The state of Clear Creek Village

"Lord Fox Immortal, please grant me water! When the crops are harvested, I'll be sure to return and fulfill my vow!"

Before a parched field, a weathered old farmer spoke words of supplication, though a trace of doubt lingered on his face.

The old farmer had taken part in neither of the two conversations with the Fox Immortal. If he hadn't seen the other villagers obtain water to irrigate their fields, and if he truly hadn't been able to find another way, he would never have thought of praying to this so-called Fox Immortal.

The old farmer had secretly gone to look at the Fox Immortal Temple, but it didn't look like the dwelling of a genuine immortal with great Divine Abilities.

If the immortal really had Divine Abilities, would the whole temple be so run-down?

Though he still had doubts, the old farmer's longing for water lent his prayer a measure of sincerity.

After all, others had warned him repeatedly that Lord Fox Immortal asked for no offerings, only sincerity. Without a sincere heart, there would be no water.

As the old farmer prayed sincerely, a column of water appeared before him the next moment, soaking him from head to toe.

"Water, water!" The old farmer wasn't angry in the least. Instead, he was wild with joy. "It's really true! We're saved! Thank you, Lord Fox Immortal! Thank you, Lord Fox Immortal!"

Similar scenes of people praying for water played out before fields throughout Clear Creek Village.

Some were new to it and were drenched to the skin by the sudden water. Others had come prepared with buckets and other containers and began filling them.

After granting the last believer's request for water, Yin Yunze watched the villagers working in their fields and felt a momentary sense of accomplishment at having benefited the people.

At first glance, the scene had a touch of the peaceful, idyllic life city dwellers imagined.

But Yin Yunze knew perfectly well that beneath this seemingly beautiful illusion were people struggling desperately to survive.

With a sigh, Yin Yunze continued keeping watch over the requests for water in Clear Creek Village.

Leaving aside the many novices who accidentally interrupted the ritual, even for those who could maintain it continuously, Yin Yunze had to manually adjust the flow of water according to the Incense of Faith they provided.

Giving everyone the same amount regardless of how much Incense of Faith they provided would save effort, but it would also greatly reduce the villagers' growth in faith and incense offerings.

Only by deliberately creating visible differences could he spur the villagers to take the initiative.

So although he wasn't rushed off his feet, Yin Yunze really couldn't spare a moment while supplying water.

He didn't know how long it had gone on when a bell suddenly rang in Yin Yunze's ears.

Hearing the alarm he had set, Yin Yunze finally let out a slow breath and cut off the water channels to all the villagers.

"Huh? Why did the water stop?" The old farmer had irrigated less than half a mu of his field when the water suddenly stopped. Anxiously, he prayed, "Lord Fox Immortal, why did you stop the water? Did this old man do something wrong?"

The old farmer's question reached Yin Yunze's ears, but he wouldn't lower himself by coming out to explain.

In fact, Yin Yunze didn't need to explain.

Just as the old farmer was pacing in circles with worry, a villager who had already finished irrigating saw him and explained on Yin Yunze's behalf. "Lord Fox Immortal only supplies water for half a shichen each day. Today's half a shichen is already up! Honestly, why didn't you ask for water earlier, or get a couple of buckets to hold it?"

Hearing this, the old farmer finally understood what had happened, and his face alternately turned pale and flushed.

As he berated himself for forgetting about it, the old farmer offered his thanks. "Thank you for reminding me! I understand. Tomorrow-tomorrow I definitely won't make a mistake! Thank you, Lord Fox Immortal! Thank you, Lord Fox Immortal! Tomorrow I'll be sure to make good use of the water Lord Fox Immortal grants me!"

As a simple farmer, the old man naturally knew how important water was in a year of disaster. Let alone half a shichen, even the time it took one incense stick to burn was precious.

Thus, the old farmer only regretted missing his chance rather than resenting Lord Fox Immortal for not adding another half a shichen.

Having watched the scene unfold, Yin Yunze undoubtedly felt gratified.

