My words have become law; I truly have no desire to display my divine power before others.

Instead of burning to ashes, it melts away like ice and snow meeting the spring sun, turning into countless tiny specks of light that float in the air.

The points of light became more and more numerous and denser, gradually converging into a hazy mist of light.

Something fell down from the light mist.

It's raining.

Fine, continuous raindrops fell from where the talisman had disappeared.

The raindrops were so fine they were almost invisible, yet you could still feel their dampness.

It has a faint fragrance, like spring grass or morning dew.

Raindrops fell on the table, leaving damp spots on the surface.

Raindrops fell on the ground, wetting the dust and turning it into shallow mud spots.

Raindrops fell on people...

An elderly man with white hair stood at the edge of the crowd, a few drops of rain getting on the back of his hand.

He looked down and suddenly froze.

His hands, withered and thin, covered with age spots, were trembling slightly at that moment.

It wasn't that I was trembling with fear, but rather that the skin seemed to become more moisturized and the age spots faded where the raindrops had fallen.

He looked up, opened his mouth as if to say something, but found his throat was no longer dry. He had felt a tightness in his throat when he drank tea just now, but now it felt strangely comfortable.

A woman holding a child had raindrops on her cheeks.

She felt a warm sensation spread across her face, and the fatigue from taking care of the child these past few days seemed to lighten considerably.

The child in her arms babbled and reached out, trying to catch the raindrops.

A lean man, who had done manual labor for many years, had a slightly hunched back.

A few drops of rain fell on his shoulder, and he suddenly felt the soreness in his shoulder lessen, so he couldn't help but straighten his back.

An elderly woman had been coughing for over half a month, and no medicine seemed to help.

Raindrops fell on her, and as she coughed, she suddenly realized she had stopped coughing.

She was stunned, and touched her chest. The place that had been stuffy for half a month suddenly felt inexplicably open.

More people felt that warmth.

Some people with mobility issues felt warmth in their knees.

Some people have a headache or fever and feel that their forehead has cleared up.

Some people feel a tightness in their chest, as if their heart has opened up.

The raindrops fell on everyone, bringing not only moisture but also an indescribable sense of comfort.

It felt like basking in the sun all day, like drinking a bowl of hot soup, like having a good night's sleep.

The teahouse was quiet.

No one spoke, no one moved. Everyone tilted their heads back, closed their eyes, and let the fine rain fall on them.

The rain lasted for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea before gradually thinning out and finally dissipating into the air.

The teahouse was quiet.

After a long while, someone let out a soft "Ah".

Then came the second tone, and the third tone—

The white-haired old man was the first to kneel down. He didn't say a word, he just knelt there, his forehead touching the ground, his whole body trembling.

Then came the woman holding the child, the lean man, the coughing old woman, and more and more people.

"immortal!"

"A living god!"

"The gods have appeared!"

Some people cried, some laughed, and some kowtowed loudly.

Zhao Shouzhou stood with his hands behind his back, his face still calm, but inside he was extremely pleased.

Yes, yes, that's it! Kneel down! Amaze! Shout "God!"

He slightly raised his chin, his gaze sweeping over the kneeling people before finally settling on a corner.

There, the storyteller was bowing his head, tidying up his things.

He packed it up slowly and carefully, without any expression on his face.

Then he slung the bundle over his shoulder, turned around, and walked towards the door.

Zhao Shouzhou was stunned.

He... he's gone already?

He looked at the people kneeling on the ground, then at the back of the figure that had already walked to the door, and for a moment he was unable to react.

Everyone here is kneeling before him, marveling at him, and calling him a god.

How could this person, this storyteller, just leave like that?

Doesn't he find it amazing? Doesn't he want to stay a little longer? Doesn't he...?

A strange feeling welled up in Zhao Shouzhou's heart.

It wasn't anger, it wasn't disappointment, it was just—curiosity.

He was too curious.

More and more people poured into the teahouse.

Some people heard the news and ran to see the deity; some squeezed to the front, hoping to be blessed by him; some crawled forward on their knees, muttering incantations.

Zhao Shouzhou was surrounded by a crowd, but his eyes remained fixed on the doorway.

Pu Songlin had already reached the door, mounted a horse, and was ready to leave.

Zhao Shouzhou no longer hesitated.

He raised his hand, took out an invisibility talisman from his sleeve, and slapped it on his body.

The figure vanished in an instant.

Those kneeling around him only saw a blur before their eyes, and then the deity vanished.

Some people gasped, some shouted, and some kowtowed even louder.

Zhao Shouzhou ignored these remarks.

He rushed out of the teahouse, pulled out a talisman from his sleeve, and slapped it on his leg.

His legs suddenly felt incredibly light, and he could cover several meters in a single stride.

He chased after Pu Songlin in the direction he was riding.

......

Behind him, the teahouse was in complete chaos.

"The immortals have vanished!"

"The gods have appeared!"

"Quickly kowtow! Quickly make a wish!"

Someone rushed outside and looked around, but saw nothing.

That deity has truly vanished.

......

On the official road, a horse was walking at a leisurely pace.

Pu Songlin sat on his horse, his expression calm and unreadable.

Zhao Shouzhou caught up with them.

He moved swiftly, the effects of the Swiftness Talisman still active, allowing him to cover great distances with each step.

He followed beside the horse, maintaining the same speed as it.

Pu Songlin glanced at him sideways, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

This Taoist priest, without riding a horse, was able to keep up with him on foot alone?

Could it be the legendary art of divine speed?

But he was only surprised for a moment before he looked away and continued to look at the road ahead.

Zhao Shouzhou waited for a while, but when he didn't speak, he finally couldn't help but speak:

Why aren't you surprised?

Pu Songlin glanced at him again:

"What's so surprising?"

Zhao Shouzhou was stunned:

"Didn't you see my invisibility talisman and my speed talisman just now?"

Pu Songlin nodded:

"I saw it."

Zhao Shouzhou:

"Then why aren't you surprised?"

Pu Songlin thought for a moment and then asked in return:

Why should I be surprised?

Zhao Shouzhou was stumped by the question.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found he didn't know how to answer.

Yes, why was he surprised?

Shouldn't everyone in this world be astonished when they see a deity? Shouldn't they all kneel down? Shouldn't they all beg for blessings?

But this person does absolutely nothing.

After a moment of hesitation, Zhao Shouzhou finally found a reason:

"Weren't all those stories you told in the teahouse just made up? Now that you've seen the real thing, why are you leaving?"

Pu Songlin glanced at him, his gaze indifferent, revealing no emotion.

How do you know it's made up?

Zhao Shouzhou scoffed:

"Shrinking the earth to an inch? Samadhi True Fire? How could these things possibly exist?"