Chapter 783: Chaos Spreads

“Returned from the dead?” He Chunhua murmured, repeating the words. “Yes. In all these past ten months, there hasn’t been a single day when I was as happy as I am today!”

“Chuan’er has grown sensible and accomplished. He’s completely different from before, and now he has even become Rongshan’s special envoy.” Madame Ying smiled. “For this to happen at such a crucial moment truly is a blessing upon your He Family.”

At the mention of this, a smile finally blossomed across He Chunhua’s face. He lightly slapped the table. “Heaven is truly helping me!”

The authority to release the funds rested in his eldest son’s hands. If the Yuan court wanted that money, it would now have to pay even greater attention to the He Family.

Another thick stack of bargaining chips had just fallen into He Chunhua’s hands.

It was a matter of timing and fortune. If he failed to seize this opportunity properly, even Heaven might condemn him for wasting it.

Madame Ying asked, “He lost his memory for nearly a year. Do you really believe Chuan’er’s experiences were that bizarre?”

“Where do you think he went, then?”

Madame Ying gave him a shove. “How would I know?”

“No one knows. Therefore, whatever he tells us is what we’ll believe.” He Chunhua took a sip of the wine left in his cup. “At the very least, he returned alive and intact, full of energy, and even brought us an enormous gift. Isn’t that enough?”

Lost his memories? He did not believe a word of it.

Where had his eldest son gone during those ten months? What had he done? Why had his bearing and cultivation undergone such tremendous changes?

When He Chunhua looked at his son, he could no longer see through him at all.

A treasured sword was forged only through repeated grinding and tempering. How could someone who had spent his days drifting through life in a muddle undergo such a transformation?

Madame Ying snorted, almost forgetting just how fiercely her husband protected their eldest son.

“Once the news spreads that Chuan’er is serving as Rongshan’s special envoy—and since you have no intention of concealing it, the entire capital will know within two days—the pressure on him will come crashing down like a mountain. You need to remind him to hold firm.”

“I don’t think he needs me to remind him.” He Chunhua chuckled. “Chuan’er has already grown up.”

“When we passed through Shihuan City last time, Ke Jihai praised him as someone with the makings of a general.” Madame Ying rested her chin on one hand and thought for a moment. “By the way, should we arrange a marriage for Chuan’er? Even Yue’er has already...”

“Yes!” He Chunhua nodded. “Dear, that is an excellent reminder.”

“Hm?” In the past, whenever she raised this subject, her husband always said there was no hurry. His attitude had suddenly reversed completely, leaving Madame Ying somewhat surprised.

“In a few months, Chuan’er will turn eighteen. He’s no longer young.” He Chunhua pondered briefly. “Find him a good match and arrange the wedding as soon as possible!”

“As soon as possible?” Madame Ying laughed. “Are you that eager to hold a grandson?”

“Of course.” He Chunhua did not attempt to hide it. “Others his age have already become fathers.”

This time, however, the smile did not reach his eyes.

Even Madame Ying noticed.

* * *

After Madame Ying rose and left, Steward Wu came inside.

“Master, all the Rongshan disciples brought back by the eldest young master have been settled within the residence. One of them, named Qiu Hu, said he is the young master’s personal guard and must live in the same courtyard. The eldest young master has already agreed.”

He Chunhua gave a quiet acknowledgment. “Let him. Send someone to sound out those Rongshan people. Find out exactly how Chuan’er entered the Rongshan Sect and what he did while he was there.”

“Yes.” Steward Wu had another matter to report. “Ding Zuodong came earlier to present the financial accounts. He also submitted his resignation.”

“Resignation?” He Chunhua frowned. “Why?”

Ding Zuodong was exceptionally capable at managing estates and businesses, more useful than many of the men He Chunhua had brought from Heishui City.

He Chunhua quickly realized something. “Oh, did he come to the capital with Chuan’er?”

