Chapter 21: State Preceptor Sun's Calculations

"Praying for blessings," Nian Songyu said crossly, "you don't even have this bit of common sense?" As the rain poured onto his body, He Lingchuan immediately felt refreshed, as if his body had been cleansed from the inside out; not only was all the grime gone, but every muscle was filled with strength.

The soldiers also let out joyful shouts.

Heishuicheng had long suffered from wind and sand, and many residents had damage to their tracheas, hearts, and lungs. This rain shower actually healed them by sixty or seventy percent, making their breathing smooth once again; other ailments like chronic cold legs and strained tendons and bones were also quietly healed under the washing of the spiritual rain, with all sense of heaviness vanishing.

The way the crowd looked at Sun Fuping suddenly became filled with awe.

A State Preceptor was too distant from ordinary people, like someone floating on the clouds, so there was no intuitive feeling. It wasn't until he revealed this trick that soldiers and civilians knelt on the spot, as if worshipping a deity.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Sun Fuping delivered a few resonant lines of a declaration before the expedition, directly maxing out the morale of the troops.

This was the effect he wanted.

Nian Songyu glanced at He Lingchuan: "Now, the ritual has only just begun." Let these bumpkins open their eyes.

After the sudden rain, the clouds were light and the breeze was clear. Everyone's clothes were soaked through, water was still dripping from their pant legs, and the ground was muddy and messy.

Sun Fuping raised his long staff again and tapped the ground, and a peculiar scene occurred: the residual water on people's bodies was extracted from their clothing and converged toward the ground;

Immediately after, the accumulated water under every soldier's feet suddenly began to flow, winding like snakes as they swam toward the altar.

On the altar sat a large glazed vat, about the diameter of two people embracing; it was crystal clear, and one's line of sight could pass through it without any obstruction.

The water on the ground seemed to have a life of its own, moving upward in violation of the laws of gravity, lining up to flow into the large vat.

Soon, the water in the glazed vat was full, almost level with the rim.

The ground outside the gates of Heishuicheng was trampled by thousands of people and constantly battered by unavoidable wind and sand; no one could say how dirty it 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 is hard to retrieve! He Lingchuan gave a silent thumbs-up. Regardless of what kind of person Sun Fuping was, this spell alone showed profound skill.

A dignified State Preceptor, he truly had substance.

"Every one of you following me on this expedition, your fortune is more or less here." Sun Fuping turned to Zeng Feixiong and reached out his hand, "Hand over the Kite Coin."

The State Mandate Tokens of various countries took different forms, and the State Mandate Token issued by the Kite Kingdom to officials of all levels was the Kite Coin.

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

His Kite Coin was also in the shape of a large copper coin, but the kite bird on it was only light blue.

The weight and color of a State Mandate Token were restricted and influenced by many conditions, not just official rank and power. However, judging from Zeng Feixiong's Kite Coin, he was just an ordinary Vice Commandant.

Sun Fuping frowned: "It seems insufficient." After saying this, he threw the Kite Coin into the crystal vat.

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

Under the washing of the water flow, the color of Zeng Feixiong's Kite Coin deepened, becoming a shade between dark blue and light green.

"Even with the help of the entire troop's morale, it's still very reluctant." Sun Fuping took a cloth bag from his bosom, pulled open the mouth of the bag to show He Chunhua and the others, then closed the bag and threw the whole thing into the water vat.

Inside it was half a bag of yellow sand, which writhed automatically even without anyone touching it.

He Yue asked in a low voice: "Is that the wild sand of the Panlong Desert?"

He Chunhua nodded, watching the water vat intently.

When the Panlong Desert acted up, no one dared to enter the core area; this period was called the Wild Sand Season. This half-bag of wild sand, which the He family had spent a fortune to obtain, was taken from the Red Cliff Road during that extraordinary period.

Of course, not from the core zone.

However, as soon as the sandbag entered, the entire vat of water boiled, and countless bubbles rose.

He Lingchuan even seemed to see lightning and thunder.

Subsequently, the water quality became turbid, but large masses of steam floated to the surface, half deep blue and half dim yellow with a hint of dark red.

These two colors of steam swirled together, and miraculously, everyone felt that they were fighting incessantly.

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

One look and it was clear that the levels of the two sides were too far apart.

Sun Fuping's expression was stern: "It won't do, the position is too low, the primordial power is too weak! Who else is there?"

He Chunhua said hoarsely: "Is it truly impossible?"

"There is simply no way to contend!" Sun Fuping said angrily, "What is the Prefect's high opinion?"

Entering the Panlong Desert during the Wild Sand Season was a life-or-death gamble; as long as there was another way out, no official or military commander would be willing to take this risk.

Besides, there were no other officials present, and the highest-ranking person was only—

He Lingchuan glanced sideways at Nian Songyu: "Can't he go?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted it. After all, he was still too unfamiliar with this world.

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

He Yue whispered: "This army belongs to Heishuicheng and is not under Commandant Nian's jurisdiction. If he wants to utilize the troop's fortune, he would have to be transferred here to take office, or be demoted to a commoner and accept an appointment by Prefect He, but that would require a royal decree."

How could a military officer from Xunzhou lead troops from Jinzhou?

—Under normal circumstances.

Sun Fuping walked up to He Chunhua and the others and whispered: "Going in like this is just suicide. Either cancel the operation, or a high-ranking official from Heishuicheng must step up."

A high-ranking official from Heishuicheng? That would only be He Chunhua.

One's life, or one's future? He Chunhua's expression changed, realizing he had been tricked.

But his subordinates, including Zeng Feixiong, were waiting eagerly.

He knew he couldn't wait, so he had to take the Kite Coin from his bosom: "Let's try first."

He Yue said anxiously: "Father!"

How did the situation suddenly change to this?

He Lingchuan even pressed his hand down on his father's, the Kite Coin being sandwiched between their palms. "Father, don't be impulsive; now is not the time to sacrifice yourself for the country!"

He Chunhua slapped his hand away: "Stay calm."

On the side, Nian Songyu gave a thumbs-up and praised: "Lord He is loyal and righteous!"

The He brothers glared at him in unison; was this kid in such a hurry to force them into a corner? Under the watchful eyes of everyone, He Chunhua took a deep breath, then walked to the side of the crystal vat and personally dropped his own Kite Coin in! His Kite Coin was light green, more than one grade higher than Zeng Feixiong's.

As the Kite Coin entered the vat, the water surface surged even more violently, and large masses of mist steamed upward; this time it was actually yellow! Different from the color of the wild sand, this steam was yellow with a hint of brightness.

Not only was everyone watching, but even Sun Fuping let out a long "Eh," not hiding his surprise: "Crossing four grades in a row?"

Even with the morale bonus of the entire army, the leap from light green to pure yellow was still astonishing, 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 trip, what are the chances of returning?"

(End of chapter)