Sure enough, the loud clanging of a gong echoed from the direction of the docks—an alarm must have been raised.
Bracing against a hurricane was difficult enough; add to that the mind-addling Emperor's Flowing Dew, and tonight would not be easy for the Yangshan Archipelago.
Wang Xingyi instructed his attendant to gather the Emperor's Flowing Dew from the roofs in this area, then smiled at Fang Canran. "He Xiao cleared the first few hurdles; he'd better not stumble here."
Dealing with the Bailong and Beijia people was a test of martial and tactical command; welcoming the Emperor's Flowing Dew on Suoding Island, where visitors from all quarters gathered, tested abilities in administration and overall coordination.
With a status like Wang Xingyi's, even when abroad, the Mou Kingdom would reserve ample pills and salves refined from Emperor's Flowing Dew for him. Thus, his current mindset was merely that of an onlooker watching a fire from across the river.
He Lingchuan wreaking havoc in the Heavenly Palace was indeed a brilliant feat, and Fang Canran had praised him generously, ranking him far above the many young talents of Lingshan.
Yet Wang Xingyi would not judge someone solely on a single past achievement.
Success achieved once could very well be a stroke of sheer luck. Furthermore, an experienced ruler like him understood perfectly well that destroying was far easier than building, and staging an uprising in secret was always simpler than fighting openly in broad daylight.
Today's disasters, both natural and man-made, were unfolding on He Lingchuan's own turf. It was an excellent opportunity to observe him, and Wang Xingyi was naturally going to evaluate He Lingchuan thoroughly.
Then, he saw the servants of Bailang Villa rushing out holding jars and bottles, setting them down across virtually every corner of the courtyard.
Oh? So fast. Did they really just decide to do this on the fly?
Could an impromptu decision produce hundreds of crocks and vessels all at once?
"Martial Uncle, I'm going out for a walk."
Fang Canran took his leave and went over to stop a kitchen maid. "Auntie, were these prepared in advance?"
"Ah, yes." The cook was eager to grab more jars and had little mind to answer him, yet she maintained basic courtesies toward a guest. "The higher-ups notified us days ago!"
Her speech was a bit muffled, so Fang Canran asked, "What do you have in your mouth?"
"A Heart-Clearing Pill!" The woman opened her mouth, and Fang Canran saw an emerald-green pill tucked beneath her tongue. "The higher-ups handed these out too. They said holding it under the tongue right now keeps you from getting frantic."
With that, she bustled off to attend to her tasks.
Heart-Clearing Pills were medicines designed to calm the mind and settle the vital energy. While they could not completely suppress a creature's thirst for Emperor's Flowing Dew, they allowed one to retain a sliver of lucidity, reducing the chances of doing something foolish.
Fang Canran looked up at the sky and smiled.
So He Xiao had foreseen the arrival of the Emperor's Flowing Dew in advance.
As he walked down the mountain path, he noticed several massive boulders lying by the roadside. One looked as though it had been hewn with knives and axes, bearing a trace of red paint that seemed accidentally brushed on.
Yet it also resembled a marker.
What was this?
He casually reached out and touched the stone, immediately sensing something off.
This seemed to be a magic artifact. Though exceedingly crude, it had indeed been refined.
Only someone like him, who had dealt in magic artifacts for years, could detect this subtle anomaly in the boulder.
He circled to the back of the stone. Near the base, there appeared to be an imprint, though unpainted. He crouched to examine it closely and discovered to his surprise that the carvings were actually a formation array.
"A barrier?"
Curiosity piqued, Fang Canran stowed the boulder into his storage ring.
The next instant, howling gales battered his face—fierce enough to sweep a two- or three-hundred-jin fat man into the air!
The wind was so intense Fang Canran could hardly keep his eyes open. He hastily took the boulder out and restored it to its original spot.
The force of the wind instantly dropped back to a gentle breeze that wouldn't even startle one's face.
Hm, a windbreak barrier.
He smoothed his hair. Maintaining such a barrier came at no small expense. He Xiao had truly expended tremendous thought and effort on this territory of his.
