Chapter 496: Are they acting?

De Ben...

Li Ping was about to speak, but before she could finish, Zhang Deben interrupted her:

Li Ping, my situation—you know it as well as I do—being able to summon a divine rain today, letting everyone receive its baptism, free of illness and disaster, living to a ripe old age, is already something I can only achieve with all my strength.

To ask for another divine rain in a short time is nearly impossible; even if you killed me, I could hardly manage it!

I know, I know!

Li Ping's expression turned serious; she saw Wang Jin's disappointment in her peripheral vision but said nothing, the admiration in her eyes growing stronger as she spoke again:

You often tell us you love filial sons the most—this young brother here is such a filial son; even if he's not from our village, I've heard of his deeds.

Someone who can wholeheartedly care for his bedridden mother for over ten years—I haven't even seen such a case, let alone heard of it a few times.

Why don't you think again—see if there's any way to summon a divine rain in a short time, to heal this child's mother and fulfill his wish?

Wang Jin, though few have seen him, his name is known throughout the villages near Lion Ridge: everyone loves filial sons and virtuous grandsons, and they deliberately spread talk of him, intentionally or not, in public gatherings.

They have lavished praise on Wang Jin's deeds!

They hope to hold Wang Jin up as a model to teach their own children or younger relatives, so they learn from him to be filial sons and virtuous grandsons—the effect is quite obvious.

I'll think of a way!

Zhang Deben wore a troubled expression.

Wang Jin looked gratefully at Li Ping, about to kneel before her to thank her for speaking up for him, but Li Ping shook her head to stop him, so he didn't kneel, yet the gratitude on his face and in his eyes could not be concealed.

'He's a good child!'

Li Ping sighed to herself.

Filial, repaying kindness, knowing when to advance or retreat, not making things difficult for others...

Compared to Zhang Guilian, she's goodness knows how many times better; for her own sake, she wants others to help, relentlessly pestering them, completely forgetting the bad things she herself once did.

If you don't help her, you'll earn her resentment; she only thinks of herself and never of others.

'What kind of look is this?'

Wang Ping'an was unlike the crowd outside the Mountain God Temple, looking expectantly at his uncle and aunt, waiting for his uncle to agree to Wang Jin's plea for another divine rain, so they too could reap benefits.

He is a cultivator; the effect of divine rain pales beside his own arduous practice. His bored gaze wandered the surroundings, and he soon noticed Qi Wenshan's strange expression.

Who let Qi Wenshan inexplicably give him a magical implement statue? He finds it hard to keep an eye on Qi Wenshan from time to time.

Soon, in the depths of Qi Wenshan's gaze, he saw a flash of contempt; his eyes were on his uncle and aunt, as if mocking their behavior.

'He sees that my uncle and aunt are acting?'

A flash of inspiration crossed Wang Ping'an's mind; his uncle and aunt's acting skills are excellent.

If you don't look closely, it's hard to notice the flaws, especially with everyone distracted by the divine rain baptism.

Who has the mind to wonder whether his uncle and aunt are putting on an act?

He could tell they were acting, based on his uncle and aunt's conversation.

He doesn't know what harsh conditions his uncle would need to use the divine rain.

But he knows his uncle, at least, is the Lion Ridge Mountain God; even if he's a minor deity, he must possess several powerful divine arts.

Healing arts should be among them; they are one of the best divine arts for harvesting believers' faith.

His uncle might be unable, given the strict demands of divine rain, to summon another rain in a short time. But if he wanted to treat it, even if he couldn't cure Wang Jin's mother's illness, he could still let her live another three or five years.

He believes such arts should be possessed by his uncle, the Lion Ridge Mountain God.

After all.

His uncle is the Lion Ridge Mountain God appointed by the Underworld; even if he's a minor deity, he has a lineage and naturally knows some decent divine arts.

Yet.

Whether it's his uncle or aunt, their discussion is about continuing the divine rain in a short time, not using other divine arts to heal Wang Jin's mother's illness.

At first.

Perhaps they were stuck on this topic by Wang Jin's plea, but neither his uncle nor aunt are foolish.

Wang Jin himself was wholly captivated by the divine rain baptism; perhaps in his mind only that could save his mother's life.

But his uncle and aunt surely know there are other divine arts capable of saving his mother's life.

Again and again they talk about summoning another divine rain soon; to claim his uncle and aunt aren't acting is something he refuses to believe!

This novel you have arrived at

Obviously.

Qi Wenshan was not drawn in by the divine rain baptism; he also noticed the loophole in his uncle and aunt's act, saw they were performing, and thus gave them a contemptuous look.

'My uncle and aunt are doing this to let everyone know that divine rain isn't something that can be summoned at will, right?'

Countless suspicions rose in Wang Ping'an's mind; he guessed why his uncle and aunt were doing this, pondered for a long time, yet couldn't fathom their purpose. As he glanced at Qi Wenshan from the corner of his eye, he silently sneered:

'Regardless of my uncle and aunt's purpose, this person is probably no ordinary individual.'

'Otherwise, even someone with a little ability, upon reaching old age, could not fail to anticipate the divine rain baptism.'

'But if he were an ordinary person, he also couldn't just casually produce a magical implement to give me!'

Like this!

Zhang Deben gritted his teeth, as if making a decision, his face solemn: 'I'll risk severe vital energy loss to see if I can summon another divine rain within a month!'

'Severe vital energy loss?'

Li Ping's face changed drastically; she worried: 'De Ben, what danger does this pose to you?'

'Danger?'

Zhang Deben seemed to think of something, his face full of complex feelings, speaking offhandedly:

'It's nothing serious; at most I'll sleep for a while, no danger!'

Li Ping worried: 'De Ben, why not just forget it!'

Wang Jin really wanted to step forward and persuade Zhang Deben.

After all, from the conversation between Zhang Deben and Li Ping, he learned that Zhang Deben's actions would definitely cause him great harm.

But because he valued his mother, he dared not speak up; this was the only way he could think of to save his mother.

He could not stop it, could only lower his head in shame, not daring to look at Zhang Deben and Li Ping.

(End of chapter)