Yet he had never expected to run into Zuo Xiaoduo just after setting out that morning.
That rapid-fire stream of words had left Teacher Liu's heart pounding uneasily.
Had I really sensed something wrong myself? Was it truly a sign from heaven?
"East, west, and south?" Bearded Man murmured.
Still full of questions and confusion, Bearded Man led his nine brothers out through the school gates.
"Boss, do you really believe that kid's fortune-teller spiel?" one of his brothers asked with a laugh.
"Before today, I almost certainly wouldn't have believed it. But something happened yesterday, when a thought stirred in me for no apparent reason... in short, he got it right."
Brother Liu, the bearded man, said evenly, "You all know we've long since grown used to going on missions. They're as routine as everyday meals, and we head out every few days. Before each trip, you all have a habit of writing farewell letters, but I've never written one. I scoffed at the idea and even mocked you for it many times."
"So what? We're used to it. You've never spared any effort when mocking us." Several of his brothers nodded together.
"But last night, for no apparent reason, I wrote a farewell letter," Bearded Man said.
"..."
All nine of his brothers were jolted at once.
"Also, I'd already decided this morning that we would search south of the city. If we found nothing there, we would split into two groups and search east and west respectively. This was a plan we'd discussed together, and no one objected."
"But that kid ruled out precisely those three directions," Bearded Man murmured.
"And he singled out the north, which we hadn't considered."
"Tell me, isn't that strange? I don't think it was a coincidence."
Bearded Man drew a