Chapter 216: The Sword Formation
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Hua Xiaoyao was very intelligent, he folded his hands and saluted, “You can count on us to look for the living dead.”
Cone Nail nodded lightly towards him and smiled in a courteous manner, “Thank you, please inform us when you have found the Tibetans.”
The giant pangolin hastily shook its huge head, “There is no need for the fairy maiden to handle the living dead. Po Tu is here to a.s.sume personal command, I will never return as long as I am not done killing the evil Tibetans!” The living dead were skilled in the magic spell of ‘Great Xia’s Nine Tripod Cauldrons’, it was rather troublesome to deal with once the magic spell was launched but any living dead that was more troubling would still be cuter than Cone Nail by a million times in Po Tu’s heart.
As Rangjung, who usually stood firm for the cause of justice, had a clearer understanding of the situation, he puffed up his chest and spoke in a low m.u.f.fled voice, “The living dead defiled the King, the lama would never forgive them easily!”
Cone Nail laughed as she nodded. She did not speak anymore but dragged Wen Leyang and walked away, “I am searching for the bug, you… shall accompany me for a walk!”
Wen Leyang was slightly suspicious that Cone Nail could be suffering from a psychotic break. At first, she found out about the enigma of her life. Then, she received the sad news of the death of that three sword immortals, who she regarded as her family. Yet, to Wen Leyang’s surprise, she could still laugh at this point.
Cone Nail could see through Wen Leyang’s thoughts, a sense of hesitation could be seen on the pucker of her lips, “The situation is very complicated… have you ever thought that perhaps the three sword immortals are my enemies! Hehe, my only family is the enemy’s disciples…” As she was saying that, she did not launch the escape magic spell but pull Wen Leyang’s hand. She spread her legs and dashed wildly into the boundless snow peak!
Cone Nail had since found out the location of the bugs from the Hua family disciples that returned to their home to deliver a message, there was no need for Wen Leyang to show the way. They dashed wildly all the way, Wen Leyang was still running a little in the beginning but later on he was just dragged by Cone Nail as he hurtled with his feet on the ground…
The das.h.i.+ng to her heart’s content and the strong and vigorous wind seemed to become the potion that healed her injuries. Cone Nail ran for a while before her mood turned better, she lowered her head and spoke to Wen Leyang, “The three of them are dead, even if I were to return to the Black and White Island willingly, the great demon-executing formation would never be reformed anymore!”
Wen Leyang was hurtling, yet his body could not help but tremble at the sound of her words. He looked up to Cone Nail from a ghastly angle, “What do you mean?”
“Even if I were to return to my formation’s position, someone would still need to chant the formation-conjuration spell before the great formation could be reformed to receive the essence of the universe. However, now that the three of them are dead, no one knows about the formation-conjuration spell anymore. If you want to protect that Grand Master Chang Li of yours, you ought to figure out another way as soon as possible!”
Wen Leyang did not try to conceal his intention anymore. He knew that he could not hide his thoughts from Cone Nail so he asked unwillingly, “How about Liu Zheng? Does he know the formation-conjuration spell?”
Cone Nail shook her head, “Liu Zheng is only considered Tian Shu’s t.i.tular disciple, he is not even considered the Black and White Island’s sect disciple. Whether it is his ident.i.ty or the cultivation method he refined in, there is no way he can launch the formation-conjuration spell! At this point, Cone Nail paused for a moment, she became all smiles again, “If I could remember everything from the past, perhaps I can find some clues… it is best for you to hope that the b*stard who condensed and refined the heaven’s cone nails is not some ancient great G.o.d and he has yet to ascend to become an immortal. However…”
Wen Leyang laughed in a manner that was uglier than crying. Cone Nail’s memory would need to be restored, then he would need to seek the whereabouts of the person who condensed the Heaven’s cone nails and hopes that this person was still a mortal… not that it was not possible but the process was truly too complicated. Wen Leyang heaved a sigh in his heart and responded, “However?”
Cone Nail smiled in a slightly cunning manner, her smile was reflected into Wen Leyang’s eyes, such that he was feeling rather joyous as well, “However, in case we managed to find this person, I am going to seek revenge from him. What are you going to do?”
Wen Leyang pondered for a long while, he suddenly laughed, “I will ask him if there are any other ways that we can suppress Xiang Liu once again without the use of the Heaven’s cone nails!”
