Nothing Left to Fear

After saying all that, Old Daoist Quexin sat back down cross-legged, closed his eyes to rest, and gently swayed his head, calm and content as though he had no troubles at all.

This master's desire to teach was really something else!

Xiang Yuan wanted to learn divine arts. Heartless Daoist said that an opportunity would come tonight, so Xiang Yuan settled for less and received a less-than-satisfying answer about the Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber. After trying to squeeze him for ages, all he got was a Daoist title and a divination that said it would rain tomorrow.

Come to think of it, Master had taken him in because of a wager with someone. His true purpose had been to escape his predicament, and once he fulfilled the wager, he would leave. As for a disciple, a token gesture was enough.

Still, judging by how pained Master had looked earlier, the Heart-Protecting Mirror truly was a treasure.

Xiang Yuan touched the Heart-Protecting Mirror beneath his black robe and suspected that Heartless Daoist was messing with his head, switching between warmth and coldness. Wasn't that exactly what he was doing?

Heartless Daoist had no enthusiasm for teaching a disciple, but Xiang Yuan had to show enthusiasm for learning. No matter what, he had to get something out of him. He took the initiative and said, "Master, this disciple wishes to learn your skill at divination."

"You cannot learn that yet..."

Heartless Daoist opened his eyes and thought for a moment. "Very well. If I teach you nothing at all, resentment will inevitably grow in your heart. I shall teach you a method of reading faces."

"Thank you, Master, for imparting the Dao."

Heartless Daoist nodded, raised a hand, and thrust it into his Daoist robe sleeve. He fumbled around on the left, then dug about on the right, muttering about where he had put it. Only after a long while did he take out half a physiognomy book with no cover.

Xiang Yuan's gaze burned. That sleeve must contain a divine art like Universe in the Sleeve.

Master, I want to learn that!

For a moment, divination no longer seemed nearly as appealing.

"The art of divination is one of the deepest and most profound studies beneath heaven. It is not merely the skill of calculation, but also involves astronomy, geography, yin and yang, the Five Elements, calendars, celestial phenomena, and more. Its techniques are incomparably complex and its variations endless. Ordinary minds cannot master it. Even a scholar who has read widely and understands both antiquity and the present may only glimpse the threshold."

"This art cannot be attained by those who merely skim the surface, nor can it be understood in a day or a night. Only through steady accumulation and devoted study can one gain insight."

"The breadth of this path is like a boundless sea, and its depth like an unfathomable abyss. To probe its mysteries and master it, one must first cultivate oneself and nurture one's temperament, tempering the will until the heart becomes like still water, able to perceive the slightest detail and comprehend the essence of divination."

"Even so, countless sages throughout history exhausted their entire lives yet still failed to see its full scope. To learn even a little while lost in the mists is already great fortune."

"Its profundity cannot be fully described in words. Only those who have experienced it can understand!"

Heartless Daoist said solemnly, "When I divine, I must borrow the word 'fate.' If fate does not arrive and there is no karma, then no matter how difficult the effort, nothing can be obtained."

Xiang Yuan's scalp tingled. He knew it was difficult, but he had not expected it to be so complicated.

He accepted the physiognomy book with both hands. Its pages were yellowed, marked by water stains, smoke, and scorch marks. A heavy sense of history washed over him, and he could not help but praise it.

"Master, this ancient book must be quite old."

"Naturally. This book was personally passed down by your grandmaster. When I first studied divination, I relied entirely upon it."

Heartless Daoist nodded. Looking at the tattered physiognomy book, a trace of nostalgia rose in his eyes.

As a child, he had been mischievous. He climbed trees to steal bird eggs, went into rivers to catch fish and shrimp, and even rode passing dogs a few times. He could truly be called capable of every evil.

His master had taught him meditation and separately passed down the foundations of divination. This physiognomy book had been his introduction. His master had said that it concealed the workings of heaven and secretly contained the principles of the Dao, and that only by reading it often could one find the mysteries of the Great Dao.

He had not understood back then. He only knew that divine arts were hidden in the cracks between pages, so he soaked it in water and smoked it over fire, trying to achieve Great Accomplishment in a single day.

Of course, he could not say any of that. It would damage his lofty and virtuous image in his disciple's heart.

Looking upon the past today, seeing inheritance passed down through inheritance, Heartless Daoist was filled with emotion. He instructed, "Disciple, remember this well. The knowledge in this book may seem shallow, but it is not. It conceals the workings of heaven and secretly contains the principles of the Dao. Only by reading it often can you find the mysteries of the Great Dao."

