Bai Changming maintained his placid demeanor as Liuzhou's governor posed the third challenge. The official's documents buried at his ex-wife's grave - a drunken test of divination skills.
His answers flowed like water smoothing stones, exposing mortal psychological twists as easily as observing ants beneath a magnifying glass. Though playing the humble guest, he now orchestrated events like a detached puppeteer.
The third questioner's trembling hand produced a yellowed portrait from his sleeve: "Master Bai, though I've never believed in spirits... this is my grandmother who disappeared during her dementia two years ago. When will she return?"
Genuine desperation pierced Bai's detachment. Accepting the portrait, he cast leaves again.
The Feng Lei Yi hexagram emerged - wind over thunder, indicating southeast direction with withered vegetation. A clear omen of death. Bai fabricated comforting lies. The man tearfully vowed to dispatch search parties.
Locking eyes with him, Bai felt unexpected fissures in his clinical detachment.
Subsequent divinations touched on official careers and fortunes. Bai strategically laced responses with astrological terms - knowing Yang Renzhu's obsessions, understanding power's addiction to certainty. Each word aimed to ripple through the Prefect's psyche.
Leaving Moonview Tower under Langui Festival fireworks, Bai jingled heavy silver in his pouch. Sleeves scribbled with hexagrams resembled children's doodles. Everything proceeded as planned.
Securing lodgings near Mystic Star Pavilion, he purchased antique texts and inkstones. Shuiqian's map rested against his chest. Briefly recalling the portrait-seeking official, he dismissed the thought - their worlds would never intersect again.
Fireworks illuminated empty streets. Behind closed doors, laughter and arguments intertwined. Did distant deities watch these ephemeral sparks? Bai lingered until the last ember died.
"Look sister! So many stars!" The bandaged boy pointed excitedly.
Shuiqian's gaze turned distant as she held his hand. "Can people live on stars? Can we wave to them?" His eyes mirrored starlight.
"Perhaps. See the Milky Way? Countless stars dwell there." She knelt, tracing constellations: "That's Vega... Lyra's triangle... the Southern Pole Star... the Big Dipper above us... Orion at the far right..."
"You know everything!"
Her smile held secrets. "Enough stargazing. Your wounds need warmth." She led him inside.
The night sky kept its silence, the waning moon swaying with unspoken emotions.