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

The private message lay quietly on the computer screen.

[Chen Bufan, next divination, do you dare to divine your own fate?]

No profile picture.

No nickname.

No works.

Account registration time: 3 minutes ago.

Chen Bufan stared at it for a long time.

Then, I smiled.

He did not reply.

I just took a screenshot of that private message and saved it.

Then reopen the live stream.

It's 1:30 a.m.

This is a time when traffic on live streaming platforms should be declining.

However, as soon as Chen Bufan started his live stream, the number of online viewers exceeded one million.

The moment the screen lit up from black, the comments section exploded.

[The master is streaming again!]

I knew you wouldn't sleep!

What's next with the "Fake Exposing King's Basement" incident?

Was the cat rescued?

Has Zhao Qiming really been arrested?

Master, what exactly is the Black Fate Mark?

Are Shen Qingyue, the Wang family, and the "anti-counterfeiting king" all connected?

[Someone just said that copper plates were also found in the basement. Is that true?]

I can't sleep right now, the more I think about it, the more scared I get.

Chen Bufan sat in front of the camera.

There are no gift effects on the table.

There was no notification for connecting via voice chat.

He turned off the tipping feature.

The live chat was also turned off.

In the shot, there was only that old copper coin and a closed yellowed booklet.

He looked up at the comments section.

"We'll wait for the police's official statement regarding Zhao Qiming's case."

The comments section was scrolling even faster.

What about the basement?

Is it true that this is a fundraising scam?

Is it true that cats are being abused?

I donated money to that account, and now I feel nauseous.

I even forwarded his rescue videos to my friends before.

[Isn't he the king of debunking scientific fraud? Why is he also involved with the Black Fate Mark?]

Chen Bufan remained silent for a moment.

"Because he didn't become famous solely because of the script."

The chat in the live stream paused for a moment.

Chen Bufan continued:

"A script can fool people for a while."

"You can't fool people for more than a few years."

"Zhao Qiming's transformation from an ordinary blogger into a fraud-busting influencer with millions of followers is not solely due to editing, rhetoric, and his team."

"He has someone backing him up."

The moment those words were spoken, the live chat exploded.

[Maintaining health and fitness?]

[Is this another case of altering one's fate?]

Can internet celebrities also improve one's luck?

[Aren't only the wealthy and celebrities targeted?]

Does data usage count as luck?

[Please explain clearly, Master; I'm getting goosebumps.]

Chen Bufan pressed his fingertips against the copper coins on the table.

"What do you think traffic is?"

The comments started flying everywhere.

[Number of views?]

【fan?】

【money?】

【heat?】

[Platform Recommendation?]

Chen Bufan said calmly:

"Traffic is popularity."

"Popularity is also a kind of energy."

"Someone likes you, trusts you, cares about you, and is willing to spend time, money, and emotions on you."

"When these things come together, that's luck."

The live stream was silent for a few seconds.

Then the barrage of comments became increasingly dense.

Holy crap, I think I understood.

Is fan trust also a form of energy?

So, do online celebrities rely on popularity and luck?

No wonder some people become more popular the more they are criticized.

Is black and red still red?

Chen Bufan looked up.

"Using it wisely is a blessing."

Misuse is a debt.

He opened a screenshot.

It's the cover of one of Zhao Qiming's past rescue videos.

On the cover, a thin stray cat is huddled in a cardboard box, looking at the camera with wet eyes.

The title reads:

It was abandoned on a rainy night, and I decided to save its life.

It has been viewed over 30 million times.

It has received over a million likes.

The comments section was full of expressions of sympathy and donations.

Chen Bufan looked at the picture.

"This cat died on the third day after the rescue video was filmed."

The live chat exploded with comments.

What?!

Didn't you say you were adopted?

I've seen this episode! He said the kitten went to a good home!

You beast!

I even donated thirty yuan back then!

Chen Bufan then cut out the second image.

A black and white cat with a crippled hind leg was being held in Zhao Qiming's arms.

Zhao Qiming's eyes were red in the video as he said he couldn't bear to see life being trampled on.

"This one was treated halfway, then abandoned."

The third picture.

An orange cat.

Its fur was dirty, and its belly was swollen.

"This one was filmed three times."

"This is the first time I've called her Little Orange."

