Chapter 1958

Yes, those were his exact words. Fang Chanran said: "But the Dragon God back then..."

"I know the Dragon God saved the world, and I know its clan or descendants should enjoy the blessings of their ancestors' virtue—planting trees for others to enjoy the shade, as the saying goes. But this kindness and virtue must have a limit, right? How long exactly should others remain grateful and devoted? A hundred years? Five hundred? Or a thousand, two thousand?" Weng Xing said this and suddenly gasped, turning to He Lingchuan to apologize and bow, "Damn it, I forgot you were..."

He Lingchuan smiled faintly: "No problem, go on—I won't blame you."

The Dragon God is truly magnanimous! Weng Xing silently gave a thumbs-up in his heart, though he restrained himself more in speech:

"I only want to say, wear shoes that fit your feet, eat according to your appetite." He patted the stone wall, "The protection of our ancestors will eventually run out, and in the end we must rely on our own sharp claws and fangs! Like Coral Palace—such a fine place, if you lack the ability, you certainly can't hold onto it."

Fang Chanran pondered: "Your argument does have two points of merit; I underestimated you before."

Smart people all praise him, and Weng Xing felt pleased. But he still remembered his elder brother's words—when praised, one must be modest—so he said: "On the Flash Gold Plains, isn't this something even a three-year-old understands? It's just these dragons and flood dragons who can't grasp it—if they don't perish, who will?"

Luo Xie interjected: "Isn't it said, 'Heavenly treasures belong to the virtuous'?"

Upon hearing this, everyone laughed.

Weng Xing curled his lip: "Those who say that have ill intentions—either they're talking nonsense, or they think good things should go to the capable, not the virtuous."

He Lingchuan patted Luo Xie's shoulder: "Inability is lack of virtue—you'll understand later."

He also glanced at the dragon corpse.

The ancestors' protection allows clans and descendants to receive better care and resources, living more comfortably. In human context, this is called "inheritance," but actually there's a more plain and understandable summary:

Privilege.

No matter big or small, it is a special right.

So Weng Xing, this simpleton, wasn't wrong—privilege certainly has a time limit.

Successors must use it with extreme care and caution; otherwise, if "ability" doesn't match position, the ancestors' protection may very well turn into a fatal curse.

……

After returning to Duo City, Qi Shi Feng came to report:

"Qiu Hu and the three armies will soon rendezvous at Wan City."

Wan City lies in the central-west of the Flash Gold Plains, originally the capital of the small state of Wan, but due to the long valley and great river outside the city, after Qiu Hu's army conquered Wan, they turned it into a supply depot and training camp.

The Flash Gold Plains are too vast; the Dragon God Army's rendezvous can only happen in batches, at different times and places.

After the first phase rendezvous and before the second phase begins, there is still a transitional phase.

For He Lingchuan and the Dragon God Army, this transitional phase connects past and future, and its importance actually far exceeds the first phase. Because this is the army's reorganization and intensive training period—shortened to "drilling period."

When the Nine Abyssal Emperor rose in revolt, his forces numbered only a few ten thousand, still divided into seven armies; yet now the total number absorbed has already exceeded six hundred thousand! Aside from assigning troops to various garrisons, Duo City and its surroundings will subsequently have 160,000 personnel undergoing training, while Wan City and Luo He City will have 190,000 undergoing training.

He Lingchuan knows better than anyone the quality of the newly incorporated troops in the first phase—calling them "mixed quality" is already too polite. In this group, even mountain bandits who came down count as elite combatants, after all they've wielded blades and spears, and possibly even killed.

Such an army simply cannot afford defeat, let alone being sent to assault tough fortifications—that would be self-inflicted suffering.

Don't forget, they will ultimately have to face Bai Tan's Yao Army. No matter how outdated the Yao state's army may be, after all it was once a professional regular force. So even if He Lingchuan is eager to seize the entire Flash Gold Plains, he cannot save time on training.

This time cost is a necessary expenditure.

Afterwards, He Lingchuan held a meeting in Duo City, summoning commanders of the Black Armor Army at the rank of Commandant and above.

