Chapter Nineteen: Heavenly Machinery

  However, Xu Xian also understood that the fish spirit would definitely use some tricks to deceive people's eyes. But he could understand very well that such a beautiful face in this bustling city would stir up countless troubles, and was indeed a beauty who could topple cities and ruin states.

  Pan Yu took over the conversation again, and Xu Xian thought to himself: This kind of social interaction should be left to this guy with full charm attributes. Xu Xian was leisurely sipping the tea on the table while admiring the decorations in the hall, but couldn't see anything special about the tea tables, chairs, and other furniture, only that they were arranged very neatly, indeed having a unique elegance.

  The most eye-catching thing in the hall is still a big "Dao" character on the wall. Normally, at this position of the Daoist temple, there should be statues of the Three Pure Ones and the Four Sovereigns, but now there is only one Dao character, and it's unclear what it means.

  Pan Yutong's conversation with Yu Xuanji continued, having long since deviated from the original topic and becoming a free-ranging discussion that covered everything from Taoist classics to antiques and calligraphy. For the first time in her life, Pan felt like she had met someone who could match wits with her in terms of breadth of knowledge.

  She involuntarily glanced at Xian Xu beside her, perhaps only this strange guy! He was just an ordinary bookworm, but he always came up with some unheard-of and fascinating theories.

  And he still owes her a story!

  Yu Xuanji noticed Pan Yu's gaze, but merely responded with a slight pursing of her lips as she sipped her tea, revealing a swan-like neck and displaying an elegant demeanor.

  Xu Xian watched the two calamity-level "beauties" chatting, smiling and complimenting each other. Those who didn't know would have thought it was a romantic affair. But Xu Xian felt a hint of unnaturalness, as if every smile hid a sharp tongue and sword-like words behind it. He shook his head, thinking it was just his own misconception.

  Pan Yu has been using various topics to probe and induce the female Taoist in front of her, which is what she is extremely good at. The various techniques in "Gui Gu Zi" have been fully utilized in her hands. Either praising to increase his favor or criticizing to shake his heart, sometimes it's the profound and solemn Taoist scriptures, and sometimes it's the frivolous and casual flowers, birds, fish, and insects.

  But Pan Yu's words of disappointment had no effect. The other person's eyes were clear, and their breathing was still calm, obviously not someone who could be moved by words.

  He finally calmed down and came back to his senses, only to see that Xu Xian had already eaten half of the pastries on the table and drunk half a pot of tea.

  I couldn't help but smile and sigh, this isn't someone who can be moved by words. Moreover, his straightforwardness makes one involuntarily put aside all pretenses and interact with him with the same sincerity.

  Yu Xuanji smiled brightly and said: "It seems that Master Xu likes the tea snacks I made?" She referred to herself as "I" in her speech, rather than using the usual Daoist self-reference of "poor Dao".

  Xu Xian hastily swallowed the dim sum in his mouth and praised, "Delicious! Whoever marries you will be blessed." He spent the whole afternoon chatting with Li Si Ming, feeling hungry, but the dim sum on the table was fragrant and not greasy, just right for his taste. Paired with the light and elegant jasmine tea, he found his appetite greatly increased.

  But this sentence, which is extremely common in modern times to praise someone, is very inappropriate for an ancient person or a monk. Xu Xian had just spoken and felt that he had misspoken, but fortunately, Yu Xuanji didn't seem to be angry, and instead said: "That's good, if you like it, you can come and sit down often."

  Pan Yuxin furrowed her brow, the woman in front of her seemed mysterious and unpredictable, but she seemed to be extremely fond of Xu Xian. Even with their original faces, it seemed that both of them were moved by Xu Xian's words. But if someone said that Yu Xuanji had worldly thoughts, Pan Yuxin would not believe it at all. As for what the specific reason was, she couldn't think clearly either.

  Could it be that Xu Xian really has a fate with the Taoist priest? Suddenly, such a sentence popped up in Pan Yu's mind, and she couldn't help but laugh at herself for believing such an absurd thing.

  "The road is long and it's getting late, I won't disturb you any further today. About the First Snow Festival?" Pan Yu stood up to bid farewell, mentioning the purpose of his visit.

  Yu Xuanji took out a letter from her sleeve and said: "The date is in the letter."

  Pan Yu took the envelope and said, "The Taoist priest's mind is unfathomable, I wonder if he can help us decipher our fate?" But she deliberately forgot the rules of the three trigrams that day.

  Yu Xuanji seemed to have forgotten her own rules and said with a smile: "What's wrong with that! You are the symbol of great wealth and nobility, but you have too much Yin energy, I'm afraid there are many calamities in your fate. You still need to be careful when doing things."

