"Lin Beichen, what's going on with you? Meditating here during training time?" Qing Wudi's voice suddenly entered Lin Beichen's ears, breaking his tranquility.
Lin Beichen opened his eyes and looked at Qing Wudi's deliberately serious face and the complex emotions revealed in his eyes. "Meditation is also one of the essential skills in the cultivation of Taiyi Five Elements Fist," he casually replied.
Qing Wudi nodded, but his brows did not relax, and an expression of hesitation appeared on his face. He seemed to be making a major decision. Sensing this, Lin Beichen stood up and smiled at Qing Wudi, "Coach, I'd like to go to the restroom."
Saying this, he made a move to leave but whispered to Qing Wudi, "If you have any doubts, feel free to talk to me privately."
Upon hearing this, Qing Wudi's body stiffened, and his expression became complex. He quickly concealed his emotions, gave a few instructions to the recruits, and silently followed Lin Beichen.
The two arrived at a secluded spot, and Lin Beichen looked at Qing Wudi with a smile, waiting for him to speak. Qing Wudi met Lin Beichen's gaze and couldn't help but ask, "Can you... perform divination?"
Lin Beichen was pleased at heart; it seemed Qing Wudi had finally come to him. He knew well that Qing Wudi had an important matter buried in his mind, one that deeply affected him. Although unsure how his presence would change the situation, since Qing Wudi reached out to him, he was naturally willing to assist.
"Are you asking about someone close to you?" Lin Beichen asked with a smile, his tone and demeanor inspiring warmth and trust.
Qing Wudi was taken aback, not expecting that the other person would hit upon his concerns from the start. He came to seek Lin Beichen's help in divination precisely because his concern was for his own kin.
Qing Wudi's father was once a special forces soldier but died unexpectedly during a mission.
The murderer was a notorious mercenary known by the codename 'Mantis.'
Qing Wudi was raised by his grandparents, who never disclosed the truth about his parents.
However, as a descendant of a military family, he received martial arts and firearm training from a young age.
After learning the truth about his father's death, he resolutely joined the army, trained rigorously, and joined the Viper Squad.
His goal was to encounter 'Mantis' during a mission and personally avenge his father.
Yet, he had heard nothing about 'Mantis' over the years, as if the person had vanished. Over time, the resentment and anger in his heart grew stronger. Now that he heard Lin Beichen's master could perform divination, he was intrigued.
If Lin Beichen indeed could divine, then at least he could find out whether 'Mantis' was still alive and if he had any chance of revenge.
This would offer him some psychological solace. However, as a special forces soldier, he was acutely aware of the military's strict codes, which kept him hesitating. Now, with Lin Beichen inviting him privately, his mental burden lightened somewhat.
After hearing Lin Beichen's words, he tentatively asked, "Do you... really know how to divine?"
At this moment, Lin Beichen seemed to transform into a Daoist, his actions and demeanor exuding an extraordinary and transcendental aura. "My master taught me some methods of divination; I'm somewhat knowledgeable,"
he answered. Qing Wudi was still somewhat indecisive, but Lin Beichen did not pressure him.
After a long contemplation, Qing Wudi finally made up his mind, "Actually, I want to divine about a person, to know if this person is still alive or if what I desire in my heart can be fulfilled."
Lin Beichen nodded, extending his palm to Qing Wudi for him to write a word on it, "Write whatever comes to mind."
Qing Wudi stayed silent for a moment, then wrote the word 'Justice' on Lin Beichen's palm.
This word symbolized his timeliness to avenge his father, for justice to finally prevail.
After Lin Beichen withdrew his hand, he did not immediately respond but instead sat cross-legged to begin divination.
He held his right hand in a dust-wiping posture, while his left hand pinched his fingers in a divination manner, slightly closing his eyes and muttering.
At that moment, the voice of Flame King Soldiers broke the serene atmosphere, "Ah, so you guys are here! I was wondering why the training field was empty."
He approached them while asking, "What are you guys up to here?"
Upon nearing and seeing Lin Beichen sitting cross-legged and Qing Wudi standing opposite him, he was stunned, "Is... Lin Beichen performing divination?"
Qing Wudi, already worried about being discovered, was now more tense and took a few steps back.
Flame King Soldiers looked at their reactions, puzzled, and asked, "What are you two doing? Being all mysterious."
Lin Beichen opened his eyes and looked at Qing Wudi, "Would you like to tell him? It's your decision."
Qing Wudi glanced at Lin Beichen, then at Flame King Soldiers, "If I say I'm discussing cultivation of the fist styles while meditating with Lin Beichen, would you believe me?"
Flame King Soldiers paused, then sat on the ground, "What a coincidence, so am I."
Lin Beichen: "..."
Qing Wudi: "..."
The three of them sat in silence, the atmosphere somewhat awkward.
After a while, Qing Wudi couldn't hold back, "Aren't you here to discuss fist styles and meditation? Just ask already!"
Flame King Soldiers rolled his eyes, "Things must follow a sequence; you go first."
Qing Wudi was speechless; he only wanted an excuse to leave, not expecting Flame King Soldiers to actually follow up on it.
Now truly caught between a rock and a hard place, he wasn't sure what to do.
"Why not you go first; I'll ask another day." Saying this, he got up to leave.
However, Flame King Soldiers stopped him, "Qing Wudi, don't leave. I'm here for the same reason: to have Lin Beichen perform divination."
Continuing, he added, "I, like you, also wish to divine about someone close. Don't worry; only Lin Beichen knows, and no one else will."
Hearing this, Lin Beichen chuckled internally; these two truly do not treat him as an outsider! But Flame King Soldiers didn't seem to mind this, looking intently at Lin Beichen as if trying to see through him, "Actually, I'm here for divination too."
It turns out Flame also harbored a secret concerning his father, similar to Qing Wudi.
In his childhood, his father was an acclaimed detective who suddenly committed a crime and vanished, leaving their mother to die of grief.
Subsequently, he bore the stigma of being a bad man's son, dropped out of school early, and became a delinquent.
After much hardship, he eventually became a soldier, determined to clear his father's name and restore his family's honor.
However, he always carried a lingering question in his heart, like an unsolvable puzzle.
He longed to find his father, to understand why he abandoned them, opted for a path astray, and burdened his young self with societal disdain and ridicule, with endless grievances.
Thus, he shared the same hope as Qing Wudi, seeking answers through Lin Beichen's divination about encountering his father again and whether he was still alive.
When Qing Wudi heard this, his steps halted. He turned around and sat back down.
Lin Beichen observed these two coaches in front of him, shaking his head with a smile. They both struggled to overcome their inner hurdles yet yearned to know the answers to their deepest desires.
Truly, kindred spirits, Lin Beichen thought to himself. After finishing a divination, he turned to Qing Wudi, speaking slowly, "Coach Sun, would you like to hear about your divination's results?"
Qing Wudi nodded solemnly, "Please go ahead."