Chapter 20: Offering the Master Ceremony

"Perhaps they did get it, but something went wrong en route, and it wasn't returned to Xianyou?" He Lingchuan pressed, raising a reasonable doubt. "Just because the treasure hasn't been used on the battlefield doesn't mean it's still untouched in the Coiling Dragon Desert."

"No, it's still there," Grand Tutor Sun stated with absolute certainty. "Otherwise, how do you think the Coiling Dragon Wasteland turned into a desert?"

He saw He Chunhua repeatedly examining the broken comb, with no intention of handing it over. Just as he was about to reach out for it, He Chunhua preempted him, saying, "I'll hold onto it for now."

Sun Fuping knew that He Chunhua didn't fully trust him or his companion, so he dropped the idea of asking for it.

He Lingchuan was slightly surprised. "Huh, weren't we told that the vengeful spirits of the Great Wind Army were indestructible and had drained all life from the entire wasteland?"

"If that were truly the case, it would only be a superficial phenomenon. Without the Great Square Jar, they would have long since dissipated into the world. Don't forget, if it can hatch tens of thousands of Soul-Beguiling Insects, then containing tens of thousands of vengeful spirits should be no problem at all."

Soul-Beguiling Insects are formless, bodiless, and immaterial, similar to soul entities—or rather, they are a part of human souls themselves. If the Great Square Jar can contain such things, it's very likely it can also hold vengeful spirits.

Nian Songyu also added, "The Coiling Dragon Ruins are actually not far. We can go and return quickly, perhaps withdrawing before September, thus avoiding the full fury of the Coiling Dragon Desert."

It was already August 15th, leaving fifteen days until September. Then again, the Coiling Dragon Desert wasn't known for consulting the almanac before unleashing its rage; how could its mood swings be so precise? It could be delayed or even come earlier.

He Chunhua nodded. "We've been gathering men and horses while searching for Leopard Fang. We can depart the morning after tomorrow!"

Nian Songyu frowned. "Not tomorrow? It's already mid-August..."

Before he could finish, Sun Fuping waved his hand, interrupting him. "Let's make it August 16th. Gathering enough people by then is already difficult for Lord He. I also need some time to prepare the expedition ritual here."

Before the royal army embarked on a campaign, the Grand Tutor always performed a ritual: firstly, for divination, and secondly, for blessings.

Ordinarily, how could the mere county soldiers of Thousand Pines County enjoy such an elaborate ceremony?

Before they dispersed, He Lingchuan sought out Nian Songyu again. "Captain Nian, what about the explanation?"

Nian Songyu's mind was preoccupied with the Coiling Dragon Desert, so he casually asked, "Explanation for what?"

"The person who leaked information about my injury," He Lingchuan reminded him. "Give me a name, and I won't bother you anymore."

With both sides having reached an agreement, Nian Songyu hadn't expected this young wastrel to still be so persistent, simply lacking tact. His expression was cold as he said, "My guards say that person can no longer be found."

That was that. What could this country bumpkin rich kid do?

He Lingchuan looked regretful. "Really can't be found?"

Nian Songyu's lips twitched. "A trivial matter. Young Master He should focus on the present instead."

Uncle Hao walked past from behind, just in time to overhear that remark.

...

In the evening, Hongbaidao suddenly came to find He Lingchuan. "Young Master He, something terrible has happened!"

He Lingchuan listened, first surprised, then thoughtful. "Don't panic, how big of a deal can it be? Where's Uncle Hao? Go find him for me!"

Two days passed in a flash. Thanks to intense efforts from all sides, the past twenty-odd hours had been remarkably peaceful.

The terrors of the Coiling Dragon Desert were deeply ingrained in people's minds, and every year, unfortunate fatalities served as stark warnings. Nevertheless, He Chunhua managed to assemble two hundred people within the specified time.

The contingent He Chunhua had put together wasn't solely comprised of soldiers; many were criminals exiled to the frontier.

