Chapter 00020: The Departure Ritual
# The Departure Ritual
Chapter 20
Novel: After the Immortals Disappeared
Chapter 20: The Departure Ritual
"Maybe they got it, but something went wrong along the way, and it never made it back to Xianyou?" He Lingchuan insisted on playing devil's advocate—or rather, raising a reasonable doubt.
"Just because the treasure hasn't been used on the battlefield doesn't mean it's still sitting untouched in the Panlong Desert."
"No, it's still there," State Preceptor Sun said confidently.
"Otherwise, how do you think the Panlong Wilderness turned into a desert?"
He saw He Chunhua turning the broken comb over and over in his hands, with no intention of handing it over.
Just as he was about to reach out and ask for it, He Chunhua spoke first, "I'll keep it for now."
Sun Fuping knew that He Chunhua didn't fully trust him and the others, so he dropped the idea of asking for it.
He Lingchuan was a bit surprised.
"Huh? Didn't you say the vengeful spirits of the Great Wind Army never dissipated, draining the life from the entire wilderness?"
"If that were truly the case, it would only be a surface-level phenomenon. Without the Great Square Pot, they would have long since dispersed into the heavens and earth. Don't forget, if they can nurture tens of thousands of Heart-Bewitching Insects, then storing tens of thousands of vengeful spirits shouldn't be a problem."
Heart-Bewitching Insects were formless, bodiless, and without substance, similar to souls—or rather, they were part of the human soul.
If the Great Square Pot could contain such things, it was likely capable of holding vengeful spirits as well.
Nian Songyu chimed in, "The Panlong Ruins aren't actually that far. If we go quickly and return swiftly, we might be able to leave before September, avoiding the wrath of the Panlong Desert."
It was already the 15th of August, with only fifteen days left until September.
That said, the Panlong Desert didn't follow a strict calendar when it came to its tantrums.
The timing could be delayed or advanced.
He Chunhua nodded.
"While we search for the Leopard Tooth, we're also gathering our forces. We can set out at dawn the day after tomorrow!"
Nian Songyu frowned.
"Can't we go tomorrow? It's already mid-August..."
Before he could finish, Sun Fuping waved his hand to cut him off.
"Let's make it the 16th of August. It's already difficult enough for Lord He to gather people on such short notice. I also need some time to prepare the departure ritual."
Before a royal expedition, it was customary for the State Preceptor to perform a ritual—part divination, part blessing for good fortune.
Normally, the small county soldiers of Qiansong County wouldn't be entitled to such a high-level ceremony.
Before they dispersed, He Lingchuan approached Nian Songyu again.
"Lieutenant Nian, what about that explanation?"
Nian Songyu, his mind still preoccupied with the Panlong Desert, asked absentmindedly, "Explanation for what?"
"The person who leaked the information about my injury," He Lingchuan reminded him.
"Give me a name, and I won't bother you about it anymore."
Now that they were cooperating, Nian Songyu hadn't expected this spoiled brat to still be digging for answers.
He replied coldly, "My guards say that person can't be found anymore."
That was the end of it.
What could this country bumpkin rich kid do about it?
He Lingchuan looked disappointed.
"Really? Can't find them?"
Nian Songyu smirked.
"It's a trivial matter. Young Master He should focus on the present."
Uncle Hao happened to walk by just as he said this.
...
That evening, Hongbai Dao suddenly came to find He Lingchuan.
"Young Master He, something terrible has happened!"
He Lingchuan was first surprised, then thoughtful.
"Don't panic. How bad can it be? Where's Uncle Hao? Go find him for me!"
￥￥￥￥￥
Two days passed in a flash.
Thanks to everyone's efforts, those twenty-plus hours were uneventful.
The terror of the Panlong Desert was deeply ingrained in people's minds.
Every year, there were cautionary tales of those who had perished there.
Nevertheless, He Chunhua managed to gather two hundred men within the allotted time.
