This was a big spender. Was business finally coming his way?
Lin Fan narrowed his eyes, unable to help feeling excited at the thought that he had finally landed a big order.
After all, no matter how impressive he was online, he still had to take some offline clients to honor his late master's spirit, didn't he?
Suppressing his delight, Lin Fan served tea out of habit, then returned his gaze to the unfinished talisman paper.
The visitor was Chu Tianxiong, chairman of the Chu Group.
Ten years ago, he had gone into business in Jiangzhou, building an empire on his own without relying on his family's influence.
Over the past decade, he had made the family business flourish and grow into something enormous. Recently, however, something had happened, and his fortunes had actually begun to decline.
He had met with setbacks everywhere. Unable to bear watching the business he had spent most of his life building go down the drain, he had been losing sleep night after night.
Just then, he had run into a friend who told him there was a fortune-teller here and suggested he try his luck.
So, after finishing his work at the company today, he had rushed straight over, hoping to find a genuine master who could turn his fortunes around.
He did not take the tea Lin Fan offered. Instead, he stood at the entrance, looking around the shop.
The shop had a quaint, old-fashioned layout, and the sheets of yellow talisman paper on the wooden table stood out conspicuously.
Looking to the side, he saw a young man writing and drawing something.
"Excuse me, is the fortune-telling master here? I'd like him to read my fortune."
The man looked exhausted, and his voice sounded just as weary. That was Lin Fan's first impression.
Clearly, he did not know Lin Fan owned the shop and had mistaken him for an ordinary employee.
"I'm the only one left in the shop."
"If you need your fortune told, I can do a reading for you."
Lin Fan spoke calmly.
Chu Tianxiong looked momentarily taken aback. Mainly, Lin Fan simply looked far too young.
Could a fortune-teller this young be a con artist?
But he noticed a faint, unusual air about Lin Fan, which kept him from dismissing him outright.
"I'm sorry, but you really are rather young. It's not that I distrust you personally, but your age makes it difficult to have much confidence."
Chu Tianxiong spoke with complete sincerity, then turned to leave.
He thought his friend must have remembered incorrectly.
How could such a tiny shop, with such a young owner, possibly have a skilled fortune-telling master?
"You're a guest now that you're here. Why not sit down, have some tea, and chat?"
Lin Fan spoke up to stop him. This was his first customer!
A big client had finally shown up, and he did not want to let him get away.
Lin Fan had been studying the man before him all along.
He could not quite put his finger on it, but he kept feeling that an aura that should not have been there was lingering around the man.
"All right."
Chu Tianxiong hesitated briefly, then sat down across from Lin Fan almost despite himself.
He happened to be under considerable pressure. Perhaps opening up to a stranger would help ease some of it.
Chu Tianxiong sighed. Even if such a young fortune-teller had some talent, he was still young. How much cultivation could he possibly possess?
"This is a man who has accumulated virtue through good deeds."
Lin Fan narrowed his eyes slightly and secretly calculated on his fingers, divining Chu Tianxiong's past.
He said calmly, "Mr. Chu, I imagine you've come here because of your wife?"
The moment those words fell, a change came over Chu Tianxiong.
His pupils contracted, and disbelief filled his face.
Ever since his wife had fallen ill a while ago, the whole family's fortunes had begun to decline.
Aside from the problems at his company, the most important thing was that his wife had remained bedridden!
Lin Fan said, "This is a Peace Talisman I just drew. It's only eight thousand yuan. Once you take it home, burn the paper, mix the ashes with water, and have your wife drink it. She'll recover."
Talisman paper?
Chu Tianxiong looked at the scribbled talismans on the table and could see nothing special about them. Even if he bought one, it might not only fail to help but make his situation worse. That would truly be more loss than gain.
"No, thank you. I don't really have much need for a Peace Talisman," Chu Tianxiong declined tactfully, keeping his true thoughts to himself.
But even without hearing them, Lin Fan knew what he was thinking. After all, he had no reputation, so it was perfectly normal for people to turn their noses up at him.
Thus, Lin Fan did not stop him. He had never been one to force things, and he simply considered anyone who did not trust him someone he was not destined to help.
"In that case, take care. If you need anything, you're welcome to come back anytime," Lin Fan said.
If you don't appreciate my talismans, that's your loss, not mine.
Chapter 18: A virtuous household
Chu Tianxiong nodded, his heart heavy.
He reflected on how unpredictable life was. Perhaps his fate could no longer be changed.
And now that he had failed to find a genuine master, he had no idea how to face the pile of problems at his company and his bedridden wife when he returned. The thought made even his body feel heavy.
