On Fate and Fortune

Sun Xiuyuan's eyes immediately lit up, and he hurriedly asked:

"Brother Ma, do you know when the next grand competition will be held?"

Ma Ping narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment before answering uncertainly:

"About... two or three years from now, I'd say. If you truly mean to go, I'll ask around carefully when I get back."

"Of course I want to go!"

Sun Xiuyuan answered without hesitation, looking eagerly at the two men beside the table:

"Brother Ma, Brother Fu'an, when that day comes, how about the three of us travel there together? We can look out for one another on the road."

Faced with the invitation, Jiang Fu'an did not agree at once.

After weighing it for a moment, he spoke hesitantly:

"How much time would a round trip take?

"If it delays us too long... I really can't rest easy about things at home."

"Haha, you can put a hundred hearts at ease over that!"

Sun Xiuyuan's tone was exceedingly certain when he heard this:

"Leave everything on the road to me.

"I guarantee that, at most, we'll be back safe and sound within a month."

He had worked for the government for many years and had connections and channels everywhere. He was confident enough about that much.

Seeing him make such a guarantee, Jiang Fu'an nodded.

"If it only takes a month, then I'll go along as well.

"To be honest, I've dreamed of that child Seedling several times too."

"Good! Then it's settled!"

Sun Xiuyuan was overjoyed, then looked hopefully at Ma Ping.

Though Ma Ping's cultivation was not high, he was still a proper cultivator.

With him traveling alongside them, if they ran into any trouble on the way, he might be able to lend a great hand.

Yet Ma Ping did not answer for a long while.

He truly wanted to go.

He had even been calculating whether he could use this chance to ask his daughter for a Qi-Gathering Pill.

But ever since his daughter had entered the sect, she had grown increasingly distant from him. The last time she returned home, they had barely exchanged a few words.

If he went only to fail to see her, it would be awkward instead.

Sun Xiuyuan saw his hesitation and quietly urged him:

"Brother Ma, your relationship with the Wang Family is at its most strained right now. All the more reason for you to put more thought into your daughter.

"Otherwise, your position in the Wang Family will only grow harder in the future."

Those words struck precisely at Ma Ping's deepest concern.

He tipped back his head and drained the wine in his cup, then slammed it onto the table.

"Good! Then we'll go together when the time comes!"

With this important matter settled, the atmosphere at the table relaxed considerably.

Sun Xiuyuan chuckled and turned the conversation toward Jiang Fu'an.

"Brother Fu'an, at our age, Ma Ping and I couldn't manage to have children even if we wanted to.

"But you're still young. You ought to make the most of your time and have a few more children.

"What if you have another child with a Three-Element Spiritual Root?"

With the hidden boost of Selective Breeding, that possibility was indeed not small.

But how could Jiang Fu'an possibly nod and admit it?

He hurriedly waved his hands, an embarrassed smile appearing on his face.

"Brother Sun, don't tease me. Having Seedling alone is already like smoke rising from my ancestors' graves—I've stumbled into heaven-shaking luck.

"How could I dare hope for another? I wouldn't dare think it, wouldn't dare think it."

"Hehe, it seems Brother Jiang doesn't understand the matter of 'fate and fortune'?"

Ma Ping took a sip of wine and interjected with a smile:

"Ordinary people who can give birth to descendants with Three-Element Spiritual Roots usually carry some fate and fortune themselves.

"Such people have a far greater chance than ordinary folk of later having children with Spiritual Roots."

Jiang Fu'an's face showed surprise at his words.

He truly had never heard of such a thing.

He had always believed that having children depended entirely on heaven's will, that everyone stood equal before it. He had not expected it to be tied to "fate and fortune."

"Brother Ma, Brother Sun, forgive my shallow knowledge.

"What exactly is this matter of 'fate and fortune'?"

Ma Ping knew quite a bit about this subject.

