After a great effort to rid his feet of the muck, Zhang Xiaofan turned around. He saw that the little girl had already walked over to the old man and was now whispering something to him. The old man listened, nodded slightly, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Zhang Xiaofan blushed, uncertain if they were mocking him. Hesitating for a moment, he still approached and asked, “Old sir, what did you mean when you said I have a sign of great misfortune?”
The old man squinted at him and smiled, “Young lad, though your forehead is full, your cheeks are rather thin, indicating you are not from a wealthy background, am I right?”
Zhang Xiaofan felt a growing trust in the old man’s words and nodded, “You are correct, Old sir. I come from a peasant family.”
The old man smiled, patted his robes, and spoke with composure, “I also noticed that your eyebrows are thick and straight, but there is a small mole at the end of your right brow. This mark signifies your parents. I fear both your father and mother have passed away, have they not?”
Zhang Xiaofan was shocked and found himself believing more. He nodded, “Old sir, you have keen eyes. My parents died when I was very young.”
The old man smiled, “Would you mind showing me your hand again, young lad?”
By now, Zhang Xiaofan trusted the old man about seventy or eighty percent. He extended his hand. As the old man was about to examine it, the little girl suddenly darted over, grabbing Zhang Xiaofan’s hand. Startled, he saw the girl imitate her grandfather, examining his hand for a moment before running off, leaving behind a few pieces of sticky candy on his palm, much to his annoyance.
Stunned, Zhang Xiaofan could not bring himself to scold the child. The old man handed him a handkerchief, chuckling, “My granddaughter is a bit naughty, please don’t hold it against her, young lad.”
Zhang Xiaofan managed a bitter smile, wiped his hand clean, and looked up to see the old man and his granddaughter standing together, chatting and laughing, though he could not make out their conversation.
Seeing Zhang Xiaofan, the old man beamed, “Are you ready? Shall I read your palm now?”
Zhang Xiaofan extended his hand, but kept a wary eye on the little girl. However, she remained quiet, just giggling as she watched him, who knew what amused her?
The old man examined his palm for a while, then his expression changed, “Ah!”
Startled, Zhang Xiaofan asked, “What is it?”
Without saying much, the old man pointed to Zhang Xiaofan’s palm, “Young lad, do you see this life line on your palm?”
Zhang Xiaofan looked, naturally oblivious to its significance, and asked, “What about it?”
The old man’s face grew serious, “This life line is not like that of ordinary people. It has a major break at the beginning, indicating a great calamity in your youth, one so profound that it likely involved your close friends and family, with little hope of survival. It seems likely your parents also perished in this calamity.”
Zhang Xiaofan felt a pang in his heart, fully believing the old man. His voice choked, “Old sir, you are truly a living immortal. Your words are spot on.”
The old man sighed, then continued, “Originally, such a calamity would have claimed you as well, but your fate is blessed. At the point of this great break, there is a ‘Jade Renewal’ that continues your life line, allowing you to survive. It is indeed a stroke of luck amidst great misfortune.”
Zhang Xiaofan, thinking of Pu Zhi, remained silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth, “Old sir, you mentioned earlier that I still have a sign of great misfortune. Could you tell me what that means, please?”
The old man smiled, coughed a couple of times, and said, “Well, well…”
Zhang Xiaofan was surprised, “What’s wrong, Old sir?”
The old man chuckled, “To be honest, I have a rule: I must be paid for my services. How about…”
Zhang Xiaofan understood and quickly said, “How much, Old sir?”
The old man smiled, “Ten taels of silver.”
Zhang Xiaofan, who had already reached for his purse, paused, “That’s quite expensive. I only have four taels.”
The old man frowned, then said, “Alright, alright. Four taels will do. I consider us to be fated today, so I shall help you.”
Grateful, Zhang Xiaofan handed over the four taels of silver.
Taking the silver, the old man straightened his face and examined Zhang Xiaofan’s face once more, “Young lad, your forehead is clouded, and your aura is dark. It seems your luck is poor. Your journey ahead will be fraught with danger. It would be best to turn back, and everything will resolve itself naturally.”
Zhang Xiaofan was taken aback, “Is that all?”
The old man nodded, “Yes.” Zhang Xiaofan hesitated, “But I have an urgent matter to attend to in the east…”
The old man advised, “Young lad, what could be more important than your own life? You should turn back.” Bowing, he added, “It has been a pleasure meeting you. We shall meet again in the future. Farewell.”
Zhang Xiaofan, frowning, nodded absentmindedly. As the old man and the little girl walked away, he felt lost in the bustling crowd, unsure of his next move.
Turning the corner, the old man and the little girl hid, peeking back at Zhang Xiaofan. The young man stood in the crowd, looking somewhat dazed, and after a while, turned and walked forward.
“Ha ha, another four taels of silver,” the old man, now in a different demeanor, took out the silver and examined it, chuckling. The little girl, however, remained calm, giving him a look, “Grandpa, why are you acting like this again?”
The old man laughed, put the silver away, and said to his granddaughter, “Xiaohuan, you are truly my pride. At such a young age, you can already read people’s fates. With time, you will be a master of divination.”
Xiaohuan snorted, “Those books are not hard to understand. It’s obvious you didn’t study them properly and are embarrassed to admit it!”
