Zhao Zhen froze for a mont. Shang Lu’s words once again made him doubt himself.
Could there truly exist soone capable of calculating the Heavenly Secrets?
Zhao Zhen lifted his head to look at Chen Changsheng again and said, “Cast another divination for , and I’ll give you ten thousand taels of gold!”
Chen Changsheng shook his head. “I asked you this at the beginning, Recluse. Only this one divination. You understand why in your heart.”
Zhao Zhen’s lips parted slightly. Feeling impatient, he slamd the table and stood up. “Do you know who I—”
Before he could finish, he fell silent.
This man clearly knew where he ca from.
Zhao Zhen sat back down. “This doesn’t count as divination. If I take what you said, this should be called the art of reading minds. Divination tells one’s fate. What does that have to do with hearts?”
Chen Changsheng replied, “Divination falls into several categories. It can reveal what’s in a person’s heart. It can divine one’s fate. It can calculate the Heavenly Secrets. Since I correctly divined what was on your mind, how is this not divination?”
Zhao Zhen was montarily speechless. Seeing that he couldn’t corner this man, he turned to look at Shang Lu beside him.
Shang Lu understood the aning behind his look but just shook his head. “Great Master Chen’s divinations cannot be demanded. They don’t appear just because soone asks. So, Brother Zhao, there’s no point in looking at .”
Zhao Zhen stood up once more. “What if I demand this divination? What will you do then?”
Chen Changsheng looked at him steadily. “And what will you do, Recluse, if I refuse?”
Zhao Zhen thought for a mont, glanced around the Taoist Temple, and said, “Well then, in my opinion, I’ll just smash your temple.”
Shang Lu gasped in alarm and quickly tugged Zhao Zhen’s arm. “Mr. Chen, he spoke out of anger. Please don’t take it to heart.”
Chen Changsheng waved a hand dismissively. “It’s fine.”
Shang Lu pulled Zhao Zhen aside, his tone carrying a hint of reproach. “Brother Zhao, you and I share a life-or-death bond. Even if it’s out of line, I must warn you.”
“There are skies beyond skies and people beyond people in this world. No matter how powerful you are, whether you’re a Marquis of so territory or the Son of Heaven himself, you will still et people you shouldn’t offend. If you let such rash words slip again, and you end up in trouble, I won’t speak a single good word on your behalf.”
Zhao Zhen gradually cald down. Usually, he never listened to advice, but when Lu spoke to him like this, he found himself strangely composed.
After thinking carefully, he realized that if he got into a conflict with the Man in Blue Robe, it would reveal his own pettiness. News would spread of his an spirit. Such behavior truly didn’t befit the Son of Heaven.
Zhao Zhen turned and sat back down. He let out a breath and said apologetically, “I lost myself just now. I offended you.”
Seeing this, Shang Lu also sighed with relief.
Shang Lu looked at Mr. Chen. “Brother Zhao has a bit of a temper. Please don’t hold it against him.”
Zhao Zhen frowned, adding, “And don’t drag Brother Lu into it. It’s simply my own bad temper.”
Chen Changsheng glanced at him, then at Shang Lu.
He found it mildly amusing. “You defend each other like this. Could it be you are sworn brothers?”
Zhao Zhen shook his head. “Not yet. We ran into bandits on the way here. Brother Lu bravely ca to my aid. You could say we are life-or-death friends based on that. If we’re talking about it, we could indeed beco sworn brothers.”
Shang Lu, however, waved his hands hastily. “No, thank you. If I had a brother like you, who knows how much trouble I’d get dragged into?”
Surprisingly, Zhao Zhen didn’t take offense. “What if we really do swear brotherhood?”
Shang Lu pondered for a mont, then smiled. “I’ll think about it.”
Zhao Zhen burst out laughing. “After we deal with this situation, I’ll show you so sights.”
“That sounds good,” Shang Lu chuckled.
