evening.

The rosy clouds reflected off the Dragon and Tiger Temple.

The peach blossoms in the Taoist temple drifted away on the wind.

The people who had come to offer incense left one after another, and the Taoist temple returned to its quiet state. The little dumpling yawned wearily, "So sleepy!"

Jin Yan came to the little dumpling's side and said, "Sister Tuanzi, I'll sweep the floor. You go and rest."

"OK!"

The little dumpling handed the broom to Jin Yan, and stretched, "Little Ziyue, let's go play at Mirror Lake Academy."

Zi Yue shook her head, her little face serious, and said, "Little dumpling, go play. I haven't been cultivating much lately. I promised my senior brother I would cultivate properly."

"Alright, I'll bring you meat buns when I come back!" The little dumpling wanted to freeload a meal at Mirror Lake Academy.

The little dumpling arrived outside the Taoist temple and saw Golden Horn sleeping in the sunset. She kicked it in the butt.

Awooooo!

Golden Horn stood up, baring its teeth and roaring wildly, thinking it was an enemy attack. But when it saw it was Little Dumpling, it blinked and asked, "Little Dumpling Boss, why did you kick me?"

The little dumpling said seriously, "When I'm not at the Dragon Tiger Temple, you need to keep a close eye on things and don't slack off."

"Okay, okay!"

Golden Horn scratched his butt.

Have you missed me?

A cheerful voice rang out.

The little dumpling looked up and saw a refined scholar carrying a book box walking towards her. "Brother Pig."

"It's Brother Chu."

Chu Peiran corrected him with a smile.

"Are you here to offer incense and pray for blessings?"

"I'm here to have my fortune told."

"Hehe, come with me."

The little dumpling led Chu Peiran into the Dragon Tiger Temple.

The dilapidated courtyard walls and cracked ground bore the marks of time. Chu Peiran couldn't help but sigh, "I never imagined that this was the place where Brother Qin cultivated."

The little dumpling shook its head and slowly said, "A mountain is not famous because it is high, but because there are immortals living there; water is not sacred because it is deep, but because there are dragons living there. As long as my boss is in Longhu Temple, that's enough."

Chu Peiran chuckled and joked, "I thought you only knew how to pick your toes, but I didn't expect you to be so cultured."

The little girl stood with her hands on her hips, proudly raising her head. "Hehe, it's all thanks to the boss who taught me."

"Is Brother Qin at the Taoist temple?"

"The boss hasn't returned yet."

When Zi Yue saw Chu Peiran arrive at the Taoist temple, she smiled and asked, "Benefactor, are you here to offer incense and pray for blessings?"

With a smile, Chu Peiran bowed and said, "Little fairy, my name is Chu Peiran, and I've come to have my fortune told."

Zi Yue raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in her eyes. "So it's Brother Chu. My senior brother mentioned you in his letter. He said you're well-read and have a lot of profound knowledge."

Chu Peiran waved his hand modestly, "I am far inferior to your senior brother."

"That's right."

The little dumpling nodded.

Chu Peiran put down the box of books on his back and took out a thick collection of paintings. "These paintings are all landscapes I saw on the road. I hope you like them."

Ziyue took the picture book and opened it. Inside were bustling city streets, quiet valleys, misty ancient towns, and brilliant starry skies—all kinds of beautiful scenery from around the world.

"Thank you, Brother Chu."

Ziyue really liked the gift.

Chu Peiran then took out a thick stack of books and handed them to Jin Yan, saying, "Brother Qin said that his junior brother likes to read, and he hopes that these Confucian classics will be helpful to the little immortal master."

Jin Yan smiled warmly, took the book, and said gratefully, "Thank you, Brother Chu."

What about me? What about me?

The little dumpling approached Chu Peiran's book box.

Chu Peiran smiled and closed the book box. "I didn't prepare a gift for you, but I did prepare a gift for the pig demon."

The little dumpling glared at Chu Peiran and sneered, "Why did you give a gift to the pig demon but not to me?"

"You've already called me Brother Pig, how could I not bring it a gift?" Chu Peiran joked with a smile.

"What gift did you bring for the pig demon?"

The little dumpling's eyes were filled with curiosity.

"Chestnut."

"Hahaha."

The little dumpling couldn't help but laugh out loud, while Ziyue and Jinyan looked bewildered, having no idea what was going on.

Chu Peiran looked at Ziyue, "Little fairy, I want to have my fortune told by Master Zhang. Could you please inform him for me?"

"no problem!"

In the blink of an eye, Ziyue ran deep into the Taoist temple.

Upon receiving the news, Zhang Fulong followed Ziyue to the front yard. When Chu Peiran saw Zhang Fulong, he quickly cupped his hands in greeting, "Chu Peiran of Daxia Academy greets Immortal Master Zhang."

"Daxia Academy?"

Zhang Fulong knew about the Great Xia Academy.

To be able to study at the Great Xia Academy, one must be either rich or noble, but Chu Peiran looked quite poor.

Zi Yue smiled sweetly and said, "Master, Brother Chu is Senior Brother's friend."

Chu Peiran said respectfully, "Master Zhang, Brother Qin introduced me here. He said your fortune telling is very accurate."

Upon hearing that Qin Luo had introduced him, Zhang Fulong was overjoyed. He calmly said, "Since you were introduced by my disciple, I'll give you a discount."

Chu Peiran bowed and asked, "How much?"

Zhang Fulong held up five fingers, "Fifty taels!"

The little girl's eyes widened; she was a little envious. This old man made money faster.

Chu Peiran smiled awkwardly, "Master Zhang, but I only have fifty coins on me."

Zhang Fulong suppressed a laugh, "For the sake of my disciple, I'll make an exception and do a reading for you this time."

Chu Peiran was overjoyed. He took out fifty coins and said, "Master Zhang, thank you for your trouble."

Zhang Fulong put away the copper coins, made a simple pinch with his fingers, and then said in a serious tone, "This humble Taoist sees a Wenqu star rising slowly."

Zi Yue tilted her head; she was just about to study how her master told fortunes when Zhang Fulong finished.

The little dumpling also tilted its head; back then, when it came to fortune telling by unorthodox methods, its tortoise shell exploded.

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