True masters were often hidden and unseen. After sitting quietly on the street corner for a long time, Chu Xinian attracted the attention of many people. With his extraordinary temperament, he exuded the air of an expert.
Hearing Chu Xinian’s words, the fat-rich man’s features suddenly hardened and his expression changed. He abruptly pushed Xuan Yeping aside and walked straight towards Chu Xinian, sitting across from him with an air of grandeur.
The fat-rich man cupped his hands in respect for Chu Xinian and asked tentatively, “May I ask for the Taoist’s name?”
Chu Xinian closed his eyes slightly, without revealing any information, and replied, “This humble one is a practitioner who has long ago abandoned worldly attachments, without name and surname.”
The fat-rich man already found him mysterious and unfathomable, and as he listened to his words, his admiration grew. He sighed and said, “The Taoist truly possesses divine abilities. Indeed, my surname is Zhou and I come from the Red Pavilion on Nan Street.”
The Red Pavilion was the busiest brothel, and it turned out that this rich Zhou was also a womanizer.
The onlookers were astonished and exclaimed, “Wow, this Taoist seems to possess extraordinary skills!”
“Just guessing a name, anyone in this area knows Mr. Zhou. Not only do I know his surname, but I also know that he has taken several concubines. Does that also make me a godly fortune teller?”
The crowd burst into laughter at his words, except for Chu Xinian, who remained calm and impassive.
Listening to the crowd’s comments, Mr. Zhou could not help but feel some doubt. His small eyes, the size of green beans, silently appraised Chu Xinian before taking a silver ingot out of his pocket and slamming it down hard on the table. He said, “I still want the Taoist to guess something else for me. If you guess right, this silver ingot will belong to you. But if you are wrong…”
He laughed coldly, about to utter some threatening words, when suddenly the black-clothed man behind Chu Xinian slammed his palm on the table. When he raised his hand again, the silver ingot had been crushed into a silver disc.
Xie Jingyuan’s eyes turned cold, his tone dangerous as he asked, “What will you do if the divination is wrong?”
Startled, Mr. Zhou trembled, he never expected Xie Jingyuan to be such a skilled martial artist. He could not utter a word for quite some time. At that moment, Chu Xinian spoke up to calm the situation, “Mr. Zhou, my disciple has grown up in the wilderness since childhood and is not aware of proper manners. Please forgive him.”
Xie Jingyuan looked at Chu Xinian upon hearing his words, pursed his lips, and felt extremely dissatisfied with his act of taking advantage. How could he become his master just by breaking a couple of chopsticks?
Mr. Zhou wiped the cold sweat from his face, and all he could do was smile, saying, “It’s alright… it’s alright…”
Chu Xinian gestured for Mr. Zhou to extend his hand and said, “Since our meeting is fated, this humble one will read your palm.”
Mr. Zhou eagerly complied and placed his hand flat on the table in front of Chu Xinian, saying, “Please tell my fortune, Taoist.”
Chu Xinian calmly observed the lines on the palm and realized that although Mr. Zhou was adorned with riches, his palm was rough with calluses, his fingers were coarse, and there was a scar on his palm from years of holding cattle ropes.
Chu Xinian closed his eyes, adjusted his false beard, and pronounced, “Bitter rather than sweet, start from scratch.”
The onlookers found it impossible to believe that since Mr. Zhou was rich, how could he be considered to have experienced bitterness? However, Mr. Zhou’s eyes sparkled at Chu Xinian’s words. He did not speak but waited silently for Chu Xinian to continue.
Observing Mr. Zhou’s luxurious attire, a faint trace of rouge on his collar, and the several embroidered pouches of different women hanging from his waist, Chu Xinian spoke softly, “You have already obtained prosperity, but you have been deceived by powdered faces.”
Mr. Zhou let out a chuckle and scratched the back of his neck, “Who doesn’t like beautiful women?”