The team He Chunhua had assembled wasn't made up entirely of soldiers.
Many were criminals exiled to the borderlands.
In the Kingdom of Yuan, the term of exile was long—eighteen to twenty-five years, compared to ten to fifteen in other countries.
Criminals exiled to Blackwater City had long since resigned themselves to the idea that they would never return.
The Kingdom of Yuan had been plagued by civil wars for years, with warlords carving out their own territories and peasant uprisings breaking out left and right.
The constant fighting had drained the military, and recruiting new soldiers had become increasingly difficult.
Over the past decade, Qiansong County had also been involved in multiple external conflicts, leading to a severe reduction in the regular army.
As a result, Blackwater City had to recruit locally, taking in exiles and even murderers as long as they were strong and healthy.
They were even paid a salary and exempted from daily labor.
This time, State Preceptor Sun had also brought a royal pardon.
Anyone who joined them in exploring the Panlong Desert would be granted immediate freedom upon success, regardless of their past crimes.
And there would be substantial rewards.
Where there are great rewards, there will always be brave men.
In this world, there are things worse than death—like poverty.
The bounty offered by the authorities was enough for these poor souls to bid farewell to their lonely lives, marry a proper wife, take on three or four concubines, have five or six chubby children, and buy seven or eight acres of prime farmland.
Their families could live comfortably for the rest of their lives without lifting a finger.
In short, it was either sudden death or sudden wealth.
Moreover, the borderlands were full of desperate men.
The number of volunteers exceeded He Chunhua's expectations by several dozen.
The deputy commander of this force, Zeng Feixiong, had a father who had been insane for nearly twenty years and was also suffering from a debilitating illness.
The monthly cost of his medication exceeded Zeng's salary, and he was now buried in debt.
He Chunhua promised that if Zeng led the expedition to the Panlong Desert, all his debts would be cleared.
His father could live out his days in peace, with medicine and care, and even have someone to mourn him when he passed.
In these turbulent times, achieving a peaceful end might be several times harder than striking it rich.
And so, Zeng Feixiong joined the expedition.
It was now the fifth watch, and the sky was still dark.
The team had assembled at the north gate of Blackwater City, ready for the State Preceptor's ritual.
An altar had already been set up.
Sun Fuping, having bathed and changed into a bright yellow robe, ascended the platform.
Only the emperor and the State Preceptor were allowed to wear this color.
Anyone else would be executed.
He Lingchuan was intrigued because, in this world, rituals and divine ceremonies weren't as simple as waving a peach wood sword, burning talismans, and chanting incantations.
Sun Fuping took out his long staff and lightly tapped it on the ground.
The beast head at the top of the staff raised its head to the sky and let out a loud roar.
The creature had a broad nose, a wide mouth, bulging eyes, and whiskers on its jaw.
Its roar was like that of an ox, resonating across the land.
Curious onlookers gathered along the road.
The beast roared three times, each louder than the last.
The final roar was like a thunderclap, leaving everyone's ears ringing.
As if in response to the beast's roar, the clouds in the sky rapidly thickened and darkened.
Deep within the cloud mass, several thunderclaps erupted, rumbling down to the earth.
This was known as the communion between heaven and man.
After a dozen or so breaths, it began to rain.
The clouds were only above the troops, so the rain only fell on the soldiers.
The onlookers remained dry, their clothes and hair untouched.
Such precise control was truly remarkable.
"The beast on the staff is a Yazi, capable of summoning wind and rain, but it's missing two horns," He Yue, standing beside his elder brother, murmured.
"Why doesn't State Preceptor Sun use the power of fate to call for rain? Wouldn't that save energy?"
His voice was low, but Nian Songyu still heard him.
"He can't. It might cause problems during the ritual later."
"Isn't this the ritual?" He Lingchuan, standing between his brother and Nian Songyu, acted as a barrier.
"Then what is the State Preceptor doing?"
(End of Chapter)