Chapter 149: The Fortune Teller
Looking at the young scholar who approached his stall, the old man smiled faintly and stroked his beard. “The sun is setting, and you’re alone in this desolate bamboo grove, young man. It seems you have something on your mind.”
“You can tell, Old Master?”
Lin Tianlu paused, a gentle smile on his face.
“Of course, I can tell at a glance.”
The old man pretended to be mysterious. “Judging by your handsome appearance, you must be troubled by matters of the heart. Are you here to unwind and clear your mind?”
“You’re half right, Old Master.”
Lin Tianlu bowed slightly. “There’s been some trouble in my wife’s family, a dispute between relatives. I didn’t want to intrude, so I came here to relax for a while.”
“Family matters are also matters of the ‘heart.’” The old man shook his head, chuckling at his own sophistry.
“Fate has brought us together, and there’s no one else around. Why don’t you sit down and let me read your fortune?”
“You know fortune-telling, Old Master?”
The old man smiled and took a sip of tea. “Isn’t it obvious, looking at the things on my table?”
Lin Tianlu glanced around casually.
He saw some complex and mysterious talismans, a divination compass, a horsetail whisk, and other objects on the table, creating a convincing image of a fortune teller.
“What kind of fortunes can you tell? Marriage, career?”
“I don’t tell fortunes about those worldly matters.”
A strange smile appeared on the old man’s face. “I only tell fortunes about destiny and fate. If you’re interested, young man, show me your right hand.”
Lin Tianlu’s curiosity was piqued, and he extended his hand.
“What if you truly see my destiny and fate, Old Master? What then?”
“Hehe, I can offer you some guidance. I can’t promise immortality, but I can at least help you live a longer and healthier life. It’s quite beneficial.”
The old man’s expression turned serious, and he said with a faint smile, “But whether you believe it or not, whether you can grasp this opportunity, depends on your own understanding.”
He placed his finger on Lin Tianlu’s palm.
“—Hmm?”
The old man suddenly exclaimed, his face filled with a strange expression. “How peculiar. Your fate is hidden, like a mist, impossible to decipher. I can’t seem to make sense of it.”
Lin Tianlu pulled up a chair and sat down, smiling. “Are you truly skilled in fortune-telling, Old Master?”
The old man’s expression turned awkward, and he coughed lightly.
“Since I can’t see your fate, let’s change the question. Do you have any questions for me, young man?”
“Then allow me to ask—”
Lin Tianlu said casually, “I heard that there’s been some trouble with the brothels in Changling County lately, disrupting public order. Do you know anything about it, Old Master?”
The old man replied casually, “It’s just a group of drifters looking for a place to settle down. Nothing to worry about.”
“Aren’t they afraid of being driven out by the local authorities?”
“There’s no authority here. This is just a piece of undeveloped land.”
The old man shook his head and chuckled, secretly gathering a wisp of black energy at his fingertips.
After a moment, his expression changed slightly.
Lin Tianlu asked calmly, “One last question, Old Master. Do you know the whereabouts of the culprit who has been causing trouble in the county lately, the one who can alter people’s personalities and grant them strange powers?”
“…”
The old man remained silent, taking a swig from his wine gourd.
Savoring the taste of the wine, he sighed. “It seems you’re not here to relax, young man. You have another purpose.”
“I heard from a victim that she met the culprit in this bamboo grove.”
Lin Tianlu shrugged. “I’ve been searching around, and you’re the only one I’ve found, so I thought I’d ask.”
The old man withdrew his hand, his eyes flickering. A knowing smile appeared on his face. “Refined and elegant, with an unfathomable aura… You must be the ‘Master Lin’ who drove the Luo Xing out of this town.”
Lin Tianlu smiled faintly.
“Judging by your tone, you’re not from Changling County.”
“I’m a wandering traveler. I don’t belong to any particular place.”
The old man shook his wine gourd and grinned. “But I should thank you. If it weren’t for you, the Luo Xing… I wouldn’t dare to offend them openly. If there was a conflict, I would have to run and hide.”
Lin Tianlu casually flipped through the talismans on the table.
“You sell these things, Old Master?”
