152: Chapter 32 Fortune Telling? I Only Know the Basics

A short while later, Guo Jing and his companions arrived at the pavilion outside the city, smoothly meeting Meng Xingju.

Staring at the caravan before them, taller than the pavilion, Huang Rong couldn't help but look it over repeatedly, clicking her tongue in amazement: "It truly is both a house and a carriage. The first floor has a hall, a kitchen; not only are supplies stored, but you can even grow vegetables."

"The second floor should be the bedroom."

"This layout and furnishings are truly excellent."

"Traveling around in it, aside from being slow, seems to have no drawbacks."

Mu Nianci, Yang Kang, and Yang Tiexin and his wife were similarly astonished.

In contrast, Guo Jing, having seen and stayed in it before, was less curious. Seeing everyone had boarded, he took the initiative to act as the coachman, urging the horses forward.

Mu Nianci and the others felt the ground they were standing on suddenly move, all startled, then quickly realized what was happening, watching the receding scenery outside with wonder in their eyes.

They weren't unfamiliar with riding in carriages, but that was sitting down. Experiencing travel while standing like this was rare.

After a good while, the curiosity and novelty in their hearts finally subsided.

Then, Huang Rong asked Meng Li: "Where did you get this Meng Xingju from?"

Meng Li replied: "I built it myself."

"You also know the art of mechanical construction?" Huang Rong asked, her face full of surprise.

Meng Li said modestly: "I know a little."

"Then how did you know about the incident at Ox Village eighteen years ago?" Huang Rong asked again.

These words instantly attracted the attention of the others.

Because they were all connected to this matter, they couldn't help but be curious. Previously, when Meng Li exposed Wanyan Honglie as the mastermind, they were too shocked and the timing wasn't right to think much about it. Now, thinking back, they couldn't help but share Huang Rong's curiosity about how Meng Li knew.

After all, Meng Li looked about the same age as Guo Jing; he might not even have been born when the incident happened.

So, how did he know?

In response to Huang Rong's question, Meng Li answered with a question: "Have you heard of King Wen's Primordial Divine Divination?"

Huang Rong was taken aback.

King Wen's Primordial Divine Divination? Of course she had heard of it.

"You can also tell fortunes?" Huang Rong's expression turned strange.

Mu Nianci and the others were wondering what King Wen's Primordial Divine Divination was. Hearing this, they immediately understood and also felt somewhat skeptical.

Although ancient times were full of superstition, it depended on the person.

Even Bao Xiruo, who often prayed to gods and Buddhas, only did so for peace of mind.

Yang Kang, Yang Tiexin, and Mu Nianci need not be mentioned.

Facing their doubtful gazes, Meng Li's expression remained unchanged: "I cannot tell fortunes. I've only learned the basics of divination. At best, occasionally when inspiration strikes, I can glimpse a thread of past Karma. The incident involving the Guo and Yang families eighteen years ago was discovered that way."

"Really or not?" Huang Rong expressed doubt, then posed a challenge on the spot: "Then tell my fortune, figure out my background."

Meng Li rolled his eyes: "I said, I've only learned the basics. I can only glimpse a hint of heavenly secrets when inspiration strikes. Besides, divination has its rules. Inspiration is a hint and permission given by heaven in its mysterious ways. Casting a divination under those circumstances is fine."

"Otherwise, divination should not be performed lightly, because the ways of heaven are inconstant."

"Calculating for no reason..."

"Not to mention I lack that ability, but even if I truly had the skill and saw something, I couldn't speak of it."

"Without heaven's permission, heavenly secrets must not be divulged, or one will surely face divine retribution."

"Light punishment involves disfigurement and shortened lifespan; severe punishment means sudden death on the spot."

"Is it really as mysterious as you say?" Huang Rong looked suspicious.

Meng Li pinched his fingers a few times, replying calmly: "Whether this matter is mysterious or not, you'll have a chance to ask your father later. However, what I study is 'Zhou Tian Karma Deduction', which is not exactly the same as his 'King Wen's Primordial Divine Divination', though they achieve similar results."