He unhurriedly poured himself a cup before explaining:

"This thing called fate and fortune has neither form nor substance, yet it truly affects the course of a cultivator's destiny, opportunities, disasters, and blessings.

"It is mostly innate, though it is not impossible to alter it afterward.

"However, methods for changing one's fate and fortune are often profound and unfathomable, beyond the reach of low-level cultivators like us."

Those words stirred Jiang Fu'an's heart.

He thought of Yue'er's destiny—Lucky Star Shining.

Could this... also be a kind of fate and fortune?

After pondering for a moment, he continued asking:

"Brother Ma, can this fate and fortune be tested, like a Spiritual Root?"

Ma Ping nodded.

"I've heard that it can be seen. But it seems one must study the art of divination, one of the hundred arts of cultivation.

"But this craft is extraordinarily obscure, and the cost of learning it is high. Very few people are willing to put in the effort."

Jiang Fu'an listened and quietly considered the matter.

If that was truly the case, then almost no one would be able to see the truth of his fate and fortune.

Even if more of his descendants showed Spiritual Roots in the future, he could naturally attribute it to fate and fortune. There would be no need to worry about his golden finger being exposed.

After the three drank another round, Ma Ping finally revealed the true purpose of this feast.

"Brother Sun, Brother Fu'an, you both know about my awkward situation in the Wang Family.

"Do either of you have any way to help me improve my current circumstances?"

Sun Xiuyuan had gained the hope of going to the Melodious Sound Sect and was in high spirits. Hearing this, he warmly began to help Ma Ping think it through.

"Your Wang Family has no Spiritual Vein. You can only rely on the thin spiritual energy scattered between heaven and earth. For you to reach the Qi Refining Mid-Stage would be harder than climbing to the sky.

"So trying to turn things around through cultivation is a road that won't work.

"In this old man's view, you should pay more attention to the family's various affairs and find an excuse to get involved.

"As long as you can accomplish one or two fine deeds, everyone in the Wang Family will naturally think more highly of you."

"Family affairs..."

Ma Ping repeated softly, sinking into thought.

In all these years since marrying into the family, aside from cultivation, he had mostly idled about. He truly had not managed many affairs.

Thinking of how his wife's greatest wish was to strengthen the Wang Family, if he could genuinely contribute in this matter, their relationship might perhaps ease.

He raised his head, his gaze becoming much more earnest.

"Brother Sun, what sort of affairs do you think would be suitable for me to start with?"

"What you do isn't important. The key is whether you can do it well and make something of it."

As Sun Xiuyuan spoke, his gaze turned toward Jiang Fu'an beside him, and he smiled.

"Actually, your two families live close together. You could absolutely work together on certain matters, benefiting each other. Wouldn't that kill two birds with one stone?"

Jiang Fu'an had not expected the conversation to turn toward him, and he froze slightly.

He thought it over carefully. At present, he seemed to have nothing he could offer as capital for cooperating with the Wang Family.

So he asked sincerely:

"Please enlighten me, Brother Sun. If I can help Brother Ma, Fu'an will certainly do his utmost."

Sun Xiuyuan stroked his beard and said slowly:

"How could what exactly to cooperate on be decided in just a few words? You must discuss it gradually according to your own situations.

"This old man thinks Brother Ma should first return and see what affairs in the Wang Family you can get your hands into.

"When we meet again next time, we can carefully work out a plan."

Ma Ping nodded solemnly.

"Alright. I'll pay close attention when I get back."

As he spoke, he cupped his hands toward Jiang Fu'an.

"If there truly comes a time when I need to trouble Brother Fu'an, I hope you'll lend me more support."

"Brother Ma, you're being too courteous."

Jiang Fu'an hurriedly raised his cup in return, his tone earnest.

"To be able to work with you is Fu'an's good fortune."

He knew clearly that if a family wished to establish itself and grow, forging many good ties and cultivating connections was of utmost importance.

There was naturally no reason to let such a ready-made opportunity slip away.