Those Destined to Die Young

After the old woman's soul had been delivered, Wang Ying soon woke up.

However, having lost a great deal of yang energy, she would still need several months of recuperation to fully recover.

Yet for Wang Ying, this was already a blessing amid misfortune. Wang Liu's family naturally thanked them profusely, brimming with gratitude.

On the road from Wang Liu's home to the village entrance, although he knew that teachings of the Dharma could not be passed on lightly, after witnessing Old Daoist Liu's near-divine skill with talismans, Chen Yan could not help asking:

"Daoist Liu..."

The old daoist gave Chen Yan a wary look, took half a step back, and said guardedly:

"Unsolicited kindness hides either treachery or theft. Why are you calling me so warmly? Let me make this clear first—this old daoist doesn't have a single coin on him right now."

"I'm not asking you for reward silver."

Dark lines filled Chen Yan's forehead. Then he smiled bashfully and asked with a thick skin:

"Old Daoist Liu, do you think I have talent for cultivation?"

"Cultivation? You?"

Hearing this, Old Daoist Liu gave Chen Yan a sidelong look and scanned him from head to toe. He let out a reluctant snort through his nose.

"Barely."

"Cough, well..." Chen Yan's face lit up. He stepped closer and asked awkwardly, "Old Daoist Liu, do you take disciples?"

His fawning, bashful manner earned him a contemptuous look from Facai at his side.

"Take you as my disciple?"

This time, Old Daoist Liu understood.

"Yes. What do you say?"

Chen Yan looked at him expectantly.

Though Old Daoist Liu looked unkempt, he truly had skills. Learning from him would bring nothing but benefits.

Who would have thought that Old Daoist Liu would shake his head like a rattle drum?

"No, no, no..."

"Why?"

Old Daoist Liu said earnestly, "With the bad luck clinging to you, kid, I'm afraid I'd die in the street the day after taking you as my disciple. This old daoist still has his best years ahead of him. I want to live a couple more years."

Chen Yan rolled his eyes, turned with a dark expression, and walked away.

"Hey, hey, hey, don't be in such a hurry to leave! You young man really can't take a joke..."

Joking all the way, they arrived at the village entrance. From afar, they saw circles upon circles of people gathered there.

Looking around, it seemed that every villager in Tianmen Village had come out.

Chen Yan and Old Daoist Liu exchanged a glance, each seeing the other's confusion.

What was going on?

Fortunately, Zhao Gang had long been waiting at the village entrance. Seeing the two return, he immediately came forward and bowed to the old daoist.

"Lord Liu."

The old daoist nodded, then pointed at the crowd by the village entrance and asked in confusion:

"What are they doing?"

Zhao Gang explained, "Oh, here's what happened. Temple Master Zhang of Bai Yun Guan heard about what happened in Tianmen Village and specially led a group of Bai Yun Guan disciples here to perform rites and drive out evil for the villagers free of charge."

"Just singing a few lousy tunes, and he gets such a grand fuss. When this old daoist exorcises ghosts and subdues demons, why don't I get that kind of treatment?"

After hearing this, Old Daoist Liu spoke with obvious sourness.

Chen Yan could only roll his eyes. "He's a renowned great master and great philanthropist throughout Shanxi Town. What reputation does a shabby old daoist like you have?"

Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Old Daoist Liu said in exasperation:

"That's only because you haven't come into contact with this old daoist's reputation! Go ask around in the circles—who hasn't heard this old daoist's name?"

"What name?" Chen Yan glanced sideways at him.

Old Daoist Liu choked, his face flushing red. Embarrassed into anger, he said, "It's just beyond your reach, anyway! It's not that this old daoist is inferior to that whoever-he-is Temple Master Zhang."

"Yes, yes, you're right." Chen Yan shrugged, struggling not to laugh.

The old daoist was furious and was just about to flare up when a gentle greeting came from behind them.

"Boundless blessings of the Living Savior. Layman Chen, it has been several days since we last met. Have you been well?"