Indeed, the little girl was the true mastermind, having deciphered Zhang Xiaofan’s fate and informed her grandfather.
Clearly fond of his granddaughter, the old man was not bothered by her comment, “Don’t underestimate the books I gave you. ‘Nine Calculations of Fate’ and ‘Jade Pillar Divination’ are passed down from our ancestor Qingyunzi. You are exceptionally talented, but for someone like me, it would take a lifetime to understand them!”
Xiaohuan spat, turning away, “Then why did you say he faces great danger ahead?”
The old man chuckled, “I lied, of course. But, do you really think he is in danger?”
Xiaohuan shook her head, “I only understand the past. The future is still vague.”
The old man nodded, “True. The past is fixed, but the future is unknown, making it the highest level of divination.”
Xiaohuan shrugged, and they walked forward, “But, from what I can tell, his fate is one of the most unpredictable—‘Chaotic Demon Fate’. It’s quite rare.”
“Never mind, we got the silver. Come, I’ll treat you to a meal…”
“Hmph… Grandpa, you often mention that we are related to the Qingyun Sect. Why don’t we claim kinship? With the sect’s status and your seniority, you could live a life of luxury!”
“Shh…” The old man, startled, looked around, ensuring no one heard, and whispered, “You know nothing, girl. The Qingyun Sect is a renowned faction. We only know a bit of Qingyunzi’s divination. Claiming kinship might get us imprisoned. Besides, I, Zhou Yixian, am not one to seek favors!”
Surprised, Xiaohuan said, “Grandpa, I didn’t know you had such integrity. Truly—”
“Ah!”
Before she could finish, Zhou Yixian’s eyes lit up, and he stepped out, blocking a well-dressed, plump woman, “Madam, I see dark clouds over your head and a blackened forehead, ominous signs. Let me read your fate, how about it?”
Xiaohuan, dumbfounded, saw her grandfather give her a signal and followed, pretending to be adorable, examining the woman’s face.
—
Zhang Xiaofan walked through the streets, unknowingly leaving the town. Realizing it was already dusk, he noticed the sunset painting the sky in fiery hues, casting a long shadow of his figure. It was dinnertime, and every household was closed, leaving the outskirts empty and lonely.
Looking at his shadow, he felt a deep sense of confusion.
Since hearing Wanyan Wang’s words, he assumed his master Tian Buyi might have gone to the Flowing Wave Mountain in the East. He had intended to meet him but was now warned against it by the “old sage.” Should he return to Qingyun Mountain? What if no one was there?
Rescued from the Ghost Spirit Abyss, he yearned to report his safety to his master and mistress. Yet, now he was uncertain.
Hearing footsteps, he turned to see the giant Shitou walking alone out of the town.
Shitou stopped, glanced at Zhang Xiaofan, and muttered, “The sun sets in the west. The town elder said the Black Stone Cave is ten miles north of the town. That way.” He prepared to walk.
Zhang Xiaofan, seizing the opportunity, called, “Shitou… Brave warrior, are you going to the Black Stone Cave?”
Shitou stopped, “Yes, who are you?”
Zhang Xiaofan thought, “If I can’t go east, perhaps helping him exorcise a demon will be good. If Master asks, I can say I did a good deed.”
He decided, “I am a cultivator. I saw everything in the town and wanted to help. I was delayed. Can I join you?”
Shitou scrutinized Zhang Xiaofan, “It’s dangerous. Who trained you?”
Zhang Xiaofan, surprised by Shitou’s words, replied, “I am a disciple of Tian Buyi from the Great Bamboo Peak of the Qingyun Sect. Please take care of me.”
Shitou, surprised, “Qingyun Sect? The foremost sect in the world. I am honored. Please, let’s go together.”
—
The Black Stone Cave was ten miles north in a forest. As they walked, Zhang Xiaofan and Shitou conversed, forming a bond. Shitou, despite his size, was gentle and kind, and they quickly became friends.
As the sun set, the forest grew denser. Zhang Xiaofan called, “Brother Shitou.”
Shitou responded, “What?”
Zhang Xiaofan, “The golden cudgel you used, it seemed to be of Buddhist origin. Is it?”
Shitou, impressed, “You are knowledgeable, Zhang Xiaofan. My Vajra Sect has some ties to Buddhism, but it’s ancient. We have fewer restrictions, and we help others. If we encounter demons, we fight.”
Zhang Xiaofan, “Your master is a noble person.”
Shitou, “Yes, he is.”
Zhang Xiaofan thought, “If my master knew about the dark artifact I use, would he allow me to stay?”
Reaching the forest, Shitou, “The cave is here. We must be careful.”
Suddenly, they heard a cry, “Oh no!”
They turned to see the old man and the little girl, out of breath. Zhang Xiaofan, surprised, “What happened?”
The old man, “A mistake. The fat woman and a sharp-eyed lady chased us.”
Zhang Xiaofan, “Let’s go, Brother Shitou.”
—
As night fell, a white light descended, and a voice shouted, “Old fraud, where are you running?”
The light shot towards the old man. Zhang Xiaofan, seeing the danger, used his staff to block it. A woman in green, with a bell and a white flower, landed gracefully.
Her eyes met Zhang Xiaofan’s, and she smiled, “Fate is a funny thing, isn’t it, Zhang Xiaofan?”
It was Bi Yao, the demonic girl.
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