Chapter 281: Seen Through?

As the three of them drew near, the old Taoist priest slowly opened his eyes. His peaceful, profound gaze swept over Chen Xi, then lingered on Chen Mo and Su Yuqing. A flash of surprise crossed his face, but it was quickly followed by a glimmer of understanding.

"Blessed Infinite Celestial Venerable. What do you three patrons wish to ask of this old Taoist?" The priest’s voice was not loud, yet it carried a peculiar, penetrating quality.

"He doesn’t even know why we’re here, and you still believe him," Chen Mo muttered quietly in Chen Xi’s ear.

In response, Chen Xi discreetly slapped the back of his hand.

Chen Xi immediately stepped forward, presenting the pair’s birth details. A wide smile spread across her face. "Master, it’s an honor. I’ve heard so much about you. I’ve brought these two children here today hoping you could take a look at their... future academic prospects and their destined connection."

She skillfully avoided the more direct term "romantic fate," but her implication was perfectly clear.

Chen Mo stood off to the side, hands stuffed in his pockets, wearing a calm expression that screamed ’I’m just watching, not talking.’ Inwardly, though, he was already rolling his eyes at his mom’s sudden "feudal superstitious" activity.

Su Yuqing, on the other hand, stood nervously beside Chen Mo, unconsciously wringing the corner of her shirt. The blush on her cheeks had yet to fully subside.

The old Taoist priest nodded slightly, glanced at their birth details, and then turned his gaze back to Chen Mo and Su Yuqing, carefully studying their facial features.

His gaze was gentle, yet it seemed to possess a penetrating insight that made Su Yuqing feel as if her innermost thoughts were being laid bare, causing her to grow even more flustered.

Just then, to Chen Mo’s surprise, the old Taoist priest gave him a smile—a smile that seemed to see right through him.

This smile instantly dispelled much of the distrust and hostility Chen Mo had just begun to feel, replacing it with a growing sense of interest.

"This young patron," the old priest said, looking at Chen Mo first as he spoke slowly, "Your brow is clear and righteous, your eyes conceal a sharp glint, and the bridge of your nose is strong. It is the mark of a hidden dragon in the abyss. You need not worry about your academic future; your time to soar will come. However..." He paused, his fingers moving in a quick, light calculation. "Your temperament is prone to excessive rigidity in the face of adversity. You must remember that ’the highest virtue is like water.’ Only by blending strength with gentleness will you achieve true fulfillment."

Chen Mo’s heart stirred. ’Even though I don’t believe this stuff, hearing "hidden dragon in the abyss" and "soar" is still nice.’ As for "excessively rigid"... He recalled his methods back when he was a police detective. Every time he’d gotten injured, it was because he’d been a little too aggressive. ’Maybe there’s some truth to that?’

The old Taoist priest’s gaze shifted to Su Yuqing.

As his focused gaze fell upon her, Su Yuqing felt her heart leap into her throat. She instinctively edged closer to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo sensed her nervousness and naturally reached out, gently taking her cool hand in his.

The subtle gesture did not escape the old Taoist priest’s eyes, and he gave an almost imperceptible nod.

"This female patron," the old Taoist priest’s voice softened, "your face is like the full moon, your eyes are like clear autumn pools, and your aura is pure and harmonious. You possess the rare disposition of a phoenix. Your heart is pure and kind, and your blessings run deep. Your academic path will also be smooth. Your only weakness is a somewhat gentle nature; when faced with decisions, you must be more assertive."

’Disposition of a phoenix?’ Su Yuqing was a little baffled, but she could tell it was a compliment. Her face grew even redder as she replied in a small voice, "Thank you, Master."

The old Taoist priest’s gaze shifted between the two of them, finally settling on their secretly clasped hands. A knowing smile touched his lips. "As for the destined connection between you two..."

Chen Xi immediately held her breath, leaning forward slightly.

Chen Mo’s expression remained impassive, but his hand holding Su Yuqing’s tightened unconsciously.

Su Yuqing’s breathing grew shallow, all her attention focused on the words about to leave the old Taoist priest’s lips.

