Chapter 115
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: The Mysterious Fortune Teller
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Yu Hyun, having assigned the Three Dragons some homework(?), leisurely set out to tour the market streets of Dangang Hamlet.
He could have taught them step by step with detailed explanations, but that would have been the worst approach.
When have things ever been gained without any struggle?
If someone spells everything out for you, your ability to adapt inevitably suffers. Only by putting their heads together and debating among themselves would their skills grow actively.
Those three weren't fools—they were prodigies talented enough to stake their futures on in their respective sects—so they would surely come up with something worthwhile.
And if they failed to produce a formation up to his standards? Well, that wouldn't be so bad either.
He could just beat them a few more times.
They'd improve eventually, if only to avoid getting hit.
"Man, there sure are a lot of people."
The market streets of Dangang Hamlet, as seen through Yu Hyun's eyes, were truly a sea of humanity.
Just looking at the outfits of the passersby made it obvious. As Gidoo-shin had said, they were out-of-towners flocking to Wudang in preparation for the Spring Festival.
They too had gathered early in Dangang Hamlet to secure lodging before ascending Wudang Mountain.
With things being this way, opportunists targeting travelers had already staked out their spots.
The alleys were lined with stalls on both sides, and the voices of merchants hawking their wares along with touts from the inns and brothels rang out noisily from all directions.
Was that all? The out-of-towners visiting at this time of year were mostly here to pray for their own fortunes.
Purses bulging and hearts generous to a one, the beggars sprawled everywhere with their bowls out as if it were their busiest season.
Weaving carefully through the throngs of people and beggars, Yu Hyun's gaze suddenly fixed on one spot.
Baby boy? Moon River Fairy?
With chopsticks inscribed with lots, brass coins, dice, and a hand rattle laid out, plus a flag reading "Fortune and Misfortune," it was clearly a fortune teller.
Come to think of it, the streets of Huayin County, where he'd spent his childhood wandering, had looked much the same around this time of year.
Huashan Sect might have a stronger reputation for being closer to the secular world than Wudang, but wasn't it still one of the Central Plains' Five Great Taoist Sects?
He hadn't paid it any mind back then due to lack of interest, but looking back now, those crowds must have been there to receive talismans from Huashan Sect.
"Tch, kinda nostalgic."
Rubbing his tingling nose tip, Yu Hyun recalled his own youthful self wandering the streets of Huayin County.
Now that he thought about it, his father must be around the same age as the Three Dragons by now... Probably before he met the mother who'd died giving birth to him.
His father, a lay disciple of Huashan, had run a martial school in Huayin County until answering Huashan's summons to plunge into the war against the unorthodox sects, after which all news of him had ceased.
That was why Yu Hyun knew Huashan martial arts that even the Righteous Six Saints hadn't taught him.
The sole legacy left by his father: Huashan's Plum Blossom Sword...
Man, he'd trained in it diligently.
Well, he'd run into him sooner or later anyway. Though his father probably wouldn't recognize who he was.
It was then, as Yu Hyun slowly rounded the alley corner lost in old memories.
"You there! Hold your steps."
"......?"
"Over here, right here."
"......?"
"Hey, you! I said here!"
Turning his head, he saw an old Taoist who had set up shop where the alley bent, beckoning toward him.
"......"
What was this old coot?
The clothes he wore were wide-sleeved and billowy below, unmistakably Taoist robes... but pieced together with patches everywhere, putting even the Beggars' Sect's famed Hundred Patches Robes to shame.
And there on the ground sat a Tai Chi Mirror and a Six Harmonies Plaque smack in front of him: "I'll divine your future for you?"
Exorcism talisman five taels, wish talisman ten taels... and a special discount if he threw in your birth chart and compatibility reading?
"......"
It was obviously a con artist gunning for easy marks by impersonating a Taoist.
No, but were his guts hanging out of his belly? This wasn't just anywhere—it was Wudang Sect's front yard, and he was impersonating a Taoist here?
On the other hand, Yu Hyun felt a bit sorry for him.
If you're gonna scam, at least dress the part properly. Sitting there all grubby and ragged, no wonder not a single person approached.
"Heh heh, come on over."
"......"
The con artist old man kept calling out, unperturbed by the suspicious glare, until Yu Hyun finally chuckled and walked up to him.
"Whoa, up close confirms it. Truly noble features."
"......Is that so?"
"Indeed! It's been forty years since I started divining in Gyunhyeon. Never seen features like yours. You're clearly the stuff heroes are made of—the one destined to save the world."
"......"
