Interpreting the divination slips

Guan Nan was looking towards the meditation room with Lin Yun when he saw the person who had come. He hurriedly put his palms together and greeted him, "Brother Liaozhou."

The visitor nodded slightly. "Madam, the abbot invites you to the Sutra Repository for fortune telling."

“But I…” she tried to refuse.

“Sang benefactor is also there.”

Lin Yun swallowed his refusal.

She squatted down and took out a packet of maltose from her sleeve. She had been thinking about what she could give to the little novice monk, and suddenly felt the candy she often used to coax the children in the village. She thought this was just right.

She forcefully shoved the candy into his hand, saying, "This is a thank-you gift, and also an apology."

Having said that, he turned around and went to the Sutra Repository with Zhou.

The gate opened with the steady movements of the monk, and a faint scent of ink mixed with sandalwood wafted out from the library.

Inside the library, there were not only Sang Zhao and Master Juehui, but also Xiao Zhichang and a woman wearing a veil.

Inside the bamboo curtain, Juehui was interpreting fortune sticks for a woman in white, whose veil fell to her chest.

Although his face was not clearly visible, one could still glean some extraordinary qualities from him.

Xiao Zhichang's attention was mostly focused on the inner room, and he didn't even notice that his cuffs were wet with tea stains.

Lin Yun walked over to Sang Zhao's side and said, "Senior Brother, Young Master Chang."

The young man in brocade robes only came to his senses upon hearing her voice, as if waking from a deep dream.

"Miss Lin, you've arrived." A hint of embarrassment flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by his usual nonchalance.

Sang Zhao moved the stool next to him a little further away so that Lin Yun could sit down.

Just as he was about to pour her tea, he touched the teapot and found that the original tea had gone cold. Liao Zhou stepped forward and replaced it with fresh tea.

The sound came faintly from inside the house, and it was not very clear.

“The time is ripe for your request, but things are different now than they were in the past.” The master pondered for a moment, “The time is ripe for what you are seeking.”

"But there are hidden variables in the transition between the old and the new, and you still need to..."

She could barely hear anything to begin with, and with Sang Zhao also taking her attention, she couldn't hear what was being said at all.

Sang Zhaozheng was showing her the fortune slip he had drawn.

When the well digger encounters rain, the path he turns back to reveals a rainbow.

Just as Lin Yun was about to examine the fortune slip closely, he suddenly saw the bamboo curtain gently rolled up. The white-clad woman's veil moved slightly, but her face remained completely hidden.

She glanced at Yunwang, the white veil on her head floating like smoke, her half-hidden silhouette disappearing into the shadows in an instant.

Lin Yunwang stood up, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "My name is Lin Yunwang, from the northern frontier. May I ask your name, young lady?"

The woman tilted her veil slightly and lowered her voice, saying, "Why bother remembering the names of someone like a rootless drifting catkin?"

This answer made Lin Yun smile and not ask any further questions. He just felt that the voice sounded familiar, but before he could think about it, he was called in by Master Juehui.

“Benefactor Lin did not draw lots.” Juehui handed over the bamboo tube.

Amidst the clear clinking of bamboo sticks, Lin Yun drew an empty stick, saying, "It seems Buddha dislikes my insincerity."

"All phenomena are empty." He pushed the bamboo tube over again.

Lin Yun obediently drew another fortune slip, thinking that drawing a lucky slip for good fortune wouldn't be bad.

The neat small regular script was written on the bamboo stick: "Iron boats carrying snow passed through the burning city, and the new fire originally came from this city."

She frowned slightly. "Is this a lucky omen? The combination of 'iron' and 'fire' sounds ominous."

Juehui took the fortune slip and comforted her, saying, "You don't need to be concerned about whether it's auspicious or inauspicious."

"Good and bad fortune are like the yin and yang fish. Iron is Geng metal, snow is Ren water, and fire is Bing and Ding—metal generates water, but water overcomes fire, and fire melts metal and they become complementary again. This forms a cycle of mutual restraint."

Lin Yun nodded in agreement, "So this fortune stick can be interpreted in this way? My knowledge is still shallow; I thought it meant that the road ahead would be difficult."

