Chapter 622: Finally Done

Only he himself knew the difficulties involved.

After completing the third cycle, He Lingchuan slowly withdrew his power. He opened his eyes and was about to stand up to find water to drink when the Soul-Sucking Mirror suddenly shouted: "Hey, hey, look at the sky quickly!"

The sky?

The window was always open, so He Lingchuan jumped out and looked up: "What?"

"The Heavenly Luo Xing is shining!" The Soul-Sucking Mirror's voice became sharp and thin, "Ya ha ha ha, the tenth star of the Big Dipper, it's shining, it's shining!"

He Lingchuan went to find the nine stars of the Big Dipper first, then counted, and sure enough, ten stars were flickering.

Northwest of the Tianzhu Star, an extra star was shining brightly.

He Lingchuan didn't have time to look closely before it went out.

"Eh?"

He held his breath and waited.

The people sent by Li Qingge couldn't be that unreliable, right? It took twenty days, which was already overtime, and it only flashed like this? What if the Tiangong didn't notice? Wasn't he winking at a blind man?

Fortunately, after a quarter of an hour, this star shone again.

"The person sent by the Songyang Prefecture Lord has finally walked to the Wan Ge Swamp!" The Soul-Sucking Mirror howled happily, "You are safe!"

It was also safe, long live!

For these days, it had been worried and afraid along with its master.

He Lingchuan looked at the flickering star and exhaled a long breath, a huge stone in his heart falling to the ground.

As soon as he arrived in Lingxu City, he entrusted Li Qingge to send people to take the latest version of the Punishment Dragon Pillar to a small country on the northwest border of Beijia, to try it out in the Wan Ge Swamp.

This was the latest product of the Great Fang Hu, "likely" stained with its aura. He Lingchuan hoped it could divert the Heavenly God's attention; at that time, he was truly so watched that he couldn't breathe.

Now he had passed the test of the Dharma Eye, and the Heavenly God and the Monster Emperor should have no interest in him.

Now that the Heavenly Luo Xing flashed strangely again, and the position indicated by the divine object was in the Wan Ge Swamp, he and Fu Shanyue should have completely cleared their suspicions.

Sigh, help that comes late is still help.

He Lingchuan muttered: "Hope it's useful."

His subsequent actions were all very important, and he must not be watched by the Heavenly God again.

That night, the sound of bells echoed on Tianzhu Peak.

When Bai Ziqi arrived at the Star-Plucking Tower, the Duyan Envoy was already standing before the Heavenly Book, bowing.

"How is it?"

The Duyan Envoy pointed to the stars in the sky: "Look."

Bai Ziqi looked up and his expression was solemn: "The Heavenly Luo Xing is shining... where is the position indicated by the divine object?"

The Duyan Envoy stretched out the tip of his staff and tapped lightly on the sand table: "Here."

"This is the Ju Nation?" Bai Ziqi's voice was full of surprise, "How could it be outside Beijia's borders?"

He thought...

"It seems that your original direction of investigation was wrong." The Duyan Envoy said in a condensed voice, "This is the Ju Nation. Judging from the range shown by the divine object, the Great Fang Hu appeared in the Wan Ge Forest and Wan Ge Swamp area. Have you been there?"

Bai Ziqi nodded: "I traveled there in my youth, but that was twenty years ago. The Wan Ge Swamp is sparsely populated, but there are several towns around the Wan Ge Forest, mainly doing forest product business. At the same time, those towns connect the north and south and are important traffic arteries."

He paused: "Should the subordinate go to investigate?"

The Duyan Envoy shook his head: "According to the Heavenly God's will, you stay in Lingxu to continue investigating the Longevity Pill case. We will send others to the Wan Ge Swamp."

"Yes." Bai Ziqi looked at the sand table, somewhat unwilling, "When did the Heavenly Luo Xing start shining?"

