Early in the morning, Fei Tang practiced swordsmanship in the courtyard. The snow had stopped overnight, and with the sun shining in the morning, it hadn't accumulated much—only the corners and shaded areas remained slightly damp and whitened. Everything else was bright and radiant. Li Jinao had intended to go fetch the chickens, but the final result was chickens being sunbathed: since Zhun Sihai was so restless, he had to be wrapped tightly like a zongzi to let him get the sun, while Zhun Shanhe—unmoved by any spectacle—remained still, occasionally casting a look of disdain at Zhun Sihai, who occasionally "died" and then revived. One was striving to become a demon, the other aiming to become a immortal—the chickens' lives were destined to differ. A few people came in through the courtyard gate, led by Ah He, the others dressed in white chef's coats, wearing chef's hats, carrying rice bowls or steaming steamers, clearly delivering breakfast. Ah He greeted Fei Tang: "Hey, Fei Tang." But Fei Tang didn't look up—he seemed completely deaf—and with a powerful stroke, he severed the air in front of him. No face at all—how can you greet him so casually? Do you really know me? I'm actually furious every time she speaks, yet whenever she talks to Ye Liuxi, I can't quite shut my ears and listen. "Miss Liuxi," Zhao elder said, "if your friend isn't in a hurry to leave, you can stay in Black Stone City for two more days. Starting at just after nine in the morning, all the districts and markets will open up, bustling with activity and full of fresh, interesting things." From the tone, it sounded like clearing the pass wasn't going to be a big issue—finally, the heaviest stone in my heart had been lifted. Suddenly, Fat Tang remembered something: wasn't she now free to go shopping? Black Stone City might just hold some wonderful antiquities! Indeed, "going west brings great fortune"—the ancestral divination was truly spot-on. "The city's defenses are quite strong," he added. "We have an entire community of immortals' scholars, with the most renowned families—Ling, the Li family, and the Jin family—all well established. You needn't worry about safety at all." Ye Liuxi nodded: "But didn “The one who’s not in a hurry—signature testing won’t take more than a few minutes,” Old Zhao said. “You go ahead and stroll around. You can even test in the evening.” I have no idea what Old Zhao’s game is. He’s sent me all the way out to this remote village to wait here, and now, once I’ve arrived, he’s playing the ‘not in a hurry’ card. If you’re not in a hurry, then I’ve got no reason to be either. Ye Liuxi smiled. “Then that sounds perfect.” She stepped aside, clearing a path, and waved at several kitchen staff, signaling them to follow her inside to set the table. When she came out, she saw Fei Tang still busy chopping away, breathing hard. Fei Tang, being kind, reminded him: “Fei Tang, go inside and have dinner—we’ve everything set.” Fei Tang, however, held his nose, sighed deeply, and gave another sharp slash. Fei Tang ended up with a warm face and a cold back—now thoroughly unimpressed. She glanced at him, skeptical: “What in the world are you doing? I don’t even practice with a “Ah, you’re not doing so well,” Ahu said. “What, do you want to fight me?” Ding Liu had just come out of the bathroom, intending to go back to her room. But seeing the two of them standing tense and ready to clash, she found herself slowing down—almost at the same time, Zhen Shanhe dashed over, moving with a lightness that carried the wind, arriving right in front of them. Oh, this bag of rice isn't exactly being thrown away for nothing—based on my experience, you might just have more to come...” Fei Tang leaped up like he'd been stung by a scorpion, “What on earth are you talking about? Ah, for goodness' sake, her?” Ding Liu glanced at him sideways, “What’s wrong, Fei Tang? People need to have a clear sense of self. As for looks, Ah-He is far superior to you. Look at you—your hairline is so high! What’s with the glare? What are you staring at me for? I don’t like it when people stare at me—I’ve got a rather unstable head, emotionally speaking.” She calmly walked back into the house, feeling truly at ease, as if her head were perfectly steady and everything was settled. Only after she was well out of sight did Fei Tang dare to speak up sharply, “These women are truly... If this keeps up, men might as well go full LGBTQ!” The body of Zhen Shan He suddenly trembled, and it lifted its head with alertness. Fei Tang had noticed it too. The two locked eyes. After a moment, Fei Tang said, “What’s — After breakfast, the group truly set out to stroll through the city. Unlike last night, Black Stone City was bustling and lively during the day, with its market gates open wide, people flowing in and out, and vehicles moving continuously. Each neighborhood hosted its own small marketplace, tailored to the residents' living standards, featuring numerous small grocery stores and restaurants, and several photography studios and small movie theaters were also visible. As they passed a photography studio, Chang Dong glanced inside and noticed that film cameras were indeed the mainstream—this made sense: while digital cameras required professional equipment for data storage and output, film cameras were more convenient and affordable for people from the interior regions. Fei Tang was enthusiastic, holding the map of Black Stone City and leading the way with great energy, especially excited about the ancient artifacts street mentioned in the west market district—he truly