“Just some trinkets to fool people.”
The old man took a sip of wine. “You can have them all if you want.”
“I’m not here to take things, but to return something.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled and revealed the black orb hidden in his sleeve. “Old Master, is this yours?”
“…”
The old man’s relaxed demeanor vanished, replaced by a cold and menacing look. “Where did you get that?”
“From a young lady, of course.”
“That’s impossible!”
The old man’s eyes narrowed, his voice sharp. “The power of a Demon Seed cannot be easily broken!”
“That’s why I’m here to ask you, Old Master. What exactly is this thing used for?”
“You—”
The old man’s expression flickered.
He was astonished.
Once a Demon Seed was planted, it was incredibly difficult to remove, even for a Crimson Demon. But this man had…
“No wonder you were able to drive the Luo Xing out of this town. You truly possess extraordinary abilities. It seems I underestimated you.”
“Why don’t you surrender, Old Master, and come with me to the county government office?”
Lin Tianlu gestured with his sleeve. “We have a lot of questions for you.”
“Do you think that’s possible, boy?”
The old man leaped into the air, landing gracefully on a bamboo branch. He reached out, trying to retrieve the black orb.
But…
There was no response.
“If you want it back, Old Master, why don’t you come and take it?” Lin Tianlu tossed the orb in his hand.
The old man’s eyes flickered, his voice deep. “So you really want to be my enemy?”
Lin Tianlu’s smile faded. “You should have considered that before you started harming people.”
“Fine!”
The old man laughed loudly, his fingers spreading as a black streak of light shot out from his bag, landing in his palm.
It was a long, black saber, wrapped in chains, covered in sinister markings, emanating a chilling aura.
“It’s rare to encounter someone with such ability in the mortal world. I’d like to see what you’re made of, boy.” He flicked his wrist, and the chains on the saber shattered. The blade hummed, its markings glowing, radiating a sinister and powerful aura, as if darkening the entire bamboo grove.
Lin Tianlu said with admiration, “That’s a fine blade.”
“Heh, it’s even better when it’s stained with blood!”
The old man sneered, and the blade flashed.
A black ripple swept through the air, severing the wooden table and slicing through several falling leaves. Silence descended upon the grove.
Lin Tianlu’s robes billowed in the wind generated by the invisible blade.
“The Peerless Blade, Dark Moon. Consider yourself lucky to die by this blade, boy.”
The old man beckoned with his hand. “Although you caused me some trouble by removing the Demon Seed, it has matured nicely. This harvest is still quite bountiful… Hmm?”
The black orb didn’t return to his hand.
“—That was quite a strike.”
Lin Tianlu spoke softly, touching his chest, a faint smile on his face. “I didn’t expect you to be hiding such strength. Your attack was ruthless and decisive.”
“You—”
The old man’s expression darkened.
This man had taken his attack head-on and was completely unharmed?
“Incredible. You possess the abilities of a true prodigy.”
“You’re even more impressive, swinging your blade so hard. Be careful not to hurt your back.”
Lin Tianlu put away the black orb and walked towards the old man, his hands clasped behind his back. “What faction do you belong to?”
“I don’t belong to any faction.”
The old man chuckled and leaped down from the bamboo branch, stretching his limbs. He channeled his energy, and a cold, black flame, like a raging inferno, erupted around him. He spun his saber, its aura fierce and powerful.
“How about you try this move, boy?”
As soon as he finished speaking, a series of clanging sounds echoed through the grove as black blade lights flashed, severing bamboo stalks with clean cuts, leaving deep gashes in the ground. The old man moved like a phantom, his movements blurring into streaks of black light, converging into a single point.
Clang!
The black saber trembled as it struck down with devastating force. The shockwave alone caused the ground within several meters to sink, sending dust and debris flying. Leaves and grass swirled in the air, carried by a terrifying pressure!
The power of this attack surpassed the Crimson Demon realm!
Even a Savage Realm demon or ghost wouldn’t be able to ignore this attack— Ding!
A soft, clear sound rang out.
Lin Tianlu raised his finger and effortlessly blocked the descending blade, a smile on his face. “It’s a good blade, but the wielder is lacking.”
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