Palace of Longevity (Remake)

Cael laughed awkwardly, explaining, "Reading something like that won't help you, you know?"

Zixin tilts his head, asking with a straight face, "Why?"

Cael tried to clear his throat before explaining further, "To put it simply, people don't enjoy it whenever they don't get treated the way they want to. So, using a book like that to understand people will make them uncomfortable."

Zixin then thought, trying to understand Cael's words, So this book is useless to me? I have to return it too… This seems like a waste of time. Forget it, I'll return it soon.

Zixin then asked, "So, how do you 'get along?'"

Cael pointed to himself, explaining with confidence, "Acting normally should do. Even though putting on masks helps, in the end, they won't help convey you truly are unless your mask is… faulty."

Cael then gestured for Zixin to follow him. Zixin didn't think much of it, so he followed Cael.

Not long after, within the bustling streets of Dawn Heart, Zixin wondered where Cael was leading him. Is it a shop? No, that doesn't seem quite right. Based on Cael's previous actions, he's most likely taking me to buy gifts for the kids. No, that doesn't seem quite right either. This is so strange, I've never felt so confused by someone, not including my dear sister of course.

Zixin's thoughts were interrupted when Cael halted his steps in front of a familiar shop. The windows were clear yet hints of dirt seemed to remain. The brick walls seemed sturdy at first glance but they clearly weren't. Time has already taken its toll, which has made Zixin puzzled beyond belief.

His thoughts moved in a flash, trying to process this flood of information, Huh?! I could have sworn that this shop looked fine before. Could it be the rain? No, it couldn't have eroded this so quickly. Did I just not notice this before? No, I clearly remembered this detail.

Zixin shook his head, unknowingly muttering, "Something is not right."

Zixin then looked at the sign which stated: 'House of Fortune.'

He thought, feeling somewhat exhausted, I must have just overthought it.

Zixin asked Cael, curious, "So, why did you take me here?"

Cael kindly explained, unbothered by Zixin's question, "I just want to see if our combined luck could help us pass."

Is luck a reasonable factor to add to the equation? Zixin thought, feeling quite neutral about the idea.

"Relying on such an unpredictable variable doesn't sound like a good idea," Zixin commented while following Cael.

After a few quick glances, the insides of the shop didn't look too different from what it was a few days ago. What was quite interesting this time was the fact that Rai was at the counter, waiting for clients.

Cael walked over to the counter, as Rai asked with a warm smile, "Oh, if it isn't Cael and Young Lord. I assume both of you wish for me to do a little bit of divination? Since you two are my first customers of the day, how about a twenty percent discount?"

Puzzlement crept into Zixin's face as he thought, These two know each other? I suppose that would make sense since Cael did bring me here but this still feels strange…

Cael laughed, smiling as he replied, "That would be wonderful."

Rai asked, not forgetting, "So, what divination method would you like me to use?"

Zixin commented, trying to probe, "I don't remember there being luck divinations."

Rai's smile widened, but he chose not to answer, instead, asking, "What room would you like to use?"

Cael answered, "The copper one please."

Rai then began to lead them down the hallway and eventually, inside a small copper colored room. Candles filled the table, glowing softly. Zixin and Cael sat down, opposite them was Rai.

Zixin asked, his curiosity rising, "Are we both being divined at the same time?"

Rai replied affirmatively, "It's more efficient that way."

Zixin continued to ask, "So, do I have to introduce myself again?"

Rai chuckled, explaining, "There is no need."

"Shall we begin?"

At the snap of his fingers, the candles dimmed as though they were fighting to survive.

Suddenly, strange visions began to flood Zixin's mind.

A man dressed in a black uniform swung a hook down.

Later on, the same man stabbed Zixin in the chest.

Zixin then began hearing strange whispers, "You shall be stabbed in the back, and live to see the sun fall."

Zixin snapped back to reality, cold sweat dripping down his face. He saw that the room was back to normal as though nothing ever occurred.

…

At a nearby cafe, the same one they had visited before Cael was recounting what he had experienced. His voice trembled but he still managed to keep himself composed, "How do I say this? I… uh… was drowning I guess? No, I think suffocating would be a better explanation. I was suffocating within a completely empty space, but I could move like I was in water."

Cael asked, sounding quite concerned, "So, what did you see?"

Zixin turned to look at the window, the sound of the streets calming his lost mind. He replied, now completely calm, "I was stabbed by someone."

Zixin made sure not to add the whispers since after hearing them, his intuition told him that he should keep it a secret.

Both of them sighed, Cael commented, "Well, that sure was an experience. It divined our fortune but I'm pretty sure it just divined our death. I probably can't fall asleep now. I'll just have nightmares."

Zixin stayed silent, pondering over the significance of those whispers, 'You shall be stabbed in the back, and live to see the sun fall.' What a cryptic message. I can barely make anything out of it. 'You shall be stabbed in the back,' seems very literal. But, the 'and live to see the sun fall,' doesn't seem literal. So, I will somehow manage to survive… I can't even enter the Hex Zone. How am I supposed to survive? And 'see the sun fall,' seems too ridiculous. How could the sun fall?

He shook his head, coming up with a conclusion: Maybe divination is just a scam.

Time flew by as Zixin and Cael parted ways.

Zixin headed back to the library to return the book. And once there, he handed the book back.

After taking a few walks within the library, he was met by Jinhua.