Chapter 941: Four Predictions All Came True

Among the continuous stream of people seeking divination at the neighboring stall, two familiar faces appeared.

Zhang Chunlin, the Young Master of Youyan Villa, was carrying a sword case that held four swords, likely Chusi, Senglu, Frost Blade, and Rootless Heavenly Water.

It was at Youyan Villa that Xu Fengnian first encountered the group of white-robed immortal masters from Guanyin Sect, among whom was the Charcoal Girl. Later, in the Western Regions, Xu Fengnian coincidentally met Zhang Chunlin. To his surprise, this young man had always regarded him as a benefactor, even naming his sword, forged from the Water Dragon's Roar Sword Furnace, "Frost Blade." Such a rebellious act—being a swordsman yet disrespecting the way of the sword—would undoubtedly invite criticism in the martial arts world. Fortunately, Youyan Villa is currently thriving, with the Dragon Rock Sword Furnace and Water Dragon's Roar Furnace successively forging over ten renowned swords. This has elevated Youyan Villa to one of Liyang's top ten sects, even ranking above Jiangnan Jiagu Stage and Beiliang Fish-Dragon Gang.

The other person was Yu Chi Duquan, the Young Mistress of Kuaixue Villa by Chun Shen Lake.

Unlike Zhang Chunlin, who traveled alone in the martial arts world, she was accompanied by a middle-aged man in simple clothes but with a dignified presence, who was presumably her father, Yu Chi Liangfu.

Xu Fengnian watched Zhang Chunlin and Yu Chi Duquan walking together and couldn't help but smile to himself, thinking they were indeed a well-matched pair.

Zhang Chunlin had no intention of drawing a lot; he simply stood by Yu Chi Duquan's side, his gaze gentle as he watched her charmingly careful movements.

The old Taoist priest was a master at sizing up his customers. As long as it wasn't a definitively unlucky lot, if he encountered a customer he deemed wealthy and noble, he could skillfully interpret an ordinary lot as a propitious one. Ultimately, he had seized the opportunity provided by the recent martial arts gathering to set up a divination stall on Wudang Mountain. It was a one-time business, so he wasn't concerned about repeat customers. So when the young woman, who clearly came from a good family, handed him the bamboo stick and he saw its contents, the old Taoist priest readily smiled and said cheerfully: "My lady, this is a rare and excellent auspicious lot! 'Heroes fill the hall, yet who among them is the top scholar?' There's an old story behind this: after the Late Emperor unified the Central Plains, he established the imperial examinations. During the first examination, seeing the hall filled with scholars, he was greatly pleased and thus posed this question! This lot has an excellent meaning. I believe you have no shortage of worthy suitors, haha. In fact, I don't need to say much more, just a word of advice: don't be too picky and waste your precious youth."

Yu Chi Liangfu smiled faintly. As a true martial arts titan, he could naturally discern the old Taoist priest's true intentions, but regardless, there was no reason to be displeased that his daughter had drawn an auspicious lot.

Yu Chi Duquan turned to her father and said excitedly, "Dad, I told you the lots here are very accurate!"

Yu Chi Liangfu's eyes were filled with doting affection as he smiled and said, "Accurate, very accurate."

Remembering something, she turned and tentatively asked, "Taoist priest, may I keep this lot?"

The old Taoist priest seemed a bit troubled.

But when he caught sight of the woman's father reaching for his money, he immediately smiled and said, "My lady, by all means keep it. I can just write down the text of the lot. It's no trouble at all, no trouble at all."

Yu Chi Duquan took the bamboo stick with both hands and winked at her father.

Yu Chi Liangfu smiled helplessly and simply placed his entire money pouch on the table.

She held the bamboo stick high above her head. Under the warm autumn sun, she looked up, focused and joyful.

Zhang Chunlin, standing nearby, also became happy.

