Lin Sheng

The rain came with extreme suddenness, without the slightest warning. There was not even a wisp of dark cloud in the sky.

After all, a spray bottle could not be perfectly precise. Coupled with the drift caused by the wind in midair, the downpour actually covered not only Tao County, but the surrounding regions as well.

"Patter, patter..."

At first, the raindrops, each as large as beans, were sparse. Yet within only a few breaths, they joined into a curtain, wetting vast stretches of ridges, mountains, rivers, and cities.

In the city streets, people rushed toward the nearest buildings to shelter from the rain, their faces filled with shock and delight.

"Whoosh—"

The rain poured down in sheets, streaming in chains from the pitch-black eaves. In the courtyard, it nearly stirred up a cloud of "dust."

A gust of cold wind blew into the main hall. Apart from Lin Tuo, everyone else ran beneath the eaves in disbelief, stretching out their hands and letting the rain soak their clothes.

After a long while, the Tao County Lord suddenly turned around and looked at Lin Tuo, his expression incomparably complicated. He seemed to have thought of something, but after hesitating, he merely gave a deep bow and said:

"On behalf of the people of Tao County, I thank you for your great kindness, sir! We have no way to repay you. Please rest at my residence for a while, and I shall have someone prepare a humble gift..."

"That will not be necessary." Lin Tuo shook his head, cutting him off. Then he changed the subject. "However, I do have an unreasonable request."

"Please, speak."

Lin Tuo rose to his feet. His gaze passed through the rain in the courtyard and settled on a hill to the south.

"When I arrived, I saw an abandoned academy on that mountain, shut down long ago. I would like to stay there for a few days. I wonder if the County Lord would permit it."

An academy?

The Tao County Lord froze. This was completely beyond his expectations, and he could not help asking, "Of course. But... may I ask why you have taken a liking to that place?"

Lin Tuo glanced at him. "I intend to open a lecture hall, wait for some people, and then teach a few classes."

"Teach classes? Wait for people?" The County Lord looked bewildered. This young man before him seemed shrouded in mystery from head to toe, and he instinctively asked, "Wait for whom?"

With a smile, Lin Tuo pointed in the direction of the Capital. "They are already on the road."

After displaying the miraculous art of "Rain Prayer," Lin Tuo's request was naturally granted without the slightest discount.

After the rain stopped, Lin Tuo declined the County Lord's invitation and followed an official to take up residence in the abandoned academy on South Mountain.

Only after sending those people away and confirming that no one was around did he finally let out a breath.

"I hope all this trouble I went through will not have been for nothing."

Lin Tuo had deliberately gone all the way to Tao County to bring down a rainstorm in order to spread his name.

"If nothing unexpected happens, the Tao County Lord should have realized that there is something unusual about my identity... at the very least, he will make the connection.

"After all, the news from the Capital—that a Saint Emerges from the Southeast—arrived not long ago. By now, he must have already sent someone to report to the Capital."

"From my earlier observations, Emperor Chi left the Capital a few days ago and headed southeast. We should probably meet on the road."

"Someone who can summon wind and rain should be enough to draw their attention, right?"

He switched his consciousness back to his main body.

Lin Tuo sat in the newly renovated study, gazing at the slanting tree shadows across the Training Ground of the Martial Arts Hall, and muttered to himself:

"It still is not quite secure. It would be best to create a few more strange phenomena. No one has ever seen a Sage anyway. Since I am going to make a fuss, I might as well make it a big one."

Having made up his mind, Lin Tuo roughly formed a plan.

"Have you heard?"

"Heard what?"

"A Mr. Lin has moved into the academy on South Mountain. That rainstorm earlier was brought by his spells."

"Really? No wonder! I was wondering how there could be such heavy rain on a perfectly clear day. Could Mr. Lin be some master of Shintoism?"

"Who knows... but probably. Otherwise, how could he possess such great magical power?"

After the fresh rain, discussions about Lin Tuo immediately sprang up in Tao County's teahouses and taverns.

In small places, news always traveled faster.

Naturally, the Chi Kingdom had no masters capable of Spells, but that did not stop people from imagining things.

Yet all discussion avoided the possibility of a "Sage."

That title was far too lofty. Even if the people of Tao County exhausted their imaginations, they could only picture Lin Tuo as a Shinto master versed in mystical arts.

They did not dare imagine that he might have anything to do with the Sage of legend.

The discussion continued until the sun sank westward and boundless darkness crept in from the horizon.

Inside the County Yamen.

The Tao County Lord also ordered someone to bring a lamp, preparing to light the Candle Flame.

However, at that very instant, he suddenly heard waves of startled cries from outside the courtyard.

"What is all this clamor outside?" he could not help demanding.

But the noise outside only grew louder.

"My lord, come and see!" one of the yamen runners shouted.

The County Lord froze, then had no choice but to put down his documents and hurry through the courtyard. Pushing open the street-facing gates, he saw that many people had stopped along the dim street, pointing into the distance.

He abruptly raised his head. Then, stunned, he saw an enormous pillar of light shining through the clouds above South Mountain.

It was as though it had descended from the heavens, piercing through heaven and earth and illuminating the entire mountain range.

Against the darkening sky, it was incomparably conspicuous.

Like a Miracle.

