"Head…" He murmured, then shook his head, followed by a soft chuckle.
"Isn't this just fortune telling?"
Indeed, this was a form of divination.
In a way, you can imagine divination as making an inference. The act of divinating is confirming that inference. Thus, the main basis for all divination was information.
With the aid of the white castle, he was able to perform a rudimentary form of divination. Due to his lacking abilities at the moment, this divination can only be expressed in true or false expression.
If he was a rank 9 dustborn, perhaps it is possible to observe his divination.
To be certain, he repeated the same divination two more times, both producing the same feedback.
Satisfied, he withdrew from the castle, snapping back to the real world with a sharp breath.
Yin San got up from his bed walk to the desk and headed down the mountain.
The rain has already dried, leaving behind a deep scent of mud. The ground was a bit moist with the unceasing downpour from nights before.
It was currently day time, defined by the constant pulse of light from the distant golden tree. When the tree stop breathing, then the lantern would be lit, welcoming the dark night.
The distant between the peak and base of the mountain wasn't far as a familiar sight slowly emerged.
The sight of messy building didn't make him lose direction. He already had a destination in mind. Yin San continues to walk down the street, eventually stopping at a small inn tucked in the corner of a suspicious alley.
"Welcome in!" Greeted the Innkeeper by the counter.
Yin San walked through a leaf-covered door and nodded," Floor two, I want to rent it for a whole month."
He didn't bother with the innkeeper pleasantries and tossed a pouch on to the counter. As it landed, a clank sound of metal struck the wood.
Hearing this, the innkeeper, who looks aged with wrinkles on his face quickly peered inside the pouch to see small pieces of white stone inside. This made him put on a bigger smile as he quickly guide Yin San to the second floor.
"Of course, of course, esteemed uh —" It was at this moment that the innkeeper noticed the emblem hanging below Yin San's waist, with the engraving of "Yin" on it.
This made him changed his tone of voice even more sharply," Great young master!"
What the hell, its one of the clan's young master! He almost jumped off his feet when he saw the badge, but held himself back due to his frail body.
Yin San ignored him as he continues to walk to the second floor without waiting for the old man.
After his back disappeared, followed by the sound of the door closing, the innkeeper let out a loud exhaled," Almost scared this old man to death!" He exclaimed, attracting the attention of the nearby guests.
"Old Yan, don't worry too much, that was the young ghost of the clan, after the coming of age rites, his status would be no different from a servant!"
Hearing this, the old innkeeper eyes flickered, followed by a barely concealed snickered," That young ghost?"
"I actually showed him respect for nothing then!" Although he thought this, he didn't dare to voice these words out loud.
"The once great genius Yin San has lost his intellect as he grow older, this kid is becoming more dim witted by the days!" One of the guests commented, followed by a disgruntled snort.
One's spirituality is believe to be related to intelligence. Thus, once Yin San's intellect slowly dissipate over the years as he grew older, people changed their view.
Meanwhile these men can ridicule the clansman because they are a Yin, if the innkeeper, and an outsider were to do so, it would be no different from death!
To the ordinary people of these resident, the clan's member were no different from god!
Even the 'young ghost' of the clans, the most infamous figure filled with mockery and ridicules, they had to show a degree of respect on the surface. Of course, rumors and gossip continues to roam, but these rumors does not warrant death.
The old innkeeper grumbled in his mind, his respect and reverence earlier dissipate into nothing, like a candle being extinguished. The only consolidating thought lingering in his mind is the pouch of stone that dragged his hand down.
Yin San ignored their thoughts settled down in the room. The old wooden bed creaks the moment he sat on it. As for the mattress, it was just a straw-weaved mat.
The room was cold, perhaps due to its poor insulation, but he paid it no mind.
"I need those materials for the rituals… For that, buying them is the fastest way, but this will attracted a certain degree of attention. After all, this behavior does not 'align' with the people's current understanding of me."