Because both villas were among the top new powers in the Liyang martial arts world, and unlike the antagonistic relationships previously seen in the jianghu, such as between the Wu Family Sword Mound and Dongyue Sword Pool, or Longhu Mountain and Wudang Mountain, Kuaixue Villa and Youyan Villa had the potential to be natural allies. In fact, Yu Chi Liangfu took an immediate liking to the gentle-tempered Zhang Chunlin when the young man first visited, and had already considered him a prime candidate for a son-in-law. Especially since Zhang Chunlin, despite his sudden wealth, had not adopted the bad habit of indulging in hedonistic gatherings with friends after entering the martial arts world. As the sole heir to the vast Youyan Villa, he had arrived alone, carrying only his sword case, which further impressed the astute Yu Chi Liangfu. Moreover, the young man's parents, the virtuous couple from Youyan Villa, were known throughout the jianghu for their integrity. However, deep down, Yu Chi Liangfu harbored some unspoken considerations. With the northern faction of Liyang's "Dragon-Assisting Scholars" having dwindled, and a secret rumor in the jianghu that Zhang Chunlin's mother was from the Guanyin Sect of Nanhai and was once a qi practitioner of exceptional talent and great potential, Yu Chi Liangfu couldn't help but think further ahead. If Kuaixue Villa and Youyan Villa were to successfully intermarry, while it might outwardly appear that the latter was marrying up slightly, it could, in the future, prove to be Kuaixue Villa's foresight.

Of course, if his daughter and Zhang Chunlin were not destined for each other, Yu Chi Liangfu would not force a union. After all, to Yu Chi Liangfu—a man with the ambition of a warlord who had never remarried after his wife's passing—his daughter's happiness was very important, even more important than the villa's standing in the martial arts world.

Yu Chi Liangfu never denied that he had spared no effort, even resorting to ruthless tactics, for the rise of Kuaixue Villa.

Yet, this middle-aged man always maintained that his meticulous efforts in the martial arts world were solely to ensure that his only daughter would not have to exert herself in the jianghu in the future.

As Yu Chi Duquan, having gotten her wish, walked away side by side with Yu Chi Liangfu, she suddenly leaned in and whispered, "Dad, how many more years do you plan to string Aunt Liu along? Aunt Liu isn't young anymore, you know."

Yu Chi Liangfu's face flushed red, his secret unexpectedly unmasked. Although the woman in question had never appeared at the villa, rumors about her were widely known throughout the estate. Still, Yu Chi Liangfu never imagined who had the audacity to let his own daughter hear about it.

Yu Chi Liangfu squinted slightly. His thoughts raced.

If he found out who had leaked the secret, then they shouldn't blame him for throwing that person into Chun Shen Lake to feed the fish.

Yu Chi Duquan seemed completely oblivious to her father's embarrassed expression and dark thoughts, casually saying, "Then just marry her, what's the big deal? Dad, being so secretive, you really have no heroic spirit at all. Be careful, I might not admire you anymore, you know."

Yu Chi Liangfu's expression returned to normal, and he softly hummed in acknowledgment.

She inexplicably added, "But you're not allowed to be angry."

Yu Chi Liangfu smiled and said, "I know."

Just as Zhang Chunlin turned to follow the father and daughter, his peripheral vision caught sight of someone, causing him to widen his eyes immediately as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight.

But when he saw that person raise a finger and shush him, Zhang Chunlin forced himself to remain calm and continued walking with a composed expression.

After finishing his Wudang Spring pancakes and stopping Zhang Chunlin from speaking, Xu Fengnian clapped his hands, ready to get up and leave. That person, having angrily returned to his residence after fruitlessly searching from the air with his sword, would likely have calmed down by now. At the very least, he probably wouldn't try to attack Xu Fengnian with a sword upon meeting.

As for being severely scolded or getting the cold shoulder, with Xu Fengnian's skin as thick as the walls of Jubei City, neither was a big deal.

But just then, the dense crowd between Lüzu Pavilion and Xixiang Pond suddenly parted with a roar, as if by Wudang's old grandmaster Wang Chonglou's "Finger Severing River."

Xu Fengnian rubbed his forehead and stood up, but did not leave immediately.

It was the Huishan woman who had walked out of Lüzu Pavilion. Even though for some reason she wasn't wearing her world-renowned purple robe today, she was still recognized first by a discerning martial artist of notable standing.

