Capítulo 604: Chapter 604: Solving the Water Source Problem
"Goodbye!!!"
The Pope waved, his usual reserved demeanor melting away as he bid farewell to Lin Fan. Though reluctant to see him go, he knew Lin Fan was a busy man. He watched until Lin Fan's figure disappeared.
Then, the Pope resumed his usual imposing presence. As the head of the Church of Light, his status and power surpassed even that of the empire's monarch. His indifferent face radiated an air of dominance.
Lin Fan led his horse-drawn carriage at a leisurely pace along a scenic path. The picturesque landscape was truly captivating. Yanhai City rarely offered such breathtaking views. The sky wasn't as blue, the rivers weren't as clear, and the air wasn't as fresh.
Humming a tune, he hadn't anticipated any danger lurking nearby.
Now, however, the Church of Light was quite a distance from Bubble Village. Leading the carriage, he wondered how long it would take to return. He rarely had the opportunity to enjoy such tranquility, having always prioritized Cara's needs.
Day and night alternated.
Many days passed.
The surrounding environment underwent a dramatic transformation. The lush greenery vanished, replaced by scorching temperatures that cracked the earth.
Lin Fan raised his hand, tearing a rift in the void, intending to depart directly. It would be better to appreciate the scenery when he encountered a more pleasant environment.
Shortly after, he noticed something below. Looking closely, he saw a child lying on the ground.
Emerging from the void, he landed on the parched earth.
"Little one, what's wrong?" Lin Fan approached the child, who had fainted. The intense heat had made the child's body dangerously hot, a clear sign of dehydration.
"Water element, come."
Lin Fan conjured a small water sphere at his fingertips, then gently opened the child's mouth. The sphere transformed into a thin stream, flowing slowly inside.
"Heal!"
A white light enveloped the child.
Moments later, the child awoke. The cracked lips, now moistened by the water, regained some of their color.
"Thank you. Did you save me?"
Lin Fan smiled. "Yes, I was passing by and saw you lying here. How did you get here alone? Where are your family?"
"I came to find water," the child replied.
Lin Fan hadn't expected to encounter a place suffering from water scarcity. Bubble Village, where he lived, lacked nothing. It was truly a blessed place.
Just then, several figures approached in the distance. They were from the same village as the child, including his parents. Worried about their missing child, they had come searching, fearing the worst.
Back in the village, because he had saved the boy, his parents treated Lin Fan as a benefactor and welcomed him into their home.
"Please, have some water."
The boy's parents offered him a cup.
Lin Fan looked at the water, which was murky and seemed to contain traces of mud. In his eyes, such water was unclean, and drinking it could cause problems.
The boy's parents noticed his hesitation and appeared embarrassed, lowering their heads without a word. This was some of their remaining precious water.
Lin Fan smiled and raised the cup, drinking it all in one go. "Ah, that's good. I was parched. I feel much better now."
He had immediately sensed their embarrassment. Upon entering the village, he had observed the withered crops in the surrounding fields, a clear indication that this was the only water they could offer.
To avoid making them feel ashamed, he had to drink the water.
"Since there's no water here, why don't you move? There are many good places out there," Lin Fan suggested. He had seen many beautiful places with abundant water resources during his journey. Life in such places would be much better.
The boy's parents replied, "It wasn't always like this. A few months ago, the lake that supplied our village inexplicably dried up. We've lived here for generations. Leaving is difficult for everyone. We're hoping the lake will fill with clear water again. We're all waiting for that."
Faced with such a situation, Lin Fan couldn't stand idly by.
"Don't worry, I'll go and see what's happening," he said, rising to his feet.
"Huh?" The boy's parents were surprised, seemingly disbelieving.
Lin Fan smiled. "Don't worry, the lake will have water again."
He left the house, waving goodbye to the boy's parents. He followed the dry lake bed, reasoning that if he could find the source, he could understand the problem.
The villagers gathered around. Weakened by the lack of water, they were curious about the stranger's presence. Upon inquiring, they learned that he intended to help them solve their water problem.
"Can he really help us?"
"Sigh! Don't get your hopes up. The water problem can't be solved. We can only pray for rain."
"Yes…"
The boy Lin Fan had rescued looked at his receding figure and shouted, "Uncle, I believe in you!"
The boy's eyes shone with hope. Although he didn't know who this uncle was, he felt a sense of trust in him.
The lakebed stretched on. The source remained elusive.
Lin Fan quickened his pace, transforming into a streak of light as he pursued the lake's origin.
Soon, he stopped.
He finally understood why the water had ceased to flow. Not far away, a volcano had erupted, and its scorching lava had flowed, cutting off the water source.
