On Monday when Tan Xiao went back to school, he was stopped by a teacher in the hallway. "Tan Xiao, take these fire safety brochures back to your class and have Yu Zhenzhen present them to everyone."

The teacher handed Tan Xiao a stack of brochures.

"Oh, okay." Tan Xiao took them first, then tried to identify which teacher this was, only to find the other person staring at him.

Moreover, the way this teacher looked at Tan Xiao was with a very unfamiliar gaze, not like a teacher to a student... but with a few hints of awe? Envy?

Tan Xiao: "?"

Tan Xiao hesitantly said, "Teacher Ji?"

He felt that based on the dress and appearance, it seemed to be the homeroom teacher Ji Huiming, but the eyes really looked a bit unfamiliar. The next moment Tan Xiao understood why.

Ji Huiming took out his phone and showed Tan Xiao a picture: "Is this you?"

Tan Xiao took a look, and surprisingly it was a group photo of him at Qiyun Ridge with a few fishing enthusiasts and Houjiang!

Uh...

How did the teacher get this?

Ji Huiming solemnly said, "I saw it in a fishing friends group. Tell me, is this real or fake? How is it possible?"

Ji Huiming's expression was really too rich, making Tan Xiao want to laugh and cry at the same time: "I think it was just beginner's luck. Teacher, you also fish?"

"Occasionally." It was fine not to mention luck, but once mentioned, Ji Huiming's eyes were about to turn red: "You have to review, prepare for the school celebration performance, help your family with business negotiations, and still have time to catch such a big fish?"

Tan Xiao, as a student, of course had to clarify the key point: "It was when I was negotiating business. That Dao Gong took me fishing and I caught it in half an hour, so I went back to do practice problems afterwards."

Ji Huiming: "...Half an hour?"

His face was a little distorted: "Very good! Then study well, and for the school celebration evening, we're counting on you to win glory for our class."

Sigh, actually now it's already glorious enough. When he said in the fishing friends group that this seemed to be his student, who knows how many envious comments there were, of course mixed with some jealous words like "the fishing methods you teach".

"Okay teacher, I'll head back then." Tan Xiao returned to the classroom, gave the brochures to Yu Zhenzhen, and they distributed them together. It was estimated that due to the dry weather, there had been several fires, so various units and schools were all strengthening fire safety knowledge publicity, including emphasizing forest fire prevention work in townships.

In the Chinese class.

"...Regarding the key points of the final exam, this is all the help I can give you." The Chinese teacher put down the pen, then said, "Now let's play an interesting game, taking turns to recite by drawing lots."

There were instantly small gasps in the classroom.

How to say, full text recitation wasn't that painful originally, but when combined with words like random, spot check, opening the train, it became exponentially more stimulating.

The Chinese teacher randomly drew a group, starting from this group and having them recite the text one by one, only stopping when she said stop.

"Damn." Lin Yang cursed inwardly. This was too sudden. He immediately started flipping through the book. It was his group's turn. He quickly started counting how many people were in front to figure out which lines he might get.

The problem was the teacher did it randomly. If you stammered, she might make you recite a few more lines. If the people in front didn't perform well, Lin Yang would break out in a cold sweat. Of all the texts, the one he feared most was "Li Sao", and it happened to be very likely that when it got to him, it would be "Li Sao".

The Chinese teacher heard several people stammering and shook her head: "Is it that hard to memorize? Rotate through 'Li Sao' a few more times. After finishing, start over from the beginning. Let me see how you all reviewed. This must be recited fluently, understand?"

"Alright, next."

Kong Xuan stood up. It was well known that this was one of the few subjects Kong Xuan excelled in. Without flipping through the book in advance, he fluently recited: "No one understands me, but it matters not, as long as I keep my heart fragrant. My lofty crown sways unsteadily, my long girdle-pendants tinkle and glitter..."

"Good, Kong Xuan explain what you just recited." The Chinese teacher had always been very satisfied with Kong Xuan and directly gave him a bit more difficulty.

Kong Xuan lifted his head and said, "No one understands me, but it doesn't matter, as long as I maintain my inner fragrance..."

Listening to Kong Xuan's recitation was truly a pleasure. He wasn't familiar with physics, but his compatibility with ancient texts was exceptionally high.

Tan Xiao watched from the side, his mind wandering. Why did he feel more and more that with Kong Xuan's temperament, wearing gorgeous and elaborate ancient costumes would be even more fitting? Was it just because Kong Xuan was reciting ancient texts?

