Human Martial Venerable: Starting from the Synthesis Technique

Chapter 19 Rain-Seeking Ceremony

"I respectfully submit this memorial to the Supreme Jade Emperor, the most revered and naturally wondrous being in the Golden Palace of the Heavenly Emperor."

After Huanglong Zhenren finished reading the last sentence, he threw the memorial into the cauldron.

Flames rose, and ashes flew everywhere.

The drumming stopped abruptly, and all was silent.

The sky remained cloudless, and the sun blazed fiercely.

The people looked at each other in bewilderment, and some began to whisper among themselves.

On the altar, Master Huanglong remained expressionless, burned another talisman, and recited it aloud once more.

"Thunder God and Lightning Goddess, Wind God and Rain Master."

"Hands obey the order immediately and must not disobey."

The sun is even stronger now.

Beside Feng Xiu, Lin Che's expression was somewhat grim. "Wenzheng, if this continues..."

He didn't think there was anything wrong with praying for rain; the failure to pray for rain was part of the three people's plan.

But no matter how ideal the private plans are, when they are actually implemented, it turns out that it's not like that at all.

The vast majority of people are eagerly awaiting news, and public sentiment, fueled by public opinion, has reached a point where it could ignite at any moment.

Faced with the suppressed disappointment of thousands of people.

The consequences of the slightest mistake could be disastrous!

"Don't rush, wait a little longer," Feng Xiu interrupted, raising his hand.

His gaze swept across the crowd, landing on the well-dressed faces, the informants of the major grain merchants, and the government officials whispering among themselves, some even with smiles on their faces.

Feng Xiu's lips curled up slightly.

This is exactly the effect he wanted.

If the prayer for rain fails, the people will be resentful, and the River Law Office must step in to provide an explanation.

As for Master Huanglong, he looked up and glanced at the old Taoist priest who was still chanting incantations on the altar.

All I can say is that I did my best.

"Wind God and Rain Master, quickly obey the command!"

After reciting the last talisman, Master Huanglong raised his hands high, looked up at the sky and sighed, his voice like a long howl, his breath long and drawn out.

There was still no movement, and the crowd became completely agitated.

Some people started cursing, while others turned and left.

Fan Ling and Lin Che both frowned, exchanged a glance, and saw the solemnity in each other's eyes.

Now it depends on whether the closure and repair are ready.

Feng Xiu took a deep breath, just about to say, "Let's accept it."

Boom!

A muffled thud came from the horizon.

Everyone was stunned.

Feng Xiu looked up at the western sky.

There, a dark cloud suddenly appeared.

It wasn't big, but it was shiny black.

Another loud bang.

This sound was closer and louder!

As if awakened by the thunder, the dark clouds began to surge and expand wildly, covering half the sky in the blink of an eye.

got windy.

At first it was just a gentle breeze, but in an instant it turned into a gale, and the five-colored flags on the altar were blown fluttering in the wind.

The people's robes were lifted up, and some people lost their balance and staggered backward.

Wow!

A drop of rain fell on Feng Xiu's face.

"Is he really... an old immortal?!"

He was stunned, his eyes wide open.

The second drop, the third drop!

Splash!

A torrential downpour began.

Between heaven and earth, a curtain of water stretched out.

It's raining!

"It's really raining!"

"A deity! The old deity has appeared!"

The people were visibly excited.

Some people knelt on the ground, kowtowing desperately to the altar; some looked up, letting the rain pour into their mouths and noses; some hugged each other, crying and laughing at the same time.

Feng Xiu stood motionless in the rain.

Rain streamed down his cheeks, soaking his robes, but he was oblivious, his eyes fixed on the figure on the altar.

Huanglong Zhenren stood in the rain, still wearing his black hat, looking up at the sky with a sorrowful expression and his eyes slightly closed, as if reciting a prayer.

The rain washed over his robes and soaked his white beard, making him seem to blend into the world.