If he did good deeds for free only to be cursed for it, Yin Yunze certainly wouldn't indulge such unruly people!

Several days had passed since he began supplying water, putting his promise into practice through his own efforts. Amid his constant daily toil, Yin Yunze had finally converted most of Clear Creek Village's villagers into believers.

Yin Yunze wasn't surprised by this result.

In water-starved Clear Creek Village, who dared say that Yin Yunze, who controlled the water supply, wasn't a true immortal?

Although Yin Yunze supplied water for only one hour at noon each day, word of mouth had still made the village farmers aware of the existence of Yin Yunze, the Fox Immortal.

Some had initially missed the time window and consequently thought it was a lie.

But after choosing the right time to try again and finding that it worked, they became Yin Yunze's reasonably devout believers without looking back.

And through Yin Yunze's daily adjustments, the villagers' faith was growing steadily.

Ancient farmers were just that practical. Even wild gods who stumbled upon success like blind cats finding dead mice could be placed on an altar, let alone Yin Yunze, a Fox Immortal who displayed miracles every day.

Only yesterday, Yin Yunze had learned from Sun Qin that the villagers planned to properly repair the Fox Immortal Temple once they were done with their work over the next few days.

But Yin Yunze had Sun Qin turn down the villagers' kind offer.

Why repair that rundown temple? Just give me the money...

Ahem!

Of course, Yin Yunze hadn't actually said that.

But Yin Yunze absolutely wouldn't let them spend money on the rundown temple.

When the villagers learned that Yin Yunze had declined on the grounds that he didn't want to add to their burdens, it earned him another wave of goodwill.

Yin Yunze did practical things without stirring up trouble, which already made him an exceptionally good immortal in the villagers' eyes.

Yin Yunze didn't know whether to laugh or cry that even this could improve his reputation.

In truth, Yin Yunze's reason for refusing was simple. He didn't actually live in the Fox Immortal Temple, so he really didn't care what condition it was in.

They were already a bunch of paupers he couldn't squeeze a drop of oil from. How could he let them squander their money?

Besides, if the villagers really repaired the Fox Immortal Temple for Yin Yunze, not only would he gain no practical benefit, he would also owe them a favor!

If they then asked Yin Yunze to extend the water supply, he really wasn't sure whether he would give in.

The thought of increasing his workload for a rundown temple of little use made Yin Yunze feel it would be a terrible loss.

By comparison, keeping things as they were was quite good.

Yin Yunze only needed to set aside one hour every day without fail to meet the villagers' basic needs without tiring himself out too much.

After all, Yin Yunze had carved that hour of water supply out of his daily lunch break.

As a working man, Yin Yunze still had to go to work every day. He could only spare an hour at noon to supply water.

Yin Yunze was also aware of some flaws in human nature.

If Yin Yunze really supplied unlimited water all day and let the villagers grow accustomed to it, then if something prevented him from supplying water one day, it might instead stir up resentment among many of them.

But if he supplied water for only one hour a day, the villagers would only feel panic if the supply stopped one day.

And if Yin Yunze had a day off and could add a few more hours, the villagers would instead be deeply grateful.

Yin Yunze had heard the story about giving a beggar one yuan every day when he was very young, and even now he remembered it vividly.

A sheng of rice earned gratitude; a dou of rice bred resentment. That was human nature.

Yin Yunze wasn't a sage, so naturally he chose the option that was more comfortable for him.

Besides, Yin Yunze had never asked the villagers for money in return for that hour of water, so he felt no guilt about it.

As far as Yin Yunze was concerned, what he had done was more than enough to repay the Incense of Faith provided by the villagers of Clear Creek Village.

After all, without Yin Yunze, life in Clear Creek Village would be even more miserable than it was now.

As an ordinary person, Yin Yunze knew his own limits and wouldn't attempt things beyond his capabilities.

Besides, compared with supplying water, which took effort but brought little reward, Yin Yunze was looking forward to something else happening.

"So why haven't you come to ask me yet?"