After saying this, Old Daoist Que Xin sat cross-legged back in his original place, closed his eyes to rest, and gently swayed his head, relaxed and content as if he had no worries at all.
This Master’s desire to play teacher was pretty average!
Xiang Yuan wanted to learn a Divine Skill, but Daoist Quexin said that he would have an opportunity Tonight. Xiang Yuan settled for less and received the not-bad reply that the Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber was quite decent. After fishing for benefits for ages, he obtained nothing more than a Daoist Name and a divination that it would rain tomorrow.
Thinking about it, it made sense. His Master had accepted him as a disciple because of a Gambling match with someone else; his True heart was to escape his predicament. Once he fulfilled the wager, he would leave. As for having a disciple, going through the motions would be enough.
However, judging from his Master’s pained expression Before, the Heart-Protecting Mirror was indeed a Treasure.
Xiang Yuan Touched the Heart-Protecting Mirror in his bosom through his Black Robe, Suspecting that Daoist Quexin was messing with him. Alternating between cold and hot—wasn’t that exactly what he was doing?
Daoist Quexin had no enthusiasm for teaching his Disciple, so Xiang Yuan had to show enough enthusiasm for learning. No matter what, he had to wring some benefits out of him. He Proactively said, “Master, disciple wants to learn your Ability to tell fortunes.”
“You can’t learn it Present...”
Daoist Quexin opened his eyes and thought for a moment before saying, “Very well. If I teach you nothing at all, you will inevitably develop a Grudge. Your Teacher will therefore impart to you the Ability to read faces.”
“Thank you, Master, for imparting the Dao.”
Daoist Quexin nodded, raised his hand, and stuck it into the Sleeve robe of his Daoist robe. He felt around to the left and rummaged to the right, Muttering about where he had put it. Only after quite a while did he Take out half a Physiognomy Book with no cover.
Xiang Yuan’s gaze burned brightly. This Sleeve robe was undoubtedly some kind of Divine Ability such as “Qiankun in the Sleeve.”
Master, I want to learn this!
For a moment, telling fortunes and the like no longer seemed so appealing.
“The Dao of Divination is truly the most profound and abstruse field of knowledge between Heaven and Earth. It is not merely a skill of calculation, but also encompasses astronomy, geography, Yin Yang, Five Elements, calendars, stellar phenomena, and more. Its techniques are so Complicated, and its Changes so Infinite, that they cannot be controlled by an Ordinary mind. Even scholars who have read countless books and mastered ancient and modern History can only glimpse the threshold.”
“This skill is beyond those who merely dabble in it, nor can it be mastered in a day or a night. Only through accumulated effort and devoted study can one achieve any understanding.”
“The breadth of this Dao is like the boundless sea, while its depth is like an unfathomable abyss. To explore its mysteries and become skilled in this Dao, one must first cultivate the body and nourish the character, temper the mind and will, strive for a Heart Like Still Water, perceive the smallest details, and comprehend the essence of Divination.”
“Even so, how many sages throughout History have exhausted their lifetimes striving to understand it, yet still found it difficult to glimpse its Full View? To become lost in the mists and learn even a thing or two is already a great blessing.”
“Its profundity cannot be fully described in Words. Only those who experience it personally can know it!”
Daoist Quexin said seriously, “When Your Teacher practices Divination, I must rely on the word ‘fate.’ Without fate, there is no Karma; no matter how difficult the task, it cannot be obtained through seeking.”
Xiang Yuan’s scalp prickled. He knew it would be difficult, but he had not expected it to be so Complicated.
He received the Physiognomy Book with both hands. Seeing that its pages were yellowed and marked with water stains, scorch marks, and various other traces, he felt the weight of accumulated History wash over him and could not help praising it.
“Master, this ancient book must be quite old.”
“Naturally. This book was personally passed down by your grand-Master. Your Teacher relied entirely on it when first learning Divination.”
Daoist Quexin nodded in agreement. As he looked at the tattered Physiognomy Book, a trace of nostalgia rose in his eyes.
In his Childhood, he had been mischievous. He climbed trees to steal birds’ eggs, went into the river to catch fish and shrimp, and even rode any passing dog a couple of times. He could truly be called a Villain who had done every kind of evil.
His Master had taught him stillness cultivation and also imparted the fundamentals of Divination. His entry-level text had been this very Physiognomy Book, whose words concealed Qiankun and secretly contained the principles of the Laws. Only by reading it again and again could one uncover the mysteries of the Great Dao.
At the time, he Didn’t understand. He only knew that Divine Skills were hidden within the gaps between pages, so he soaked the book in water and smoked it over fire, trying to achieve great mastery of Divine Ability in a single day.
Of course, this could not be mentioned, as it would damage the Image of an Esteemed and Respected Master in his Disciple’s heart.
Looking back upon the past today, Inheritance followed Inheritance. Daoist Quexin sighed deeply and admonished him, “Disciple, remember this well. The knowledge in books may appear shallow, but in truth it is not. It conceals Qiankun and secretly contains the principles of the Laws. Only by reading it again and again can one uncover the mysteries of the Great Dao.”