Seeing the two getting along so harmoniously, Chen Changsheng didn’t expose anything. He was instead curious about how this bond between them would unfold in the future.
After their brief laughter, Shang Lu turned back to Mr. Chen. “Great Master, might I ask about your esteed Master…”
“He’s resting at the back.”
Chen Changsheng said, “There’s incense and candles in the temple. But, your master… enjoys peaches, so you might want to go down the mountain to buy so.”
Shang Lu instinctively glanced towards the two small mounds on the slope at the back of the mountain temple but quickly averted his eyes.
“I’ll head down the mountain to buy peaches right away.”
Hearing this, Zhao Zhen thought for a mont and said, “Alright, I’ll co with you.”
The two stood up and bid their farewells.
Afterwards, Zhao Zhen and Shang Lu headed down the mountain together.
Chen Changsheng stood up and walked to the temple gate. He watched the two n descend, chatting and laughing, clearly enjoying each other’s company.
Moyuan sidled up to him with a playful grin. “Great Master, those two are quite interesting.”
Chen Changsheng chuckled and shook his head before turning back into the temple.
Moyuan entered the front courtyard and imdiately called down Chenghuang.
“Second Brother, Second Brother! Big Brother found sothing good!”
Chenghuang eyed him suspiciously. “Weren’t you the one who told not to talk to you?”
“I’m the Big Brother. What I say goes.”
“Fine…”
Moyuan raised a finger. Wispy strands of Fortune/Fate swirled around its tip.
“Look at this.”
“Fortune/Fate?”
Chenghuang scrutinized them, a puzzled expression appearing. “Why does this Fortune/Fate feel… different?”
“This is part of the Human Emperor’s Fortune/Fate. Of course it’s different.”
Moyuan explained briefly that a single strand of such Fortune/Fate was equivalent to hundreds or thousands belonging to ordinary people—an exceedingly rare treasure.
“What… what’s so good?”
A drowsy voice suddenly sounded near the well.
Moyuan turned to see a small head erge from the well.
Hong Jin crawled out, looking utterly confused.
After getting severely drunk last ti, she had slept for days. Moyuan, too lazy to do anything else, had simply tossed her into the well.
“Huh?”
Hong Jin instantly recognized the unusual nature of the Fortune/Fate. She hopped over eagerly.
“It really is different!”
She muttered, poking a small finger at the Fortune/Fate strands. Her expression suddenly turned deeply disappointed. “But… isn’t there hardly any?”
“Hardly any?” Moyuan countered.
“Well, yes! Hardly any!”
Hong Jin lifted her own small hand. With an idle wave, she summoned a swirling mass of Fortune/Fate. It was hundreds of tis richer and denser than the few strands of the Human Emperor’s Fortune/Fate Moyuan held.
Moyuan stared wide-eyed, mouth agape!
“So… you little rascal…”
“You’re the treasure!”
Hong Jin gave him a look. “You can’t steal it. This Fortune/Fate of mine is natural at birth. Only I can use it. You can’t. Do you really think I’d show you otherwise?”
Moyuan was montarily stunned. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, glancing at Hong Jin again. “You know, kid, I think you might need another nap.”
“…”
Hong Jin smacked her lips once. “No need. I’ll jump in myself.”
Having just woken up monts ago, Hong Jin skipped over to the well and promptly jumped back in.
Moyuan nodded approvingly. “Excellent. Saves the trouble of tossing her in myself.”
Chenghuang, who had been watching this unfold, asked, “You seem to genuinely enjoy bullying this Red Fish.”
Moyuan opened his eyes wide in feigned shock. “What nonsense, Second Brother! Don’t go spreading baseless accusations! I’m doing this for the temple’s good. The more I… discipline her, the longer she’ll willingly stay at the Flowing Cloud Temple. The Fortune/Fate of this place might even ascend to a whole new level!”
“…”
Chenghuang sighed, a touch of helplessness in his voice. “Fine. Whatever you say, Big Brother.”
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