The ever-shifting world carefully constructs various "fields" for immersion - emotional fields, resonant fields, hedonistic fields, transactional fields.
Humans dwell within their self-fashioned domains, even when built upon falsehoods. In a world where truth itself remains debatable, indistinguishable desires and lies thrive.
When first arriving, he stole travelers' purses merely to test his powers. Though initially dismissive of mortals, he still saw no fault in this behavior.
This didn't inherently brand him heartless - demonic codes differed entirely from human morality, no more needing alignment than different human factions required consensus. While no system held absolute truth, his observations and retained magic served as cheat codes for survival.
Why hadn't the Witch-Priest fully sealed his powers? Why spare him from enduring human frailty? Since retaining both intellect and magic, human laws became tools for his use.
*Man proposes, Heaven disposes.*
His immediate survival strategy now centered firmly on Yang Renzhu.
On Renyin Day's evening, Moonview Tower's private chamber buzzed with prefectural officials and local gentry. Calligraphers and painters of renown mingled amidst the clamor.
Yang Renzhu commanded attention as servers presented delicacies - crabmeat lion's head, imperial hotpot, Longjing tea shrimp. As the famed "West Lake vinegar fish" approached, a voice interrupted:
"Prefect Yang, your humble servant brings the divination master you sought." The deputy steward bowed, revealing a plain-robed man of exceptional bearing.
Chopsticks paused as guests turned.
The man bowed with scholarly humility, jade-like complexion glowing in lantern light. His movements exuded transcendent calm.
"Honored lords, forgive my intrusion. This Bai Changming from Lin'an hails from four generations of medical diviners. Hearing of Your Excellency's astrological prowess, I humbly seek exchange."
Yang's eyes widened in surprise. Before he could speak, the half-drunk Yangzhou prefect slurred: "Pretty face! Show us your tricks!" Nods of agreement rippled through the room.
Bai suppressed disgust at the wine-stench, bowing deeper. "The Book of Changes contains universal truths. Through object-based divination, I discern past and future fortunes with eighty percent accuracy. Allow this demonstration."
"You claim to divine *historical events*?" Yang's gaze turned piercing. This presumptuous youth had forced them both onto a public stage of credibility.
*Humility masking audacity!*
"Then tell me - how was the mural destroyed last year in Mu'an Bureau's southeast chamber?"
The question froze the room. That restricted chamber's details were known only to Yang's inner circle.
Unfazed, Bai plucked three flat leaves from a doorway podocarpus. "Yang surfaces denote positive forces, yin the negative." He cast the first leaf - yang side up. Marking his sleeve, he repeated the ritual six times.
"This hexagram is Shan Huo Bin. The mountain trigram suggests landscape themes in the lost mural. Though water featured in its creation, fire dominates - sudden flames reducing it to ashes. Thus I deduce accidental burning."
Yang sobered instantly. Silence gripped the feast.
Military Minister Geng Yin detected dangerous undercurrents beneath Bai's composure - like staring into a viper's eyes in darkness. "Accurate," Yang conceded. "Neighbor's fireworks ignited *Spring Mountains Flowing Water* last June. Impressive."
"One success proves little!" Liuzhou's governor challenged. "Divine this!"
Bai reset his leaves with unchanged serenity. "Your question, my lord?"