Cone Nail gave out a surprised ‘huh’, “Of course there wasn’t. If there was a way, why did he bother to condense the Heaven’s cone nails in the beginning… even if it was possible that he knew of other ways, if the way existed then what are you going to do then?”
Wen Leyang laughed in an incomparably prideful manner, “Then we will request for him to suppress Xiang Liu first and then I will seek revenge from him on behalf of you!”
Cone Nail laughed, “Then, what if there is not one?”
Wen Leyang spoke with all apparent seriousness, even though he knew that he was purely indulging in a wild fantasy as well, “Then we will force him to pa.s.s down the formation-conjuration spell and then I will seek revenge on behalf of you! I will detain you so you will return to the Black and White Island for the great formation!”
Cone Nail seemed to find this topic rather interesting, “Then what if he can be found but the time is pressing and he does not manage to pa.s.s down the formation-conjuration spell? This great formation’s formation-conjuration spell is an exceedingly complicated art. Even though Tian Shu and Tian Yin were the disciples of the orthodox sect, they had to cultivate for a few thousand years before they could launch the spell with great difficulties. Even so, the chance of success was perhaps eight out of ten…”
Wen Leyang heaved a sigh, “Then, there is no other way but to make him return you to the great formation first, and then…if worst comes to the worst I will help you to seek revenge from him!
Cone Nail raised her arm and lifted Wen Leyang in front of him. She stared at him with interest, “That person is albeit my mortal enemy, he is a living immortal who brings benefit to the world. Are you sure that you want to deal with him?”
Wen Leyang’s current posture would even startle himself, “You are closer to me than that person… but Chang Li is closer to me than you. Do you understand?”
Cone Nail suddenly gave out a series of clear and melodious laughter but she did not speak.
Wen Leyang was hurtling up and down. He put on a long face as he discussed with her, “Can you please slow down, I can let go of you and run. I am not that slow, I will not be delaying…”
Cone Nail slowed down her steps as expected. She placed Wen Leyang on the ground and pulled him as she ran along his side.
Wen Leyang was more relaxed, he was also more confident. He ran as he looked for a topic with Cone Nail, “Why is it called ‘follow the bugs and you will find the heavenly water spirit’? Those bugs were freed for quite a while but the bugs did not even look for the heavenly water spirit, they were only flying around everywhere on the snow peak.
Cone Nail always had a cruel heart under the cover of her sugar-coated words towards the others, she could be joking while she suddenly attacked someone, yet she was only rather patient when she was with Wen Leyang, “The bugs refuse to locate the heavenly water spirit because its force of water element is not enough!” She was aware that Wen Leyang did not know anything, so she continued to explain, “The force of water, in simpler words, is the rainstorm, the deluge and even the avalanche and tsunami. It is the natural force of water in between the heaven and the earth! The bugs are not attending performing its proper duty now, but once the rainstorm and snowstorm befall, the bugs will be on their way to look for the heavenly water spirit.”
Upon saying that, she paused for a moment before she shook her head and laughed, “Do not ask me why. I just remember these things but I cannot remember the principle!”
Wen Leyang was not interested in the principles and reasons, he was more concerned about the practice, “So, what are you going to do after you find the bugs? Are you going to wait for the rain in the mountain? According to the lama Rangjung, the highland is already in the rainy season by now, it is possible for rain or snow to happen soon.”
Cone Nail pursed her lips, “I am too lazy to wait, I will release the bugs in a while. It is not that difficult to cast a spell that causes rainfall!”
Wen Leyang was chatting and laughing with Cone Nail when he suddenly realized that he had already felt more relaxed now. The three enlightened immortals of the Tian generation name had deceased. Since there was already no way the great demon-executing formation could be reformed, the conflict of interest between Tuo Xie’s disciples and Cone Nail was lost…
The two persons walked at an extremely fast pace, they were das.h.i.+ng on the snow peak so swiftly such that there was no way one could see their shadows. The both of them chatted and laughed and finally rushed to the location where the Hua family youths sealed the ‘firecrackers’. The sound of a clear sword hummed all of a sudden, echoing sharply from the sky. The sharp sword’s blades were aiming right at them from afar.
Wen Leyang gave out a ‘hey’, he bawled loudly at Liu Zheng to retract his sword formation.