"At the beginning of the Xu hour (19:00), flashing and dimming." The Duyan Envoy understood Bai Ziqi, and as soon as he saw the expression on his face, he asked, "Do you have any progress in investigating the Red Yan Crown Prince and the Special Envoy?"

Bai Ziqi shook his head: "No."

"The Miaozhan Heavenly God has also used the Touchstone to test that young man surnamed He, and there is no abnormality."

Bai Ziqi immediately replied: "The subordinate misjudged, and is willing to accept punishment."

The Miaozhan Heavenly God has boundless magic power, and the Touchstone never makes mistakes. Wasting a massive amount of divine power for a young man was all because of Bai Ziqi's insistence.

Even in the end, there was a slight mistake, and even Fu Shanyue couldn't be tested.

The Duyan Envoy wanted to remind Bai Ziqi that He Xiao had already passed the Touchstone test and was proven innocent. Now that the Heavenly Luo Xing had shone for the third time, and the location where the Great Fang Hu appeared was thousands of miles away, the Tiangong had even less need to waste manpower and energy on Fu Shanyue and He Xiao.

"These two people don't need to be investigated anymore." The Duyan Envoy said, "Go tell Fan Long as well."

"Yes." Bai Ziqi sighed slightly in his heart.

Even a horse can stumble; his spiritual sense is not always correct.

Let it be.

Also on this night, Hong Chenglue rushed to the Autumn Palace.

The Autumn Palace was on the side of the Frost Lake; Hong Chenglue walked along a small path surrounded by green trees. People coming here for the first time might not even discover this hidden path even if they passed by the lake.

After walking another ten zhang, there was light.

This was a two-story small building built on the side of the bay, with an old osmanthus tree at the door drifting with fragrance, and three or five late jade lotuses in the lotus pond welcoming the wind.

The courtyard was quite simple, with square bricks, fish tanks, and an old maple tree swaying and spreading, its branches twisted like claws, and red leaves like blood decorating the colors.

State Preceptor Frost Leaf was sitting on a bamboo chair in the courtyard looking up at the sky; hearing Hong Chenglue come, he didn't turn his head, just pointed to the chair on the side: "Sit."

Hong Chenglue sat down immediately.

He came from a military background, sitting like a bell, upright at all times, forming a contrast with State Preceptor Frost Leaf's nonchalance.

"State Preceptor, you summoned me?"

State Preceptor Frost Leaf didn't answer, but instead put his hands behind his head and said leisurely: "When I was young, there was also such a red maple tree by my residence. I had no playmates, and my mother couldn't accompany me; year after year, I often sat under the maple tree like this and looked up at the night sky."

Was the State Preceptor telling him why he used Frost Leaf as his title? Hong Chenglue didn't pick up the topic.

State Preceptor Frost Leaf asked him: "What about when you were young?"

"I was an orphan." Hong Chenglue said expressionlessly, "Only A-Jin accompanied me as I grew up."

"Right, you are an orphan; how could I have forgotten again?" State Preceptor Frost Leaf sighed and pointed to the sky, "See any difference?"

Hong Chenglue looked up, only to see the vast night sky and bright stars.

He wasn't familiar with astrology, and after looking for a while, except for a few limited stars, he didn't see anything special.

"Sorry."

State Preceptor Frost Leaf pointed to the middle of the sky: "Recognize the Big Dipper?"

"I recognize it."

"You count, how many stars?"

Hong Chenglue counted, his face showing surprise: "Nine... no, ten stars? Eh, why is the Heavenly Luo Xing shining?"

He knew that the Heavenly Luo Xing shone for a long time every autumn and winter, but it wasn't like this, flashing non-stop.

"Actually, the Heavenly Luo Xing has already flashed unexpectedly twice this year, and the Tiangong is very nervous." State Preceptor Frost Leaf said slowly, "I heard that around the year I was born, the Heavenly Luo Xing often flashed without warning. Do you know what big event happened then?"

