Chapter 21: State Preceptor Sun's Scheme

"Pray for blessings," Nian Songyu said irritably. "Don't you even have that much common sense?"

As the rain poured down on him, He Lingchuan felt a sudden sense of refreshment, as if his body were being cleansed from the inside out. Not only was all filth washed away, but every muscle felt infused with strength.

The soldiers also let out joyful shouts.

Blackwater City had endured much wind and sand; many residents suffered from damaged airways and lungs. Being drenched in this rain actually improved their condition by sixty to seventy percent, making their breathing smooth once more. Similarly, ailments like chronic rheumatism and strained tendons were quietly healed under the cleansing spiritual rain, their sense of heaviness vanishing.

The gaze of the crowd toward Sun Fuping was instantly filled with awe.

The State Preceptor was far too distant for ordinary people, like someone floating among the clouds, making it difficult to have a direct sense of his power. It wasn't until he displayed this feat that soldiers and civilians alike knelt on the spot, as if worshipping a deity.

Taking this opportunity, Sun Fuping delivered a few rousing lines of a departure manifesto, instantly driving the army's morale to its peak.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

Nian Songyu glanced at He Lingchuan. "The ritual only begins now." He also wanted to let these hicks see something extraordinary.

After the sudden downpour, the clouds cleared and the air turned fresh. Everyone's clothes were soaked through, water was still dripping from their pant legs, and the ground was a muddy mess.

Sun Fuping raised his long staff once more and tapped the ground. A strange scene unfolded

The residual water on people's bodies was extracted from their clothing and flowed toward the ground;

Immediately after, the puddles beneath every soldier's feet suddenly began to move, winding like snakes toward the sacrificial altar.

On the altar sat a large glass vat, about the diameter of two people embracing, crystal clear, allowing one to see through it without obstruction.

The standing water on the ground acted as if it were alive, defying the laws of gravity to move upward, lining up to flow into the large vat.

Soon, the glass vat was filled, the water rising almost to the brim.

On the ground outside the gates of Blackwater City, where thousands of feet trampled the earth, there was usually wind and sand that one couldn't escape, and no one could say how dirty it truly was. Yet, the water flowing from here into the vat was as clear as if it had been distilled and purified, without a single impurity.

Spilled water cannot be gathered back! He Lingchuan watched, secretly giving a thumbs-up. Regardless of Sun Fuping's character, this single display of magic was profoundly advanced.

The illustrious State Preceptor truly had substance.

"To everyone joining me on this expedition, your luck and fortune, to varying degrees, are now gathered here." Sun Fuping turned toward Zeng Feixiong and extended his hand. "Bring the Kite Coin."

The forms of the State Mandate tokens varied by country; in the Kingdom of Kite, the tokens issued to officials of all ranks were known as Kite Coins.

Zeng Feixiong had already prepared it, so he took it out and handed it over.

His Kite Coin was also shaped like a large copper coin, but the kite depicted on it was merely light blue.

The weight and color of a State Mandate token were constrained by many factors, not just official rank and authority. However, judging by Zeng Feixiong's Kite Coin, he was merely an ordinary deputy lieutenant.

Sun Fuping frowned. "It seems insufficient." With that, he tossed the Kite Coin into the crystal vat.

Interestingly, the Kite Coin did not sink to the bottom; instead, it floated steadily in the center of the large vat. Conversely, the water's surface was no longer calm, rippling in waves.

Under the washing of the current, the color of Zeng Feixiong's Kite Coin deepened, settling somewhere between deep blue and light green.

"Even with the boost from the entire army's morale, it is still a struggle." Sun Fuping pulled a cloth bag from his robe, opened it to show He Chunhua and the others, then tightened the bag and threw the whole thing into the vat.

Inside was half a bag of yellow sand, which writhed automatically even without being touched.

He Yue whispered, "Is that the Wild Sand from the Dragon-Coiled Desert?"

He Chunhua nodded, his eyes fixed intently on the vat.

When the Dragon-Coiled Desert entered its "Wild Sand Season," no one dared enter its core area. The half-bag of Wild Sand that the He family had acquired at a heavy price had been taken from the Red Cliff Road during such a period.

Of course, it wasn't from the core zone.

However, the moment the sandbag entered, the entire vat of water began to boil, with countless bubbles rising to the surface.

He Lingchuan thought he even saw flashes of lightning and thunder.

Subsequently, the water turned turbid, but large plumes of steam rose from the surface—half were deep blue, and half were a murky yellow tinged with dark red.

As these two colors of steam swirled together, miraculously, the crowd felt as if they were fighting an endless battle.

To be precise, after two rounds, the dark yellow vapor gained the upper hand, almost pinning its opponent against the surface of the water.

One could tell at a glance that the gap in quality between the two sides was far too large.

Sun Fuping's expression turned solemn. "It won't do. The rank is too low, and the primordial essence is too weak! Who else?"

He Chunhua asked in a strained voice, "Is it truly impossible?"

"It is simply no match!" Sun Fuping shouted angrily. "What is the Governor's insight?"

The Dragon-Coiled Desert during the Wild Sand Season was a place of near-certain death; any official or general who still had a way to live would not be willing to take such a risk.

Furthermore, there were no other officials present; the highest-ranking person there was—

He Lingchuan shot a sidelong glance at Nian Songyu. "Can't he go?"

The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted it. Ultimately, he was too unfamiliar with this world.

Nian Songyu let out a scoffing laugh, looking at him as if he were an idiot.

He Yue whispered, "This army belongs to Blackwater City; it is not under Deputy Nian's jurisdiction. For him to exert the army's fortune, he would either have to be transferred into a position here or be stripped of his rank to accept an appointment from Governor He, but both would require a royal decree."

How could a military officer from Xunzhou command the troops of Jinzhou?

—Under normal circumstances.

Sun Fuping approached He Chunhua and the others and whispered, "Entering like this is merely seeking death. Either cancel the operation, or a high-ranking official from Blackwater City must step forward."

A high-ranking official from Blackwater City? That could only be He Chunhua.

Life, or a future?

He Chunhua's expression changed, realizing he had been maneuvered into a trap.

But including Zeng Feixiong, all his subordinates were waiting expectantly.

He knew he couldn't wait, so he had no choice but to take his Kite Coin from his robe. "Let's try first."

He Yue said anxiously, "Father!"

How had the situation suddenly turned like this?

He Lingchuan reached out and grabbed his father's hand, the Kite Coin caught between their palms. "Old man, don't be impulsive! Now is not the time to sacrifice yourself for the country!"

He Chunhua brushed his hand away. "Be patient."

Beside them, Nian Songyu gave a thumbs-up and praised, "Lord He is truly loyal and righteous!"

The He brothers both glared at him. Was this kid in such a hurry to push a duck onto a perch?

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, He Chunhua took a deep breath, walked to the edge of the crystal vat, and personally threw his Kite Coin in!

His Kite Coin was light green, more than a full rank higher than Zeng Feixiong's.

As the Kite Coin entered the vat, the water surged even more violently, and massive plumes of steam rose up—this time, they were yellow!

Unlike the color of the Wild Sand, this steam was a bright, luminous yellow.

Not only did the crowd stare, but even Sun Fuping let out a long "Eh?" in surprise. "A leap of four whole ranks?"

Even with the morale boost of the entire army, the leap from light green to bright yellow was staggering, even if it was only temporary.

He Chunhua gave a self-deprecating smile. "It seems I am quite well-loved."

He asked Sun Fuping, "If I were to lead the army on this journey, what are the chances of me returning?"