wanted to reach it as soon as possible. The only thing that bothered him was Ah He, who had changed into more casual attire and was following behind, either stubbornly adhering to her nature or simply acting as a diligent observer and informant. Changdong didn't feel particularly eager to shop. Last night had been a relentless stream of information, yet this morning they were suddenly asked to go shopping—such a stark contrast, it always felt odd to him. Ye Liuxi held his arm, naturally matching his pace, and soon they fell behind. Changdong asked Ye Liuxi, "Zhao Guanshou seems so odd. Do you think he's up to something?" Ye Liuxi replied, "I don't know. I just don't feel like thinking about it." She found shopping more engaging than trying to figure out what Zhao Guanshou was up to—just a few steps away, there was a sugar-fountain station where a rod spun through the pot, weaving delicate threads of sugar, and the air was filled with sweetness. Changdong said to her, "When something involves you, you not only have to think about it—you have to think about it repeatedly, never missing a detail." Ye Liuxi frowned, "These people are so frustrating. What's the point of thinking? I'd rather just go out and play a game—best of three sets, and everything settles once the game's over." Changdong smiled "The Sun Tzu Art of War doesn't consider warfare and bloodshed to be particularly impressive," Ye Liuxi said. "I don't think so at all." She pointed to the surrounding坊 walls. "Even if Zhao Guanshou orchestrated a grand conspiracy against me throughout Black Stone City, I'd simply dismantle the city without hesitation. What could those conspiracies possibly do to me? At the end of the day, it's the strong who prevail—strength determines who rules." Chang Dong patiently advised her: "Liu Xi, your perspective is a bit too straightforward. While strength certainly allows you to rise to power quickly, it doesn't guarantee lasting success. Once you've secured the realm, you'll likely see your achievements fade within just a few years." Ye Liux Xi raised an eyebrow: "So I really need you, then... Shall I go and build my empire, and you help me govern it?" She spoke as if the empire were a luxury handbag, something she could choose at will. Chang Dong replied: "I'm not interested." Having grown up in modern society and educated in modern values, he truly had no interest in becoming a ruler or reigning supreme. Ye Liuxi sighed, "If you're not interested, then I'll just walk away. But that's your loss—don't regret it later." Chang Dong was puzzled, "Wait—what exactly am I losing?" Ye Liuxi replied, "Then, if I truly become a king and dominate everything, you'll write a memoir titled *The Man Who Ruled*, doesn't that sound impressive? Otherwise, you'll only be able to write *The Life of an Ordinary Man*, which won't sell well at all." Chang Dong was speechless. As a man, what achievements did he have, other than the size of her accomplishments? How could he possibly have any personal accomplishments or distinct identity? Chang Dong said, "Thank you." Ye Liuxi smiled gently, "You're welcome." Didn't she just mean the opposite? If she weren't holding on to him, she'd have actually lifted him and thrown him out. Chang Dong looked ahead. FATang and Ahuo were as restless as two chickens—after taking just a few steps, they'd grow impatient. Ding Liu and Gao Shen, on the other hand, moved one after the other, never exchanging words. Whenever Ding Liu stopped, Gao Shen stopped too; whenever Ding Liu walked, Gao Shen followed. Ye Liuxi heard himself a bit confused: "What do you mean?" "To him, the role of wife symbolized many beautiful things—enduring companionship, sharing hardships, staying faithful through thick and thin. No matter who became his wife, he would always treat her with unwavering devotion. Therefore, once Liu Qi told him she wished to entrust her daughter, Xiao Liu'er, to him, he immediately became fully devoted to her." Ye Liuxi said: "But what about Xiao Liu'er?" Chang Dong nodded: "Indeed, Xiao Liu'er is still young, in the midst of her dreams. Naturally, she hopes her husband will be someone who is uniquely devoted to her among countless others—ideally, someone who has overcome many obstacles and fought hard to win her hand. How could she accept such a conventional, straightforward arrangement, proposed by Liu Qi?" "Each person has their own destiny, each their own fortune. The knot in Xiao Liu'er's heart cannot be easily unraveled by just a few words." Ye Liuxi pointed to Gao Shen with a tone of depth: "If we can't resolve it, let's at least do what we can to help push things forward. Look at him—he's truly a good man. Throughout this journey, he's taken on all the dirty and heavy tasks...". This was indeed true. Gao Shen spoke little, but was diligent in his work: whenever they cooked outdoors, he was always the one to clean up the pots and pans; when they stopped for the night, he was the one carrying all the luggage with both hands; and whenever there was a confrontation, he was invariably the one who contributed the most effort. Ye Liuxi spoke with a cool tone: "Yet, such a tall man, when he comes before Liu'er, seems to shrink in stature, constantly being dismissed and mocked. Why is it that our sincere, hardworking people face so many obstacles on their romantic paths?" Chang Dong found herself doubting whether she had heard correctly—hadn't she just said, 'our sincere, hardworking people'? Did she, herself, consider herself one of them? "When I was pursuing you, I too endured countless hardships..." Chang