  This kind of talk about being rich and noble, with a fate predetermined by heaven, is something that any fortune teller would say, but the phrase "yin energy too strong" made Pan Yu feel a shock, as he smiled on the surface while intently staring at Yu Xuanji in front of him.

  Her body under her clothes tensed up slightly, if the person in front of her showed even a hint of seeing through her, she would immediately kill her on the spot. But Pan Yu couldn't read anything from that calmly smiling face. She could only quietly relax her body, thinking to herself that she was being too tense.

  "What about mine?"

  Yu Xuanji didn't look at Xu Xian as casually as before, but instead stared intently into his eyes, trying to see through them and discern the things in his soul, which made Xu Xian tense up.

  After a long time.

  "It doesn't show."

  Yu Xuanji said bluntly, leaving the two speechless for a moment. The emotions they had been building up all day were suddenly gone.

  Yu Xuanji smiled and said: "Today I'm exhausted, let's wait until tomorrow to see what happens."

  Pan Yu blinked her eyes, raised the corner of her lips and smiled: "Han Wen, come take a look tomorrow!"

  Pan Yutong and Yu Xuanji exchanged a smile, as if there was some kind of tacit understanding between them.

  Xu Xian felt a chill run down his spine, what was this eerie atmosphere, where did this hostility come from? Was it just my imagination? It seemed that not eating enough lunch could indeed cause hallucinations. Damn Li Si Ming, it's all your fault.

  At the time of farewell, Xu Xian suddenly became curious and said: "That, Fish Daozhang, can I ask you a question?"

  "What's wrong?"

  "Is the child really that old man's?" Xian said, feeling a bit embarrassed about her own gossip. It was only natural to refuse to answer questions involving personal privacy, wasn't it? Weren't doctors and lawyers in her past life like that too?

  "Of course not!" Yu Xuanji's expression was a matter of course, without any hidden intentions.

  Xu Xian was speechless, what kind of professional ethics is this! And don't overturn your own calculated results so quickly!

  Xu Xian stuttered: "Th-that one, th-that one"

  "I'm just cheating him!"

  Too straightforward, and there's no sign of guilt on his face, as if cheating is a matter of course.

  Yu Xuanji continued, "Those who seek truth obtain truth, those who seek illusions obtain illusions. I suppose Mr. Pan can understand that!"

  Pan Yuxiao smiled and shook her head in incomprehension. In this small Taoist temple, in front of the beautiful Taoist priestess, she found herself smiling more than usual.

  Xu Xian was speechless. If he were to tell the old servant the truth, it would be another tragic scene! The unborn child would definitely never have a chance to be born, and the concubine might even be beaten to death. As for the servant himself, who knows what consequences there would be in his fit of rage? Which is more precious, the happiness brought by lies or the misfortune brought by truth?

  Along the way back, it was still that patch of bamboo forest, only this time Xu Xian was surprised to find that there wasn't much bamboo forest at all, just a few clusters of bamboo scattered around the yard, which gave off an impression of being endless yet fragmented. This time, he only walked for a short while before turning around a fake mountain and arriving in front of the main gate, exiting the Taoist temple. Looking back, it was indeed just a small Taoist temple.

  In the Taoist temple, Pan Yu gazed at the wisps of blue smoke in the incense burner and fell into deep thought.

  "Master, what was that just now? That Pan Yutian is so scary! But he's still far from being as good as you, Master." The little girl patted her chest, still feeling the lingering fear. Just now in the bamboo forest, a sudden surge of intense energy almost made her lose control and reveal her true form.

  Yu Xuanji gently patted the little girl's head and smiled: "At such a young age, you've already learned to flatter and curry favor. Have you finished today's homework? And how many times have I told you, I'm not your master. In our school of magic, only those with great destiny can cultivate it. I'm just your temporary guide."

  Bamboo shook her head and said: "Bamboo doesn't practice any particular method, Bamboo just wants to call you Master! Besides, Bamboo now has a lifespan of several hundred years, how can it be said that she is still young?" In her heart, she knew that this wise and intelligent Master's biggest problem was being too eager to teach others. However, of course, there were also very few disciples who could gain her respect.

  Yu Xuanji smiled slightly and let her go, but instead warned: "These two people are not ordinary people, don't provoke them easily. Pan Yuming's fate is extremely unusual, it seems like there is something covering up a treasure on his body, I can only calculate one or two out of ten, as for that Xu Xian..." She paused, revealing a thoughtful expression "If my guess is correct, he should be your Shifu."

  "Ah!" Zhūn'er covered her mouth "Is he the one Master said has great fate?"

  "I'm also not sure." Yu Xuanji lightly shook her head.

  Sunzi followed her for many years and it was the first time he saw her with such a puzzled expression, so he couldn't help but ask: "Can't even Master Lian be certain?"