Chapter 10: Heavy Rain_2

The statue was of a middle-aged man in the likeness of a black-robed, long-bearded Daoist, with silkworm eyebrows and phoenix eyes, standing with his hands behind his back, exuding an air of elegance.

It was said that the statue was sculpted based on the Immortal's true appearance at that time, although it was not entirely identical, it should still bear about sixty to seventy percent resemblance.

Inside the main hall, there was a pillar as thick as two people embracing, on which a dragon was carved in relief. The dragon's scales were painted black and it coiled around the pillar, with its tail end on top and its head below, as if lifting its head up high.

According to the records of the old Scholar, when the Immortal first came to save them, he arrived and left riding this dragon.

So when the residents of Taohuayuan Village sculpted the statue, they didn't forget to carve the dragon as well.

This dragon was naturally sculpted according to the true appearance that the earliest residents of Taohuayuan Village had seen.

On the top of the dragon's head, there was only one horn in the center.

If following the standards of the Huaxia mythology that Shu Guan had transcended from, this snake-like creature should not be considered a dragon but a flood dragon.

Of course, this was only a creature from the Huaxia myths and legends, as there were no dragons on Earth. Thus, Shu Guan could not know whether this world made distinctions between dragons and flood dragons.

Additionally, the single horn on the head of the snake-like creature on the pillar was broken in half. It was unclear whether this was due to the statue being damaged over the years or if it was originally designed that way.

Upon entering Qixia Daoist Temple, the people of Taoyuan Village first cleaned up the temple, which had been covered in dust. Their last visit to worship the Immortal took place five years ago.

If they had not come to pray for rain this time, there was no telling how much longer the villagers would have waited before coming here again.

"Buddha's feet..."

While wiping the cobwebs from the base of the Immortal statue, Shu Guan muttered such a whisper.

"Spotty, what did you just mumble?"

Wang Dahu's head popped out from behind the statue, looking curiously at Shu Guan.

It seemed that the idiom Shu Guan had just spoken was not present in this world.

"Did I just talk? You must have heard wrong."

With his poker face, Shu Guan glanced at Wang Dahu.

With his face covered in black spots, almost no one could detect his real emotional changes except Uncle Lame, nor could they distinguish whether he was speaking the truth or lying.

Wang Dahu scratched his head, uttered "Oh," and then retracted to continue wiping the statue's back.

After another half hour of work, when everything was clean and the offerings they had brought were neatly arranged in front of the Immortal's statue, it was around the 2nd quarter past noon.

The setting sun moved westward, and the sunlight slanted into the main hall from the cliff above, shining upon Uncle Lame.

At this moment, everyone's eyes were also focused on Uncle Lame.

"Uncle Lame, what's next?"

Wang Erniu approached Uncle Lame and asked in a low voice.

Shu Guan also looked at Uncle Lame, wondering how he would pray for rain, and trying to think of a way to prevent the situation from becoming too awkward if no rain came.

Uncle Lame had been smoking dry tobacco and had just finished a pot. He tucked the green tobacco pipe into his waistband and spoke a sentence.

"Everyone, join me in kowtowing to the Immortal."

The expression on Uncle Lame's face was one of simple determination and certainty.

"Forty-nine years ago, I came here to kowtow nine times to the Immortal, praying for his help to save our village. After the kowtow, it rained."

Then Uncle Lame said one more sentence, and took the lead to kneel down towards the Immortal's statue in the center of the main hall.

Wang Erniu and the others exchanged glances, somewhat believing and somewhat doubting.

Truthfully, most of the villagers in Taoyuan Village had complex feelings about the Immortal.

On one hand, they certainly believed in the existence of the Immortal, as it was a story passed down by their ancestors. How could it be false? Moreover, how could ordinary people like them enter a place like this valley without the help of an Immortal?

Although they believed in the existence of the Immortal, just like Shu Guan, they thought that the Immortal may have forgotten them already.

Because if the Immortal could really hear their prayers, why hadn't he come to take them away after all these years?

In the end, everyone followed Uncle Lame's lead and knelt towards the Immortal's statue, including Shu Guan.

Shu Guan had no psychological burden, as he visited temples and Daoist temples on famous mountains and rivers in his previous life, paying respects to the deities without any hesitation. The only thing he wouldn't do was buy the expensive incense recommended by tour guides.

"...Old immortal, Lame Uncle is here to beg you again. It hasn't rained in our village for almost half a year, the crops have all withered, and the fish in the stream have all been roasted to death..."

Old Lame Uncle babbled on, his voice drifting into Shu Guan's ears from up ahead, sounding like idle chatter.

Shu Guan initially wanted to laugh, but then he realized he couldn't.

Because this drought was truly severe, and there were no signs of relief. If things continued like this, many people in the village might die, including himself.

Under such circumstances, he, as a transcender, had no solutions.

At this moment, Shu Guan's heart faintly harbored some expectation, but he didn't know what he was hoping for.

As for the matters of immortals, Shu Guan naturally didn't fully believe them up until now. He knew that this place was not Earth, but without witnessing it in person, it was still difficult for him to believe in such extraordinary things.

As old Lame Uncle muttered, he respectfully kowtowed nine times to the sculpture of the Immortal. Then he stood up.

Upon seeing him stand, Wang Erniu and the other residents of Taoyuan Village followed suit.

Just like that? That simple?

Everyone immediately turned their heads to look outside the temple hall.

Outside the hall, the sun was shining brightly.

Although it was already sunset, it still emitted a scorching radiance, as if the entire earth had lost its vitality under the high temperature.

Shu Guan sighed.

The mysterious and inexplicable thing he had been hoping for just now didn't happen.

However, the faces of Wang Erniu and the other residents of Taohuayuan Village all revealed disappointment.

Only old Lame Uncle's expression remained unchanged, still showing that unreasonable faith and devotion.

"Grandpa..."

Shu Guan called out to him but didn't know what to say.

"Don't worry."

Old Lame Uncle laughed at him and the others, took the smoke pipe from his waist, and prepared to light another pot of tobacco.

He had just smoked a pot earlier, but he hadn't had time to clean the ashtray, which was filled with some residue from the burned tobacco.

Old Lame Uncle casually tapped the ashtray against a nearby pillar, perfectly landing it on the head of the bald角 dragon.

"Thud", "thud", "thud".

Old Lame Uncle knocked the ashtray three times, removing the tobacco residue, then opened the tobacco pouch and refilled the pipe.

"The old immortal will hear."

At the same time, he still said confidently.

If you think it will happen, it will...

Shu Guan muttered in his heart, while being attentive to help old Lame Uncle by taking the flint and striking a spark.

However, just at that moment, a deafening thunderclap rang out from outside the hall with a "crack".

Shu Guan's hand trembled, and the flint and striker fell to the ground.

That was the sound of thunder!

Everyone was startled and once again looked outside the hall.

The sunlight outside had unknowingly disappeared, and the view was now gloomy and dark.

Wang Erniu, who was over fifty years old and had always been a steady man, let out a cry of indeterminate meaning and suddenly rushed outside the hall, instinctively looking up into the sky.

Above the sky, a fierce wind blew, countless dark clouds gathered from all directions, and the clouds flashed with the lightning of dancing golden serpents.

Accompanied by another loud thunderclap, a torrential downpour began.

At this moment, Shu Guan, who had just stepped out of the hall, slowly opened his mouth in astonishment.