"Our army has now entered the preparation phase. Although each corps will train in staggered shifts and overlapping schedules, this period must last at least three months, at least! As the saying goes, 'To do good work, one must first sharpen one's tools.' The results of these three months of training will very likely be the key to success or failure in the second phase."

This hundred-day golden training period is critical for the army's transformation from civilians to soldiers, from zero to one, a qualitative change. Each additional day of training increases the army's combat power by a notch.

But this way, the originally fiery Dragon God War will be paused, the first phase's grandeur will come to an abrupt halt—this is a great advantage for the enemy.

"During this period, we must still consolidate the gains of the first phase of war." He Lingchuan said solemnly, "Our enemies will not let this vacuum pass—they will surely stir up trouble with all their might. The territory our soldiers have bled and sweated for cannot be retaken."

The "hard bones" left behind by the Heavenly Gods, Qing Yang, and Dragon God in the first phase of war—probably none will let this good opportunity slip by.

This is a major difficulty in He Lingchuan's Flash Gold Plan; if we can safely pass through, the war will enter the second phase on schedule;

if the pressure is too great, the rear too chaotic, the enemy too strong, the Dragon God Army's main force will have to end training early and enter combat. This passive outcome means subsequent plans and battles will face more unknowns.

All voices responded in unison: "Yes."

"These achievements must be guarded by you and me." The main force trains collectively, but small units can be deployed. He Lingchuan said word by word, "I have a mission to entrust to you. From today, the Black Armor Army shall disperse into scattered units!"

He detailed the task breakdown and required each commander to relay it back.

The meeting atmosphere was heavy and solemn; no one dared miss a single word.

Finally, He Lingchuan stood up, clasped his hands before the officers: "Your goal is to buy time for the main force at all costs! The mission is arduous, and every sacrifice shall be remembered."

Clang clang—several times, armor rubbing. The officers rose as one, voices in unison: "For the Dragon God, for the Flash Gold."

No mistake, no omission, one shot, one interior, one containment, one existence, one one look!

……

Three days later, He Lingchuan saw off Fang Chanran.

Fang Chanran's mission this time is special and must not be known to outsiders, so He Lingchuan didn't give him a large entourage—just brought Dong Rui and Zhu Xiuer, seeing Fang Chanran off for thirty li.

Finally arriving at a hillside pavilion, Fang Chanran stopped, resolutely said: "We must part now, He Brother, your duties are many—please return."

Everyone fell silent—what needed to be said had already been said during these thirty li.

Yet it felt as if there were still a thousand words left unspoken.

Today's parting, no asking about the return journey.

He Lingchuan took off his storage ring, shoved it hard into Fang Chanran's hand: "I know your treasures outnumber mine, but here is a life-saving measure—I hope you never need to use it."

Fang Chanran didn't decline, bowed deeply to him, then clasped his hands to Dong Rui and Zhu Xiuer: "All of you, halt—I depart. Hope we meet again one day."

Dong Rui returned the salute, rare in his stern expression: "Mr. Fang, take care!"

The ghost monkey on his shoulder also stopped making faces, imitating its master by nodding at Fang Chanran:

"Squeak!"

Zhu Xiuer also lifted her forepaw, offering a salute.

Fang Chanran turned and strode away, never looking back.

After walking several dozen zhang, a melodious flute sound came from behind—light, graceful, lively, like an oriole leaving a peach branch, like a fish leaping from a clear pool, like the evening wind passing over golden rice fields, then through the mouse family's living room.

How wonderful the human world is.

Fang Canran smiled, guessing that He Lingchuan was playing the flute to see him off. At that time, in that moment, was Shao Jian also walking toward the distance in such flute music?

He waved his hand behind him, his steps becoming even lighter.

One hundred and sixty years ago, Shao Jian received the Punishing Dragon Pillar from Mitian's hands, without hesitation.

One hundred and sixty years later, Shao Jian's descendants received the Punishing Dragon Pillar from the hands of Zhong Shengguang's successor, without hesitation.

History turned, and another cycle began.