Human Martial Venerable: Starting from the Synthesis Technique

Chapter 111 Undercurrents

After returning to Feng Mansion.

Feng Xiu went straight to the residence of Huanglong Zhenren.

Master Huanglong lived in a secluded courtyard on the west side of the mansion. The gate was ajar, and Feng Xiu pushed it open and went in.

Then I saw Huang Jiaojiao squatting in the yard, holding a twig in her hand, drawing something on the ground.

"Brother Feng." Huang Jiaojiao stood up abruptly when she saw him.

She skipped and hopped over, looking up at him with a grin, "Brother Feng, it's been so long since you've come to see me!"

Feng Xiu smiled, bent down, and patted her head: "Where's your grandfather?"

"Inside the house."

Huang Jiaojiao pulled him inside, muttering as she went, "Grandpa has been sighing a lot lately, and he won't say anything when I ask him. He must be thinking about something troubling him again."

Master Huanglong was sitting by the window.

He was engrossed in reading a yellowed Taoist scripture, only looking up when he heard footsteps.

"Young Master Feng has arrived." He put down the Taoist scripture, stood up, and smiled.

Feng Xiu didn't stand on ceremony and went straight to the point, "Master, I would like to ask you to perform another ritual to pray for rain."

Master Huanglong did not answer immediately.

After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke, "During the last Great Rain Festival, I lost my cultivation. The White Fox Envoy refused to lend me water, so I had to use my own foundation as a guide to barely manage to get that rain."

"After that incident, the old Taoist's foundation has weakened considerably."

Feng Xiu opened his mouth.

Feng Xiu had mentioned this matter to Huanglong Zhenren long before he viewed the water from Wangshui Pavilion.

But he still forced himself to speak, "Master, this matter is of utmost importance. If you could lend a hand to save us..."

"But don't worry, Young Master Feng, the White Fox Envoy has already emerged from seclusion. No one will stop this old Taoist from borrowing water this time, so it won't be as badly damaged as last time."

Master Huanglong forced another smile and added a sentence.

The information revealed in Huanglong Zhenren's words was significant; in fact, this should be the second time he has said it.

This matter was mentioned before when we were in Baidou Village.

Does the art of praying for rain and blessings also require a medium?

Feng Xiu's heart stirred, recalling the flawless miraculous technique that the man from the Underworld Lotus Sect had mentioned earlier.

I was just about to ask that.

But what I saw was the aged face of Master Huanglong.

Moreover, during the conversation just now, the old man clearly showed a faint sense of disappointment in himself.

Huanglong Zhenren has the well-being of all living beings in his heart. Whether it was the last Ganlin Grand Sacrifice or his nightly rescue, he repelled Su Wantang's divided soul.

They have done a great favor for themselves.

The last time he used the method of breaking the deadlock by damaging the pond and reservoir, it ultimately made him feel uncomfortable.

Feng Xiu swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

"Thank you, Master." He solemnly clasped his hands in thanks.

Master Huanglong nodded, said nothing more, turned and left the room to prepare magical artifacts and talismans.

Subsequently, Feng Xiu also instructed Zheng Bo to send someone to notify the major grain merchants.

Three days later, Master Huanglong will once again hold an altar to pray for rain.

The news spread in less than half a day.

The entire city of Qingyan instantly erupted in chaos, with restaurants, teahouses, and streets filled with noise and commotion.

"Master Huanglong is asking for rain again!"

"Last time during the Ganlin Festival, it really rained, and all the wheat in the fields came to life."

"If we can get another win this time, we'll be able to save our harvest for the year!"

Some were delighted, while others remained skeptical.

But most people were genuinely relieved.

The people, who had been struggling to breathe under the pressure of the reserve funds these days, looked much more relaxed.

Tenants from outside the town gathered at the village entrance, chattering amongst themselves.

Some people have already started planning to wait for the rain to come.

Quickly turn over the remaining dry land and plant as much as you can.

If ordinary people act this way, grain merchants act even faster.

Zhou Mingde sent people to deliver offerings and incense on the same day.

Zhao Mingyuan mobilized thirty carts of grain, saying it was for a sacrificial ceremony for Huanglong Zhenren.

Even small business owners who are usually frugal contributed.

They were delivered to the gate of the Feng residence, filling an entire courtyard.

