Chapter 24: It's You, Isn't It?

Before encountering any cultivators seeking fortunes, Fan Jianqiang had a sly look on his face, his small eyes darting around. But now, he appeared honest, serious, and unsmiling.

"This guest is extraordinary," he said solemnly. "May I ask what you wish to divine?"

"Simple," Second Elder Wu Xingyun replied calmly. "Just tell me what I'm thinking right now."

Lin Fan watched quietly from the side.

The people in the queue behind them grew restless.

"Are you here to cause trouble?"

"Lady, are you trying to make things difficult for him?"

"A woman's heart is as deep as the ocean. Even if the master can divine the past and future, how can he possibly know what you're thinking?"

"Not even the worms in your stomach could guess that!"

Having waited for so long, they had already witnessed Fan Jianqiang's accuracy and didn't want Wu Xingyun to ruin things.

"Enough," Wu Xingyun said coldly, releasing a faint aura of the Cave Heaven Realm. The crowd's eyes widened, and they quickly backed away, not daring to speak further. Turning back to Fan Jianqiang, she said. "Proceed."

Fan Jianqiang studied her intently, then used six copper coins to perform a divination. However, after finishing, he didn't say a word. Instead, he grabbed his banner and began to walk away, moving swiftly as if his life depended on it.

"Why are you running?" Wu Xingyun called out, surprised.

But Fan Jianqiang only quickened his pace.

Lin Fan was intrigued. 'This guy… he's quite interesting.'

"Stop!" Wu Xingyun stepped forward, blocking Fan Jianqiang's path. "You haven't told me what I'm thinking."

"Do I need to?" Fan Jianqiang replied helplessly. "Isn't it obvious? You want to beat me. If I don't run, am I supposed to wait for you to hit me?"

Wu Xingyun was stunned. 'He actually figured it out!'

As a Cave Heaven Realm cultivator, she was far beyond the reach of an ordinary mortal. Yet, this man had divined her thoughts with ease. There was clearly more to him than met the eye.

Lin Fan, too, was impressed. 'This guy can really read minds? Can he read mine as well?' He stepped forward, his expression calm. "Sir, please don't be alarmed. We were merely testing your abilities. It seems you are truly skilled. We're looking for someone extraordinary, and we'd like you to divine their location. Once you're done, we'll pay you double. How does that sound?"

As he spoke, Lin Fan's mind raced. He even cursed silently, 'Your mother is a maid', while closely observing Fan Jianqiang's reaction. When Fan Jianqiang showed no response, Lin Fan felt relieved. 'At least he's not a mind reader. Even if he can divine thoughts, he still needs to perform a divination. That's manageable.'

"Looking for someone?" Fan Jianqiang's expression softened slightly, though his face was still disguised. "Then I want double the payment."

"Agreed," Lin Fan said with a nod.

"Very well," Fan Jianqiang said. "Write a character for me to analyze."

"A character?" Lin Fan wasn't unfamiliar with the concept. After a moment's thought, he wrote the character for caution (慎).

Fan Jianqiang's eyes flickered as he studied the character. He then looked at Lin Fan thoughtfully. "The person you seek is both easy and difficult to find."

"Oh?" Lin Fan raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

Fan Jianqiang didn't answer directly. Instead, he said, "There aren't enough clues. I'll need to divine further."

"Why are you looking for this person?" he asked.

"I want to take him as my disciple," Lin Fan replied honestly.

Fan Jianqiang was taken aback. "Why?"

What shocked him even more was that he couldn't discern Lin Fan's origins through divination. It was as if Lin Fan existed outside the fabric of history, leaving no trace. Fan Jianqiang concealed his surprise well, however.

"This person is destined for our sect," Lin Fan explained. "But whether he agrees to join is up to him. I'm not forcing anything—just doing my best. If he agrees, everyone wins. If not, it simply wasn't meant to be."

Every word was true. Though Fan Jianqiang couldn't divine Lin Fan's background, he could tell that Lin Fan was being sincere. "Which sect are you from?" Fan Jianqiang asked.

"The Moon Embracing Sect," Lin Fan replied without hesitation.

Fan Jianqiang smiled faintly. "The Moon Embracing Sect? A third-rate sect at the bottom of the hierarchy? If the person you're seeking is as talented as you say, why would he choose your sect over a holy land or a first-rate sect? If the Moon Embracing Sect were at its peak, perhaps it would make sense. But now? It's a pity."

Lin Fan smiled in return. "If you can't stay at the top, you return to where you began. This might sound crazy or even ridiculous to you, but we've been walking this path with our heads held high, and we've come a long way. As for why? I have no grand achievements to offer, only sincerity. Besides, as you said, if he wanted to join a sect, he would have done so by now. Why is he still a wandering cultivator? Clearly, he's waiting—for an opportunity, or perhaps the right sect. Or maybe he simply doesn't want to be bound by a sect. But I want to try. You might not succeed if you try, but you're guaranteed to fail if you don't."

Fan Jianqiang was visibly moved, especially by Lin Fan's words about returning to one's roots. His expression shifted—melancholy, shock, disbelief, and even a hint of admiration.

After a long pause, he finally said, "I've divined it."

"Oh?" Wu Xingyun's eyes lit up. "Where is this person?"

Though she didn't fully understand the significance of someone who fit the sect's recruitment rules, she trusted Lin Fan's judgment.

"Far away, yet so close," Fan Jianqiang whispered.

Wu Xingyun was puzzled, but Lin Fan smiled. "It's you, isn't it?"

Fan Jianqiang was taken aback. "How did you figure it out? My disguise should have been flawless."

"Fate," Lin Fan said simply. "You are destined for our sect."