Yu Hyun let out a low chuckle at the rather clever(?) flattery.
Sure, it was just sweet talk to hook his interest, but it wasn't wrong, was it?
He had come to save the world, after all.
"In your eyes, Elder Taoist, how's my fortune?"
"Hmm...... Let me see."
"......"
The con artist old man closed his eyes and slowly folded his fingers at the casual question devoid of any real expectation.
It looked like some technique he'd seen somewhere, but shouldn't you at least ask for a birth chart first for this sort of thing?
Not even inquiring about year, month, day, and hour—what exactly was he divining......?
Yu Hyun shook his head amusedly while watching the old man's antics, when suddenly the old man put on a grave expression and shot him a sidelong glance.
"Hmm, this is something...... First time for me......"
"Why?"
"Well, it's just... I can't see it."
"......"
Of course you can't.
Forty years, my foot. This old coot was clearly a total novice at scamming.
Tch.
Yu Hyun chuckled at the blatantly obvious performance, pulled his money pouch from his bosom, and tossed a few coins onto the Tai Chi Mirror. The con artist old man's face instantly brightened.
"Ah! I see it! It's clear now!"
"......"
Yeah, it'd be hard to miss. Those coins were huge.
"But...... Heh heh, appearing and vanishing like that."
"......?"
"By any chance, do you have a persimmon tree at home?"
"A persimmon tree?"
"Yes, a persimmon tree."
"......Who knows. Probably?"
Unless he was a landscaper, how would he know what kinds of trees grew in the vast Yu Clan Manor or how many?
Persimmon trees were common enough that there were likely one or two at least.
The con artist old man slapped his knee with an "I knew it" look as Yu Hyun playfully brushed it off.
"I figured as much. Knew it."
"......"
"Wasn't it awfully strange?"
"What was?"
"It's been decades since I started reading heaven's secrets. I can usually get a rough sense of someone's future just from their face, but bizarrely, nothing shows for you at all. It's like you're someone who dropped right out of the sky or something?"
"Out of the sky?"
"Exactly. Though that's impossible, so it must be the persimmon tree. I took a bad fall from one as a kid. Ever since, I've been incompatible with homes that have them......"
"......"
Yu Hyun barely held back a big laugh.
Oh, come on, old timer. I could say the same thing.
Of course it'd be vague without asking for a birth chart—what was he even basing it on?
But for some reason, he felt pretty good.
Was it the old man's likeable face? Or his pleasant voice?
Either way, it inexplicably put his mind at ease.
In a way, he'd nailed it pretty shrewdly too...... After all, he'd possessed this body like it dropped straight from the heavens.
"This is awkward—I can't very well take money without telling you anything...... Here's what I'll do. I'll write you a prayer talisman to ensure your path ahead is smooth sailing in all things."
"Sure, why not."
The money was already paid, and taking it back would be petty.
It probably wouldn't do much, but he'd prayed for his future, and that was enough. He could just think of it as alms to a pitiful beggar of an old man.
Scritch, scratch......
The con artist old man pulled out a sheet of yellow paper with a serious expression and began inscribing words with a brush dipped in red pigment.
Even knowing it was all fake, Yu Hyun didn't want to break the old man's concentration and simply waited in silence.
The way his hands trembled and sweat dripped down—how pitiful. He needed to be healthy to pull off scams...... Tsk tsk.
"Whew, all done."
"......"
Yu Hyun gave an awkward smile upon seeing the yellow paper the old man proffered with a grin revealing his yellowed teeth.
Was it written? Or drawn?
"Keep it on you always, and good fortune will come."
"Got to carry it on my person?"
"Exactly! Sew it right into your belt if you can."
"......"
"As long as you keep it on you and don't defy heaven's will, you'll stay healthy forever, grow rich, and succeed in everything you do."
"......"
In other words, if the prophecy failed, it was because he'd defied heaven—no responsibility on the diviner's part?
"Hmm, by the way, might I have your name?"
"My name?"
"Yes."
His expression was so earnest now that Yu Hyun couldn't even laugh.
What, he could divine futures from faces but not names?
"I'm Yu Hyun."
"Yu Hyun...... Killing Liu and radiant Hyun. Hmm......"
The con artist old man stared at Yu Hyun for a moment before nodding with a slightly stiff expression.
"Nameology teaches that once a person's name is set, their fate conforms to it as well. Liu is the Mao Metal Blade. There were once two heroes who founded nations through virtue, and both bore the Mao Metal Blade—they were men who rose by the sword. Yours pairs with Xuan for darkness, yet shares a bond with Fire, making it bright once more. But take care. If the fire fails to burn properly and is consumed by the darkness, you'll be blinded by the blade and end up harming those close to you."
