Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Romance Fortunes
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After waking up safe and sound that morning, I tidied up the bedding and divined the bloodsucker's position once more.
The location had shifted a little, but thankfully not by much from its original spot.
'But Heavenly Lords, is this really supposed to work?'
Honestly, even I was shocked after trying it.
Location tracking, of all things. It went way beyond the realm of divination.
I'd figured it might work in principle—sorcery that borrows heaven's energy to glimpse heaven's records—but I never dreamed it actually would.
Thanks to it, I could rake in some serious cash, but the eerie feeling was impossible to shake.
No matter what tricks I pulled, it never showed my future, yet location tracking worked just fine.
Heaven was truly beyond comprehension.
Clop clop.
Two full days of killing time endlessly in the carriage.
The book I'd desperately tried to read out of boredom ended up shoved back into the corner of the luggage.
I just couldn't get through it.
But sitting idle like this was too dull.
"Miss Dang."
"What?"
"Those warriors... they seem decent, right? As long as they're not the type to swing fists just for talking to them."
"...I think I just pieced together what 'warrior' means in that head of yours."
Her read probably matched the image in my mind pretty closely.
An unpredictable bomb that could explode anytime, anywhere.
A being who could decide my fate with a single swing—it was hard to stay relaxed around that.
Most Central Plains commoners probably pictured martial artists the same way.
Innkeepers especially got anxious whenever one showed up as a guest, from what I'd heard.
If I ever took up a side gig later, running an inn was the last thing I'd do.
Who knew when it'd get smashed?
"No way a warrior on a Murim Alliance commission would punch a fellow traveler like that. Unless you insulted them massively."
"...So, it'd be okay to chat with them a bit?"
"...Have you seriously been too scared to talk to them until now?"
"..."
No helping it.
Maybe it was the gap between meeting clients in my shop versus out here in the wild.
The shop was my domain, and they were guests, so it felt comfortable. Out here? I was intimidated.
She'd get it if she were ever stuck next to people who could punch holes in watermelons with a finger.
"Sigh. You've got a surprisingly timid side. So why weren't you scared of me?"
"Because you're you."
Truth be told, when we first met, there was the letter of introduction, and I hadn't fully grasped how strong warriors were yet.
I knew they were tough, but I hadn't seen a sword swing up close—and Dang Ayoung didn't exactly look the intimidating type.
"...You're not doing this on purpose, are you?"
"Doing what?"
"Haa... seriously..."
Dang Ayoung thumped her chest in frustration.
She must've found my excessive fear of warriors exasperating.
"It's just too boring twiddling thumbs like this. I figured I'd kill time reading their fortunes."
"A guy who lived in the mountains can't handle a little boredom?"
"It's precisely because I'm enjoying the world's distractions now. Aren't you bored?"
"Patience is basic for warriors."
Fair enough. They could sit in full lotus—looking uncomfortable just to watch—for an entire day if needed. Hard to judge by commoner standards.
"Should I call them over? Though they seem pretty wrapped up in their own fun, so they might not come."
"Say it like this—they'll bite."
"Like what?"
"Free romance fortunes."
No red-blooded man could resist that.
.
.
.
Sure enough.
"Really free? I heard your readings cost a pretty penny."
"Can't charge after I roped you in first. Think of it as fate—no pressure, just relax and listen."
All three men showed up.
Two had eyes sparkling with excitement; the third looked skeptical, but a faint glimmer of anticipation betrayed him.
The skeptical one spoke up.
"I've had fortunes read a few times. Total scam. Just vague, feel-good nonsense."
"Then skip it. We'll take ours."
"This diviner's so legit, word spread all the way to Sichuan. Normally two silver taels. Chance like this doesn't come often—drop the pride and sit."
"..."
The man sat without a word.
"Let's start with you, then. Just your name and birthplace?"
"Kang Gwan, from Jiangxi Province."
"Alright, let's peek at young hero Kang's romance fortunes..."
Shuffle!
I laid out all eight wooden plaques at once.
Truth be told, it didn't mean much. Pure theater for the audience.
"Just to check—any past romances?"
"...Does holding hands count?"
"Got it."
Looked like I'd poked a bruise.
"Heaven is father, earth is mother. Thunder, the swiftest, is called the eldest son; wind, next swiftest, the eldest daughter."
Of course, no real need for this in a reading.