"The Emperor's Flowing Dew has arrived!"
When the spiritual rain abruptly fell, what it brought to the Yangshan Archipelago was not sweet nectar, but chaos.
Those carrying supplies, walking along the roads, or staying inside their rooms all subconsciously rushed out to gaze skyward. The cleverer ones immediately bolted back into their quarters to rummage for vessels.
How much could one catch with an open mouth? One needed containers for this!
What had been an orderly scene suddenly devolved into total pandemonium.
Having experienced the Emperor's Flowing Dew several times, He Lingchuan knew full well what would follow. He immediately ordered the subordinates behind him: "The Emperor's Flowing Dew has arrived early. Initiate the plan!"
This was why he had pushed so hard to force the Moqi uncle and nephew and Yu Zecheng to make their move ahead of schedule.
If the rebellion and the Emperor's Flowing Dew had hit simultaneously, he truly would have been overwhelmed.
Being able to handle matters one by one now was already a stroke of immense good fortune.
He glanced toward Bailang Villa, knowing Wang Xingyi was watching closely from the shadows.
Wang's assessment of He Lingchuan could very well influence Lingshan's attitude toward him—and that was a crucial piece in He Lingchuan's long-term plans.
Up to now, his performance had been stellar; he couldn't afford to slip up here.
"Tonight's actions must be decisive! Pass the word to the Yangshan Guard: anyone who renders outstanding service tonight will be promoted by one rank!"
The senior officers dispersed in different directions, swiftly carrying out their orders.
Heavy copper gongs were struck across the docks and guest quarters, and the Yangshan personnel shouted repeatedly: "All guests, retreat indoors! Fetch the clay jars behind your doors, and stand inside the white lines before your entrances to collect the Emperor's Flowing Dew! Anyone stepping outside will be confined for the night!"
One person was stationed in each area, beating a gong to ensure every corner of the supply post could hear.
The moment everyone heard "clay jars," their minds cleared by thirty percent. They dashed back to look behind their doors, and sure enough, jars were set there.
Some had noticed these jars earlier and wondered about their purpose; now they finally understood.
The Yangshan Archipelago had placed them there for them to collect the Emperor's Flowing Dew!
A handspan-wide white line was painted along the ground seven chi from each doorway. Not only did the torrential rain fail to wash it away, but under the illumination of the fluorescent spores, it even gave off a distinct fluorescent sheen, making it strikingly visible.
Without needing another word, the guests hauled out every pot and jar from their rooms and set them in the open space before their doors, putting all their effort into collecting the Emperor's Flowing Dew. Some even climbed onto the roofs, fashioning runoff troughs from clothing or wooden boards.
As long as they remained within the white lines, even if they tore the roofs down, the Yangshan Guard wouldn't interfere.
A heavenly shower of sweet nectar—every drop was a blessing.
From He Lingchuan's experience, the rainfall of this descent was merely moderate. Furthermore, mixed into the torrential downpour brought by the hurricane, the difficulty of gathering it for ordinary people was heightened by an entire degree.
Yet the allure of Emperor's Flowing Dew to living beings was like a slab of braised pork shoulder to someone starving for five days and five nights. Would their mouths merely water and their eyes glow green? It provoked an urge to pounce forward without a second thought.
Two travelers saw that water dripped faster from their neighbor's eaves and immediately rushed over with jars to seize it. How could the neighbor yield? From hurling curses to trading punches and kicks took less than ten breaths—it happened in a flash.
Wang Fubao happened to be nearby. He charged over and shoved both sides apart with extreme roughness.
Then, he bellowed at the guests who had crossed the line: "Get back inside your rooms!"
Both guests had their faces bruised and swollen from the brawl; blood rushing to their heads, how could they listen?
They surged forward to resume fighting, only to be forcefully blocked by Wang Fubao again.
Blinded by greed and eyes bloodshot, with no regard for right or wrong, the two swung their fists at Wang Fubao. In response, he grabbed them both by the back of the collar, threw them bodily back into their room one in each hand, and slammed the door shut, locking it from the outside.
Chapter 1010