At the start, I tricked the school beauty, and ended up with twins?

Gu Yu had always been indifferent to these superstitious practices.

But since Taoist Pan had invited him, he wanted to meet this old Taoist in person.

Seeking divination wasn't his purpose; he just wanted to see what this old Taoist had to say.

Bypassing the crowd that was respectfully offering incense at the large incense altar, Gu Yu and Lin Xinyue crossed the crowded flow of people and went straight to the main hall.

A golden, exquisitely crafted divine statue was situated in the center of the main hall.

The golden statue was lifelike, wearing a lotus crown on its head, holding a whisk in the right hand, and lifting two fingers to the sky with the left hand, displaying the long beard and sideburns characteristic of a high-ranking immortal.

"This must be the statue of Huang Daxian, right?" Gu Yu stood at the entrance, looking up at the imposing golden statue.

"It's a Taoist!" Lin Xinyue was quite surprised; she rarely saw Taoist figures in statues in her daily life.

Nowadays, Buddhist temples are everywhere, whereas Taoist temples and shrines are few, even though Taoism is clearly Huaxia's native religion.

It's clear how severely it has been marginalized!

"It must be, very majestic, but it doesn't make one feel afraid,"

Gu Yu, watching the people kneeling and praying before the statue, had confirmed his speculation.

Following the crowd through the side door, they queued up and took turns to light their incense from the candles at the side of the lotus lamps.

Lin Xinyue followed suit.

Then came their turn to offer incense. Compared to Buddhism, there were not many rules here; some people kneeled on mats to offer incense, while others simply stood to the side, bowed, and considered it done.

The young Taoist next to them didn't say anything, always wearing a smile as he greeted and farewelled people.

Finally, it was Gu Yu and Lin Xinyue's turn. Lin Xinyue carefully kneeled on the mat, mimicking others by holding the incense sticks to her forehead while kneeling.

Gu Yu heard her muttering, "Great Immortal, please protect me, I hope it can slow down…"

"Great Immortal, please! I wish you prosperity and never-ending incense offerings!"

"Great Immortal, you must help me!"

"..."

Listening to her mumbling, Gu Yu was baffled. What was this? Who prays for a deity to become wealthy?

A helpless smile appeared on his face, and the people around him could not help but chuckle, finding the girl utterly adorable.

"Ha! Alright then!" After bowing six times more than others, Lin Xinyue was satisfied and placed her incense in the burner.

Then she turned her head to see Gu Yu still holding his incense, standing in place, his incense already burned a quarter of the way down.

"Aren't you going to kneel?"

She asked, puzzled.

"I don't kneel; there's no one in this world who can make me kneel," Gu Yu shook his head slightly.

He would kneel only to heaven and earth and to those who raised him.

Now that his loved ones were gone, there naturally was nothing in this world that could make him kneel anymore.

"Good, a man's knees are as precious as gold," an uncle nearby said, giving Gu Yu a thumbs up.

Gu Yu smiled faintly, then held the incense and bowed slightly three times to the statue of Huang Daxian in front of him.

"Did you make a wish?" After Gu Yu finished and put his incense in the burner, Lin Xinyue quickly asked.

Gu Yu ruffled her hair: "I did make a wish."

"What did you wish for?" Lin Xinyue was very curious and pressed for an answer.

Gu Yu had no reservations about stating his wish and sincerely replied, "My wish is that we can return safely from this journey, then have a grand wedding, and have a pair of lovely children together!"

Gu Yu boldly stated his wish, attracting the attention of the surrounding people, and Lin Xinyue's face turned red.

She had never expected Gu Yu's wish to be this, especially to declare it in front of others.

Her heart raced because Gu Yu was very serious when he spoke those words.

Especially when Gu Yu mentioned marriage and children, a sweet smile appeared on her face.

Even though she was wearing a mask, the people around could still see the profound happiness in her curved eyes.

"I'm envious; you two are really great."

"Haha, you should just get married right here!"

"Really nice, eh, coming to offer incense today, and getting to scoop up some dog food?"

"..."

The surrounding devotees offered their blessings, expressing their admiration.

"Thank you all for your blessings," Gu Yu politely thanked everyone.

Then he looked around and didn't see a divination area…

The old Taoist said he would wait for him in the main hall, but now that he was here, he didn't see the old Taoist.

Could it be that he was stood up? Gu Yu was a bit annoyed. Perhaps the old Taoist toyed with him because he was in his way!

Just as he was about to lead Lin Xinyue out of the main hall, suddenly a young Taoist who was adding oil to the lotus lamps stopped them and said, "The two young masters, Taoist Pan invites you to the back room for a chat."

Looking at the clean-shaven young Taoist in front of him, Gu Yu hesitated for a moment but still followed him with Lin Xinyue to the back room.

As soon as he lifted the curtain of the back room's door, he heard someone inside say, "You have arrived."

The speaker was Pan Shi Taoist, who was smiling expectantly at Gu Yu and Lin Xinyue.

"Hehe, we came to seek divination,"

Gu Yu smiled briefly, stating his purpose.

Taoist Pan nodded and gestured for Gu Yu and Lin Xinyue to sit on the mats beside him, while he leisurely watered the potted plants with a small watering can.

"Seeking signs is easy; interpreting them is difficult, hahaha,"

Taoist Pan said cheerfully, seeing Gu Yu fidget impatiently on the mat. He then put away his watering can and prepared to get down to business.
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"Let's seek first then talk. Besides, isn't it your job to interpret? It's difficult to interpret, but isn't there a fee that can't solve the interpretation?"