"The second time it was called Tuantuan."

"The third time is called Wangcai."

"They use different stories each time to scam donations."

The comments section was completely filled with angry remarks.

【I vomited. 】

How could he do such a thing?

Using lives as props.

I used to praise him for being kind-hearted; I must have been blind.

This isn't just scamming money; it's exploiting people's kindness.

Chen Bufan nodded.

"right."

"He ate out of kindness."

"But what is nurtured is not good fortune."

"It's windfall wealth."

The screen immediately filled with comments.

[Unexpected wealth?]

Is money obtained through fraud considered wealth?

Isn't this dirty money?

Chen Bufan said:

"Ill-gotten gains are not judged by their purity."

"All I ask is how fast it comes."

"Zhao Qiming uses the pitiful state of stray animals to arouse your sympathy."

"I'll use debunking videos again to incite your anger."

"Sympathy, anger, taking sides, insults, forwarding, donations."

"These emotions are all anger."

"Someone turned this energy into his windfall luck."

"So the more he criticizes others, the angrier he gets."

"The more conflict you create, the more money you make."

"The more morally superior someone is, the more people will believe them."

The comments section went from anger to lingering fear.

So he wasn't simply evil; someone helped him turn his malice into good fortune?

This is too eerie.

No wonder he always manages to pinpoint the hottest topics when exposing fake news.

[Making a fortune by torturing animals and deceiving fans' kindness is utterly disgusting.]

Is this similar to the Wang family's miraculous transformation?

Chen Bufan glanced at the comments section.

"almost."

"The Shen Qingyue case is a case of using someone else's life."

"The Wang Tianhao case is a case of turning disaster into opportunity."

"The Zhao Qiming case is a case of nurturing the movement."

"Different methods."

"The source is the same."

The live stream chat was instantly flooded with those three words.

[Black Fate Mark!]

Chen Bufan did not deny it.

"The Black Fate Mark is not a single technique."

"It's more like a mark."

"Any scheme that uses improper means to take away a person's life, fortune, popularity, or lifespan may leave a trace."

"This shows that Zhao Qiming has someone behind him."

"He thought he became famous because of his team, his rhetoric, and trending topics."

"But in reality, he was just a tool that was raised to be used."

The live chat exploded with comments.

[A knife?]

[Who will it be used to chop?]

[Could it be that they're going to chop up Master Chen?]

[He exposed a fraud in the morning, but his reputation collapsed by night. Was he pushed out by someone behind the scenes to test the "master"?]

Master, is the person behind this already watching you?

Master, has anyone threatened you?

Chen Bufan looked at the comments on the screen.

That private message popped into my mind.

—Would you dare to divine your own fate in the next divination?

He didn't say those words aloud.

Because there were too many people in the live stream.

The more people there are, the more chaotic the atmosphere becomes.

Some things, once said, will be used against you by the other party.

Chen Bufan simply said:

"They didn't just start targeting me."

"They already knew I was still alive."

The comments section paused for half a second.

Still alive?

What does this mean?

Has Master Chen had any past incidents?

[The Chen family? Is it related to the Chen family?]

I saw someone mention being a descendant of the Chen family.

"Master, please stop talking. I feel uneasy."

Chen Bufan lowered his eyes and looked at the copper coins on the table.

"Some scores will have to be settled sooner or later."

"But not tonight."

Just then, a notification popped up in the platform's backend.

[Verified account applicants request to participate in live stream.]

Chen Bufan had originally turned off the live stream.

However, this application was still pushed to the top of the system's feed.

The account profile picture is a blue-background ID photo.

The authentication information is very short.

Criminal Investigation Detachment of Haicheng Public Security Bureau

Applicant's nickname:

Lin Wanqing

The live stream chat exploded with comments.

Holy crap!

[Official Account!]

[Detective!]

[Haicheng Criminal Investigation Detachment requests a live video call!]

Who is Lin Wanqing?

[The police have come looking for Master Chen?]

Is it because of Zhao Qiming's basement?

[No, it could also be Shen Qingyue's case and the Wang family's case!]

Chen Bufan looked at the request to connect via video call.

My fingertip paused on the copper coin for a moment.

The copper coin trembled slightly.

It's not ominous.

It's not auspicious either.

The game has begun.

He raised his hand and tapped "accept".