Chapter 3, the flood has come

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Seeing the dense crowd ahead, the old man Huang, filled with a sense of foreboding, was trembling like a leaf. When he was thrown down in front of the villagers with a thud, he was already drenched in sweat.

Chen Shijiu raised his voice and shouted: "Someone, take this woman to the county office!"

As they approached each other, Lu Ziyou turned and walked towards the village

Today, Ji Si came to inspect the dam. From a distance, she saw a sea of people gathered here, and her curiosity was piqued. However, as soon as she approached, she saw an old man kneeling there, pointing at her and shouting loudly. In that instant, Ji Si regretted her decision.

Ji Si pressed her lips together, understanding that retreat was not an option

Ji Si pressed her lips together

She wanted to smile wryly, she also wanted to defend herself, but she found that at this moment and in this place, no matter what she said, it would be wrong

In the midst of the commotion, it was unclear what the village head had said, but the villagers fell silent.

At this moment, what the people need most is authority. The villagers and the gentry, who were in disarray due to the clamor of Lu Ziyou, looked at him with eager eyes.

The old man suddenly lunged at Lu Ziyou's feet, weeping and crying out: "My lord, my lord! It is not like this, it is not that I, a lowly person, insist on saying there is rain, but that someone is forcing me to do this."

These noble families, although there are a few individuals with considerable knowledge, lack those who can observe celestial phenomena and discern the seasons. Therefore, the noble families merely listened without further consideration

Continuous heavy rain

Just as everyone had ascended the embankment, a rapid sound of donkey hooves was heard, for it was Chen Shijiu's two servants who had arrived early in town and brought the old man Huang over.

In this Luo Shui village, every household is a thatched cottage, yet the shaman they worship is a servant of a grand house. What else could this be but a drain on the people's resources? Upon hearing these words from the steward, Lu Ziyou furrowed his brow and said, "If that is the case, let us accompany these villagers to inquire about the old man Huang."

At the very moment the loud noise erupted, whether it was an ox or a donkey, they all began to bray, struggling desperately to escape their master's restraints

The tremendous sound was so astonishing, it shook the ground, resembling the galloping of thousands of horses, while also carrying a chilling power of the heavens and the earth

Upon arriving before Lu Ziyou, Ji Si bowed to him and the various noble families, and said in a clear voice: "I am a daughter of the Ji family from Jingzhou, I greet you all."

Just as her lips parted, ready to speak, a sudden, thunderous roar echoed from afar

At this moment, over one thousand pairs of eyes were fixed on her

The villagers swarmed around the old man Huang, each one angrily scolding him, "Old man Huang, why have you deceived us?" "Clearly, there is no rain, yet you insist that there is. If the land god becomes enraged, who will bear the blame for this sin?" "Old man Huang, we have trusted you all these years, yet you have betrayed us..."

The villagers grew increasingly agitated as they spoke, each turning around, some picking up hoes, others shouldering carrying poles, and they all rushed towards the residence of the old man Huang

After a while, a villager shouted, "This is bad. The old man Huang is incompetent and is hindering our worship of the gods. We have already lit the incense and chosen an auspicious day, but we have halted halfway through building the earthen dragon. If it were truly a heavy rain, we would have a reason, but in this situation, I fear the land god will blame us for our negligence."

Immediately following, a figure of a guard riding a horse appeared, and he shouted from a distance: "Hurry, hurry! Everyone come up to higher ground, the dam in Lixian has collapsed, and the floodwaters are coming!"

Upon seeing his appearance, Chen Shijiu and the others all stood up one by one

Whoosh! Everyone turned their heads.

Since the Three Kingdoms period, hermits have been held in high esteem in the world. Whether among noble families, great clans, or the royal family, it has been regarded as an honor to treat hermits with respect. Lu Ziyou, a well-known hermit in Jingzhou, was visited by Chen Shijiu and others, partly to take the opportunity to enjoy the scenic mountains and waters, and partly to elevate their own status through association with him

On the evening of the fourth day, Lu Ziyou emerged from the wooden cabin

Amidst the buzzing sound brought by the floodwaters, Lu Ziyou shouted, "What are you panicking about? Don't forget that you reinforced the dam these past few days!" At the same time, he pointed towards the land temple and shouted again, "Moreover, the terrain there is even lower; the flood will have its own course!" Just as Lu Ziyou's shouts ceased, he was suddenly startled, turning his head in shock to look at Ji Si in disbelief

Seeing Ji Si's lips move, yet no words of explanation came forth for a long time, the villagers suppressed their anger, and even Lu Ziyou showed signs of impatience on his face

"Is it still raining?" Lu Ziyou laughed heartily, pointing to the west, and said: "The place where the sun sets is bright and radiant, and all the insects are keeping to their positions. Moreover, the north wind is gently blowing; who says there will be rain?" Lu Ziyou stroked his long beard and said: "Let alone rain, if there is no drought in the next half month, that would be considered good."

In the blink of an eye, it has reached the fourth day

However, to put it another way, in this world, recluses are often proud and arrogant individuals. Although Chen Shijiu and others have noble family backgrounds, they lack a reputation for virtue. Their most likely outcome in seeking an audience with Lu Ziyou would be to be shown the door. Therefore, whenever they visit a recluse, they choose to stay nearby for a few days. It is certainly beneficial if they can exchange a few words with the recluse; if the latter responds with disdain, it does not matter. As long as they can live in close proximity and demonstrate their sincerity, it will serve as a topic of conversation upon their return. Thus, each time they visit a recluse, they opt to stay nearby for a few days, hoping to engage in conversation, and even if they are met with disdain, it is of little consequence, as long as they can reside in close quarters and express their sincerity, which will provide them with material for discussion upon their return.

