The young man was completely stunned.
Feng Xin and Mu Qing were so desperate they tried to stop him that they finally managed to drag Xie Lian down. Xie Lian dismissed them with a single blow, saying, "Got it! No more! I know I broke the rules, so just pretend you didn't hear anything. As long as you keep quiet, no one will know. This is just once. Don't tell anyone, got it?"
Mu Qing had an expression on his face, as if he had been forced to eat socks. He shook his head and muttered, "How could you be so... self-righteous and say something like 'live for me'? It's really..."
Xie Lian hadn't thought it was a big deal at first, but after hearing what he said, he suddenly felt it was a big deal, blushing profusely. Feng Xin immediately said with a stern face, "Alright, Your Highness has already said no, why are you still bringing it up?" His mouth twitched. Xie Lian couldn't stand it any longer, and defended himself, "What are you talking about? My words clearly worked. Look."
The young man sat there for a long moment, not hearing Xie Lian's voice again. He rubbed his face vigorously, removed the offering plate from the table, cradled it in his arms, and began to eat the shrunken fruits and snacks inside. He chewed vigorously, chewing with the pitiful yet ferocious energy of a small animal. Xie Lian bent down to look at him, smiled, and said to the other two, "See, it's working. He wasn't eating just now, but now he's eating."
Mu Qing said, "Okay, it works. You are a god."
Feng Xin also said: "Yes, it works. You are a god."
“…”
Xie Lian said solemnly, "Yes, I am a god. I called you here because I have made a decision."
At this point, the atmosphere, which had been relaxed for less than a moment, became solemn again. Feng Xin asked, "What should we do?" Mu Qing said, "Do you still care?"
Xie Lian said, "It's simple. If there's not enough water in Xianle, then we can go to other countries outside of Xianle."
Mu Qing hesitated and said, "Go to another country? Wouldn't that be too far? I'm afraid we'd have to borrow some magical tools from the water priests, and the priests stationed in other countries might not be willing to do that."
Xie Lian had naturally considered this and said, "I'll give it a try. It's better than doing nothing. You guys stay in Yong'an and focus on the disaster relief in the most affected areas. I'll go back to Heaven. Is that okay?"
Feng Xin said, "No problem. I'll hold the line from behind."
Mu Qing thought for a moment and then asked, "Then, Your Highness, what about the prayers of the believers in the Prince's Palace?"
Xie Lian said, “That’s what I was trying to say. For now, just pick out the most important things and handle them for me. You can put the less important ones aside.”
Although Mu Qing didn't look optimistic, he still said, "You are His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, I will follow your instructions. However, I suggest not to suppress it for too long."
Xie Lian patted their shoulders. Feng Xin and Mu Qing bowed and then withdrew. Xie Lian and the child were the only ones left in the small temple. Xie Lian walked out of the temple, glanced back, and without further delay, headed straight for the Immortal Capital.
He had originally planned to visit several water priests first, but strangely, the first few were not in Xianjing Prefecture. Only one, the Rain Master, remained, and he didn't live in Xianjing. Xie Lian was walking hurriedly through the streets of Xianjing when he met a female civil servant in black carrying several files. She smiled and said, "Your Highness, you're finally back."
Xie Lian hurriedly said, "Nangong, you've arrived just in time. Do you know where the Rain Master's residence is?"
The woman in black was named Nangong Jie, a low-ranking civil servant in the Lower Heavenly Court. After Xie Lian's ascension, she was responsible for handling many matters. Because she was well-informed and efficient, Xie Lian had a fondness for her. Nangong Jie said, "Master Rain Master hasn't yet completed his residence and is temporarily residing in the Southern Rain Master Kingdom." She pointed him to the Master's residence and asked, "What do you want to see him for?"
Xie Lian said, “It’s urgent. Thank you.” Just as he was about to leave, he turned back, coughed lightly, and said sheepishly, “Nangong, you’re familiar with these priests in the Upper Heaven Court. Could you tell me if Master Yushi has anything… that he particularly likes?”
