"You know me?"
Su Che looked into Madam Qi's eyes.
"Alas, there are only so many notable figures in Shanyin County. Though you've only just arrived, your limelight has already crushed Old Jiang and Old Tian."
The demon's voice was sweet and seductive, utterly unlike the stern righteousness she had shown while interpreting fortunes for others just now.
"I don't even know what I've done to earn such esteem from all of you."
"Sir's methods are extraordinary. That One-Eye bastard was raised by Withered Forest Chan Temple, and no one could see through his origins. Yet the moment you arrived, one stroke of your sword cleaved apart his true form. If we did not hold you in high regard, then when you decided to crush flowers with a ruthless hand and your sword was at your heels, this little woman could do nothing but close her eyes and enjoy it—I fear I would not even be able to run."
The demon hummed and whined, her words deliberately ambiguous, frightening the nearby commoners waiting to have their fortunes told so badly that they could only stare wide-eyed at one another, speechless.
"Putting everything else aside, since I'm here, calculate a fortune for me." Su Che looked at the demon. "I wonder whether you would be willing, miss?"
"My lord bears the duty of slaying demons and capturing ghosts, yet upon seeing a frail willow such as myself, you still think to treat me so tenderly. This little woman is endlessly grateful."
Madam Qi, who had always been cold and dismissive toward others, tossed Su Che a flirtatious glance.
"I only wonder what my lord wishes to ask?"
"My future prospects."
"Since my lord asks about his future, turtle divination cannot be used." The demon shook her head. "We must examine a written character."
Manipulating Madam Qi's body, the demon laid out paper and brush.
"My lord, please leave behind a specimen of your calligraphy."
After hesitating for a moment, Su Che wrote the character for "constant."
Since you are Qi Qin-shi, then I'll use Chang Wei, Young Master Chang, to suppress you.
"Your calligraphy is quite fine, Young Master."
The demon's eyes lit up at the sight of the character. They all say this fellow is a useless dandy from the Su Family, but this handwriting has real depth. He conceals his edge within himself and waits for the right time to act. I underestimated him before.
This world had calligraphy too, much like that of ancient China. Calligraphy was a family art passed down through one's lineage, just as the Wang Household after Wang Xizhi were all excellent calligraphers.
Su Che's calligraphy was much the same. This neat Yan-style script had been drilled into him stroke by stroke by his grandfather and father.
"Former Tang Left Street Monastic Registrar, Inner Court Attendant, Great Virtue who discoursed upon the Three Teachings before the imperial carriage, Seat of Anguo Temple..."—that passage of text was practically carved into his bones.
After all, every art required both talent and hard work.
"The character Chang written by the young master may be interpreted in two ways when divining your future." The demon casually tapped the paper, and the character Chang immediately transformed into another character.
Hall.
"The young master's fate lies in the character hall. This hall is Mingtang Hall, from which the Son of Heaven commands the realm and awes the four directions. You possess official fortune."
Then the character changed once more.
Grave.
"Shanyin County lies in the east, within the domain of the Azure Dragon of the East, where the element of wood prevails. When hall encounters wood qi, it transforms into the character grave. You are seeking your own death."
As she spoke, the demon made a series of calculations.
"The young master's fate was originally one of wealth and honor. But some three or four months ago, something strange must have happened. Your fortune changed greatly, the heavenly secrets became impossible to discern—it should be the result of a powerful expert concealing you. As expected, what happened to you in the capital before must have been someone's scheme."
Three months ago?
Were all demons in this world so skilled at calculation? Could some random little creature that popped out of nowhere see through his identity as a transmigrator?
"The young master's fate was originally what is called Canopy Fate. You would enjoy all the wealth and honor of life in the first half, then your household would suffer upheaval in the second. You would flee into the empty gate; as a Buddhist, you could become an Arhat, and as a Daoist, you could ascend to True Person. You are a Dao Seed and a child of Buddha by birth."
