An Unlucky Coincidence

For three days straight, Ning Chen washed clothes and did odd jobs in the rear courtyard of Lingyan Pavilion. He never once went to the front hall. Aside from Li'er occasionally coming over to chat with him, few others ever came to the back courtyard.

The luxury of the front hall and the desolation of the rear courtyard formed a stark contrast whenever night fell. The moment the lanterns lit up, Lingyan Pavilion revealed its utmost splendor. Through the misty alleys and willow-lined streets lay the tender paradise where men always lingered and forgot to return.

At such times, the rear courtyard was at its quietest. Ning Chen liked looking at the stars. He always felt that somewhere among them was a star that was his home. Though he had yet to find it, he would eventually.

He could not help wondering what sort of place he had come to. If this was no longer the Earth he knew, why could he still see an anomaly like Yinghuo Shouxin, something that should only have been visible from Earth?

Staring at the stars filling the sky, Ning Chen's gaze was lost, and so was his heart. Countless starlights, a crescent bright moon—yet where was that familiar blue memory?

Tired of searching and weary of counting, Ning Chen shifted his eyes to the moon. Looking carefully, he found that the moon in this world truly differed from that of his past life. It carried a faint crimson hue, as though shrouded in a veil of blood mist, illusory enough to seem unreal.

He had heard that this world had been created by gods, and that the moon in the sky was transformed from an ancient Creator God. The Eternal Night Divine Cult worshipped that legendary sole deity and had always believed that one day, the god would descend again.

Ning Chen did not like that legend. If gods truly existed, then what had the convictions he believed in all his previous life been?

Gods were more valuable living in legends. The human world did not need gods.

The cultivation technique Mu Chengxue had given him was progressing poorly. There were too many parts he could not understand, and after practicing the parts he did understand for several days, he had felt no effect. Still, he believed that drops of water could pierce stone. The results would show themselves eventually.

Sure enough, on the fourth day, he actually sensed a thin, minute current flowing through the channels inside his body. Each circulation made that current grow by the slightest fraction.

Ning Chen was overjoyed. He truly was an unparalleled genius who appeared only once every century or two.

He simply did not know that true essence required techniques in order to display its power. The Golden Pages did record some, but unfortunately, he could not understand them.

Mu Chengxue's original intention had merely been to help him strengthen his body and improve his health. Thus, even though she knew he would likely understand nothing beyond the first few lines, she had no intention of teaching him further.

Ning Chen did not mind either. It was not because he was broad-minded; he simply had no idea about any of this. As long as he knew his training was working, who cared about anything else?

And so, he worked during the day and cultivated at night. He kept at it for nearly half a month. Ning Chen himself enjoyed the peace and quiet, unaware that something major had already happened outside.

Li'er still came every day to trade a few barbs with him. Unfortunately, when facing Ning Chen's venomous tongue, she suffered an unquestionable, crushing defeat every time. Sometimes, when she was furious enough, she would bare her little tiger teeth, bite him hard, then happily run back to the front hall.

Ning Chen had no idea how many bite marks were on his arms by now. Yet every time, he still failed to learn his lesson, provoking the little girl until her teeth itched with fury after only a few words.

Their bickering had become as routine as daily meals. No matter how badly she had been angered the day before, it could not stop Li'er from eagerly running to the rear hall the next day. Once, she mentioned the major event everyone outside was talking about. Ning Chen froze for a moment, but ultimately tossed it to the back of his mind. He had already left; those matters had nothing to do with him. Let Changsun and the others have the headache.

But two days later, Ning Chen discovered something that truly gave him a headache.

His only pair of shoes had given out...

When he ran away, he brought a change of clothes but forgot to bring shoes. This pair had held on for so long before finally making a glorious sacrifice. This time, even if he did not want to go out, he had no choice.

But he had no money!

The money the shopkeeper had given him had all been returned to Yue Hanyi. Now he did not even have one coin. Forget buying shoes; he could not even afford insoles.

Taking advantage of a quiet morning, Ning Chen went to the front hall and looked all around for Yue Hanyi.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Li'er had spotted Ning Chen the moment he arrived that morning and marched over fiercely to question him.

"I want my wages." Ning Chen spoke with perfect righteousness. He had worked for so many days; they could not possibly refuse to pay him even one coin.

