Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 200 - 201: One Won’t Bet, The Other Won’t Believe

Chapter 200: Chapter 201: One Won’t Bet, The Other Won’t Believe

Li Jing was deep in contemplation for a long time and couldn’t think of what to do for the moment.

"What do you think we should do about this?"

Li Jing looked toward the Four Celestial Kings before him.

The Four Celestial Kings were also from the Western Direction, so they usually had a close relationship with Li Jing. With the Calamity of Measurement about to begin during the Journey to the West, they naturally took more interest.

However, now that the path of the fisherman was impassable, the Four Celestial Kings were also at a loss, unable to suggest anything for a while.

"If that is the case, it seems we must take another path!"

Seeing that the Four Celestial Kings had no other solution, Li Jing also had to find another way.

He had originally hoped to make the Jing River Dragon King willingly face death, but although the Jing River Dragon King wasn’t much, convincing him to willingly face death was basically impossible. Li Jing had to abandon this idea.

He had no choice but to buy off a Yaksha under the Jing River Dragon King.

Originally, he had thought that when the fishermen caught too many fish in the future, he could have the Yaksha report to the Jing River Dragon King, and everything would be under his control. Unfortunately, Yuan Shoucheng was no longer fortune-telling for the fishermen.

He had to forcefully send the Yaksha to find the Jing River Dragon King, inform him of Yuan Shoucheng’s situation, and aggravate the Jing River Dragon King’s dissatisfaction with Yuan Shoucheng.

In this way, everything could be reset to the beginning.

Soon, the Yaksha had already received Li Jing’s telepathy.

His eyes whirled around, and after pondering for a moment, he headed towards the Dragon Palace with great excitement.

At this time in the Jing River Dragon Palace, the Jing River Dragon King and the Tortoise Prime Minister along with other members of the Aquatic Tribe were enjoying a performance of song and dance. They were surprised to see the Yaksha come in with an excited face.

The Jing River Dragon King spoke, "What’s the matter? Why such excitement?"

"Extraordinary news, Great King! Such extraordinary news!"

"Oh, what news?"

The interest of the Jing River Dragon King was piqued when he heard the Yaksha, and he couldn’t help but ask.

The Yaksha said, "This humble servant was patrolling the riverbank when I heard two fishermen discussing. They spoke of a miraculous fortune teller in Chang’an City, one who is incredibly accurate!"

"What’s so unusual about that? It’s surely just another swindler, nothing remarkable!"

Hearing this, the Jing River Dragon King dismissed the matter, considering it just another charlatan, of no significance.

"Your Majesty is not aware. It is said that not long ago a fisherman’s fortune was accurately predicted. Fishing there, one was guaranteed a full haul, and indeed it turned out just as prophesied!"

"If this continues, I fear that our Aquatic Tribe will be completely captured. By then, I fear there won’t be any members of our tribe left in Jing River!"

The Yaksha related the situation to the Jing River Dragon King, who showed a grave expression on his face.

The exaggerated words of the Yaksha indeed managed to stir some discontent in the Jing River Dragon King towards the fortune teller.

"What? Where is this person? Send someone to cut him down at once!"

The Jing River Dragon King was burning with rage and spoke with great anger.

Dragon’s descendants, Shrimp Officials and Crab Officers near him spoke up, "Great King, heed not rumors overheard!"

"Moreover, Your Majesty’s visit will surely bring clouds and rain, which might disturb the people of Chang’an and attract the censure of the heavens!"

"Your Majesty’s Transformations are unpredictable; why not take the form of a Scholar, visit Chang’an City, and investigate? If such a person does exist, there would still be time to deal with him then!"

"And if there is no such thing, it is also wrong to harm someone without cause!"

Seeing everyone’s advice, the Jing River Dragon King knew he had indeed been too hasty, wanting to strike someone based solely on some words he had heard.

The thought of harming an innocent commoner made him uneasy.

"Fine, since you all say so, I shall go and see if there truly is such a fortune teller!"

The Jing River Dragon King nodded, then left Jing River, transforming into a Scholar before he made his way to Chang’an City.

The River-patrolling Yaksha, having seen this, hurriedly reported the matter to Li Jing.

The Jing River Dragon King wandered through Chang’an City, bustling with extraordinary liveliness.

Here a crowd gathered, there another.

The sounds of bargaining were incessant, coming from everywhere.

Soon, he saw a cluster of people, chattering away, very boisterous, and among them occasionally there burst a voice of someone speaking on grand topics.

"You are born in the year of the Dragon, and if you leave today, you’ll run into thieves. It seems your destiny is in conflict with Tai Sui, you need..."

The Jing River Dragon King, having heard this, became interested and stepped in. Just then, the fortune teller had finished predicting for someone.

This fortune teller was none other than Yuan Shoucheng.

Yuan Shoucheng had already noticed the Jing River Dragon King.

Seeing the visitor’s imposing appearance and demeanor, it was clear he was someone of status.

Yuan Shoucheng was aware that this person’s identity must be extraordinary.

"May I know what this gentleman would like to inquire?"

Though he was unaware of the other’s identity, seeing that he had approached his stall meant he must have come for a fortune reading.

While Yuan Shoucheng appraised the Jing River Dragon King, the latter was also sizing up Yuan Shoucheng.

Noting the other’s extraordinary features and full countenance, the Jing River Dragon King indeed appeared to be a man of mystery.

