Chapter 51: Fortune Blessing

"Wind at my feet!" Zhao Xing manipulated a wind spell, using it to boost his speed.

However, this spell wasn't for himself; it was for the straw figure.

He also controlled the rhythm of the rain, ensuring that as the straw figure moved under the clouds, its path remained clear of rainfall.

He deliberately left two subtle clues to mislead Shen Zhui.

Shen Zhui reached the willow tree and immediately faced a dilemma, a choice between two paths.

After only a second of hesitation, he pursued the straw figure.

Sensing Shen Zhui running in the opposite direction, a faint smile appeared on Zhao Xing's lips.

...

"What? Another straw figure?!" Shen Zhui stared at the familiar straw figure before him, speechless.

Reflecting now, it was clear that Zhao Xing had deliberately presented these "flaws" to him.

Such a quick, unhesitating reaction in so little time couldn't be a spontaneous first response; it had to have been meticulously planned in advance!

"Hmph!" This time, Shen Zhui didn't speak to Zhao Xing. He immediately split the straw figure apart, giving his opponent no chance to stall, and then swiftly chased in the opposite direction.

...

In Chen Mansion, inside the study.

Chen Shijie, sensing the scene unfold, couldn't help but laugh aloud.

He hadn't originally intended to pay attention, believing that with Shen Zhui's Seventh-tier Gathering Essence cultivation and his exquisite Nine-Turn Subtle Movement technique, he would quickly apprehend Zhao Xing.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Xing pulled off a brilliant move, outwitting Shen Zhui completely.

"What a clever young man! He used only 'cloud walking,' 'rain dispersion,' 'straw figures,' and 'wind generation' to create such an advantageous situation for himself."

"It would be an absolute waste of talent if you didn't become a military agricultural officer."

Chen Shijie put his book aside, grabbed a wine gourd, and sat by the window, dedicating his full attention to observing this cat-and-mouse game.

...

In the heavy rain, Shen Zhui watched the figures splitting into two directions ahead, his mouth twitching slightly.

Zhao Xing had summoned his second straw figure back to provide cover.

Now he had to make another choice.

One figure was accelerated by a wind spell and had a clear sky above, while the other had no enhancements whatsoever.

"Last time, the straw figure had the spell's enhancement, so this time, it must be his true self!"

Shen Zhui chose a direction and pursued.

Ten breaths later.

Shen Zhui looked at the straw figure in front of him, feeling utterly exasperated.

"This... this... another straw figure?"

"He anticipated my anticipation?"

Shen Zhui felt like a clown, tricked yet again.

He hadn't been this upset even when he lost sparring sessions with other martial artists in the training hall.

But facing Zhao Xing truly tested his composure.

Brother Zhao, you with your thick eyebrows and bright eyes, appearing so cheerful, yet you're so skilled at deception?

"Hmph!" Shen Zhui let out a cold snort, his iron ruler flashing with a white light as he shattered the straw figure.

Shen Zhui composed himself, regrouped, and resumed his search.

...

"He adjusts his mindset quickly. Even after falling for it three times in a row, he maintained a certain degree of calm. Although emotional, his actions remained unaffected, and he instinctively made the best recovery."

After losing connection with the third straw figure, Zhao Xing also developed a higher regard for Shen Zhui.

Because Shen Zhui's handling of the situation was excellent.

As for making the wrong choice?

That couldn't be blamed on Shen Zhui.

While a choice between two options might seem like a fifty-fifty chance, Zhao Xing's probability of success was far greater than fifty percent!

Because he possessed Tier 2 Destiny!

Through this method, he pulled Shen Zhui and himself into another dimension of engagement: a gamble of destiny.

"Whether he chases the straw figure or me, any choice makes sense, but my destiny level is higher than his," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

This was something Chen Shijie couldn't perceive either.

After all, Tier 2 Destiny was extremely rare in this small county town; even among legitimate officials, perhaps only County Magistrate Li Wenzheng and Chen Shijie possessed it.