Watching him, Lin Fan could not help sighing inwardly. He wondered whether he should call him back, help a genuinely good man, and forge this karmic connection.
Just as Chu Tianxiong was about to leave, he unexpectedly turned back, his gaze settling on the few talismans on the table in front of Lin Fan.
They were the talismans Lin Fan had just drawn.
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind. He had come here seeking safety and well-being in the first place, hoping his wife would recover.
Besides, this young fortune-teller had accurately voiced what was on his mind.
Oh, forget it.
It's only eight thousand yuan. Buying a Peace Talisman as an act of charity wouldn't be so bad.
Lin Fan wondered why he had stopped leaving. Following his gaze, he saw that the man was looking at the talismans he had drawn. Since he could not see the man's eyes, he had no idea what he was thinking.
"Was there something else you needed?" Lin Fan asked.
"Oh, never mind." Chu Tianxiong sighed, turned back, and pointed at the talismans on the table as he looked at Lin Fan. "How much are these talismans?"
Lin Fan raised an eyebrow, unsure what he was thinking. A moment ago, he had not believed him and had even thought his talismans were ugly. Why did he suddenly want to buy one?
"You're so young. I imagine you've only just entered this line of work, and making a living can't be easy."
Noticing the confusion in Lin Fan's eyes, Chu Tianxiong said frankly, "Give me a Peace Talisman. I hope you'll follow an honest path from now on and stop swindling people."
Lin Fan was moved. He had not expected this man to be so kind. Although he did not believe him, he was still willing to buy one of his talismans.
Still, as the old saying went, kind people generally did not have terribly bad luck. And these talismans of his were all good things.
But even good things had to be used where they were needed to achieve twice the result with half the effort!
So Lin Fan quietly began using the Qi-Observing Technique, studying the man before him to assess his fortune before giving him a suitable talisman.
As he silently activated the Qi-Observing Technique, rings of white qi slowly began emanating from Chu Tianxiong. Clearly, these were strands of wealth qi, exuding prosperity.
Unfortunately, a mass of black qi hung between Chu Tianxiong's brows.
Lin Fan could not help frowning.
This mass of black qi was the true cause of his poor fortune. Without some intervention, he would likely face a bloody calamity.
Lin Fan's expression grew graver.
"Is there something on my face?" Seeing Lin Fan stare at him in solemn silence, Chu Tianxiong began to feel uneasy and could not help asking.
"The area between your brows is a little dark. You may be facing a bloody calamity." Lin Fan came back to his senses. The qi around Chu Tianxiong slowly dispersed, leaving only the mass of black qi gathered between his brows.
Judging by its color, this was no ordinary bloody calamity, but an unexpected disaster that could take his life!
Chu Tianxiong grew displeased. He had offered to buy a talisman out of kindness. If Lin Fan wanted to sell him one, he should just sell it. Why curse him with a bloody calamity?
"There's no need to frighten me like this. I'll buy your talisman whether you say that or not, so why curse me?"
Never mind. I'm only supporting his business anyway. Whatever he says, I'll still buy the talisman.
Lin Fan paid no attention to his words. Instead, he walked to the nearby table, selected a talisman, and set it before Chu Tianxiong.
Heaven's secrets could not be divulged. Revealing too much would not only bring a backlash, but the man before him might not believe anything he said anyway.
To put it plainly, buying one of his talismans was merely another act of everyday charity to him, not a sign of genuine faith.
But Lin Fan believed that, after some time, this man would return.
"Eight thousand," Lin Fan said as he placed the talisman before Chu Tianxiong.
Without hesitation, Chu Tianxiong took a stack of cash from his wallet.
"There's ten thousand yuan here."
Chu Tianxiong sighed and said, "Other people's Peace Talismans cost eight hundred or a thousand, yet you're demanding a whopping eight thousand."
"I imagine you must be having some difficulties. I'll give you ten thousand outright. I hope you'll follow an honest path from now on."
Chu Tianxiong thought that young people these days did not try to find proper jobs. Instead, they spent every day thinking about posing as mystics to swindle money.
Society's morals are declining. People aren't as honest as they used to be.
He actually dares to charge eight thousand for a talisman like this?
"Times have changed. Besides, I guarantee this Peace Talisman will get your wife through her current crisis." Unbothered by his words, Lin Fan merely smiled as he spoke.
For eight thousand yuan, you won't be losing out or getting cheated.
This was an opportunity Lin Fan was giving Chu Tianxiong.
Whether Chu Tianxiong could seize it would depend on his own blessings.
Before you continue