Liu Zheng’s laughter echoed from the ice fissure, he seemed to have opened his mouth in preparation to speak but before the words left his mouth. His voice turned into a perplexed scream!
The sky before Wen Leyang’s eyes suddenly darkened. In the blink of an eye, thousands of streaks of cold radiance erupted in a loud bang.
Within the heaven-shocking hum that was accompanied by the force of violence capable of causing the apocalypse, the Kunlun sword formation that was nourished by the enlightened person Tian Hua with his remnant life vitality mercilessly poured onto Wen Leyang and Cone Nail! Wen Leyang did not even have the time to close his eyes. He watched helplessly as the great formation of the thousands of swords, which was as fast as lightning and was rolling like a dragon, was about to crash into his body.
It was difficult for the enlightened person Tian Shu, in his prime, to even resist the Kunlun sword formation. With Wen Leyang’s cultivation base, being caught off guard and utterly unprepared to deal with the situation… suddenly a stretch of crystal clear color of white filled his pupils in a domineering manner.
Cone Nail waved her hands continuously. The sound of the wind that had recently been churned by the sword radiance into pieces started roaring wildly on the snow peak once. The divine swords that were surging at the front were extinguished by the rolling frost, which also s.h.i.+elded Wen Leyang from being drowned.
When seen from afar, the thousands of swords on the snow peak charged and shot and gradually condensed into over a hundred steel dragons.
Layers of snow and ice pieces kicked up boundless dust within Cone Nail’s dancing sleeves. It was thick and heavy yet sharp!
Two gushes of bold and vigorous force entangled one another in surges, the forces fought in rage endlessly! Cone Nail temporarily s.h.i.+elded Wen Leyang against the Kunlun sword formation. Her usually crystal clear face was misted with a layer of blush soundlessly but in between her breaths, a streak of terrifying blood crept out from the corner of her mouth. Compared to the agitated sword formation and snowstorm, the blood dropped in a gentle yet weak manner.
Cone Nail’s severe injuries from earlier had yet to fully recover and she was launching magic spells continuously on the snow peak. Following that, her emotions fluctuated on a few occasion. Hence, when she was bracing against the Kunlun sword formation, her state of injury had deteriorated! Wen Leyang rescued Cone Nail’s life in great urgency. He could no longer care about being scared. He broke out in curses towards Liu Zheng and was about to urge the Faulty Punch and the Metal Poison Stream to help Cone Nail to break out of the encirclement when his body suddenly stiffened. He was frozen into the ice spike by Cone Nail again.
The Kunlun divine swords, which were surging and rolling, did not acknowledge Wen Leyang at all. The swords howled as they swept past the ice spikes, they had only one aim – Cone Nail, who was waving around her long sleeves akin to dancing!
Liu Zheng led the seventy-two esteemed sword seniors behind him as they dashed up to the snow peak. They turned pale in fear upon witnessing the scene before their eyes and started pinching their fingers into the sword-control gesture one after another in an attempt to summon the sword formation that had suddenly lost control. However, their effort did not cause any effect at all.
Old Gu, Fei Fei and Xiao Sha each hid behind the back of an esteemed sword senior. Something so serious was happening on the snow peak, they had to appear regardless of whether their presence was helping the situation or not.
Liu Zheng attempted for a few times but his effort was futile. He was jumping and cursing in exasperation, he immediately clenched his teeth and summoned his own flying sword and was about to dash forward to help Cone Nail in s.h.i.+elding against the sword formation. The seventy-two esteemed sword seniors were so furious that their eyes were almost widened to the point of cracking. They imitated their supreme leader and urged their personal treasured weapons as they dashed forward.
Wen Leyang could see the situation outside as clear as day. It was only then he realized that the Kunlun sword formation that was raiding Cone Nail was not launched by the Kunlun disciples. Even Liu Zheng did not understand how did the sword formation suddenly lose control.
The three enlightened persons of the Black and White Island were already dead, whether it was Cone Nail’s status or her relations.h.i.+p, she was a senior in Liu Zheng’s heart. How could he stay calm and watched helplessly as the corner of Cone Nail’s mouth and her clothes were tainted with bloodstains. However, the moment every single Kunlun disciple had only pounce forward, crystal clear and glistening glare circulated underneath their feet abruptly, Liu Zheng was leading his seventy-two esteemed sword seniors, he was also bringing along Old Gu and the siblings. Similar to Wen Leyang, Cone Nail froze them into ice spikes.