Li'er stared at Ning Chen as though she had discovered a new continent. Unable to believe it, she said, "You actually have the nerve to ask for wages?"

"Heh heh." Ning Chen laughed guiltily. He knew he was in the wrong, but he had to ask for wages. He had roughly stitched up his shoes, but they would not last more than a few days.

"Sister Yi isn't here. Wait until she comes back." Li'er was defeated by Ning Chen's thick skin. She had not expected that besides his mouth, his shamelessness would be equally shocking.

"Then, Li'er, lend me some money first. It's urgent."

Ning Chen struggled inwardly for a moment before finally speaking, rather embarrassed. How humiliating—he had fallen so low that he had to borrow money from a little girl.

"What for?" Li'er blanked for a moment, then eyed him suspiciously, as though guarding against a swindler.

Seeing Li'er's expression, Ning Chen felt that his character had been insulted. He said indignantly, "What kind of look is that? I'm just borrowing money to buy shoes. Do I look like the kind of person who borrows money and doesn't pay it back?"

Li'er lowered her head to look at Ning Chen's shoes. After thinking with her little head for a moment, she asked, "You want to go out and buy shoes?"

"Mm." Ning Chen nodded with all his might.

"Wait here."

As soon as she finished speaking, Li'er ran to her room in a flash. After taking some silver, she gave a few instructions to several women dressed as maids, then skipped cheerfully back.

"Alright, let's go."

"You're coming too?" Ning Chen asked curiously.

Li'er gave him a disdainful glance and said, "You still owe one hundred taels of silver. If you run away, how am I supposed to explain it to Sister Yi when she returns?"

"..." Ning Chen was speechless. Did he look like that sort of person? Did he?

The area where Lingyan Pavilion stood was the most prosperous part of the imperial city. Ning Chen's eyes were dazzled by everything he saw. Li'er followed behind him, watching him cautiously with both eyes, afraid he might run away.

"Li'er, I already told you, I won't run away."

Ning Chen stopped, turned around, and helplessly repeated himself once again. He had no idea how many times he had said those words, but Li'er simply would not believe him.

"You can't be sure of that." Li'er did not believe Ning Chen at all. One hundred taels of silver could buy several girls like her.

Since the little girl did not believe him, Ning Chen had no solution. He simply let her trail behind him.

After walking for some time, Ning Chen suddenly stiffened. His expression froze, as though he had seen a ghost.

Li'er had not expected Ning Chen to stop so suddenly. Caught off guard, she slammed into him. Instantly, she clutched her reddened forehead in pain, her little face full of anger. "What are you doing?"

"Don't speak." Ning Chen came back to himself and hurriedly covered the little girl's mouth. Half dragging and half pulling, he hauled her beside a fortune-telling stall to conceal themselves.

Using the fortune-teller's cloth signboard as cover, Ning Chen carefully looked ahead, scarcely daring to breathe. Why was she here?

"Mmph, mmph!" Beside him, Li'er's mouth and nose were covered. Unable to breathe properly, she turned red and struggled.

Ning Chen saw this and hurriedly released her. An embarrassed look appeared on his face. He had nearly forgotten about the little girl.

"Are you trying to suffocate me?" Li'er took several deep breaths. Furious, she reached out and punched him hard. "I'm so angry!"

"Shh, keep your voice down." Ning Chen put a finger to his lips, then guiltily glanced at the graceful figure not far away. Inwardly, he prayed that she would not notice him.

"What's wrong?" Li'er was drawn by Ning Chen's gaze and looked in that direction, but she did not notice anything strange.

"An enemy is hunting me down."

Ning Chen casually made something up, though it was not far from the truth. If he was caught and taken back, even if he did not die, he would lose a layer of skin.

"Young master, would you like your fortune told? I can divine your fate, mend your fortune, and determine auspiciousness and misfortune. If I'm wrong, you need not pay," the middle-aged fortune-teller at the stall suddenly asked.

"I have no money."

Ning Chen refused without hesitation. Trying to fool him? Not a chance!

"I can tell the young master's fortune for free." The middle-aged fortune-teller smiled faintly, unconcerned.

Ning Chen ignored him and continued observing the situation. Why had this auntie not left yet? Could she truly have been sent by Changsun specifically to capture him?

