Chapter 439 - 272: A Gentleman Inquires About Calamity, Not Fortune
Chapter 439: Chapter 272: A Gentleman Inquires About Calamity, Not Fortune
He was afraid that if he walked too slowly, he’d be tainted by the jinx.
But he had only taken two Steps when Immortal Bai from behind caught up and appeared right in front of him.
"You two, ahem... fellow Daoists, don’t be in such a hurry to leave. I can see that you are both dragons among men. How about you let me tell your fortune?"
Seeing this, Chen Yi cursed inwardly but forced a smile and said politely, "We wouldn’t want to trouble you, Daoist Master. We have other matters to attend to."
But before he could take a step, Immortal Bai closed the distance and blocked his path, asking with a faint, unreadable smile:
"Young Daoist friend, do you know me?"
"I... don’t believe I do?"
"You don’t?"
"I don’t!"
Seeing the two of them trading cryptic remarks, Chen Yunfan looked back and forth before interrupting:
"Brother Yi, there’s no harm in letting this Daoist Master tell our fortunes."
"He looks honest enough. I doubt he’ll spout nonsense. Of course, if he dares to fool us, just watch how I’ll deal with him."
Chen Yi shot him an exasperated glare. "Brother, as the saying goes, ’a gentleman asks of misfortune, not of fortune.’"
"Why would an upright gentleman like you seek out trouble for yourself?"
"Then let’s ask about misfortune..."
"Misfortune? What misfortune?"
"Brother, you come from a renowned family and are this year’s top scholar. Your future is bound to be filled with official success, boundless blessings, great wealth, and high status..."
"You truly are a hero, Brother!"
Chen Yi gave Chen Yunfan no chance to speak, and even less of a chance for Immortal Bai to read his fate.
He just spouted a string of auspicious predictions, forcibly applying them to Chen Yunfan.
Chen Yunfan stared at him, stunned. "Brother Yi, you... do you really think so?"
Chen Yi gave a firm "Mhm" then nodded to Immortal Bai. "We’ll be on our way."
This time, Immortal Bai didn’t stop him.
But after seeing Chen Yi and Chen Yunfan enter Jishi Medicine Hall, a thoughtful expression crossed his face.
He then pinched his fingers together a few times in calculation, his expression turning to one of suspicion.
’He... has the look of one destined for an early death.’
’Yet now he possesses so much Dao Realm... Who could have the power to defy the heavens and alter his fate?’
The figures of a few certain individuals appeared in Immortal Bai’s mind, but he dismissed them one by one, muttering to himself:
’Those wandering cranes wouldn’t so easily sacrifice their own lifespan and Cultivation for such a thankless task.’
’Besides, even if they did intervene, it’s impossible for a person’s destiny to change so drastically.’
’How strange, how bizarre.’
For the moment, Immortal Bai couldn’t figure it out, so he simply made a mental note of the matter to investigate another day.
He glanced again toward Jishi Medicine Hall, the corner of his mouth hooking into a smile.
’This junior recognizes me, though. He has some skill.’
After all, he hadn’t roamed the Jianghu for decades. Even if he intentionally revealed his whereabouts, an ordinary person would have a hard time discerning his identity.
To think that he had just arrived in Shu State only to be recognized by a junior.
With these thoughts, Immortal Bai returned to his original spot and continued to wait for the next fated person.
’Li Wudang was right. The Jianghu produces new talents in every generation. Even I can’t dominate this Jianghu forever.’
’Just like this junior before me... His Martial Arts talent might be even greater than that Hetong kid’s.’
’Hehe, this trip was not in vain. Not in vain at all.’
Just then, two figures walked straight up to him.
One was dressed in a pink long skirt, her face coolly beautiful, while the other was petite and delicate.
It was none other than Liu Zhaoxue and her maid, Ling’er.
Immortal Bai sized them up, an eager smile returning to his face.
"Young ladies, are you looking for me to tell your fortune?"
Before Liu Zhaoxue could speak, Ling’er behind her cut in, "Of course we want our fortunes told."
"But I’m warning you, if you do a good job, there’s a reward. If you do a bad job, HMPH HMPH HMPH, you can watch that raggedy banner of yours burn."
Immortal Bai was taken aback, then chuckled and shook his head. "I can foresee some things, but I can’t say whether they are good or bad."
"I don’t care about that..."
At that moment, Liu Zhaoxue raised a hand to interrupt her, bowed, and said, "I’ll have to trouble you to read my fortune, Daoist Master."
Ling’er glanced at her, a hint of displeasure on her face, but she didn’t act out. She just added to Immortal Bai, "And me."
