A single divination predicts life and death; the entire internet begs me to start a live stream.

Yunding Mountain is located northwest of Haicheng.

The mountain isn't high. There's some fog.

But it's very famous.

In earlier years, this was just an ordinary suburban mountain area.

Later, the Xuanmen Association built a Taoist culture park on the mountainside, and its incense offerings and reputation gradually increased.

A blue stone archway stands at the entrance of the cultural park.

Four large characters are engraved on the archway:

[Seeking the True Path]

Couplets are hung on both sides of the archway.

left:

Inheriting ancient methods to understand the principles of heaven

right:

The Zhengxuan Sect is dedicated to saving all living beings.

The characters are written very neatly.

It's also very pretty.

But Chen Bufan, standing under the archway, found it blindingly bright.

Zhengxuan Gate.

To save the common people.

These words are the same as the phrase on the wall of Changsheng Health Hospital: "Continue the quality of life, restart the possibilities of life."

They were all so clean it was disgusting.

Lin Wanqing stood beside him and looked up at the archway.

"Quite a spectacle."

Chen Bufan tilted his neck, making a "crackling" sound:

"The more guilty you are, the more you try to appear virtuous."

Lin Wanqing looked into the mountain gate.

Inside, there are pavilions and towers, with blue bricks and gray tiles, exuding an antique charm.

The main road is lined with signs introducing the Xuanmen culture.

Feng shui.

The inheritance of fortune telling.

Talisman culture.

Folk beliefs.

Intangible cultural heritage protection.

Looking around, it resembles a proper traditional cultural park.

But if you look further inside, you'll find something's wrong.

The entrance was filled with luxury cars.

Bentley.

Maybach.

Rolls-Royce.

There are also quite a few cars with special local license plate numbers.

Not all of those who came were so-called disciples of the Xuanmen sect.

There are wealthy businessmen.

There are live streamers.

There are media outlets.

There were also some middle-aged men dressed in Tang suits, Taoist robes, and long gowns.

Everyone was calm and composed.

It's like they've been waiting for a good show.

As soon as Chen Bufan got out of the car, a bunch of cameras turned to face him at the door.

"Here it comes!"

"Chen Bufan has arrived!"

"The fortune teller is here!"

"Is that him? He looks so young?"

"I heard he's going to challenge the Xuanmen Association?"

"A challenge? Don't be ridiculous. The association is giving him a chance to clarify all that mess he's made up."

Several livestreamers held up their phones, aiming them at Chen Bufan.

One of the male anchors, dressed in a white Tang suit, had the loudest voice.

"Did your family see this?"

"Chen Bufan is here!"

"That so-called charlatan streamer who's been all the rage online lately."

"Today, the Xuanmen Association is holding a discussion to publicly distinguish between right and wrong."

"Whether he has real skills or is just a con artist who made his fortune by fabricating cases, we'll find out today!"

The comments in his live stream chat were scrolling by incredibly fast.

It's finally here!

Watch how he gets slapped in the face by the senior from the Xuanmen sect.

[Wasn't Chen Bufan's account banned?]

Does he dare to come again?

With so many masters from the Xuanmen Association today, can he still pretend?

Lin Wanqing frowned.

"They set the pace in advance."

Chen Bufan didn't even glance at those cameras.

"normal."

"Now that the stage is set up, of course we need to call the audience first."

Seeing that Chen Bufan didn't react, the anchorwoman in the white Tang suit took a few steps closer, holding up her phone.

"Mr. Chen!"

"Did you come to the Xuanmen Association today to apologize to the senior members?"

"Some people say you previously used police cases to hype up the issue, spread feudal superstition, and incite public panic. What's your take on that?"

"Some people say that you don't understand the rules of Taoism at all, and that you only made your fortune by relying on live streaming traffic."

"Are you nervous facing so many orthodox esoteric sects today?"

Chen Bufan stopped in his tracks.

The anchorwoman in the white Tang suit's eyes lit up, and she immediately zoomed in with the camera, almost touching Chen Bufan's face.

"Mr. Chen, do you have anything to say in response?"

Chen Bufan glanced at him.

"Your forehead is grayish, and you have dark circles under your eyes."

The anchor was taken aback.

The people around quieted down a bit.

Chen Bufan continued:

"You've been taking bribes lately, haven't you?"

