I have a composite mirror

Chapter 67 Great Fortune

Gu Shenyan did not answer immediately.

He picked up his teacup and sipped slowly, but his mind was racing with calculations.

He was to become an apprentice in a few days, a crucial step for him to embark on the right path of talismanic arts.

If something goes wrong at this critical juncture, wouldn't it be a case of losing more than you gain?

Moreover, the underwater conditions are unclear.

Although those monsters were driven there, it was unknown how many there were or how ferocious they were.

"Brother Sun."

He put down his teacup and said:

"I can't help with the cleanup operation for now."

Sun Chengzhi was somewhat disappointed.

"However... I can draw a few more talismans."

He pointed to the talisman with dual effects on the table:

"I should have been able to draw two or three of these water-fixing and water-avoiding talismans before I became an apprentice."

"In addition, I can draw about ten more ordinary water-fixing and water-avoiding talismans."

Sun Chengzhi's eyes lit up immediately.

"really?"

"Naturally true."

Gu Shenyan nodded:

"These double talismans cost fifteen silver dollars each; ordinary single-effect talismans are priced according to market value."

"If Brother Sun needs it urgently, you can come and pick up a batch in a couple of days."

"Very good!"

Sun Chengzhi slapped his thigh: "Brother Gu, I'll buy all these talismans from you, no matter how much you ask for! I promise you won't be shortchanged!"

He thought for a moment, then promised:

"Furthermore... if this raid yields any results, Brother Gu can choose two items as the spoils, and you can also purchase the rest at a discount if you wish."

"The inner cores, bones, and fur of those spirits are all rare and valuable items for cultivators of magic and Taoism."

Gu Shenyan nodded, not bothering with formalities: "That's excellent."

"Brother Sun, please go back and prepare. I will do my best regarding the talismans."

"Thank you for your trouble, Brother Gu!"

Sun Chengzhi rose, bowed, and took his leave with profuse thanks.

………………

Gu Shenyan sat alone at his desk.

Tomorrow is the day for me to become an apprentice.

In fact, he was quite confident in his skill with talismans. In just two months, he went from knowing nothing to becoming proficient.

Such a speed of progress would even make the scions of those talisman-making families sigh in admiration.

In terms of pure ability, he believes he is no less capable than any of his peers.

But the matter of becoming an apprentice... is never something that can be decided solely based on ability.

What if I fail to become an apprentice tomorrow?

If you miss this opportunity, you'll have to wait until next year for the Xuanzheng Division's grand examination.

Gu Shenyan stood up, crumpled the discarded drawing paper into a ball, and threw it into the wastebasket.

The more you think about it, the more confused you become; the more confused you become, the more panicked you get; and the more panicked you get, the more likely you are to make mistakes.

He paced around the room a few times, then sat down, then stood up again, going back and forth, until finally he let out a long sigh.

"Alright, I won't practice tonight."

He walked to the window and pushed it open.

In the distance, a waning moon hangs on a branch, cold and frosty.

Gu Shenyan looked at the waning moon and suddenly thought of his younger sister.

These days I've been busy with cultivation, so I haven't had much time to talk to Weiwei.

It's been six or seven days since I last visited her courtyard.

"Go and talk to Weiwei."

He turned and went out the door, heading towards the backyard.

Gu Shenwei's courtyard was as quiet as ever.

The branches and leaves of the crabapple tree swayed gently in the moonlight, casting a carpet of shattered silver.

Gu Shenyan saw a light in the room, gently pushed open the door, and saw his younger sister sitting on a soft couch by the window.

She held a booklet in her hands, her brows furrowed slightly, and her lips moved slightly as if she were silently reciting something.

"This girl, she's actually looking at this?"

He chuckled inwardly.

That book, "A Simple Explanation of the Book of Changes," is obscure and difficult to understand. How could my fifteen-year-old sister possibly understand it?

"Weiwei," he called softly.

The girl looked up at the sound, somewhat surprised.

"elder brother!"

She quickly put down the booklet and tried to get up, but Gu Shenyan pressed her down.

"Don't move, just sit."

He sat down on the edge of the couch and casually picked up the book "A Brief Explanation of the Book of Changes" and flipped through it.

"What, you actually got absorbed in this?"

Gu Shenwei smiled and said, "Brother, don't underestimate me."

She stretched out her finger, flipped to a page in the booklet, and pointed to the illustration on it, saying:

"I've been studying it every day these days, and I've come to understand some of the tricks of the trade."

"Oh?" Gu Shenyan raised an eyebrow. "Tell me about it."

"Brother, please listen."

The girl cleared her throat and, mimicking the manner of those old scholars, began to speak in a serious tone:

"The book begins by saying, 'The Yi has the Taiji, which gives rise to the Two Forms, the Two Forms give rise to the Four Symbols, and the Four Symbols give rise to the Eight Trigrams.'"

