Chapter 74: A Back-and-Forth Battle of Fate Analysis

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Chapter 74: A Back-and-Forth Battle of Fate Analysis

Lan Jingwei took the paper and pen and, following Chen Yuan and the others’ instructions without hesitation, covered the paper with one hand while using the other to write down his Bazi.

The people around him tactfully turned away or averted their eyes. After all, someone’s Bazi was private information, and in Huaxia, prying into such matters could easily make you an enemy. Lan Jingwei was something of a notable figure among the freshmen, and no one wanted to make an enemy for no reason. They were only here to watch the spectacle, after all.

Once Lan Jingwei had written his Bazi on the paper, he folded it, looked up, and glanced at Kong Quanlu, then Chen Yuan. He seemed unsure of whom to hand the paper to. But just as he was about to give it to Chen Yuan, Chen Yuan spoke first.

“Student Kong, you first.” Being courteous was, after all, a traditional virtue.

No one noticed the subtle smile on Yu Shenliu’s face at that moment. He felt that Lan Jingwei was similar to him, and Lan Jingwei’s actions just now had further confirmed that impression. Put simply, that little move of Lan Jingwei’s was something he himself had already played out years ago. Wasn’t it just a way of showing a vicarious trust toward someone trusted by Huo Jian? It was nothing more than making people develop a favorable impression of him without them realizing it. Still, the fact that he could remain this calm even after Chen Yuan interrupted him showed that he had some ability.

Kong Quanlu first nodded to Chen Yuan in thanks before taking the piece of paper. He unfolded it slightly and took a quick glance, then handed it to Chen Yuan.

Chen Yuan did the same as Kong Quanlu. He merely raised his eyes and glanced over the writing on the paper before handing it back to Lan Jingwei.

The two exchanged a glance, then simultaneously picked up their pens and began writing down their judgments of Lan Jingwei’s fate on their respective sheets of paper.

Even though everyone around them was extremely curious, they did their best to avert their eyes rather than stare at what the two fate-analysts were writing.

Whether it was due to some inexplicable understanding between them or something else, after writing only a few words in a matter of seconds, the two fate-analysts turned their papers facedown and handed them to Lan Jingwei at the same time.

As if he shared in this unspoken understanding, Lan Jingwei took the two sheets of paper and, shielding them from view, stole a glance before returning them to Chen Yuan and Kong Quanlu.

The same four characters were written on both sheets.

[Turn Misfortune into Fortune.]

The two had ended the first round in a draw. But with just four characters, this was nothing more than a warm-up, so there wasn’t much to say about it. Lan Jingwei also understood that, judging by reputation, Chen Yuan’s was definitely greater than Kong Quanlu’s. His ability should naturally match his reputation.

The people beside them were completely baffled and had no idea what these people were doing, yet they were still thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. Huo Jian, standing nearby, couldn’t help tugging on Lan Jingwei’s arm and asking, “How was it?”

“They’re both very accurate. But when the result is the same, there’s no way to tell who’s better,” Lan Jingwei replied quietly.

Only then did the people around them realize that Chen Yuan and Kong Quanlu had actually given Lan Jingwei the exact same answer. They just had no idea what the two had written on those sheets in such a short amount of time.

Chen Yuan didn’t pay much attention to Lan Jingwei’s answer. He wrote a few more words on the paper, then once again handed it to Lan Jingwei at the same time as Kong Quanlu.

Lan Jingwei looked at what was written on the paper and found that, once again, the answers were remarkably similar.

Chen Yuan had written: [Brilliant literary talent, with Wenqu descending into the mortal world; gifted in all things related to learning and the arts.]

Kong Quanlu had written: [Unparalleled intelligence and strategy, clever, perceptive, and benevolent; astonishingly gifted in all things related to Wenqu.]

How strange. Although both of them were highly capable, and what they had divined was accurate, some overlap was only to be expected. But for even the order to be the same, that was quite interesting.

Lan Jingwei once again returned the papers to Chen Yuan and Kong Quanlu.

The people around them had also begun to understand what was going on. The two fate-analysts had once again written things that proved to be accurate, and once again, their answers were practically identical. Although no one could see what was written on the papers, they were still thoroughly engrossed. More and more people had gathered in the dorm room to watch the spectacle. However, with limited space, quite a few people ended up standing in the hallway or even all the way downstairs, asking around and trying to find out what was happening.

