46: Chapter 46 May the Emperor bless me, Amen!

Hu Tian's heart stirred, and his footsteps paused slightly. It was the scent of prey picked up by a hunter, a feeling like a wolf that hadn't eaten for three days smelling the aroma of meat buns.

Could there actually be a treasure in this Confucius Temple?

He followed beside Zhou Waner without showing any emotion, his gaze scanning the temple as if he were enjoying the scenery. In reality, his consciousness had already sunk into his mind, skillfully pulling up the scanning interface of the Treasure Hunting Radar.

On the radar interface, a light blue dot was flashing. Although it wasn't as thrilling as the previous red dots, it was still enough to prove its extraordinariness.

Distance display: 30 meters. Bearing: Southeast.

"Brother Hu Tian, what are you looking at?"

Zhou Waner turned back and saw Hu Tian standing still with a dazed look in his eyes. She asked curiously, "Are you awestruck by the architecture here? Or... were you mesmerized by some pretty lady?"

"Nothing. I just think the architecture in this temple is very interesting and imposing. Of course, I'm mainly mesmerized by the great beauty right next to me."

Hu Tian snapped back to reality and joked with a smile. He casually tightened his grip on Zhou Waner's wrist to hide the waves of excitement in his heart. "Waner, what's that place over there?"

He pointed toward the southeast. There seemed to be a side hall there that looked somewhat secluded, yet it had the most tourists.

"Oh, over there? That seems to be Wenchang Pavilion, dedicated to Wenchang Dijun. In the past, scholars would go there to pray for official ranks, hoping to become the top scorer in the imperial exams. They'd also pray for romance, since Dijun also manages 'Literary Luck' and 'Peach Blossom Luck'."

Zhou Waner explained like a knowledgeable tour guide, not forgetting to wink playfully. "Shall we go take a look? Maybe you can soak up some of that scholarly air and become even smarter."

"Sure, I was thinking the same thing. I also want to see if I can draw a 'Wenqu Star Descending' fortune stick."

Hu Tian nodded and followed Zhou Waner toward Wenchang Pavilion. His heart rate couldn't help but quicken a few beats; it was the excitement of being about to open a mystery box.

The closer he got, the brighter the light dot on the Treasure Hunting Radar became, as if it were waving at him and saying, "Come here, come here, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

What would it be this time?

The incense offerings in front of Wenchang Pavilion were more flourishing than imagined. Amidst the swirling blue smoke, voices of prayer were mixed in, making it feel like a giant wishing well.

Hu Tian and Zhou Waner moved slowly with the flow of people. Although the Wenchang Pavilion before them wasn't as grand as the main hall, it had a unique, exquisite elegance, exuding a lofty air of 'though the room is humble, only my virtue is fragrant.'

The pavilion had two stories with flying eaves and bracket sets. Golden auspicious cloud patterns coiled around the vermilion pillars, glowing with an ancient luster in the afternoon sun, as if telling stories of a thousand years.

The incense burner in front of the door was filled with incense sticks, and the wisps of blue smoke rose straight into the clouds, as if to deliver the prayers of the mortal world to Wenchang Dijun in heaven, keeping the old gentleman incredibly busy.

The most eye-catching ones were the students wearing school uniforms.

Some were in groups of three or five, others were alone. Most of them had devout expressions, holding incense in their hands and praying silently with their eyes closed. Their serious manner suggested that as long as they were sincere, they could move the heavens.

"Oh, it's almost time for the Gaokao."

Zhou Waner said in a low voice, her tone carrying a hint of nostalgia. "Look at those high school seniors; they're all here to pray for success in the exams. I came to worship here before my Gaokao, too! Guess what happened?"

"What happened? You passed?"

Hu Tian asked cooperatively.

"Of course! Although Dijun might not have heard me, I worked hard myself!"

Zhou Waner raised her chin proudly. "So, they say relying on others is unreliable; it's best to rely on yourself!"

Hu Tian scanned the crowd. Several girls in uniforms from a key high school were making devout wishes, accompanied by parents whose faces were full of expectation—their gazes were even more tender than if they were looking at their own sons.

Further away, several young people who looked like university students were also queuing to offer incense, muttering to themselves as if performing some mysterious ritual.

"Wenchang Dijun, please bless me so I can pass the Postgraduate Entrance Exam this time..."

"Please, let me pass the CET-6. I swear I'll study English hard from now on and never skip class again..."

Various wishes intertwined in the air, forming a unique picture of both longing for the future and helplessness toward reality.

Hu Tian and Zhou Waner finally reached the front of the queue. At that moment, directly ahead of them were several university students about to graduate. The two were about a meter away when one of the boys knelt devoutly and prayed in a low voice to Wenchang Dijun. Although his voice was small, it could still be heard faintly in the noisy atmosphere: "Wenchang Dijun, please bless my graduation defense to go smoothly, let a good job be fed directly to my mouth, and let the girlfriend I've dated for four years have a happy ending with me. I am willing to exchange ten years of my roommate's bachelorhood for this. If that's not enough, it can be for a lifetime. Dijun bless me, amen!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a boy with glasses next to him suddenly snapped his head up, eyes wide. His expression looked like he had swallowed a fly. "Holy crap, Wang Lei, what did you just say? You're trading me? Where's your humanity!"

"Ahem, you heard wrong. I said the guy in the next room, the one who snores like thunder."