"But three months ago, it changed. Your fate now corresponds to the Azure Dragon of the East, with the momentum to sweep across heaven and earth and unite the six directions—the so-called Sixfold Azure Dragon, the bearing of a hegemon of an age. From leaving the world to entering it—how strange, how strange."
As she spoke, Madam Qi actually placed one hand on Su Che's wrist.
"Young Master, recently you have faced a calamity of killing, yet you have also encountered an extraordinary opportunity. Fortune is where calamity lies hidden; calamity is where fortune leans."
Su Che fell silent.
What nonsense was this demon spouting?
What Canopy Fate, what Sixfold Azure Dragon?
Was it really this lifelike?
From his right sleeve, Su Che drew out a strip of yellow cloth and tied his own left hand to Madam Qi's right hand.
"Cultivators in this world are divided into nine grades, ascending step by step from the Ninth Grade to the First. I recall that the Ninth Grade of Demon Cultivators is called Bone Refinement. It means that if demons wish to attain the Dao, their first step is to refine away the transverse bone in their throats, after which they can learn to speak like humans. Is that true?"
The demon glanced at the yellow strip in Su Che's hand, and a flicker of panic passed through her eyes.
What are those old fools in the sect doing? How could they even give him this thing?
She had just wanted to send her Yin Spirit fleeing from the body, only to be suppressed so thoroughly by the Edict of Supreme Clarity Sealing Spirits that she could not move at all.
"Young Master is indeed learned. That is why humans are the spirits of heaven and earth—they begin one step ahead of demons the moment they raise their heads."
"I heard that demons who reach the Ninth Grade, Bone Refinement, though they have not shed their beastly bodies, can speak eloquently, their words sharper than those of many old scholars in the world. I did not believe it before, but having seen it today, your reputation is indeed well deserved. You nearly bluffed me past it."
Su Che slowly drew out the yellow scarf from his sleeve and bound Madam Qi into a tortoise-shell tie.
This Yellow Heaven Sect's Edict of Supreme Clarity Sealing Spirits was truly formidable. It suppressed this demoness until she could not move in the slightest.
"The Eighth Grade of Demon Cultivators is called Spirit Possession. Upon reaching this realm, one's Yin Spirit can leave the body and attach itself to other objects to cause mischief. Thus, the Daoist School has arts such as sealing spirits and locking souls."
Once Su Che had tied Madam Qi up, she lay limply sprawled across the table, unable to move.
"Official business. Make them all leave."
Su Che directed Zhang San to drive away every one of the surrounding onlookers.
"Sister-in-law Qi, let me ask again. Was I right?"
"My lord sees through everything. But if my lord is a Sword Cultivator of the Seventh Grade of the Sword Path, then to subdue a little woman like me, all you need do is strike with your sword. Why make someone look so shameful? If my lord likes this sort of thing, this little woman can find you a fine body to serve you—would that not be wonderful?"
Su Che blushed a little, too embarrassed to tell the demon that he tied her up like this because this was the only way he knew how to bind someone.
"I also heard that once a Demon Cultivator reaches the realm of Spirit Possession, they cannot remain outside their physical body for too long. If thirty-six shichen pass, exceeding the number of a heavenly circuit, they will suffocate and die; their soul will scatter, their spirit will dissipate, and years of bitter cultivation will turn to nothing. Is that correct?"
Madam Qi gazed pitifully at Su Che with her large, watery eyes.
"My lord already knows everything so clearly. Why ask this little woman?"
"My original intention was merely to come take a look and have you pass along a message. But after hearing you cast that fortune, I think there is no need to pass on the message."
The demon's eyes shifted, but inwardly she groaned. When she had left home, her elders had warned her that sooner or later, she would come to grief because of this mouth that loved to show off. Who could have known it would happen at the hands of this nemesis?
Misfortune, misfortune. I've disgraced Qingqiu's entire lineage for nothing.
"Oh, my dear, dear brother, do whatever you want with me."
"I think I'll trap you for three days first, then see just what realm of demon cultivation you possess."