Chapter 652: Shuddering at the Very Thought of It!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
For Feng Xiange to have complained so vehemently in his own defense, it looked like he was innocent. He had even presented his exquisite brews much earlier. With Ling Xiaozui and Dugu Chou's experience and knowledge of the world, even they thought that it was a reasonable move – it was exactly what a God of Wine would do.
Heaven's Inquisition Gu Chaliang, on the other hand, had not shown any of his legendary prowess up until now! An expert who was known to be omniscient did not manage to foretell the trap and the moment they were ambushed, he had professed that the astral providence was obscured and he could not see more. Up to now, there was only a verbal argument without any practical actions. He was terribly suspicious, to say the least!
"Let's take a few days' rest here, replenish some energy," Ling Xiaozui said with a smile, "We'll head back when it's about time."
"Go back? Where can we go back to?" asked Feng Xiange.
Ling Xiaozui chuckled. "Back to Tiantang City of course. We still have matters pending there; we have plenty of things left there as well."
Heaven's Inquisition nodded and agreed, "Correct, it's imperative that we return to Tiantang City."
Dugu Chou smiled faintly and said, "This incident was really unexpected. When we came so fervently with the intention to bring down the Four Seasons Tower entirely, it was a surprise that the tower actually contained so many pinnacle forces… When we were ambushed earlier, I was truly shocked."
"For the tower to have gathered such an impressive lineup, it would have taken them a significant amount of time. It looks like the Four Seasons Tower didn't even exert its full strength when they fought me the last time; perhaps they refrained from unleashing their full strength for some reason or other," Ling Xiaozui sighed.
Dugu Chou chuckled and said, "There's no need to be so humble. It's not that the Four Seasons Tower held themselves back when they tried to put you down – if the tower actually wanted to kill you, you could reduce the eighteen men today by at least half their numbers; there must be a bigger stratagem behind the Four Seasons Tower's sedulous effort to hide their experts away. How can they possibly lose them just for a personal grudge against you?"
"That sounds rather reasonable," said Ling Xiaozui after giving what Dugu Chou said some thought.
With or without any intentions, Dugu Chou spoke, "Heaven's Inquisition, you and Mr. Nian must have had quite the relationship, listening to how the both of you conversed. I wonder if you know anything about the Four Seasons Tower's manpower, or if you're able to foretell anything? You have to know at least something about this, don't you?"
His words, by now, were involuntarily stinging.
Gu Chaliang looked troubled as he said, "During the many years of being imprisoned by Mr. Nian, my intelligence of the Four Seasons Tower's manpower and resources is actually rather shallow… As for foretelling… I've actually augured just before I woke up earlier. It's certain that those people have gone back, once again hidden in the mountain. I have made mention about the mountain earlier – there's something in there that somehow obscures God's will. My fortune-telling is utterly useless…"
Dugu Chou chuckled and replied, "You mean… as long as they're in that mountain, you won't be able to augur anything?"
"Yes," Gu Chaliang answered with a nod after sighing.
He knew that it was preposterous, but it was true. He had never expected the existence of such a phenomenon in this world.
Dugu Chou wore a faint smile but the uplifted corners of his mouth contained a hint of mirth.
Ling Xiaozui frowned and spoke grimly, "The Four Seasons Tower is really resourceful. We've overlooked the legend's unrivaled tower in this world!"
Feng Xiange, at the side, snorted before he scooted over to Gu Chaliang and said, "Heaven's Inquisition, please predict when I will die."
"Feng Xiange, we've just escaped danger, yet you continue to spew gibberish. Don't you have better things to augur?" Gu Chaliang hissed through gritted teeth.
Dugu Chou said, "How is this nonsense? We should be concerned about our life and death, especially when things are so uncertain now that our futures are bound to change anytime. With you, Heaven's Inquisition, here, when, if not now, should we seize the chance to ask for a prophecy? Augur for Feng Xiange, quickly. I think this fellow's life force is severely damaged. In addition to his previous injury, I don't think he has many years to live."
"Dugu Chou, you old bastard. You're older than me! Why don't you say that you don't have many years to live as well?" Feng Xiange chided with a chuckle.
