could only crawl on the ground, nothing more than ants." He Chunhua said lightly, "The immortals and giant demons all had the ability to move mountains and fill seas, and they would eat the people of a city at every turn. Compared to that time, I still think the present is a bit better."

He added: "News from the front line has come that Nian Zanli is attacking the northern line fiercely. After tonight's accident, it is expected that the Wang Ting will still order me to go north as soon as possible, and I must set off within two days at the latest. Although this trip to Shi Huan encountered danger, after sending Zhu Xiuer back, many parties have shown goodwill, and I can better figure out the Wang Ting's movements."

He Lingchuan acted carelessly: "Dad, our new territory is in the north, and we have little intersection with the Wang Ting. Recruiting soldiers and buying horses all depends on ourselves, and we don't look at others' faces. Why do we have to use a hot face to stick to the capital and this group of corrupt nobles in Shi Huan?"

The words were unpleasant, but this was his style, and He Chunhua was already used to it. "This is the way of being an official, and it is also taking precautions. In the future, at a critical moment, even if I don't count on anyone in the court to speak for me, at least don't pull my leg, and don't shoot cold arrows at me in the dark."

He sighed: "How many loyal ministers and good generals since ancient times have not been buried on the battlefield, but died unjustly at the hands of treacherous villains." After saying this, he looked at He Lingchuan and said, "Your mind was flexible today, and your performance was eye-catching; even General Ke praised you endlessly. Very good, very good."

The two demon puppets sent out by Dong Rui were extremely difficult to deal with, but looking back at the whole battle, whether it was delaying the wolf-man or subduing the ghost ape, his eldest son actually played a key role.

Was it just luck? He Chunhua increasingly didn't think so.

No one knows a son better than his father.

The father cast a look of emotion, but He Lingchuan felt a slight shock in his heart. The four words "mind was flexible," He Chunhua originally only used to praise He Yue, but this time he used it on his eldest son.

Everyone hopes to be affirmed, but only He Lingchuan often uses the old turtle demon's gatha "hide the edge and keep the clumsiness" to motivate himself to be a little duller.

Tonight the whole family was in danger, he didn't hold back, and instead aroused suspicion.

This is very bad.

He Lingchuan held his head high and deliberately said: "General Ke thinks I am a general talent sent from heaven; this can't be wrong. After going to the northern border, I also want to go to the battlefield to lead troops to kill the enemy and build unparalleled achievements!"

"After repelling two demons, you think you are omnipotent?" He Chunhua scolded with a smile, "Good, when the time comes, I will give you the opportunity; don't be useless!"

He Lingchuan followed the pole: "Then give me a Commandant to be?"

"Military merit must be earned by yourself." He Chunhua stood up, "Let's go find the wolf demons; let them choose their partners as soon as possible; long nights have many dreams."

He Yue was stunned: "Overnight?" It is still the middle of the night, and there are two hours until dawn.

"General Ke's trip to the capital will not be calm." He Chunhua also looked at the sky, "We had better finish everything on hand before the changes."

The "alliance contract" recognized by the Rock Wolf requires two freshly slaughtered lambs, the kind that are steaming hot. The mutton left over from the inn last night definitely won't work.

In the middle of the night, the meat shop wouldn't be open, so Mao Tao used silver to knock open the door of the nearest slaughterhouse in Shi Huan City, picked two lively lambs from the back pen, and only then completed the promise to the wolf pack.

These lambs were all less than a year old, the meat was just tender, and it was indeed worthy of the "prime-age" that He Lingchuan said, and the two giant wolves ate very satisfactorily.

Next, they had to sign an alliance one-on-one with the wolf demons.

This is a process of mutual selection; only when the human and wolf sides see eye to eye can they reach a consensus.

Lu Xin didn't even think about it, and walked straight to He Lingchuan's side: "I choose him!"

He Lingchuan's performance tonight was the best in the audience, and the Rock Wolf had long noticed it.

He Lingchuan was overjoyed: "Good eye!" Except for Lu Ze, it had the highest status, the most majestic appearance, and the fiercest eyes among the wolf pack. If He Lingchuan took it out for a walk, the head-turning rate should be off the charts, right?

The remaining giant wolf, Lu Jin, in the expectant eyes of everyone, walked around He Chunhua, Zeng Feixiong, Wu Shaoyi, and others, sniffing here and there, and finally actually stood beside He Yue, "I choose him!"

He Yue was flattered: "... Thank you?"

This majestic black giant wolf didn't choose his father, didn't choose Zeng Feixiong, but chose him; is this a good match?

Lu Jin puffed out its chest and held its head high, baring its teeth and giving He Yue a charming smile: "Little Young Master, I will cover you from now on!"

Others were inevitably disappointed not to be chosen, and He Lingchuan clicked his tongue in wonder, secretly asking Lu Xin: "Is my second brother so popular?"

Lu Xin's long wolf face couldn't show any expression: "He looks weaker and needs the strongest guard."

Listening to it, it seems there is no problem.

Next, the human and wolf signed the contract one-on-one, and the process went smoothly without further ado.

After the contract was set, He Chunhua also ordered everyone to go back to rest.

It wasn't dawn yet, and He Chunhua was shaken awake.

Ying Hongchan gently patted his shoulder: "Master, Zhao Qinghe has something to report."

What is so urgent that it can't be reported during the day? He Chunhua's heart tightened, and he quickly got up to get dressed; Zhao Qinghe was already waiting for him in the corner of the small courtyard.

