Fate's Unseen Hand

Deep within the cave dwelling, darkness lay thick as lacquer.

Only a stone lamp held half a wick, its flame flickering fitfully and casting the four walls in dim yellow light.

Drops of water seeped down the stone walls, falling with audible drips. After listening for long enough, they sounded like a water clock, making it impossible to tell the hour.

Shen Hui sat cross-legged upon a meditation cushion. Before him stood a small greenstone table, upon which a pot of clear tea was still warm. Lu Huan and Patriarch Baoxue sat on either side.

Across from Shen Hui, another person sat cross-legged as well.

That man had his neck hunched between his shoulders, both hands placed properly on his knees, the smile on his face uglier than a grimace.

Who else could it have been but Daoist Feng?

"...Fellow Daoist Shen, though this humble Daoist served as an Attendant to the Blood Banner Army, in the end I sought nothing more than a few taels of mundane gold and silver. I absolutely had no intention of abetting a tyrant!"

"If you do not believe me, this humble Daoist can swear to Heaven that I have never done anything wicked or heartless. Every day, I merely made up a few fortune verses to muddle through..."

As he spoke, he truly raised three fingers and began swearing oaths toward the lamp, calling Heaven and Earth to witness.

Shen Hui did not respond. He merely lifted the teapot unhurriedly.

He first poured a cup each for Patriarch Baoxue and Lu Huan, then filled one for himself.

Then he pushed a teacup before Daoist Feng and casually asked,

"Fellow Daoist Feng is so skilled at divination. Do you still lack money?"

Daoist Feng accepted the teacup, his hands trembling from fright, yet he