Chu Xinian noticed three fine nail marks on the back of his neck, already scabbed over. Although his cheeks were flushed with alcohol, a closer look revealed faint red marks, as if someone had slapped him.
Chu Xinian discreetly took Mr. Zhou’s pulse and discovered that his kidney essence was depleted, and his internal organs drained by indulgence in alcohol and sexual pleasures. Such individuals often have difficulty bearing children. Slowly withdrawing his hand, Chu Xinian closed his eyes and shook his fortune-telling tortoiseshell, saying, “Mr. Zhou, you have recently had a conflict with a woman. It would be wise to avoid such conflicts and not let them affect your fortune. As you have no offspring, if you wish to obtain one, you must change your destiny.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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Chu Xinian shook three copper coins from his tortoise shell, pretending to ponder for a moment, and said, “If you wish to change your fortune, there is a way. However, I wonder if Mr. Zhou can achieve it.”
Mr. Zhou quickly pricked up his ear and said, “Please speak Taoist.”
Based on Mr. Zhou’s previous words and actions, it was obvious that he was a local bully. Chu Xinian moved the first copper coin in front of him and said, “First of all, you have few blessings and few close friends. You need to do more good deeds and build bridges. Then you can accumulate positive karma.”
Mr Zhou nodded repeatedly as he indeed lacked close friends.
Chu Xinian then moved the second copper coin in front of him and said, “Secondly, you will face bloody calamities that will shorten your lifespan. It is better to avoid going out for the next six months.”
Mr. Zhou also nodded in response to the first two points and asked impatiently, “What about the third point?”
“Well, as for the third…” Chu Xinian moved the last copper coin in front of him and hinted, “In the land of fireworks and revelry, you were blessed. That is why you have achieved success. However, if you indulge in pleasures, your blessings will be swallowed up by those distractions and will gradually fade away.”
Being a businessman, Mr. Zhou was no fool. He suddenly realized, “Master, are you advising me to do good deeds, to avoid indulgences, and that will be enough?”
Chu Xinian smiled but remained silent, saying, “This humble one only fortune-tells one hexagram a day. Today’s divination is complete, Mr. Zhou may leave.”
If Chu Xinian had acted like an ordinary fortune teller, spouting nonsense about blackened foreheads and demonic entanglements, demanding payment for the rituals, Mr. Zhou would never have believed him. However, Chu Xinian’s words advised people to do good deeds without threat or intimidation, which made him seem extraordinary.
Mr. Zhou took out two large silver ingots from his pocket and respectfully handed them to Chu Xinian with both hands, saying, “Thank you, Master, for your precious advice. I do not possess valuable goods, but I have some silver. Please accept it, Master.”
However, Chu Xinian did not accept the silver. He calmly stood up, shook his robe, and said, “As an outsider, I do not need gold or silver. Today I had a fate with Mr. Zhou.”
After speaking, he instructed Xie Jingyuan, “Disciple, let’s go.”
Xie Jingyuan did not move.
He did not notice that Chu Xinian was calling him.
Chu Xinian looked at him and said, “Disciple, aren’t you coming?”
Only then did Xie Jingyuan come to his senses and give him an annoyed glance before tidying up the stall and leaving with him.
The onlookers marveled and sighed, “Now that’s a real master. Look at that, he didn’t even accept a coin. Ah, if I had known, I would have asked him for a divination too.”
“You can’t do that. The Taoist said he only does one hexagram a day. Look, they’re leaving the city. Maybe you can try tomorrow.”
Xuan Yeping standing beside them, still feeling fearful and apprehensive. Watching Chu Xinian finish his divination and leave, he couldn’t help but feel puzzled, wondering if he was some kind of living immortal.
Thinking this over, Xuan Yeping immediately picked up his post and discreetly followed Chu Xinian.
Xie Jingyuan and Chu Xinian were strolling towards the city gate, and they soon noticed him. Chu Xinian turned his head slightly, hinting, “There is someone following us.”
Chu Xinian corrected himself with a smile, “It’s not someone, but a fish caught on the hook.”
