Chapter 38: The Great Demon Devours Dragon Qi

Ji Huo had barely stepped out the door when he saw Mr. Wen sniffing around by the roadside. Every now and then, as a girl passed by, Mr. Wen would lean in and inhale deeply, causing the women on the street to look at him with utter disdain.

At first, Ji Huo had intended to greet him, but upon witnessing this scene, he quickly raised his sleeve to cover his face, planning to slip past unnoticed.

“Second Young Master!”

To his dismay, Mr. Wen’s eyes were sharp as ever. Ji Huo had no choice but to lower his sleeve and greet him with an awkward laugh. “Mr. Wen, what a coincidence.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than he was met with a flurry of side-eye from the surrounding women, who seemed to have lumped him in with Mr. Wen as birds of a feather.

Never mind, my reputation has already gone to ruin anyway… Ji Huo lamented inwardly.

“Are you heading out, Second Young Master?” Mr. Wen inquired.

Ji Huo nodded, but as he noticed Mr. Wen still twitching his nose incessantly, looking for all the world like a pervert, he couldn’t help but comment, “Mr. Wen, your… hobby is rather unusual.”

“You jest, Second Young Master. I simply sense a new scent in the air,” Mr. Wen replied vaguely.

Ji Huo nodded, exchanged brief farewells, and the two parted ways. As he left, Ji Huo glanced back, only to see Mr. Wen still prowling about, sniffing like a dog. Who would have thought that a man as refined as Mr. Wen could be so eccentric… Ji Huo shook his head.

A short while later, Ji Huo arrived at a grand residence. He cupped his hands to the servant at the gate and said, “I am Ji Huo. I wish to pay my respects to the Grand Diviner. Would you kindly announce my arrival?”

The two servants exchanged a glance before returning the gesture with respect. “So you are Master Ji, the one who shamed the envoy of Beiliang at the banquet. Your reputation precedes you.”

One of them continued, “Master Ji, I’m afraid my lord is not at home at the moment.”

Ji Huo raised his brows and asked, “Where might the Grand Diviner be?”

The servant pointed to another street, his expression peculiar. “Over there.”

Ji Huo looked back and saw Li Xiu wandering up and down the bustling street, sniffing around. Every time he passed a woman, he would stoop and inhale vigorously.

“Despicable! Scoundrel!”

The women’s faces changed at once, disgust plain on their features. A few bystanders, unable to bear the sight, looked ready to intervene, but there were several servants standing guard around the Grand Diviner, so they could only fume in silence.

By Li Xiu’s side stood the same youth who had sat next to him at the banquet—presumably his son. The boy looked mortified, caught between leaving and staying, occasionally glancing skyward as if pretending not to know his father.

Ji Huo: “…”

“Come now, Zhi’er, you should sniff as well! Your father is close to finding it!” Li Xiu called out, still engrossed in his search but not forgetting to instruct his son. “It’s this particular scent—you must remember it, you can’t mistake it!”

Li Zhi covered his face, his fair cheeks burning with embarrassment. These past days, his father had been obsessed with some mysterious odor, but Li Zhi couldn’t detect a thing. Yet his father seemed possessed, prowling the streets in search of its source.

“The Grand Diviner’s tastes are certainly… unique,” a clear, youthful voice chimed in.

Li Xiu turned instinctively and saw a finely dressed, dashing young man gently fanning himself with a folding fan.

“Why, it’s Master Ji,” Li Xiu coughed, straightened, and returned the greeting with a bow. Then he asked, “Did I hear you say ‘also,’ Master Ji?”

“Oh, I just saw Mr. Wen behaving much like the Grand Diviner… mm, rather unorthodox,” Ji Huo replied, choosing his words carefully. It was already generous of him not to call them outright lechers.

“So he’s noticed as well,” Li Xiu muttered under his breath.

“Grand Diviner, what exactly are you all sniffing for?” Ji Huo asked, curiosity piqued.

Li Xiu glanced around, then pulled Ji Huo aside and whispered, “There’s demonic energy in the capital.”

“Oh?” Ji Huo’s eyes widened in shock. He nearly blurted out, “The empire is doomed!”

This was no small matter—no wonder they’d kept it quiet. The capital was protected by the nation’s fate, and with the emperor residing here, the dragon’s aura should suppress all supernatural forces.

It wasn’t that demons couldn’t enter the capital, but those who did were usually great demons whose powers were severely diminished upon arrival, compelling them to keep their heads down and behave.

But for the Grand Diviner or Mr. Wen to sense demonic energy from several streets away, there could be only one explanation: the demonic aura was already invading the dragon’s aura, spreading throughout the capital.

This was often the harbinger of a nation’s downfall. Throughout history, many monstrous beings had stolen the dragon’s fate, heralding the ruin of empires.

If word of this got out, and Li Xiu failed to find the demon or present evidence, the enraged old emperor would likely have him executed. Even if the emperor spared him, the ministers would clamor for his head, denouncing him for “spreading demonic rumors.”

As the Grand Diviner, this was his very duty—no wonder he was even more diligent than Mr. Wen in his search.

These days, being Grand Diviner was no easy post at all.

“Master Ji, about this matter—” Li Xiu began, but Ji Huo was already shaking his head vigorously, like a rattle-drum. “I know nothing, and you said nothing to me.”

Hunting demons was your expertise—don’t try to drag me into this mess!

Li Xiu opened his mouth, then finally glanced at Ji Huo with a wounded look before pulling Li Zhi over. “Master Ji, this is my son Li Zhi. If you ever need anything, just ask him directly.”

Li Zhi bowed, his eyes shining with admiration as he looked at Ji Huo. “Brother Ji, you were magnificent at the banquet—I’ve long admired you.”

Ji Huo returned the bow with a smile. “You flatter me, Brother Li. You’re welcome to visit me anytime. I can take you hunting rabbits in the hills.”

“Really?” Li Zhi’s eyes sparkled instantly.

“Ahem!” Li Xiu cleared his throat, his gaze toward Ji Huo growing even more plaintive. Then he asked gruffly, “Master Ji, was there something you needed from me?”

Ji Huo cupped his hands and asked, “Grand Diviner, I came to inquire if there’s a way to improve one’s luck?”

“Ah?” Li Xiu tilted his head and replied, “There is, but such methods require lengthy preparation—rituals, borrowing fortune—and repaying it later can be a bother. For instance, if your luck is raised today, it may decline tomorrow. It’s all a matter of balance.”

“I see…” Ji Huo was a little disappointed. What he wanted was a lasting boost to his fortune—something that could increase his odds in daily draws, or give him thousands of training points at a time, or perhaps bestow a divine artifact or a supreme martial art. At the very least, a boost during a tenfold draw would suffice.

But from Li Xiu’s explanation, luck and misfortune are balanced, and the process required rituals—far too troublesome and not suited to his needs.

Ji Huo pondered for a moment, then asked, “Is there a way to know when my luck will be at its best?”

“There’s no certain method,” Li Xiu replied with a smile. “The simplest way is to grab some dice and give them a roll.”

Ji Huo: “…”

Li Xiu went on, “But while luck is hard to increase, you can always bask in someone else’s.”