Chapter 163: Won't Stand By Idly

Jiyuan had initially heard from Qi Wen that Huang Xingye's problem was resolved. This current visit was to express gratitude, so he was simply listening to the ongoing discussion.

However, upon hearing about the local Land God, Jiyuan realized the situation was unusual, transforming from a simple man-made disaster into something involving the supernatural.

At this moment, Jiyuan opened his spiritual sight, his eyes widening to three-quarters, as he carefully observed Huang Xingye and his companions. The somewhat ethereal auras and life-forces he had previously perceived in them instantly solidified and became much more vibrant.

Jiyuan noticed that Huang Xingye himself seemed fine. However, while the servants' life-force and aura remained unchanged in scale, he could perceive a hidden pallor and deathly energy within their surging vitality.

Upon hearing Jiyuan suddenly speak, Huang Xingye, whose nerves had somewhat settled, turned to Daoist Master Qingsong and inquired,

"Daoist Master Qingsong, who is this?"

"This is Mr. Ji, a great benefactor to my master and me..."

Qi Wen quickly began to answer, but Jiyuan promptly cut him off, believing there was no need to elaborate on his personal matters in front of strangers.

"I am a friend of Daoist Master Qingsong. We met several years ago when the Daoist Master was traveling in other states. Currently, I am staying briefly at Yunshan Abbey."

"Yes, yes, indeed, Mr. Ji is a distinguished guest at our abbey. What he just asked is precisely what I intended to ask you, Mr. Huang: have you visited the City God Temple in Dongle County to offer prayers?"

In this era, even if ordinary people had never seen spirits or deities, they generally believed in gods and were even superstitious about unorthodox practices. Given Huang Xingye's situation, it was unlikely he wouldn't have sought divine help.

Huang Xingye's emotions had stabilized considerably by this point, and his breathing was no longer as excited and rapid as before. He composed himself before answering,

"Of course, I went to the City God Temple in Dongle County. It was there that I learned you, Daoist Master Qingsong, are a Daoist from Yunshan. I immediately funded the repair of the local Land God statue in my hometown and brought ample offerings to the City God. Only then did I travel all the way to the foot of Yunshan Mountain..."

Jiyuan looked at Huang Xingye, observing that he was indeed a shrewd and thorough man. Then, he naturally addressed Daoist Qingsong,

"Daoist Master Qingsong, I recall you mentioning that the Land God has not yet had a temple built. In that case, his divine power shouldn't be very high, as he hasn't yet received enough incense offerings to become a true deity."

Jiyuan also pondered that the Land God likely hadn't become a deity through rigorous cultivation or by connecting with earth veins "through sheer power." Otherwise, he wouldn't have appeared to Huang Xingye multiple times in response to his generous contributions to the temple. However, the Land God clearly hadn't foreseen the subsequent events.

Daoist Master Qingsong paused, "Did I say such a thing?"

However, seeing Jiyuan ask him so seriously, Daoist Master Qingsong quickly understood.

"Cough... Indeed, what Mr. Ji said is correct."

Jiyuan nodded.

"It seems I haven't misremembered. From my perspective, if the Land God's statue was deliberately damaged, then naturally, investigative efforts would be increased. If an evil entity is truly involved, Maoxian Town is also under Dongle County's jurisdiction. Even if Mr. Huang hadn't offered tributes, once he was aware of the situation, the City God would not stand idly by. Am I correct, Daoist Master?"

Daoist Master Qingsong nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes, yes, Mr. Ji is right!"

"This is for the best, for the best."

Huang Xingye felt somewhat relieved upon hearing this. Although common folk believed in deities like the City God and Land God, few had ever truly encountered them. The supposed miraculous tales were merely passed down by word of mouth, leaving people uncertain when faced with genuine trouble. Having a tangible, high-ranking master like Daoist Master Qingsong was far more reassuring.

"By the way, Mr. Huang, I just heard your account. The dangers in the initial phase were almost entirely man-made. After you exposed them and reported them to the authorities with evidence, nothing unusual occurred. Was it only after you received the divination from the Land God that you realized something was amiss?"

Huang Xingye cupped his hands towards Jiyuan before answering,

"Indeed, as Mr. Ji said, I had previously thought the calamity was over and that I was bringing offerings to thank the Land God."

To be a friend of a distinguished master like Daoist Master Qingsong, this Mr. Ji must also possess extraordinary qualities. At the very least, his composure and demeanor alone are remarkable.

Jiyuan looked at Daoist Master Qingsong, who also instinctively met his gaze.

"Daoist Master, you also find this matter quite strange, don't you?"

"Yes, exactly as Mr. Ji said, that's what I believe too. And it's truly fortunate that Mr. Huang is still alive and was able to come all this way!"

