Chapter Six: The Sixth Divine General—Sun Qing

Chu Han was completely unaware of everything that had happened to the Lin family. Of course, even if he had known, he would have scoffed; the Lin family was beneath his notice. Savoring the familiar surroundings of Jingyuan City, he returned home as night fell, pondering his next steps.

He now possessed only half of the Thunder Emperor’s Method. Since fate had granted him this chance to start anew, he was determined to find the remaining half and complete it. Therefore, he had set his sights on the Hongmeng Realm—this life, he vowed, would be governed by his own hands.

The night passed in silence.

At dawn, he was awakened by the clamor outside. Frowning, he stepped out to see what was happening. It turned out that Tang Hao had returned from the Lantian military camp, looking travel-worn and deeply troubled.

“Father, what’s happened?” Chu Han asked, puzzled—Tang Hao had only gone to deliver the blueprints, so why did he look so distraught?

“Master, the lord went to deliver the blueprints at Lantian Camp, but they seemed uninterested and simply sent him back,” the steward standing beside Tang Hao quickly explained, eyes full of deference toward Chu Han.

Chu Han’s frown deepened as he turned to Tang Hao, seeking confirmation.

“It was Duke, the sixth of the Twelve Divine Generals, who inspected the blueprints. I didn’t even see General Lantian. Duke said he’d pass the blueprints on and told me to wait for news, nothing more,” Tang Hao answered quietly, brows furrowed. The blueprints should have been handed directly to General Lantian, but instead, he’d been turned away at the door.

This troubled Chu Han further. The blueprints were meant for General Lantian, but someone had intercepted them, someone whose trustworthiness was uncertain. For something as important as inspecting blueprints, General Lantian would never send just a subordinate—there was clearly more beneath the surface.

Chu Han was about to comfort his father when footsteps sounded outside. A towering man in pale blue armor strode in, exuding an imposing presence, a sword at his waist, and a badge on his chest identifying him as a member of Lantian Camp. In his hand, he held the very blueprint Chu Han had drawn.

Seeing the newcomer, Chu Han’s expression darkened. This man held his blueprint, and there was a murderous aura lingering about him. Even from a distance, Chu Han could smell the stench of fresh blood—clearly, the man had just killed. He wondered what business the man had here.

“Master Tang, I am Sun Qing, the Sixth Divine General. Please forgive us. When you delivered the blueprints, the general was absent, so you were not properly received. Please do not take offense.”

He bowed deeply, his tone cold yet apologetic, and cupped his fists to Tang Hao. His words only deepened Chu Han’s suspicion.

Sun Qing’s account sounded plausible. If true, something was amiss within Lantian Camp.

“Please, General Sun, you flatter us,” Tang Hao replied in surprise, having forgotten the humiliation he’d suffered at Lantian Camp earlier. He hurriedly introduced Chu Han, eager for his son to earn recognition before the Divine General—a rare opportunity.

Chu Han understood his father’s intentions. To have a Divine General remember his name was a valuable favor. He cupped his fists in return, feeling the weight of his father’s love—a debt he could never fully repay.

“I have reviewed the blueprint. It has astonished the entire Lantian Camp. For the Tang family to produce such a design, the general will surely be delighted. I came not only to see the genius behind this drawing but also to commission some armor,” Sun Qing said with a hearty laugh, producing a jade bottle as he spoke. He was here to request Tang Hao’s help, and propriety demanded he offer something in return.

“It’s our first meeting, and I bring little of worth—this is a Body Tempering Pill. It can help purify your body and strengthen your physique. I hope you won’t mind such a humble gift.”

Sun Qing, strong as he was, had no need for the pill himself, but he could tell that Chu Han held no influence. For the Tang family, though, a Body Tempering Pill was a rare treasure.

“Eight levels of physical cultivation—impressive. But your aura is faint; you can only exert half your strength. You must be injured, General,” Chu Han remarked with a smile, stepping forward as Sun Qing handed him the bottle.

He had sensed something odd about Sun Qing—the man was strong, but his energy was weak, a clear sign of injury.

“Oh? How did you know?” Sun Qing was taken aback—no one but General Lantian himself had ever seen through him so easily.

Not only had Chu Han perceived his cultivation, but also his injury. Had they met before, Sun Qing would have suspected he’d been secretly followed.

“Do you wish to recover your strength?” Chu Han asked, grabbing Sun Qing’s wrist and taking his pulse, his words heavy with meaning.

Sun Qing’s eyes lit up. His injury had plagued him for a long time, and no physician so far had helped—but that was not his only concern.

“If I may ask, were you the one who drew the blueprint?” Sun Qing inquired, his suspicion well-founded given the circumstances.

Chu Han simply nodded, smiling in silent affirmation.

“So it truly was your work, young man. No wonder you have such keen insight. Forgive me for my earlier presumption,” Sun Qing replied, astonished that such a figure could emerge from the Tang family’s humble forge.

“Can you really restore my strength?” Sun Qing pressed, his tone urgent, though inwardly he could not help but feel skeptical.

“How were you injured?” Chu Han countered, not answering directly.

To Chu Han, treating Sun Qing was no challenge. This general treated his father with respect and seemed decent, so a small favor was not out of the question. In his previous life, people would have fought for a chance to be healed by someone of Chu Han’s stature.

“I received my injury while campaigning with General Lantian. It has only worsened over time,” Sun Qing admitted, bowing his head with an awkward smile.

Chu Han didn’t believe his explanation; such wounds weren’t left by battle, but rather by someone he’d let his guard down around—likely a betrayal by someone close. Still, he didn’t press—Sun Qing’s secrets were his own.

“I can heal your injury,” Chu Han replied with a confident smile—the assurance of one who had been a Celestial Sovereign.

“Truly?” Sun Qing’s eyes widened. He had doubted, but Chu Han’s confidence left no room for disbelief.

“These nights, you wake drenched in cold sweat, your limbs weak and icy, your right hand powerless. If left untreated, your life is at risk,” Chu Han said quietly.