I was greatly shocked. Could Lu Yanchen see me?
If so, that would be wonderful. I was just about to speak when Lu Shiyan's voice came from outside the door.
"Wan Wan, where are you?"
He was like a headless fly, dragging his weak body around recklessly. The cold wind he brought in made the eternal lamps flicker brightly and dimly in the corridor.
A fierce wind carrying heavy snow blew directly at them. Lu Yanchen rubbed his eyes, a trace of loneliness and self-mockery flashing across his face.
"Right, how could you be here?"
I was puzzled. Why was Lu Yanchen here? Was he waiting for someone?
Chaos had already broken outside. Following the noise, I saw Lu Shiyan grabbing the master's monastic robe, his face fierce. "How could there be no woman? I clearly saw Wan Wan come in! It's you, you hid her!"
"President Lu, calm down! There really is no Miss Su here. The master isn't lying to you."
The driver looked apologetic. "Sorry, Master, my President Lu has suffered some shocks and is hallucinating."
The master, whose collar was still gripped by Lu Shiyan, remained seated cross-legged, his eyes devoid of sorrow or joy. He uttered two words: "Karmic entanglement…"
"What damn karmic entanglement? I just want my Wan Wan back!"
Lu Shiyan's eyes were completely bloodshot. "Everyone says Ling Mountain is spiritual, that if you kowtow every three steps and bow every nine steps with sincere devotion, your wishes will be granted. I'm looking for my wife! She came here! I really saw her."
The master sighed softly and handed over a divination stick container. "Considering you came with utmost sincerity, the deities will surely guide you. Draw a lot."
Although the driver never believed in these things, seeing Lu Shiyan's near-mad state, anything was worth trying if it could give him solace and stop his frenzy.
"President Lu, my grandmother said drawing lots is the most effective. Give it a try."
Lu Shiyan knelt on the ground. Looking at the hall full of Buddhist statues, his expression grew increasingly solemn and reverent.
He held the container with both hands, closed his eyes, and shook it.
In the silent main hall, only the sound of bamboo sticks clattering against the container could be heard. With a crisp clatter, one bamboo stick fell to the ground.
The driver quickly squatted down to pick it up. "President Lu, this lot must be the best…"
Soon, his words trailed off.
Lu Shiyan snatched the stick from his hand. I leaned over to look at the lines carved on it.
The verse read: Deep pool moon, mirror reflection, all in vain, message of peace.
Lu Shiyan gripped the stick tightly. "This lot…"
The master pressed his palms together: "Mr. Lu, this is a very unfavorable lot. The bright moon shines on the deep pool; the beautiful shadow reflects in the mirror—it signifies the moon in the water, flowers in a mirror, an empty joy. If you are seeking someone this time, I'm afraid your wish will be difficult to fulfill."
Clatter!
The container slipped from Lu Shiyan's hands, all the bamboo sticks scattering noisily across the floor.
He sat on the ground, looking utterly defeated, mumbling, "How can this be? Empty joy... how can it be empty joy? Is it really impossible for Wan Wan to come back?"
A stern voice rang out: "Lu Shiyan, this is a Buddhist sanctuary. No disorderly conduct is allowed here. Do not disturb the purity of the Buddha."
As the words fell, a bamboo stick happened to land beside his wheelchair.
"A Ji," Lu Yanchen said mildly.
The tall, scarred man behind him picked up the stick near his feet.
Lu Shiyan suddenly rushed towards him like a madman. "What is it?"
I was also very curious and moved closer to look.
It read: Trapped Dragon Gains Water
The yellow dragon long trapped in the deep abyss, one day ascends to half the sky. All plans and hopes go as wished, luck gradually rises from now on.
Even without interpretation, the meaning was clear.
His legs were crippled; he was the dragon trapped in the abyss.
When Lu Shiyan saw this verse, he became even more agitated. He charged fiercely towards Lu Yanchen. "You are the trapped dragon, and I am the flower in the mirror? Lu Yanchen, you were fine abroad, why come back to compete with me?"
If this lot were to come true, it would prove that the Lu family would eventually fall into Lu Yanchen's hands, even if the Old Master supported him, this outcome couldn't be changed.
In truth, whether in looks, character, ability, or methods, Lu Yanchen far surpassed Lu Shiyan.
Only his legs were a fatal flaw.
In his madness, Lu Shiyan actually reached out to hit someone.
Shen Ji's already fierce and menacing face instantly turned cold and stern.
He flashed in front of Lu Yanchen, grabbed Lu Shiyan's hand, and with a simultaneous kick, sent Lu Shiyan's body flying.
The driver, seeing this, dared not intervene recklessly. With one glance from Shen Ji, he immediately stood at attention, terrified.
"Take your young master down the mountain."
"Yes, yes…"
I was about to follow when I noticed a bamboo stick lying at my feet.
While the driver was helping Lu Shiyan up, I squatted down to look at the words on it.
The verse: Misfortune departs, fortune arrives, just around the corner; temporarily advise the nobleman to leave the mountain. If you encounter the tiger or rabbit, good news arrives; set your ambition, busy affairs will soon be idle.
The general meaning is that misfortune and fortune are intertwined. Meeting a noble person will turn calamity into blessing, gaining fortune from disaster.
The master was picking up the sticks from the floor one by one. When he picked up the one at my feet, the corners of his mouth curled into a meaningful smile.
"An image of fortune within misfortune. Interesting, interesting."
I looked at the hall full of deities. Could this be a sign from the gods?
Is there a turnaround in my death?
But I'm already dead, I can't even take revenge. What can I do?
Lu Shiyan, kicked by Shen Ji, vomited blood on the spot. The driver was terribly frightened and immediately called for rescue to quickly take him down the mountain.
Due to my limitations, I couldn't stray too far from Lu Shiyan.
While Lu Shiyan was taken to a side room to rest temporarily, I glanced back.
Lu Yanchen sat in his wheelchair, looking up at the largest Buddha statue in the hall, the bamboo stick still tightly clutched in his hand.
I couldn't see his expression, nor did I know why he was here.
Outside, a storm of wind and snow raged.
Lu Shiyan received a call from the Old Master, summoning him back to the Lu family.
Huang Yu's team had investigated the Lu family. Old Master Lu, learning about my situation, was furious.
After all, I had spent very little time at the Lu residence. Captain Huang and his team only came to ask a few questions.
The moment Lu Shiyan stepped into the study, an inkstone flew straight at his face.
Luckily, Lu Shiyan dodged quickly, only getting ink stains on his clothes; his head wasn't hit.
"Grandfather."
The Old Master slammed his hands heavily on the desk. "Don't call me Grandfather! Tell me, what exactly happened to Su Wan? Why did the police even come to our door?"
Lu Shiyan's eyes were red, his lips parched, his entire person looking haggard.
He knelt on the ground, his eyes vacant. "I don't know. Perhaps she's missing. Grandfather, the key person now is Huang Ying. As long as she wakes up, the police will surely extract useful information from her, follow the clues, and find Wan Wan."
With a crash, the Old Master, uncontrollably angry, swept the vase off the desk.
The Old Master's murky eyes were full of rage. "You mean that young girl lying in the ICU? I just received news, an hour ago, she died!"
My body trembled, and I sharply looked up at the Old Master.
What? Huang Ying is dead?