The anchor's expression changed instantly.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Chen Bufan continued:

"Go back and return that 200,000 yuan from last night."

"Otherwise, your live stream will be banned within three days."

The anchor's pupils contracted.

The panic on his face lasted only a moment, but it was enough for those around him to see.

Several media people nearby immediately looked at him.

"Two hundred thousand?"

"Whose money are you taking?"

"Really?"

The anchor in the white Tang suit hurriedly said:

"That's slander!"

"See, everyone? He's doing this again!"

"He always accuses people of taking money; that's his usual tactic!"

Chen Bufan ignored him.

He continued walking towards the mountain gate.

Lin Wanqing asked in a low voice:

"Did you really accept it?"

Chen Bufan said:

"Um."

"Who gave it to you?"

"A public opinion monitoring company outside the Xuanmen Association."

Lin Wanqing glanced at the streamer.

"Should we investigate?"

"check."

Chen Bufan said.

"But not now."

As soon as the two reached the main gate, a dozen young disciples dressed in gray Taoist robes blocked their way.

The leading disciple was twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with delicate features, but his eyes held a hint of arrogance.

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

"Mr. Chen."

"Officer Lin."

"Today, at the Wenxuan Terrace, we are discussing the Dao, and all the seniors from various schools are present."

"Please abide by the rules of the Xuanmen Association."

Lin Wanqing looked up.

"What are the rules?"

The gray-robed disciple said:

"First, live streaming equipment is not allowed in the venue."

"Second, recording audio or video without authorization is prohibited."

"Third, one must not disrupt the order of the discourse."

Fourth, offensive magical artifacts are not allowed.

Lin Wanqing almost laughed.

"An offensive magical artifact?"

The gray-robed disciple looked at the cloth bag in Chen Bufan's hand.

"Mr. Chen's life money, the 'Record of Destiny', and the cinnabar talisman brush must all be temporarily stored away."

Chen Bufan looked at him.

"Who made these rules?"

The gray-robed disciple said:

"Mystic Sect Association"

Chen Bufan smiled.

"You have invited the Chen family fortune teller to the meeting."

"But you want me to hand over the 'Record of Heavenly Mandate'?"

The gray-robed disciple's expression remained unchanged.

"It's just a temporary storage."

"When the discussion of the Way ends, it will naturally return."

Chen Bufan said:

"What if I don't pay?"

Several young disciples behind the gray-robed disciple took a half step forward.

"I have no choice but to pay."

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

The anchors and media at the entrance immediately became excited.

All the cameras were pointed at this spot.

"A conflict has broken out!"

"Chen Bufan refuses to abide by the rules of the Xuanmen Association!"

"Is he feeling guilty?"

"The Xuanmen Association doesn't allow live streaming, looks like we'll have to hold a closed-door discussion today!"

Lin Wanqing immediately showed her identification.

"I am a member of the special task force."

"I will not hand over my law enforcement recording equipment."

The gray-robed disciple's expression remained unchanged.

"Officer Lin, this is a private meeting place of the Xuanmen Association."

Lin Wanqing said coldly:

"Involving the case of Chen Laojiu's disappearance, suspected illegal detention, bloodstains at the scene, and surveillance evidence of the man in the gray robe."

"Your association is no longer just holding meetings."

"It's an investigation."

The gray-robed disciple was speechless for a moment.

Chen Bufan raised his hand, signaling Lin Wanqing not to say anything more.

He looked at the gray-robed disciple.

"Are you afraid I'll do a live stream?"

The gray-robed disciple said in a deep voice:

"The philosophical discussions within the Xuanmen school should not be taken out of context by outsiders."

Many people at the entrance nodded.

"That's right, matters within the Xuanmen should not be broadcast live in the first place."

"Chen Bufan is a master at manipulating public opinion."

"If he starts a live stream, he'll stir up trouble again."

"The association's request is fine."

Hearing these voices, the gray-robed disciple felt even more confident.

"If Mr. Chen were truly capable, he wouldn't need to rely on live streaming and netizens for support."

"Today, all the senior figures from various schools are present."

"Right and wrong, good and evil, will be judged by public opinion."

Chen Bufan nodded.

"rest assured."

"I'm not here to do a live broadcast today."

Upon hearing this, everyone at the door was taken aback.

Even the gray-robed disciple was taken aback.

The anchors and media outlets looked at each other in bewilderment.

