Chapter 408: Chapter 408

The two men, seeing how fierce Sun Wukong looked, didn’t dare to disobey and hurriedly handed over the public document they were holding. Sun Wukong took the notice document and read it carefully before laughing and saying, "Other officials all refer to themselves as subordinates, so why does your Marquis alone claim to be a ’Shangguan?’ It’s written right here, ’Marquis Shangguan of Fengxian County.’

The government officer hurriedly replied, "Elder does not know, but ’Shangguan’ is our Marquis’ surname."

"There’s actually a surname ’Shangguan’? That is indeed rare," Sun Wukong said, his old face blushing, making a casual remark.

Zhu Bajie laughed and said, "Brother Monkey clearly hasn’t read enough. There is a line in the ’Hundred Family Surnames,’ Shangguan, Ouyang."

"Go! What would you know, you blockhead?" Sun Wukong glared at Zhu Bajie with irritation.

Xuanzang quickly said, "Disciples, let’s not get caught up in joking for the moment. Who knows how to pray for rain? Let’s ask for some sweet rain to relieve the local people; it would be a good deed."

Upon hearing Xuanzang’s question, Sun Wukong proudly boasted, "What’s so difficult about praying for rain? Turning rivers and overturning seas, moving stars and changing fights, kicking the sky and playing with wells, spewing mist and spraying clouds, carrying mountains and chasing the moon, summoning wind and rain, these were all just child’s play for Old Sun."

Xuanzang was overjoyed to hear this and quickly nodded, "If that’s the case, then please use your Divine Skills to summon sweet rain for the people of Fengxian County!"

"Easy! No problem!" Sun Wukong readily agreed, saying, "It’s a trifle."

The government officer was immensely grateful upon hearing this and quickly invited Xuanzang and the others to the County Government Office, before sending someone ahead to report back to the Marquis.

While they were talking, the Marquis of Fengxian County rushed over upon hearing the news. Seeing Xuanzang and his party, the Marquis knelt down in the street, his face filled with emotion as he said, "This subordinate is the Marquis Shangguan of Fengxian County. I pay my respects to all the honored Elders. I hope the Elders will display their Divine Skills and pray for sweet rain for Fengxian County on our behalf. On behalf of the people of Fengxian County, I thank the Elders. We humbly ask that the Elders show great compassion and save the lives of all the people in our county."

Xuanzang quickly helped the Marquis to his feet, consoling him, "Your Excellency need not be so formal. My disciple has some ability, and this time he will definitely obtain sweet rain for you."

The Marquis, overwhelmed with happiness, wiped away his tears and said, "Thank you so much, sirs, for your great kindness. This is not the place to talk, please allow me to welcome all the Elders to my modest office for a chat."

The Marquis then took Xuanzang and his companions to the Government Office, quickly ordering his servants to serve tea, and prepared some fruits and pastries for Xuanzang and the others to enjoy.

While everyone else was just sipping tea, Zhu Bajie had no reservations at all, swiftly devouring all the fruits and pastries, which left the Marquis in stunned silence, tears almost spilling from his eyes.

After all, Fengxian County had been experiencing a drought for three years, without a single drop of rain, and many people had starved to death, with food supplies extremely scarce. Yet this dolt had just consumed so much, how could the Marquis not feel pain? But considering that if they could pray for rain, even at the expense of some food supplies, it would be worth it.

Seeing this, Xuanzang said somewhat embarrassedly, "Apologies, my disciple has a rather expansive appetite and is always keen on eating, which might have caused you some mirth."

"No matter, no matter! Let’s prepare some more pastries for the Elders to enjoy," the Marquis said through gritted teeth.

Afterward, Xuanzang asked, "May I know how long your place has been experiencing this drought?"

The Marquis quickly replied, "To be honest with you, our Fengxian County hasn’t received a drop of rain in three years. Over the years, not a single plant has grown and the five grains have completely failed. Many people have starved to death. We deeply hope the Elders will show great compassion and save the lives of all the people in our county!" As he spoke, the Marquis was about to kneel down again.

Xuanzang quickly stopped him and turned to Sun Wukong, "Fengxian County hasn’t had rain for three years, and the people are struggling to survive. Wukong, please quickly pray for sweet rain to relieve the local people; it will be considered an act of merit for you."

"Sure, sure! Old Sun will pray for rain right away," Sun Wukong agreed readily and was about to chant the Incantation.

At that moment, Zhu Bajie hurriedly stopped Sun Wukong and said with a smile, "Brother Monkey, how do you plan to pray for rain?"