"So that's the reason."
He pondered for a moment, a spark of inspiration igniting in his mind. He finally had a solution.
Just as he was about to act, a cry echoed through the air. A phoenix, wreathed in flames, flew from afar and landed on the volcano as if it were its home.
Lin Fan, ready to implement his plan, decided to speak with the fiery bird.
"Hello there!" Lin Fan called out.
The Undying Phoenix, accustomed to ignoring insignificant humans, was startled by the voice. It fixed its gaze on Lin Fan and flew towards him, wings beating powerfully.
"Human, are you addressing me?"
The Undying Phoenix examined Lin Fan with curiosity, wondering who he was and how he dared to appear before it. Was he unaware that this was the Undying Phoenix's territory?
"Yes, I have a question for you. Do you always live here?" Lin Fan asked.
The Undying Phoenix lifted its proud head. "Human, leave my domain."
Lin Fan said, "The water source here has been blocked by you. Many people depend on it for survival. I can sense that this isn't your home. The scent you've left here isn't strong."
Intrigued by Lin Fan's words, the Undying Phoenix paused. This human actually knew that this wasn't its home. Indeed, this was merely a place where it occasionally came to bathe. Any volcano, upon its arrival, would be fully activated, allowing it to luxuriate in the molten lava.
The Undying Phoenix said coldly, "Small and insignificant human, you dare to obstruct the great Undying Phoenix? The water source has been blocked by scorching lava. What can you possibly do?"
Lin Fan observed the creature, sensing its reluctance. He shook his head, choosing not to interfere further. Instead, he focused on the elements floating in the air. Without any incantations, he manipulated the water element, employing a branch of water magic – ice magic.
"Freeze!"
As soon as he spoke, an icy, extreme magical power erupted. The Undying Phoenix, moments ago so arrogant, was terrified by this formidable power. It flapped its wings and soared into the sky, stunned. The magic was truly terrifying, and the extreme cold could undoubtedly extinguish its eternal Nirvana flames.
The scorching lava froze, the ice spreading rapidly. Soon, the entire volcano was encased in ice, transformed into a glistening sculpture.
Lin Fan walked to the water source and stomped his foot. With a crack, the ground split open, and water surged forth, flowing along the riverbed.
He glanced at the dumbfounded Undying Phoenix, muttering, "Judging by your appearance, you're probably as unappetizing as that other fellow."
Then, he vanished.
The Undying Phoenix, having been subjected to Lin Fan's dismissive glance, shuddered as if a terrifying gaze had pierced its very soul. Trembling with fear, it knew this was no joke. If this human had wanted to kill it, it would have been dead. Absolutely. Certainly.
It stared at the frozen volcano, then, with a thought, flapped its wings. A massive magic circle appeared, and a torrent of all-consuming flames hurtled towards the ice-covered volcano.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion reverberated through the air.
The frozen volcano remained unchanged, not even a crack appeared.
The Undying Phoenix was utterly shocked by this sight.
"How is this possible…"
It couldn't believe its eyes. It was truly terrifying. If it hadn't seen it with its own eyes, it wouldn't have believed it.
"Damn it! Just came for a bath and encountered this strange human. I'm leaving, I'm leaving." The Undying Phoenix, recalling Lin Fan's final mutterings about something being appetizing or not, felt a chill run down its spine. It had a very bad feeling.
If the magical beasts consumed by the Bubble Village villagers knew that the Undying Phoenix had escaped such a fate, they would surely curse in outrage. Why was it spared while they were eaten?
And… which unfortunate creature was the first to be consumed and deemed unappetizing, inadvertently saving the Undying Phoenix from being eaten? It truly wasn't fair.
A long time later, the surging water reached the parched village.
The villagers cheered. The water had returned!
The boy jumped with joy. The uncle had truly succeeded!
The villagers longed to greet their benefactor and express their gratitude, but they waited and waited, yet he never reappeared.
One month later.
Bubble Village.
"He's back! Lin Fan is back!" A villager spotted Lin Fan and rushed to tell the others. The villagers poured out, eager to hear the news. Cara was the only girl from their village who had ventured out into the wider world.
Seeing Lin Fan return alone, they were filled with anticipation but waited for him to speak.
Lin Fan announced, "Cara has been accepted. She'll be studying there from now on."
The villagers rejoiced.
"Wonderful!"
"I knew Cara was a bright child. She really got accepted!"
"Lin Fan's good days are coming. With an education, she'll be a big shot out there, unlike us who still have to farm the land."
"Why are you being so sour?"
"I'm not sour, I'm happy!"
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