"What is it?" It was freezing cold, and He Chunhua wrapped his robe tightly.

Zhao Qinghe had now been promoted to Zeng Feixiong's adjutant: "Master, do you remember Rui Manzi in the support army?"

"I personally chose him for the team; how could I not remember?" He Chunhua felt a bad omen, "What happened to him?"

"Last night, he and another soldier got drunk, walked out of the tavern, met a secret door girl who chatted him up, and went to her house to spend the night. During this time, he talked nonsense and boasted about the battle by County Magistrate Lake. His companion woke up after vomiting, remembered that these conversations were inappropriate, violated your gag order, and came to report to me."

After the battle of County Magistrate Village ended, He Chunhua issued a gag order to the entire army, strictly forbidding them from discussing or spreading this past, and violators would be severely punished.

This is a military order.

"Did they mention it in the tavern?"

"No."

"Only said it at the woman's house?"

"Yes." Zhao Qinghe said, "It was also that woman who took the initiative to ask, when did the General Manager's wife's newly recognized foster daughter join the team?"

"Took the initiative to ask?" He Chunhua narrowed his eyes, "When did Rui Manzi return to his residence?"

"Two quarters of an hour ago. The two of them also encountered patrols questioning them on the way, and the other side only let them go after checking their waist plates."

"It's not dawn, and the curfew hasn't ended." He Chunhua looked at the sky, "Commoners can't go out yet; that woman has to wait until dawn to send a message to receive a reward; you still have time."

"Master, please give orders."

"Do what you should do, but don't add trouble to the patrols in the city." He Chunhua's eyes were full of compassion, "Zhu Xiuer finally escaped from the mud; she still has to live in Shi Huan, and her reputation must not be tarnished."

"By the way, Rui Manzi violated the military order; give him twenty strokes, and record it to be beaten after arriving in Xiazhou." After being beaten, they have to recover from their wounds, and they still have a long journey ahead, "Also, pass on my order: the support army is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol while in Shi Huan City!"

After saying this, he tucked his hands into his sleeves and returned to his room to rest.

￥￥￥￥￥

"Bang, bang, bang," someone knocked on the door.

He Lingchuan was shooting arrows in his dream, and was startled by the knocking; the arrow went crooked, and he woke up.

Before he could curse out loud, the anxious voice of the butler, Old Mo, came in: "Eldest Young Master, get up quickly; someone from the palace has come!"

From the palace?

He Lingchuan scrambled up to open the door, and two guards came in to help him get dressed and put on his shoes as quickly as possible.

He rushed to the front courtyard of the inn, and the He family was all there. A short, fat eunuch with a hairless face came to convey the imperial decree:

The King summons Xiazhou General Manager He Chunhua to enter the palace for an audience! Entering the palace at dawn?

After the fat eunuch conveyed the holy will, he smiled at He Chunhua: "General Manager He, please?"

He Chunhua tidied his clothes, and He Lingchuan saw his father walking out with a glowing face and high spirits; where was there any fatigue from staying up late after a fierce battle? A group of people came and went, and Lady Ying laughed: "Entering the palace overnight, it seems the King attaches great importance to him."

He Lingchuan gave a long yawn: "Is it over? I'm going back to sleep."

Anyway, it had nothing to do with him; he was just there to receive the decree.

In this return sleep, he couldn't enter Panlong City again, but dreamed of the immortal's cave.

To be precise, he "saw" the divine bone necklace sink more than three zhang below the surface, and the rock and soil here, as if guided, poured into the hole in the center of the divine bone, with entry but no exit.

Soon, a pale red crystal the size of a grain of rice, very inconspicuous, was also sucked over.

It seemed very reluctant, the crystal cracked halfway, turning into a wisp of extremely thin red mist, wanting to escape in the opposite direction.

But the power of the divine bone was stronger, pulling and dragging, and finally sucked it into the ring.

The movement underground stopped, and the divine bone necklace quickly rose back to the surface.

Then, He Lingchuan was awakened by bursts of short, sharp whistles.

He also heard hurried footsteps, shouts, and curses, all passing by outside the inn, getting further and further away.

This is not letting people sleep! He Yue happened to pass by outside, and He Lingchuan rubbed his eyes and called him: "What happened outside?"

In his heart, he was thinking about the dream just now.

This is what happened below the surface when he entered the immortal's cave last time?

The divine bone necklace sucked away that wisp of red mist, and after that, the Panlong dream allowed him to enter and exit often?

"Government soldiers are arresting people, and at the same time strictly ordering all inns and bathhouses not to accept new guests, and also to hand over the list of old guests." He Yue said, "Just now, dozens of people across the street were tied into a string and taken away, like candied haws."

Shi Huan City has a whole street of bathhouses, which also provide overnight services in addition to bathing, so they are also regulated.

He Lingchuan understood: "The Wang Ting's movements are quite fast."

"Rebel party members have infiltrated Shi Huan City and assassinated Wang Ting officials. This is right under the Son of Heaven's nose; how could it not attract attention?" He Yue asked him, "How are your injuries?"

He Lingchuan's left shoulder only lifted halfway before he cried out in pain, and the medicine ape Ling Guang came over with the elixir: "Don't move your shoulder randomly; Master, don't strain your muscles and bones. I will change two more types of medicine for you; it will be better in four days at most; the other injuries will be almost better in these two days."

(End of chapter)