"The clouds part, the mists disperse, to reveal the bright moon. Like intertwined branches, you stem from the same root," the old Taoist priest recited slowly. "You two are fated to be together, and your affections run deep. It is the rare mark of a match made in heaven. This bond is strong enough to withstand the long march of time."

"A match made in heaven!" Chen Xi’s eyes instantly lit up. A brilliant smile bloomed on her face, as if she had received the most authoritative confirmation imaginable—she looked happier than if she had published a paper in a top-tier journal herself.

Su Yuqing felt as though her heart had been steeped in warm honey, leaving it sweet and tender.

The phrases "affections run deep" and "withstand the long march of time" seemed to carry a magical power, embedding themselves deep in her heart and transforming all her shyness into overflowing bliss.

She couldn’t help but turn her head to look at Chen Mo, her gaze meeting his deep, smiling eyes.

In his gaze, she saw a mix of resignation and indulgence, but more than that, a tenderness and resolve that mirrored her own feelings.

The old Taoist priest paused, then added, "However, ’As heaven’s movement is ever vigorous, so must a gentleman ceaselessly strive for self-perfection. As the earth’s condition is receptive devotion, so must a gentleman with great virtue carry all things.’ Even the best of fates must be carefully nurtured with mutual respect and understanding. Especially..."

He looked at Chen Mo. "A hidden dragon soars upon encountering water, but water can also have shallows and rapids. In the near future, there may be a brief separation, a trial of character. This is a ’tempering by water and fire,’ an opportunity to refine true gold. If you hold fast to your true selves and trust one another, then after the storm has passed, your bond will be stronger than forged gold."

’A brief separation? A trial of character?’ The smile on Chen Xi’s face faded slightly as she grew pensive.

A shadow passed over Su Yuqing’s heart as well. She thought of the college entrance exam results, and the possibility that they might end up at universities in different cities.

Chen Mo, however, reflexively tightened his grip on Su Yuqing’s hand. He knew, with absolute certainty, that no matter which university Su Yuqing got into, he would follow her there, even if it meant accepting a place at a less prestigious school himself. ’So there shouldn’t be any "brief separation" or "trial of character." ’

’When it comes to superstitious talk like this, you just pick and choose the nice parts you want to hear and ignore the rest.’

’There’s no need to pay too much attention to the other stuff.’

Chen Mo composed himself, pulled Su Yuqing along, and gave the old Taoist priest a solemn bow. "Thank you for your invaluable advice, Master. We will take it to heart."

Whether he believed it or not, the priest’s words had certainly contained plenty of good news, which was pleasant to hear regardless.

Just as Chen Mo finished his thanks, the old Taoist priest’s gaunt knuckles stroked the paper bearing their birth details. His murky eyes swept over Chen Mo as he chuckled. "There is something I wish to say, though I’m not sure if I should."

"Please, Master, go ahead," Chen Mo said, bowing respectfully.

"Young patron, your destiny is a strange and twisted one. It is like a star that fell into an alien void, only to return by swimming against the stream of time. Your soul burns fiercely, yet it conceals the aura of the abyssal sea."

Chen Xi and Su Yuqing didn’t understand a word of it, but upon hearing the sentence, Chen Mo’s fingertips trembled violently—!

As Su Yuqing glanced at Chen Mo in confusion, the priest had already turned to her, his tone abruptly softening. "Young lady, you are like the moon reflected in a clear stream, however..." He frowned, his fingers moving in another calculation. He then pulled a Mutton Fat Jade Pendant from within his robes. "There is a hidden fracture in your Palace of Life. You need the ’Dream-Seeking Jade’ to grant you a dream, one that will complete the unfinished destiny of a past life."

Seeing this, Chen Xi, knowing her cue, quickly thanked the priest and immediately offered up the Incense Money she had prepared beforehand.

After all, when this sort of ritual began, it was basically the signal to pay up.

Although Chen Xi had come prepared to not get scammed, she had also decided that if the priest said enough nice things to make the two kids happy, she would be more than willing to pay for a few auspicious words.

In other words, she hadn’t come here seeking a true believer’s consultation; she had simply come to hear some good news.

If he had started spouting bad omens, especially anything truly awful, she would have marched them right out the door.