It was already dusk. The young man watched Zuo Xiaoduo's face warily, feeling more and more that it had suddenly become steeped in murderous intent, hideous and terrifying.
"It's getting dark..."
With a kind, benevolent expression, Zuo Xiaoduo sighed. "You must understand, Boundless Heavenly Venerable... a moonless, windy night is the time for murder and arson..."
"M-Master..."
The young man's teeth kept chattering. "H-how much charitable money will it take to avert this danger to my life?"
Zuo Xiaoduo gave a long sigh. "That depends on your sincerity... without sincerity, this danger to your life may be... inescapable, inescapable. This is heaven's will... by helping you now, I am divulging heaven's secrets, defying heaven, and entangling myself in tremendous karma, all because you and I share a destined connection, because fate brought us together..."
"Do you realize that this humble Taoist will suffer heaven's punishment for divulging its secrets?"
His eyes drifting toward the other man's wallet, Zuo Xiaoduo earnestly counseled him. "Benefactor, money is easily obtained, but life is hard to come by. Once you breathe your last, however much money you have... it all belongs to someone else."
The young man was already dumbfounded.
So you mean, if I don't give it to you, you'll kill me, and then it'll be yours anyway?
Is that what you mean?
Is it?
"Master... I'm just a petty thief. I only stole a few wallets... surely my life wouldn't be in danger over that?"
Zuo Xiaoduo bristled with displeasure. "This has nothing to do with your profession. Boundless Heavenly Venerable, benefactor, it seems this danger to your life will be difficult to avert. Even this humble Taoist can do nothing..."
Zuo Xiaoduo pondered for a moment, then suddenly rolled his neck.
His neck immediately gave a series of cracks. He said eerily, "Calamity and fortune have no gate... people alone invite them in... how fragile... a human life is. Merciful Buddha, this disciple may have to break his vows today..."
"Boohoo..." The young man finally burst into tears. "Master... I only have eight thousand left here... that's everything I own, that's all there is... take it. Take it all, just spare me... boohoo..."
Snot and tears streamed down his face as the young man wept in utter misery.
"What kind of talk is that?" Zuo Xiaoduo bristled with displeasure. "What do you mean, spare you? You should say, 'Please, Master, show me a clear path.'"
"Boundless Heavenly Venerable! This humble Taoist was not mistaken. Benefactor, you and I truly do share a destined connection today."
Chapter 23: Getting carried away!
"Please, Master, boohoo... show me a clear path." The young man truly wanted to die.
"Very well. Seeing your sincerity in giving up all your charitable money, and considering the destined connection we share, I shall risk defying heaven and greatly depleting my cultivation... so be it, so be it."
With a sanctimonious air, Zuo Xiaoduo took the money. "You need only head east... keep going, and do not turn back... the danger to your life can be averted."
"Th-thank you for your guidance, Master."
"Mm, you mustn't turn back at all tonight. We share a destined connection today; it is fate that has led me to help you this once. At this time tomorrow, if the danger to your life has passed, you must return here to settle this karmic tie with this humble Taoist..."
"Yes, yes. I will follow your instructions to the letter, Master."
Zuo Xiaoduo took out paper and a pen and wrote something in flamboyant, sweeping strokes. "Here, sign this."
Then he folded it and put it in the young man's pocket.
"Poor child, off you go."
Like a mangy dog with a broken spine, the young man scrambled and crawled his way east.
As for settling their karmic tie tomorrow and all that...
I wouldn't come back even if you beat me to death...
Rather than run into this lunatic again, I'd sooner dash my head against something and die!
Too terrifying!
If you're robbing someone, just say you're robbing them! Why drag in all this fate, face-reading, and fortune-telling...
Feeling in his pocket, he discovered he had even received a receipt: "Received ten thousand in full as a divination fee," with the amount written in both ordinary and formal financial numerals.
"Fuck... this is to stop me from reporting him to the police..." Holding the simple receipt, the young man wanted to cry but had no tears left. It even had his signature on it...
"I'm just a thief. Do you really need to take all these precautions against me calling the police? Your knowledge of the law is a little too extensive..."
"What kind of lunatic is he..." The young man finally began to wail at the top of his lungs.
"I didn't lie to him. His life really was in danger. But heading east from now on really can prevent it, too. It all depends on whether you listen."
After giving the young man his first beating, Zuo Xiaoduo had discovered, to his astonishment, that Killing Intent brimmed between the fellow's brows. His life really was in danger!
And it had already reached its fullest extent.
"I said his life was in danger, and it really came true... it wasn't there just now..."
Zuo Xiaoduo's heart had lurched at the time.
But since he had given his guidance, whether the young man listened really was up to fate. Head east all the way, never turn back, and it could be averted. But if he didn't listen... he was finished.
Yet there was no movement between his own brows!
Where were the Fortune Points?
Where was that cool sensation?
I've finished reading him, finished divining, settled it, and taken the money. Why is there nothing?
Zuo Xiaoduo grew somewhat indignant again.
Feeling thoroughly at ease, Zuo Xiaoduo walked over.
After all this time, the girl was actually still standing in the same place, grinning foolishly at her phone.
Zuo Xiaoduo feigned great surprise. "Huh... who dropped this wallet?"
The girl froze, then looked down and saw her own wallet lying safely at her feet.
When she turned to look, the person who had just spoken was already nowhere to be seen.
Holding the wallet, the girl looked in the direction Zuo Xiaoduo had left, her gaze unfathomable. She remained motionless for a long while.
Only after a long time did the girl grit her teeth and curse under her breath. "Where did this shit-stirrer crawl out from?! I'm so fucking pissed!"
Her little hands kneaded the wallet, and even her expression twisted.
"I'm so pissed!"
"What day and age is this? How is there still an idiot bird who sticks his beak into other people's business like this!"
"I was just about to get there..."
The girl's face had turned livid. She was simply vexed beyond measure.