Cultivation by Trial and Error

78: Chapter 78: Calculating Others without Calculating Oneself 78: Chapter 78: Calculating Others without Calculating Oneself Teacher Chen’s expression didn’t seem feigned at all; if he had something to hide, his demeanor wouldn’t be like this.

Chen Hai took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

Biting his lip, he began to speak, “Teacher Chen, I’m not doubting your character, but I just feel that the score you’ve told me differs too greatly from what I had estimated myself!”

While speaking, he wracked his brain to recall all the details during the examination.

For instance, did he write his name correctly, or whether the answers he had copied were placed in the right positions.

After reflecting for a while, he was certain that he hadn’t made any mistakes in those aspects.

If his score had been above five hundred, he could have accepted it; after all, it’s normal for there to be some discrepancy between the estimated and the actual scores.

But now, a score of one hundred eighty-six was just too far from his estimated five hundred and eight; the gap was so large it was preposterous.

He just couldn’t believe that his score was so low.

“When you checked the answers, how much did you estimate?” Teacher Chen asked, looking Chen Hai up and down.

“About five hundred and eight…” Chen Hai replied honestly.

“Chen Hai, you need to be down-to-earth and not aim too high.

Fooling yourself like this, what’s the point?”

“I’m not trying to criticize you as a teacher, but ask the classmates here, who among them believes you could score a five hundred and eight on the college entrance exam?”

Teacher Chen was somewhat amused; his words, though, sounded rather harsh.

In the classroom, those students who were still contemplating their college applications had already turned their attention to the exchange between Chen Hai and Teacher Chen.

Now, hearing Teacher Chen’s words, they couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter.

To them, Chen Hai, who consistently ranked at the bottom of the class, could perhaps score two hundred and eight or three hundred and eight on a good day.

The thought of him scoring five hundred and eight was simply a joke!

“Teacher Chen, was the score report like this when you received it?” “Before you got this report, is there any chance that there could have been a mistake with the scores?” Chen Hai asked again.

The ridicule of his peers didn’t bother him; all he cared about now was figuring out what was really going on with his exam scores!

“The college entrance exam is a national matter—it’s about selecting talent for the growth and development of the Yanhuang Empire, not child’s play!”

“On such an important issue, no one dares to mess around or fabricate results.”

“This report has been checked countless times before it reached me.

Do you think there could be a mistake with the score on it?”

“I know this score must be a huge blow to you.”

“Listen to your teacher; don’t lose yourself in unrealistic fantasies.

Wake up and accept the reality!” Teacher Chen said earnestly, heaving a sigh.

After coughing lightly twice, he continued solemnly, “If it were any other student with a hope of getting into university, I might advise them to take another year to study.”

“But for you, Chen Hai, I think it would be better not to waste your time and money!”

“From your consistent performance, you’re simply not cut out for academics.”

“With the time you would spend on a retake, you’d be better off learning a trade—while you might not become rich and famous, at least you can secure a livelihood!”

“As a teacher, I shouldn’t be telling you this, but I’m saying it for your own good.

I hope it helps you to see the reality of your situation more clearly!”

…

Teacher Chen’s lecture left Chen Hai speechless.

Of course, his silence wasn’t an agreement with Teacher Chen’s words.

He merely felt that Teacher Chen indeed knew nothing about the true story behind his exam scores!

Continuing to argue with Teacher Chen until both were red in the face would be utterly pointless.

For Chen Hai at that moment, making money didn’t seem too difficult.

Even without going to university, he could still live a comfortable life.

However, he had estimated his score to be five hundred and eight, but the reality was so much lower.

If he couldn’t understand why his score was this, he would remain troubled.

After a trip to the restroom and washing his hands thoroughly,

he returned to the classroom and found a seat facing south in the last few empty rows.

His behavior was somewhat strange, but Teacher Chen at the lectern merely glanced at him and said nothing.

Teacher Chen had already seen some students, upon learning their scores, sit casually in a corner of the classroom or even collapse on the floor in tears.

Compared to that, Chen Hai’s current behavior was really nothing out of the ordinary!

Sitting facing south, Chen Hai flipped over his hand, and the Copper Coins he carried were now in his palm.

Taking out these coins, he naturally intended to use them for divination.

To understand the poor score he had received, Chen Hai couldn’t find any other approach; after much thought, he decided that divination might reveal something!

With sincere devotion, he joined his hands together, cradling the three Copper Coins in his palms.

After quietly contemplating the issue he wanted to divine, he shook his hand slightly up and down a few times.

‘Clang…’ The coins landed on the desk, all yin up—it was the Old Yin Gua.

The Six Yao Skill required divination six times, and this Old Yin Gua was simply the first one.

Chen Hai picked up the three Copper Coins from the desk, ready to continue the divination.

At that moment, an inexplicable force suddenly descended upon him.

With a sharp pain in his chest, Chen Hai opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood with a ‘puh’ sound.

“This is backlash from fate, the way of Divination dictates not to divine for oneself…” In an instant, Chen Hai suddenly remembered this rule.

As a rogue Tao Cultivator who had never received formal training, he wouldn’t remember such taboos unless he was reminded the hard way.

His eagerness to uncover the truth about his exam scores had been so intense that he had completely overlooked the rule that you should not divine for yourself.