Suspicion Without Evidence

Eastern Great Wilderness, Bodhi Temple.

Xi Yue was playing chess with the old monk at a stone table in the courtyard outside the Zen Temple guest rooms.

"You usually treat Bodhi Dew as something immensely precious, stingy as can be. Why were you so quick to lend it when the winged humans came to borrow it this time?"

The old monk smiled as he placed a piece. "If something truly happened to the World Tree, that would be a matter for the entire world, not merely the winged humans. One cannot be stingy, cannot be stingy."

Xi Yue snorted. "Monk, you are not being honest. You look far too leisurely to be worried about anything."

The old monk gave an honest-looking smile. "The art of divination may not belong to the benefactor alone."

"You calculated the outcome and found that the World Tree was fine, perhaps that your dew would not even be needed, so you decided to do them a favor while going with the flow?"

"Precisely."

Xi Yue grew somewhat interested. "What hexagram?"

"Dead Trees Sprout."

"?" Xi Yue stared. "Are you sure you know what that hexagram means?"

The old monk's smile became even more honest. "Hm? Does it not mean dead wood returning to life?"

"That is for old women... forget it. If it applies to the World Tree, your interpretation cannot exactly be called wrong." Xi Yue curled her lips and casually made a move. "In any case, it has nothing to do with me."

The old monk smiled. "Of course. Who would dare call the benefactor an old woman?"

Xi Yue gave a cold hum, her expression turning utterly foul. "Someone."

With a smack, a chess piece came down hard enough that the board nearly cracked. "Stern Orange Peel Old Daoist Nun? Just you