The year State Preceptor Frost Leaf was born was about 150 or 160 years ago? Hong Chenglue thought carefully: "The White Fish Port riot?"

"Not bad. At that time, Beijia didn't suppress it immediately, causing this hole to get bigger and bigger; and in the west, the rise of Panlong City under Zhong Shengquan's governance was also nearly unstoppable." State Preceptor Frost Leaf smiled, "Therefore, the strange flashing of the Heavenly Luo Xing is often considered a precursor to great chaos."

Hong Chenglue stared at the Heavenly Luo Xing: "Are there signs of great chaos now too?"

"How could there not be?" State Preceptor Frost Leaf glanced at him, "An era of great chaos is also the time for military talents like you to show their skills. I previously applied for you to go east, and the Emperor finally agreed; the transfer order and military tally will arrive soon. In fifteen days, you can set off."

Hong Chenglue was overjoyed, stood up and bowed to him: "Thank you, State Preceptor!"

He had just returned to Beijia, and his previous achievements didn't count; he urgently needed a few great victories to establish his position.

But Beijia had few wars, and military merit was very hard to get. Fan Old Second was sent to the front line by mistake and gained good fortune; how many people were so envious their eyes turned red?

It was finally his turn. State Preceptor Frost Leaf had put in no small effort.

"Perform well." State Preceptor Frost Leaf exhorted him, "The war in the east is not easy to fight."

Everything was finally returning to the track he was familiar with; Hong Chenglue had mixed feelings in his heart. The opportunity for a comeback had arrived, but A-Jin was gone.

"Master, I want to borrow something from you."

￥￥￥￥￥

The next day, Pianxiang Mountain Villa had guests visiting.

This person was in a blue robe, and his eyes seemed to always carry a smile.

He Lingchuan was very surprised to see him: "Mr. Fang?"

Wasn't this the Great Steward of the Golden Horn family, Fang Canran? Although He Lingchuan had asked Old Ge to inquire about his background, he didn't ask anything useful. He had been busy recently, so he had cast this person to the back of his mind.

He didn't expect that he would come to his door himself.

Fang Canran put down the teacup, stood up and cupped his hands: "Young Master He, it's only been half a month, and you and the Red Yan Crown Prince have become the talk of Lingxu City."

Recently, the Red Yan people had been in the limelight in Lingxu City, first pursuing the Longevity Pill case, then experiencing two earth-shattering attacks, followed by the Emperor personally gifting a residence to apologize, and then sending the Heart-Unity Guard to guard the place where the Red Yan Crown Prince was staying.

This kind of honor was something others hadn't enjoyed for a long time.

"What is Mr. Fang saying?" He Lingchuan smiled bitterly, "We have just finished a half-month of being scared and worried."

"I see Young Master He has a good complexion and good luck. As for the Longevity Pill case, it will come to light sooner or later; there is no need to worry too much about it." Fang Canran said a few kind words and then entered the main topic, "Visiting today is to send Young Master He something."

After saying that, he took out a box from his bosom.

He Lingchuan's gaze followed his movements and fell on the ring on his finger.

Opening the box, inside lay a small drum, bigger than the sesame seed cakes He Lingchuan often ate.

This drum probably had some years on it; the skin was yellow, but the drum surface was painted with landscapes, jungles, and the moon.

Landscape paintings were very common, and adding a moon wasn't strange.

But adding such a vivid jungle in the mountains, as if the leaves would move when the wind blew and mushrooms would pop up on the ground, was the first time He Lingchuan had seen it.

By the mountains and in the forest, there was also a set of two-entry small courtyards, with fences, millstones, and tables and chairs in front of the house, and a well behind the house.

Hanging under the eaves was a long string, not knowing if it was chili or firecrackers.

This was no longer like a landscape, but like a fine brushwork painting.

"This is?" He Lingchuan had never seen it, but vaguely guessed something.

"Dreamland."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 623 =====