Of course, the people in the dorm’s living room paid no attention to all the excitement outside. Everyone’s attention was focused on the contest between Chen Yuan and Kong Quanlu.

Chen Yuan and Kong Quanlu continued repeating the same sequence: writing something down, handing it to Lan Jingwei, confirming that they had drawn again, and then writing something new.

By now, Lan Jingwei was no longer as calm as he had been at the beginning when reading the papers they had given him. The things Chen Yuan and Kong Quanlu wrote were practically dissecting him, analyzing him in meticulous detail, as if not even a single strand of hair had been overlooked. This was no longer a matter of people saying how “mystical” fortune-tellers were. To this degree, it was downright frightening. A person could actually use your Bazi to see straight through you, including thoughts you had never told anyone and hidden sides of your personality you had never revealed, and simply write them all down on paper!

Chen Yuan wrote: [Great ambitions and the ability to accomplish great things.]

Kong Quanlu wrote: [A heart that embraces the world, with the spirit to swallow ten thousand miles.]

Chen Yuan wrote: [Haunted by doubts, overthinking that drains the spirit.]

Kong Quanlu wrote: [Plagued by suspicion, calculating every possible move.]

Chen Yuan wrote: [Strong and self-reliant, with the bearing of a king.]

Kong Quanlu wrote: [Independent and self-assured, with an exceptionally strong mind of his own.]

These were essentially saying the same thing. And there were also descriptions that seemed to contrast sharply on the surface but were, in the end, saying the same thing.

Kong Quanlu wrote: [Frank and upright, pure-hearted, kind, and amiable.]

Chen Yuan, however, showed no mercy and wrote: [The truly treacherous can appear loyal, seeming pure and kind.]

When Lan Jingwei saw what Chen Yuan had written, it felt as though the secrets hidden in his heart had been dissected open and laid bare beneath the sun. A layer of cold sweat even broke out across his back. Looking at Chen Yuan’s calm expression, he felt an inexplicable sense of fear toward him.

To conceal his emotions, he instinctively returned the papers in his hands to Chen Yuan and Kong Quanlu again. And that only made the cold sweat on his back intensify.

This time, Kong Quanlu wrote: [Strong-minded, unconventional, standing head and shoulders above the crowd.]

Chen Yuan’s words, however, were much more blunt. He showed no consideration for Lan Jingwei’s feelings at all and wrote directly: [Like Cao Cao in nature, with a mind full of schemes; discussing heroes over wine.]

What did “discussing heroes over wine” mean? Naturally, it referred to Cao Cao and Liu Bei discussing the heroes of the world over wine, declaring that the only true heroes under Heaven were the two of them! This was precisely Lan Jingwei’s state of mind. There were only a handful of people in this world whom he truly considered worthy of his attention. He was proud of his own abilities and way of thinking, lonely because his thoughts differed from those of others, and even enjoyed that sense of superiority that came with being alone at the top.

Chen Yuan had actually analyzed his innermost thoughts to this extent, relying on nothing more than a single set of Bazi?

Lan Jingwei felt an inexplicable sense of fear. Yet at the same time, that fear made him eager to test the limits. He wanted to know just how far these two fate-analysts could actually go.

The sensation was exhilarating. It wasn’t the kind of thrill that came from taking some kind of risk, but the thrill born from the danger of being completely exposed and seen through. At that moment, Lan Jingwei felt every nerve in his body tense, while a strange mixture of pleasure and fear slowly spread through his heart.

This time, Kong Quanlu wrote: [Signs of a late marriage.]

Lan Jingwei froze when he saw it. Late marriage? His eyes instinctively wanted to turn toward Huo Jian, but he forcibly restrained himself. The problem was, there was no way to verify what Kong Quanlu had written this time without waiting several years, right?

Kong Quanlu wasn’t stupid. He naturally understood that what they needed for this contest were things that could be verified immediately. The only reason he hadn’t written anything more was that he couldn’t obtain any more information.

Then what about Chen Yuan?

Lan Jingwei looked at Chen Yuan’s sheet of paper, but the moment he saw it, his pupils contracted.

What Chen Yuan had written was, once again, something that cut straight into the depths of Lan Jingwei’s personality.

[Sharp-minded and observant, never letting his emotions show. Overthinks everything, wavering in his decisions. Believes himself second to none, with a tiger in his heart. Coldly observing the world, looking down on the mortal realm.]

He could actually see even things this deeply buried!?