Typically, after a new priest ascends, the more astute ones will visit the temples of all the other priests in the same court and offer gifts. This is known as giving face. It's practically an unwritten rule, but Xie Lian's ascension was sudden, and there was no one to guide him when he first ascended. When the Imperial Master later reminded him, he felt awkward because the best opportunity had already passed and it would be awkward to offer gifts. Furthermore, such a thing inevitably evoked images of corrupt officials using backdoors in the mortal world. As the Crown Prince, Xie Lian didn't feel comfortable with this. Ultimately, he decided to let things take their course, believing there would always be opportunities to cultivate closer ties with the immortal officials through honest and legitimate means.
He had been so graceful at first, but now, in a completely different way, he was proactively asking a priest what he liked, as if preparing a bribe. It was a bit embarrassing. But there was no other way. At least the people in Xianjing had spoken to each other at the spirit communication array, so any conditions or favors could be negotiated. He had no connection with the Rain Master at all. On this first visit, Xie Lian felt embarrassed to let anyone think he was asking for a free gift of magic.
Nangong Jie immediately understood and said, "I'm ashamed to say that I'm afraid I can't help Your Highness. Master Yushi is a low-key person. Not only me, but I'm afraid no one in the entire heaven knows his personal preferences. I'm sorry."
Xie Lian blushed a little and said, "Nothing, don't worry about it. Thank you very much."
Nangong Jie added, "However, if you have something important to discuss with me, you might as well come and visit me directly. Master Yi Yu's temperament might make him refuse to see you."
Xie Lian thanked her again and followed her instructions, heading south to where the Rain Master was temporarily staying.
It was a small village with green mountains and clear waters, and beautiful scenery, but he had no intention of appreciating it. Walking along the ridge of the field, he finally saw a stone tablet with the word "rain" engraved on it. Logically speaking, after passing this tablet, it is the territory where the Rain Master temporarily resides, and those who are active here should be the Rain Master's subordinates. But as Xie Lian walked along, there were green fields everywhere, with mooing cows, rolling water wheels, and farmers working hard to plant rice in the fields. There was also a crooked thatched cottage by the field, but there was no image of immortality at all, which made Xie Lian doubt that he had come to the wrong place. Isn't this just a dilapidated and secluded farm village?
Just as he was wondering, the black ox plowing the field suddenly let out a few long moos, stood up, stretched out its front hooves, and pulled the plow off itself. Its sturdy body narrowed, its long nose shortening. In the blink of an eye, it transformed from a sleek black ox into a shirtless farmer.
The farmer was tall and muscular, his muscles defined, his features strong and defined. Like the cow, he wore a shiny iron nose ring, and held a blade of grass in his mouth. The other farmers, witnessing this horrifying transformation, continued to work as if accustomed to it. Xie Lian was now certain that no one here was ordinary. He stepped forward, clasped his fists, and asked, "Excuse me, fellow Daoist, is Master Yu staying here temporarily?"
The farmer transformed from a black bull pointed to the shore and said, "Here. Master Rain Master, you live over there."
“…”
Xie Lian looked over it several times before finally confirming that the only building he was pointing to was that thatched cottage that looked as if it would collapse in the wind and leak in the rain.
Even his humblest, humble Prince's Temple was far more respectable and affluent than this little hut. Xie Lian couldn't help but wonder. It was rumored that before his ascension, Master Yushi, like him, was a descendant of the royal family of the Rain Master Nation. It was for this reason that Master Yushi hadn't simply brought his rare gemstones as a gift. Presumably, Master Yushi, like him, didn't value such things. Why was he so destitute after his ascension? Perhaps it was a form of cultivation.
He was not short of courtesy. He thanked the farmer, approached the hut, and said loudly outside, "Master Rain Master, I, the Prince of Xianle, Xie Lian, am sorry for the inconvenience of visiting you without informing you in advance."
There was no sound from inside the house. The farmer came up, dragging his plow with him, and said, "Oh? Are you the Crown Prince who ascended to heaven at the age of seventeen?"
Xie Lian said, “I’m ashamed.”
The farmer said, "There's nothing to be ashamed of; it's the truth. However, Master Yushi doesn't like to see people, and he was recently injured, so I'm afraid he won't be able to come out to see you."
Xie Lian felt a slight sense of disappointment upon hearing this, but he still gave it a try. "Could you please pass on a message? I have an important request. If Master Yu finds this inconvenient, I won't force it."
The farmer chuckled and said, "You don't need me to tell you. We all know why you're here. Xianle Country is out of water. That must be a tough feeling, right?"