The gaze that Cone Nail used to look at Liu Zheng and the rest was accompanied by a sense of unexplainable smile, “Why is there a necessity to sacrifice your petty little lives!” She resisted the sword formation’s raid. While she turned around and looked towards Wen Leyang, she was still smiling gently as before, “Such is Tian Hua!”
When Cone Nail was speaking, the fresh blood that was seeping out of the corner of her mouth became even thicker, every word she spoke was tainted with the color of blood that penetrated through the rigid glacier and echoed clearly into Wen Leyang’s ears.
Wen Leyang could not speak nor move, he was feeling very oppressed in his heart. The poisonous bones in his entire body erupted in a series of m.u.f.fled popping sounds, the Poison of Life and Death flowed then surged out of the gaps in between the bones of his limbs, gradually converged into a poison tide and started surging wildly within his body, trying to struggle free from the ice spike’s shackles strenuously.
Cone Nail did not realize that Wen Leyang was trying to break through the ice spike strenuously, she continued to laugh, “Tian Hua used his remnant spirit to nourish the swords, before he died, he still did not forget about trying to detain me back to the Black and White Island. The sword formation absorbed his primordial spirit and inherited his death wish as well, that was why the sword formation did not follow Liu Zheng’s control upon seeing me. It did not care about anything else but attacked me.”
Cone Nail’s movements were already much slower than before. Her actual power was slightly inferior to Chang Li, but she was firmly positioned above the three sword immortals of the Tian generation. When she was in her prime, it was not difficult for her to brace or dodge the sword formation but with her old injuries flaring up, she was trapped both from the inside and the outside. In a short while, she had already turned from an unparalleled master cultivator that was calm and unhurried into a weak and fragile young woman!
Wen Leyang howled in rage from the bottom of his heart. He felt as if the strength in his entire body was about to explode. The ice spike that was frozen around him started to loosen gradually. A layer of fine fissures that could not be seen with the naked eyes was akin to being alive and started spreading in all directions rapidly.
“Are you trying to ask me that since there is already no one in the Black and White Island who is capable of launching the formation-conjuration spell and that since the great demon-executing formation cannot be reformed anymore, why is that fool Tian Hua still constantly thinking about detaining me back to the Black and White Island before he died?” Cone Nail was calling Tian Hua a fool in her mouth but her tone of speaking was filled with heart-wrenching pain, the kind of heartache that made everyone heartache!
Wen Leyang’s body struggled gently. As long as he could move a little, he could immediately launch the Faulty Punch, which was rippling with the raging Poison of Life and Death, and break through the ice spike that was binding himself!
Cone Nail’s gaze appeared a little distracted. She had not realized that Wen Leyang was about to break out from the ice but continued to speak to herself, “Actually it is not that difficult to guess the answer, it is because Tian Shu lied to Tian Hua! Tian Hua did not even know that at his death, Tian Shu was as severely injured as he was, they were both unsalvageable!” When she was p.r.o.nouncing the last word, Cone Nail abruptly gave out a crisp laughter akin to the explosion of the silver vase!
The laughter was only heard once. A mouthful of fresh blood so crimson it could paint the entire heaven and earth red spurted out of her mouth. The divine swords that were covering the sky hummed in unison, the sharp sword radiance finally grinded the whirling snow into powder!
The wind and snow stopped momentarily. The thousand of swords halted their movements. At that moment, the time on the snow peak was akin to being dragged forcefully by the laughter and fresh blood!
‘Crack’, the magic ice spike that was frozen around Wen Leyang was finally broken by the Faulty Punch. At the sound of a loud bang, it was shattered into countless of ice shards, Wen Leyang exerted a long howl that was filled with rage and unwillingness from the depth of his body. At the same time, the thousand of swords broke out again and caught up to Wen Leyang in less than a moment. The Faulty Punch was capable of breaking a magic spell but it was incapable of breaking Tian Hua’s gallant soul that was still attached to the swords! This poisonous bones and poisonous meridians were as tough as steel but he could not brace the impact of hundreds of sword dragon’s surging and roaring!