"Could this... possibly... be connected to that Mr. Lin?" Upon witnessing this abnormal celestial phenomenon, the County Lord was initially stunned, before a thought arose despite himself.

He grabbed a subordinate watching the spectacle by the entrance and asked as if seeking confirmation, "Has the person sent to the Capital departed?"

"He has already set off."

"Good... good..." The Tao County Lord stared at the strange phenomenon that linked heaven and earth, muttering to himself with an uneasy expression.

The subordinate beside him was deeply confused. Then he swallowed and could not help asking in a low voice:

"My lord, could it be that you believe Mr. Lin truly is..."

The County Lord widened his eyes. Lowering his own voice as well, he said with utter solemnity, "A strange phenomenon descends from heaven. I fear... he truly is!"

A Sage!

Could the Sage mentioned in the Capital's Decree, the Sage His Majesty sought, truly have come to Tao County?

What incomparable glory was this?

The County Lord's emotions surged, blood rushing to his face. Suddenly seeming to recall something, he returned indoors, took out his official token, and hurriedly instructed his subordinate:

"Right! Take everyone at once and head for South Mountain. Seal off the roads. Do not let any idle people disturb Mr. Lin's rest! Go!"

"Ah? Yes!"

Inside the study of Lishan Martial Arts School.

Lin Tuo stood beside the Sandbox, his right hand reaching into the Isolation Shield as he held a flashlight straight over South Mountain.

Mm, he had set it to the lowest brightness, but it was already conspicuous enough.

"With this... even the dullest person should realize there is something off about me, right?"

Lin Tuo silently pondered, then turned his gaze toward the Capital and found the location of Emperor Chi's party.

This was not difficult.

By visual estimation, together with frequently sending Avatars down into various regions to gather information, he had long since pinpointed their position.

"At this distance, if everything goes smoothly, the party from the Capital should reach Tao County tomorrow at the earliest, or the day after tomorrow at the latest."

After estimating the time, Lin Tuo nodded in satisfaction.

This pace more or less matched his expectations.

The only problem was...

"Uh, I should have ordered some kind of stand online. Holding this flashlight in my hand the whole time is exhausting..."

Because it was simply too tiring, Lin Tuo ultimately did not keep the light on for too long.

But for the people of Tao County, it was already shocking enough.

Even after the "celestial phenomenon" vanished, the shock remained.

"Have you heard?"

"You mean the Heaven and Earth Phenomenon over South Mountain last night?"

"They say the county's yamen runners and constables did not sleep all night, guarding every road leading to South Mountain. They said no one was allowed to go there."

"What do you think is happening?"

"It must be related to that Mr. Lin. Nothing had ever happened before, but on the very night he moved into Nanshan Academy, such a phenomenon appeared. I fear..."

"What?"

"Do you think... he could be the Sage of the present age whom His Majesty the Emperor is said to be seeking in the Capital?"

"Hiss..."

Similar discussions gradually spread, passing through the entire small city.

They did not subside until evening, when cooking smoke rose from every household.

That night, on South Mountain in Tao County, the phenomenon appeared again. And perhaps it was only an illusion, but the people of Tao County all felt that tonight's phenomenon was steadier and lasted longer than last night's.

Lin Tuo paid no heed to these discussions. In fact, he was happy to see them spread.

Leaving his Avatar in Nanshan Academy and switching over from time to time was enough to handle things.

When another morning arrived and warm red light illuminated the remote city, an army in gleaming armor, carrying an aura of unbidden majesty, hurried into the county seat.

"Where is the Tao County Lord?"

When the County Lord, who had not slept all night, saw the large army outside the gates, the fluttering banners, and heard the Imperial Guard Grand Commander at their head shout his question—

The lean middle-aged man shuddered violently, then straightened his back and answered in a trembling voice that he was present.

And then...

The entirety of Tao County erupted.

On the morning of Lin Tuo's third day in Tao County, the entire city was placed under martial law. The Great Chi Emperor led his accompanying ministers, troops, and horses in a mighty procession through the streets of the small city. After a brief stop, they headed toward South Mountain.

At the same time.

Inside Lishan Martial Arts School.

Having long known through the Sandbox that Emperor Chi had arrived, Lin Tuo silently stuffed the last soup dumpling from the table into his mouth.

Then he took another sip of soy milk, wiped the corner of his mouth, and tossed the delivery packaging into the trash.

He then sat before the computer and checked the documents he had organized.

Only then did he let out a soft burp and say, "Switch."

Nanshan Academy.

Inside an elegant yet simple room, Lin Tuo, who had been sitting cross-legged in meditation, suddenly opened his eyes. He touched his slightly bulging belly and could not help muttering, "I ate too much..."

Then he heard horns sounding from the foot of the mountain. Listening closely, he could also hear the clamor of carriages, horses, and marching ranks.

After that, several black-armored figures swept up the mountain path and stopped outside the academy's ruined wall, calling out:

"The Son of Heaven has arrived. Might Mr. Lin be within the academy?"

Lin Tuo had prepared for this long ago and had no intention of slowly testing the waters with these people. He immediately pushed open the door and stepped outside. Then, beneath the stunned gazes of several Imperial Guard officers, he said calmly:

"I already know the purpose of your visit."

"Please report to His Majesty: prepare one hundred and twenty exceptionally gifted individuals. I shall establish a lecture hall here and impart all I have learned in my lifetime to the people of the world."