Filch paced around in a circle, unable to find anyone. After a long, frantic search, he finally gave up and wandered off elsewhere, exhausted by his own rage.
Throughout this, the group had remained perfectly still, not daring to make a sound. Naturally, Lin Shu and Fred had remained in their rather intimate position for far too long.
Once Filch was gone, Lin Shu let out a breath, thinking she could finally stand up. But the very next second, a wisp of black mist emerged from Fred’s neck. Lin Shu hurriedly reached out to grab it, but the mist was slippery and evasive; no sooner had it surfaced than it slipped right back into Fred’s body.
Death energy again. Another omen of a short life.
It had been Cedric last time, and now Fred. Could there be some connection between them?
Lin Shu frowned, suppressing her complicated thoughts, and muttered to herself, "How do you have this, too..."
Her voice was so faint that no one heard what she said. Even if they had, they wouldn't have understood, as she had spoken in Chinese.
Among those present, only Fred was close enough to her. He tilted his head and asked, "What’s wrong, sweetheart? What did you just say?"
"It’s nothing. I just thought of something I haven't quite figured out yet. I'll cast a divination when I get back to my dormitory."
It was an ordinary enough remark, yet it caused Fred, George, and Hermione to stare at her with expressions of pure astonishment. Their gaze made her skin crawl, as if she were covered in something filthy.
"Why are you all looking at me like that? It’s creepy in the middle of the night. Did I pick up some kind of dark spirit? That shouldn't be possible—I didn't see anything!"
"Goodness! Merlin's beard! Shu, do you know what you just said? Divination? Are you a Seer? The kind who can make prophecies?"
Hermione was the most excited. She had spent the most time with Lin Shu and the two had long since become inseparable confidantes. She was also the one who had most directly witnessed Lin Shu displaying extraordinary skills; although she didn't understand Dongxuan Sorcery, that didn't stop her from believing that Lin Shu was the most brilliant person she knew. That was why she had spoken up so directly when Lin Shu mentioned casting a divination—it satisfied her own curiosity.
Seeing Hermione’s excitement and turning to see identical expressions on Fred and George’s faces, Lin Shu felt a bit uneasy.
"It’s just divination. Don't you learn it? Oh, wait, sorry—I forgot I’m a student at Hogwarts too. I mean, don't the senior students have classes involving divination? Why are you so shocked?"
"Sweetheart, I think you’re still a bit unfamiliar with our school’s curriculum," George said. Fred immediately chimed in: "Exactly. While the school does offer Divination, it’s only an elective you can start taking in your third year. You can continue with it in your fourth and fifth years."
Lin Shu nodded in understanding. Before she could speak, George added to Fred’s explanation: "But you should know that Divination requires a great deal of natural talent. Most people don't choose to study it."
"After all, nobody wants to take a class they can't even get a handle on."
After hearing the explanation, Lin Shu nodded, then shook her head. She broadly categorized Western magical divination as a talent inherent to the witch or wizard, lacking the deep knowledge and numerical systems that supported it. Ultimately, it all depended on whether the heavens were willing to grant you insight. The gap between Eastern and Western methods was vast.
"I see. Actually, where I’m from, the art of divination is known as Qimen Dunjia. It can be used to predict all sorts of things. Everyone can learn it; it’s a very fundamental course. For disciples of a sect like mine, it’s something we must master. Calculations and sorcery complement each other—you can't have one without the other."
After saying this, Lin Shu led the three of them up to the roof. She had no choice; Filch was still prowling the halls, and trying to use the main entrance now would be like walking straight into a trap.
While she was the only one thinking about getting back to her dormitory, the other three were still captivated by the topic.
"Shu! Can I come see you after class tomorrow? I want to hear you talk more about Eastern culture and sorcery," Hermione said shyly, glancing at Lin Shu’s expression to ensure she hadn't overstepped.
"Of course! If you want to learn, I’ll teach you. Qimen Dunjia is something you can actually learn on your own if you’re sharp enough. It’s not a major secret where I come from; ordinary people can learn it too."
"Really?"
"Really, really, really! Why would I lie to you?"
As they talked, they reached the top floor. Honestly, they didn't know why they had followed her up there, but Lin Shu always gave them the impression that she had everything under control, and they couldn't help but listen to her.
But now, with the cold wind howling past their faces, the three of them couldn't help but feel a little nervous. At this height, one slip could mean broken bones or a very untimely end. Was it really necessary to go this far just to avoid Filch?
George and Fred frowned, subconsciously looking down. They weren't afraid of the height, but they were uneasy about entrusting their safety to someone else without a Flying Broomstick.
Seeing their constipated expressions, Lin Shu knew they were getting cold feet. "Seriously? You two are Gryffindor Quidditch Beaters! High-altitude flying should be a piece of cake for you. Why are you suddenly afraid of heights?"
"Listen, sweetheart," Fred said, "if I’d brought my Flying Broomstick, I’d take you up for three days and three nights just to show you what real skill looks like."