Xie Jingyuan lifted his hat with the hilt of his sword, finding Chu Xinian rather peculiar. It seemed that Chu Xinian knew more secrets than him, and asked, “How did you know that the wealthy fat man’s surname is Zhou?”
Chu Xinian smiled slightly and replied, “He wears a jade pendant around his waist engraved with the character ‘Zhou’.”
Xie Jingyuan raised an eyebrow, “And how did you know he came from the south?”
Chu Xinian replied, “There was a faint mark of lipstick on his neck, and he wore the smell of alcohol and make-up. He likely came from the brothel not far from here. It’s not hard to guess.”
Xie Jingyuan clicked his tongue, “I thought you really could tell fortunes.”
“Who says I can’t?” Chu Xinian’s lips curved slightly. He pinched Xie Jingyuan’s hand and pretended to examine his palm. After a while, he said, “General, you are a fortunate individual.”
‘Fortunate’ implied ‘previous difficulties’.
Xie Jingyuan looked deep into his eyes and asked, “What kind of fortune do you mean?”
Chu Xinian walked with him to the outskirts of the city, where green grass and thick bushes sprang up. He said, “It depends on what the General wishes. His fortune will grant him all his wishes. Are you satisfied?”
For some reason, Xie Jingyuan felt an emptiness in his palm as he involuntarily grasped Chu Xinian’s hand. He laughed mockingly and muttered to himself, “You are not an immortal, how can your words be true? In the future, I may end up in a disastrous situation, with my body shattered and my bones destroyed. I may not have a good outcome…”
Xie Jingyuan knew that he and the Crown Prince had embarked on a dangerous path and could no longer turn back.
“If I say there is fortune, then there is fortune.” Chu Xinian replied calmly. He had never been so sure of anything. He knew that Xie Jingyuan would have a good ending and that he would be the one to see it through.
Before they knew it, they had reached a wooded area on the outskirts of the city.
Chu Xinian stopped by the lake and whispered to Xie Jingyuan, “Is he still following us?”
Xie Jingyuan replied, “It’s about ten steps away.”
Chu Xinian took out a bunch of yellow talismans from his sleeve and said, “General, do as I told you before.”
Hearing Chu Xinian mention this, Xie Jingyuan’s eyelids twitched involuntarily. Although he did not want to do so, he had no choice but to prepare himself and go with the flow.
He cleared his throat and deliberately raised his voice, asking, “Master, what are you doing?”
From the tone of his voice, it was evident that he uttered the words “Master” with gritted teeth and great reluctance.
Xuan Yeping hid behind the trees, observing his situation. He saw Chu Xinian wave his sleeve, and the yellow talisman in his hand lit up out of nowhere. It fluttered and landed on the surface of the lake, followed by an explosion that sent countless splashes. Xuan Yeping could not help but gasp in surprise.
Chu Xinian’s voice was deep, “There are restless souls in this lake, full of grievances. In seven days, it will become an evil spirit. I will perform a ritual to expel it and prevent it from causing harm in the mortal realm.”
Xie Jingyuan held his sword with both hands and recited his lines emotionlessly, “It is all because of this useless disciple who cannot learn the skills of Master. If the lineage is lost in the future, this disciple will bear the blame even if he dies a thousand deaths. Master, you’d better accept another disciple”.
Chu Xinian let out a long sigh, “People are foolish. I too want to take in another disciple, but unfortunately, I have not found someone with the right destiny. So be it, perhaps it is destined to be so.”
After speaking, Chu Xinian shook his sleeve, intending to leave with Xie Jingyuan. However, before they had taken a few steps, Xuan Yeping suddenly rushed out from the side and knelt in front of him with a thud, urgently pleading, “Immortal, please wait!”
The fish took the bait…
Chu Xinian took a step back, showing slight surprise, “Who are you?”
