After paying his respects to the Land God, Daoist Xue was in an entirely different state of mind.
Daoist Xue straightened his clothes, put away his bamboo tube, and clamped his unfinished half of a steamed bun between his teeth. Then he shouldered his wooden chest and strode toward Haiyu County's town.
When he had first left the City God Temple, Daoist Xue had felt somewhat lost. Now, though outwardly calm, he was slightly excited within-or rather, invigorated.
After all, he had believed his death inevitable. Even if he ultimately chose to flee, it would leave a knot in his heart, and he would spend the rest of his life plagued by unease and self-reproach.
But things were quite different now. Daoist Xue had thought through the connections and strung them together, reaching a conclusion ordinary people could scarcely imagine.
As he walked, Daoist Xue reviewed everything that had happened since noon.
In the City God Temple, the City God's third question seemed to break the divination tube, but he actually let me take away a bamboo slip. He must have used his powers to help me. A broken tube, a broken tube-without destruction, there can be no creation!
On the town's streets, Old Mr. Yu led me here with his song, helping me discover where the bamboo slip was and even directing me to this Land God Temple!
Outside the Land God Temple, I repaired the little temple, and the Land God appeared in person to guide me, explaining some of the causes and consequences!
Even setting aside the excitement of truly encountering deities for the first time in his life, these successive events were enough to give Daoist Xue a sense of destiny. And there were experts and deities helping him along.
Daoist Xue gradually quickened his pace,