LWSL Chapter 43

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Natural disasters, divinatory arts

After inviting forth the deity and inquiring about the following year, if the three joss sticks in Wu Bofang’s hands were placed in the incense burner and continued burning, then it indicated that the following year would bring favorable weather for the crops. But if the joss sticks broke, it indicated a great calamity ahead.

Ten over years ago, when Wu Bofang had invited forth the deity and inquired about the following year, there was once when a single joss stick had broken. In the year following that, Gaoling City and the towns within a thousand li radius of it all suffered from droughts, loss of water, and erosion of soil, and all plant life withered away.

The summer season was much hotter than it had been in past years. Later on, because there hadn’t even been one drop of rain through the year, it resulted in a plague of locusts. This all also coincided with the opening of the Gui gates. Gui and Guai were recklessly running amok in the human realm, causing the citizens to suffer unspeakably.

In that year, with just one joss stick broken, countless civilian lives were lost. This year, with three joss sticks simultaneously breaking, what magnitude of disasters would be awaiting them?

Instantly, the hearts of the people were filled with fear.

Wu Ruo gazed at the three broken joss sticks, frowning.

In his previous lifetime, although he hadn’t come to Xiangpu Temple to spectate on the sacrificial rites but he had never heard of anyone mentioning either one or three joss sticks breaking when the deity had been invited forth. Moreover, the following year had been abundant and peaceful, there hadn’t been any sort of disaster at all.

Wu Bofang’s expression was extremely ugly as he hurriedly called forth Elder Rong and Elder Xian, the ones in the Wu family who knew divination arts, to divine the results again.

The two elders walked up to the sacrificial altar and took out their equipment to divine the fortunes once more.

Everybody was anxiously watching the ones on the altar, no one dared to make a sound, afraid of disturbing the elders.

After about two joss sticks of time, the two elders finally finished divining the results.

Wo Bofang saw that the expressions of the two elders were not right, and hastily said in lowered tones: “Reassure the citizens first, if there’s anything, we can talk about it again after we get back.”

Elder Rong took a deep breath, then said to the citizens: “Everyone, there’s no need to worry. The calamities foreshadowed by the gods do not concern the citizens of Gaoling City. So, there’s no need to be afraid. Next year will be as peaceful and safe as it has always been.”

Some of the citizens sighed in relief, but there were a handful who were still on tenterhooks in their hearts.

Wu Bofang announced that the sacrificial rites had ended and that everyone was to leave.

The two elders of the Wu family already couldn’t wait till they returned to Wu Manor to talk about the matter of the divination.

Elder Xian hurriedly said: “Clan Leader, the situation is terrible.”

“The three joss sticks have already broken, how can the situation be good?” Wu Bofang sighed angrily: “Were the two of you able to divine what it is?”

Elder Xian looked at Elder Rong with doubts written on his face: “Elder Rong, what were you able to divine just now?”

Elder Rong pinched his eyebrows together: “The result that I divined just now really did indicate that the calamity has nothing to do with the citizens, but this omen of great disaster points at our Wu family.”

Elder Xian sighed: “The results I divined were also the same.”

“What?!” Since it concerned the Wu family, Wu Bofang was finally anxious: “Did you divine what exactly it is?”

Elder Rong met Elder Xian’s eyes, shaking his head: “I was only able to divine that it involves the Wu family, as for the details, it was really impossible to figure out.”

Wu Bofang impatiently looked at Elder Xian: “What about you? What did you manage to divine?”

Elder Xian said: “I expended a lot of spiritual energy and my lifespan, but I was only able to divine that the Wu family is about to encounter a great disaster that will be hard to avoid. Even the direct family line in the capital city will be implicated in this.”

The art of divination required one to look at God’s design. Sometimes, it expended not just spiritual energy, but also one’s lifespan and fate. This was also the reason why very few people chose to study divination.

Wu Bofang was stunned: “Don’t tell me that there’s absolutely no way to avert it?”

Elder Xian sighed and didn’t speak.

Elder Rong murmured softly: “With our current capabilities, there’s no method at all to avert this. However, Lord Guoshi is not the same. His skills are profound. We should report this matter to him, perhaps the Lord Guoshi may have a way to resolve this.”

At the mention of Wu Chenzi, Wu Bofang relaxed considerably. He glanced at the descendants of the Wu family that had been watching them, and composed himself: “We’ll talk about this again when we get back.”