Liu Qi patted her gently, "Be careful what you say."

Xin Jiuwei ignored their mockery, put the fortune slip into the pocket in her sleeve, and went out.

She circled around and finally saw the young monk sweeping the floor. "Young monk, may I ask if Master Jueming is here?"

The young monk bowed to her and said, "My aunt went out today and has not yet returned."

Xin Jiuwei pondered for a moment and asked, "Do you know when he will be back?"

"I don't know either," the young monk said, "but my master usually returns before dark."

Xin Jiuwei looked up at the sky. The dark patch that had been there was was gradually expanding, and the sky was no longer as bright as it had been when they went up the mountain.

"Has the master gone down the mountain? Did you people from the temple also come down the same way we did?"

The young monk nodded. "There's only one relatively easy path in the mountains. My uncle went down the mountain; he left early and should be heading back soon."

Xin Jiuwei smiled, thanked the young monk, and returned to the main group.

When he returned, Qi Huaiyu was talking to several scholars. Feeling Xin Jiuwei's gaze, he turned around and then greeted Xin Jiuwei in front of everyone.

"Jiuwei, I heard you drew a very bad fortune stick. Did you go out for some fresh air?" His tone was still gentle. "Don't be upset. It's just a fortune stick. You'll definitely draw a better one next time."

Xin Jiuwei had already made up her mind.

She changed her attitude from ignoring Qi Huaiyu earlier that day, frowned, and said arrogantly, "Who asked you to make sarcastic remarks here? If it's bad, it's bad. Can't I be unhappy?"