Chapter Forty: General Lantian’s Stratagem

Seeing Sun Hao’s mysterious demeanor, Chu Han felt somewhat speechless, but said nothing. After Sun Hao gave brief orders to his deputy to keep the troops in line, he pulled Chu Han with him into the depths of the Lantian Camp.

This was the first time Chu Han had entered the heart of the Lantian Camp. After all, not everyone was allowed inside the military barracks. Still, he was more interested in meeting the person Sun Hao had mentioned.

Once they entered a room, Sun Hao began feeling along the wall. In a moment, a section of the wall slowly slid open, revealing a hidden chamber. Chu Han was surprised—he hadn’t expected a secret room here.

Now his curiosity about the person inside only grew. Who could it be, hiding in a secret chamber within the Lantian Camp?

As they stepped inside, Chu Han saw the person seated there, and he nearly jumped in shock. Before him sat none other than General Lantian himself, a man rumored to have died long ago.

At that moment, General Lantian—Zheng Yuan—was sitting on the floor, clad in blue, his face pale as death. Yet he smiled broadly at the two men entering, waving them in with a welcoming gesture.

“General Lantian, weren’t you said to have been killed by Danqing? How are you here?” Chu Han exclaimed.

It was clear to Chu Han that General Lantian had been gravely wounded; the injuries had damaged his meridians, leaving him looking aged and frail.

“Heh, it was nothing but a feigned death. I’d long seen through Danqing’s intentions to rebel. So, when he launched his sneak attack, I pretended to die, making him believe Lantian Camp was now headless. Only by doing so could we root out the traitors within,” Sun Hao explained with a chuckle before Zheng Yuan could speak.

Now Chu Han understood. The general had been severely wounded, and if he hadn’t faked his death, he would surely have died at Danqing’s hands. By playing dead, not only did he preserve his life, but he also purged his camp of hidden threats—a plan that killed two birds with one stone.

Chu Han couldn’t help but give the general a thumbs-up. This was indeed the mind of a great commander—sharp and unmatched by ordinary men.

“You must be Chu Han. I’ve heard about you from Sun Hao. I truly owe you my gratitude. If not for you, the turmoil within the camp might have dragged on for who knows how long.” General Lantian grinned, then coughed violently, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

“My injuries are grave, and after suffering Danqing’s treacherous blow, my days are surely numbered. I entrust Lantian Camp to you, Brother Chu. For my sake, and for your friendship with Sun Hao, I hope you’ll look after them,”

Before Chu Han could reply, the general spoke again. He was now extremely feeble, barely clinging to life.

Sun Hao, standing at Zheng Yuan’s side, looked utterly dejected. “The general’s wounds have lingered for so long. We’ve summoned countless doctors, but none have helped.”

“What if I can heal your injuries?” Chu Han said with a slight smile, astonishing both men.

General Lantian’s wounds were far worse than Sun Hao’s had been. Although Sun Hao had suffered grievously, it was nothing compared to this. Zheng Yuan’s meridians were damaged, and even his internal organs had been affected—a situation no ordinary physician dared claim to fix. But Chu Han’s words left them no choice but to believe.

“Brother Chu, if you can heal the general, I, Sun Hao, will follow you in all things from this day forth. Whatever you ask of me, I will do,” Sun Hao declared, dropping to his knees before Chu Han.

He knew Chu Han was not one to boast. If he said he could heal Zheng Yuan, then he surely had a way.

Chu Han hurriedly helped Sun Hao to his feet. He had his own calculations—healing Zheng Yuan was simple enough. In truth, his injuries only seemed dire to ordinary people; they were nothing compared to the fire poison that had once afflicted Duanmu Meng’er.

The Tang family would need Zheng Yuan’s support in the future, so extending a favor to the Lantian Camp was not without merit.

“Sun Hao, wait outside. The general’s injuries won’t hold much longer. I’ll begin treatment at once.”

Zheng Yuan could no longer speak. In truth, his injuries had been fatal for some time. Only sheer will had kept him alive this long. Now that the crisis within Lantian Camp had passed, and with an ally like Chu Han, he could finally let go. His condition worsened rapidly.

Sun Hao nodded and hurried out, closing the secret chamber’s door and standing guard outside.

Chu Han moved to Zheng Yuan’s side and checked his pulse, nodding gently. “General, I’ll begin now. This will hurt, but you must endure it. If you lose consciousness, all will be for naught.”

Zheng Yuan, unable to speak, nodded resolutely. Chu Han set to work.

He extended his right hand, tapping several vital points on Zheng Yuan’s body, channeling inner energy—the power of thunder and fire—directly into him.

Zheng Yuan cried out in agony, his eyes wide. It felt as if he were being roasted alive, the searing pain jolting every nerve in his body.

Yet Chu Han did not let up, continuing to pour the thunder-fire energy into him.

Zheng Yuan’s injuries were dire, and desperate times called for desperate measures. Chu Han could only use this extreme method.

With the domineering energy of thunder and fire, he forced open all the blocked meridians, then produced a pill from his robes, pressing it into Zheng Yuan’s mouth. Using his energy, he helped the pill’s essence flow through Zheng Yuan’s meridians.

As the medicine took effect, Zheng Yuan’s wounds slowly began to heal; his damaged meridians were soon restored, though his internal organs would require time to recover.

When it was finally done, Chu Han let out a sigh of relief. Zheng Yuan nearly fainted as the thunder-fire energy left his body, crying out once more.

“General, it’s done. Your meridians are restored, but you’ll need time to regain your former strength. Take one of these pills each day, and in three months you should be as good as new,” Chu Han said, wiping sweat from his brow and placing a bottle of pills in Zheng Yuan’s hand.

No one could better appreciate what Chu Han had done than Zheng Yuan himself. He was able to rise from the floor. Though his strength was not yet back, his life was no longer in danger.

The pill Chu Han had used was called the Rejuvenation Pill, a top-grade medicine he’d won from defeating an expert of the Lingxu Cavern—his only one. Its healing power was nothing short of miraculous.

“Brother Chu, I have no words to thank you. You are my savior,” Zheng Yuan said softly, trying to kneel in gratitude, but Chu Han quickly caught him.

“General, you are wise. All I’ve done has its purpose—I hope you’ll look out for the Tang family in the days to come.”

Chu Han smiled, stating his intentions openly. Zheng Yuan was no fool and had likely guessed as much already.

With the support of the Lantian Camp, the Tang family would surely prosper. Those who looked down on them would now have to curry favor and would never dare act against them again.

“Haha, Brother Chu, you are refreshingly direct. Of course, after what you’ve done, how could I not show my gratitude? This is of no use to me, so I’ll give it to you,” Zheng Yuan said, nodding with a smile. He drew a pitch-black object from his robes and placed it in Chu Han’s hand.

Seeing this, Chu Han’s heart leapt with joy. At last, he had found what he was looking for.