Daoist Master Qingsong not only agreed with Jiyuan but also began to closely observe Huang Xingye's current facial appearance and complexion. Using the previously described events as a basis for divination, he calculated some strange anomalies.

"Mr. Huang, would you be comfortable telling me your birth details?"

With Jiyuan by his side, Daoist Master Qingsong's courage also grew.

Hearing that Daoist Master Qingsong was going to tell his fortune, Huang Xingye naturally didn't refuse anymore and quickly whispered his birth details to Daoist Master Qingsong.

Upon hearing the eight characters, the latter carefully pondered them in his mind, occasionally pinching his knuckles to aid his mental calculations of the Heavenly Stems, Earthly Branches, and astrological patterns.

Jiyuan watched curiously, while Huang Xingye and his companions waited nervously.

In reality, Huang Xingye came from a wealthy and influential family, and had his fortune told many times since childhood. The results were largely similar, usually indicating good fortune and abundant blessings.

After a long time, Daoist Master Qingsong finally spoke, combining his calculations with Huang Xingye's current facial appearance,

"Mr. Huang, your destiny is blessed with profound good fortune, and you are protected by ancestral blessings. As long as you are driven and diligent, your first half of life will be smooth, and your latter half should also be without much worry, but..."

"Mr. Huang, currently the Ketu star illuminates your destiny. Originally, with your profound good fortune, nothing major would happen. But now that you've encountered this, a man-made disaster turning into a supernatural evil, it is a death calamity!"

Huang Xingye's expression darkened further as he awaited Daoist Master Qingsong's next words.

"Although your destiny is favorable, a person's fate is not immutable. Knowledge, experience, the good and evil one performs, and external factors all have an influence. Now, it seems there's a peculiar energy hidden within your destiny, almost like a living entity. My previous observation of your face differed from this one; it's only by combining it with your birth details now that I've been able to discern some of this..."

Others were tense and didn't quite understand Daoist Master Qingsong's words, but Jiyuan listened carefully, his spiritual eyes simultaneously observing Huang Xingye closely.

Combined with Huang Xingye's emotional reactions while listening to Daoist Master Qingsong, his aura also began to change. There was a peculiar energy, like a loach or a swimming fish, hidden within his human aura, which would be easily overlooked without careful observation.

Daoist Master Qingsong was just fortune-telling, so he naturally finished saying everything he needed to say.

"Mr. Huang, as long as you survive this calamity this year, next year the Taiyin star will illuminate your destiny. Coupled with the rebound from this year's suppression, and assuming your ambition remains unchanged, you will experience great fortune and prosperity, and everything will be achievable."

Huang Xingye managed a faint smile.

"But one must first get through this ordeal!"

Hearing this, Jiyuan feigned a further inquiry,

"Daoist Master Qingsong, you once spoke to me about strange supernatural occurrences, saying that some evil entities covet the special fortune of prosperous individuals. Fearing that this fortune might dissipate, they would set up schemes to trap people. Does this situation seem similar?"

Hearing Jiyuan say all this, Daoist Master Qingsong simply nodded.

"Mr. Ji is right, it's similar, very similar!"

Jiyuan nodded and continued,

"Previously, those bandits probably didn't truly intend to burn Mr. Huang to death. They just wanted to leave him half-dead, and then plot something else. Otherwise, if he died and his life force extinguished, his fortune would scatter, which wouldn't work, right, Daoist Master?"

"Indeed, as Mr. Ji said. But leaving him half-dead would be even more tragic..."

Daoist Master Qingsong concurred, but didn't forget to add his own thoughts, while Jiyuan continued to elaborate.

"Indeed, there are some strange and insidious evil beings dormant in the human world. Those with deeper cultivation and more cunning are not incapable of exploiting loopholes in divine oversight. It appears they will still not let Mr. Huang go this time."

Seeing Huang Xingye shrink his neck and his face turn even paler, Jiyuan offered a word of comfort.

"However, Mr. Huang, please rest assured. Even if the City God ultimately cannot resolve this matter, Daoist Master Qingsong will certainly not stand idly by, right, Daoist Master?"

"Yes, yes, Mr. Ji... er..."

Daoist Master Qingsong suddenly realized something halfway through his nod, staring blankly at Jiyuan. Seeing Jiyuan nod to reassure him, he then forced himself to continue speaking,

"Indeed, although my cultivation is shallow, since Mr. Huang has sought my help, I will not abandon him!"

Huang Xingye's face lit up with pleasant surprise. This was the very sentence he had desperately sought when he came up the mountain. He quickly stood up again, cupped his hands in thanks. Behind him, his household servants and friend Li Mian also bowed in unison.

"Many thanks for your help, Daoist Master Qingsong, many thanks for your help! If I can overcome this calamity this time, I will certainly reward you generously!"