Hearing this, Xie Lian was startled and asked, “Do you know about the Xianle Kingdom?”
The farmer said, "Of course I know. It's not just us, living in this remote mountain village, who doesn't know about the disaster that's befalling your Xianle Kingdom? You don't know about your own problems, but others, watching you all day, know more about them than you do. They might even be happy about it, haha. Are you here to ask the rain master to borrow his magic weapon to help with the disaster?"
His revelation made Xie Lian realize that the priests in the Upper Heaven Court weren't simply absent. Instead, they were fully aware of his intentions and deliberately staying indoors, or perhaps they had already avoided the situation, unwilling to wade into this mess. He sighed, wondering, "Could it be that I really should visit every major temple first, so that we can meet in person later to facilitate matters?" Feeling a little frustrated, he murmured, "That's exactly what happened. If Master Ruoyu is inconvenienced, I won't bother you."
The farmer said, "Why don't you insist? Are you trying to save face? This is a matter of life and death for your people. Shouldn't you be persistent? You can't stand being asked to lower your standards? Young people shouldn't be so impatient. To put it bluntly, Master Yu is doing you a favor by helping you, and it's his duty not to help you. He's just being nice to you, but you can't complain later if he doesn't lend you the money."
Xie Lian knew that what he said made sense, but he was already utterly exhausted, and coupled with the unfriendly tone, a slight surge of anger rose in his heart. He raised his head and said sternly, "I understand everything you've said, and I absolutely won't complain behind your back. Why did you assume that? I said I wouldn't pester you, simply because I didn't want to waste my time and embarrass Master Yu. But if Master Yu isn't bothered, and I can borrow the magic weapon just by pestering him, then even if I had to offer you eight thousand palaces and temples and kowtow to you a hundred times, what would be the problem?"
The farmer laughed and said, "Angry? You're just being childish. Go on!"
He threw it, and Xie Lian raised his hand and caught a green bamboo hat, the same one the farmer had been carrying. Xie Lian asked, "What is this?"
The farmer said, "This is what you wanted to borrow. Master Yu asked me to give it to you before you came. Be careful with it. If you break it, we won't forgive you."
Xie Lian opened his eyes wide and asked, "Why?"
The farmer said, "Why didn't I tell you? I'm just lending you because I'm in a good mood. No other priest would lend you, but Master Rain Master insisted on lending you. Master Rain Master does whatever he wants."
Xie Lian repeatedly said, “Thank you very much! Thank you very much!”
The farmer said, "Don't be too happy, Your Highness. Although the Master of Rain has been in the heavens longer than you, he doesn't have as many followers as you, nor does he have nearly as much magical power. Furthermore, he's injured. Apart from lending this to you, you'll have to rely on yourself for the rest. Distant water can't quench immediate thirst. This Master of Rain hat can only move rain, not create it. Your Xianle Kingdom doesn't have enough water, so you can only borrow from other countries. Other countries aren't sure if they'll be willing to lend it, but only the Master of Rain has a year-round surplus. However, the journey is long, and each use consumes a significant amount of your magical power. No matter how much magical power you have, it will eventually run out."
Xie Lian, however, knew only too well how difficult it was to lend one's own magical weapon to an unrelated person. He bowed deeply toward the thatched cottage and said, "Master Rain Master, I am deeply grateful for your assistance. I cannot thank you enough for your kindness. If there is anything I can do for you in the future, please feel free to ask for your help. Farewell!"
He borrowed the magic weapon and immediately found a lake or river in the south. He used the Rain Master's Hat to scoop up a large amount of lake water, traveled thousands of miles, returned to Xianle Yong'an, found the village with the most severe drought, Lang'er Bay, and turned the hat over in the clouds.
Suddenly, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky. Xie Lian leaped from the clouds, his feet touching the ground. The half-dead villagers were in disbelief. Some rushed out to get wet in the rain, cheering joyfully, while others hurriedly rolled out the large and small basins they had for washing their faces and feet to catch the rain.
Seeing this, Xie Lian breathed a sigh of relief and finally smiled. Suddenly, a voice from the distance called out, "Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
He turned around and saw Mu Qing, half of his face dark, coming out from behind a tree. Seeing his grim expression, Xie Lian knew something was wrong and asked, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
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