“Alright, then it’s settled!”
“It’s a deal, Your Excellency!”
The two of them clasped their fists in salute to each other.
The Earth God watching from the side was grinning from ear to ear, saying repeatedly:
“Wonderful, wonderful! With Your Excellency strategizing from afar, and our old Dragon King giving his powerful support, now the people of Dragon-Tiger County are truly saved!”
Lu Chen smiled. “Dragon King, my brother, then you just wait for my news.”
“Wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare. This humble dragon awaits Your Excellency’s good news!”
Seeing that the negotiation had gone smoothly, half of the heavy stone in Lu Chen’s heart finally fell away.
He didn’t linger any longer. After bidding farewell to the Well Dragon King, he left the water palace.
By the side of the dry well.
Watching the two of them disappear into the earth, the Well Dragon King slowly lowered his clasped hands, gazed into the distance, and took a deep breath. “This young man is truly extraordinary…”
He mused thoughtfully, a glint of sharp light flashing in his eyes.
It seemed he was calculating some obscure scheme.
……
Moments later, by the shore of the Great Dragon Pool, in front of the Earth God’s shrine.
Lu Chen and the Earth God reappeared.
“Earth God, I truly appreciate your help this time.”
“Your Excellency is too kind. Being able to assist you is this humble god’s honor.”
Saying this, the Earth God pulled a wooden token from his robe and handed it to Lu Chen. “Your Excellency, if you ever need anything within the bounds of Dragon-Tiger County, you can summon me with this. I’ll come as soon as you call.”
Lu Chen took the wooden token, looked at it, and unceremoniously pocketed it. “Alright, once the Dragon-Tiger County matter is resolved, I’ll definitely credit you for your service!”
The Earth God’s face wrinkled into a beaming smile. “Thank you, Your Excellency!”
After parting ways with the Earth God, Lu Chen immediately drove straight to the county government office.
He hadn’t expected such a turn of events after going out for a spin. It was truly a case of finding a way out when all hope seemed lost.
Since the Well Dragon King had already agreed, the next step was just to deal with the East Sea Dragon King.
Then the three-year severe drought problem of Dragon-Tiger County could be solved smoothly.
“Sigh, for such a difficult mission to only be rated S-class, I really got the short end of the stick.”
“Ah well, consider it practice!”
Lu Chen narrowed his eyes slightly and tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “Elder Brother, I’m counting entirely on you now!”
He sped all the way.
As he approached the office, Lu Chen could see a large crowd gathered at the entrance from a distance.
“What’s going on? Did news of that spirit water rain prayer spread so quickly?”
Then again, thinking about it, with how developed the internet was nowadays, the speed of information spreading was incredibly fast.
Moreover, Dragon-Tiger County hadn’t seen rain for three years, and then suddenly a downpour happened. That news was bound to spread like a bomb.
Having no other choice, Lu Chen parked his car outside and walked over.
When he got closer, he could make out what the crowd was shouting: “We want rain!”
“Yes, we want that revered master to bring us rain!”
“No matter what conditions he has, we must agree!”
Lu Chen’s heart skipped a beat. The three-year drought had truly driven these people to desperation!
He struggled through with great difficulty to reach the front.
The county office entrance was lined with armed guards.
“Hello, I’m a bounty spiritual receiver who took on a mission. Let me through, please.”
Lu Chen showed his mission document.
After checking it, the guard captain let him pass.
“Why does he get to go in, and not us?”
“We want to go in too!”
The scene instantly erupted in commotion.
Lu Chen quickly pushed the door open and slipped into the county office.
On the second floor, in the office.
One could clearly hear Wang Zhongmin’s roaring voice, even through the door: “Tell me, what the hell have you people been doing? Why has this happened?!”
Hearing the roar, Lu Chen’s heart tightened, and then he knocked on the door. Thump, thump, thump.
“Come in!!”
Lu Chen pushed the door open and walked in, seeing Wang Zhongmin inside, berating Director Tian and his subordinates.
On the sofa nearby sat Chen Tiansheng, looking grim, and Sun Yourong, who had her eyebrows slightly furrowed.
“You’re back.” Sun Yourong saw Lu Chen and gave a nod of acknowledgment.
“It’s… quite lively out there.” Lu Chen gave a dry laugh and pointed downstairs.
Sun Yourong folded her arms and explained: “Not long after you left, news of that Spirit Water Master’s rain prayer spread. But these people, all they think about is getting rain. They don’t care at all whether the rain itself has any problems. Drinking too much of that kind of rainwater would be like quenching thirst with poisoned wine, wouldn’t it?”