Turning around, they saw a daoist with crane-white hair and a childlike face, bearing the air of an immortal, standing behind the crowd with a smile. Who else could it be but Zhang Yuanlin, the Temple Master of Bai Yun Guan?

Zhang Yuanlin held a whisk in his right hand, resting it across his left arm. Two daoist attendants followed behind him, and he wore a silk daoist robe with floating sashes. Compared to Old Daoist Liu, whose hair was disheveled and whose body was covered in grime, they were as far apart as heaven and earth.

Seeing Zhang Yuanlin offer a greeting, Chen Yan immediately returned the salute, clasping his hands.

"Temple Master Zhang, I hope you have been well."

Facai, who had been dozing on his shoulder, immediately woke at the sound of Zhang Yuanlin's voice. Yet unlike last time, when he had been full of aggression, Facai merely watched Zhang Yuanlin warily this time.

Zhang Yuanlin did not mind in the least. Smiling, he asked:

"I wonder whether Layman Chen has considered this humble daoist's previous proposal?"

Chen Yan knew that he meant purchasing Facai. Naturally, he would not agree, and he still shook his head.

"Temple Master Zhang should give up on that idea. I will not sell Facai."

"I see. What a pity."

Zhang Yuanlin gave Facai a reluctant look and shook his head regretfully. Only then did he notice Old Daoist Liu beside Chen Yan, glaring at him with open hostility, and could not help asking:

"This gentleman is...?"

"This is Liu Fujing, Daoist Liu."

Chen Yan introduced him.

"Boundless blessings of the Living Savior. So it is Daoist Liu before me. This humble daoist is Zhang Yuanlin. Greetings, fellow daoist."

Understanding dawned on Zhang Yuanlin's face. He then held his whisk with both hands and offered a courteous salute.

Yet Old Daoist Liu simply stared fixedly at Zhang Yuanlin's face, saying nothing for a long while.

Seeing this, Chen Yan could only clasp his hands awkwardly.

"Daoist Liu has always had this peculiar temperament. Please do not take offense, Temple Master Zhang."

Zhang Yuanlin smiled freely. "It is no matter. This humble daoist still has rites to perform, so I shall take my leave first."

"Please, Temple Master Zhang."

It was not until Zhang Yuanlin's figure had disappeared from everyone's sight that Old Daoist Liu finally spoke.

"Strange, strange... Strange things happen every year, but this year there are especially many..."

"You aren't planning to speak ill of him behind his back just because you're jealous of his reputation, are you?" Chen Yan said disdainfully.

Old Daoist Liu rolled his eyes.

"Am I that kind of person?"

"You are."

The old daoist was speechless with anger. "The strange thing I'm talking about is this man's facial features."

"His facial features?" Chen Yan asked in confusion. "What is wrong with them?"

Old Daoist Liu frowned tightly and looked in the direction Zhang Yuanlin had departed. "From his features, this old daoist can clearly see that his allotted lifespan has run out. Yet he seems perfectly alive, and his vitality is even more vigorous than yours. Truly strange..."

"Could you have seen it wrong?"

This time, Old Daoist Liu did not stubbornly argue. Instead, he nodded seriously.

"That is possible. The Six Lines divination is not this old daoist's forte, so it is not impossible that I misjudged him. Besides, the path of fate holds many variables. Perhaps he has encountered some other karmic opportunity."

Chen Yan nodded as though he understood, then could not help asking, "You said there have been especially many strange things. What other strange things are there?"

Old Daoist Liu glanced at Chen Yan. "From your features, this old daoist can see that you are also someone destined to die young. Aren't you living just fine too?"

Chen Yan rolled his eyes and glared at him irritably.

"You're the one destined to die young!"

Yet after saying that, his heart stirred.

Because...

Strictly speaking, he truly was someone who had died young. After all, the real Chen Yan was indeed dead. He was Chen Yan, who had crossed over from a later age.

If Old Daoist Liu's reading of facial features was correct, then what was going on with Zhang Yuanlin's features?

Could Zhang Yuanlin, like him, also be someone who had crossed over?

After pondering it for a long time without reaching an answer, Chen Yan shook his head but quietly kept the matter in mind.