"Alright, then I'll ask him when the time comes..."

Halfway through her sentence, Huang Rong suddenly paused, then said in astonishment: "You know who my father is?!"

Meng Li said indifferently: "The Master of Peach Blossom Island, one of the Four Supremes of the current Jianghu, the Eastern Heretic Huang Yaoshi. I just had a moment of inspiration and calculated it."

Huang Rong: "..."

She felt something was off, but Meng Li had indeed just pinched his fingers in calculation, and his words seemed flawless.

"What else did you divine?" Huang Rong asked.

Meng Li answered: "Your mother was named Feng Heng. She passed away shortly after you were born. The reason you came to the Central Plains is because you were talking to some unlucky fellow on the island, your father discovered it, scolded you, and in a moment of anger, you ran away from home."

Hearing this, Huang Rong finally showed a look of shock.

The reason was that she had never told anyone about running away from home, and her father Huang Yaoshi certainly wouldn't have spoken of it either.

Mu Nianci, Yang Tiexin and his wife, and Yang Kang were similarly astonished.

They hadn't expected Huang Rong to be a runaway, and even more so, they hadn't expected Meng Li to actually be able to divine it.

Guo Jing, who was driving the carriage, looked stunned, then said to Huang Rong: "Rong'er, so you ran away from home. You've been out for so long, wouldn't your father be worried sick?"

Huang Rong snorted coldly: "He wouldn't be worried at all!"

"All he does every day is play the qin, paint, compose poetry, plant flowers, admire the moon, practice Martial Arts, and tell stories."

"Aside from that, he only knows how to lose his temper at people."

"I've been out for so long, and I haven't seen him come looking for me."

Guo Jing: "..."

Rong'er's father does so many things every day? Then it seems he really doesn't have much time to come look for her.

Yang Tiexin and Bao Xiruo were secretly shocked.

Playing the qin, painting, composing poetry, planting flowers, admiring the moon.

Engaging in such elegant pursuits every day, Miss Huang's family background must be extraordinary.

Master of Peach Blossom Island, owning an island?

Yang Kang also realized this, but his attention was on the phrases "Four Supremes", "Eastern Heretic", and "practice Martial Arts".

Mu Nianci, meanwhile, gazed at Meng Li with shining eyes.

Good-looking, high Martial Arts skill, well-traveled and knowledgeable, skilled in mechanics, understands fortune-telling.

Each item made her both proud and inevitably feel inferior.

Proud that her future husband was so capable, inferior because the gap between them was large, afraid she might not be worthy.

The scene fell silent for a moment.

Huang Rong, speaking of Huang Yaoshi not coming to look for her, felt resentment and annoyance rising in her heart, dampening her interest in conversation and curiosity. After finishing her words, she asked no more, instead moving a stool to sit in the kitchen to sulk alone.

Seeing this, Meng Li walked to the driving position, gave Guo Jing a meaningful look, and took over the driving.

Guo Jing, for once not slow on the uptake, immediately understood and went to the kitchen to coax Huang Rong.

Mu Nianci, seeing this situation, unconsciously walked over to Meng Li's side.

Meng Li saw her and smilingly handed over the long whip in his hand: "Want to give it a try?"

Mu Nianci was momentarily stunned.

Having traveled north and south with Yang Tiexin for many years, they mostly walked, but she had also ridden horses and driven carriages.

However, she had never tried driving a carriage pulled by four horses.

Nevertheless, Mu Nianci did not refuse or shy away, directly taking the long whip to try.

Meng Li watched carefully, pointing out problems promptly when he saw them.

Before long, Mu Nianci mastered the technique, finding it not difficult.

On the other side, Guo Jing had also coaxed the sulking Huang Rong in the kitchen.

Saying he coaxed her, but in reality, Huang Rong couldn't withstand his "simplicity" and "directness", and adjusted her mood herself.

Just as both sides were enjoying harmonious moments, a problem arose with Yang Tiexin's family...