Feng Xiu's throat went dry, and he froze.

This old Taoist priest really has something good to offer!

At that moment, Fan Ling rushed over, grabbed his arm, and exclaimed with ecstatic joy, "Wenzheng, it's raining! It's really raining! Where did you find this miracle worker?!"

Lin Che walked over, soaking wet, but laughing heartily. "Now let's see who dares to say anything!"

Feng Xiu remained silent.

His mind was in complete chaos.

It's raining.

So what's the plan? Is it to create momentum to force a resignation, or to test the forces behind the scenes?

Everything's ruined?

Feng Xiu forced himself to calm down and looked at the well-dressed faces in the crowd.

These informants from various parties were all standing in the rain, looking completely bewildered, letting the rain soak them.

wrong!

On the surface, the rain disrupted his plans, but conversely, it did for them as well.

Heavy rain poured down.

When Feng Xiu returned to the city, the entire Qingyan City had become a waterlogged land.

The streets were flooded up to ankle-deep, and people ran and cheered in the rain, banging gongs and drums.

As the carriage drove through the streets, cheers outside the windows rose in waves.

"Old Immortal!"

"Huanglong Zhenren, a true dragon reincarnated!"

"A deity invited by the young master of the Feng family."

Feng Xiu sat in the car, soaked to the bone, but he didn't bother to change. He reached up and couldn't help but rub his temples.

"Damn it."

These are truly extraordinary people among the common folk; they are like hidden dragons and crouching tigers. The Taoist martial arts practitioners are incredibly skilled.

While this incident didn't completely shatter his values, it was still shocking.

In his memory, praying for rain was something he only did in Chechi Kingdom.

The only one left is General Zhang Zongchang, the one who slapped the Dragon King in the face.

The carriage stopped in front of the Feng residence. As soon as Feng Xiu got out of the carriage, he saw Uncle Zheng holding an umbrella and coming up to greet him with an expression of barely suppressed joy on his face.

Feng Xiu waved his hand, interrupting Zheng Bo's impending words of flattery, and walked straight into the main hall.

In the main hall, Feng Ao stood by the window, listening to the sound of raindrops hitting the windows, his back to the door.

Hearing footsteps, he turned around and looked at Feng Xiu, who was soaking wet, with a complex expression on his face.

There were surprises, unexpected events, and a touch of solemnity.

"Sit down," Feng Ao said, pointing to a chair.

Feng Xiu sat down, and a maid handed him a dry towel, which he casually took and wiped his face.

The father and son remained silent for a while.

Feng Ao spoke first, "Where exactly did you find that Huanglong Zhenren?"

"He was invited from Yulin County by Master Hei," Feng Xiu answered truthfully. "He's an old Taoist priest from a dilapidated temple, with hardly any worshippers."

"You didn't know he had this skill before?"

Feng Xiu shook his head. "I don't know."

If I had known he had this ability, would I have needed to go to such lengths to plan?

Aside from his name, which suggests a strange and extraordinary person, Huanglong Zhenren doesn't resemble a highly accomplished Taoist master in any other aspect.

With such abilities, who would have fallen so low as to have a Taoist temple without even incense offerings?

The rain was still falling outside the window, a light drizzle. Feng Xiu couldn't help but ask, "Is this rain a good thing or a bad thing?"

What do you think?

"The good thing is that spring planting can proceed normally, the tenants won't cause trouble, and we don't have to worry about a complete crop failure. The bad thing is that our original plans have been disrupted."

Feng Ao nodded, his gaze shifting to the buildings outside the window, obscured by the rain.

"Originally, we prayed for rain to create momentum and force the emperor to resign. If we couldn't get rain, the people would be resentful, and the government would have to give an explanation. But now, the rain has come."

"Then there's no reason to force them to open the reservoir," Feng Xiu calmly replied.