"......Wh-what?"
Yu Hyun's eyes went wide as the old man suddenly rattled off a string of out-of-left-field profundities while he'd only been half-listening.
"Heh heh, just a baseless worry. Pay it no mind. I can't say how it ends, but the fact that you are the stuff heroes are made of—the one to save the world—remains unchanged."
"......"
Strange. That glance just now had been as bright and detached from the mortal world as any sage's. And his words had carried such a scholarly, expert air?
Once he changed his thinking, it all came flooding back: the savior bit right on sight, the inability to see past or future......
Could this old coot be...... a hidden eccentric of the wilds? One of those genuine geniuses who read heaven's secrets while wandering the streets?
No way, was this a fortuitous encounter? This suddenly? This randomly? Right on the main street?
"Listen, Young Master Yu."
"......Y-yes?"
Yu Hyun startled as the old man suddenly seized his hand.
It was rough and bony, yet full of warmth.
"I may not know your status, but when the time comes......"
"Hey!"
"......?"
"......"
Yu Hyun turned toward the voice with a frown.
A sturdy middle-aged man with a ferocious scowl was approaching rapidly.
But calling a venerable old man "hey"......
"You damn old coot! Knew I'd find you here!"
"Heh heh, is that Mu-seong? Long time no see."
"Mu-seong? Did you eat something bad, old man, calling me Mu-seong!"
"Hey now, didn't I tell you getting angry is bad for your health?"
"Shut it! Who do you think makes me angry!"
"Sheesh, what a temper. Alright, alright. I'll go, happy?"
"Go where!"
"......"
"Today I break your damn legs or I'm not human!"
Passersby halted to stare as the middle-aged man, Mu-seong, bellowed and rolled up his sleeves.
Yu Hyun, who had been watching quietly, stepped toward Mu-seong.
The man was snorting like an enraged bull; left alone, he really might snap the old man's skinny legs.
Above all, hadn't he sensed something mysteriously unfathomable about the old man?
"Excuse me."
"......"
Mu-seong frowned and looked Yu Hyun up and down at his call.
Somewhat surprised to see the silk martial robes and sword.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Just a nameless traveler...... or rather, a passerby. From what I heard, your words and actions toward the elder seem a bit excessive."
"What? Exce—ssive?"
"Isn't it? Threatening a venerable elder so brutishly."
"......"
The crowd began to murmur as Yu Hyun tsked his tongue, and a few even pointed fingers at the man.
His face flushed beet red under the stares raining down as he huffed and puffed, only for the man to suddenly burst into boisterous laughter.
"Ah, now I get it. Talking about being a passerby."
"......?"
"You're in cahoots with this old coot, aren't you? Figure you'll slander me and slip away?"
"......Huh? What're you—"
"Fine! You scamming bastards! Last time you fed me that crap about me being the stuff heroes are made of, some mumbo-jumbo about my name, had me fooled into holding sacrifices and all. Thinking about it still pisses me off. What? Needed to cleanse my ancestors' sins to turn things around? Bullshit!"
"......?"
Yu Hyun's jaw dropped in bewilderment as the man grabbed the old man's collar like a raging bull.
Hold on—what did he say?
Save the world, mumbling about the name....... Every phrase was exactly what he'd heard!
"You think I don't know, you old bastard? You ratted me out to the authorities, didn't you? Took all my money and snitched on me, right! Know how many beatings I took in jail?"
Scammed and then turned in to the cops on top of it?
"Yeah! Time for a proper purification beating! Gonna strip you all clean!"
"Let go of him first and talk!"
Smack!
Yu Hyun shook off Mu-seong's hand gripping the collar and pulled the old man free.
He still couldn't believe it. The old man's gaze that he'd seen had felt genuine too......
No, even before that, he wanted to clear up the misunderstanding about being accomplices, but if things kept going like this, it'd never end.
"Elder, what were you saying...... Huh?"
Yu Hyun whipped his head to the side mid-sentence and his eyes went wide.
He was gone.
The old man who'd been right there moments ago had vanished without a trace.
Even his setup had been cleared away at some point. As if nothing had ever been there.
To disappear so suddenly without a sound—truly extraordinary...... but that wasn't the issue.
"......"
Yu Hyun let out a hollow laugh as he blankly alternated his gaze between the hulking man shaking thin air by the collar and the talisman the old man had left behind.
Haha, this old coot—I thought he was a total greenhorn...... Turns out I was the sucker.