In the Celestial Destiny Star on the Month Pillar, a gentle breeze blew from east to west, sending white dandelion seeds scattering through the air.
Celestial Destiny Star: East Wind Sending, Auspicious.
A verse from the Fate Technique reads: The east wind brings a meeting of people; the west wind snuffs out the candle’s light.
A Human Destiny Star floated above the Day Pillar.
Within the Human Destiny Star, a plump, dark-red earthworm wriggled slowly on a hook underwater. Not far away, an azure carp approached and gently nibbled the edge of the worm. It suddenly flicked its tail, turned to leave, and then returned, repeating this over and over.
Human Destiny Star: Stealing a Bite, Auspicious.
A verse from the Fate Technique reads: Stealing bites brings modest wealth and peace; to see the bait but not eat reveals a scheme far deeper.
Li Qingxian made a few calculations in his mind.
’Born a fish in the water, blessed by the east wind in his youth. Wind is of the Wood element, and Water and Wood are compatible, so he was destined to meet Benefactors. With their guidance, he formed a Human Destiny Star. Seeing the bait but not getting hooked, showing minor greed without being reckless—this is an excellent start to life. It’s a shame he’s just lacking that final push. If he had gone one step further and his Human Destiny Star had become "Seeing the Bait but Not Eating," his willpower would have been even stronger. He might have even accumulated a fourth Destiny Star in his youth. With a Four-Star Alliance, he could have aimed for the Upper Three Grades.’
Li Qingxian looked towards Wei Yong’s Youth Life Land.
On the Year Pillar, within the Destiny Star, a gray sparrow huddled in its nest where the branches crossed.
Celestial Destiny Star: Gray Sparrow’s Nest.
A verse from the Fate Technique reads: The sparrow is weak and hides in its nest. For the strong, a way to avoid enemies; for the weak, a path to being bullied.
Li Qingxian nodded. ’This is a very common Destiny Star. Many people have it.’
Li Qingxian then looked at the other Destiny Stars, all of which seemed normal.
Above the Middle-Aged Life Land was a Destiny Star similar to Tao Zhi’s.
Human Destiny Star: Peach Blossoms Fill the Boughs.
There were dozens of peach blossoms on it.
Just as Li Qingxian was about to take a closer look, he suddenly felt something was wrong and snapped his gaze back to the Gray Sparrow’s Nest from before.
A normal Gray Sparrow’s Nest should be placed securely and level on the branches.
But this nest was tilted to the right.
The branches and other materials making up the nest should be tight and orderly, but while the upper part of this nest was normal, the branches in the lower part were scattered, revealing a hole.
Two green feathers and some pink petals were wedged in the opening.
’The lower nest represents home, the upper nest represents career. Wei Yong’s official position is secure, but... has his home base been raided?’
’I’ve finally found Wei Yong’s weak point. A woman in his household is the problem. But Uncle Zhou said he has one wife, three concubines, and four bed-servants. So, which one is it?’
Li Qingxian took another careful look at Wei Yong’s Life Formation. Aside from the Gray Sparrow’s Nest, there were no other openings to exploit.
’His Fate Grid is strong, but not strong enough, which is why it failed to form a complete Life Formation. Barring any surprises, his entire life will likely cap out at the Senior Fifth Grade. Still, with the Gray Sparrow’s Nest, as long as he doesn’t provoke any particularly powerful enemies, he should be fine. However, with the nest damaged, all bets are off...’
Li Qingxian withdrew from Wei Yong’s Life Mansion.
After glimpsing the Fate Grid, the Qi Fortune became visible.
An old tree appeared, floating above Wei Yong’s head.
All the leaves on this old tree were yellow; there wasn’t a single green one.
’An old tree symbolizes Decline, one of the Four Neutral States. All the leaves being yellow signifies "Waning Heart," one of the Three Images. This indicates that, barring any unforeseen events, his Qi Fortune will slowly diminish.’
Seeing Wei Yong’s Qi Fortune put Li Qingxian’s mind at ease, but he couldn’t see Wei Yong’s Destiny Image.
’After all, the difference in our Grade Levels is too great, and his Fate Grid is stronger. To see his Destiny Image, I don’t know how many Qi Fortune Fish I’d have to consume. I’ll wait and see. I’ll only consume them if there’s no other way.’
Li Qingxian stopped Observing Fate and Qi. He sat in the boat, lost in thought.
’Dealing with Tao Zhi is simple. Based on his Sinful Peach Demon Fate Grid, I can slowly use Inference to deduce the identities of his female victims and then gather evidence. The problem is, this will take some time, and as a Night Guard, he is very likely to notice something is off beforehand.’
