The fourth month of the lunar calendar, equivalent to May in the Gregorian calendar, is early summer in the south. The midday sun was scorching, making all the men in the village dizzy and dazed. But Jason Brooks said that only by doing this could they show their sincerity in praying for water. And this Jason Brooks was considered rather merciful—rumor had it that in some places, to pray for water, people would even hook the deity’s statue onto their bodies with iron hooks, bloody and gruesome, hoping to move the heavens.

　　After all the villagers had knelt properly, Jason Brooks, dressed in a Daoist robe, walked up to a small slope in front and began to recite a long sacrificial text. He chanted for a full half an hour before finally starting to direct the crowd to kowtow:

　　“First bow! Merciful Dragon God, grant us clear water, save all our people…”

　　“Second bow…”

　　“……”

　　“Flash flood is coming, evacuate quickly!” A shout interrupted the shaman’s droning, causing everyone to turn their heads and look. In one corner of the crowd, a young man dressed as a scholar was struggling desperately with his eyes closed, mumbling something incoherently. Beside him, a farmer about his age was holding him tightly, covering his mouth with his hand to keep him from shouting.

　　“Brother Brian, Brother Brian, wake up!” the young farmer whispered urgently to the scholar.

　　“Flash flood…” The young man named Brian Cooper suddenly opened his eyes. Before him was a dazzling sunlight, and several hundred villagers and yamen runners staring at him. He instinctively shut his mouth, his eyes flickering with fear and astonishment.

　　“Who is disturbing the ritual!” William Carter strode over with a dark face, shouting angrily at the two.

　　The young farmer was named Henry Cooper, a neighbor of Brian Cooper’s family. Just now, he and Brian Cooper had been kneeling together, praying devoutly, when suddenly Brian Cooper started shouting frantically, scaring him into quickly covering Brian Cooper’s mouth, but it was already too late. Seeing the official come over to scold them, Henry Cooper hurriedly knelt and pleaded:

　　“Officer, Brother Brian may have suffered from sunstroke and started hallucinating, which is why he shouted and startled you, sir. Please forgive him.”

　　The villagers nearby, seeing that it was Brian Cooper who had shouted, all pursed their lips, looking a bit disdainful, but also as if they had expected it. The village head, Mark Cooper, came over, bowed to William Carter, and explained, “Master Zheng, this Brian Cooper is a scholar, physically weak, and after being in the sun for so long, he may have had a fit. Please forgive him, sir.”

　　“Oh, so that’s what happened.” William Carter saw that Brian Cooper was dressed as a scholar and knew he couldn’t do anything to him. Scholars had official status, and he, a mere petty official, couldn’t punish them. He was about to say a few perfunctory words when suddenly a young girl came running over. She ran straight to Brian Cooper, anxiously touching his head and asking, “Brother Brian, what’s wrong? Are you alright?”

　　“Who are you?” William Carter asked angrily.

　　Jason Brooks had already told him that praying to the gods was a sacred matter, and women were absolutely forbidden to participate. That was why all the men in the village were here for the ritual, while the women had been driven a hundred paces away and could only watch from afar. Now this girl had actually run over—wasn’t this offending the Dragon God?

　　“She… she is Brian Cooper’s younger sister, named Grace Parker,” Mark Cooper explained, then shouted at Grace Parker, “Grace, leave at once! Is this a place for women?”

　　“Uncle Zhong, look, my brother has heatstroke,” Grace Parker said to Mark Cooper. As the village head, he was a figure of authority, and since Brian Cooper’s family was a disadvantaged one in the village, Grace Parker was rather afraid of him—let alone the presence of an official.

　　“It’s over, all efforts wasted.” At some point, Jason Brooks had also walked over. Seeing Grace Parker, a hint of schadenfreude appeared on his face. He cupped his hands to William Carter and said, “Master Zheng, I just saw the Dragon King manifest, but he was scared away by this woman barging in. As for this well, I fear there’s little hope.”

　　In Jason Brooks’s heart, he was actually deeply grateful to Grace Parker. He knew full well he was just putting on a show—after drilling so many dry wells, he had no confidence that the next one would yield water. If, after all this ritual, there was still no water, he’d have no way to keep up the act, and if the county magistrate got angry, who knew what crime he might be charged with.

　　Now, with Grace Parker interrupting the ritual, Jason Brooks could shift all the blame onto her and wash his hands of the matter.

　　“Sir, are you saying this well is ruined again?” William Carter asked Jason Brooks nervously.

　　Jason Brooks pretended to calculate on his fingers for a long time, then sighed, “It’s not just this well. Within a ten-li radius, don’t even think about finding water. The Dragon King is most averse to mortal women; women are the most unclean beings…”

　　“You wretch, you’ve ruined everything!” William Carter was furious, and raised his right leg to kick at Grace Parker.

　　At that moment, Grace Parker was focused on her brother Brian Cooper and didn’t notice William Carter’s movement. But the dazed Brian Cooper, seeing this, reacted in a flash—without thinking, he kicked out, landing squarely on the ankle of the foot William Carter had just kicked out.