If Kong Xuan's school uniform was changed into ancient clothing, what would it look like?

The first thing that came to Tan Xiao's mind was the clothes he had burned for the Peacock God.

"Very good, very proficient. The Songs of Chu are works that record the Chu language and the Chu land. We are all people of Nanchu, so it would be inexcusable not to master it, right? Next." The Chinese teacher continued calling on students. "After finishing this group, directly go to the group behind that one, skipping Tan Xiao."

Well, no one was surprised at all.

This definitely wasn't accommodating Tan Xiao, purely not wasting time.

Lin Yang thought, although Classmate Kong Xuan recited fluently, our Xiao Xiao is a descendant of the Chu shamans!

The Songs of Chu contained too many chapters related to the ancient Chu shamans and deities. Long before entering high school, Tan Xiao was already familiar with the chapters here, not just "Li Sao".

Previously when studying the Songs of Chu, the teacher would even have Tan Xiao come on stage to explain. From his perspective, there was a lot of interesting knowledge that everyone didn't know.

And Tan Xiao was still lost in thought. Kong Xuan sat back down and turned his head to make eye contact with Tan Xiao, full of hidden grievance: he was reminded of the phone he didn't get.

Today, there were still classmates in the class discussing the photos taken at Qiyun Ridge. Some people even printed out group photos on their practical reports, making Kong Xuan unable to stop thinking about it.

Kong Xuan didn't think that much, but this one glance made Tan Xiao shudder, suddenly thinking:

So familiar.

He didn't know why, but in a daze, he actually felt like he was making eye contact with the Peacock God...

If this was on the divine altar, Tan Xiao might be even more perplexed, but unfortunately it wasn't.

Deities and classmates, one in heaven and one on earth, with different forms, and with hairstyles as iron-clad evidence, even if he repeatedly felt there were similarities... how could he think he was him?

This way... this way was disrespectful to both the god and his deskmate, right? Kong Xuan hated it the most when he mistook him for someone else.

Tan Xiao lowered his head and swallowed this thought again.

As soon as the class bell rang, Tan Xiao heard a commotion coming from outside the hallway.

Someone went out to take a look and came back excitedly: "Oh my god, a little dog entered the school and is being chased by the security guards!"

Many people rushed out and even live broadcasted the situation.

"It's true haha, whose beagle ran into the school and was chased around the artificial lake."

"No way, the security guard wanted to kick the little beagle out, but was no match for it at all. The little beagle charged straight into the cafeteria, that's so you, little beagle."

Even Tan Xiao put aside his strange thoughts, feeling a bit like going to watch the commotion.

Seeing Tan Xiao craning his neck to look, Kong Xuan said with extreme disdain, "What's so special about a dog?" Could it be more special than a peacock? He was the world's first peacock.

"It's not that, seeing a dog outside of school isn't unusual, but seeing one inside the school is definitely worth watching," Tan Xiao said curiously, "But since you ask, are you a cat person?"

Kong Xuan said haughtily, "How could that be."

"So you're not a cat person or a dog person, you don't like pets? Or do you like more exotic pets, like amphibians? Hamsters?" Tan Xiao speculated.

Heh, of course he kept spirit masters.

Kong Xuan gave him a smug look, saying meaningfully, "Indeed quite exotic."

"Xiao, you also seem to have never kept a pet?" As everyone's deskmate, Lin Yang could always naturally join the conversation, even if glared at by Kong Xuan, "What do you like? My mom said she'll get me a large dog when I graduate."

Tan Xiao thought for a moment and said slowly, "Kept a bird..."

Kong Xuan: "...!"

Outrageous! Outrageous! Although I live on your wall, eat your food and drink, how can you say that!

Just as Kong Xuan's objection was at its peak, Tan Xiao propped his face and said, "Eats a lot, but quite cute, not bad."

Kong Xuan: "..."

Kong Xuan fell silent again.

After evening self-study, as soon as the school bell rang, Kong Xuan picked up his packed schoolbag, originally intending to go back as usual. Seeing Tan Xiao still organizing his books, he started dawdling.

Tan Xiao was oblivious, and got up to leave after packing up.

Kong Xuan slowly followed beside him.

Tan Xiao walked out of the classroom before belatedly realizing that Kong Xuan seemed to... He asked, "Walking together?" Come to think of it, he and Kong Xuan both lived on Huaxi Road, but had never gone back together before.

Kong Xuan silently nodded.

He couldn't stand it anymore!!

He decided, tonight he would cut his spirit shaman some slack!

Give Tan Xiao a chance, wait until everyone walked to Huaxi Road, even to Tan Xiao's doorstep, and see if Tan Xiao could react on his own by then!

How could someone not recognize their own patron god for nearly a semester, if Tan Xiao didn't seize this opportunity, he would bring down divine punishment!!

"Haha, why are you walking so fast, in a hurry to get home?" Tan Xiao couldn't help but tease, Kong Xuan really couldn't stand staying at school one more second, huh.

Kong Xuan: "..."

Infuriating, daring to mock him.

Seeing Kong Xuan slow his pace, Tan Xiao thought, sometimes it's like motion sickness, with such details, also making Tan Xiao feel that his long-standing sense of familiarity was quite absurd.

A great god, coming to school? What for?

Tan Xiao and Kong Xuan walked out of the school gate together, the after-school crowd thinning out with bus stops and forks in the road. Tan Xiao's home wasn't too far from No. 1 Middle School, generally a half-hour walk to get there.

Kong Xuan had never actually walked this road before, only now discovering that this path Tan Xiao took home from school was actually quite beautiful, probably thanks to the city's lighting project in recent years, with quite a few lights decorating even the small park they passed.

Lights were one of the human race's greatest inventions in Kong Xuan's opinion, greatly eliminating the fear brought by the night and warding off the evil spirits that bred in the darkness.

Nowadays, the starry river was hard to see in the sky, but the scattered street lamps lit up behind the boy, like stars hanging upside down.

For Kong Xuan, this was another wonderful perspective.

Also tonight, Kong Xuan was going to give Tan Xiao a chance, Tan Xiao might very likely recognize him, what would that be like, would Tan Xiao demand that he accompany him to walk home from school in the future? Should he agree?

Just as Kong Xuan was imagining, a middle-aged man holding a compass jumped out from one of the roadside stalls, blocking the way and staring at Kong Xuan, saying profoundly, "Young man, do you know your fate is extraordinary?"

Without a second thought, Kong Xuan said impatiently, "I know."

Middle-aged man: "..."

Tan Xiao: "..."

Tan Xiao knew this man, always wearing the same cloth shoes, telling fortunes in the small park, sometimes setting up a chess game, often seen on the way to and from school, a familiar face, and no stranger to soliciting customers.

These were all common tactics of fortune-telling stalls, saying there was something special about you, or that good/bad things would happen, used for hundreds of years without getting old. Because maybe someone would believe it, especially if they really had something on their mind. Like that writer senior of theirs, didn't he have his fortune told here.

It's just that the middle-aged man probably rarely encountered someone like Kong Xuan, not only acknowledging it but also responding so quickly.

Even with the man's rich experience in the ways of the world, he paused for a moment, then continued his spiel, "But, but you still have a calamitous misfortune, detrimental to your studies, that will cause problems with your grades."

Kong Xuan: "There are already problems."

Tan Xiao: "..." Don't keep responding!

Tan Xiao was speechless, that was all nonsense, they were wearing school uniforms, so the most important thing must be their studies. Whether grades were good or bad, that sentence could be interpreted either way.

Hearing this, the middle-aged man felt there was still hope, seeing what seemed to be his target demographic, and became even more energized, pointing to his stall, "If you want to hear more, come with me and I'll explain in detail. I am a descendant of the Chu shamans, and have my own solutions."

As he spoke, he wanted to grab Kong Xuan's hand, "Come, classmate."

Kong Xuan raised an eyebrow, and before he could say anything, Tan Xiao couldn't stand by anymore. Trying to scam high school students' allowance? He stepped forward to block the other party, saying coldly, "What are you doing?"

The middle-aged man immediately didn't dare to grab anymore. Tan Xiao was young, but fierce, and his voice was a bit loud.

The man tsk-ed and changed his tune, "Why are you being so aggressive, I'm not trying to scam money, you're just students, how much money could you have, I just saw something in your classmate's fate. Even if you don't believe it, you don't need to speak so loudly, this old uncle can't handle the fright at his age."

-- He was clear in his own mind, although Kong Xuan was wearing a school uniform, he had an air of nobility, and one look showed he came from a good family background!

But when these shameless words came out, the youth in front of him wasn't buying it.

"Did I say I don't believe?" Tan Xiao displayed all the talismans and pendants hanging on his body, coldly saying, "Why are you fighting me for business? This client is now going to our Tan family."

