Free Web NovelChapter 153: Chapter 153: An Alchemist Summons Rain?
The little one was startled. "Really?"
Grandma Qin laughed. "Why would Grandma lie to you? I just went to the village, and the village chief told me. Early this morning, an express rider who had ridden eight hundred li arrived from Shu State with a report. People who went to the market in town this morning all saw him. He was a guard from the Golden Dart Iron Cavalry, and he galloped all the way to the palace."
Shen Ningning scrambled to get out of the water, wanting to go ask Chen Shaobei herself.
But when she met the Black Wolf King’s watchful gaze, the little one held out her chubby arm appeasingly.
"Langlang, look! The wound has already healed!" Only a pink scar remained.
A few more days of soaking, and even the scar would disappear.
Only then did the Black Wolf King’s anger subside.
It let out a couple of low growls, chastising the little one.
She was not to be so reckless about matters concerning Mo Lingwei in the future.
Shen Ningning hung her little head, nodding obediently as she replied, "Yes, okay. I’ll listen to Langlang."
With that, she finally managed to soothe the Black Wolf King.
When Shen Ningning climbed out of the pool, he came forward and licked the dripping water from her skin.
Grandma Qin said with a cheerful laugh, "You should go get changed."
A short while later, Shen Ningning went to the village, called for Chen Ye to ready the carriage, and headed straight for the Capital City.
She happened to run into Chen Shaobei, who was just about to leave his residence. The little one eagerly lifted the curtain. "Brother Shaobei! I heard it rained hard in Shu State last night. Is it true?"
Seeing how well-informed she was, Chen Shaobei couldn’t help but smile. "It is."
"I heard it started raining in the middle of the night, and the Emperor was quite pleased when he learned of it. He’s certain it’s thanks to the Crown Prince."
"I was just on my way to the palace to discuss the subsequent arrangements with the Crown Prince. Miss Shen, would you like to come with me?"
Shen Ningning quickly shook her head. "Brother must be very busy right now, so I won’t go and get in the way!"
Besides, since it had rained last night, the weather today was nice. So, she planned to go and get Mo Lingwei’s Buddha Beads repaired.
Chen Shaobei nodded to her and rode off on his horse.
Shen Ningning’s mood couldn’t have been more wonderful.
She thought, ’It must be the Rain Goddess from my dream last night! She really answered my prayers!’
Chen Ye asked, "Miss, are we returning to the village?"
"Mmm, no. Let’s go straight to Fashan Temple~"
Since she was going to repair the Buddha Beads, she had to go to a place like a temple to fix them for Mo Lingwei with proper reverence.
Shen Ningning’s carriage passed by one from the Wei Family.
A moment later, the Wei Family’s carriage stopped at the rear entrance of the Wei Mansion. A man who looked like an Alchemist with an ethereal air stepped out.
Minister Wei personally welcomed him. "Master Gu, please, come in! We’ve been eagerly awaiting your arrival."
They took their seats in the main hall. This Master Gu held a horsetail whisk, stroking his beard and sizing up his surroundings from time to time with a profound and unfathomable expression.
"Minister Wei, if you have a request, state it clearly. I am busy with my rituals. In a few days, I must leave the Capital City for Taizhou."
Minister Wei said quickly, "I know a person of your importance is very busy. It was only with great difficulty that I was able to contact you through a friend and invite you to the Capital City. I naturally have an important matter for which I require your aid, Master."
"I’ve heard that you, Master Gu, can summon the wind and call down the rain. The drought is so severe right now, and in two days, the Crown Prince will emerge from the Sunlight Tower. The Emperor will surely hold a grand rain-summoning ceremony. I must ask for your help so that my young daughter can shine on that day."
Master Gu stroked his beard, his eyes narrowing. "Are you suggesting, Minister Wei, that I help your esteemed daughter put on a fake rain-summoning charade?"
Minister Wei nodded repeatedly.
Master Gu’s expression changed instantly. He flung his sleeve in anger. "I have cultivated my path for years in pursuit of truth! How could I possibly help you with such fakery and deception? Farewell."
