[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-after-the-immortals-disappeared":3,"chapter-after-the-immortals-disappeared-after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-22":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","After the Immortals Disappeared",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2283906,4468,"Chapter 22: A Father Pits His Son Against the World","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-22",22,"\u003Cp>He Chunhua walked back, his expression gradually turning resolute: \"Fine, I will go!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gazes of the soldiers below immediately became even more respectful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The He brothers were shocked: \"Father, why go this far!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were about to step forward, but were shouted back by a sharp \"Halt!\" from He Chunhua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Prefect was slightly angry: \"What kind of unseemly behavior is this, pulling and tugging? Don't you see how many people are watching!\" Having said this, he turned his head and ordered Zeng Feixiong, \"Move out!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A troop of nearly three hundred people set off northward along the imperial road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did He Chunhua sigh and say to his sons: \"I have wasted twenty years at the border, but you are young and must not be buried here any longer. If this mission succeeds, your starting point will be the Great Capital!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twenty years of personal experience told him that in a remote, impoverished place, even with world-class talent, there was no way to display it. Taking one risk to allow the He family to return to the Great Capital was actually a very worthwhile trade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The country is in turmoil, yet this place is a paradise away from it all.\" He Lingchuan could not hold back anymore, \"Dad, there is nothing wrong with Heishui City. A vague and ethereal treasure hunt is not worth you risking your life!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Really, this place is quite good; he likes it immensely. Although the wind and sand are a bit heavy, although the food is a bit coarse, although eating too much beef and mutton is cloying... Hey, but can we not look for trouble? If the Prefect kicks the bucket, who will take over? Who can keep things under control? The family's good days will come to an end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Serving the country with all one's might is only natural. You will understand when you are older.\" The truth was that the State Preceptor was here, and the King's decree was here; there was simply no way to decline. This child, sixteen years old and still so ignorant! He Chunhua patted his eldest son's shoulder and turned to He Yue, \"While I am away, the prefectural affairs will be assisted and managed by Yue'er. You have always been steady and good at planning; if I do not return, you must take good care of the He family and take good care of your mother.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan could not help but turn to Sun Fuping: \"Can we not wait a bit longer? We can find someone else to lead the team!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We can wait, but every official we find must undergo this test.\" Sun Fuping pointed to the large water vat, \"An army setting out must always strike while the iron is hot; by the third attempt, the spirit will be exhausted. At that point, we will be unable to contend with the Panlong Desert.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morale is at its peak right now; if they try a few more times, the soldiers will be exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, the team has already set out; how can an arrow be pulled back once it has left the bow?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yue’s eyes turned red. He grabbed his father’s hand, walked to the side, and lowered his voice: \"Dad, this is a trap they have set!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How could I not know?\" He Chunhua shook his head slightly, looked at He Lingchuan who had followed, and after hesitating for a long time, said, \"Chuan'er, you come with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words were like a thunderbolt, causing He Lingchuan’s head to buzz: \"What? Dad, I...\" I don't want to go!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A life-or-death adventure—why should he go along? Isn't He Chunhua fond of his eldest son? Why call him along to die?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"From the moment you were born, the Great Shaman said you were a lucky charm, capable of turning danger into safety.\" He Chunhua seemed to find it hard to speak, but still said, \"For over ten years, the He family has flourished, which proves those words were not empty. This trip to Panlong is unpredictable, and I... I need your good luck! Besides, your martial prowess is not bad; I can only rest easy if I have my own kin guarding me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grabbed He Lingchuan’s arm, subconsciously glanced at Sun Fuping twice, and whispered: \"I always feel that this is a great opportunity for the He family as well. Chuan'er, my safety depends on you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan felt as if his mouth was full of bitter bile. He wanted to say he wouldn't go, but could he? Since the founding of the Great Yuan, they had been desperately instilling the ethics of ruler-subject and father-son relations into officials and commoners, just like other regimes. He Chunhua was worried about his own safety and asked his eldest son to accompany him—wasn't that the most normal thing in the world?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Xunzhou Governor did even worse, sending his son directly to take risks. By comparison, what was He Chunhua doing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, with everyone watching, could He Lingchuan really open his mouth and say \"I won't\"? He could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dad, I won't...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan was just about to exercise the original owner's unreasonable nature, but unfortunately, He Chunhua knew this son too well and didn't give him any chance to consider, struggle, or refuse, preemptively raising his voice to Sun Fuping: \"State Preceptor, Chuan'er will accompany me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice was extremely loud, causing the vanguard to look over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alright, it was settled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It also choked back He Lingchuan’s final refusal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Chunhua patted his eldest son’s shoulder and sighed with emotion: \"Good child!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yue stood to the side, dumbfounded. Although it was common these days for fathers and sons to go into battle together, hadn't his father always favored his eldest brother? Why did he insist on bringing him along when taking such a huge risk? It was clear that his eldest brother’s face was written full of refusal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nian Songyu also heard it and waved at He Lingchuan: \"Excellent, we shall get better acquainted on the road.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What else could He Lingchuan say? Looking at Nian Songyu’s cheerful smile, his mouth felt dry and astringent: \"Fine, I will go prepare some supplies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, seeing off the expedition team had turned into seeing off his father, and finally, into seeing off himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One can only say that surprises in life are everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person his second brother was tearfully telling to be careful on the road had actually turned out to be himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yue grabbed his arm and suddenly lowered his volume: \"Be careful of those two people.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you even need to say it?\" He Lingchuan rolled his eyes, \"Uncle Hao, I leave Second Brother's safety to you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncle Hao nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a grudge against Nian Songyu, so for this journey into the Panlong Desert, He Chunhua decisively did not let him get involved to avoid trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan was extremely envious of his being able to stay out of it, but for now, he could only put on a dry smile and wave goodbye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at He Chunhua again, a thought suddenly popped into his mind:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is there a possibility that this father’s feelings for his eldest son are not as deep as the original He Lingchuan thought? Recalling the original owner’s memories, this dad was thoughtful, but also bold in taking risks, rarely hesitating; he was indeed a man who did big things. But! There is a \"but\"—whenever the dad took a risk, it seemed the eldest son was always by his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was his identity as a \"lucky charm\" truly verified?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Panlong Desert had not yet entered the wild sand season, and there were plenty of people on the Red Cliff Road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With at most a dozen days left until the final deadline, everyone was in a hurry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Lingchuan had changed his mount and loaded his supplies before setting off; now he wore a white robe, with only his face exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun rose, and the desert was terrifyingly hot. After walking for a quarter of an hour without any shade, He Lingchuan’s whole body was burning; he suspected that if he poured water on himself, he would steam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, they hadn't entered the true desert yet; dwarf sea buckthorn, desert wormwood, and wild rye were often visible around them, with saxaul trees and purple-stemmed willows scattered sporadically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the only way in and out of Heishui City, there was everything on both sides of the road: broken boxes, scraps of cloth, bottles, half-rotted jackal carcasses; He Lingchuan even saw a small tuft of black hair hanging on some wild rye, fluttering in the wind, which looked like human hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1450,"2026-06-20T02:23:30.219Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","5ba74f1a472562fc6e891f5ba497e1ad9d1b38bd5f00ec3f57c6040403cc28ae","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-23","after-the-immortals-disappeared-chapter-21",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-the-immortals-disappeared-cover.jpg"]