Chapter 28: The Second Hexagram

The video call was cut off.

I completely lost contact with the Miss Store Manager.

Even with the screen pitch black, the live chat was suddenly flooded with scrolling comments.

[No way this is real? It looks terrifying, I hope that girl’s okay.]

[If it’s real, I wish it weren’t.]

[Guys, I just used a scanner on the little lamb on the streamer’s shoulder. My scanner must be broken.]

[Mine must be broken too—it said that thing is an actual Baize!]

[It’s not broken! That really is a Baize!]

[Oh crap, does that mean the girl just now might be in danger?!]

“Get in!”

I was lucky enough to flag down a taxi right at the school gate.

“Where to?”

“Starlight Tavern, at the intersection of Mountain View Street and Jianting Road. This is life and death—just drive as fast as you can. I’ll cover any speeding tickets!”

As she spoke, Xinyue scanned the code and transferred two thousand yuan.

[¥2000 has been received via Alipay.]

The driver instantly became energized.

“If someone’s life is on the line, I don’t want the money. Buckle up!”

The engine roared to life.

We’d missed rush hour, and No. 2 Kangcheng High was in a less busy area, so the roads were clear.

The driver floored the gas.

Scenery blurred by outside, and in the blink of an eye, we were already at the entrance of the Starlight Tavern.

“Qilin, boost.”

In a state of unity between man and beast, the Qilin’s lightning coursed through my nerves, enhancing my speed and reflexes.

I threw the door open and shot straight into the tavern like a bolt of lightning.

Xinyue cautiously summoned her Firewing Bird for a soul merge, holding the camera close behind me.

……

Inside the dim tavern, the chandelier swayed gently in the breeze.

Beneath it was a woman passed out and a man clearly up to no good.

The man went by the nickname Daozi. 

He’d just gotten out of jail and was a con artist by trade.

Occasional robber, too.

Three years ago, Daozi was sentenced for attempted robbery.

Three years later, he’d barely been out before his urges returned, and he was ready to get back to business.

Learning from his last failure, this time he registered a dating profile under a fake identity.

That way, even if the woman called the cops later, they wouldn’t be able to trace it back to him.

“Heh, some women wear their expensive jewelry to blind dates, all dolled up. These pieces are worth a fortune…

And look at all this makeup in her bag—even used, some of these can sell for thousands.”

Daozi’s thinking was crystal clear.

In this era of mobile payments, robbery had become a tough gig.

Thankfully, he’d found a blind spot his peers had overlooked.

—Dating apps!

Most men had nothing but digital game skins to their name, but women? Completely different story!

Makeup came in endless varieties, prices sky-high, practically luxury items. 

Add in high-end jewelry—expensive, easy to sell, and unlike phones, not trackable.

Daozi was convinced this racket had promise!

Last time was just bad luck. This time… he was gonna score big!

“Sorry about this, beautiful.”

Daozi searched the store manager’s body for valuables.

Ears… empty. Not even pierced.

Necklace… none.

Rings… none.

Bracelets… none.

Handbag… off-brand.

Inside the bag… no makeup.

……

Daozi was starting to go numb.

This woman… something’s off…

Ding ding. 

Just then, a notification popped up on his phone screen. [Your ¥588 exclusive skin has been delivered. Please check your inventory.]

“…”

Damn it! She’s a game nerd!

This is cursed—his very first job after getting out, and he runs into his natural enemy?!

Talk about unlucky!

And that was just the beginning.

BANG!

The tavern door suddenly slammed open.

“Who’s there?!”

Zzzzt.

A flash of lightning zipped right past Daozi without even acknowledging him.

It stopped directly in front of the woman.

CRACK—CRASH—

At that moment, the swaying chandelier gave way and came crashing down.

It would’ve landed squarely on Miss Store Manager’s face, but I blocked it with my back just in time.

……

We’d already called the police back at school, so the enforcers arrived quickly.

“You’re under suspicion of using banned substances, attempted robbery, attempted assault, and attempted murder. You’re coming with us.”

Without mercy, the enforcer slapped cuffs on Daozi.

“I’m innocent!” Daozi was trembling with fury. “Okay fine, I admit to the banned substances. But robbery? That woman spent all her money on games—she doesn’t even have fifty bucks on her!

And assault? I couldn’t even get it up! I have a hospital certificate!

Murder?! How was I supposed to know the chandelier would fall?!”

Daozi was practically crying in frustration.

He swore to heaven and earth—he just wanted to rob someone! Nothing more, he swore!

“Save it for the judge. Stop whining. Move it!”

……

“You… be more careful, okay? Sigh—no need to go this far just for money, you know?”