Dong's scalp went numb. "Alright, alright, I — During the day, even with a hurried visit, they had only managed to explore the West Market. Fu Tang had an unexpected discovery: while chatting with the owner of a porcelain shop, he learned that the shop carried a chicken-heart bowl with a pattern resembling a worm moving through clay—seemingly from the Jun kiln. Jun kiln, Fu Tang's eyes widened. "Even with a fortune in wealth, one cannot match the value of a single piece of Jun porcelain," let alone an entire bowl! The bowl wasn't with him, but the shop owner promised to bring it to the store the next day so he could view it. Moreover, from the tone of voice, it sounded as if Jun porcelain wasn't quite as treasured outside the capital as it was within. Fu Tang immediately felt that the journey had been well worth it—every bit of suffering, effort, and deception had paid off. In the evening, Zhao Guanshou sent another messenger to invite him, still at the Tiger-Shaped Grand Museum. The museum's shape resembled a tiger turning around, with its entrance in Yulin City and its exit in Fangshi City—like a locking joint connecting the two cities. Ye Liuxi only brought Chang Dong. The sign-elder is now eighty, with a full head of silver hair neatly coiled into a neat bun behind her head. She wears a large red, subtly patterned cotton Tang-style jacket with black trousers and thick, plain cotton shoes with double straps and buckles. Standing behind a long table, she has a curved, gold-inlaid dragon-and-phoenix silver pitcher placed on the surface. The pitcher is finely crafted, with its lid shaped like a coiled serpent and a slender spout. Standing beside it is a blackwood签cylinder, containing at least several dozen签. Zhao Guanshou stands by the side, seemingly aware that he is not the host of tonight’s session, remaining silent. The sign-elder asks Ye Liuxi to draw three签: "You may have heard of Emperor Wu of Han's three-omen prediction for the Jade Gate Pass—this 'three-omen' tradition continues with the 'unwritten sky-signs.' Just draw three, since none of them carry any words." The sign-cylinder only reaches halfway up the签, and Ye Liuxi clearly sees that the签 themselves are indeed blank. She doesn't mind, lifts her hand to grasp three at once, but the money-elder promptly stops "Changdong was puzzled: "What do you mean by 'remedial measures'?" " Heaven won't seal your path completely. Even if the outcome isn't ideal, there must be some way to make it better." Ye Liuxi hummed and successively drew out three sticks. The old lady arranged the three sticks in order, then lifted the silver pitcher and placed it before her. The snake on the pitcher's lid stretched its body and slowly raised its head—quite alive. The old lady smiled: "The silver snake drinks a drop of blood, and the heavenly stick reveals three lines of characters. Don't worry—it's just like being bitten by a mosquito, not painful at all." Ye Liuxi remained cautious: "Is this snake non-toxic?" "Indeed," she replied, "it's a silver snake." Ye Liuxi extended her index finger, and the silver snake lowered its head, gently sucking a drop of blood from her fingertip before instantly curling back. It was truly neither painful nor itchy. The old lady held the pitcher in both hands, shaking it up and down. As the pitcher tilted, a delicate crimson stream of water struck directly onto the first stick The elderly lady with the jade staff focused intently, while Chang Dong observed Zhao Guanshou closely—his hands slightly closed, unconsciously licking his lips, as if equally concerned about the outcome of the heavenly fortune. "Miss Liuxi, remember this: your fortune is 'Gold piled, jade encircling—yet a lifetime of misfortunes.'" Liuxi said, "Huh?" She loved both gold and jade, but the character 'misfortune' sounded rather ill-omened. Zhao Guanshou furrowed his brows, his gaze wavering. The elderly lady said nothing to anyone, repeating her earlier movements. When the second scroll shimmered with water light, she spoke again: "Miss Liuxi, throughout her life, she has received everything, yet never truly possessed anything." Liuxi couldn't help but ask, "To receive is to receive, to lack is to lack—what does it mean when it alternates between receiving and lacking?" Zhao Guanshou's brows slightly relaxed. The elderly lady continued, and when the third scroll was drawn, the silver pitcher just finished pouring. "All depends on Miss Liuxi’s single thought." Liuxi "It was Zhao Guanshou who spoke, saying, "Grandmama, you've worked hard." Then he turned to Ye Liuxi and said, "The reading is complete. Miss Liuxi may now go." Ye Liuxi still wanted to say something, but Chang Dong came over and pulled her along, saying, "Let's go." —— She most disliked this vague, half-hearted kind of speech. As she walked with Chang Dong, the words of the fortune-telling remained constantly echoing in her mind. When they reached the steps, she suddenly stopped. "Chang Dong," she said, "that woman told me that throughout my life, I've achieved everything and yet never truly gained anything. What does that mean? Does it mean I've been like someone who carried a basket of water and ended up with nothing—completely empty at the end?" Chang Dong replied, "That's just the way fortune-tellers operate. They always offer you a few positive remarks, a few negative ones, and then a few ambiguous statements—about what you gain or lose, about love and hatred, about life and death, about choices that seem to shift left or right, about simple things like buying rice or flour, which all depend on a