"I wish to divine the weather above!"

After inwardly praising the other party, Jing River Dragon King got straight to the point, probing the depth of this Yuan Shoucheng.

Despite the other’s arrogant demeanor, Yuan Shoucheng was not angered. He simply grabbed the copper coin from the table, flung it towards the sky, and by the time the coin landed, Yuan already knew the answer to the divination.

"Clouds shroud the mountain tops, fog veils the treetops, if it is rain that one seeks, it shall pour tomorrow!"

"When will it rain tomorrow, and how much will fall?"

When Jing River Dragon King heard Yuan Shoucheng predicting with such accuracy, even he couldn’t help but gaze at Yuan in disbelief.

Seeing the disbelief on the other’s face, Yuan Shoucheng remained noncommittal and continued speaking.

"Tomorrow, at Dragon hour rain shall begin, at Yi hour thunder will boom, at noon the downpour comes, and by Wei hour the rain will be complete, totaling three inches and forty-eight points in three bouts!"

Upon hearing this, Jing River Dragon King couldn’t help but laugh.

He was the one in charge of the nearby assignment of cloud seeding and rain scheduling, and now here was Yuan Shoucheng, playing the expert in front of him.

"Is this a jest? Since you say it will rain tomorrow, how about we make a bet?"

"If it happens just as you say, with the correct hours and amount, I shall gift you fifty taels of gold. If there is no rain, or it does not follow the times and amount you predicted, I will surely smash your storefront, ruin your signboard, chase you out of Chang’an, and forbid you from spreading your deceptive predictions in this land!"

Under normal circumstances, Yuan Shoucheng would have eagerly accepted Jing River Dragon King’s wager.

But now, with Wang Yang’s admonition in mind, he didn’t hesitate and shook his head immediately.

"I will not bet with you. If you say my prediction is inaccurate, then so be it. At worst, I’ll simply not take your money. Why must you make things difficult for me?"

After all, with Wang Yang’s warning, that was the time for Yuan Shoucheng to stay true to his principles. Even if he was confident in his own divinations, he had no intention of gambling with the person before him.

Jing River Dragon King was taken aback, somewhat unexpectedly. He couldn’t believe that this man in front of him lacked confidence, and started to look down on him in his heart.

He had originally thought, upon hearing from the river-patrolling Yaksha, that Yuan was someone capable of flawless predictions, as it was said to span from heaven to earth without omission.

But now here was a man who lacked even the courage to take a bet—what kind of person was he to claim infallibility in his predictions?

At this point, Jing River Dragon King felt a growing contempt in his heart and couldn’t help but speak up, somewhat irritated.

"I never expected that you wouldn’t even trust your own divinations. How then can you divine for others? You are nothing but a swindler!"

Jing River Dragon King sneered, his words dripping with sarcasm.

Yuan Shoucheng’s face changed upon hearing these words, and just as he was about to step forward and argue.

The voice of Wang Yang echoed again in his mind.

Although he didn’t understand the purpose of Wang Yang’s reminder, since it was his master’s advice, how could he defy it?

"Enough, enough. Since you’re so insistent, let’s leave the divination at that for today, and you may leave!"

Yuan Shoucheng shook his head helplessly. He didn’t want to deal with the scholar anymore and was ready to send him on his way.

Wang Yang often taught him not to fight with others, not to engage in conflict.

Now Yuan Shoucheng had the same mindset.

Can’t I just avoid those I cannot provoke?

His master once said, as long as you don’t divine too much for others, don’t bet, there won’t be any disasters. Why should I fight over pride with a stranger?

"Fine, since you admit to being a mediocre and ignorant person, a shallow scholar, then I shall not bother with you any further!"

Finally, Jing River Dragon King no longer dwelled on the issue and strode away with a snort.

As Jing River Dragon King departed, Yuan Shoucheng watched his receding figure and couldn’t help but sigh in resignation.

Then he proceeded to divine for the next person.

Fortune-telling, after all, is something some believe in while others do not.

Despite the recent conflict and altercation, and even Yuan Shoucheng’s own concession,

Yet, because of his growing reputation from recent events, many people still wished to stay and have their fortunes told.

So, Yuan Shoucheng’s business was not too adversely affected.

Yuan Shoucheng might be at peace, but the Duty Officer and Li Jing, who had been secretly monitoring everything, were now troubled.

After the incident a short while ago, Li Jing could no longer sit idly by and came personally to observe. Once he received news from the Yaksha, he felt certain that they could wrap things up this time.

However, to his surprise,

Yuan Shoucheng wouldn’t bet, and Jing River Dragon King left in disdain.

"What’s going on here, everything is in disarray. How can the Calamity of Measurement for the Journey to the West proceed now?"

Li Jing frowned, his expression extremely troubled.

The Duty Officer beside him couldn’t help but sweat from his forehead, relieved that Li Jing had come to supervise. Otherwise, he would have faced criticism again.

Their plan was that after Jing River Dragon King finished his divination, since it was about the weather—a trivial matter for a Dragon King—he would naturally bet.

They would then send a decree to Jing River Dragon King.

Next, Jing River Dragon King would arbitrarily change the rainfall, Yuan Shoucheng would lose the bet, and Jing River Dragon King would be accused of deceiving the ruler and executed.

Only then could they move on to the next step.

But now, one refuses to bet, and the other doesn’t trust Yuan Shoucheng’s prowess—it’s a complete failure!