Then, like a flood dragon entering an ant hill, the people in her path instinctively moved to the sides.

Yu Chi Liangfu stopped, clasped his hands, and smiled, "Alliance Leader Xuanyuan."

Xuanyuan Qingfeng paid no heed, brushing directly past the three of them.

Yu Chi Liangfu also seemed accustomed to it, remaining rooted to the spot until the Master of Queyue Tower from Daxueping had walked more than ten steps away. Only then did he continue his journey.

Yu Chi Duquan couldn't help but turn her head to glance at her, that legendary woman who had made countless heroes of the Liyang martial arts world bow before her purple robe.

Of the Thirteen Xiangfu Talents, she alone claimed three.

Rumor had it she once turned away the current Emperor, and it was also said that she achieved enlightenment of immortality by watching snow on Gunniu Ridge for an entire night.

Yu Chi Duquan whispered softly, "She really is a beautiful woman, but so cold."

Yu Chi Liangfu quickly glared at his daughter.

Xuanyuan Qingfeng walked directly to the old Taoist priest's stall, and the latter swallowed hard, utterly at a loss.

She looked down at the old immortal Wu, who was as silent as a cicada in winter, and calmly asked, "Is it accurate?"

The old Taoist priest was neither blind nor deaf. After learning of this beautiful woman's unparalleled status in the world, not only did he not dare to gaze at her lustfully, but even if he were to suddenly become a true Taoist master, he wouldn't dare harbor any improper thoughts.

The capriciousness of Xuanyuan Ziyi of Daxueping was known by almost everyone in Liyang, from the imperial court to the common people.

She dared to block Wang Xianzhi of Wudi City from traveling to Liang on the Guangling River, dared to block Xu Fengnian, the King of Beiliang, at the Mawei Post Station in the capital, and dared to block Cao Changqing, the Grand Official, outside Tai'an City.

She dared to be so audacious because she was Xuanyuan Ziyi.

No matter how vast the Liyang martial arts world was, how many such unreasonable lunatics could there be?

So, after hearing her question, the old Taoist priest nervously and timidly replied, "Reporting to Alliance Leader, it's not very accurate."

He truly didn't dare boast even a little, fearing that if it didn't suit her, he would be digging his own grave.

Xuanyuan Qingfeng twitched the corner of her mouth, "Oh?"

Knowing things were dire, the old Taoist priest, as if he had lost his parents, quickly tried to remedy the situation, saying, "Most of the time it's quite accurate, but I can't guarantee it's accurate every single time!"

Xu Fengnian, watching from the side, genuinely admired the old Taoist priest's quick wit. For any scam or deception in the world, the most crucial thing is to make your words sound plausible to remain invincible.

It was a skilled job, something most people couldn't pull off.

Unfortunately, he was short on money and couldn't reward him.

Xuanyuan Qingfeng was expressionless as she reached out and grasped the bamboo cylinder containing 108 fortune sticks for marriage, then slightly raised her arm and gently shook it.

Her wrist, smooth as mutton-fat jade, slowly swayed.

Every time the cylinder turned, the old Taoist priest's heart trembled.

In the past, that would have meant a hundred coins entering his pocket, but now, it was highly probable that his old life was at stake.

Finally, a stick jumped out of the cylinder.

She picked it up and slowly said, "'Two lives, one body, alone and solitary.' Which number is this lot?"

The old Taoist priest felt like dying.

Did this broken lot still need him to interpret it?

The old Taoist priest almost collapsed onto the long bench, and said in a trembling voice, "It's the eighty-fourth lot."

At the brink of life and death, the old Taoist priest had a flash of inspiration and bravely called out, "Alliance Leader, this particular instance falls under the 'not accurate' category!"

Many kind-hearted pilgrims nearby broke into a cold sweat for the old Taoist priest.

Xuanyuan Qingfeng tossed that stick back into the cylinder and continued shaking it.

