The affairs of the world flow like water, each meticulously crafted to immerse people in their own carefully constructed "spheres"—spheres of emotion, of resonance, of pleasure, of calculation.
People live within their own isolated spheres, even if those spheres are built upon falsehoods and lies. In a world where truth itself is debatable, desire and deception thrive unchecked, indistinguishable from reality.
When he first arrived, he stole travel funds from two strangers without hesitation—merely to test his own magic. Back then, he had been far more dismissive of this world. Even now, he refused to consider it a mistake.
This did not make him cold-blooded. It was simply that the laws of demons differed entirely from those of mortals, and there was no need to follow the same rules. Just as different groups of people often formed different consensuses, none of which were absolute truths. His powers and his observations were more like cheat codes in this world—enough to secure his survival, at the very least.
Who knew why that sorcerer hadn't sealed away all his magic, condemning him to endure a wretched mortal life trapped in a human body with a demon's mind? But since his intellect and abilities remained intact, the laws of this world existed only for him to exploit.
Man proposes, Heaven disposes.
And his survival strategy had long been fixed upon "Yang Renzhu".
---
Renyin Day, Evening
The private room of **Moonview Pavilion** buzzed with noise and laughter. The guests—local officials, gentry, and even a few renowned scholars and painters—were in high spirits.
Yang Renzhu was the centerpiece of the banquet. As the servers brought out dish after dish—**lion's head meatballs with crab roe**, **imperial hotpot**, **Longjing tea-infused shrimp**—and were about to present the **West Lake vinegar fish**, a sudden voice cut through the chatter:
"Governor Yang, I've brought the diviner you requested."
The deputy steward of "Muan Prefecture" stepped aside, bowing deeply as a plainly dressed yet striking man stepped forward.
Chopsticks paused mid-air as all eyes turned toward him.
The man lowered his head in a deferential bow. His features were refined, his eyes slightly upturned at the corners, lending him an air of scholarly humility when downcast. His posture was erect, his face like polished jade, every movement exuding an unshakable calm.
"Esteemed lords, forgive my intrusion. This humble one is **Bai Changming**, a native of Lin'an. My family has practiced medicine and divination for four generations. Hearing of Governor Yang's mastery of astrology, I sought an opportunity to exchange knowledge. Though unworthy, I accepted the invitation. To disturb your banquet is inexcusable."
As he spoke, Bai Changming felt the weight of their scrutiny.
Yang Renzhu's eyes widened in surprise.
Before he could speak, the half-drunk **Prefect of Yangzhou**, cheeks flushed, waved a hand. "You've got the looks, kid. Let's see what you can do—entertain us." His gaze swept the room, met with nods of agreement.
Bai Changming bowed again, suppressing the instinct to frown at the reek of alcohol.
"The *Book of Changes* encompasses all things. This humble one specializes in the **Hexagram of All Beings**, using objects of heaven and earth to divine past and future fortunes. With the Mandate's guidance, my readings are accurate eight or nine times out of ten. If the lords are curious, I shall embarrass myself with a demonstration."
"You're saying you can divine *anything* from past to present?" Yang Renzhu's gaze sharpened. This unsolicited display had initially annoyed him—if the man turned out to be all show, it would reflect poorly on them all.
But there was something unsettling about him. Outwardly meek, yet the moment he stepped in, he had staked both his own dignity and Yang Renzhu's reputation on this gamble.
*Humility in posture, arrogance in essence!*
"Then tell me this: in the southeast chamber of **Muan Prefecture**, a mural was destroyed last year. How did it happen?" Fueled by wine, Yang Renzhu made no effort to soften the challenge.
The room fell silent. Several diners quietly withdrew their chopsticks. The southeast chamber was accessible only to Yang Renzhu's inner circle—who besides his family would even know about a mural destroyed so long ago?
Bai Changming remained as unreadable as still water. With another bow, he plucked three flat leaves from the **podocarpus**盆栽 by the door.
"One side represents *yang*, the other *yin*," he explained, then cast the first leaf. It landed *yang*-side up. He marked it on his sleeve with a brush, repeating the process six times.
"Governor, this hexagram is **Mountain over Fire (贲)**. I dare infer: the upper trigram, *Mountain*, suggests the mural depicted landscapes. Though water was present in its creation, the hexagram favors fire's dominance—so water appears only thematically, symbolizing transience. The lower trigram, *Fire*, indicates sudden, violent destruction. Thus, I conclude the mural was lost to accidental burning."
Yang Renzhu sobered instantly. A long silence followed.
The guests stared, the feast forgotten.
At the far end of the table, the **Minister of War, Geng Yin**, set down his chopsticks. There was something unnerving about this diviner's certainty—an instinctive wariness, as if glimpsing the eyes of a viper in the dark.
"...You're correct." Yang Renzhu chose not to press further.
"The mural—*Spring Mountains by Flowing Water*—was lost last June. Summer heat, stray fireworks from the neighbors... Your skill is impressive."
"Ah, but one success isn't enough to convince us!" The **Prefect of Liuzhou** grinned. "Since you've boasted such accuracy, let's test you again. Can you divine *this*?"
"At your service, my lord." Bai Changming bowed, reset the leaves, and listened without a flicker of emotion.