’Dealing with Wei Yong is much harder. He has the Gray Sparrow’s Nest. This Fate Grid will likely make me overlook his issues, or even get distracted by other things and forget him entirely. That is the most powerful aspect of the Gray Sparrow’s Nest.’
After weighing his options, Li Qingxian decided to start with Tao Zhi.
Since he already knew their Fate Grids and Qi Fortune, he could perform a deeper Inference when he got back. So, Li Qingxian took one last look through the small hole, preparing to leave.
A familiar-looking woman’s face appeared beside Wei Yong.
The middle-aged noblewoman had a round, fair face and a complexion like peach blossoms. She wore a magnificent crimson robe, and the pearl-and-jade hairpins adorning her hair swayed with her every move, exuding an overwhelming aura of nobility.
The middle-aged noblewoman was standing before the men’s table, offering a toast to the others, while the other five women stood behind her.
When the middle-aged noblewoman’s gaze swept over Tao Zhi’s face, Li Qingxian felt as though a bolt of lightning had flashed across the night sky.
’Isn’t this middle-aged noblewoman the same one from Tao Zhi’s Destiny Image, the one whispering intimately with him behind a curtain?’
’Judging by her attire and her bearing, even though she isn’t wearing the formal robes of a titled lady, she is clearly the highest-ranking woman here.’
’She must be Wei Yong’s principal wife.’
Li Qingxian had a sudden realization. Wei Yong was having his home raided by his very own Tao-Good-Subordinate-Wife-Giver-Kingfisher-Zhi.
Li Qingxian repeatedly recalled Tao Zhi’s Fate Grid and Destiny Image.
The events in that Destiny Image were set to happen in a month.
’If I could make Wei Yong see what’s happening between Tao Zhi and Madam Wei with his own eyes, what would happen to those two? What Fate Skill could I use to accelerate their relationship?’
’Those truly powerful Fate Skills could accomplish it easily,’ Li Qingxian mused, ’but I’m only Tenth Grade. If I were to use them recklessly, I’d probably be drained of all my blood.’
’Wait, there is a Fate Skill I can use now... Life Acceleration Skill!’
After a moment of thought, Li Qingxian looked up, but Madam Wei had already returned to her table and was no longer visible.
Li Qingxian said in a low voice, "Yur Ping, tell Brother Han to move the boat. I need to see the women’s table from the side."
A short while later, the black-canopied boat slowly slid westward.
Li Qingxian looked through the hole. The men’s table was gradually obscured by the window frame, while more and more of the people at the women’s table became visible.
The moment he could see Madam Wei, Li Qingxian raised his voice, "That’s the spot."
The black-canopied boat stopped, and Li Qingxian used Seeing the Dragon and Gazing at Qi.
A white light shone around Madam Wei.
’Hm?’
A green sprout, about an inch long, appeared above Madam Wei’s head.
Nurturing, one of the Four Neutral States of the Twelve Longevity cycle.
The Four Neutral States are Decline, Sickness, Embryo, and Nurturing.
A verse from the Fate Technique reads: Nurturing marks the end of the neutral and the start of the auspicious.
’Wei Yong and Madam Wei are close in age. One is continually weakening, while the other seems to be heading towards an auspicious turn. This doesn’t feel right. This "Nurturing" Qi Fortune, to put it crudely, is like a second spring, a sunset romance...’
Li Qingxian discovered that he couldn’t see Madam Wei’s Destiny Image.
’That’s not right. Madam Wei hasn’t even Entered a Grade, and her Fate Grid doesn’t look very strong. How can I not see her Destiny Image... Oh, I get it. She’s a titled lady. Her Grade Level is equivalent to Wei Yong’s—both Senior Fifth Grade. Even though she has no official post, she receives the same stipend, holds a high status, and is protected by the Imperial Court.’
Li Qingxian thought for a moment, then consumed another Qi Fortune Fish and continued to Observe Fate and Qi.
His consciousness entered Madam Wei’s Life Mansion. Just like Wei Yong’s, it was a magnificent, two-story wooden building.
He walked to the entrance, and the main doors opened.
Li Qingxian looked inside.
In the Childhood Life Land, there was only one Celestial Destiny Star hanging: a fish swimming in water, signifying a smooth youth, just like Wei Yong’s.
In the Youth Life Land, there was also only one Destiny Star floating.
Within the Destiny Star, an apricot tree stood straight, its branches neat and orderly. On the very front, a single apricot blossom was in bloom. It was much larger than an ordinary blossom, as big as the palm of a hand.
Destiny Star: Lone Apricot on a Branch.
A verse from the Fate Technique reads: A small blossom, a concubine; a large blossom, a wife. A lone, large blossom on a branch signifies a woman who brings great fortune to her husband.