Seeing that he was about to leave, Minister Wei hurried forward to stop him.
"Master, don’t be angry. I wouldn’t ask you to exert yourself for nothing. Men, bring in the gift!"
At Minister Wei’s command, servants came in carrying three large chests.
The lids were lifted, revealing they were filled to the brim with gold.
Master Gu’s eyes instantly went wide.
Minister Wei scoffed inwardly, knowing he had catered perfectly to the man’s tastes and offered the right thing.
So he lowered his voice and said with a smile, "Master, this is only the first part of my thanks. If you do a good job, there will be more. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied."
Master Gu quickly composed his expression and shot Minister Wei a sideways glance.
A moment later, he stroked his beard and turned to sit back down. "In that case, I shall stay a few more days to appreciate the scenery of the Capital City."
Minister Wei smiled. "Of course. However, I have only ever heard of your abilities, Master, and have never witnessed them firsthand. I wonder if you would be willing to give a small demonstration and broaden the horizons of a mere mortal such as myself?"
Master Gu glanced at him and chuckled humorlessly. "Then watch closely, Minister Wei."
He formed a hand seal, chanted an incantation, and then pointed two fingers straight at the heavens outside!
Minister Wei watched in amazement. Just as he thought he was about to hear a roll of thunder, an unexpected gust of wind merely swept through the courtyard.
It died down after just a moment.
Minister Wei’s eyes were wide. After waiting a moment, he silently turned his head to ask Master Gu, "Is that it?"
"Master, what I wanted to see was your ability to summon the wind and call the rain. My friend said that when you passed through Tongzhou, you made it rain there for three days and three nights. I wonder if you could let me witness something like that?"
Master Gu swung his horsetail whisk forcefully. "Ignoramus! Conjuring clouds and making rain requires reporting to the heavens in advance! How can one make it rain on command? Over the next few days, I will have no choice but to prepare for the rain-summoning ceremony two days from now."
"If you truly want your esteemed daughter to display the ability to summon wind and rain before the Emperor, then you will cooperate with me fully. You must not be short on a single item I need to buy."
Hearing this, it dawned on Minister Wei. ’So, he needs to prepare!’
He nodded hastily. "Yes, yes, of course."
Minister Wei immediately had a servant lead Master Gu to a courtyard to settle in for his stay.
「At that moment.」
Shen Ningning had already placed the broken beads, one by one, into the pouch she carried at her waist.
The little one got out of the carriage and looked up at the stone steps, which numbered over a hundred.
To reach Fashan Temple, one had to climb countless steps that wound halfway up the mountain.
Chen Ye glanced at Shen Ningning with concern and offered, "Miss, let me carry you up the mountain."
It took an adult an hour to climb to Fashan Temple. The steps wrapped around half the mountain, making for a long journey.
"No, thank you, Brother Chen. You can just wait for me at the bottom," Shen Ningning said, slinging her waterskin over her shoulder.
’With the Immortal Realm, I don’t have to worry even if I run out of water.’
’If I get hungry, I can just go back to the Immortal Realm and eat my fill.’
Brimming with confidence, she set off up the mountain with her little feet.
At first, she had enough energy and didn’t feel tired even after climbing over a hundred steps.
But soon, after winding around layer after layer of stone steps under the blazing sun, Shen Ningning was panting heavily.
Her fair little face was flushed pink from the heat. Wiping the sweat from her chin, she GULP GULP GULPed down the rest of the water in her waterskin.
"HUFF, this is so tiring!" She gazed at the temple in the distance. There was still such a long way to go!
Shen Ningning decided to rest for a while against a large tree.
While she was at it, she popped into the Immortal Realm and refilled her waterskin with sour plum juice before coming back out.
Before long, two figures appeared on the steps below her.
’Huh? Is someone else really climbing the mountain to pray on such a hot day?’
Shen Ningning’s curious gaze drifted over to them.
She saw two young men, both about sixteen or seventeen years old, walking one behind the other.
The one in the back was wearing purple robes and was completely out of breath from exhaustion.
"Ah Xu, I can’t walk anymore! Why don’t you just climb the rest of the way yourself?"