Lan Jingwei had always known that, deep down, he had a tendency to look down on others. Yet no one had ever noticed this side of him. From a very young age, he had understood that if he revealed this coldness, he would be ostracized. He wouldn’t be praised and elevated for being exceptionally talented; he would be treated like a monster and rejected. So he had always hidden it extremely well. Yet today, based solely on the few characters of his Bazi that he had written down, Chen Yuan had exposed his secret to this extent!

Lan Jingwei even wondered if the saying that fortune-tellers revealed Heaven’s secrets had actually been started by people who had been thoroughly dissected by them. Perhaps they were simply afraid that their secrets would be exposed so completely. If someone wanted to target them, it would be far too easy!

And in the face of someone like this, Mayor Yu, Yu Shenliu, could actually continue associating with Chen Yuan? Faced with someone who could see straight through him, didn’t he feel even the slightest bit afraid?

Lan Jingwei knew he was drenched in sweat. Perhaps being analyzed like this meant nothing to other people, but for someone like him, who was accustomed to hiding himself, having someone see straight through him was terrifying beyond words. Yu Shenliu should be the same kind of person as him, yet he could remain so relaxed in a situation like this? Was it because he was still too young and couldn’t compare to Yu Shenliu?

“Lan Jingwei, how is it?” Seeing that Lan Jingwei was simply standing there holding the two sheets of paper from this round without moving, Huo Jian couldn’t help asking as he waited for the result.

As if jolted awake, Lan Jingwei suddenly realized where he was and what he was doing. And he realized something else as well: Huo Jian was Chen Yuan’s disciple. Perhaps one day, he too would possess abilities that could never be explained by science. But when that day came, would Lan Jingwei be as afraid of him as he was of Chen Yuan now?

No. He wouldn’t. Because he knew that person was Huo Jian.

And Yu Shenliu… his state of mind should be the same as his own, right?

The tension he had been feeling suddenly eased.

Lan Jingwei calmly folded the two sheets of paper, tucked them into his pocket, then swept his gaze over the people staring at him. In the same unhurried manner, he said, “Thank you both for reading my fate.”

“Although President Kong’s abilities are extraordinary, I’m afraid Master Chen is still a cut above.” It was practically as if Chen Yuan had dissected him completely. Chen Yuan should have won several rounds ago, but Lan Jingwei had merely dragged things out. He wondered if this would make Chen Yuan think more highly of Kong Quanlu. In any case, it had nothing to do with him.

After giving his verdict, he turned to Chen Yuan and Kong Quanlu and asked, almost as if seeking confirmation, “I assume neither of you has any objections?”

Kong Quanlu let out a breath, a bitter smile appearing on his face. “Of course I don’t. Master Chen’s abilities have always been far beyond mine. I was simply overestimating myself.” However, this was also an unavoidable case of overestimating himself. After all, he wasn’t acting solely on his own. He was the president of the Metaphysics Club at Xishu Academy, and behind him stood a fate-analyst master like Zhou Qin.

Chen Yuan didn’t offer Kong Quanlu any insincere consolation. He simply nodded.

The room fell silent once again.

Then, all at once, a thunderous round of applause erupted.

Everyone who had been watching the contest between Chen Yuan and Kong Quanlu began clapping. No one even knew who had started it. Not a single person knew what had been written on those sheets of paper, yet at that moment, they applauded as excitedly as if they had just witnessed a miracle of the world.

That inexplicable excitement spread from the room to the staircase, until everyone gathered inside and outside the dormitory was clapping, while also asking what exactly they were applauding for.

It was simply herd mentality. When everyone was doing the same thing, if you didn’t join in, you became the odd one out.

A trace of pride appeared on Yu Shenliu’s face. At that moment, he felt honored by association. After all, in his mind, he and Chen Yuan were practically one and the same. Everyone was expressing their admiration for Chen Yuan, so he naturally basked in the reflected glory. When Chen Yuan looked over, he even gave him a wink. The unexpectedly playful gesture startled Chen Yuan, who was used to Yu Shenliu maintaining his composure even when shamelessly thick-skinned. Yu Shenliu actually had a side like this?

However, Chen Yuan quickly realized that they were under everyone’s watchful eyes. Had everyone seen what he had just done? He couldn’t help feeling a little embarrassed and forcibly suppressed the urge to blush.

But this wasn’t the end. Everyone understood that Kong Quanlu was merely Zhou Qin’s disciple, while Zhou Qin was the one who was truly on par with Chen Yuan in reputation.

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