“Disciple will remember it in his Heart and will never dare forget it.”
Xiang Yuan’s eyes shone as he scanned the pages of the book without a cover. Row upon row of tiny ancient seal-script characters filled his vision, arranged in neat lines with considerable structure.
“Do not associate with those with eagle noses and hawk eyes; the short and stunted conceal three knives in their bellies. Do not associate with those with pockmarked faces and no beards; those with White eyes have hearts as sharp as knives.”
“Do not associate with those with tortoise backs and snake waists; those who look at others askance need no knife. Nothing is more poisonous than a single eye; nothing is harder to contend with than a Water snake waist.”
“Dancing with joy is too hypocritical; those who gossip about everything are Villains. Those with excessively thin upper lips are accustomed to speaking ill of others; those Eager for success reveal the emptiness in their hearts.”
“Those who walk with a spring in their step are not suited to be people; those with Peach Blossom on their faces are guests of the romantic world...”
He turned further and found other chapters.
“See good and evil in the eyes and nose; see truth and falsehood in the lips. See fame and rank in one’s bearing; see wealth and honor in one’s spirit. See one’s intentions in the fingers and claws; see troubles in the tendons of the feet. If one wishes to see one’s order and reason, it all lies in one’s Language.”
Xiang Yuan read in a daze. The book contained not only physiognomy and fortune-telling, but also principles for How to conduct oneself in society.
“When young, do not break up fights; when penniless, do not join groups. When low in rank, do not advise others; when poor, do not argue reason. When weak, do not shoulder the crowd’s burden; when faced with misfortune, do not seek out relatives. When marrying, do not marry for money; when taking a wife, do not marry for beauty...”
Daoist Quexin did not disturb him either, allowing Xiang Yuan to read slowly. He said nothing about the childish actions he himself had committed when Eager for success, seeking only an orderly cycle of the Heavenly Dao, with each generation following the next.
After all, his Master had not told him either!
After a long while, Xiang Yuan’s stomach began to ache with hunger, and he wake up from the Endless aftertaste. He hurriedly said, “Master, due to a Momentary oversight, disciple has delayed you for quite some time.”
“It is fine. The timing is just right. Your Teacher should also Get up and head to the Southern Border.”
Daoist Quexin stood up and walked out of the prison gate, Shaking head and swinging the brain. The Zhuang Squad guarding the Prison Turned a blind eye, allowing him to leave without attempting to Obstruct him.
Xiang Yuan Stared in a daze and hurriedly caught up, but after leaving the Prison, how could he still see Daoist Quexin’s Figure?
“So Fierce! What kind of Means was that?”
While Xiang Yuan was stunned, Old Liu came running over Hurriedly and grabbed him. “I’ve been looking for you for ages. Why are you here?”
“I came to deliver lunch to Iron Mouth Direct Judgment...”
As Xiang Yuan was Saying this, he discovered that the dark crows were already descending westward. It was clearly almost time for dinner.
“What Iron Mouth Direct Judgment?”
Old Liu was Stunned For a moment, then said, “Forget that for now. Come with me to the canteen. Eat until full, drink until satisfied, so we’ll Have strength Tonight to Catch people.”
“Catch people? How?”
“The official document has arrived. The Six Doors will launch the Main attack, while we provide support from the side,” Old Liu said quietly.
There were Too many people in the Two villages, and Fierce people from the Five Poisons Sect might be hiding among them. The Six Doors mobilized troops and generals to handle the case, while the County Yamen Transferred the Fast Squad and Zhuang Squad to Accompany them—first, to bolster their presence, and second, to escort the prisoners.
To prevent alarming the enemy, the two squads left the yamen in batches after work, disguised as civilians, through the west gate.
The specific Regulations were Formulated by the Six Doors. Old Liu was Not clear on them; he knew this much because he had been Responsible for handling the case Before.
Xiang Yuan’s Heart stirred. Daoist Quexin had said that he would suffer a Disaster of bloodshed Tonight. Presumably, because his Martial arts were lacking and he lacked Combat experience, he had thus Suffered misfortune.
He Touched the Heart-Protecting Mirror on his Chest and Secretly said that everything was Reliable.
With a Treasure protecting him, misfortune would turn into good fortune. There was Nothing to be afraid of anymore!
After walking only a few steps, Xiang Yuan Thought of something. “Old Liu, do you have an umbrella In the room? Lend it to me.”
“It isn’t raining. What do you want an umbrella for? It would just be an unnecessary burden For no reason.”
Old Liu looked up at the sky. “Judging by the Sky color, it may not rain today, let alone tomorrow or the day after.”
“Then... shall we make a bet?”
Xiang Yuan raised an eyebrow. “Let’s bet the price of that meal. If you lose, you Settle accounts. If I lose, I’ll owe you another meal.”
“Good boy, you said it yourself. It’s not that I’m taking advantage of you.”
Old Liu grinned. With such a good opportunity, only an idiot would not bet!