"Not to mention, my financial circumstance is not great…"
Upon thinking of this, he let out a deep sigh. Even the cost of his 'hobby' wasn't cheap.
His current predicament is due to his first life. When he first arrived in this world, he realized they were lacking in cultural and literacy understanding.
As a historian professor on earth, he display his 'wisdom' at a young age, reciting poems and show a high level of intelligence.
This was a double edge sword, and by the time he realized this problem, it was too late. The people's expectation of him was as high as the golden tree in the distant.
If it was just this, it wouldn't matter. But the fact that people believed intelligence are connected to having great spirituality, and by showing great intelligence, he was hailed as a genius.
As the coming of age rites come closer, he grew more cowardly and scared, afraid that if he were revealed to have no talent, then he would be hang to death!
Why? Because he was not sure if he have any talents, and facing the opinion of people, he didn't dare to bet on his life.
So for the past months, he indulge in art and food, showing little care for the tradition of the clans.
This was to achieve a certain effect of diverting people's opinion. This way, if he were to achieve little in the coming of age rites, then at least the people's opinion wouldn't immediately stab him to death.
In his second life, he revived in the exact same place and time. The effects of his action was already in place, so he could only make do with what was available to him.
This time, he had more experience. And that experience made him more pressured.
"Mo Wei is a threat to me… But the key point is Yin Bei! He has already schemed against me, this is to further benefit my younger brother, and in turn, himself!"
"The moment I refuse to comply with his wish, my death is already planned. I'm afraid that during the academy, in the midst of the three clans competition in the future, I will faced an assassination again!"
Even the clan can be considered against him in due time.
"I already know I have no talent in my first life when I experience the coming of age rites. Since the people's opinion of the young ghost of the Yin Clan is filled with contempt and ridicules, what matter does it make if I make it worse?"
"The moment my' talent' is revealed, that too will be an opportunity for me!" His eyes were filled with coldness when he thought of the clan.
The clans pursue strength, this is because strength brings them benefits.
Because of that, being useless is a sin. Being weak is wrong!
...
As the coming of age rites is around the corner. The dilapidated village under the base of the Ghost Desolate Peak started to get crowded.
This was a once-in-a-year opportunity for many merchants who wished to attract customer. There was an assortment of goods from various stall as well as things that arrived in the village by caravans who traveled outside the village.
These caravans were treated with a high degree of respect, as without them, it is almost impossible for the Yin Clan's residence to obtain things from beyond vicinity of the surrounding wilderness.
At this moment Yin San was strolling down the street, merely looking at the various store with superficial interest.
The only thing he had on his waist is a small leather pouch.
"For the three body ritual, I need dust stone, and not the low-grade ones… it is the most crucial component, everything else is easily obtain, especially with the arrival of the caravans and activity around the coming of age rites…" As he walk, the pouch on his waist would produce clattering sounds, like stones striking one another.
Meanwhile, the scent of mudberry fishes linger in the air, followed by a dense smell of iron. This smell of iron attracted Yin San's attention.
"Red meat?" He muttered, turning his head sharply toward one of the caravan stalls.
The stall was decently sized, but a thick knot of people packed in front of it, shoulder to shoulder, made it nearly impossible to see what was being sold. A lot of eyes lingered toward the slabs of meat dangling from metal hooks, glistening under the lantern light.
But no one moved forward.
Murmurs filled the air as their discussion rises.
Then, a man broke through the crowd.
"For this fish," he asked, voice low but urgent, "how much dust stone?"
The stall owner, a broad-shouldered man with scarred knuckles and a black coat , sized him up in a single, dismissive glance. His gaze lingered on the man's modest leather pouch hanging from a frayed belt. A flicker of contempt curled his lip.
"One stone per fish. Buy it or scram."
The words hit like a slap. The middle-aged man flinched, then dipped his head. "I'll buy two," he said, voice cracking around the edges.
His fingers trembled as he fumbled with the pouch.