Chapter Ninety-Eight: The Celestial Oracle

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The Master didn’t look up or respond at first. He was taken aback and repeated what he had said before. The elderly man sitting opposite the Sage patted his hand, which finally brought him back to his senses. He looked at the old man across from him, then at us. The Master smiled and said, “Sage, you made that move too early.”

“Oh, Boqing, what wind blew you all the way to Beijing? Sorry, I was just too focused and didn’t catch what you said,” the Sage replied.

He took a piece from the board and began to speak.

The Master shook his head with a smile, and the Sage said again, “Wait a moment, let me capture all this old fellow’s pieces first.”

The Master agreed quietly and waited patiently. I didn’t interrupt but stepped aside to watch the game. Nearly half an hour passed before the Sage burst into laughter. He pressed down a piece and captured the opposing general. The old man across from him scowled and said, “Old man, you’ve been thinking for so long on this one game, I’m done. I’m going to play some mahjong.”

With that, the old man stood up. The Sage kept laughing and said, “Don’t lose, alright?”

The old man ignored him and walked out the door, leaving the three of us inside. The Sage tidied up the board and turned to the Master. “Boqing, how about another game?”

The Master was momentarily stunned but smiled and nodded, sitting opposite the Sage again. I knew the Master’s skill well—he usually only won and never lost. Yet today, against the Sage, he surprisingly lost. I also had some skill at the game and could clearly see that the Master had deliberately given the Sage several advantages. Unable to hold back, I called out, “Hey, Master, this move of yours…”

Before I could finish, the Master shook his head at me. I understood immediately and swallowed my words. After the Sage captured the Master’s general, he smiled and looked at me. “Young man, knowing but not speaking—that’s a bad habit.”

I froze for a moment and gave an awkward smile. Then the Sage turned back to the Master. “Boqing, you had many chances to capture my general just now, but you chose not to. Were you yielding to me?”

The Master was caught off guard, awkwardly waving his hand. The Sage didn’t mind; he just smiled, packed up the board, and set it aside. “Boqing, we’ve already spent enough time. I know why you’ve come. The Ghost Path Sect, hmm, you came to the right place.”

The Master was surprised. “Elder, how did you know what I came for?”

But as soon as he said that, his astonishment faded, replaced by a smile. “Elder, you truly deserve the title of Sage. I admire you,” he said, bowing respectfully.

The Sage maintained his smile and waved his hand. The Master smiled back and said, “Then, elder, would you kindly share some information?”

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The Sage didn’t speak but tapped the table once. Suddenly, an image appeared above the table. I was startled. The Sage chuckled and said, “These are the Ghost Path Sect members.”

The Master was puzzled and looked closely, but saw no one in the image. He looked at the Sage and asked, “Elder, what do you mean?”

The Sage smiled and tapped the table again. “Look closer.”

The Master peered more intently and then saw an alley appear—old and dilapidated, with a large “Demolished” sign beside it. The Master seemed to understand something and looked at the Sage.

The Sage nodded. “West Mountain Inner Path—twenty-eight steps outward, twenty-eight steps inward. The Ghost Path Sect members are only within that.”

The Master immediately grasped the meaning and bowed. “Thank you for your guidance, elder.”

The Sage waved his hand with a smile. “Boqing, it seems fate has brought us together. Let me give you one more piece of information, shall I?”

“Please, elder,” the Master replied.

The Sage nodded and brushed his palm above the table. The image shifted into a dim scene. I could hear the sound of flowing water, though faintly. The Master looked at the Sage with curiosity.

The Sage smiled. “The North Sea Eye—it can swallow all things and can also forgive transgressions. The power behind the Ghost Mountain faction is him.”

He pointed at the image, but only the dark scene was visible—no people. The Master frowned and whispered the Sage’s words to himself. After a moment, he stood and bowed. “Thank you for helping us find the way, on behalf of all at North Ming Pass.”

The Sage smiled and waved his hand. “Be cautious. These beasts have no humanity. With your current sealed strength, you only have a thirty percent chance against him. But at your full power, you can take him with one hand.”

The Master frowned but nodded. “I won’t trouble you any longer, elder.”

“Go,” the Sage said with a smile.

After that, the Master bowed again and led me out. I was full of questions and finally asked, “Master, what did the Sage mean just now?”

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The Master frowned deeply and looked at me. “This matter is tangled with many complications. The Ghost Path Sect is only one part of it. If what the Sage said is true, then I will have to seek outside help.”

“Outside help?! Master, is it really that serious? Could it be more complicated than the time with the Green Minister Ghost King?”

I suddenly recalled the Green Minister Ghost King incident three years ago when the Master had gathered his old comrades to fight together. Now, three years later, the Master was again suggesting that this matter was not simply an internal Ghost Path conflict.

The Master walked ahead, pulling out a cigarette. “Until all facts are uncovered, it’s all speculation. But since the Sage said it, there must be a reason. The North Sea Eye—I know only one place in Beijing has such a sea eye, but it has long been abandoned. What purpose or connection does this have?”

He lowered his voice and fell into deep thought. I walked beside him silently. After a while, he spoke again. “First, we need to root out the Ghost Path Sect members. They surely know more than we do.”

I was stunned but thought it over. That was the only option. I nodded and we took a cab to an abandoned, uninhabited alley. This must be the West Mountain Inner Path the Sage mentioned. The Master stood at the entrance, glanced at it, and muttered, “West Mountain Inner Path, twenty-eight steps outward, twenty-eight steps inward, turning the corner makes forty-eight. I understand now.”

Suddenly, the Master called out. I looked at him puzzled, but he smiled and said, “Come, the Inner Path Forty-Eight.”

Without hesitation, he walked in. Though confused, I followed him.

Inside the alley, we first walked twenty-eight steps forward. After passing a crossroad, the Master turned and walked twenty-eight steps inward. I was completely dizzy from the circling and wanted to ask what he was doing, but seeing his serious expression, I held back.

After fifty-six steps, the Master suddenly stopped and looked at a raised brick on the ground. He smiled and said, “Just as I thought.”

I had been holding back for some time and finally couldn’t help but ask, “Master, what exactly are you doing? You’ve got me completely turned around.”

The Master smiled slightly and pointed to the surroundings. “Don’t you notice something?”

“Notice what?” I looked around. The moment I spoke, I was stunned. Astonishingly, the alley around us had changed direction. We should have been facing the alley’s exit, but now we faced inward. I hadn’t turned around—how could this be possible?