Chapter Sixty-One: Divining by Characters

Rain fell like soft threads, gently kissing the bamboo umbrellas. The marketplace was far from silent; in fact, it was livelier than during the day. The rainfall stirred up a delicate white mist, which drifted in the distance, brushing lightly over the mountains.

Evening had arrived. There was no orange sunset adorning the crowds, but a cool breeze swept past, flickering across the glowing lanterns.

"Xu Xing, what's going on here? Look, it's raining now, but these people haven't gone home. Instead, they're strolling about under their umbrellas," Zi Yan, who walked beside him, asked.

In the past, Xu Xing would have been baffled, but thanks to the information he learned from the Nine Swordsmen, he now understood why Lantern City was so bustling.

The reason was simple: tomorrow was the day for the three major sects to recruit new disciples, and the venue was a place at the very center of Lantern City—a kind of arena. The townsfolk, unwilling to return home, wandered the streets, naturally heading toward the arena to queue up. By securing a good spot, they could even sell their place for profit when the recruitment began.

Strolling along streets brimming with rustic charm, Xu Xing felt a sense of leisure. Lanterns wrapped in bamboo cast a dazzling array of lights, their reflections shimmering in pools of water on the uneven ground.

Some leaned beneath eaves, selling their hard-earned wares. There were relics of ancient heritage, tools, and crafts.

After wandering for a while, Xu Xing bought a hairpin for Zi Yan. Her face lit up with joy, and Xu Xing felt a deep sense of contentment—it was his first time giving Zi Yan a gift.

Their journey was filled with happiness. Zi Yan and Xu Xing shared their delight and together witnessed the city's prosperity.

It was only after exploring the market that they realized why the city was called Lantern City. Perhaps, in this place, night never truly fell. Every household had no fewer than five lanterns hanging outside. The enchanting glow of the lanterns banished the darkness, igniting the city’s very lifeblood.

After Xu Xing recounted his encounter with the swordsman in the tavern to Zi Yan, the two tacitly made their way toward the recruitment venue.

Upon arrival, they were met with a sea of people. The recruitment site resembled a fortress—tall and impregnable. It was impossible to glimpse any of its layout from outside.

"Youth, you’ve finally come," a voice, weary yet resonant, echoed through the rain. Turning, Xu Xing saw an old man carrying a banner and pushing a cart, his silhouette drifting in and out of view.

Xu Xing was wary now, no longer daring to underestimate any elder. In his eyes, these old men were inscrutable turtles swimming in murky waters—impossible to fathom.

The old man drew near; the two could see his features clearly. His cheeks were hollow, his eyes deep, speaking of years of hardship.

For reasons unknown, Xu Xing felt a stirring in his heart; even his blood seemed to roar within him.

"Who are you?" Xu Xing asked, perplexed. Was this another arrangement? Or did the old man have some ulterior motive?

"No need for many words. My name is Xu Xing, though I am also called Ruofeng. I have waited a long time. In my life, I cast only three divinations—you're the last. Once I finish the third, I will have fulfilled a promise owed to someone. Come with me," the old man said, gently pushing his cart through the rain and splashing clear water at its wheels.

Following his stride, Xu Xing and Zi Yan arrived beneath a phoenix tree, where the eaves kept the ground dry.

"Three people? And whom do you owe?" Xu Xing asked urgently. Everything was happening too abruptly; people appeared out of nowhere, and he had no idea who this elder was.

"Don't be anxious. Among the three, you are one. You have met another, and soon you will encounter the third. As for whom I owe, you should know something about him," the old man replied.

This man was unfathomable, his words thought-provoking. After pondering for a moment, Xu Xing timidly asked, "Was the one I met named Kong Mo?"

The old man sat down—though there was no stool, he sat upright—and nodded.

"As for whom I owe, you need not ask. Let me finish this last divination, so this old monk may be freed in Lantern City. So many years have passed, and I have seen too much I wish I hadn't. I simply want to leave sooner."

Looking at the rain outside the eaves, the old man stretched out his hand, trying to grasp the dangling drops, but to no avail. He sighed.

"Was it because of the young man who once searched for his beloved outside An Guest Village?"

"Yes. You've asked all you needed. Some questions are best left unasked; they won't help you now," the old man said, stroking his white beard.

"Do you want a character reading or a lottery draw?"

Xu Xing glanced at the old man's stall—everything was happening so suddenly. An old man appeared out of nowhere, offering to tell his fortune? Xu Xing was bewildered.

"A character reading, then. I don't really believe in these things, but let's try," Xu Xing replied leisurely.

"Very well."

A sheet of white paper, a brush, and a withered hand poised to write, waiting for Xu Xing to name the character.

"Let's go with the character for 'one'—keep it simple..."

The brush dipped in black ink, the character appeared on white paper, shining with golden light.

From the paper, golden radiance burst forth, illuminating the previously dim street so brightly that even the falling rain was visible.

The character was inscribed—the outcome fixed, but still open to change.

The old man sighed, disappointment in his eyes, but as he prepared to speak, a gust of wind swept the paper to the ground.

Strangely, the paper was not wet, remaining as dry and pristine as before.

Seeing the paper fall, a smile spread across the old man's face.

"The character is read. You need not speak. Let me tell you a thing or two, and then I will go. Listen carefully," the old man said, glancing around. At this moment, there were few passersby, and those beneath the eaves blended into the crowd.

"The character 'one' stands for a single heart and intention. This means you once held but one wish. 'One' covers the heavens, signifying your desire to save the world, to be a hero. But the wind rose, bringing change. When it fell into the water, it meant you saw things clearly. Thus, the character changed, and your original heart shifted."

He spoke in a single breath, without pause, the words flowing smoothly. He continued, "This is your special trait. The character 'one' was blown by the wind, changed, and landed in the earth. 'One' over earth forms 'king.' And what is a king? It is a symbol of strength, so if you continue to grow, you will surely become a king of your era."

"Oh, right, someone asked me to tell you this: if you wish to find the person you seek, you must enter North Sea Academy. If you cannot, you will never find him in this lifetime."

As he finished, the rain grew heavier, cascading from the umbrella and blurring their vision. With a thud, Xu Xing looked again for the mysterious old man, but he had vanished.

"Remember the boy riding a bamboo horse—before you know it, he is an old man," the elder's voice lingered in the rainy night.

"Hey... I still have questions to ask," Xu Xing called, feeling a bit lost.

Zi Yan smiled, "It's alright. At least now we have a goal, don't we?"

"Hmm? What goal, Senior Zi Yan? What are you talking about? Where is this goal?"

"The old man just told us: our next step is to enter North Sea Academy. Perhaps there really is some fate waiting there."

It was strange—this place also had a North Sea Sect, identical to the one in Sea City. Could they be connected? Or were they both branches of the same sect?

It seemed likely that they were just sub-sects, fitting the idea. The two slowly made their way back to the inn, step by step.