Chapter 192: Divining Fate Through the Stars

"Imperial Astronomical Bureau's Morning Officer, Fu Huan, greets both my lords."

A young man in plain white robes and a white square cap bowed respectfully to Cao Wei and Chai Jingu.

"Officer Fu."

Cao Wei and Chai Jingu returned the bow in unison.

In the previous dynasty, the Morning Officer of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau was merely a ninth-rank petty official.

Men like Cao Wei and Chai Jingu, real-power fifth-rank officers, wouldn't even glance at him.

But after the Yu state was founded, the status of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau rose again and again, and its official ranks were raised repeatedly.

The original ninth-rank Morning Officer was forcibly elevated to sixth rank.

In the capital, sixth rank meant little—it was a place where third-rank officials walked everywhere—but in the outer provinces, it made one a top official, especially one bearing the Emperor's orders.

In a sense, he was an imperial envoy; as local officials, Cao Wei and Chai Jingu naturally had to handle him with care.

Regardless of rank, they were obligated to treat him properly.

"At the Director's instruction, I've come to assist you two in investigating the Gao Zhen case. I only hope my humble skills as a Fangshi may prove useful."

Fu Huan was exceedingly humble.

Cao Wei studied the young man.

"Truly, comparing people kills a man."

Fu Huan looked no older than twenty, his cultivation base barely seventh rank, yet he already held sixth-rank office.

Even though military officers were often one rank lower due to their substantial power.

But Fu Huan was simply too young, and his sixth rank had come far too easily.

No wonder the Imperial Astronomical Bureau was more refined and esteemed than the Ministry of Rites—this refinement and esteem were reflected precisely in its official rank: little power, yet promotion came far faster than for officials in the Six Ministries.

Fu Huan referred to himself as a Fangshi, not a Daoist.

Daoist was the term for disciples of the Daoist school.

It only emerged after Li the Dao Ancestor developed Daoist methods.

The origin of Fangshi, however, was far older.

It could be traced back to ancient times, referring to those who sought immortality; thus, even the hidden sects of the Ask-Immortal Tower could be considered Fangshi.

A Fangshi could also be a Daoist.

There was never a clear boundary.

Previously, the State Preceptor was unquestionably the leader of all Fangshi; now, with the Ask-Immortal Tower's master serving as Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, the Fangshi were beginning to split.

Cao Wei laughed heartily: "Officer Fu, no need for such modesty—the Director's eye for talent never errs."

"The day is already late; let us first host a welcoming feast for Officer Fu, then discuss the case."

Fu Huan had come from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau in the capital.

The proper courtesies must not be omitted.

Whether others went or not was one thing; whether one asked or not was another.

Had Fu Huan not failed to notify the Anning Guard in writing beforehand, Cao Wei would have waited at the Reception Pavilion ten li out, just as he had for Chai Jingu.

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau was indeed part of the Lin Faction.

But each official was an individual—no one would deliberately sour a relationship on first meeting.

Especially since he hoped Fu Huan's Fangshi arts might truly aid the case.

Fu Huan shook his head: "Officer Cao, let us examine the case first."

Cao Wei raised an eyebrow.

He glanced at Chai Jingu, then at Fu Huan.

He had never in his life encountered two such workaholics.

That was rare in the Yu court.

Usually, the standard procedure was to spend three days enjoying the courtesans at the Entertainment Bureau before discussing official business.

"Officer Fu, your dedication to public duty is admirable."

Cao Wei paid him a compliment.

Fu Huan spoke: "Officer Cao, you flatter me. Where is Gao Zhen's residence? Perhaps I can use the Method of Observing Qi to uncover some clues."

"I'll lead you there immediately."

Cao Wei acted swiftly, ready to take Fu Huan to Gao Zhen's mansion.

Seeing this, Chai Jingu, curious about the Imperial Astronomical Bureau's famed Method of Observing Qi, abandoned the case files and followed the two out of the courtyard.

Gao Zhen's residence in the Anning Guard was close to the General's Mansion.

Moments later.

The three arrived at a large mansion.

A five-hall compound, empty, not a soul inside.

Gao Zhen's servants and subordinates had all been detained by Cao Wei at once and thrown into prison.

They had been interrogated.

But none knew anything about Gao Zhen's whereabouts.

Since no one lived there, the mansion was covered in dust.

Fu Huan looked at Cao Wei: "Officer Cao, which room was Gao Zhen's?"

"This one."

Cao Wei pointed to the largest room in the compound.

"Good."

Fu Huan nodded and stepped inside.

Under Cao Wei and Chai Jingu's curious gazes, Fu Huan's left fingers moved rapidly, forming seals.

"Divination?"

Cao Wei watched intently.

Of all the things the Imperial Astronomical Bureau was known for, besides calendar-making, none surpassed its divination arts.

Once, a Director of the Bureau had gazed at the heavens and discerned the pattern of Mars stationary over the Heart constellation.

With astonishing skill, he deduced:

"Great chaos approaches; disaster comes from the east."

Eight characters.

The Emperor believed it utterly, dispatched covert agents to investigate the eastern provinces—and indeed uncovered that the then Duke of Xuan was plotting rebellion. The court sent troops ahead of time and crushed the plot, preventing a great upheaval.