Xuan Yeping was a superstitious person; otherwise, he would not have become a charlatan Taoist. Today, after witnessing Chu Xinian’s fortune-telling and ghost-catching abilities, he truly believed that he had met an extraordinary person. He had no intention of letting this opportunity slip away.
Kneeling on the ground, he grabbed Chu Xinian’s leg and urgently pleaded, “Immortal, I am Xuan Yeping, and I am willing to join your sect and devote myself to cultivation. Please accept me as your disciple!”
Chu Xinian rubbed sulfur and phosphorus powder on the yellow talisman and mixed sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter with the right proportions to create a small explosive packet. During the previous ‘ritual’, he had easily fooled Xuan Yeping by concealing it within his sleeve. Standing with his hands behind his back, he said to Xuan Yeping, “I am a humble person from the mountains, living in poverty and possessing nothing of value. I have nothing to teach. How can I take you as a disciple?”
After speaking, Chu Xinian helped Xuan Yeping up from the ground, “You should leave.”
Xie Jingyuan stared at Chu Xinian playing and couldn’t help but sneer.
Xuan Yeping stubbornly refused to get up, “Please, Immortal, accept me as your disciple. Otherwise, I refuse to get up!”
Xie Jingyuan unsheathed his sword and disdainfully pointed at Xuan Yeping’s neck, “My Master said he would not accept disciples, do you think any ordinary person can be accepted as my Master’s disciple?”
“I, I, I…” Xuan Yeping hastened to say, “I pursue the Dao wholeheartedly, and have cultivated diligently for many years. Unfortunately, I had no guide on my path. Meeting you today is a sign of fate. Even if you don’t accept me as your disciple, please guide me.”
Chu Xinian gestured for Xie Jingyuan to sheathe his sword and let out a sigh, “So be it. Since we have met, I will give you a divination.”
Xuan Yeping’s eyes lit up at his words, and he eagerly extended his hand, “Please guide me, Immortal!”
Chu Xinian looked at his palm, smiled faintly, and stroked his beard, “A golden dragon is not confined to a pond. When it encounters winds and clouds, it rises. Under Tianfeng Mountain, you will meet a wise master and, in three years, you will attain great achievements. Your days of glory are yet to come…”
His voice sounded ethereal and distant, and Xuan Yeping stood entranced, pondering the hidden meanings. Did it mean that he would meet a benefactor under Tianfeng Mountain and ascend to the top?
“Immortal…” Xuan Yeping looked up, wanting to ask more, but to his surprise, Chu Xinian had vanished before his eyes, leaving only the rustling of leaves. He couldn’t help but bow to the empty air, “Thank the Immortal for enlightening me!”
After that, he hurriedly got up and headed straight for Tianfeng Mountain.
Xie Jingyuan and Chu Xinian were hidden among the trees, observing Xuan Yeping’s entranced state.
Xie Jingyuan laughed lightly, “What a fool.”
Chu Xinian removed his disguise, plucking the false beard from his face, and smiled, “He is no fool. He is eloquent and persuasive, a great troublemaker.”
After glancing at Xie Jingyuan, he said, “Tomorrow, Prince Jin and Concubine Mei will go together to Tianfeng Mountain to pay their respects to Buddha. Right?”
Three days ago, after appeasing the bandits in Shuofang, Prince Jin returned triumphantly to the Capital, receiving rich rewards. He had become the most outstanding prince among his brothers.
Xie Jingyuan replied, “The Crown Prince has not been idle all these years. There are many spies in the Palace. Since he said that Prince Jin will go to Tianfeng Mountain, it must be true.”
After finishing his words, he jumped straight down from the tree, taking Chu Xinian, not forgetting to mock him, “You can’t even perform light martial arts, but you dare to call yourself my Master.”
Thank you for the update ❤️💯
Thank you for the chapters!!
I love these two. Thanks for the chapters!!
He is your master, a master of your heart xie jingyuan 🤭
Thank you so much for translating this! Kyaaaa I love them both ><
Thank you for this !!!