"Yes." Feng Ao turned around. "Moreover, you have now become a great philanthropist in Qingyan City. Young Master Feng has the people at heart and invited the gods to bring rain, saving the crops of everyone in the city."

Feng Xiu gave a wry smile. "This reputation isn't necessarily a bad thing, is it?"

"A good reputation is a good thing, but the bigger the reputation, the more people will be watching you. How will those who wanted to take down Golden Wheat view you now?"

Feng Xiu immediately understood.

He was a good person in the eyes of the common people, but in the eyes of those who wanted to snatch meat from the grain merchants, he was a stumbling block in their way.

"But you don't need to worry too much." Feng Ao walked back to his seat and sat down again.

He picked up the teacup and took a sip.

"The fact that spring planting can proceed normally at least gives us some breathing room. From now on, we should continue with what we were doing. We should continue with the joint grain business as usual, keep an eye on the ponds and warehouses, and keep an eye on that Master Huanglong."

He glanced at Feng Xiu and said, "Treat him well. Regardless of whether he really has supernatural powers, we have to accept this favor."

Feng Xiu nodded. "I understand."

After discussing for a while, they finalized the arrangements for the next step.

The heavy rain still hasn't stopped.

Feng Xiu stood up, preparing to take his leave, when he remembered something else.

"Father, I would like to visit each of the estates and ask them to waive this year's rent."

"Rent-free?"

"Yes, that's right. I prayed for this rain, and the people have seen it all. Offering rent now will improve our reputation."

The greater the reputation of a great philanthropist, the better; let's establish this person's legacy.

This invisible blessing will definitely have unexpected effects.

Feng Ao looked at him, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

"Okay, you handle it."

Feng Xiu bowed and withdrew.

...

...

Feng Xiu did not delay and took advantage of the heavy rain to visit two farms under the Feng family's name.

Bailiu Village and Baidou Village.

In every village he visited, he personally announced to the tenants who gathered around that the rent would be waived for the year.

The people didn't believe it at first. Some stood there, looking at each other blankly. Feng Xiu didn't explain. He just had someone post a notice that had been written in advance on the wall of the village head's house.

Black and white on paper, sealed with the family seal.

Even with the rain pouring down, people still gathered around, their faces beaming with joy.

They knelt on the ground and kowtowed desperately, forming a huge mass of kneeling figures.

Some people were crying and laughing while holding their children, completely disregarding the muddy rain. Others rushed up to hold his hand, but then pulled back, afraid of getting the young master dirty.

"Young Master Feng is a living bodhisattva!"

Feng Xiu stood in the crowd, with servants behind him holding umbrellas, rain streaming down from the umbrellas.

This stopped the guards from stopping them.

"Young Master Feng, thank you~" an old voice rang out.

Reaching out, I grasped the rough hand of an old farmer, feeling the tattered clothes and deep wrinkles of the old man before me, whose arm was trembling uncontrollably.

Feng Xiu patted the back of his hand again, smiling, but didn't say anything more.

It felt quite strange. Ten days ago, when he first came to Bailiu Village, the tenants' eyes were full of resentment and indignation.

Now, however, they are shouting, "The Feng family has accumulated virtue for generations!"

Whether reputation is good or bad depends on how you use it in the future.

After running one lap, it was almost noon.

When Feng Xiu returned to his residence, before he could even tidy up his clothes, he entered the main hall and saw Feng Ao sitting there, with Zheng Bo standing beside him.

However, he seemed to have just arrived, with a solemn expression on his face, as if he was about to report something.

"Young Master, Su Wantang has run away," Uncle Zheng said.

"They ran away?"

Feng Xiu was surprised, but then he understood. It made sense, since Zhou Gang had just taken his men out that morning.

Su Wantang ran away; what a coincidence!

"Let them go, that's all. Let's just let this matter rest."

His immediate priority is dealing with the hidden forces that are secretly coveting the family's foundation, and he doesn't have time to pay too much attention to a woman from the Qianmen sect.