"Me too," George added immediately.
Lin Shu realized they weren't afraid of heights; they just didn't trust her. Having practiced sword-flying since the age of four, she considered herself an expert. To be doubted out of thin air? She couldn't let that slide.
A warrior could be killed, but not insulted. It was time to show these little foreigners a thing or two.
"What's so great about a Flying Broomstick? Doesn't that thing chafe? You guys just haven't seen the world. Watch and learn!"
In the next second, Lin Shu formed a hand seal. A flash of red light erupted, forming a giant Taiji Bagua diagram, interlaced with mysterious characters. The diagram rapidly solidified and expanded, revealing itself to be a magical artifact resembling a shield.
"Heaven and Earth, grant me power. As the spell begins, let its true form appear. Expand your essence, grow to your full majesty. Command!"
Lin Shu controlled the shield, enlarging it until it was big enough to carry four people. She turned back to look at the others, and fearing they still wouldn't trust her enough to try, she stepped onto it first.
"Alright! Get on. I’ve been doing this since I was four. My technique is perfect, I won't let you fall."
The other three followed immediately. They hadn't moved before because they were stunned, not because they lacked trust. As they stepped onto it, feeling the impossible sensation beneath their feet, they were beyond shock.
So, this was another way to fly. Even without a broomstick, one could soar through the heavens. And what an artifact—it looked much cooler than any broomstick.
Once everyone was on, Lin Shu recited an incantation for controlling the wind. With a surge of spiritual power, the shield hummed and rose steadily into the air, flying with remarkable stability.
Hermione, who had initially stood close to Lin Shu, afraid to look down, eventually leaned over the edge to take in the beautiful view. Fred and George were equally amazed; it felt completely different from flying on a broomstick, though neither could quite describe it. After too many shocks in one night, the two usual chatterboxes couldn't find the words to praise Lin Shu.
Seeing they had adapted and weren't feeling dizzy, Lin Shu waved her long sleeves, channeling more spiritual power to accelerate.
"Do you want to fly higher? Or perhaps I should ask, have you ever touched the clouds?"
"Never, sweetheart. Even Flying Broomsticks have their limits. Flying any higher is too dangerous."
"With me, there is no danger."
Hearing her reply, Fred felt his heart skip a beat. Even though Lin Shu didn't turn around, and he could only see her profile, he could imagine her proud, confident expression. It was utterly captivating.
The wind whistled past, tousling their hair but unable to cool their excitement. Below them, the buildings shrank into a dreamscape; above, the vast, unknown heavens stretched out in all their novelty. Suddenly, Hermione felt a cool sensation against her cheek. She reached out and realized she was actually touching a cloud. They paused amidst the swirling mist, unable to describe what they were seeing with mere words.
"Shocking" was an understatement.
"What a pity. No matter how high we fly, we can't reach the moon. This is as far as we go. Hopefully, you aren't disappointed. Actually, there’s nothing up here in the clouds—just empty and desolate. It gets boring after a couple of times."
The group didn't agree; they took her words as a classic case of humility.
Happy times are always short-lived. Even with some detours, they had to return to the dormitory. When Lin Shu dropped the three of them off at the Gryffindor common room, she was met with three pairs of lingering, reluctant gazes.
"Don't look at me like that. I'll take you flying again next time, okay?"
"It’s a deal, sweetheart."
"Next time, I'll let you try our latest candy invention."
Lin Shu nodded, appreciating the Weasley twins' goodwill. "Shu, take care on your way back."
"I will."
After a brief goodbye, Lin Shu stepped onto her shield and vanished in a flash of light. Only then did the three realize her true strength; they had thought the flight earlier was fast, but it turned out she had been holding back.
Some people really are infuriating to compare yourself to. As for Fred and George, the senior students and Quidditch Beaters, there was truly nowhere left to hide their shame.
That night, Lin Shu crept back to her dormitory without waking anyone. She sat cross-legged to meditate, but she couldn't calm her mind. Curiously troubled by the short-lived fates of Cedric and Fred, she decided to peek into their destiny.
No sooner thought than done, she quickly began to cast a divination using Qimen Dunjia. The hexagram was simple: both faced a death calamity. She didn't need to look any further; a death calamity was usually impossible to change.
But Lin Shu refused to accept it. She continued her deductions, determined to find a flaw in the impossible. As time passed, her Third Eye began to ache. It was to be expected—peeking into things one shouldn't see always came with a price.
Yet, she wasn't disappointed. As she pushed to the final deduction, the result became blurred and complex. She only knew that the death calamity hadn't entered the "grave," meaning there was still room for change. It was much like her first face-to-face reading with Cedric—an unknown path where no one could predict what changes might occur along the way.
Lin Shu rubbed her forehead where her Third Eye was and smiled faintly.
"Since I’ve entered the game, perhaps I am the very variable that changes everything."
Those with great natural gifts always have the capital to be arrogant.