"This disciple will keep it firmly in his heart and never dare forget it."

Xiang Yuan's eyes shone as he scanned the coverless pages. Rows of tiny ancient seal-script characters filled his vision, arranged neatly in lines and columns.

Do not befriend those with hawk noses and kite eyes; short men carry three knives in their bellies. Do not befriend pockmarked men without beards; those with white-rimmed eyes have hearts like knives.

Do not befriend those with turtle backs and snake waists; they look at people sideways and need no knife. Nothing is more poisonous than a single eye, and nothing is harder to deal with than a water-snake waist.

Those who wave their hands and stomp their feet are too false; those who gossip are treacherous. Thin upper lips are accustomed to speaking ill of others; those eager to show off are empty within.

Those who walk with a skipping gait are not proper people; those with Peach Blossoms on their faces are players in love...

Turning further pages, he found other passages.

Judge good and evil by the eyes and nose, truth and falsehood by the lips; achievement by bearing, wealth and rank by spirit; intentions by fingers and nails, turmoil by the tendons of the feet. If you wish to judge orderliness, it all lies in one's speech.

Xiang Yuan became absorbed in reading. The book contained not only face-reading and fortune-telling, but also principles for conducting oneself in the world.

If you are small, do not break up fights; if you have no money, do not join the crowd. If your status is low, do not advise others; if you are poor, do not argue reason. If your strength is slight, do not bear the burden of many; when disaster strikes, do not beg relatives. When marrying, do not marry for money; when taking a wife, do not choose for beauty...

Heartless Daoist did not disturb him, allowing Xiang Yuan to read at his leisure. He did not mention at all the childish things he himself had done in his impatience for quick success, seeking only for the cycle of heaven to continue and the succession to proceed generation after generation.

After all, his own master had not told him either!

After a long while, hunger stirred in Xiang Yuan's belly, rousing him from his lingering fascination. He hurriedly said, "Master, this disciple lost track of time and delayed for quite a while."

"No matter. The timing is just right. It is time for me to set out for the Southern Border."

Heartless Daoist rose to his feet and walked out through the prison gate, swaying his head as he went. The strongmen guarding the jail turned a blind eye, letting him leave without stopping him.

Xiang Yuan stared in a daze and hurried after him. But once outside the prison, how could he still find Heartless Daoist's figure?

"Amazing. What kind of technique was that?"

While Xiang Yuan stood stunned, Old Liu came hurrying over and grabbed him. "I've been looking everywhere for you. Why are you here?"

"I came to bring Iron-Mouth Diviner his lunch..."

As Xiang Yuan spoke, he noticed that crows were already sinking into the western sky. It was clearly almost time for dinner.

"What Iron-Mouth Diviner?"

Old Liu froze for a moment, then said, "Never mind that for now. Come with me to the mess hall. Fill yourself up so you'll have the strength to catch people tonight."

"Catch people? How?"

"The official order came down. Six Doors will lead the operation, and we'll assist from the side," Old Liu whispered.

There were too many people in the two manors, and they feared that criminals from the Five Poisons Cult might be hiding among them. Six Doors had mobilized men to handle the case, while the County Yamen had transferred constables from the patrol and guard squads to accompany them, both to bolster their numbers and to escort prisoners.

To avoid alerting the enemy, the two squads would leave the yamen after work in batches, dressed in plain clothes, through the western gate.

Six Doors had drawn up the specific plan. Old Liu did not know the details. He only knew this much because he had previously been responsible for the case.

Xiang Yuan's heart stirred. Heartless Daoist had said he would suffer Disaster of Bloodlight tonight. It was likely because his martial arts were lacking and he had too little combat experience, which was why he would meet with misfortune.

He touched the Heart-Protecting Mirror on his chest and silently felt reassured.

With this treasure protecting him, misfortune would turn to fortune. There was nothing left to fear!

After taking only a few steps, Xiang Yuan remembered something. "Old Liu, do you have an umbrella in your room? Lend it to me."

"It isn't raining. What do you need an umbrella for? It would just be extra baggage."

Old Liu raised his head to look at the sky. "With this weather, never mind today—even tomorrow or the day after, it may not rain."

"Then... want to make a bet?"

Xiang Yuan raised an eyebrow. "We'll bet the cost of that meal. If you lose, the debt is settled. If I lose, I'll owe you another meal."

"Good lad, you said it yourself. It's not like I'm taking advantage of you."

Old Liu grinned. With such a good deal, only a fool would refuse to bet!