Fellow Daoist! That scoundrel has written a new book again.

Zhu Wuyao was unaware that someone was blackmailing her after she left.

The Pei family is not a benevolent family, but Zhu Wuyao dared not make a move because the huge network of interests behind them was still in place. If the Pei family were removed, the next person sent here might be even more brutal.

The events in Nanli City taught her so much.

When doing things, one should not only consider whether it is just or not, but also whether it can bring real benefits to the weak. One should take on dangerous tasks oneself and not drag others down with one's actions.

Zhu Wuyao will leave sooner or later; she cannot act recklessly for her own sake and leave behind a mess.

Therefore, she forced the Pei family to confess and betray the organization, and then went west alone, intending to make them live in fear and thus protect herself.

At least don't be so blatant and harmful to the people.

She still diligently set up her fortune-telling stall all day, trying to lure Ye Xiaozhou out.

There were two of them when they set off from Zhongling City, but now that she is going to the western territory under the jurisdiction of Taibai Sect, even if they are not traveling together, they still have to say goodbye.

But Ye Xiaozhou seemed determined to part ways with her.

Or perhaps they're no longer in this town.

As she packed up her fortune-telling stall, she pondered Ye Xiaozhou's thoughts. Could it be that he was truly angry and had gone off to enjoy himself?

The lion dance that day truly revealed the difference in their behavior.

It's understandable that Ye Xiaozhou left in a huff.

But no matter how Zhu Wuyao thought about it, he felt that something was not right.

Although Zhu Wuyao hadn't spent much time with Ye Xiaozhou, he understood her fairly well. If he had really angered her, would Ye Xiaozhou have left so easily?

Before leaving, I'll probably have to come and whack her, tease her and get revenge to vent my anger.

May Wuyao remain safe and sound to this day.

Therefore, Ye Xiaozhou's departure was definitely not due to anger, but rather—

She's just making excuses to break up with the group so she can go out and have fun on her own!

Zhu Wuyao understood this, and gritted his teeth as he began to pack up his fortune-telling stall.

She vowed that she would not be friends with Ye Xiaozhou for the rest of the year.

These past few days, Zhu Wuyao has practically traveled all over town, visiting restaurants, theaters, and teahouses one by one in search of Ye Xiaozhou.

Unfortunately, there was no sign of them.

Not only was Ye Xiaozhou avoiding her, but Zhu Wuyao had also gone to the wrong place.

She had never been to brothels or casinos, nor had she gone to search for that intense red color on a small boat on the river under the moonlit willow branches, so she couldn't find anyone.

Ye Xiaozhou found the places Zhu Wuyao liked to go to uninteresting.

Where Ye Xiaozhou was, Zhu Wuyao was never seen.

Just like when they first met, if it weren't for a copper coin pointing the way, Ye Xiaozhou would never have gone to the Ink Trace Bookstore, never had that uniquely titled storybook, and never had known that speechless gentleman.

They certainly wouldn't show up in the middle of the night without prior arrangement.

They are different by nature. It's good if they get together, but if they accidentally get separated, it will be difficult to meet again.

Zhu Wuyao has his own things to do; he's already been delayed for too long and can't afford to waste any more time.

Rare.

She was alone.

Zhu Wuyao has always had people by her side, and now that she is traveling alone, she doesn't feel too lonely.

Because there are also monsters, bandits, and reckless rogue cultivators on the road.

In comparison, those in charge of the Juque Sect are truly inhuman. They allowed the demon beast to roam freely in the mountains for over a hundred years, which not only gave it sentience but also nearly allowed it to cultivate its innate supernatural powers.

The dispatched disciples stationed nearby pretended not to see it.

It was a chance encounter with a rogue cultivator who revealed the secret to it:

"The Juque Sect doesn't care. They've raised the demon beasts to adulthood, so maybe one day they'll be able to extract their demon cores."

For over ten years, the wild beast was killed and eaten.