"He doesn't stream?"

"Really?"

"Since his account is banned, he really can't broadcast anymore."

"Without a live stream, how can he generate buzz?"

"It seems he's scared too."

The gray-robed disciple's expression visibly relaxed a little.

"It's good that Mr. Chen is reasonable."

Chen Bufan looked at him and slowly added:

"I'm here to settle accounts."

The air fell silent instantly.

The atmosphere, which had just relaxed, suddenly became tense again.

The gray-robed disciple's expression changed slightly.

"What accounts are you set aside?"

Chen Bufan raised his eyes and looked into the depths of the Taoist Culture Park.

"The Chen family's accounts."

He continued walking forward.

The gray-robed disciple tried to stop him.

Chen Bufan didn't stop walking, he just said calmly:

"Can you stop them?"

The gray-robed disciple froze.

He was clearly not touched.

But in that instant, he felt as if an invisible lifeline had pinned his feet to the ground, and he couldn't move an inch.

The other disciples' expressions changed, and they wanted to step forward.

Chen Bufan's gaze swept over.

"Today, I will only ask the person in charge."

"If you want to cover for them, you should first risk your own life."

As soon as he said that, the young disciples stopped at the same time.

It's not that they're cowardly.

Rather, it's because Chen Bufan's reputation, built up through countless battles, is too great.

No matter how arrogant these association members are, they wouldn't dare to risk their lives.

Lin Wanqing followed behind Chen Bufan and whispered:

"Didn't you say you weren't going to stream?"

Chen Bufan said:

"Um."

"Then your comment about clearing the accounts was captured by dozens of cameras outside."

Chen Bufan said calmly:

"They filmed it themselves."

Lin Wanqing glanced at him.

"You're getting better and better at using the rules."

Chen Bufan said:

"I learned it from Lu Changsheng."

Lin Wanqing: "..."

The two passed through the main gate.

Walk along the bluestone path.

The further in you go, the fewer people there are.

The media and anchors outside were kept out of the archway.

Those who were actually allowed into the venue were all invited by the Xuanmen Association.

Incense burners were placed on both sides of the road.

The incense smoke curled gently from the burner.

There is a bronze lamp every ten steps.

The lights were dim.

Yet it has never been extinguished.

Lin Wanqing asked in a low voice:

"Is there a problem here?"

Chen Bufan said:

"There is a formation."

Lin Wanqing carefully looked around.

"What formation?"

"The Questioning Formation".

Chen Bufan said.

"Ordinary people who come in will only feel guilty, depressed, and afraid to speak out of turn."

"People from the Xuanmen sect will feel suppressed if they enter."

Lin Wanqing asked:

"Does it affect you?"

Chen Bufan said calmly:

"The fortune tellers of the Chen family do not inquire about one's heart."

"Judging fate."

Lin Wanqing understood.

It means that this force can't suppress him.

The two walked to the deepest part of the cultural park.

There was a grand hall there.

Hall Name:

【Hall of Inquiry】

At the entrance of the main hall, two rows of disciples in gray robes stood.

The hall was brightly lit.

The air was filled with the scent of cigarettes.

A huge black and white Tai Chi diagram hangs in the very center.

Below the Tai Chi diagram is a long table.

Several elderly men were sitting behind the table.

On either side, dozens of people from the Xuanmen sect sat.

Some were wearing Taoist robes.

Some were wearing Tang suits.

Some were wearing long gray robes.

Some people wear Buddhist prayer beads.

There were elderly people with white hair.

There are also middle-aged masters.

In front of each person was a cup of tea.

Some people closed their eyes to rest.

People were talking in hushed tones.

Someone was holding a compass.

Someone glanced coldly at the doorway.

The moment Chen Bufan stepped into the main hall, all sounds inside fell silent.

Dozens of Taoist masters looked up at the same time.

All eyes were on him.

Examine.

Contempt.

curious.

hostility.

There was also a deeply hidden murderous intent.

Chen Bufan stood at the entrance of the hall, scanning the faces of these so-called righteous masters.

Then, he saw the plaque at the very top of the main hall.

[The Orthodox Lineage of Taoism]

Chen Bufan smiled.

He stepped into the hall.

The sound wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"Chen Bufan of the Chen family."

"Come and ask the Xuanmen (mysterious sect)."

"Excuse me."

"Who is the traitor?"