Chapter 2125: Catching Up (Bonus Chapter)

Official business concluded, it was time to catch up.

At this moment, he was not the Nine Abysses Great Emperor, but He Yue's elder brother.

Familiar smile, familiar gestures.

As his demeanor and actions shifted, He Yue's eyes reddened slightly:

"Big brother, I! I and Mother have missed you so much."

Brothers, we haven't seen each other in five or six years!

"You brought the jade jue from Naluotian—did you learn of past events?"

The divine art attached to the jade jue in Naluotian erased the imprint planted in He Lingchuan's sea of consciousness. He Yue stood aside watching, his face showing no great surprise at the time.

Moreover, before he left the country, He Chunhua would certainly have to confess that He Lingchuan was still alive.

Relying on lies alone, this matter could not be concealed.

Indeed, He Yue nodded firmly: "Father has confessed it himself!"

He even forgot to call him "Father King": "I and Mother were stunned on the spot, Mother lost composure and scolded Father roundly."

"Big brother, over these many years, I never imagined Father would treat you with such intentions! I…" His chest rose and fell twice before he swallowed that breath, "We never thought he would bargain with you using the gods."

In truth, he had long known Father's nature, but this secret still opened his eyes anew.

But what could knowing change? Even if he now despised Father's deeds, Father remained Father.

Father and son, the moral order remains unchanged.

Moreover, He Yue himself had benefited from He Chunhua's deal with Naluotian—these many years of smooth advancement, now even ascending to the position of crown prince.

Brother suffered, yet the beneficiary was himself.

He Yue's inner emotions were so complex he could not even express them to himself.

He Lingchuan, however, could understand, and once again reached out to pat his shoulder: "No matter, it does not affect our brotherly bond."

Whether the original self harbored resentment or forgiveness toward He Chunhua, that was the original self's affair, unrelated to him.

In his view, He Chunhua was a hegemon who achieved goals by any means.

In chaotic times, how could such a person be simply measured by good or bad, right or wrong?

He Yue nodded firmly.

These past years, he had tempered himself on battlefield and officialdom, his mindset actually quite steady. But after five or six years apart, reuniting with a "resurrected" brother, he could not help but feel stirred and unable to calm himself.

He Lingchuan smiled at him. He Yue's feelings for him were sincere; even though he was not the original self, he still felt warmth from this familial bond.

He Chunhua understood his second son too well, having long anticipated that facing He Lingchuan would make him lose composure. Yet it was precisely this genuine outpouring of emotion that could move the Nine Abysses Great Emperor.

The Nine Abysses Great Emperor values old ties, so he will be somewhat gentler toward Shen Guo henceforth, and future cooperation will be more sincere and smooth.

This He Chunhua is indeed a schemer, calculating every corner.

But He Lingchuan would not mention these to He Yue, merely pointing to the stone hut and saying to his brother: "Wash your face, come in for tea!"

Having said that, he glanced at Dong Rui, who understood, gave a hehe laugh, and slipped away quietly.

Afterwards was the time for the two brothers to speak privately, so he saw no need to interfere.

He Yue crouched down, scooped up a handful of water, and washed his face.

"Is this the holy spring cherished by the people of Ya?"

It seems not particularly special, aside from the spring water being cool and refreshing, with a faint sweetness.

"Not bad, legend says the ancestors of the Kelin people, pursued by enemies with no escape, fled to Baiqiu Yuan, jumped into this hollow in the white stone to hide." He Lingchuan pointed to the reclining stone in the lake, "Back then the water level was high, enemies did not wade into the pool to check before leaving. The Kelin ancestors escaped disaster, and ever since have settled in Baiqiu Yuan, generation after generation."

"Later the Kelin tribe grew strong, gradually becoming the main clan of Ya Guo, also moving to the royal capital to live; this place they revere as their sacred origin. For decades now, the Ya King comes here in spring and autumn each year to bathe and fast for three days, then sacrifices to ancestors and prays for good fortune."

He Yue glanced at the small stone hut, somewhat surprised: "So this is where the Ya King lives?"

"Exactly, however their ancestors lived here, the Ya King lives the same way here—in the sacred ground, no extravagance is spoken of."

The interior furnishings were simple, only a stone bed and a table with chairs.

He Lingchuan had already drawn a bucket of clear spring water from the pool, casually taking out tea utensils to brew tea.

The tea snacks happened to be the sour date paste sent by Lady Ying, plus the roasted rice cakes and jerky venison He Lingchuan happened to pull out.

These rice cakes are made by frying glutinous rice until fragrant, grinding it into powder, then adding brown sugar, sesame, and peanuts to set and bake; when on campaign, soaking in hot water turns it into a bowl of filling rice porridge.

But now it is a large cake, the two brothers breaking off pieces to eat.

The venison jerky is also hard, only able to be chewed in small strips.

"On campaign abroad, there's not much good food; when we win a battle, I'll treat you to a big meal."

Both brothers laughed.

He Yue recalled how his brother used to refuse food at home unless it was delicious, yet now he could gnaw on hard dried venison and drink water, sighing!

When did his brother become so different? He could no longer recall.

During wartime they did not drink alcohol, the brothers could only substitute tea for wine, and He Yue asked about his brother's experiences after leaving Yan Guo.

He Lingchuan briefly outlined what he could speak of, enough to make He Yue gasp in amazement repeatedly, constantly sighing:

"Too bad, if I could have followed by my elder brother's side from start to finish, experiencing it all would have been wonderful!"

But then he reconsidered: since he came from Baishawan, wasn't he walking the very route his elder brother once took?

Along this way, everywhere sang of his elder brother's great achievements and virtues.

Along this way, everywhere were traces of his elder brother's personal connections and favors.

Heaven high, road long—he merely making one journey found it already so arduous; back then his elder brother setting out to sea, that was a path carved through battle after battle!

Without leaving Shen Guo, he would not realize the gap between himself, his father and son, and his elder brother—already as vast as heaven and abyss.

"You followed the Shen King in conquest and ascension—isn't that also a rare experience in the world?" He Lingchuan shifted the topic, "Come, tell me how you abolished Yan and established Shen."

When mentioning He Chunhua he only said "Shen King," and He Yue understood, then proceeded to describe how He Chunhua defeated the Grand Marshal, overthrew the dynasty, and briefly outlined the situation in Shen Guo since its founding over a year ago.

"Good." He Lingchuan clapped his hands, "The Shen King may not be a good father, but in terms of governing and administering, he surpasses figures like Dong Haoming of the Grand Marshal by an unknown multiple. At least the people of Shen Guo can enjoy several good years."

The country of Yuan had been in constant turmoil, with order collapsing and civilians suffering.

He Chunha ascended to power, and in the early days he would necessarily focus on rest and recuperation, striving for good governance. This man is quite capable; as long as he sets his mind to it, he will surely achieve results.

He also happened to rise at a fortunate time, as imperial ooze has frequently erupted in recent years, aiding national recovery. If He Chunha fails to seize this opportunity, then back then he could never have left Heishuicheng and risen all the way.

"Lingxu City already knows my origins," He Lingchuan asked, "Did Bekka exert pressure on Shen State?"