Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Unspeakable

Xia Wenjin glanced at him and could tell from his eyes that he was sincerely honest. She said disinterestedly, “No need, isn’t it the same whoever we ask?”

Huangfu Jingchen spoke in a voice low enough for only the two of them to hear, “That Kong Chan, he’s actually the so-called High Monk from River Mouth Village. After the oracle ceremony ends, let’s ask him for clarification!”

Xia Wenjin said, “I’ve already asked.”

Huangfu Jingchen paused, realizing this must have happened last night. His face turned slightly cold, and he said, “It seems he’s not innocent. Is he an accomplice?”

Xia Wenjin said, “At the moment, he seems not to be.”

The two spoke quietly here, while the surrounding people went up to interpret their oracles.

Due to immense trust and admiration for the monks of Shian Temple, everyone receiving an oracle carried hope. Some received the best oracles, leaving jubilant, while others got the worst, inevitably leaving dejected.

However, no one ever questioned the oracles’ efficacy.

At this moment, a woman dressed in black stood up from the west. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, she glanced at Huangfu Jingchen before stepping onto the stage.

The tail of her oracle was pinched between her fingers, visible to others only once she handed it to Kong Chan on stage, a hint of blue showed.

Kong Chan accepted her oracle, tracing it lightly, and recited, “Oracle forty-seven, a high oracle!”

Then, he spoke with a comforting power that echoed softly:

“Bamboo rustles as the washerwomen return home,

Lotus moves under the fisherman’s boat.

Spring beauty fades away,

Yet the nobleman may stay.”

He glanced at the woman in black and said, “Judging by the oracle, the lady’s current state is excellent. I wonder what she seeks with this oracle?”

The woman in black slowly said, “Seeking romance!”

Initially standing sideways, she glanced deliberately towards Xia Wenjin and Huangfu Jingchen. If the previous glance was unintentional, this one was definitely intentional.

Kong Chan looked at the young lady in black, his features remaining kind and benevolent, and said, “If the lady has no attachments, this oracle is excellent; if there are attachments…” He smiled slowly but did not continue speaking.

The woman in black pursued, “What if there are attachments?”

Kong Chan replied, “With fishermen’s song at dusk, washerwomen return, spring beauty fades, autumn cools!”

The woman in black frowned and said, “I still don’t understand. Could the Master explain clearly!”

Kong Chan put his hands together, “When one is not present, the scene is beautiful; but being within, only oneself feels the warmth or coolness!”

The woman in black, surprised, asked, “What does that mean?”

Kong Chan laughed and shook his head, “It cannot be said, cannot be said!”

The woman in black raised her eyebrows thoughtfully, but did not ask further, returning to her seat.

Xia Wenjin held a blue oracle and had no intention of seeking its interpretation, while Huangfu Jingchen toyed with his oracle, not stepping forward either.

Xia Wenjin smiled at him, “Why don’t you go and see?”

Huangfu Jingchen said, “What should I ask for?”

“Future, romance, wishes… aren’t they all possible?” Xia Wenjin smiled listing them for him.

Huangfu Jingchen looked at her, “Why aren’t you going?”

Xia Wenjin pointed to the tail of the blue oracle and sighed, “I would love to play along, but look, both you and I know what kind of person this is! Wouldn’t it be a waste to go?”

Huangfu Jingchen pulled her oracle from her hand and replaced it with his own, smiling, “Just for fun!” With that, he stood up and walked forward.

Xia Wenjin looked at the purple oracle in her hand, shook her head, smiling. Just as Huangfu Jingchen said, it could be just for play.

Huangfu Jingchen held the blue oracle as he approached Kong Chan, not in a hurry to hand it over, instead standing two steps away, naturally scrutinizing him.

Kong Chan smiled slightly, today fifty oracles had been interpreted, and only this last one remained. His expression was profoundly enigmatic, but he maintained a dignified smile, “Since there is doubt in the heart of this Incense Guest, why step forward? Remember, with sincerity, faith brings efficacy, but without faith… oh damn…” Mid-sentence, Kong Chan’s initially smooth tone abruptly changed and shouted out.

This shout drew everyone’s attention.

Kong Chan, who always appeared as a realized High Monk, suddenly uttered such inappropriate words and displayed such an alarmed expression, truly startled everyone.

Kong Chan was even more shocked, staring wide-eyed at Huangfu Jingchen. His pasted white eyebrows fluttered continuously, almost detaching.

Huangfu Jingchen did not expect such a strong reaction from this charlatan when he approached. He coldly sneered, surely the charlatan knew they were investigating him and felt guilty. He calmly said, “Master seems a bit out of sorts!”

Kong Chan was taken aback, returned to his senses, reached to smooth his white beard, nearly pulling off the piece of fake white beard due to emotional fluctuations, but quickly recovered, lowered his eyes, concealing his darting pupils.

Otherwise, a High Monk with a dignified presence, appearing like a celestial with white eyebrows and beard, showing a vulgar expression with shifty eyes, would ruin his image too much.

He lightly coughed and spoke loudly, “This Incense Guest’s appearance caused me to lose composure, Amitabha Buddha!”

Huangfu Jingchen sneered more internally. This Monk composed himself quickly, reverting to a sanctimonious demeanor. Thinking of how he misled River Mouth Village’s villagers to nearly throw Wang Yue’e into the river, there was no goodwill towards him.

Luckily, he had not seen Kong Chan’s appearance last night; at this moment, he only cursed internally: shameless old man!

Yet, he remained unperturbed, only showing a piercing gaze and asked, “What’s wrong with my appearance?”

Kong Chan shook his head repeatedly, saying as he shook, “It cannot be said!”

Huangfu Jingchen was almost amused with anger. Tall and upright, with a refined appearance, coupled with Kong Chan’s abrupt shout of “oh damn”, had drawn many eyes.

Xia Wenjin, walking toward the back hall to meet Master Ming Xi, could not help but look with interest.

Huangfu Jingchen smiled slightly, but his tone carried an underlying assertive force, “Master, as able to read faces to the point of losing composure, why now say it cannot be said? Monks do not tell lies, you clearly discovered something, have words to say, yet claim it cannot be said now, isn’t this creating mystique?”

His originally refined face upon a smile truly caught attention, causing many women in the west to be mesmerized, especially young incense guests seeking romance. The woman in black’s eyes shone brightly, fixed on Huangfu Jingchen.

Kong Chan sighed and shook his head, “Cannot say, cannot say, I wish to live a few more years and not die under the Incense Guest’s fists!”

This remark piqued even more interest. Huangfu Jingchen remained calm, elegant, and graceful, clearly not resembling someone who would resort to violence against others, what kind of a face would compel someone like this to act impulsively towards a realized High Monk?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep