Chapter 380: Drawing Lots

The golden morning light spread across all of Northern Huangtian.

Within Demon Capital, the already resplendent palaces shone even more brilliantly under the morning sun.

In a vast and empty hall stood a grand throne, carved from premium wood and draped in luxurious golden silk. Though it bore no dragon or phoenix motifs, a single glance was enough to reveal the extraordinary status of its owner.

Seated upon the throne was a middle-aged man in a plain-colored robe, leaning slightly as he gazed into the void, seemingly lost in thought.

Not far from him, a graceful and well-proportioned woman stood with lowered eyes, quietly waiting.

Recently, the Flood Dragon Emperor had frequently mentioned a sense of unease, as if some great disturbance was on the horizon. As a result, he often sat in deep contemplation.

After serving the Flood Dragon Emperor for some time, the astute and tactful Lustful Ghost had earned the privilege of becoming his personal attendant. With this, she resumed using her original name—Liu Shi.

“My eyelid is twitching again…” The Flood Dragon Emperor let out a long sigh. “What kind of omen is this?”

Liu Shi spoke up, “Your Majesty, is this still because of Mr. Gu?”

At her words, the Flood Dragon Emperor lifted his gaze slightly and shook his head. “Not entirely. This sort of sudden premonition just makes me feel that something is about to happen. There’s no specific person or event tied to it.”

“In that case…” Liu Shi stepped forward and retrieved a bamboo tube from her sleeve. “Why not draw a lot and see?”

“Drawing lots?” The Flood Dragon Emperor chuckled helplessly. “Do you think a lot can be more accurate than my own calculations?”

Liu Shi shook her head. “Since Your Majesty only has a vague premonition without a clear insight, why not try this return-to-simplicity method? It might prove useful.”

Seeing her sincerity, the Flood Dragon Emperor did not refuse and smiled. “Very well, let’s give it a try.”

Hearing this, Liu Shi stepped closer, crouched slightly, and presented the bamboo tube with both hands. “Your Majesty, draw a lot for your fortune first.”

“Alright, let’s see what my luck looks like.” Saying this, the Flood Dragon Emperor reached into the tube and pulled out a bamboo lot.

As both of them glanced at the bottom of the stick, their expressions stiffened.

Written in clerical script were the words: “Worst Fortune”.

Holding the ominous lot, the Flood Dragon Emperor chuckled. “Looks like my luck really isn’t great lately.”

“No, no, the first draw doesn’t count! It’s not accurate!” Liu Shi quickly explained while taking the lot from his hand and tossing it aside.

Seeing this, the Flood Dragon Emperor laughed. “It is what it is. There’s no need to throw it away.”

Liu Shi responded immediately, “If it’s bad luck, then we discard it along with the misfortune!”

“There’s such a practice?” The Flood Dragon Emperor raised an eyebrow.

“There is! There is!” Liu Shi nodded earnestly, all the while shaking the lot tube. Internally, she sighed—there were only fifty lots in total, just one marked ‘Worst Fortune,’ while all the others were ‘Great Fortune.’ And yet, he had managed to draw it.

After reshuffling the remaining lots, she handed the tube back to the Flood Dragon Emperor and solemnly said, “Your Majesty, this time, think of a specific question before drawing.”

“Alright.”

Pausing for a second, the Flood Dragon Emperor reached in again, this time pulling out a lot marked “Great Fortune”.

“Great Fortune!” Liu Shi feigned excitement. “Congratulations, Your Majesty! See, the second draw was the accurate one—straight to Great Fortune!”

“Cough…” The Flood Dragon Emperor, however, did not seem particularly pleased. “This time, I was thinking… If trouble is coming soon, then give me a Great Fortune lot…”

“Huh?”

“…Huh???”

Wait, people ask questions like that?

Without hesitation, Liu Shi grabbed the Great Fortune lot and tossed it aside. Then she continued, “Your Majesty, I believe that Great Fortune signifies auspicious events. We should ask about blessings, not disasters—don’t you agree?”

Fifty lots. The first draw had taken away the only ‘Worst Fortune’ lot.

For the second one, naturally, the approach had to be reversed for the best effect.

From the very beginning, the Flood Dragon Emperor had seen through his subordinate’s attempts to please him.

He entertained this simple divination method not only because he didn’t want to disregard her good intentions but also because he was curious to see if it would yield any useful insight.

After all, at his level of cultivation, every action, every thought, could brush against the profound and mysterious Dao.

The recent twitching of his eyelids and bouts of unease weren’t mere coincidences—they were omens triggered by his connection to the Dao.

That was precisely why, for the second drawing, he deliberately asked in reverse.

If the lot-drawing truly resonated with the Dao, then even without a “Worst Fortune” lot in the cylinder, the Great Fortune lot would manifest an anomaly—perhaps even breaking apart—to symbolize impending misfortune.

A shattered Great Fortune lot would signify the arrival of a Worst Fortune lot.

All things embrace yin and hold onto yang—that is the way of the world.

“Flood Dragon Emperor, please draw again,” Liu Shi urged. “This time, ask for something auspicious out loud.”

Seeing how earnestly his subordinate wished to reassure him, the Flood Dragon Emperor nodded with a faint smile. “Very well… If today remains peaceful, free of turmoil, then grant me a Great Fortune lot.”

Hearing this, Liu Shi subconsciously exhaled in relief.

This time, the question was right.

And since only Great Fortune lots remained in the cylinder, nothing strange should happen anymore… right?

As the Flood Dragon Emperor withdrew a Great Fortune lot, Liu Shi prepared to deliver the auspicious words she had planned in advance—

But then, she saw it.

A fine crack had appeared along the seemingly sturdy bamboo slip.

Crack.

A snapping sound echoed in the silent hall as the lower half of the Great Fortune lot broke off and fell to the ground, leaving only half a shattered slip in the Flood Dragon Emperor’s grasp.

Is fate set against me?

This thought flashed through Liu Shi’s mind, momentarily paralyzing her.

She couldn’t believe it.

It was supposed to be just a simple lot-drawing—how could it turn into such a mess?

She had used only the finest bamboo for the lots and cylinder. How could it have broken?

In that moment, even without lifting her head, Liu Shi could feel the sudden surge of unease emanating from the figure before her.

The Flood Dragon Emperor, who had been seated calmly on the imperial throne, suddenly stood up!

With his movement, an overwhelming presence burst forth from him—a force as towering as mountains, as fierce as a storm!

The air itself seemed to freeze. Liu Shi felt as though she had lost the ability to breathe. She fought against the terror welling up inside her and stammered, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Your Majesty, forgive me! This servant is guilty and deserves to die!”

As she spoke, she attempted to kowtow toward the Flood Dragon Emperor.

But just as she was about to bow, she found herself unable to move.

An invisible force held her in place, preventing her forehead from touching the ground.

Then, she heard a voice—calm, unwavering.

“This has nothing to do with you.”

The next moment, a gentle yet composed male voice called from outside the hall:

“Flood Dragon Emperor, this humble Gu has arrived as promised. May I have an audience?”

At the sound of that voice—the one from her nightmares—Liu Shi’s mind went blank.

Her vision swam, and she collapsed onto the floor.