Chapter 70

"There is an ancient saying in the East: those who practice the arts do not inquire into the nation's fortune."

"It is also said: when divining for an official, it is either a scam or a cheat. Since you two are well-versed in Eastern culture, do you know what this means?"

Chen Yaozu smiled as he looked at Mikhailov and his wife, asking slowly.

In another room.

Andrey Andreyev and Emma both sat before a computer; the screen before them displayed, strikingly, Chen Yaozu's face and figure magnified as he spoke.

"Conducting micro-expression reading during speech..."

This was the information displayed on the screen before Emma.

"Conducting minute body language reading..."

This was the information displayed on Andrey Andreyev's computer screen.

Chen Yaozu, for his part, knew nothing of this; he continued holding forth, speaking of some of the information he had obtained from the Talisman.

"In the East, itinerant diviners skilled in the art of fortune-telling have an unwritten rule: they do not inquire into the nation's fortune, and do not divine for those tainted by the nation's fortune.

Especially officials — the higher the rank, the more they cannot be divined for, and the less accurate any divination would be! Even if you forced a reading, you would not get an accurate result, and you would suffer bad luck, even backlash from the nation's fortune, wasting your lifespan for nothing.

So when itinerant diviners divine for officials, most of the time they are cheating or using scams, not truly divining.

Cheating is actually a kind of scam, too — just actively setting up a scheme to deceive people.

This, you should have heard of!"

The Mikhailov couple stared at each other in blank dismay; they hadn't heard a damn thing about it — even if they had studied Eastern culture, how could they have learned it to this extent?

However.

It did not prevent them from hearing Emma and Andrey Andreyev's reports through the miniature earpieces stuffed in their ear canals.

"Facial micro-expression reading analysis normal!"

"Minute body language reading analysis normal!"

These two reports could confirm that the current Chen Yaozu was not lying.

Chen Yaozu knew nothing of this and continued:

"One of you is the Superintendent of the Los Angeles School District under the state Education Department; Los Angeles's status in America.

Is equivalent to, in our Eastern ancient times, a prefectural professor under a provincial education department.

This is not the same as an ordinary school professor; ancient professors were officials, and Seventh-rank officials at that.

After promotion, they might be transferred as a Registrar of the Imperial Academy, a Capital Prefecture Professor, or sent out to a County to serve as a Magistrate with real power — they possess the nation's fortune.

And Los Angeles, as America's second-largest city, whether in economy, population, or importance, goes without saying.

So this Seventh-rank level must be adjusted upward; at the very least it counts as a Sixth-rank Official, and possibly even a proper Sixth-rank Official — this is already no small matter! The nation's fortune linked to a Sixth-rank Official can make any diviner or fortune-teller lurking at the bottom of the jianghu retreat three paces, daring not to divine."

He then looked at Megan and asked: "Ms. Megan, you are with the FBI, local law enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — three organizations' departments.

What is the maximum number of people you can mobilize?"

Megan answered calmly: "All of them. Nominally, if needed, I can fully mobilize all federal Special Agents in Los Angeles, all local police, and all employees of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to handle gang affairs.

After all, my department is a joint department; nominally it is so!

But non-gang affairs are not within my management scope, so this is a specialized power for specialized use."

Hiss—

Chen Yaozu sucked in a cold breath: the nation's second-largest prefecture, the security chief responsible for controlling all local armed forces and suppressing bandits.

What rank would that be? He couldn't convert it.

"My apologies, Ms. Megan, I cannot convert your rank, but regardless, the nation's fortune you are linked to is very strong.

So generally speaking, whether diviners or fortune-telling itinerant diviners, none dare divine for you.

Unless you enter some Daochang with a long history that can isolate the nation's fortune, or directly integrate into the nation's fortune."

At this, Mikhailov and Megan's interest was piqued: "Specifically? For example..."

Chen Yaozu thought for a moment: "For example... I'm not clear on the West's, but I can speak of the East's.

The Daoist Thirty-Six Dongtian and Seventy-Two Fudi have since ancient times formed their own lineage.

The Twenty-Four Treatises' jurisdictions were fought for; they integrated into local fortune long ago.

Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion was enfeoffed as Celestial Master in the Song Dynasty; in the Ming Dynasty it submitted to the nation's fortune, lowering the Celestial Master to Grand True Man — this also counts as integrating into the nation's fortune.

