The End of the Art

The boy buys books on divination with money earned from collecting trash, and hides in the darkness at the end of an alley to escape ridicule. A stray dog by the garbage heap is his companion, and the cold moon, appreciated by no one, is his confidant...

At nine, he understands yin and yang and the Five Elements. At twelve, he knows every part of a geomantic compass by heart. At fifteen, he masters the eight trigrams and the six lines. At seventeen, he glimpses the gateway to fate and destiny. At nineteen, he can read a face and determine life or death. Now I'm twenty, and I've already mastered the esoteric arts!

But on the path to becoming the greatest master of divination, who is the true player moving the pieces? It all began with a visit to Mount Longhu.

Each step is hard-won, each step unwavering. Even at the [end of the arts], the young man has no regrets…