The appearance of this divination sign was like cold water dripping into boiling oil, instantly raising a tremendous uproar in the hall.
The unfamiliar girl had climbed onto the lotus pedestal to wipe Guanyin's tears. Her purse had caught on the vase, spilling gold coins that formed a divination sign on the incense table. Nearly a thousand people in the hall had witnessed it with their own eyes; there could be no question of fraud. She had neither entered the preliminary selection for the Guanyin Attendant nor bowed with the others to seek the Buddha's guidance, yet through this extraordinary coincidence, she had cast the Sacred Divination.
It seemed heaven itself had ordained it-Guanyin had personally chosen this year's Guanyin Attendant.
Everyone saw how lovely and dignified she looked standing on the lotus pedestal, even bearing some resemblance to the Guanyin statue beside her. She was unquestionably a fitting choice. The other candidates all showed regret and disappointment. Mi Falan, who had now failed to be selected three years running, lost heart completely. With tears brimming in his eyes, he told Yao Jiangzhen, "Elder Sister, I drank last night and broke the precept, but a guest forced me to."
Yao Jiangzhen's eyes reddened as she drew him into her arms and comforted him. "That wasn't your fault. The Bodhisattva won't blame you. None of us are free to do as we wish..."
This girl had not been selected according to the customary procedure, but had appeared halfway through. Half convinced and half doubtful, Abbess Duanchen frowned and said quietly to Cao Hong, "Could she have used martial skill to cast that sign deliberately?"
Cao Hong watched the Green-Robed Wanderer help her jump down from the lotus pedestal. Looking thoughtful, he said in a low voice, "Whatever means she used no