Chapter 21: Sun Guoshi's Scheme

“Pray for blessings,” Nian Songyu said grumpily. “Don’t you even have that much common sense?”

As the rain poured down, He Lingchuan instantly felt refreshed, as if his body had been cleansed from the inside out. Not only was all the old grime washed away, but every muscle felt invigorated with new strength. The soldiers, too, let out joyful shouts.

Blackwater City had long suffered from sandstorms, leaving many residents with damaged windpipes and lungs. Yet, this rainfall miraculously healed them by sixty or seventy percent, restoring their smooth breathing. Ailments like chronic joint pain and muscle strain also quietly vanished under the rain’s purifying touch, leaving no trace of their former heaviness.

The gazes directed at Sun Fuping were instantly filled with awe. To ordinary people, the State Preceptor was a distant, almost mythical figure, seemingly floating in the clouds. It wasn't until he displayed this power that soldiers and civilians alike knelt before him, worshipping him as if he were a deity. Seizing this opportunity, Sun Fuping delivered a resonant declaration for the expedition, instantly maxing out the army's morale. This was precisely the effect he aimed for.

Nian Songyu shot a glance at He Lingchuan. "Now, the true ritual begins." He added, "Time for these bumpkins to see something special."

After the sudden downpour, the clouds cleared and a gentle breeze blew. Everyone's clothes were completely drenched, water still dripped from their trouser cuffs, and the ground was thoroughly muddy.

Sun Fuping raised his long staff once more and tapped the ground. A peculiar phenomenon immediately unfolded: The residual water on everyone's bodies separated from their clothes and flowed to the ground. Next, the pooled water at each soldier's feet suddenly began to move, snaking its way toward the altar. On the platform stood a large, crystal-clear glass jar, roughly wide enough for two people to embrace. It was so transparent that one could see straight through it. The water on the ground, as if alive, defied gravity and flowed upwards, lining up to pour into the large jar.

Soon, the glass jar was full, almost to the brim. The ground outside Blackwater City's gate, trodden by countless feet and constantly exposed to unavoidable sandstorms, was impossibly dirty. Yet, the water that flowed from it into the jar was as clear as if it had been distilled and purified, utterly free of impurities.

No use crying over spilled milk! He Lingchuan secretly gave a thumbs-up. Regardless of Sun Fuping's character, this single feat of magic demonstrated profound skill. Truly, the venerable State Preceptor was a force to be reckoned with.

"Every one of you who joins me on this expedition, your destiny is, more or less, contained right here." Sun Fuping turned to Zeng Feixiong, extending his hand. "Hand over the Kite Coin."

The official tokens of various states take different forms. In Yuan, the tokens issued to officials of all ranks are known as Kite Coins. Zeng Feixiong had already prepared his, so he retrieved it and handed it over. His Kite Coin was shaped like a large copper coin, but the kite depicted on it was only a light blue. The significance and color of an official token are influenced by many factors, not merely rank or authority. However, judging by Zeng Feixiong's Kite Coin, he appeared to be just an ordinary deputy officer.

Sun Fuping frowned. "It seems insufficient," he remarked, then tossed the Kite Coin into the crystal jar. Interestingly, the Kite Coin did not sink but floated steadily in the center of the large jar. The water's surface, however, was no longer calm; it began to ripple. As the water swirled around it, Zeng Feixiong's Kite Coin deepened in color, becoming a shade between deep blue and light green.

"Even with the morale of the entire army, it's still barely enough," Sun Fuping commented. He then pulled a cloth bag from his robes, opened its mouth to briefly show He Chunhua and the others what was inside, then closed it and tossed the entire bag into the water jar. Inside was half a bag of yellow sand, which pulsed and writhed on its own, even without being touched.

He Yue whispered, "Is that the berserk sand from the Coiling Dragon Desert?"

He Chunhua nodded, his gaze fixed intently on the jar. When the Coiling Dragon Desert erupted, no one dared to enter its core, a period known as the Berserk Sand Season. The He family had paid a hefty sum for this half-bag of berserk sand, which had been collected from Red Cliff Road during such an extraordinary period. It wasn't from the very core, of course.

However, the moment the sandbag entered, the entire jar of water began to boil, and countless bubbles rose to the surface. He Lingchuan even thought he saw flashes of lightning and heard distant thunder. The water then turned turbid, but large plumes of steam rose from its surface. One half was deep blue, the other a murky yellow tinged with dark red. As these two colors of steam swirled together, what was remarkable was that everyone present perceived them to be locked in a fierce struggle. To be precise, after just two exchanges, the murky yellow vapor gained the upper hand, practically grinding its opponent into the water's surface. It was immediately apparent that the two sides were vastly mismatched in strength.

Sun Fuping's expression was grim. "No, it's not enough. The rank is too low, the primal energy too weak! Who else?"

He Chunhua asked hoarsely, "Is it truly impossible?"

"It cannot possibly contend!" Sun Fuping retorted angrily. "Does the Prefect have any grand ideas?"

Entering the Coiling Dragon Desert during the Berserk Sand Season was a near-certain death sentence. No official or general with any other option would willingly take such a risk. Besides, there were no other high-ranking officials present. The highest-ranked person was only—

He Lingchuan cast a sidelong glance at Nian Songyu. "He can't go up there?" The words were barely out of his mouth when he regretted them. He was still too unfamiliar with this world, after all.

Nian Songyu scoffed and laughed, looking at him as if he were a complete simpleton.

He Yue whispered, "This army belongs to Blackwater City and is not under Deputy Commander Nian's command. For him to tap into the army's collective fortune, he would either need to be officially transferred to this post or revert to commoner status and be appointed by Prefect He. Both, however, would require a royal decree."

How could a military officer from Xunzhou possibly lead troops from Jinzhou? Under normal circumstances, that is.

Sun Fuping approached He Chunhua and the others, lowering his voice. "Going in like this is suicide. Either we cancel the operation, or a high-ranking official from Blackwater City must step forward."

A high-ranking official from Blackwater City? That could only mean He Chunhua. Was it his life, or his future, at stake?

He Chunhua's expression shifted; he realized he had been tricked. Yet, his subordinates, including Zeng Feixiong, waited expectantly. Knowing he couldn't delay, he took out his Kite Coin from his robes. "Let's try this first."

He Yue exclaimed anxiously, "Father!" How had the situation taken such a sudden turn?

He Lingchuan even grabbed his father's hand, the Kite Coin clasped between their palms. "Father, don't be rash. This isn't the time to sacrifice yourself for the state!"

He Chunhua patted his hand away. "Calm yourself," he instructed.

From the side, Nian Songyu gave a thumbs-up and praised, "Lord He is truly loyal and righteous!" Both He brothers glared at him, wondering why this fellow was so eager to push their father into harm's way.

Under the gaze of all, He Chunhua took a deep breath, then walked to the crystal jar and personally dropped his Kite Coin into it! His Kite Coin was light green, signifying a rank more than one grade higher than Zeng Feixiong's. As his Kite Coin entered the jar, the water's surface churned even more violently, and large clouds of steam billowed upwards, surprisingly, this time, they were yellow! Unlike the color of the berserk sand, this steam was a bright yellow.

Not only did everyone watch with keen interest, but Sun Fuping himself let out a prolonged "Oh?" of surprise. "A leap of four ranks?" he murmured, unable to hide his astonishment. Even with the morale boost from the entire army, the leap from light green to a true yellow was astonishing, even if only temporary.

He Chunhua gave a self-deprecating smile. "It seems I'm quite well-regarded," he commented. He then asked Sun Fuping, "If I lead the army on this expedition, what are my chances of returning?"