"We may encounter danger, but we will eventually turn the tide."

"Thank you." Seeing that she was no longer speaking, Yun Wang turned to leave.

Master Juehui stood behind her, palms together and eyes lowered, saying, "The cycle of cause and effect turns, and a clear mirror hangs high above."

Lin Yun turned to look at him, but he didn't explain. "Go on, your friend is waiting for you."

When she returned to the outer room, only Sang Zhao was left.

"Senior brother, let's go."

Outside, the sun was high in the sky.

She calculated the time to return to Shixi Village in her mind and found it to be just right, so a hint of joy unconsciously appeared between her brows. "Setting off now, there's still time."

Upon arriving at the temple gate, they were stopped by a monk.

"Please wait, esteemed guests. Your esteemed guest has asked me to convey a message: Since Fanyin Temple has inherited the incense offerings of the imperial lineage, it should naturally be as pure and immaculate as Bodhi."

"If we meet again someday, I hope we can share this tea before the Buddha today."

There are only three people in the entire world who can command a monk holding a royal ordination certificate to lower his head and deliver a message.

The atmosphere on the road was somber, with the tire tracks making intermittent, muffled sounds as they rolled across the cobblestones.

Sang Zhao broke the silence first, pursing his lips and saying, "I'm sorry, but concealing this is not the behavior of a gentleman."

Lin Yunwang paused slightly as she straightened her clothes, turning her head to look at him. "There's no need to apologize. His identity is sensitive, and I understand."

From their first meeting, she sensed that this young master Chang was no ordinary person, and moreover, judging from his alias and manner of doing things, he didn't seem to be trying to hide his identity.

"However, this matter can be considered resolved." The carriage wall was cool, and she leaned back, looking tired, and couldn't help but let out a helpless sigh.

How can this be considered a solution? It's just that, according to Xiao Zhichang's message, the investigation into Fanyin Temple can no longer proceed.

Although she and Sang Zhao were sent by their sect to investigate this matter, Qiling City and Jingyin Sect had already determined the nature of the matter a few days earlier: the evil cultivator had secretly learned forbidden books and used the technique of searching for spirits on ordinary people, and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Moreover, there are regulations in the cultivation world that forbid interfering in human affairs without cause, and the two currently have no evidence to continue their investigation.

Lin Yun quickly composed himself and began studying the fortune slips of the two people.

"Senior brother, how did Master Juehui interpret your fortune stick?" She touched the bamboo stick, recalling how she wanted to put it back in the bamboo tube when she left, but was stopped.

He only said four words: "Break free from your attachment."

Break free from your attachment.

Lin Yun repeatedly chewed on these four words on the tip of his tongue.

"It's simple and straightforward."

The words she wanted to say stuck in her throat, and Lin Yunwang wondered whether he should take this opportunity to ask Sang Zhao about her feelings.

Looking into Sang Zhao's deep eyes, Yun Wang still couldn't bring himself to ask the question.

Who exactly was the former sect leader of the Jingyin Sect? What happened back then? Could you tell me about it?

Ever since she captured the evil cultivator and witnessed his use of thunder magic, Sang Zhao had become strange. She still remembered Sang Zhao's deathly pale face and lifeless eyes at that time.

There has been no improvement in the past few days. It's as if a heavy stone is weighing on his heart. He can only manage a forced smile occasionally, and spends the rest of the time in a daze.

Lin Yunwang also tried to find answers in books about the Jingyin Sect, but not only were there no records of the events of that year, but even the name of the former sect leader had been completely erased. It was only said that the current sect leader, Ninghua, was the second one.

They remained silent the entire way.

Sang Zhao gazed at the passing scenery through the side window of the carriage, but it didn't reach his eyes. The afterimages of purple lightning that should have vanished took root in his vision and grew ever clearer.

Although the lightning dancing in the evil cultivator's palm was not strong, it was a technique inherited from the former sect leader.

Lin Yunwang cast a concerned glance over the rustling sound of the book pages turning.

When she got tired of reading, she looked out the window and the familiar clock tower gradually came into view.

"arrive."

She felt a pang of sadness.

