My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

Wu Commandery, the residence of Sun Jian.

The news of Yu Ji's imprisonment swept through the entire Wu Commandery like a whirlwind.

In the streets and alleys, in teahouses and taverns, everyone was talking about this.

Some sighed, some were angry, some were afraid, and many more prayed in secret, praying that the gods would be safe and sound, and that General Sun would change his mind.

Those people who had been saved by Yu Jifu's water spontaneously gathered in front of the mansion gate, kneeling for a long time, begging Sun Jian to release them.

Sun Jian sat in the hall, his face ashen.

He was clutching a document that had just been delivered; it was written by Zhang Zhao.

The writing is earnest, rich in classical allusions, and spans thousands of words.

But the central idea is only one: please, my lord, release Taoist Yu.

"My lord."

Zhang Zhao stood below the hall, his face calm, but beneath that calm lay an unwavering insistence: "Master Yu has been preaching in Jiangdong for over thirty years, saving countless lives. The people believe in him and respect him, not because he possesses sorcery, but because he has truly saved people. Your Majesty could easily kill him, but what would happen afterward? What would the people think? What would the scholars think? What would the world think?"

Sun Jian looked at him coldly: "Zibu, are you trying to teach me how to do things?"

Zhang Zhao shook his head: "Your Majesty, I dare not. I merely remind you that the Taoist priest is innocent. He neither instigated a rebellion nor spread heresies. All he did was heal the sick and save lives. If you kill him because the people respect him, who will dare to save lives in the future? Who will dare to do good deeds?"

Sun Jian abruptly stood up and said sternly, "Zhang Zhao! I have three questions for you!"

Zhang Zhao bowed: "My lord, please ask."

Sun Jian walked up to him, his gaze sharp as a knife: "First, Yu Ji gathered crowds to preach, and the people lined the streets to kneel and welcome him. Doesn't this count as bewitching the people?"

Zhang Zhao was silent for a moment: "Fine."

Sun Jian then asked, "Secondly, Yu Ji calls himself an immortal and uses talismanic water to cure diseases. Doesn't this count as spreading heresy and misleading the public?"

Zhang Zhao hesitated and said, "This... he never called himself a god; it was the people who honored him."

Sun Jian sneered: "If he truly wanted to refuse, why didn't he leave Jiangdong? Why did he travel around preaching? Why did he make the people kneel before him? By enjoying this reverence, he's essentially calling himself a god!"

Zhang Zhao was speechless.

Sun Jian then asked, "Thirdly, I am the Governor of Yu Province and General Who Guards the East, appointed by the imperial court, to guard the southeast on behalf of the emperor. Yu Ji is just a commoner, yet he makes my people kneel before him instead of me. Doesn't this constitute overstepping my bounds?"

The hall was deathly silent.

Zhang Zhao opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found that he couldn't say anything.

Sun Jian's three questions all hit Yu Ji's Achilles' heel.

He could argue, he could explain, but the people kneeling in the streets, the believers who worshipped Yu Ji as a god, were the best evidence.

Sun Jian looked at Zhang Zhao with icy eyes: "Zibu, are you still going to persuade me to release him?"

Zhang Zhao remained silent for a long time, then bowed deeply: "Your subject... has nothing to say."

He turned and strode away.

Sun Jian watched his retreating figure, but felt no joy whatsoever.

Zhang Zhao left, but his words were like a thorn stuck in his heart.

Is Yu Ji innocent?

No, Yu Ji is guilty.

But what will the people think if Yu Ji is killed?

What would the scholars think?

What will people think?

Sun Jian closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He didn't know.

The next day, outside the mansion gate.

Sun Jian was still hesitating when the second group of people arrived.

This time, it wasn't a civil official who came, but a military general.

Han Dang, Zu Mao, Huang Gai, Cheng Pu, and other veteran generals who had followed Sun Jian through thick and thin for twenty years knelt outside the mansion gate.

They didn't speak or cause trouble; they just knelt.

But that silent kneeling posture was more powerful than any words.

Sun Jian stood in the hall, listening to the report from his personal guards, his face ashen.

"They...came too?" His voice was terribly hoarse.

The guards knelt on the ground, not daring to raise their heads: "Yes, General Han, General Zu, General Huang, General Cheng, and... and dozens of lieutenants and captains, are all kneeling outside the door."

Sun Jian slumped back onto the couch, his hands trembling slightly.

He recalled that back in Changsha, Han Dang followed him in suppressing bandits. He was hit by several arrows and bled profusely, but he gritted his teeth and refused to back down.

He recalled how Zu Mao had shielded him from an arrow in Luoyang years ago, nearly losing his life in the process.

He thought of these brothers who had followed him through thick and thin without ever complaining.

But now, they are kneeling in front of a Taoist priest's mansion for his sake.

Sun Jian suddenly felt a bone-chilling cold.

Yu Ji...who exactly are you?

