Distorted World

Unceasing

Upon hearing this, Bai Changming replied in such a manner, his expression remained as placid as ever, like water. The document from the governor of Liuzhou had been deliberately buried at his ex-wife's grave by him. Now, with the alcohol clouding his senses, he was being tested on this very point.

Bai Changming recounted everything calmly and thoroughly, yet it felt as if he were looking down upon the people below from a height, observing the twists and turns of human psychology which never strayed far from their humble origins. Though he was clearly the guest setting up the scenario, acting humbly and calmly, he now seemed more like an outsider looking in, a mastermind orchestrating events from behind the scenes.

It wasn't until the third questioner looked at him with earnest eyes and, trembling uncontrollably with his right hand, pulled out a faded portrait from his sleeve: "Young sir, everyone here has witnessed your extraordinary skills. I didn't believe in gods or Buddhas before, but meeting you today might just be fate. The person in this portrait is my grandmother who wandered off two years ago during one of her fits. Could you please tell me when she will return?"

The sincerity and genuine openness in this plea caused even Bai Changming to pause momentarily. Blinking his eyes, he nodded and took the portrait.

Once again, he cast the hexagram, resulting in Feng Lei Yi (Wind over Thunder), indicating that this was a mission impossible. The hexagram pointed towards the southeast, depicting a scene of withered plants, almost directly implying that the person in the portrait was no longer among the living.

He chose a consoling reason to respond gracefully, and the questioner nodded repeatedly, with tears glistening in his eyes. With both hands, he received the small portrait passed back by Bai Changming and promised to immediately arrange for people to go out searching.

In that moment of eye contact, Bai Changming suddenly felt a flicker of doubt about the original intention behind his practice of divination.

He was not someone easily swayed by emotions. Later on, as per the guest's interest, he performed several more rounds of fortune-telling, even delving into topics like the rise and fall of official careers. On one hand, Bai Changming kept it brief; on the other hand, he subtly included professional terms in his speech, especially those related to astrology and the five elements of destiny.

He was well aware that one was Yang Renshu's cherished hobby, while the other represented the immense allure of certainty in fate for ordinary people. The higher one's position, the more profoundly this understanding would resonate.

This move was intended to stir up ripples in the heart of Governor Yang.

As he left Wangyue Tower, the sky was full of stars, and fireworks were bursting in a dazzling display over the night sky of the Orchid Noble Festival. Bai Changming didn't quite understand their existence; it seemed as if they were there merely to embellish this fleeting life.

He felt the heavy lump of silver in his pocket, and on the cuffs of his sleeves were numerous hexagrams drawn hastily, resembling children's doodles. Everything had gone according to plan, and a smile curved at the corner of his lips. This sum of money would suffice for his expenses for more than half a year.

Earlier that evening, he had taken leave from the steward and did not return to Xuansheng Pavilion but found a nearby inn to stay in instead. He purchased several ancient books and a set of writing materials, carefully refolding the map of Water Repentance and placing it in his chest pocket.

As he performed this action, he momentarily thought of the governor's colleague who had asked him to find the small portrait. But he only shook his head; they belonged to two different worlds. Whether it be matters of life and death or interests, how could they possibly intersect again?

The streets during the Orchid Noble Festival night were empty, and without straining to listen, one could hear laughter, scolding, joy, and sorrow coming from the houses on either side. Fireworks exploded brilliantly, one after another. Would the celestial maiden far away also be watching the same scene? He lingered for a long time, only moving towards the inn when the last of the fireworks had faded into silence.

"Look, sister, there are so many stars outside!" The boy, with a fresh bandage on his head, pointed excitedly out the window.

Shui Chan held his hand, her gaze drifting far away into the distance.

"Sister, do you think with such a vast night sky and so many stars, there are people up there? Can we wave to them?" The child's eyes shone as brightly as the stars themselves.

"I'm not sure, but maybe. See that long, milky path far away? That's called the Milky Way, and it contains countless stars," Shui Chan squatted down, pointing each one out for him.

"The bright one is called Vega, the one further away that looks like a triangle is Lyra, the brightest star to the left of the moon is called Polaris, directly above us is the Big Dipper, and the one furthest to the right is known as Orion..."

"You know so much, sister~"

Shui Chan smiled but said nothing.

"Well, that's enough. It's too cold at night, and your wound hasn't fully healed yet. Let's go inside, put on our coats, and then come back out." With that, she led the boy back into the house.

The night sky remained silent, while the descending moon swayed with emotion.