"However, courage withers after the first effort, declines with the second, and is exhausted with the third. The passive activation of destiny follows an unseen law; dominating three times in a short period is the limit."

"Assuming I had a fourth straw figure, Shen Zhui would likely make the correct choice next time."

"Besides, I don't even have a fourth straw figure."

Feeling footsteps rapidly approaching from behind, Zhao Xing gave up resistance.

...

The clouds dispersed, the rain ceased, and the wind subsided.

Shen Zhui's iron ruler rested against Zhao Xing's neck, and he felt a surge of satisfaction.

"Run, go on, run again!"

"Brother Shen is truly mighty. Despite all my efforts, I only managed to delay you for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea before you caught me," Zhao Xing said, cupping his hands in a respectful gesture.

Seeing this, Shen Zhui realized he had been overly serious. This was just a training exercise; how could he place his iron ruler against a colleague's neck?

He quickly withdrew his ruler, reinserting it into his waistband, and cupped his hands, saying, "I am ashamed. Brother Zhao, your spells are exquisite, and your mind is remarkably meticulous. Such talent is rare among civil servants; I am truly impressed."

Shen Zhui wasn't merely being polite; he was genuinely impressed.

The initial distance was only fifty meters. Zhao Xing was merely at the Third-tier Gathering Essence cultivation, while Shen Zhui was at the Seventh-tier. Logically, Shen Zhui should have caught him much earlier, especially considering he was a martial artist and a constable who had completed numerous missions!

Yet, Zhao Xing had managed to stall him for so long!

"I was just lucky, and you've only just encountered a military agricultural officer like me. Besides, Brother Shen adapts very quickly. Your footsteps in the rain were almost impossible to pinpoint. If we had a few more training sessions like this, I believe you would fully adapt," Zhao Xing said, speaking from the heart.

Opportunities for martial artists and military agricultural officers to spar were inherently rare, let alone with him possessing a destiny advantage.

Furthermore, Zhao Xing's experience and techniques in such confrontations were honed through countless trials in his previous life.

In a small place like Gucheng, his skills were truly unparalleled.

That Shen Zhui could force him into a continuous run, leaving no time to create a fifth straw figure, was already quite remarkable.

"No need for modesty, Brother Zhao," Shen Zhui said with a smile. "You only used four ordinary spells. If you had combined more, I have no idea how long it would have taken me to catch you."

This was true, and Zhao Xing didn't deny it.

Relying solely on the straw figure spell was too monotonous. If he knew more basic spells, they would significantly disrupt Shen Zhui, and combining various spells might even give him a chance to injure his opponent.

"Brother Shen, let's stop flattering each other," Zhao Xing said, pointing to the pear orchard ahead. "Why don't we sit down and eat a pear?"

"This... wouldn't be appropriate, would it? That's Master Chen's pear orchard," Shen Zhui said, hesitating slightly.

"Master Chen allows me fifteen Sky Origin Pears each month. What's wrong with me sharing one with you? It's on me, so feel free to eat!" Zhao Xing unhesitatingly plucked two pears from the orchard and tossed one to Shen Zhui.

"Alright," Shen Zhui replied, accepting it without further ceremony. He could tell the pear was a treasure.

After they finished eating, Chen Shijie walked out of his study, smiling. "You audacious young man, using my pears to win favor? I only said I'd give you some to eat, when did I allow you to pick them yourself?"

"Master Chen, this pear was picked for me," Shen Zhui said, rising awkwardly and bowing. "If there's a punishment, please punish me alone; it has nothing to do with Zhao Xing."

Chen Shijie nodded inwardly, thinking it seemed he had chosen the right person for Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing, seeing that Chen Shijie wasn't actually angry, smiled and said, "Sir, if you wish to punish me, may I ask for a moment first?"

"Oh? What do you intend to do?"

"Break through to the Fourth-tier Gathering Essence."