"What’s so hard about that? Just summon all the Dragon Kings; isn’t the rain just a matter of asking for as much as we want?" Sun Wukong replied offhandedly.

Zhu Bajie shook his head and said, "Brother Monkey, it’s true the Dragon Kings can bring rain, but they are also governed by the celestial Court, and without an Imperial Decree from the Jade Emperor, which Dragon King would dare to bring rain on their own accord?"

"Have you forgotten how the Jing River Dragon King met his end? It was just because he skimped on some ’points’ during the rainfall, violated a heavenly principle, and got executed," Zhu Bajie pointed out.

Sun Wukong nodded and said, "That does make sense. But when we were in the Cart Slow Kingdom, that Demon managed to pray for rain, so why can’t Old Sun?"

Zhu Bajie explained with a smile, "Have you forgotten, Brother Monkey, that the Monster used the Five Thunder Technique and prayed to the Jade Emperor, which alerted the Jade Emperor?"

"The Jade Emperor issued the imperial decree, only then did rain descend; now without the Jade Emperor’s decree, even if you summon all the Dragon Kings, what good would it do?"

When Sun Wukong heard these words, he couldn’t help but furrow his brow, contemplating briefly before responding, "That’s not difficult, since that’s the case, I, Old Sun, will personally make a trip to the Celestial Court and ask the Jade Emperor to send down rain."

"I’m afraid that won’t work!"

In Mount Huaguo, Sun Wukong looked at the person in front of him, Wang Yang, and said somewhat surprised, "Elder Brother, why won’t it work?"

Wang Yang smiled and said, "You can go, but I can assure you, it would be in vain. Have you ever thought about why Fengxian County has had no rain for three years?"

Sun Wukong’s eyes darted around, then he said, "I’m unclear about Elder Brother’s meaning, I hope you can enlighten me."

Wang Yang explained with a smile, "The absence of rain in Fengxian County for three years is the will of the Jade Emperor; he doesn’t allow it to rain here, this is a natural disaster."

"The reason why the Jade Emperor doesn’t grant rain to Fengxian County is that the Marquis has offended the heavens, hence the lack of rain; this is a man-made catastrophe."

"Ah! So it turns out the drought in Fengxian County is all because of this old official causing trouble. He seems honest but turns out he’s not such a good person after all," Sun Wukong said somewhat angrily upon hearing this.

Hearing Wang Yang’s words, Sun Wukong’s clone directly turned to question the Marquis of Fengxian County.

Hearing Sun Wukong’s words, Zhu Bajie and Sand Monk also couldn’t help but look towards the Marquis, curious about what had happened.

The Marquis, upon hearing this, was baffled and hurriedly explained, "I have been wronged! I have always been diligent in my duties, never having committed any offense against the heavens!"

Sun Wukong turned to look at the Marquis, frowning as he asked, "Have you truly not committed any offense against the heavens?"

He did not believe that his brother would speak carelessly.

"Well..." The Marquis faltered, at a loss for how to respond.

"It has come to this point; if you don’t explain yourself properly, we might not be able to pray for rain for you!"

Zhu Bajie snorted, looking at the Marquis of Fengxian County.

"This... On the twenty-fifth day of December three years ago, on that day, I offered prayers on the God Worshiping Day, but because my wife was not virtuous and quarreled with abusive language, in a moment of anger, I overturned the altar for the God Worshiping Day."

After remaining silent for a while, the Marquis of Fengxian County finally spoke.

Zhu Bajie said upon hearing this, "That doesn’t seem like much, it shouldn’t be enough to cause years of drought, right?"

Sun Wukong also frowned and asked, "There must be more to it than just overturning the altar, right?"

The Marquis frowned deeply, thought it over carefully, and then said, "All the offerings were spilled on the ground, dirtied and inedible, so with no choice left, I gave them to the dogs."

Zhu Bajie couldn’t help but laugh upon hearing this, "You fed the offerings meant for the Jade Emperor to the dogs, isn’t that offending the heavenly grace?"

"The Jade Emperor has always been petty; I reckon that day was when the Jade Emperor was inspecting the Three Realms. Originally, seeing that you had prepared a good table of offerings, he intended to stop and enjoy. But unexpectedly, you knocked over the offerings, even fed them to the dogs, the Jade Emperor became enraged, which is why your Fengxian County has been suffering from drought for so long!"

"Ah, what am I to do now!"

The Marquis of Fengxian County became worried and said.

The Marquis added, "I never meant to offend the heavenly grace! It was truly an unintentional mistake, and if the heavens must punish, then punish me alone! Why implicate all the people of the county."