Sun Yourong now suspected that the so-called “display” by that Spirit Water Master was fundamentally aimed at creating this exact effect.
“What are you still standing around for? Go do something about it, now!”
Wang Zhongmin was so angry the veins at his temples were throbbing.
“Yes, sir!”
Director Tian quickly ran out to carry out his orders.
Wang Zhongmin’s chest heaved violently. He took a deep breath and massaged his throbbing temples.
“Old Chen, things have come to this. What do you plan to do? I don’t think we can delay more than two days!”
Chen Tiansheng also took a deep breath, lowered his head, and murmured, “If it comes to it… the only way is to invite that Spirit Water Master over for talks, try to keep the Kirin Blade, and give him the ‘Penetrating the Divine, Original Mystery’.”
“Uncle Chen, think twice. The ‘Penetrating the Divine, Original Mystery’ is no small matter. If it falls into the hands of a heretic practitioner, the consequences would be disastrous.” Sun Yourong cautioned. “People like that are very likely to use such divine abilities for evil paths.”
Chen Tiansheng looked helpless. “My dear niece, does Uncle Chen not know that? But you’re also aware of Dragon-Tiger County’s situation. The people here have had enough of disappointment over the past three years. Seeing someone who can genuinely pray for rain, it’s understandable they’re this agitated. Although your Uncle Chen is the clan leader, I can’t just be a dictator about it.”
“But…”
“Never mind. I appreciate your kind intentions, niece. Let’s just invite that person over first and see if we can negotiate for different terms.”
Even as he said this, both Wang Zhongmin and Chen Tiansheng clearly felt forced into a corner with no way out, preparing to make a deal with the Spirit Water Master.
“Um…”
Just then, Lu Chen raised his hand. “Excuse me, everyone, could I say something?”
All three pairs of eyes immediately snapped towards him.
Wang Zhongmin suppressed his anger and made a ‘go ahead’ gesture.
Lu Chen nodded and got straight to the point. “I have a way to bring rain to Dragon-Tiger County. And not that heretic practitioner’s method either – real rainwater.”
Boom!!!
All three of them were stunned, their eyes widening in shock simultaneously.
Chen Tiansheng shot to his feet, his voice trembling. “What did you say, Xiao Lu? You can make rain? Real rain?”
“Xiao Lu, this is no time for jokes!” Wang Zhongmin’s face flushed crimson, as if his blood was suddenly pumping throughout his body.
Lu Chen smiled slightly. “Uncle Wang, Uncle Chen, at a time like this, why would I joke? To be honest with you both, I just went out for a bit and indeed found a solution.”
“What solution?” The two asked eagerly, unable to contain themselves.
Lu Chen said solemnly, “Pray to the Well Dragon King!”
“Well Dragon King?”
Chen Tiansheng and Wang Zhongmin looked at each other, utterly confused.
“How could there be a Well Dragon King in Dragon-Tiger County?”
“I don’t know either.”
Seeing Lu Chen’s confident demeanor, Sun Yourong, despite her shock, slightly narrowed her eyes and cut straight to the heart of the matter. “Lu Chen, how certain are you?”
“Right now, only about forty percent. The remaining sixty percent are still up in the air.”
After saying this, Lu Chen turned to look at the utterly bewildered Chen Tiansheng. “Uncle Chen, do you have a divine statue of Lord God of Wealth Jun here?”
“Lord God of Wealth Jun? One of the Five Roads Gods of Wealth, Lord God of Wealth Jun?” Chen Tiansheng seemed to suddenly recall something and asked in surprise, “Is it Lord God of Wealth Jun you’re praying to?”
“Exactly! Do you have one?”
Chen Tiansheng opened his mouth, clearly surprised that anyone would pray to such an obscure deity. After gathering his thoughts, he shook his head.
“No, we definitely don’t! This deity is far too obscure. Our Chen family temple has never enshrined him. I do recall that the Zhao family temple in Jiangdu City ordered a batch of statues a long time ago. Lord God of Wealth Jun was among them.”
Lu Chen inwardly groaned. “So… I have to go back to Jiangdu City then.”
Without a statue, he couldn’t pray or communicate with his elder brother.
“Wait, no need!” Chen Tiansheng suddenly changed his tune. “If you truly need one, your Uncle Chen can hand-craft one for you on the spot!”
“Hand-craft?” Lu Chen’s eyes lit up. “You can do that? Wonderful! Then please, Uncle Chen, make one as soon as possible. The sooner, the better!”