"Young master, are you hiding from someone?" the middle-aged fortune-teller asked with a smile.

"Nonsense." Ning Chen replied disdainfully. Did that need fortune-telling? Even a blind man could see it.

"A woman," the middle-aged fortune-teller added.

"Mm." Ning Chen remained unmoved. There were only men and women in this world. If it was not a man, it was a woman. Getting that right was nothing remarkable.

"Someone from the palace," the middle-aged fortune-teller continued.

"Mm—mm?" Ning Chen first gave an affirmative sound, then froze. He stared at the charlatan before him in surprise. Not bad—he had guessed that too.

"Young master, was everything I said correct?" the middle-aged fortune-teller asked with a quiet smile.

"Heh heh." Ning Chen gave a perfunctory laugh. What was he so smug about? Guessing right twice and thinking he was some iron-mouthed divine fortune-teller? Damn, his sign really did say Iron-Mouthed Divine Fortune-Teller.

Seeing that Ning Chen still did not believe him, the middle-aged fortune-teller continued, "Young master, forgive my bluntness, but what fate decrees will come in the end; what fate does not decree must not be forced. Karma is set by Heaven. It is not something you can escape merely because you wish to hide."

After waiting a while, Ning Chen finally saw the graceful figure in the distance leave. He let out a breath of relief, glanced at the fortune-teller, and pointed at his own nose. "Then tell my fortune and see where I'm from."

The middle-aged fortune-teller was stunned. "Judging from the young master's accent, you should be from the capital."

"Bullshit. I'm from Earth."

With that, Ning Chen grabbed Li'er and hurriedly fled. He could not stay in this place. If he was caught, he would be finished.

Li'er was muddled by their exchange and still had not reacted. Seeing Ning Chen head back, she instinctively asked, "Why are we going back? Aren't we buying shoes?"

"Not buying them. My life matters more," Ning Chen replied nervously.

"Oh." Li'er did not know what was happening, but seeing how nervous he was, she obediently followed him back.

When they reached Lingyan Pavilion, Ning Chen looked left and right. Seeing no one paying attention, he pulled Li'er inside in two quick steps, then let out a huge sigh of relief. That had been close. Good thing his eyesight was sharp.

"Tired? Have a cup of tea."

Amid a soft and captivating voice, a cup of tea was offered before him. Ning Chen was parched, so without thinking, he took it and drained it in one gulp. He even said thanks along the way.

"Thank you."

"Pfft!"

The tea had barely entered his mouth when Ning Chen suddenly sprayed it out. Trembling, he turned around and stammered, "Q-Qing Ling... Sister Qing Ling."

"You picked quite a good hiding place. You made me search for quite a while."

Qing Ling answered calmly. No anger or irritation could be seen on her lovely face, yet Ning Chen was still so frightened that he did not dare breathe loudly.

Ning Chen remembered clearly that when he escaped, he had tied Qing Ling up. He had thoroughly offended this auntie. This time, he was doomed.

His thoughts turned over and over as he considered how to escape. But whenever he recalled Qing Ling's skills, he abandoned those suicidal ideas.

"Enough. You've been out playing for so many days; it's time to come back with me." Qing Ling's words brooked no doubt. She glanced at Ning Chen, the warning in her eyes obvious. If he refused to obey, he should not blame her for being impolite.

Ning Chen shuddered inwardly and probed, "Is the Empress Dowager angry?"

"What do you think?" Qing Ling was so furious that she laughed. This fellow actually had the nerve to ask.

The moment Ning Chen heard that, his head shook like a rattle-drum. "I'm not going back. The Empress Dowager will chop off my head."

"So now you know how to be afraid." Qing Ling wanted nothing more than to slap this brat to death. Falsifying the Empress's decree, stealing objects from the palace, and escaping the palace without permission—every single one was a capital crime. Yet this fellow had managed to commit them all at once.

"I know." Ning Chen nodded hurriedly.

Seeing Ning Chen's nervous appearance, Qing Ling did not want to frighten him further. Her tone softened slightly. "Come back with me first. The Empress Dowager has already suppressed this matter to save your little life. After you return, properly admit your mistake to the Empress Dowager. As for how you will be dealt with, that depends on the Empress Dowager's mood."