It was as if every single sword was rippling with the tremendous force of ten thousand horses stampeding. As Wen Leyang was holding Cone Nail in his cradle, he could not move freely, he could only use his Faulty Punch to dissolve the batch of Kunlun divine swords that was blazing at the front and the bones in his limbs were already sore and weak. The Poison of Life and Death that had just converged into a mighty torrent was already crushed by the continuous impact. Wen Leyang could only feel his throat warming, the vision before his eyes was filled with golden sparks. A gush of countercurrent surged out from his chest uncontrollably. He bawled and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood as well!
Wen Leyang spat out a mouthful of blood, it was only then he realized that Cone Nail in his cradle was still conscious. Her pupils were no longer misted by the slight injustice and pity that were constantly there on usual days, instead it was replaced with a form of…interest? Just like a little girl that accidentally discovered a new way to play with the doll, that form of little satisfaction and little curiosity and also a little joy, little, but enough to send the adults into blus.h.i.+ng in embarra.s.sment!
Cone Nail looked at Wen Leyang with interest. From her view, Wen Leyang’s stubbles on his chin and the two pitch black holes of his nostrils were obvious. A gush of fresh blood so hot that it made one felt anxious poured onto her lively face. It also enticed her eyes…
The first round of sword rain was forcefully resisted by Wen Leyang but the thousands of swords were still shuttling back and forth in the sky, surging and shooting like the shadow that followed its form! Just as Wen Leyang spat out the fresh blood and could no longer resist anymore, his chest suddenly felt warm. ‘You’ve Got Me’ stiffened the sharp stings on its entire body, like a hero, but even more like a drunken boor. In its almost bitter ululation, it suddenly bounced once and jumped onto Wen Leyang’s shoulder. A gush of boiling air enshrouded onto the snow peak with a loud bang!
It was unknown since when the blue sky was already covered in majestic-looking fire clouds, the thundering fierce flames burned enchantingly. Streaks upon streaks of thick fiery snakes probed out its bodies swiftly and left behind a tinge of charred marks in the air. The fire snakes then returned into the clouds again. A red-colored giant sword that could only be described as blotting out the sky and covering the sun was surging within the raging fire. Under ‘You’ve Got Me’s’ ululation, the swords appeared in a loud bang and floated in front of Wen Leyang’s body firmly!
The giant sword gave out a Heaven’s thunder and h.e.l.lfire-like loud hum. On the red-colored giant sword, four enormous words ‘Molten Metal Fire Bell’ could be seen. Every single stroke was written with utmost disposition and arrogance!
The thousands of swords converged into hundreds of mighty sword dragons yet it did not manage to surge past the Molten Metal Fire Bell’s obstruction. The Kunlun swords scattered over and over again and converged over and over again. The ice sheet on the ground started melting rapidly. The mushy ice sludge was filled with the shattered divine swords!
Wen Leyang was both surprised and joyous, just as he was about to raise his hand and poked at ‘You’ve Got Me’s’ tiny head, he could not even exert an ounce of strength. He lied diagonally on the ground with Cone Nail, none of them could budge an inch.
A squall suddenly echoed from the ice fissure, a black head, a skinny head, a white head and a plump head stuck out from the ground surface. Ji Song carried the Hua family’s Uncle Quan on his back, Tutatunte was holding the fat and plump Hua Xiaoba who was on garrison duty. They climbed onto the surface together.
The moment Hua Xiaoba arrived on the ice sheet, he immediately behaved like his b.u.t.tocks were burnt by fire, he squalled and stuttered as he ran everywhere, “Firecrackers! Firecrackers! Firecrackers! Firecrackers…” Following that he realized the presence of flying swords shuttling through the entire sky, a group of Kunlun disciples that were frozen into ice blocks. His mouth was agape from astonishment, he stood on the same spot at a loss of what to do, he paused for two seconds then he pouted his lips and wailed loudly.
At this moment, a m.u.f.fled thunder surged and shot through the sky abruptly. The vision before Wen Leyang’s eyes blurred, cold rain penetrated through the fire clouds and poured onto the snow peak, it was raining…raining heavily.
As the Molten Metal Fire Bell that was summoned by ‘You’ve Got Me’ was blocking against the Kunlun sword formation, it was also enshrouding the area with the heated airstream. It was also rippling layers of fire clouds. The coldest sky on the snow peak was suddenly surged by the hot airstream, condensed into thick and heavy dark clouds and the heavy rain poured down like a tilted basin.