Dugu Chou chortled but urged, "Quickly now. I've long heard about the unparalleled oracle of Heaven's Inquisition but I've never seen it with my own eyes. That has been my deepest regret. If you don't do it today, we won't let this rest!"
Gu Chaliang was helpless, turning to look at Ling Xiaozui pleadingly.
Ling Xiaozui gazed at him for a moment before saying, "Just don't tell us if it's inconvenient or ill-fated."
Gu Chaliang chuckled and replied, "If so, I'll have a look."
He concentrated, observing Feng Xiange's face, scanning his features. Feng Xiange wore a disdainful smirk as he watched Gu Chaliang with a squint.
The more Gu Chaliang studied Feng Xiange's face, the more puzzled he looked. After some time, he shook his head, as if to shake off his dizziness, before his brows knitted together.
'This isn't right!'
Gu Chaliang was already screaming and shrieking inwardly, a pool of doubts brimming within him, but he did not show anything in his expression, only looking thoughtful.
Gu Chaliang had always had a habit – whether it would be used or not, he would always study the faces of the people he came into contact with and bury the result in his heart. Those who asked for an oracle and paid a certain price that satisfied him, he would give some ambiguous advice. Nonetheless, whether it was to solve their doubts or create further mystery, the words would not be conclusive.
Gu Chaliang had studied Ling Xiaozui, Dugu Chou, and Feng Xiange's faces for one too many times during this short period of time. He was already more than familiar with what prophecy held for them. However, checking Feng Xiange's face again this time, Gu Chaliang was greatly taken aback.
'Why is the oracle for Feng Xiange changing?'
Gu Chaliang was anxious, thinking, 'His face initially told of vivacious vitality, but it stops within decades, at most, a century. It is inevitable that he will die and whatever art he has will perish. Why has it changed so drastically? Such a dynamic life-force… He may not even die even after a few millenniums!'
'What is wrong? Could I have taken a wrong reading? Perhaps Feng Xiange kept something hidden previously? However, he's injured rather severely now, how can he keep it concealed?'
'It's impossible! Absolutely preposterous!'
'Was the man somehow swapped? No – that would still be impossible. Such an aura… such sensing… such… There's no way that a person's future could change so drastically!'
Gu Chaliang observed Feng Xiange's face for a long time, in terrible distress without saying a thing.
Feng Xiange scoffed and said, "What now? You can't have seen that I'm dying, can you? Can't say it aloud because it's too horrible to fathom?"
As he spoke, Gu Chaliang sneered as well and lifted his head to look at Feng Xiange's face. Right when he was about to reply, he was stunned again! The intense life essence that Feng Xiange had exuded earlier was wholly gone – the face of the current Feng Xiange told of an aging, old man who was near his end.
No matter how he maintained his vitality, it was imminent that he would definitely pass within a century!
Gu Chaliang was dumbfounded.
He had never seen such a face in his entire life! How could it possibly be so f*cking volatile?
'If I were to give you a fortune-telling session, I might have just crushed my own reputation as Heaven's Inquisition!'
Gu Chaliang shook his head. "What your face tells is too bizarre. I can't understand it – I'll admit that I lack the talent and skill!"
The other three men snorted at him.
Gu Chaliang snorted as well and turned away, the after-effects of oblivion in his eyes. His gaze then fell on Dugu Chou and Ling Xiaozui, taking him on another trip of shock.
There were balls of dark air on Ling Xiaozui and Dugu Chou's faces that were actually much uglier than Feng Xiange's face, that told of approaching death. Gu Chaliang could not help the astonishment that ran through him, inwardly murmuring at the surprise.
'What is going on with the two of them? Why does my augur today witness so many peculiarities? These two faces obviously indicate that they are the victims of a dastardly scheme, but it doesn't tell who plotted against them, and how. Still, I've scried everyone before embarking on this trip to estimate the danger – there wasn't such a situation then!'
'If they were the victims of a scheme, why didn't I see it?'
'However, it would be impossible if the ploy only happened now, after the ambush; there aren't any outsiders near them. Who, then, was it who tricked them?'
Gu Chaliang suddenly shuddered at the very thought of it!
It was a conundrum that brought terror the more he thought about it.