“He didn’t say so, but I believe that must be the case.” Otherwise, how could the timing be so coincidental? Ding Zuodong had arrived the previous day, and the eldest young master appeared the following morning. “His stated reason for resigning is that he wishes to return to the eldest young master’s service.”

First, the family had not divided its household. Second, all the properties He Lingchuan had once held in Xia Province had already been transferred into He Chunhua’s hands. His eldest son possessed no real foundation in the Yuan capital, so what was Ding Zuodong supposed to manage for him?

Submitting his resignation now was more about openly declaring his allegiance.

Is Chuan’er truly that charismatic? What made an old fox like Ding Zuodong remain so loyal to him? He Chunhua murmured an acknowledgment. “What about Shan Youjun?”

“I’m not sure.”

His son seemed to value old ties.

He Chunhua fell into thought. “Go investigate. Apart from the Rongshan disciples, find out who else he brought with him.”

He did not want to be caught unprepared later.

Steward Wu acknowledged the order. Having served his master for many years, he could roughly guess what He Chunhua was thinking. He asked, “Should we also send people to investigate the places where the eldest young master claims to have stayed?”

“Shabutou?” He Chunhua answered without hesitation, “No need. He was deceiving us. Even if you investigate, you won’t find anything.”

Losing his memory after falling into the river? Hah, he did not believe half a word of it.

If his eldest son had sincerely intended to deceive him, would he have invented such a ridiculous story?

“He couldn’t even be bothered to put any effort into the lie!”

Steward Wu did not dare comment. He simply remained standing nearby.

He Chunhua restrained his irritation and glanced at him. “Is there anything else?”

“Master, news has arrived from Heishui City.”

“Hm?” He Chunhua was somewhat surprised.

The previous king had nearly exterminated the entire He Family. At the age of eleven, He Chunhua had been sent to Heishui City. After enduring countless hardships, he had finally climbed to the position of commandery administrator, so he still felt a deep attachment to the place.

But he had already left Qiansong Commandery more than a year ago.

What could have happened in Heishui City now?

“In the second month of this year, the season of mad sand in the Panlong Desert suddenly stopped. It hasn’t appeared again since then. The desert has also received seven or eight rainstorms. The air has become so humid that some residents of Heishui City aren’t accustomed to it and have developed rashes.”

He Chunhua frowned. “The Panlong Desert has stopped producing mad sand and has begun receiving rain?”

It was true that this season normally brought more rain, but rain falling inside the Panlong Desert?

For Heishui City, this truly was a tremendous change.

“Yes. Even the Three Corpses Worms have stopped appearing.”

“Wait, are you certain?” He Chunhua’s expression changed. “The Three Corpses Worms have vanished as well?”

“Absolutely.” Steward Wu continued, “The people we left behind say the Panlong Desert is now no different from an ordinary desert. Neither people nor beasts are going mad. Traveling merchants can cross freely without being confined to the Hongya Route. Additionally, some oases have even appeared in the desert. Grass has begun growing inside the Panlong Ruins as well.”

“What is happening?” He Chunhua muttered, deep in thought. “The season of mad sand has never once failed to appear in more than a century.”

He had entered the Panlong Desert with Sun Fuping and the others before and knew perfectly well that the Generous Pot had caused the season of mad sand.

Now the season of mad sand had abruptly vanished, while rain had begun falling across the desert.

The most likely explanation was that something had happened to the Generous Pot!

The Generous Pot...

At the thought of that divine artifact, He Chunhua’s heart stirred.

When he had entered the Panlong Desert with Sun Fuping, he had gone partly because he could not disobey his orders, but he had also entertained thoughts of claiming the treasure for himself. He had abandoned the idea only after discovering that it was genuinely impossible to take away.

“Rumors are spreading throughout Heishui City and around the Hongya Route. People say the Panlong Ruins frequently shine with treasure light at night and that the Generous Pot is about to emerge into the world.”

He Chunhua gave a derisive laugh. “Utter nonsense!”

He had personally entered the ruins and the hidden realm, yet even he had been unable to take the Generous Pot away.