The beast king, who had reigned for decades, was skinned alive.

A monster that had existed for hundreds of years was destroyed, and its core was extracted.

The Juque Sect sees not only the hardworking people, but also the food for the demon beasts.

Compared to them, Li, the city management officer from Jiguanshan who schemes against sects and deceives people, is truly lovable and respectable.

Zhu Wuyao would stop at every town he visited, using the game of chess to gather information and search for old friends.

Occasionally, upon learning of bandits or monsters lurking nearby, and after assessing their own strength, they would always venture out to confront them.

Zhu Wuyao is probably a good person, but not to this extent.

To be honest, it's somewhat driven by self-interest.

If fate decrees that they will meet again, she should do more good deeds; perhaps her luck will improve, and she will be able to reunite sooner.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Star-catching tower.

The sun is shining brightly today, and Shen Anzhi is airing out his books.

He was indeed a scholar, and his residence housed a vast collection of books. If it weren't necessary, Shen Anzhi could have remained on the mountain for the rest of his life.

The mountain is quiet and peaceful with few people and little activity.

Especially after Junior Sister Gu returned, Shen Anzhi had even more free time.

He opened a book, and a sheet of Xuan paper fluttered down.

Shen Anzhi picked it up. It turned out to be a luck-changing talisman that had been formed when he taught Zhu Wuyao how to draw talismans at the Longevity Inn.

I had forgotten about it.

Shen Anzhi found it strange at the time. It was just ordinary Xuan paper, not even talisman paper, and the talisman for changing one's luck was particularly difficult to draw.

Moreover, Zhu Wuyao's cultivation level was extremely low back then.

It's amazing that they were able to draw a lucky charm.

He took out the luck charm again today and still felt strange.

Thinking that Junior Sister Zhu was rather strange, Shen Anzhi decided to ask Sect Leader Fang about it.

In the Enlightenment Hall, Sect Leader Fang took the talisman, unfolded it, and said:

"Was this painted by Zhu Wuyao?"

Shen Anzhi asked, somewhat puzzled:

"Master, how did you know?"

Sect Leader Fang placed the talisman paper on the table. The runes on it were extremely rough, indicating that the person who wrote it was very unfamiliar with the art of talismans.

No matter how I look at it, this shouldn't have been drawn.

But it turned out to be true.

All I can say is that this is fate.

Sect Leader Fang did not answer, but looked at the luck-changing talisman and began to explain its inner workings:

"The perspectives of humans and Heaven are not entirely the same; what is beneficial to this world may not necessarily be beneficial to humans."

Shen Anzhi nodded; he certainly understood this principle.

When the human race prospers, they open up mountains, cut down trees, hunt beasts, divert water, and seize spiritual energy. This world prospers because of the prosperity of the human race, but this prosperity is excessive. When the human race's fortune is flourishing, cultivators emerge in large numbers, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is absorbed for their own use without giving back.

Therefore, there are natural disasters, man-made calamities, and great calamities, which maintain the balance between man and nature.

Cultivating the Tao is inherently going against the will of Heaven.

Sect Leader Fang continued, "So, this luck-changing talisman, which seeks fortune from the heavens, how could the result be so unsatisfactory?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Anzhi paused for a moment, then said:

"Master, I don't quite understand."

"To ask the heavens for your fortune is to give the heavens an opportunity to manipulate you. They will use fate as bait to lead you to a result that is favorable to them."

Shen Anzhi pondered for a moment and said:

"So the luck-changing talisman is useful, but those with strong ambitions in divination should not use it."

As always, Sect Leader Fang didn't respond and continued speaking to himself:

"With the destruction of the Moon Pavilion, the human race should rise. The Heavenly Way is incomplete, thus giving the divination cultivators an opportunity to take advantage of the situation."

"Correcting and restoring everything to its proper place is the instinct of the Way of Heaven."

"Those who flee from fate will eventually meet their doom... Alas!"