The old Taoist priest stared intently at the cylinder, muttering prayers in his heart, supplicating all the gods, buddhas, and bodhisattvas in the heavens. He prayed not only to the True Martial Emperor presiding over Wudang but also remembered the Earth God shrine in his hometown of Hezhou.

However, when the woman read out the content of the second stick, the old Taoist priest's heart turned completely to ashes.

"'Climbing a tree to catch fish, ultimately futile.'"

She still asked, "Which number is this lot?"

The sweating old Taoist priest sighed softly and weakly said, "It's the fifty-fourth lot."

She held the stick in one hand and the cylinder in the other. She neither threw the stick back into the cylinder nor spoke, instead narrowing her slender phoenix eyes.

The old Taoist priest lowered his head and said dejectedly, "My lots... they're not accurate."

The old man no longer dared to refer to himself as "this poor Taoist."

She subtly glanced elsewhere, hesitated for a moment, and then began shaking the cylinder for the third time.

A bamboo stick gently fell onto the tabletop.

The old Taoist priest closed his eyes, deciding to play dead.

Only to hear that cold voice from above say, "'Divination is to resolve doubts; if there are no doubts, why divine?'"

The old Taoist priest, already on the verge of collapse, had a dazed look in his eyes and for a moment didn't grasp the meaning.

Someone, unknown to him, spoke up for him, saying, "The eleventh lot, a moderately auspicious one."

The old Taoist priest, finally realizing, was ecstatic, crying out with all his might, "Alliance Leader, it's a moderately auspicious lot, truly a moderately auspicious lot!"

The old Taoist priest was momentarily overcome with joy and burst into tears.

Such is the way of the world: after a brush with death, returning to the land of the living, one believes that merely having cold water to drink and a cold bun to eat is a great blessing.

She fell into thought, then smiled. To everyone's surprise, although people say "no more than three times," she still shook the cylinder for a fourth time.

At this point, the old Taoist priest, perhaps having accepted his fate, somehow found a surge of energy, looking around to find the benefactor who had previously spoken up to interpret the lot for him.

But in the vast crowd, how difficult that was.

This time, after Xuanyuan Qingfeng drew the bamboo stick, she did not read out its content herself. Instead, after looking at it, she handed it to the old Taoist priest and, like any ordinary person seeking divination, asked, "What does it mean?"

The old Taoist priest tremblingly took the bamboo stick and loudly and incoherently answered, "Moderately auspicious, auspicious, auspicious..."

The old Taoist priest just kept loudly repeating "moderately auspicious."

She didn't get angry. After the old Taoist priest calmed down a little, she continued to ask, "What does it mean?"

The old Taoist priest raised his sleeve and wiped away a torrent of tears, then struggled to stand up. After clasping his hands around the stick and bowing, he said with a frightened expression, "Reporting to Alliance Leader, this is the ninety-sixth lot: 'Perhaps ten years, or seven or eight years, or five or six years, or three or four years.' This lot means that in matters of marriage, haste makes waste; one must wait patiently."

The old Taoist priest didn't forget to add, "It might not be accurate, it might not be effective."

Xuanyuan Qingfeng remained noncommittal and held out her hand.

The old Taoist priest quickly handed the bamboo stick to this terrifying woman, who was like Yama, King of Hell.

Then she said something that astonished everyone: "Your lots are quite accurate, very good."

She lowered her head and put down the bamboo cylinder, then successively drew three sticks from it. Two of them instantly turned to dust between her fingertips after leaving the cylinder.

So she only kept two sticks.

She looked up at the old Taoist priest, who looked as if he had just crawled out of Xixiang Pond, and after a moment's thought, said, "You interpreted four lots for me."

The old Taoist priest involuntarily widened his eyes, his lips dry.

Only to hear her slowly say, "One hundred taels of gold, one Taoist secret manual, one residence in Liangzhou, Beiliang, and a position as a first-class guest elder on Huishan. You can choose any of these."

The old Taoist priest burst into tears of joy once again, his face streaming with old tears, as he cried, "I want to go to Huishan! To Daxueping to be a guest elder!"

Xuanyuan Qingfeng turned and walked away with a cold expression.

Carrying those two marriage fortune sticks.