The boy named Wang Lei stood up awkwardly and brushed the dust off his knees, trying to bluff his way out.

"Bullshit! There are only two people in our dorm. Who else could it be but me? You dog, to think I even lent you my prized game account! If I had known, I should have listed you on Xianyu and sold you!"

The boy with glasses was so angry his face turned red, wishing he could give Wang Lei a set of 'Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms' on the spot.

"Oh, brother, wasn't this to show sincerity? Look, for my happiness, just make a small sacrifice. When I make it big later, I'll definitely buy you a girlfriend!"

"Sincerity my ass! Swap yourself if you're so capable! If you dare to trade me, I'll post that story about your old crush on the teaching assistant on the confession wall!"

Zhou Waner couldn't help but laugh out loud, covering her mouth as she whispered to Hu Tian, "These university students are so funny. Even their wishes are hilarious. It's a classic example of 'plastic brotherhood'."

Hu Tian was also amused, thinking to himself, "These days, do you even have to 'sacrifice' your roommate to make a wish? It seems this generation of students is really going all out to succeed."

But his attention quickly returned to the Treasure Hunting Radar.

The light dot's location was inside the Wenchang Pavilion, less than ten meters away. It felt as if the treasure was within reach.

He looked up at the pavilion, his gaze scanning the old wooden structures, trying to find where the treasure might be hidden, as if playing a real-life game of 'Spot the Difference'.

The two in front fooled around for a while before finally moving out of the way, as if to make room for Hu Tian's 'treasure hunt'.

"Waner, let's go up and pay our respects too."

Hu Tian said, his tone carrying a hint of anticipation.

"Okay! The fortune sticks here are very accurate; I want to get one too."

Zhou Waner excitedly pulled Hu Tian up the steps, her pace as light as a young deer's.

The two lit incense and, following the example of those before them, bowed respectfully three times to the statue of Wenchang Dijun. Their movements were as standard as if they were performing a formal ritual.

Zhou Waner closed her eyes with her hands clasped together, her lips moving slightly. It was unclear what she was wishing for, but a shy blush appeared on her face.

Hu Tian took the opportunity to carefully observe the layout inside the pavilion, his eyes like a scanner, not missing a single corner.

The statue of Wenchang Dijun sat upright in the central shrine, dressed in official robes and holding a ruyi scepter. His expression was majestic yet kind, as if looking down upon all living beings.

Couplets hung on both sides of the shrine, reading 'May literary luck flourish and names reach the golden list; may academic success lead to a meteoric rise.' The calligraphy was bold and powerful, exuding a scholarly air.

And the light dot displayed by the Treasure Hunting Radar seemed to be located behind the shrine, or perhaps in a corner to the side.

Hu Tian's heart stirred, and he calmly looked in that direction as if searching for a lost wallet.

Hu Tian's gaze, however, passed through the crowd and landed on an inconspicuous corner inside the Wenchang Pavilion.

The light dot displayed by the Treasure Hunting Radar was inside the pavilion, and the distance had shortened to within ten meters. That strong signal made him certain the treasure was right there.

"Waner, let's take a look inside."

Hu Tian suggested, trying his best to keep his tone calm.

"Okay! It seems they also sell prayer plaques inside; let's write one too, hehe."

Zhou Waner nodded excitedly, pulling Hu Tian's arm as they walked further in, completely unaware of Hu Tian's 'ulterior motives'.

As soon as they stepped into the pavilion, a scent of sandalwood mixed with ancient wood wafted toward them, refreshing the mind as if they had instantly traveled back to ancient times.

The light inside the pavilion was slightly dim. In the center was the statue of Wenchang Dijun, with various merit boxes and prayer plaques placed on both sides. There were also rows of racks filled with red ribbons, which were covered in people's wishes.

A few staff members were maintaining order, occasionally reminding tourists to be mindful of cultural relic protection. Their serious expressions made it seem as if they were guarding some shocking secret.

Hu Tian's gaze scanned the interior. The guidance from the Treasure Hunting Radar became clearer. The position of that light blue dot was near an old calligraphy painting on the side wall—or rather, on an object beneath the painting.

Looking at the shrine near the painting, Hu Tian actually discovered an incredibly unremarkable incense burner.

It was a small, dark-red incense burner. Its surface was covered with the marks of time, almost blending in with the surrounding decor. It was like a fish eye mixed among pearls; if one didn't have 'piercing eyes', it would be impossible to notice.

If not for the precise positioning of the Treasure Hunting Radar, Hu Tian probably wouldn't have given it a second glance, treating it as just an ordinary, slightly historical antique used for holding incense.

The incense burner was about twenty centimeters high and stood on three legs. The body was carved with complex patterns, but because of its age and the layer of incense ash, those patterns had become blurred, as if time had erased their memories.

But for such an inconspicuous incense burner, the light blue dot on the Treasure Hunting Radar was resting precisely on its position, as if saying, "Don't look at my ugly appearance; I'm actually very gentle (valuable)."

Hu Tian's heart couldn't help but speed up a few beats. It was the excitement of discovering a 'fish that escaped the net'.

A poem says:

Qinhuai's misty waters lock the layered towers, the ancient Wenchang Pavilion's incense is thick.

Speak not of an ordinary burner's lack of worth, for a keen eye recognizes the emperor and marquis.