"The eight trigrams are Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui..."

She spoke eloquently, acting like a little adult.

As Gu Shenyan listened, a smile gradually appeared on his lips.

This girl has really put in some effort.

But these things are just the most basic knowledge.

Even a blind fortune teller on the street could tell it.

"Not bad, not bad." He nodded in approval. "It seems Weiwei hasn't wasted her time these past few days."

Gu Shenwei was a little proud of his praise, and her face flushed slightly.

"Of course." She raised her chin. "Not only do I know the divination methods, I can also cast them!"

"A divination?" Gu Shenyan's interest was piqued. "Then how about I cast a divination for you, brother?"

"good!"

The girl readily agreed, as if she had been waiting for him to say that. With a flick of her wrist, she pulled out three copper coins from her sleeve.

"Brother, please wait."

She held the copper coin, closed her eyes, concentrated, and muttered incantations.

A moment later, the girl threw the copper coin onto the couch.

Three copper coins jingled as they fell, tumbling a few times on the couch, each revealing its front and back sides.

Gu Shenwei stared at the three copper coins, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Two positive and one negative... that's Lesser Yang..."

She tossed the toss five more times, carefully noting down the result each time.

Once all six lines were completed, she lowered her head and compared them one by one with the illustrations in the booklet.

"Lower trigram... Kan... Upper trigram... Xun..."

Gu Shenyan watched from the side, secretly amused.

This girl does look quite professional, but her skills are probably barely scratching the surface.

True divination involves the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, the Five Elements' generating and restraining relationships, and the clashes and combinations of auspicious and inauspicious stars... How can one learn this simply by reading a book?

"Brother!" she suddenly looked up. "I've figured it out!"

"Oh?" Gu Shenyan raised an eyebrow: "What did you figure out?"

"Brother, tomorrow..."

The girl winked at him mysteriously and said, "Great luck!"

"Great fortune?" Gu Shenyan couldn't help but chuckle. "That's all?"

"That's it!" The girl nodded vigorously, looking completely certain.

"The book says that this hexagram has Xun above and Kan below, and is called the 'Dispersion' hexagram."

"Dispersion means scattering. Wind blowing over water, ice melting and snow thawing, this is called dispersion."

"This divination indicates separation and parting..."

She realized something was wrong as she said this and quickly stopped talking.

Looking at her guilty look, Gu Shenyan finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Silly girl." He reached out and ruffled his sister's hair.

"The hexagram Huan signifies separation, yet you say it brings great fortune. Isn't that a contradiction?"

Gu Shenwei's face immediately turned bright red.

"I...I..."

She stammered, unable to speak.

"You probably only looked at the name of the hexagram and didn't even read the hexagram text carefully, did you?"

Gu Shenyan tapped the girl's small hand, which was about to sneakily turn the pages of the book:

"Although the name of the Huan hexagram is 'Dispersion,' there is also a saying that it is 'the great cry of dispersion.'"

"If one can take advantage of the situation, one can turn danger into safety and misfortune into good fortune."

"But that's on the premise that..."

He deliberately dragged out his words:

"We must first examine where the moving line is before determining good or bad fortune."

"You speak recklessly without even checking the moving lines; your skills are lacking."

Gu Shenwei's head drooped lower and lower, and his voice became as soft as a mosquito's buzz:

"I...I just wanted to make my brother happy..."

These words were like a soft, gentle paw, lightly scratching at Gu Shenyan's heart.

It turns out that this girl's fussing all this time wasn't really about showing off her knowledge.

She simply sensed her own anxiety and wanted to cheer herself up in this clumsy way.

"Brother...are you worried about tomorrow?"

"There are some." He did not deny it.

"But I think my brother doesn't need to worry."

Gu Shenwei raised his head, his dark, bright eyes shining in the candlelight in the night.

Why?

"Because my brother is the most amazing person I've ever met."

Her voice was soft, but her tone was extremely firm:

"My brother used to be weak; he would need to rest for half a day after walking just a few miles."

"But what about now? Not only can my brother practice martial arts, but he has also learned to draw talismans and has become quite accomplished in the art of magic..."

"For anyone else, wouldn't these tasks be as difficult as climbing to the heavens?"

"But my brother did it all through hard work and practice every day."

Her eyes were full of admiration:

"So I believe that my brother will be able to do it tomorrow as well."

As Gu Shenyan listened to his sister's words, the inexplicable restlessness in his heart dissipated almost entirely without him realizing it.

Yes, every step I've taken along the way has been difficult.

What's so scary about becoming an apprentice?

"slight."

"Um?"

Thank you.

Gu Shenwei was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"My brother is so strange."

"We're family, no need to thank me!"