Thus, after a moment of silence, the villagers looked at each other, unable to utter a word

This statement is somewhat novel; both Su Shisan and Chen Shijiu burst into laughter, and even Lu Ziyou frowned, appearing utterly unconvinced

But now, seeing the three servants behind Ji Si and the expressions of the four people, they immediately understood that what the old man Huang said was true

The old man initially felt a surge of joy in his heart, but upon raising his head and seeing several nobles approaching against the light, his face turned ashen, and he instinctively sought to save himself

At the very moment when the deafening sound erupted, distant cries filled the air, accompanied by heart-wrenching wails, "The flood is coming! The flood is coming!"

However, the guards' cries were soon drowned out by a thunderous roar. Everyone hurriedly looked up, only to see a towering white wave rushing towards them from the end of their line of sight. In just a matter of moments, it surged from the direction of the small town right before their eyes

Go ask the elder Huang

The villagers of Luoshui Village, upon discovering that the aristocratic families such as the Lu family were also mobilizing, became even more excited. Unconsciously, the entire population of Luoshui Village, young and old, rushed out, forming a vast stream of people heading towards the home of the elder Huang, who lived in the small town on the embankment

Chen Shijiu was the first to speak, saying: "The Master said, 'Only women and petty people are difficult to nurture.' This woman clearly did something wrong, yet she is unable to speak, which clearly indicates she has a guilty conscience. Lord Lu, why waste more words on such lowly beings who are both women and petty people?"

Chen Shijiu and others originally did not believe the words of the old man Huang, after all, Ji seemed to be a perfectly good aunt, why would she deceive the villagers for no reason

Ji Si suddenly raised her head

The aristocrats have already understood why these people abandoned the well-constructed earthen dragon; it turns out that the local shaman predicted there would be heavy rain.

At this moment, there were nearly a thousand people gathered, some seeking excitement, others causing disturbances, and many coming to observe the gentry. This crowd of nearly a thousand appeared during the evening, a time of leisure for farmers, and it stirred even those in the town ten miles away.

The might of heaven and earth is truly fearsome and terrifying! In an instant, the various clans were left screaming in fright, and the villagers collapsed one by one onto the ground

Thus, amidst the sharp cries of the old man Huang, Ji Si walked slowly towards Lu Ziyou and the others

The villagers dared not speak, and the village head hurriedly stepped forward, respectfully bowing and saying: "In response to Lord Lu, it is the shaman who said that there will be continuous heavy rain in Qingshan County for the next half month"

Who is Lu Ziyou? He is a significant figure whom even the lofty nobles seek out for an audience

Lu Ziyou, around thirty years of age, has a slender and refined appearance, dressed in wide robes with large sleeves, appearing ethereal and resembling an immortal figure as the night breeze gently caresses him

At that moment, the old man Huang saw Ji Si and the three others coming from the direction of the land temple. He suddenly stood up and called out in a sharp and high-pitched voice: "It is them, my lord, it is those four!"

Lu Ziyou squinted his eyes as he looked at the indignant villagers, remaining silent. At that moment, Chen Shijiu and others gathered around. While they were busy greeting him, one steward said: "That old man Huang has a two-story loft, servants at his disposal, and his wife is dressed in fine silk. If it weren't for the fact that we know he is just an ordinary shaman, one might think he comes from a wealthy family. Initially, I thought he must have some real skills to be so affluent."

After discussing Xie Lang for a while, the aristocrats gave a command, and the servants began to build thatched huts next to Lu Ziyou's wooden house

She cannot share her suspicions with the seemingly wise old man before her, for she is merely an ordinary young woman, with her own life and many plans to fulfill. She cannot risk her future and her family's reputation by associating them with the title of a witch, thereby condemning them to a lowly status, forever barred from the halls of high society

During these four days, the aristocrats roamed the green mountains by day and returned to Luoshui Village to reside at night, hunting rabbits and roasting meat, engaging in profound discussions and philosophical debates, truly embodying an infinite elegance and refinement

Go and demand an explanation from him

The more he spoke, the clearer he became, and he said: "Sir, I am being coerced. There are four of them, and the leader is a girl about thirteen or fourteen years old. They live in the town, and I can take you to them."

For a moment, Lu Ziyou became interested. He stroked his long beard and curiously asked, "This woman, why do you tell such a great lie?" He replied, "I truly do not understand, what benefit does this bring you?"

Lu Ziyou squinted at the sky for a while and said in a clear voice, "Who said it was going to rain?"

Chen Shijiu and others repeatedly expressed their approval, thus the various clans also followed behind the villagers

As everyone was thrown into chaos, Lu Ziyou suddenly shouted, "Silence! Silence!"

Before long, Lu Ziyou encountered the busy villagers who were hurrying back. The villagers appeared to be preoccupied, loudly discussing among themselves, "Four days have passed, and there isn't a single cloud in the sky. The sun is scorching; it hardly looks like there will be rain, does it?" "Indeed, I think it's very hot today; it doesn't seem like there will be a heavy downpour at all." "Could it be that Old Huang made a mistake?"