The class president sighed as she gently dabbed medicine on my wounds.

The chandelier had plenty of sharp edges. 

They cut into my shoulder and left bruises along the back of my neck.

Against flawless, snow-white skin, the shattered wounds looked especially jarring.

I still wore a blank expression, my demeanor cold and detached.

This kind of injury wasn’t worth mentioning. 

Even though my body had become many times more sensitive than before… After everything I’d been through, my tolerance for pain was already well-honed.

For cultivators, injuries like these heal quickly and won’t leave any scars.

“That must hurt, huh?”

The class president applied the ointment with one hand, holding the camera with the other to record the wound.

At this close range, fresh blood could clearly be seen seeping from the wound.

Through the lens, it was obvious—this was no special effects makeup.

After everything that had just happened, the live chat was growing even more animated.

[Wow, the streamer really went all out. Method acting, huh? Just for this commitment and realism, I’m following your channel!]

[Acting? Are you blind? Can’t you see those real wounds?!]

[Okay, so the injuries are real—but couldn’t the story still be fake? Where are this girl’s parents, letting someone this young and cute risk her life for money? Inhuman!]

[You think it’s possible? That the streamer actually used the Baize to foresee danger and rushed over to save someone for real?]

[No way!]

I didn’t care about the skeptical comments.

Suddenly, a notification flashed across my phone screen.

[Announcement: “Xianling Association · Changan Pavilion Master Yaze” has activated Grand Sailing.]

[No way! The master of Changan Dojo! Officially verified too—this is the real guy!]

[Isn’t the Pavilion Master supposed to be live streaming tactical breakdowns? What’s he doing here messing around in this drama?]

Pavilion Master? The ultimate destination of our upcoming journey—Changan Dojo’s head?

But right now, he was just a customer.

“Mr. Yaze, can we video chat?”

[Sure.] He replied, [I’ll add you on WeChat.]

The video call connected quickly.

The man’s face had a distinct look.

Sharp and angular—like a slab of stone.

[A great honor to see the real Baize.] Yaze’s square face was full of awe.

[??? Did Yaze himself just confirm it?!]

[The Baize is real!]

“Baize, say hello.”

I picked up the little white lamb again.

Baize looked a bit out of it, seemingly lost in thought, unable to figure something out.

Logically speaking, there shouldn’t be anything in this world that stumped him.

But right now, he really couldn’t wrap his head around it—he was even starting to feel like a total idiot.

[Incredible. So you just borrowed its foresight ability earlier?]

“Yes.”

[Then could you do a reading for me too?]

Yaze leaned his square face close to the camera.

“What do you want to know?”

[Haha, it’s a little embarrassing… my terracotta soldier spirit is mad at me. She ran away from home days ago, and I was wondering if you could help me locate her.] Yaze’s stone face turned a little red.

…Spirits can run away from home? And a Pavilion Master’s spirit, no less?

[I mean, yeah, I could forcibly recall her, but that would probably just make her angrier. So I figured I’d go see her in person… If you help me find her, I’ll owe you big time.]

“No need for favors. Just send more money.”

[Deal! Straight to the point, I like that!]

“Mm.”

I took my eyes off Yaze’s face, the corners of my lips lifting into a slight smile.

“She’s far and near, close and in sight.”

[What do you mean?]

“She never left you. She’s been in front of you the whole time—you just couldn’t see her.”

[No way! I’m not blind—she’s a giant block of stone! How could I miss her?!]

“Is that so?”

I smiled but said no more.

You shouldn’t spell everything out when it comes to matters of the heart.

At the corner of Yaze’s eyes, in the Palace of Spouses, the pink glow of romance was practically shining. 

Even if there had been a bit of tension, it would only deepen their bond.

Looks like this worry would soon be resolved.

[No way, your reading must be off. Maybe your Baize is too young and can’t predict properly yet?] Yaze frowned. [I’m sure she’s not here.]

“Is that so?”

Just then, Xinyue finished tending to my wounds. 

I pulled my robe back up over my shoulder, covering the pale skin and cuts.

“Stand up now. Go to the window.”

[Huh?]

“Jump.”

[…We’re on the seventh floor! Without spirit fusion, I’ll die!]

“Jump,” I repeated calmly.

[I’ll really die!]

“Jump.”

[…]

Yaze hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and climbed onto the windowsill.

The height made him dizzy.

Live chat: [No way—is the streamer actually trying to murder the dojo master on stream?!]

[Master Yaze, please don’t do anything rash! Someone call the police!]

[Don’t just call the police, someone should call an ambulance! Someone’s about to die!]

“Phew—”

Yaze shut his eyes.

And slowly leaned forward.

Finally, he leapt!