Middle-aged man: "..."

He carefully examined the logo on Tan Xiao's pendant, and it was indeed the Tan family's. He had just been waving the Chu Shaman flag, but in Nanchu, who doesn't know the status of the Tan family shamans.

Fine, just my bad luck, the middle-aged man directly left without saying a word.

"Our Chu Shaman group is still quite a mixed bag." Tan Xiao said to Kong Xuan after the man left, "You too, engaging in such talk, not everyone has professional ethics like me. Do you know what this is called?"

He wanted to educate Kong Xuan a bit about scams.

But Kong Xuan was very satisfied with his act of defending himself... no, defending the reputation of Chu Shamans.

Kong Xuan: "A small shaman meeting a big shaman?"

Tan Xiao: "..."

Tan Xiao couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Just as he was about to say something, he heard his cell phone ring. Tan Xiao took out his phone and the screen displayed: [Mu Fei calling].

"Hello? Sister Mu." Tan Xiao answered. Generally in the evening, more strictly speaking, after work, Mu Fei rarely sent messages if nothing was up. In other words, if she called at this time, there must be something.

"Tan Xiao, are you free to talk now?" At this time, Mu Fei was afraid he was with his teacher or parents.

It really wasn't very convenient. Tan Xiao glanced at Kong Xuan, "Please wait a moment."

He covered the phone and said to Kong Xuan, "Um, Kong Xuan, you go back first, I have something to take care of."

Kong Xuan had seen that it was Mu Fei calling him and stared straight at his phone: "What's the matter?"

"Uh, my relative, I may not be heading home right now." Tan Xiao waved at Kong Xuan while walking towards a small nearby park, preparing to find a quiet place to take the call.

Kong Xuan wanted to say something but stopped.

He wanted to stop him, but he couldn't reveal his identity on the spot after all.

It wasn't until Tan Xiao's figure disappeared from sight that Kong Xuan thought irritably that he had made up his mind to go easy on him, but Tan Xiao didn't seize today's opportunity!

......

"Can you talk now?" Mu Fei said, "It's like this, Big Beard Zhong has gone missing."

Huh? Tan Xiao said in surprise, "How could he go missing, he was shackled."

He had accumulated some practical experience and had some understanding of the extent of his own handiwork. Even a python couldn't take it, let alone Big Beard Zhong.

Mu Fei's tone was very subtle as she said, "Right! We even put a seal on him when we got back. He shouldn't have been able to escape. This guy purely relied on his original claws and painstakingly dug through the wall bit by bit, physically escaping through the sewer..."

Tan Xiao: "???"

What the hell, a physical escape, The Shawshank Redemption or something?

Tan Xiao was shocked, so Big Beard Zhong didn't break through the seal: "But he shouldn't be able to use his cultivation now, right?"

"Look, I found this in his room." Mu Fei sent a picture on WeChat. Tan Xiao took a look, and it turned out to be some grass pulled out from a reed mat, a few dozen strands, scattered on the ground.

"...He was divining?" Tan Xiao recognized it. This was clearly divination. If it were an ordinary person, they might think Big Beard Zhong was just playing around or grinding his teeth, but he immediately thought of the correct answer.

After all, divination was also one of the specialties of Chu Shamans. The two characters "divination" originally referred to using tortoise shells and yarrow stalks for prediction.

It's just that Tan Xiao usually didn't study this much. It wasn't a focus of knowledge in his family. It wasn't for any other reason, it was simply because compared to rituals like drumming and dancing, the performance effect of divination was really not that good... Not to mention whether it was accurate or not, it lacked visual appeal.

"Yes, we only thought of sealing his cultivation, but this guy has studied the 'Book of Changes' for many years and can divine without using his own demon powers. Although he may not cause much harm now that he's out, but such a big creature is likely to scare the citizens." Mu Fei complained, "The case was already closed, but now there's a new..."

Tan Xiao thought, based on his understanding of Mu Fei, what probably irritated Mu Fei even more was the paperwork.

"Brother Tan Xiao, this rat was caught by you. I'm telling you to be careful. Rats are vengeful. Although he doesn't have much ability now, he can still divine to hide. We can't find him for a while. If he risks his life to go to your kitchen to leave rat droppings..."

Tan Xiao: "..."

"Okay, I understand. I thought you were asking me to go catch him with you right away." Tan Xiao said with sweat, "Then I'll go back and ask the Peacock God and see if we can find out where he is."