It was all for dramatic flair. If I wanted to rush, a few hand waves and done.
But hey, might as well make it look good.
Pop!
"Result's in."
I released the glimpsed heavenly secrets outward, sparking a small blue light.
The ethereal azure glow faded slowly in the air.
"This is... a bit awkward to say, but..."
I glanced at Dang Ayoung and flicked my hand lightly. She nodded and stepped aside.
Something told me she could handle it, but with a woman right there? Nah.
Once she was well clear, I covered my mouth and whispered.
"You need to be very careful how you play around down there."
"Wha—?!"
"Haha, playboy fate? Lucky bastard."
He was already seeing one woman when he spent a night with another—who then got pregnant.
That was the reading. His intervening sins promised hardship, but honestly? Self-inflicted.
Seduce a woman, own the responsibility. Eyes wandering elsewhere? Come on.
'Poor woman.'
Having seen countless couples crumble through clients' fortunes back in Shaanxi, it hit home.
I'd warned him to keep it in his pants—no cheating, hopefully.
'Oh boy?'
The next guy was even worse.
A childhood friend had been pining for him for years.
"Women never go for me. Any prospects?"
And that reaction.
"Look around—you might have a connection closer than you think."
Come on, man, use your eyes.
A tiny spark or even a confession would've sealed it. How long had he wasted?
"Around...?"
Hand on chin, deep in thought. Hope he scored decently.
And the last one...
Uh...
Um...
"...Sorry."
"...I don't believe in fortunes anyway."
"...Futures are uncertain by nature, young hero."
"..."
I couldn't utter another word after that.
The other two kept peeking at him, mumbling awkwardly, when luckily—a mood-breaker arrived.
"All done?"
"Haha... yeah, our turns are over. Time to head out—next person's here."
"R-right. Up you go."
"..."
The two dragged the last guy off like a shot.
"...What was that? Did I mess up?"
"...Nah. Perfect timing."
Despite the last-minute hiccup(?), time was nicely killed. As I started packing, I glanced at Dang Ayoung.
"...You interested too?"
Come to think of it, I'd done minor readings for her but never romance.
Might as well round it out.
"M-me?"
"Yeah. Never checked yours."
"Uh... um..."
Her face flushed bright red.
Sensitive topic for a woman, maybe?
"No worries if not—"
"N-no! Do mine!"
She plopped down at invisible speed.
Awkward expression on my face, I laid out the eight plaques again and prepped for the heavenly insight.
Bracing for the familiar sensation...
Crackle!
"Ow!"
A tiny blue bolt struck the plaques.
It didn't hit me direct, but the sting drew a yelp anyway.
"Y-you okay?!"
Before I could cradle my hand, hers enveloped it.
"I-is this normal? Happens on fails?"
"N-no... failures don't cause this..."
The soft touch soothed the pain away quick.
I started piecing together what happened.
It was mild, but definitely Heavenly Punishment.
Not the thunder-from-above kind—just heaven's direct penalty.
For a diviner trying to peek at the forbidden.
'What the hell did I do?'
Not my future—just her romance fortunes. And this?
Heaven's will was utterly baffling.
"Um... aren't they all charred?"
"...Ah."
All eight plaques were burnt to crisps.
Not hard to remake, but a hassle. I inwardly cursed the heavens.
Stumble... stumble...
Nothing came to mind.
Who I was.
Where I'd come from.
What I'd done.
Like it had been wiped clean—no trace remained.
"H-hey, you! You alright?"
A stranger's voice called from nearby.
A kindly old man stood before me.
"Your clothes... why're they caked in dirt? You dig up a grave or something...?"
Grave...?
Where the dead go...?
Me, in a place like that...
Zzt!
"Ugh!"
"Y-you?!"
"I... I..."
In the chaos of fractured memories,
"B-blood... blood..."
"Blood?! You badly hurt or something?!"
"Blood..."
When I looked up again, the old man was gone.
Prey.
Fresh prey.
Crunch!
"Aaaagh!! What the hell are you doing?!"
Gulp! Gulp!
No need for flesh.
No need for bone.
Those were for others.
All we craved was blood.
Gulp! Gulp!
Old blood, but fresh from a living being—it flowed into me.
"Guh... ugh..."
When I came to, not a drop remained in the old man.
I needed blood.
More blood. More prey.
Until the world brimmed with it.