Chapter 207: Diligently Managing Clouds and Rain
Chapter 207: Diligently Managing Clouds and Rain
To avoid any mishaps, Zhong Zhengyuan later took Chen Changsheng to the Tianji Mountain scripture depository and retrieved a few recorded texts related to Divine Sense and the Mortal Body.
Chen Changsheng wanted to borrow them for a look, but Zhong Zhengyuan said he could keep them.
Chen Changsheng didn’t feel too awkward and agreed to accept them.
After that, Chen Changsheng didn’t linger long on Tianji Mountain. He said he was going to find materials and didn’t want to delay too long. This was because Chen Changsheng sensed his death was near, and it was best to complete crafting his External Incarnation before he “died.”
Zhong Zhengyuan watched the figure in the Blue Robe fade into the distance and let out a long sigh.
“We’ll still have to wait…”
Zhong Zhengyuan shook his head and sighed. Turning around, he saw Chen Daoqiu standing behind him.
Chen Daoqiu smiled and said, “Senior Brother miscalculated this time.”
“This tribulation won’t be passed so easily. It’s just a matter of waiting a bit longer.”
“True.”
Chen Daoqiu nodded, then added, “If it’s him, then it must be him.”
After leaving Tianji Mountain with several ancient texts, Chen Changsheng headed towards the mortal world.
He was going to look for materials. The materials needed to craft the External Incarnation were extraordinary, and such things were not easily found.
“The Old Dragon King must have many good treasures…”
Chen Changsheng was making a guess, but it was likely close to the truth. That Riverbottom Dragon Palace beneath the river was so splendid; the Old Dragon King must surely be wealthy.
He might just succeed in convincing the Old Dragon King into offering the treasures required to craft the External Incarnation.
…
For several days in a row, heavy rain poured down incessantly on the Tongtian River.
The storm lasted nine days straight. The river swelled, submerging mulberry fields along its banks. Strong winds howled across the river’s surface, churning the Tongtian River into chaos.
“When will this rain ever end?”
A fisherman stared out longingly. Days without work had left his face etched with worry.
People like him, who depended on the river for their livelihood, relied entirely on nature’s grace. Unable to fish now meant losing their means to live. It was truly difficult to endure.
In a teahouse atop the riverbank, an old man gazed at the wind and rain over the river.
A jug of wine sat on his table. Though his face was aged and weathered, his gaze beneath heavy brows was firm.
Upon hearing the fisherman’s murmurs, the old man said, “Staring out here won’t help. Wouldn’t you be better off finding other work?”
The fisherman smiled weakly. “Elder, all my skills come from the river. There’s nowhere else that would accept me.”
“You must still have strength to offer,” the old man suggested.
The fisherman sighed. “I have strength, but compared to the hardened laborers out there, I’m no match. I can’t compete with them.”
The old man fell silent, offering no further comment.
The fisherman gave a gentle smile. “Elder, you seem a man of wealth and standing, perhaps unaware of the hardships in this world? They say there are high and low classes. Fishermen like me, barely counted, survive only by the river’s grace. The struggles we face – only we truly understand.”
The old man’s expression was calm. He nodded. “That’s well said.”
Seeing the rain showed no sign of stopping, the fisherman decided not to wait any longer.
“Farewell, elder.”
The old man nodded slightly before returning his attention to the turbulent river.
This rain was sent by the heavens.
No one could stop it.
Just as his thoughts wandered, a figure suddenly approached the old man.
The old man looked up and saw a man in a blue robe standing before him.
Chen Changsheng looked the man over and grinned. “Dragon Lord, long time no see.”
Old Dragon King Ying Zheng turned to look at him and smiled too. “Has Mr. Chen come specially to thank me?”
“Thank you?”
Chen Changsheng sat down. “Thank you for what?”
The Old Dragon King paused. “It’s excessive of you Mr. Chen to ignore the favor.”
Chen Changsheng was puzzled by his words.
“The Dragon Lord speaks in riddles. I don’t quite understand.”
“Regarding the Qingyuan Yun Manor, I went there to support you, didn’t I? How can you pretend not to know?”
“The Yun Manor? Qingyuan Yun Manor?”
Chen Changsheng raised a finger and calculated silently.
After a moment, understanding dawned on him.
“So that’s it…”
Chen Changsheng smiled apologetically. “I wasn’t aware of this earlier. How could I possibly refuse this debt of gratitude?”
The Old Dragon King frowned. “You truly didn’t know?”
“I truly didn’t,” Chen Changsheng affirmed.
The Old Dragon King stroked his chin. “How strange. If you didn’t know, why did Zhao Yuqing go? Mr. Chen seems quite familiar with Zhao Yuqing?”
This detail surprised Chen Changsheng too.
He couldn’t fathom why Zhao Yuqing would get involved.
Could it be because of their former teacher-disciple bond?
But Mr. Chen didn’t fully understand the events of the past. Turning it over in his mind brought no clear answer.
“Perhaps he just happened by,” Chen Changsheng offered.
The Old Dragon King chuckled. “Then that Yun Manor truly had an unlucky turn.”
Suddenly snapping back, his smile faded as he asked, “So you weren’t here to thank me at all?”
“Now that I know, I am thanking you, aren’t I?” Chen Changsheng responded with a smile.
The Old Dragon King narrowed his eyes at him.
As the saying goes: don’t fear the thief who steals openly, but the one who covets silently.
Since Chen Changsheng had sought him out, he must be after something.
The Old Dragon King waved a hand impatiently. “Just say it outright. I despise beating around the bush.”
“Then I’ll say it.”
“Speak.”
“I’ve heard the Riverbottom Dragon Palace holds many treasures…”
The Old Dragon King instantly froze, but concealed his reaction. “And where exactly did you hear such things?”
“Someone mentioned it to me,” Chen Changsheng replied flatly.
“Absolute nonsense.”
The Old Dragon King stood firm. “I focus diligently on managing clouds and rain, ensuring favorable weather for all under heaven! I’ve no time to amass treasures! Who said this? I’ll confront them!”
Chen Changsheng stared at him blankly.
Hearing such righteous words come from the Old Dragon King felt deeply unconvincing.
His gaze shifted to the persistent downpour on the river. “This rain has been falling for quite some time…”
The Dragon Lord paused, then replied calmly, “You cannot blame me for this.”
“Though the emperor of Da Xiang, Zhao Zhen, is brave and martial, his tolerance for governing the realm is sorely lacking. His Xiang people struggle to coexist with the Jing people, causing countless innocent villagers to become destitute refugees.”
“Yet Zhao Zhen did not improve things. Instead, he wielded the executioner’s blade! His acts of slaughter are immense! As the Human Emperor, his every deed affects the nation’s fate. Accumulating too much sin naturally brings a tribulation.”
“This flooding disaster, which severs Da Xiang’s National Fortune – it is the Will of Heaven.”
The Old Dragon King declared, “You cannot pin this on me.”
Chen Changsheng listened and thought for a moment.
He stared silently at the churning river waves.
“Is that so…”
Slowly snapping back to the present, he asked, “How many will die?”
The Old Dragon King considered. “That much is impossible to know. At the very least, it will be counted in the tens of thousands.”
“I recall a year like this one before.”
“That time… nearly forty thousand perished. As for the displaced refugees, the number was in the hundreds of thousands.”