Since then, all knew the Imperial Astronomical Bureau possessed the ability to peer into heavenly secrets.

Fu Huan's fingers moved faster and faster, nearly becoming blurs.

The next instant.

He shouted:

"Rise!"

A palm-sized compass slowly floated out from his robe.

Fu Huan stared at the rapidly spinning needle on the compass.

He murmured incantations.

"Rest, Life, Injury, Obstruction, Scene, Death, Alarm, Opening"—soon.

The needle stopped. Fu Huan gazed at its final point and sighed: "Death Gate."

Cao Wei pressed: "What does that mean?"

Fu Huan said: "Gao Zhen did not vanish—he is truly dead."

Hearing this,

Cao Wei's last flicker of hope vanished completely. If Gao Zhen had merely vanished, finding him would have meant safety.

But now that Gao Zhen was truly dead, Cao Wei, as head of the Anning Guard, bore undeniable blame.

He wouldn't be demoted, but his position as Assistant Regional Commander of the Anning Guard would likely remain frozen for years.

"Fate decreed this tribulation."

Cao Wei sighed softly.

=9+Book_bar

Official fortune, official fortune—why call it "fortune"?

Promotion is all about luck.

Gao Zhen was a pampered nobleman with no real connection to him, yet he died under Cao Wei's watch—pure bad luck.

One could only say his fortune had run out.

Cao Wei pressed on: "Officer Fu, can you determine who the killer is?"

If Fu Huan could directly divine the killer's identity, they could simply send troops to arrest him.

Fu Huan shook his head.

"Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed. My cultivation is too shallow—I can only discern fortune, misfortune, life, and death."

Disappointment flickered in Cao Wei and Chai Jingu's eyes.

But they understood: if the Imperial Astronomical Bureau could directly divine killers, the Ministry of Justice officers could all be laid off.

【I've heard divination shortens one's life—it can only reveal vague directions, never details. Forcibly probing invites heavenly retribution; one dies before even speaking the result.】

Cao Wei recalled the rumors he had heard while serving as Assistant Minister of War in the capital.

"You've worked hard today, Master Fu. Please keep Master Gao's death quiet for now."

He had always publicly claimed Gao Zhen was missing.

That was why the Gao family's reaction had not been too severe.

If news of Gao Zhen's death spread, it wouldn't just anger the Gao family—Lord Wei might even pressure us, and then investigating this case peacefully would no longer be easy.

Fu Huan nodded:

"Rest assured, my lords."

Cao Wei: "It's late tonight. I'll take Master Fu to rest. We'll discuss the case tomorrow."

"Thank you, Master Cao."

Li's residence.

Li Rui sat cross-legged on a mat.

"Only when true qi fills the dantian can one condense it into an essence."

The sign of perfected vigor is filling the dantian with true qi.

His current Xuanqi was at most one-tenth the size of his dantian—he still had a long way to go before filling it.

"No rush. Take it slow."

He cultivated the Changchun Art, which naturally granted longer life—he still had at least a hundred years to live, plenty of time.

But these pills simply didn't last.

Li Rui had only just crossed the Dragon Gate, yet his Xuanqi had already increased by more than seventy percent since his breakthrough.

This was tied to his martial bones and cultivation art, but the key factor was the pills.

He had consumed all six Peiqi Pills.

The results were excellent.

One Peiqi Pill cost four major merits—he had only two major merits total, couldn't even afford one.

"I'll need to find a way to earn more military merits."

Li Rui pondered.

When he was at the Willow Tendon stage, he could still afford pills by hunting for spiritual herbs and metals, but after reaching sixth rank, it became insufficient.

Money earned solely as a middleman was ultimately limited.

To truly make wealth, one must join great clans or sects.

Sect masters and clan heads did nothing themselves yet still received vast amounts of silver, gold, and spiritual pills daily.

Far superior to going it alone.

Otherwise, why would martial grandmasters go through so much trouble to establish sects? Ultimately, only a sect's collective resources could sustain the immense consumption required for their cultivation.

It wasn't just about passing down martial arts.

Unless one could grow strong enough to need no external aid, building influence was an essential step.

Even officials needed private wealth.

Relying on meager salaries?

You'd never break through even after a hundred years of cultivation.

Fortunately, the military offered a direct way to acquire resources: earning military merits—almost the fastest method for any individual.

Of course, the prerequisite is that your strength must be sufficient.

As Li Rui pondered,

a knock suddenly came at the courtyard gate.

Li Rui opened the gate, puzzled, and saw a young man in white robes smiling at the threshold.

"Who are you?"

The young man in white said: "Imperial Astronomical Bureau, Shi Chen, Fu Huan."

Imperial Astronomical Bureau?

Li Rui was startled.

He had heard the Bureau was sending someone to Anning Guard, but he hadn't expected them to come directly to his door.

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau had come to Anning Guard to investigate Gao Zhen's case.

His heart tightened.

"Could the Imperial Astronomical Bureau really have such divine methods? Did they trace this back to me?"

Though puzzled, his expression showed no change.

"Master Fu, what brings you here so late?"

Fu Huan's smile widened:

"I do have a matter."

He reached into his robe and pulled out a book:

"I heard you enjoy reading. Miss Yao specifically asked me to deliver this book to you."

(End of chapter)