This is different from the way Feng, Lin, and Fan handled things last time.

The second rain-making ceremony was a grand and solemn affair, with a huge fanfare surrounding it, and no one worried that the rain-making would fail.

Huanglong Zhenren has proven himself and his status as a deity.

The tense situation in the city, which had lasted for several days, eased slightly due to the upcoming Ganlin Grand Ceremony.

Qingyan Outer City, Willow Branch Lane.

Deep in the alley stands a three-story pavilion surrounded by a courtyard, with a black plaque bearing gold lettering hanging above the door.

Embroidered Robe Division, Qingyan Branch.

The main hall on the first floor of the attic.

Gray Embroidery Envoys have been coming and going constantly, ever since the Embroidery Bureau established a branch in Qingyan City.

The arrest duties of the Third Shift, Sixth Division were transferred over.

He gets involved in everything from apprehending notorious bandits and eradicating monsters from the Black Abyss to patrolling martial arts gangs.

The gray-embroidered messenger was dressed in uniform, close-fitting clothes, with a waist tag hanging from his waist. He walked hurriedly and had a cold expression.

On the third floor of the attic.

Inside an antique-style room, several rows of thread-bound books were displayed on a rosewood bookshelf.

A large celadon vase stood in the corner, with several withered lotus flowers inserted inside. On the windowsill was a pot of orchids, their leaves lush and green, growing vigorously.

At this moment, in the main seat of the room.

A middle-aged man sat there, dressed in a dark moon-colored brocade robe.

Holding the teacup, the tea soup was emerald green, with wisps of steam rising from it. I gently wiped away the floating tea foam with the sliding lid.

"Pei Xing, what's been happening with Cao Heng in the city lately?" Guo Zhen asked casually, taking a sip of tea.

At the lower end stood a young man in a black embroidered robe.

Pei Xing, the Black Embroidery Envoy transferred from Jinzhou during this recruitment drive, is currently serving as the Deputy Leader.

"Cao Heng held his troops still and did not leave the camp. Instead, he invited Feng Xiu, the leader of the grain merchants alliance, to his residence for a chat."

"Feng Xiu."

Guo Zhen read it aloud, and the smile on her lips deepened.

"Is that the eldest son of the Feng family who orchestrated the Ganlin Grand Ceremony, colluded with grain merchants, and forced the River Law Office to resign?"

"Exactly."

"This person has some ability. Go and issue him a Black Embroidered Token another day. If he is interested in joining the Embroidered Robe Bureau, it would be a good thing."

Guo Zhen nodded, his tone becoming more serious.

One aspect was targeting the Eastern Army, while another was winning over local powerful families.

There was no fundamental conflict between them and the grain merchant families.

"Your subordinate obeys."

Pei Xing agreed, then hesitated for a moment before saying, "Silver Embroidery...Master, Feng Xiu is quite prestigious here, and the Grain Merchants Alliance follows his lead. Should we also invite him over to sound him out?"

Pei Xinggang had just been transferred from Jinzhou and was not yet fully accustomed to the titles used within the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

After mentioning silver embroidery, she quickly changed her mind.

Guo Zhen didn't care.

"No need." Guo Zhen put down his teacup. "If this person is willing, he will come to see us. If he is not, we can't persuade him even if we invite him. Let's sound him out first."

Pei Xing asked again, "What about the military exercise at Dawu? We...?" His voice was slightly hesitant.

Guo Zhen's gaze remained calm upon hearing this.

"Issue the order: from this day forward, all Embroidered-Robe Envoys in Yunzhou may be exempted from military service upon presentation of the Embroidered-Robe Token."

Pei Xing's face turned pale instantly, and he trembled as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water.

He opened his mouth, his expression one of shock.

Originally, after the Embroidered Robe Division moved into Qingyan City, it recruited local martial artists and, after assessment, made them the Gray Embroidered Queen.

This has already greatly disrupted the Eastern Army's recruitment of soldiers through military exercises and large-scale military operations.

Once this order is issued, it is tantamount to stabbing the Eastern Army in the back!

On one side is the Embroidered Robe Division, which has abundant martial arts resources; on the other side is the desperate act of going to the battlefield.

Pei Xing already knew in his heart which of the Yunzhou warriors would choose.

"Yes, Your Majesty."