Gu Yu merely felt that the Taoist was somewhat babbling. Isn't divination simply about shaking the divination tube a few times and then tossing out a stick?

As for interpreting the sign, in his view, each sign had corresponding phrases, and these so-called masters needed only to speak according to the phrases—telling people what they hoped to hear, usually managing to deceive those who sought divination.

Gu Yu was a bit disappointed; he had thought that there was something different about Taoist Pan Shi.

Perhaps he was just another who claimed to be a master only to make money.

"Since you say so, let's proceed. Today, even if it takes all my life's energy, I must peer into your past life and rebirth!"

Pan Shi then took a divination tube, resembling a pen holder, from a shelf beside him, which was filled with bamboo sticks.

"How many times can I draw?" Gu Yu asked, taking the heavy tube.

Pan Shi said seriously, "Only once. Your fate changes infinitely, and I cannot discern it a second time."

Upon hearing this, Gu Yu wondered if it was really so mystical. After a moment of thought, he decided to leave this opportunity to Lin Xinyue.

"Xinyue, you do the draw," Gu Yu handed the tube to Lin Xinyue.

Lin Xinyue nodded, then grasped the divination tube and shook it vigorously with her eyes closed.

Amid the rustling sounds, a bamboo stick flew out from the tube.

Gu Yu fixed his gaze on it and was stunned.

It was the "worst luck" sign!?

Good heavens, it seems Xinyue's luck is quite poor!?

Lin Xinyue looked at the stick, her expression turning stiff, ashamed at how poor her luck was—it wasn't even a mediocre draw, but the very worst, the "worst luck" sign!

"Can I... can I try again?" Lin Xinyue asked, biting her lips.

Pan Shi shook his head firmly. "No, this is the predetermined result. A redo would be meaningless."

"Besides, the 'worst luck' sign isn't necessarily a bad omen. It should be interpreted according to the sign's phrases. Sometimes, even the 'top sign' might not be good."

As he spoke, Pan Shi picked up the "worst luck" bamboo stick that had fallen out.

Gu Yu and Lin Xinyue exchanged glances, curious to read the phrases on it.

"The sun rises at dawn, promising peace and fortune next year."

Reading the first half, this clearly appeared to be a 'top sign'!

Continuing on, "Yet suddenly, a mist obscures the sun, calamity lurking invisibly."

However, the latter part left Gu Yu and Lin Xinyue somewhat perplexed.

What was this mist? And what was meant by calamity?

They were preparing to ask Taoist Pan when they saw his face turn pale, his hands trembling violently with the stick.

Suddenly, his composure was gone, and he grabbed Gu Yu's arm, his voice tense and earnest, "Young friend, you are destined to be a Savior Immortal, but from my reading of your fate... there is..."

He hesitated, seemingly afraid to speak outright.

Gu Yu frowned, "What is it? Just speak plainly, Taoist Pan."

Presuming it was something good about his successful career helping many, he saw it as a positive.

How could it have turned out as the 'worst luck'?

Seeing Gu Yu's unconcerned reaction, Pan Shi said with a complicated look, "Young friend, if I told you that your fate includes a mortal peril, would you believe me?"

"A mortal peril?" Gu Yu was stunned. How could there suddenly be talk of mortal peril?

Probably just ramblings from an old man?

With his system hacks, the chances of him being in mortal danger were virtually zero. Even if a world war occurred, he felt he would likely be the last survivor.

"Taoist, what are you rambling about? How could something happen to Yu when he's perfectly fine?"

Lin Xinyue also found this interpretation puzzling. The first part was fine, but the second half seemed ominously unlucky.

To start with death?

"I didn't fabricate a single word. Moreover, I must say, your mortal peril... it's because of you?" Taoist Pan's gaze was complex as he looked at Lin Xinyue.

Meanwhile, his fingers silently continued to make hand gestures, attempting to find an error in his calculations.

Yet, running through the divination again only made him more certain of his judgment.

"Me?" Lin Xinyue's expression tensed, disbelief etched across her face.

She couldn't fathom how she might cause Gu Yu to face a mortal peril.

"Indeed, it might be an unintentional act of yours, or it could be a targeted disaster. Regardless of which it is, you play a key role in the mortal peril," Taoist Pan said with mixed emotions.

"Impossible, Xinyue, don't listen to his nonsense."

In that moment, Gu Yu interrupted Taoist Pan, his expression somewhat irate.

Today was supposed to be a good day for Lin Xinyue, but Taoist Pan's words had ruined her mood completely.

Gu Yu would never tolerate such a thing happening.

Divination and interpretation were all based on Taoist Pan's mere words, which he definitely didn't believe!

"Young friend, whether you believe it or not, your fate is destined to include this peril of death. Even if I wished to help you, it's beyond my capability. It's all up to your own fate now."

"If you overcome this peril, you will one day dominate the universe and achieve the status of a Great Immortal," Pan Shi said excitedly, "Of course, 'Great Immortal' is just my term, not that you would really become a deity."

"Nonsense, let's go, Xinyue!"

Noticing that Lin Xinyue's face had turned pale, clearly affected by Taoist Pan's words, Gu Yu quickly took her hand and led her out of the back room.

Taoist Pan watched their hurried departure, only sighing deeply.

In a whisper audible only to himself, he said, "There indeed exists such a fate in the world... how strange."