What kind of sorcery did you use to make my people kneel before you, to make my advisors speak for you, and to make my brothers side with you?

"My lord!"

The guard said cautiously, "The lady has arrived."

Sun Jian looked up and saw Lady Wu walking in slowly.

Her face was calm, but her eyes were full of worry.

"My husband."

She said softly, "I heard that General Han and the others are kneeling outside the door. What... what kind of behavior is this? My husband, please release Daoist Yu."

Sun Jian looked at her and suddenly smiled.

That smile contained bitterness, helplessness, and a hint of inexplicable fear.

"You're speaking up for him too?" His voice was very soft, as if he were talking to himself.

Lady Wu grasped his hand: "My lord, I'm not speaking for him, I'm worried for you. Is a Taoist priest worth it? If you kill him, the people will resent you, the scholars will curse you, and even the soldiers will lose heart. If you don't kill him, he's just a Taoist priest, what trouble can he cause?"

Sun Jian remained silent for a long time, then slowly nodded: "You're right. This general... will release him."

He stood up, straightened his clothes, and strode out. Madam Wu called after him, "Husband, where are you going?"

"The prison."

Sun Jian didn't even turn his head: "I will personally go and release them."

Wu County Prison.

When Sun Jian arrived, it was already afternoon.

He strode into the prison, pushed aside the jailer, and went straight to the cell where Yu Ji was imprisoned.

But when he pushed open the cell door, he was completely stunned.

Yu Ji sat cross-legged on a straw mat, his face calm, his eyes closed as he rested.

He had no shackles on his body, no ropes on his hands, and no fetters on his feet.

In front of him was a bowl of water and a plate of pastries.

Behind him, a jailer was carefully fanning him.

Sun Jian felt a surge of hot blood rush to the top of his head.

"Who gave you permission to remove his shackles?!" he shouted angrily.

The jailer, terrified, fell to his knees with a thud: "My lord... it was the brothers themselves... As for the immortal... he's old, and wearing shackles is uncomfortable for him..."

"uncomfortable?!"

Sun Jian kicked over the bowl of water: "He's a prisoner! Not a god!"

He drew his Crimson Sky Sword, pressing the tip against the jailer's throat: "Anyone who dares to remove his shackles again will have their head chopped off!"

The jailers knelt on the ground, trembling, and no one dared to utter a sound.

Sun Jian, panting heavily, looked at Yu Ji.

Yu Ji remained silent with his eyes closed, as if none of this concerned him.

Sun Jian gripped the sword hilt tightly, his knuckles turning white.

He really wanted to kill this evil Taoist priest with one sword, but he knew he couldn't.

Han and his men were still kneeling outside the mansion gate, Zhang Zhao was still waiting for him to change his mind, and the people of the whole city were still praying.

If he kills Yu Ji, Jiangdong will likely be turned upside down.

He sheathed his sword, turned and left.

As he reached the prison gate, he suddenly stopped: "Kill all those prison guards!"

"My lord, spare us! My lord, spare us!" the jailers cried out, but none of them dared to resist.

Sun Jian walked out of the prison without looking back.

The next day, at Sun Jian's residence.

Sun Jian was still hesitating when the third group of people arrived.

This time, it wasn't ordinary people or military generals, but Zhang Zhao leading dozens of important officials from Jiangdong to jointly submit a petition.

Sun Jian took the joint letter, unfolded it, and his face grew paler and paler.

The book says: Yu Ji preached for more than 30 years and saved countless people. The people of Jiangdong all called him a god.

Now that our lord has imprisoned him without cause, the people are resentful and the army's morale is unstable. We fear that something unexpected may happen.

We earnestly request that our lord release Yu Ji to appease the people and stabilize the morale of the army.

Every word and phrase is a request.

But what Sun Jian read was all coercion.

If Yu Ji is not released, the people will rebel, the army will be in disarray, and Jiangdong will be thrown into chaos.

Sun Jian slammed the joint letter to the ground, his chest heaving violently.

He recalled how, back in Luoyang, he faced Dong Zhuo's army of 100,000 without even flinching.

But now, faced with an old Taoist priest who couldn't even kill a chicken, he was at a loss.

"My lord."

Lu Fan suddenly stepped forward: "I have a plan that can solve this problem."

Sun Jian looked up at him and said, "Speak."

Lü Fan said, "Yu Ji claims to be a god who can summon wind and rain. Now Jiangdong is suffering from a severe drought, with no rain for months. Why don't you let him pray for rain, my lord? If he can bring rain, it will prove that he is a true god. If you release him, it will be in accordance with the will of Heaven and the people. If he cannot bring rain, he will be spreading heresy and misleading the public. If you kill him, no one will have anything to say."

Sun Jian's eyes lit up, then dimmed again: "Pray for rain? If this sorcerer can really summon rain..."

Lü Fan smiled slightly: "My lord, rest assured, the matter of praying for rain is illusory. If he can succeed, it is the will of Heaven; if he cannot succeed, he is courting death. No matter the outcome, my lord will not lose out."

