The rain came suddenly, without the slightest warning—there wasn't even a wisp of cloud in the sky.
Of course, the watering can wasn't precise, and with the wind in mid-air pushing things off course, the downpour didn't just cover Tao County but also spread into the surrounding areas.
"Plop… plop…"
At first, the raindrops were few and scattered, but within just a few breaths, they joined into sheets of rainfall, soaking ridges, mountains, and the city itself.
Inside the city, on the streets, people rushed toward the nearest buildings to escape the rain, shock and delight written across their faces.
"Whoosh—"
The rain cascaded down like a waterfall, streaming from the eaves in curtains, splashing in the courtyards until misty spray rose like smoke.
A gust of cool wind blew into the main hall. Except for Lin Tuo, everyone else rushed to the eaves in disbelief, stretching out their hands and letting the rain soak their clothes.
After a long moment, the County Lord of Tao turned sharply, staring at Lin Tuo with a face full of complex emotions. He seemed to realize something, hesitated, then bowed deeply.
"On behalf of the people of Tao County, I thank you for your great kindness, sir! We have nothing to repay you with, but please remain at the county estate for some rest. I will have a small gift prepared—"
"That won't be necessary." Lin Tuo shook his head, cutting him off. Then, after a pause, he added, "However, I do have one small request."
"Please speak."
Lin Tuo rose to his feet, his gaze piercing through the sheets of rain in the courtyard, fixing on a hill to the south.
"When I came, I saw an abandoned academy on that hill. I'd like to stay there for a few days. Would the County Lord agree?"
An academy?
The County Lord of Tao was taken aback. That was entirely outside his expectations. "Of course," he answered quickly, then hesitated, "but… may I ask, why that place?"
Lin Tuo glanced at him and said, "I intend to open a small lecture hall, wait for a few people, and then teach some lessons."
"Lectures? Wait for people?" The County Lord looked bewildered, unable to read this mysterious young man. Instinctively, he asked, "Wait for who?"
Lin Tuo smiled, pointing in the direction of the capital. "They're already on their way."
After displaying the miraculous act of "summoning rain," Lin Tuo's request was naturally granted without question.
When the rain stopped, he declined the County Lord's further hospitality and followed officials to take residence at the abandoned academy atop South Hill.
Only when everyone had left, and the area was quiet, did Lin Tuo finally exhale in relief.
"Let's hope all this effort wasn't wasted."
The whole purpose of calling down rain in Tao County was to spread his reputation.
"If I'm not mistaken, the County Lord must already suspect that my identity is unusual… at the very least, he'll be making connections.
After all, the message from the capital about a Sage appearing in the Southeast arrived not long ago. By now, he's likely already sent a report to the capital."
"According to my earlier observations, Emperor Chi left the capital a few days ago, heading southeast. Most likely, he'll meet my bait on the way."
"A man who can summon wind and rain… surely that will catch their attention."
Switching his consciousness back to his real body, Lin Tuo sat in the newly refurbished study of the martial arts hall, watching the shadows of trees slanting across the practice grounds. He murmured:
"Still feels a little risky. Best if I create more anomalies. No one has actually seen a Sage, after all. Since I've started, I might as well go big."
With that thought, a plan began to take shape in his mind.
"Have you heard?"
"Heard what?"
"Someone said that the heavy rain was summoned by a man now living in the South Hill Academy. They call him Mister Lin."
"Really? That explains it! I was wondering why such heavy rain came on a clear day. Could Mister Lin be some Taoist adept?"
"Who knows… but he must be. Who else could wield such power?"
After the rain, talk of Lin Tuo spread quickly through the teahouses and taverns of Tao County.
It was a small place; news always traveled fast.
The Chi Kingdom had no real practitioners who could call upon magic, but that didn't stop people from imagining.
Still, all speculation carefully avoided the word "Sage."
That identity was far too lofty. No matter how wildly the common folk speculated, at most they could imagine Lin Tuo as some mysterious Taoist adept. They did not dare even dream that he could be tied to the Sage of legend.
The rumors spread until the sun dipped westward and shadows deepened.
At the county office, the County Lord had just ordered lamps and candles to be lit when a sudden uproar arose outside.
"What is that commotion?" he demanded.
The noise only grew louder.
"My lord, you must come see this!" cried one of the clerks.
The County Lord frowned, set down his documents, and hurried outside. On the darkening street, he saw a crowd gathered, pointing into the distance.
He followed their gaze—then froze.