On one hand, there is the reluctance to part ways, and on the other hand, there is the uncertainty of the future.

Lin Yun has always been fond of people whose hearts are crystal clear, and prefers those whose endings are predictable. Because this makes her feel at ease.

This obsession with certainty has been deeply ingrained in her since she could remember.

However, since transmigrating, there has been nothing she can hold firmly in her hands.

Sang Zhao's comforting words interrupted her reverie; he carefully chose his words.

"Don't worry, everyone in the Jingyin Sect is easy to get along with." Sensing Lin Yunwang's unease, Sang Zhao, who had been restless these past few days, comforted her instead.

“I know.” Lin Yun swallowed the bitterness between his teeth. “Jingyin Sect is a wonderful place with outstanding people and beautiful scenery.”

With a relaxed air, she tiptoed and touched Sang Zhao's head, saying, "Now you understand how worried I've been about you these past few days."

After saying that, she ignored Sang Zhao, who was still standing there dumbfounded, and walked away with her hands behind her back, acting like an adult. She felt relieved, finally saying what she hadn't known how to say.

As Lin Yun approached the village chief's courtyard, his heart pounded like a drum. Thinking of giving his grandfather a surprise, he quickly lifted the curtain and said loudly, "Grandpa, I'm back on time!"

Unexpectedly, there was a large group of people inside. The village chief was not in the house; eight or nine familiar faces were sitting around the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Uh, greetings to all my uncles and aunts." Lin Yunwang had never been so embarrassed before, and his face turned red instantly.

Upon closer inspection, one could see that there was another person in the crowd whom she had met that morning, who was smiling at her without saying a word.

"Young Master Chang...?" The two surnames swirled in her mouth before she finally uttered a strange, incoherent word.

Sang Zhao arrived at the door at this moment, and was very surprised.

"Yun girl is back."

Aunt Liu forcefully pulled the two of them inside, saying, "Why are you still standing outside?"

"Do you know Suyue's brother?"

"We met once," Lin Yun gave a flawless answer.

Judging from the expressions of the women in the room, this man had clearly won them over.

On the cabinet sat gift boxes bearing the red stamp of a time-honored brand in Beijing. Xiao Zhichang stood smiling in the shadows, his white brocade robe stained with mud, looking just like an ordinary older brother running around for his younger sister.

However, Lin Yun lowered his eyes and thought: it would be even more like it if it weren't for the dragon-patterned jade pendant at the waist.

"You don't know, Miss Suyue's brother is an official in the capital..."

Lin Yun listened with trepidation to Aunt Liu's praise of Xiao Zhichang, fearing that she might have made a bad joke and committed a capital offense.

Aunt Liu slipped a delicate pastry into her hand, saying, "Young Master Xiao promised to help us with the household registration! He's definitely someone who works in the capital."

Household deed? Serving in the capital?

Lin Yun choked on the pastry and coughed incessantly.

Everyone in the room turned to look at her.

She waved her hands repeatedly, "It's nothing, I just choked."

"Have some tea to soothe your nerves." Then they began to praise Xiao Zhichang. The people there were not very educated and did not know many characters, so the praise was just a few words exchanged back and forth, but judging from the appearance of this distinguished guest, he seemed to enjoy it.

It's no wonder the villagers fawned over him. Just his appearance alone was extraordinary, not to mention the more important thing beneath that appearance—power.

He also grasped the lifeline of most people.

The number of children in the village who were just reaching adulthood was increasing day by day, and Yang Suyue was a tutor who could not be retained. For the sake of the children's future education, and not wanting this girl from out of town to be tied down by the village school for life, the matter of obtaining a household deed in the city had long been an important task that the villagers tacitly agreed on.

Not to mention that behind that small piece of yellow paper lies a meager plot of land that can provide a livelihood. The hope for spring planting and autumn harvest rests entirely on this contract.

Yunwang could guess why Xiao Zhichang, a prince, would come to this small village to win people's hearts.

Lin Yun looked towards Yang Suyue's thatched cottage, and at this moment, the woman's true identity became clear.

This prince, rumored to be an incompetent fool, had mastered the art of imperial power, employing both kindness and severity.