Immortal Bai had no objection. After nodding, he adopted the manner of a typical Jianghu fortune-teller and said:
"Your birth date and time."
Without hesitation, Liu Zhaoxue took out a handkerchief with the information already written on it and handed it over.
Ling’er followed suit.
Immortal Bai took their handkerchiefs, opened them for a look, and began to chant while pinching his fingers in calculation:
"I see from your chart, young lady, that your frame is one of jade and gold, with a heart of orchid."
"The benefit of your destiny lies in the word ’noble,’ but its key is in the word ’hidden.’ It is the image of a colored phoenix resting on a golden parasol tree."
"The phoenix, king of all birds, is incomparably noble. The golden parasol tree is the foundation of your family, exceptionally stable. But..."
Immortal Bai paused, then looked at Liu Zhaoxue and said:
"But the phoenix is proud. It drinks only the morning dew and eats only the finest fruits. Thus, your standards are exceedingly high, leading easily to a sense of loneliness."
Liu Zhaoxue listened with a calm expression, weighing his words in her heart.
"Daoist Master, I must ask, is there a way to break this fate?"
"It is not about ’breaking,’ but about ’dissolving.’"
Immortal Bai shook his head and pointed to the clouds in the sky. "When the attachments in your heart dissipate like those clouds, your troubles will vanish as well."
Liu Zhaoxue looked at him thoughtfully, murmuring the word "dissolve."
The past few years flashed through her mind, and she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
’Easier said than done.’
Thinking this, Liu Zhaoxue waved a hand to the person behind her. "Give him his reward."
Ling’er gave a perfunctory acknowledgment, then stood before Immortal Bai with the silver. "My turn, my turn."
Immortal Bai gave her an unreadable smile and didn’t refuse.
He pinched his fingers and calculated.
"Young lady, your life will be smooth sailing. Your parents will be healthy and well. You are a person of boundless fortune."
Ling’er froze for a second, then turned and pointed at Liu Zhaoxue, asking suspiciously:
"That’s not what you said when you were reading her... my lady’s fortune just now."
"Aren’t you supposed to mention my destiny’s structure, and how to resolve it?"
Immortal Bai smiled faintly. "Your destiny is far too noble, young lady. How could I dare sully your ears with such vulgar words?"
’A junior from the Five Poison Sect. The aura of blood is practically written on her forehead, and she doesn’t even know it.’
’Sigh, I am a kind old man. I can’t bring myself to say such vicious things.’
Ling’er was relentless. "No, no way. You have to tell me something specific, or I won’t let you off..."
Seeing this, Liu Zhaoxue didn’t wait any longer and turned to leave.
When she reached the entrance of Jishi Medicine Hall, she saw Chen Yi and Chen Yunfan at the door and her steps faltered.
This time, however, she didn’t approach to exchange a few words as she had before. She simply bowed and walked toward Xinglin Hall.
A moment ago, she had seen Chen Yi and Chen Yunfan from a distance, which gave her the idea to have her fortune told.
Since it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, she naturally wouldn’t do anything extra.
Besides... she was well aware of the current situation in Shu State. She kept her distance from anyone related to the Xiao Family.
Chen Yi glanced over, his gaze returning to Immortal Bai and the girl from the Five Poison Sect named Ling’er.
He couldn’t help but wonder.
’Immortal Bai just gave two fortunes.’
’One involved a reversal of fortune, while the other was all wealth and nobility.’
’Does that mean both Liu Zhaoxue and that Ling’er girl will meet bad ends?’
’Or is there a difference?’
Just as Chen Yi was pondering this, Chen Yunfan beside him suddenly let out a laugh.
"That girl... she’s no good."
Chen Yi followed the sound with his eyes and saw the girl, Ling’er, secretly sprinkling some kind of powder.
He almost burst out laughing.
’Do people from the Five Poison Sect really resort to Poisoning at the slightest disagreement?’
’Savage. Truly savage!’
Stifling his laughter, Chen Yi said nonchalantly, "Did you see something, Brother?"
Chen Yunfan turned his head to look at him, the smile vanishing from his face in an instant. He said irritably:
"I didn’t see anything."
’This Brother Yi really treats me like an outsider.’
’His Martial Arts Cultivation is clearly so high, yet he acts like a frail scholar in front of me all day.’
’Just you wait!’
Chen Yunfan grumbled to himself, then took a letter from his robes and handed it over:
"A few days ago, I corresponded with Father."
"This one is for you, from him."
Hearing this, Chen Yi withdrew his gaze, looked at him, then at the letter in his hand.
"Father?"