Above South Hill, a massive column of light pierced through the clouds, connecting heaven and earth, illuminating the entire mountain.
In the fading twilight, it shone with dazzling clarity.
Like a divine miracle.
"Could this… could this also be tied to Mister Lin?" the County Lord whispered, stunned. A thought pressed hard into his mind.
He seized a subordinate standing nearby. "Has the messenger to the capital already departed?"
"Yes, my lord. He set out at once."
"Good… good…" The County Lord stared at the celestial sign, muttering to himself, torn between fear and hope.
Beside him, one subordinate swallowed nervously and whispered, "My lord, do you truly believe this Mister Lin is…"
The County Lord's eyes widened. He lowered his voice but spoke with deadly seriousness: "Heavenly anomalies… it must be him!"
The Sage!
The very Sage the imperial decree had said His Majesty was searching for—could it be that he had come to their little Tao County?
What an honor that would be!
Heart pounding, blood rushing to his face, the County Lord suddenly remembered something. He dashed back inside, grabbed his official seal, and barked to his men:
"Quick! Take every man you can and seal off the roads to South Hill. Do not let anyone disturb Mister Lin's rest! Go!"
"Ah? Y-yes, my lord!"
Back at the Lishan Martial Hall, in his study, Lin Tuo stood by the sand table.
He had extended his right hand through the barrier and was holding a flashlight, its beam shining directly onto South Hill.
Heh. He'd set it to the lowest brightness, but even so, it was striking enough.
"This should be obvious enough, even for the slow-witted," he thought, satisfied.
Then he turned his gaze toward the capital, locating Emperor Chi's party. That wasn't hard to find, especially since he had been frequently sending avatars to scout and confirm.
"At this pace, if all goes smoothly, the imperial convoy will reach Tao County tomorrow at the earliest, or the day after at the latest."
He nodded, pleased. The timing was just as he had hoped.
The only problem was—
"Ugh, I should've ordered a stand online. My arm's killing me holding this flashlight…"
In the eyes of Tao County's people, though, the heavenly spectacle was more than enough.
Even after the light faded, the awe remained.
"Did you hear?"
"You mean the celestial sign over South Hill last night?"
"They say the county officers guarded the mountain all night, blocking every road up. No one was allowed near."
"What do you think it means?"
"Surely it has to do with Mister Lin. Nothing strange happened before, but the very night he moved in, heaven itself lit up…"
"Do you think… he could be the very Sage His Majesty is searching for in the capital?"
"Hiss—"
Similar discussions filled the town, only fading away as cooking smoke rose with nightfall.
That very night, the spectacle returned again. This time, people swore it lasted longer, steadier, than the night before.
Lin Tuo, of course, paid little mind to the rumors. He welcomed them.
Leaving an avatar at the South Hill Academy, occasionally switching consciousness, was more than enough to maintain appearances.
When dawn broke again, its warm glow spilling over the small county, a gleaming armored army swept through the city gates.
"Where is the Lord of Tao County?"
The exhausted County Lord shivered violently when he saw the banners and heard the commanding voice of the Imperial Guards' commander. He stiffened his spine, trembling, and answered.
And with that—
The whole of Tao County was thrown into uproar.
On the third morning of Lin Tuo's stay, the entire city was placed under martial law. Emperor Chi himself, with ministers and troops in tow, paraded through the streets before heading straight for South Hill.
Meanwhile, back at the Lishan Martial Hall.
Having already seen the Emperor's arrival through the sand table, Lin Tuo calmly popped the last soup dumpling into his mouth.
He washed it down with a sip of soy milk, wiped his lips, tossed the takeout box in the trash, then sat at his computer.
After checking the neatly arranged documents, he let out a small burp.
"Switch."
At the South Hill Academy.
In a quiet, spartan room, Lin Tuo's avatar snapped open his eyes from meditation. He rubbed his slightly full stomach and muttered, "Too full…"
At that moment, horns blared from below the mountain. Listening carefully, he could hear the bustle of carriages and horses.
Soon after, several armored figures leapt up the path and stopped outside the academy's crumbling wall.
"The Son of Heaven approaches! Is Mister Lin within?"
Prepared in advance, Lin Tuo had no interest in exchanging pleasantries. He pushed the door open and stepped outside.
Under the stunned gaze of the Imperial Guards, he said calmly:
"I already know why you have come."
"Inform His Majesty: prepare one hundred and twenty gifted youths. Here, I shall establish a lecture hall and impart the knowledge of my lifetime to the world."
(End of Chapter)