Sun Jian pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Alright, let's do as Ziheng says."

Wu County Prison.

After hearing Sun Jian's conditions, Yu Ji remained silent for a long time.

"Does the general wish for me to pray for rain?" He raised his head, looked at Sun Jian, his gaze calm as still water.

Sun Jian coldly said, "You call yourself a deity, capable of summoning wind and rain. Jiangdong is currently suffering from a severe drought, with no rain for months. If you can summon rain, I will release you; if you cannot..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood what he meant.

Yu Ji stood up, walked to the cell window, and looked out at the gray sky.

Outside the window, the sun blazed overhead, the sky was cloudless, and there wasn't even a breath of wind.

"it is good."

He turned around and looked at Sun Jian: "This humble Taoist is praying for rain."

On that day, outside the city of Wu, on a high platform.

The news caused a sensation throughout the city.

People, young and old, flocked to the city gates and knelt down in a dense, dark mass.

The military officers stood with their hands on their swords, their faces solemn.

The civil officials stood below the high platform, whispering among themselves.

Yu Ji climbed onto the high platform, sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and remained silent.

The sun was blazing, making one's scalp tingle.

Sweat slid down Yu Ji's cheeks, dripped onto the high platform, and evaporated instantly.

An hour passed, then two hours passed.

The sky remained cloudless, without even a breath of wind.

People began to whisper among themselves: "Why hasn't Immortal Yu made a move yet?"

"Is it something you can't get by begging?"

"No way...Yu Shenxian is incredibly powerful..."

Sun Jian stood below the high platform, a cold smile playing on his lips.

Praying for rain?

It's not that easy.

If rain could be summoned simply by chanting incantations, there would be no droughts in the world long ago.

Just then, Yu Ji suddenly opened his eyes.

He stood up, looked up at the sky, raised his hands, and muttered something under his breath.

No one could hear what he was saying, but everyone could sense it.

got windy.

First, a gentle breeze stirred the flags on the high platform.

Then came a gentle breeze, stirring up the dust on the ground.

Finally, there was a strong wind that made it impossible for people to open their eyes.

Dark clouds rolled in from the horizon.

"It's going to rain! It's going to rain!" someone exclaimed.

No sooner had he finished speaking than large raindrops began to pelt down.

The rain fell thicker and faster, and in the blink of an eye, it turned into a torrential downpour.

The people knelt in the rain, tears streaming down their faces, crying out, "Yu the Immortal! Yu the Immortal!"

The military officers looked at each other, at a loss for what to do.

The civil officials were stunned and incredulous.

Sun Jian stood in the rain, soaked to the bone, his face ashen.

It really started raining.

Yu Ji... actually managed to get rain.

Yu Ji stood on the high platform, soaked to the bone, yet still kept his back straight.

He looked down at Sun Jian below the platform, his gaze calm as still water.

"General."

He said softly, "The rain has started; may I leave now?"

Sun Jian remained silent.

He just stood there, letting the rain wash over his face.

He didn't know whether the tears streaming down his face were rain or tears.

Below the high platform, apart from the brothers Sun Ce and Sun Quan, all the civil and military officials of Jiangdong knelt down and kowtowed devoutly to Yu Ji on the platform.

"Oh, immortal! Oh, immortal!"

Some people have already started heading to the prison to try and free Yu Ji from his shackles.

Some people have already started heading to Sun Jian's residence, trying to force Sun Jian to release the people.

Sun Jian stood in the rain, watching all this, and suddenly smiled.

That smile contained bitterness, helplessness, and a chilling edge.

He finally understood that his political power and Yu Ji's divine authority had become irreconcilable opposites.

If Yu Ji is not killed, then he will be the ruler of Jiangdong in name only.

"Father."

Sun Ce walked to his side and whispered, "Kill Yu Ji."

Sun Jian turned to look at him.

Sun Ce's gaze was firm: "What kind of bullshit immortal is he? It's just a blind cat catching a dead mouse. If we release him today, tomorrow the people will only know Yu Ji and not our father. The day after tomorrow, Jiangdong will belong to the Yu family."

Sun Jian remained silent for a long time before slowly nodding.

He raised his head and looked at the old figure on the high platform, his gaze as cold as iron.

"Someone come here!"

He spoke, his voice hoarse but each word clear: "Capture Yu Ji, and behead him tomorrow at noon."

The entire venue was deathly silent.

The people knelt in the rain, not daring to utter a sound.

The military officers looked at each other, none of them daring to make a move.

The civil officials opened their mouths, wanting to say something, but couldn't utter a single word.

Yu Ji stood on the high platform, looked at Sun Jian, and smiled slightly.

There was no fear or resentment in that smile, only an indescribable compassion.

"General."

He said softly, "I have said before, whoever kills me will not have a good end."

Sun Jian did not answer. He simply turned and strode away.