Chapter 387: Seeing Azi Again

Everyone saw Gu Yutong skillfully handling the finished turtle shell; it indeed looked the part, and everyone's interest grew stronger.

Although Mu Yumo always liked to retort his sister, deep down he agreed more than anyone with her talent and effort, so right now he was the only one nervous in the crowd.

Others probably just had the mindset of amusing a child; if it worked, great; if not, it didn't matter, after all the child was still young.

But Mu Yumo was different; he focused completely, waiting for his sister to make a move that would astonish everyone.

However, compared to her brother's overly high expectations, Gu Yutong actually just had a try-it-out attitude; after all, her skills were not yet refined, and Lord Sima had said she was still far from graduating, now she had only just touched the threshold.

There happened to be a small stove on the food table for keeping the beef stew warm; she used it to heat the turtle shell, and its pattern cracked open all the way, indeed looking the part, and everyone's interest was aroused.

Gu Rongjin, who had the mindset of an old father, couldn't wait to ask: "How is it?"

"Don't disturb your daughter." Mu Yuanzhi made a silencing gesture toward Gu Rongjin.

Seeing her daughter's competent performance, her inner expectations had already been raised.

Gu Rongjin quickly covered his own mouth, waiting for his daughter to astonish everyone.

Although Gu Yutong had been calm just moments ago, she could already feel the growing anticipation in the gazes from all sides; she began to nervous, a light sweat beading on her small forehead as she stared at the turtle shell's pattern.

Suddenly! The turtle shell split open! And it was into four pieces!

Except for the monk who was the only one versed in the occult, remaining calm with a faint smile, everyone else stared at each other in bewilderment.

Gu Yutong jumped in fright and let out a small exclamation.

"How is it, sister?!" Mu Yumo exclaimed anxiously.

Could this be an ominous sign?!

Gu Yutong's small face wrinkled; she first glanced at her brother, then turned her gaze to the others, hesitating as she said: "I, I'm not yet skilled enough; this doesn't count!"

Mu Yuanzhi instantly understood; this divination result must not be a good omen.

Gu Rongjin, however, said: "You can't fully trust divination; it's merely a reference."

Qilin quickly chimed in: "Exactly, exactly, don't let this affect your mood; as I say, it's just that Lord Sima teaching nonsense!"

Gu Yutong drooped her head: "Sorry, I've ruined the mood on the first day of the lunar new year..."

"It's not your fault; it's all that old turtle's fault! That old turtle is bad luck!" Qilin said, hastily throwing away the broken turtle shell, and even exiling the old turtle soup along with it!

Mu Yuanzhi lovingly stroked her daughter's head: "My treasure, don't think too much; the new year should be happy."

"Hmm." Gu Yutong gave a muffled reply, but she was still bothered inside.

The monk reached out, took the turtle shells that Qilin had placed aside, crushed them, and put them all into the small stove just used to burn.

Everyone looked at him in confusion, especially Gu Yutong, whose eyes were full of doubt.

The monk smiled and said: "This is the most effective way to dispel an omen, eradicating it at the root."

"Really, Master?" Gu Yutong's eyes lit up again, full of anticipation as she looked at the monk.

"Naturally, this is the secret art of our sect, the Hidden Moon Sect." The monk winked at Gu Yutong.

Upon hearing that, Gu Yutong finally cheered up and ate her meal happily.

Mu Yuanzhi and Gu Rongjin exchanged a glance, both understanding what was going on, and they both praised the monk's prowess, indeed worthy of a master!

The dinner table became lively again.

After the meal, Qilin pulled the monk aside and asked: "Just now, were you doing this to make Xiaotong happy on purpose? I didn't expect you monk to have such a tough exterior but a soft heart!"

The monk looked at Qilin and smiled: "Do you think I'm that kind of person?"

Qilin, upon being asked that, instantly became uncertain: "Could it actually be true?"

If that were the case, everything in the world would become simple—just burn anything that shows an omen as soon as it appears!

The monk smiled noncommittally, as ever mysterious and enigmatic.

"Can't you stop pretending?" Qilin snapped, irritated: "Can't we just speak plainly?"

"Knowing certain things isn't necessarily good." The monk suddenly sobered, gazing at Qilin with a serious expression.

Seeing the monk so serious was rare for Qilin, and he found himself somewhat believing his words.

Who would have thought the next moment, the monk couldn't help but laugh: "Kids are really fun to tease."

"……"

Qilin turned away angrily and walked off.

He actually believed that bald donkey was showing off!

Just now at the dinner table, it was simply a matter of cheering up a child!

Mu Yuanzhi walked last; she needed to change clothes, while Gu Rongjin waited outside with the children.

This thatched hut, compared to the palace mansions, naturally couldn't be mentioned in the same breath, yet it was also quite large and elegant, with incense burning.

Inside there were two compartments; when one door was closed, as Mu Yuanzhi came out, the other compartment's door also opened, and the person who emerged was unexpected to Mu Yuanzhi.

It was Azi!

Strictly speaking, it was the Azi who had been on that day's ship together with Andeluo, not the Azi she had previously known.

Even though that day Mu Yuanzhi had merely overlooked from a high point, she instantly recognized that woman as the Azi from the ship's bow.

She also didn't know why, but she just recognized her.

Up close, this Azi bore no resemblance to the Azi she knew—in height, build, even the slightest smile or frown differed greatly; aside from sharing the name Azi, they had nothing in common.

Yet Mu Yuanzhi always felt that this Azi carried an aura of the other Azi—not a likeness, but an inexplicable resemblance to an old acquaintance.

As she sized up Azi, Azi was also sizing her up, with a gaze that made one uncomfortable.

Azi smiled at Mu Yuanzhi: "What a coincidence, Princess! I couldn't visit you that day in the valley, never expecting to meet you here—fate truly works in mysterious ways."

Her voice also differed from Azi's, but Azi can alter her voice, which can be dealt with.

However, this person's height is considerably greater than Azi's, and her shoes are ordinary cloth shoes, so there's no height-increasing issue.

Mu Yuanzhi had heard of the bone-shrinking technique and had seen it, but had never heard of a bone-lengthening technique.

Even if these two Azi could be said to be worlds apart, she couldn't help but keep comparing them—perhaps this was Andeluo's purpose, as she had anticipated, to disturb their thoughts.

"You call that a visit? How rude." Mu Zhizhi said bluntly.

A Zi merely blinked, then smiled: "Your Highness, you speak your mind."

Mu Zhizhi didn't want to stay any longer in this cramped space with this person; after all, it's a latrine—could she possibly be enjoying the smell?

Seeing she was about to leave, A Zi stepped ahead and blocked her path, smiling: "Your Highness, don't rush off; I still have something to say to you. Don't you want to hear it?"