Translator: CinderTL
Feng Qi had initially dismissed Qin Shikong's divination as a mere joke.
Throughout his life, he had never heard of divination truly being able to predict a person's future trajectory or destiny.
But when Qin Shikong claimed he would die young, Feng Qi suddenly felt that the old Daoist might actually possess such abilities.
At that moment, Qin Shikong raised his Eight Trigrams Plate, tilted his head back to gaze at the starry sky, and began a second divination.
During the process, he occasionally glanced at Feng Qi.
After a series of incomprehensible manipulations, Qin Shikong's expression grew increasingly solemn.
As soon as Qin Shikong stopped moving, Feng Qi immediately asked:
"What does this divination reveal?"
"The hexagram has changed. I... it's best not to speak of it," Qin Shikong suddenly shook his head.
[This old Daoist is just messing with us! Beat him up!] the Narrator raged.
Feng Qi was equally perplexed. From Qin Shikong's expression, it was clear he had seen something significant.
Thinking this, he looked at Qin Shikong again and said:
"No matter what the hexagram shows, tell me. I can handle it."
Hearing this, Qin Shikong suddenly grinned widely and burst into laughter.
"Kid, I was just pulling your leg! You actually thought I could divine the future? What era do you live in? Still believing in this nonsense?"
Feng Qi: ...
At that moment, he truly felt the urge to strike Qin Shikong.
Yet, for some reason, he couldn't shake the feeling that Qin Shikong's words held a hidden meaning.
But since Qin Shikong refused to elaborate, he didn't press further.
"Do you believe in fate?" Qin Shikong suddenly asked, gazing at him intently.
"No!" Feng Qi replied without hesitation.
"Why not?"
"The path lies beneath my feet. How I walk it depends on my own choices. If the path I choose defies Heaven's Will, then I'll defy Heaven's Will itself."
"Hahaha! Well said! Don't let a difficult divination deter you. You're an interesting one, kid," Qin Shikong roared with laughter.
As he spoke, he pulled a gourd-shaped wine flask from his waist, uncorked it, and took a long swig.
"You're an interesting one, kid. Come, share a few sips with me."
With that, he tossed the flask to Feng Qi.
Feng Qi caught the flask and was about to take a drink when the Narrator's voice echoed in his mind:
[This flask probably has the old Taoist's spit on it. One sip and you'll get pregnant, right?]
Hearing the Narrator's words, Feng Qi immediately lost his appetite. With a hint of disgust, he tossed the flask back.
"I don't drink."
"This isn't ordinary wine. It's spirit medicine wine I carry with me—I only take a sip when I'm injured."
"I appreciate the offer, but I don't drink."
[Tsk, tsk. Just a few days ago, someone ordered a batch of ingredients to brew Clear Heart Wine, and now he's shamelessly claiming he doesn't drink? That's as fake as a scumbag telling a girl he's never been in love before. Heh, tui!]
Ignoring the Narrator's snarky commentary, he turned to Qin Shikong and asked, "May I ask your name?"
"Qin Shikong, of the Heaven-Pillar Domain Combat Team."
"It's an honor to meet you," Feng Qi replied with a polite smile.
"You probably haven't even heard of me. Spare me the formalities. You city folk always beat around the bush—it's really annoying," Qin Shikong said, waving his hand dismissively.
At this time, Qin Shikong's Heaven-Pillar Domain Combat Team had yet to break into the top hundred domain combat teams. He mistakenly assumed Feng Qi's words were mere flattery.
"Then, what brings you to Victory Academy?"
"To scout for promising recruits, of course. Our team suffered heavy losses at the Wind Ridge Domain Arena recently, so we need to replenish our ranks."
Qin Shikong answered candidly, revealing his purpose without hesitation.
He grinned at Feng Qi and asked, "Interested in joining the Heavenly Pillar Battle Group?"
"Nah, if I agreed, my principal would probably fly here overnight and drag me back kicking and screaming."
"True. You're a research talent. Joining the Heaven-Pillar Domain Combat Team would be a waste of your skills."
Hearing this, Feng Qi rolled his eyes before curiously asking, "Since you can tell fortunes, have you ever tried to predict your own future?"
Qin Shikong paused, then smiled and shook his head. "I've wanted to, but I've never actually done it."
"Why not? Is it like in novels, where fortune-tellers who reveal heavenly secrets or predict their own futures suffer a shortened lifespan?"
"Walking forward without knowing the future is what makes life full of surprises... Besides, fortune-telling is just a hobby of mine. It's never been accurate anyway."