The Kunlun sword formation was not conducted by anyone. It raged for a long while and finally regained its calmness gradually and slowly retracted its offensive intent. It floated unwillingly in the midair for a moment before it gently hummed and disappeared into thin air.
The Molten Metal Fire Bell quieted down. Its thundering fire vanished as it stabbed onto the ground in a mighty yet overwhelmingly arrogant manner, soundlessly yet despising the heaven and earth! Just as the rainstorm started, the snow peak that was still in a chaos earlier and quieted down abruptly, there was only the swoos.h.i.+ng sound of rain on the surroundings that carried along slightly uneasiness and knocked onto the slush ice sheet.
Cone Nail lied under the rain, her mouth cracked into an enjoyable smile. She raised her chin gently, yet her body convulsed occasionally. The mighty power of thousand swords earlier had already scattered her life vitality but she was smiling earnestly and sincerely as her charming head pillowed on Wen Leyang’s shoulder. She was basking in her most fancied rainwater.
Enduring ‘You’ve Got Me’s’ most hated rainwater, it cruised on Wen Leyang’s chest, neck and face arrogantly. Its route was undetermined but it was only drawing circles. Nevertheless, in the midst of its movement, it dodged away from Cone Nail cautiously.
Wen Leyang was filled with puzzlement, ‘You’ve Got Me’ saved his life by summoning the Molten Metal Fire Bell but when they were dealing with the monkey Qian Ren, ‘You’ve Got Me’ was also ululating with excitement, yet it could not even light up a cigarette… Wen Leyang lied on the ground and was pondering when a pitch black-colored huge face leaped into his vision. Then, he saw a row of ghastly pale teeth. Tutatunte was giving him a joyous smile, yet in the eyes of Wen Leyang he appeared absolutely terrifying.
Tutatunte had yet to smile to his heart’s content when he suddenly disappeared without a trace. Wen Leyang’s vision was replaced with an anxious and plump face, Hua Xiaoba had pushed the African brother away. He put on a long face as he looked at Wen Leyang, “We’re in trouble…the fire element gigantic treasured sword broke the magic spell that was freezing the firecrackers cast by Hua Xiaoyao, the bugs are struggling free now…”
Fortunately, when Cone Nail was fighting against the Kunlun sword formation earlier, the movement she created was rather humongous, the ‘firecrackers’ that had taken control of the Kunlun disciples, brought along its masters and escaped deeper into the ice layers, so those ‘firecrackers’ that had escaped were the ‘master-less’ ones.
Before Hua Xiaoba could finish talking, ‘You’ve Got Me’ abruptly stopped moving, it exerted its power and raised its tiny head strenuously. It whipped its head as if it was smelling the air on the surroundings when it suddenly squalled. It slammed its tail as it pried open Wen Leyang’s mouth with great efforts and dove head first into his mouth and refused to come out anymore.
Tutatunte started screaming in surprise, he bent over his body in preparation pull Wen Leyang. Yet, the moment his pitch black-colored fingers came into contact with Wen Leyang, his body suddenly shook vigorously. He fell and sat on the ground, his mouth cracked into a ghastly smile, his body sank into the ice sheet inch by inch.
Ji Song who was carrying Uncle Quan on his body also squalled. He spread his legs and ran away!
The icy cold temperature that was piercing the bones abruptly surged out from underneath the ice sheet. Just like the cold water that was frozen for millenniums under the ice that drowned Wen Leyang soundlessly and in an uncourteous manner!
Hua Xiaoba widened his mouth and cried loudly, “We’re in trouble!
Thousands of firecrackers melted into each other, in a shape that appeared formless to the eyes but the size was enough to fill a neighboring small-sized pond and swallowed Wen Leyang and Cone Nail into nothingness.
Perhaps it was because the great enemy ‘You’ve Got Me’ was in Wen Leyang’s mouth, or perhaps it was because Cone Nail’s Art of Ancient Ice was too miraculous, even the ‘firecrackers’ could not see through the people who were still frozen in the ice spikes, such as the Kunlun disciples and Old Gu. After the bugs swallowed Wen Leyang, the bugs shook ever so slightly and started swimming joyously in the rainwater!