The Buddhist Sect counts as a Daochang integrated into the nation's fortune — only Wutai Mountain, which has received imperial rewards.

So within the Thirty-Six Dongtian and Seventy-Two Fudi, Daoists divine for officials according to the magnitude of their ability; but once they leave the Dongtian Fudi, unless they are of the Zhengyi School School School they must not lightly divine for officials. Daoists of the Twenty-Four Treatises' jurisdictions can divine for officials in their own territory, according to the magnitude of their post or ability; once they leave their jurisdiction, unless they are of the Zhengyi School School School they must not lightly divine for officials.

Zhengyi School School School disciples of Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion — in ancient times, registered Daoists also had ranks; they looked at rank and official grade, and they could divine for peers and subordinates.

For example, the Seal Mastery Celestial Master counted as a First-rank Official in the court; the Twenty-Four Treatises' Du Gong Seal Mastery Celestial Master also counted as Second-rank.

Of course, this speaks of ancient times.

Now all that is past; the Daoist true Seals are lost who knows where! So...

Now, there are hardly any fortune-tellers or diviners who can see through an official's fate and background."

Chen Yaozu finished, adding a final summary: "If someone says they can, they are definitely a scammer, or it's a trap!"

Megan's earpiece relayed: "Facial micro-expression reading analysis normal."

"Minute body language reading analysis normal."

Hearing this, she smiled in relief: "No wonder the two of us went to Tianhou Palace to offer incense and draw lots, and it was never accurate — so there were these rules!"

Mikhailov nodded along: "This explanation is very reasonable; in the East, officials manage the nation's lifeblood — how could they be easily seen through by outsiders?

This is obviously unreasonable!

This isn't Medieval Europe, where even Kings need the Pope to crown them, and divine authority surpasses royal authority.

In the East, the power bestowed by the nation far exceeds the power bestowed by gods and spirits."

Suddenly, he shifted gears and threw out another question: "But in the Border Immigration Prison, didn't you help Ben Grillos see the problem inside his body?"

He even introduced him to the East for treatment.

"Isn't he an official too?"

Hiss...

When did this Mikhailov set his sights on me? He actually investigated this clearly.

"Does Officer Grilos count as an official?"

Chen Yaozu spoke this sentence with righteous confidence: "In the ancient East, he counts as a Bu Tou; a Bu Tou is not an official, he counts as a Suan Yi."

The truth, the whole truth.

Sometimes, truth with choices, or truth with the order reversed, is the most deceitful lie.

Obviously, his words convinced Megan.

So, Megan's question suddenly broke away from the Mysterious Side and turned into reality.

"Then you designated the Tangkou Master of the Fuzhou Gang Los Angeles Branch, wanting to control this gang?"

Ah! Heaven and earth as witness, Chen Yaozu just said it casually; the main thing was, Zhou Jiwen kowtowed the moment he came up, leaving an impression on him.

So he just mentioned it casually when leaving.

He truly never thought about controlling the Fuzhou Gang.

"No, you do!"

Megan stared at him seriously and said.

Chen Yaozu still wanted to continue explaining, but before he could open his mouth, Megan suddenly placed her Shuang Shou on his shoulders, stared tightly into his eyes, and said word by word: "I say, you do!"

Understood. Meaning, wanting to control the Fuzhou Gang through himself? At the same time, he also felt the hair on his back lie flat; the danger that could threaten him seemed to have already retreated.

"Ms. Megan, our Old Chen Family's Zu Shi forbids befriending bandits..."

The words weren't finished before being interrupted: "CIA Southeast Asia Division data shows, in Southeast Asia there is a deeply hidden Chinese gang, Tianzi-type scale.

This gang spans many countries in Southeast Asia, keeps a low profile, deals in arms, smuggling, and also moonlights as Yongbing.

The number one Sect Leader Kato of Tianzi-type scale is very mysterious; no one has seen him.

The one active in public and handling gang affairs is the number two figure, Tage.

But Tage got a serious illness half a year ago and disappeared.

Not long ago, while returning home for treatment, he was arrested on the Dongfang Dalu for committing a family extermination case, sentenced to death, deprived of political rights for life.

That person seems to be your own uncle!

So, this is your Old Chen Family's family precepts...

Hm?"

(Chapter End)