The Kingdom of Yuan's exile terms were exceptionally long; while other states required only ten to fifteen years, Yuan stipulated eighteen to twenty-five. Criminals exiled to Blackwater City were mentally prepared for never returning.

The Kingdom of Yuan had been plagued by years of civil war, either due to warlordism by regional princes or peasant uprisings. Such constant deadly conflict had decimated army after army, making it increasingly difficult to conscript soldiers.

Thousand Pines County had also seen multiple foreign wars over the past decade, severely depleting its regular army. Therefore, Blackwater City tried its best to absorb local manpower; whether exiles or murderers, as long as they were physically robust, they were enlisted, even receiving pay and being exempt from daily forced labor.

This time, Grand Tutor Sun also brought a royal pardon. Anyone who joined them to explore the Coiling Dragon Desert would immediately regain their freedom upon success, with all past crimes, no matter how severe, being fully pardoned.

There were also generous rewards. Generous rewards attract brave men, and there were far worse things in the world than death, for instance, poverty.

The bounties offered by the authorities were enough for these poor wretches to bid farewell to their solitude, marry a proper wife, take three or four concubines, father five or six plump sons, and then buy seven or eight acres of prime paddy fields, allowing their entire family to live comfortably for the rest of their lives without having to work.

In short, it was either sudden death or sudden riches. Furthermore, the frontier region was already home to many desperadoes, so the number of volunteers exceeded He Chunhua's expectations by dozens.

As for Vice-Captain Zeng Feixiong, who was to lead this contingent, his father had been insane for nearly twenty years and also suffered from a wasting disease. The cost of his father's medicine each month exceeded Zeng Feixiong's salary, and he was currently deep in debt. He Chunhua promised that if Zeng Feixiong would lead the expedition into the Coiling Dragon Desert, all his debts would be covered, and his father could live out his remaining years comfortably, with medicine, attendants, and even someone to mourn him properly upon his death.

In these chaotic times of war and unrest, a peaceful death might be several times harder to achieve than sudden riches.

Thus, Zeng Feixiong came. It was the fifth watch, still before dawn, and the contingent was already fully assembled at Blackwater City's North Gate, awaiting the Grand Tutor's ritual.

A sacrificial altar had already been erected here. Sun Fuping, having bathed beforehand, ascended the platform in a bright yellow long robe.

Only the Emperor and the Grand Tutor were permitted to wear clothes of this color; anyone else would be executed.

He Lingchuan was very interested, because the methods of worshipping gods in this world weren't as simple as using a peach wood sword, talismans, and chanting incantations.

Sun Fuping took out his long staff and gently tapped it on the ground. The strange beast on top of the staff lifted its head to the sky and began to roar loudly.

The monster had a broad nose, wide mouth, protruding eyes, and a bearded jaw. Its roar was like that of an ox, reverberating through the surroundings.

Curious passersby gathered, forming a crowd of onlookers.

The beast let out three roars, each louder than the last. The final one was like a muffled thunderclap, making people's eardrums hum.

As if in response to the beast's roars, the clouds in the sky rapidly thickened and darkened. Finally, several sharp peals of thunder exploded from the deepest part of the cloud mass, rumbling down.

This was called the communion between heaven and man.

After about ten more breaths, it actually started to rain.

The cloud mass was only directly above the contingent, so the rain fell solely on the soldiers. The onlookers' clothes and hair remained dry, untouched by the rain.

Such precise control was truly remarkable.

"The strange beast on the staff is a Ya Zi, capable of summoning wind and rain, but it's missing two horns," He Yue, standing beside his elder brother, murmured. "Why doesn't Grand Tutor Sun use the power of 'qi luck' to pray for rain? Wouldn't that conserve his energy?"

His voice was very low, but Nian Songyu still heard him. "It can't be used, lest it disrupt the ritual later."

"This isn't the ritual?" He Lingchuan asked, standing between him and his second brother, using himself as a barrier to separate them. "Then what is the Grand Tutor doing?"