I licked my lips slightly, anticipating his reaction. And the response that ca back was—
"...Huh?"
Compared to his highly suspicious appearance, it was a surprisingly cute reaction.
The long-awaited exam day had arrived. It wasn’t just about my grades—it was also the day to find out whether that fortune teller’s words were true or not.
And the result?
...What is he?
Out of 30 questions, 20 were spot-on. Even the remaining 10 were close enough. There’s no chance the questions leaked. Not even the Beggars’ Sect or the Hao Clan could get their hands on the training hall’s exam questions. How could anyone, by any ans, uncover questions that the Leader of the Martial Alliance personally crafts, carries with him, and reveals only on the day of the exam?
Does he really see the future...?
Fortune-telling. I’d thought it was pure quackery. No, if predictions this close to prophecy were possible through fortune-telling, the Wudang Sect or Kunlun Sect should’ve already taken over the Central Plains by now.
To call it a coincidence...
The accuracy was too high. Even if I assud he sohow beat astronomical odds and the random guesses he threw out just happened to match—
It’s already twice.
He also has the track record of saving Namgung Jin’s life. Once could be a fluke. Twice could still be stretched into coincidence. But anything beyond that steps out of the realm of chance.
I need to keep an eye on him.
If this fortune teller’s near-prophetic foresight is truly his ability, I have to secure it sohow. I need to keep him in my sights at all tis. Right now, it’s just exam questions, but if that ability extends to the state of the Central Plains, the movents of the imperial court, hidden divine weapon caches, or the sches of the Demonic Cult—its potential would be limitless.
And if the Tang Clan could monopolize that power?
...
It’s a slightly dangerous thought, but—
It might just upset the balance between the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families.
I haven’t reported him to the clan yet. Helping soone open a fortune-telling shop out of the blue might look suspicious, but it’s sothing I could brush off as aiding an acquaintance’s friend.
"It’s your first day of business. Nervous?"
"I’d be lying if I said no..."
As always, his face remained completely hidden—an uncanny sight. If he ever becos famous, I’m certain "Faceless" will be part of his nickna.
I’m a little worried, though.
If his abilities spread across the entire Central Plains, monopolizing them later would be difficult. But I can’t rashly make a move when I still don’t know much about his powers or personality. For now, the best course is to help him as he wants, build so debt, and watch him from the sidelines.
"I’ll stick around for your first day, so relax. If any ruffians show up, I can handle them."
"Uh... What about the training hall?"
"Skipping a day won’t kill ."
I can make up the ti later.
"But... isn’t two silver coins a bit pricey?"
"No, it’s actually cheap. Don’t worry about it."
If he maintains the sa accuracy he showed with , two silver coins is a steal. Of course, since word hasn’t spread yet and he’s just starting today, he won’t get many custors at first. But later...
Knock knock.
"Um... excuse ..."
Whoosh!
The mont I sensed soone outside, I hid myself. The custor was a woman who looked close to forty.
"Welco! What can I do for you? Birth charts, love luck, blessings for children—anything’s possible!"
"Uh... my son’s about to take the entrance exam for the Huashan Sect... Can you see that too?"
"Oh, of course! A mother of an examinee, huh? Co, co, sit comfortably. I’ll say a prayer to the gods of heaven and earth—oh, unless you’ve got soone specific you believe in?"
...His spiel sounded more like a shaman than a fortune teller, but that’s not my problem.
"Huashan’s great, you know. They’re Taoists—refined, righteous folks—and since it’s high up in the mountains close to the heavens, the natural energy’s pure. If he gets in, he’ll beco soone big."
Clack clack clack clack.
He laid out eight wooden tablets on the table.
"Normally, I don’t take proxy readings since they’re tough on , but I get where you’re coming from, and you’re my first custor right after opening, so I’ll put in so extra effort just for you."
It didn’t take long for him to start speaking.
...
...
"Well, looks like business wrapped up nicely."
"...Did it, though?"
"You botched the first custor but still got three more after that—it’s a good finish."
He jingled the six silver coins in his hand proudly. The first custor had scread, hurled every curse in the book, and stord out after hearing his reading. Naturally, she didn’t pay either.
"Maybe I should’ve taken paynt upfront. I’d have made two more coins."
At least he started taking paynt in advance after that, netting him six coins.
"Couldn’t you have just said he’d pass?"
"The first custor?"
"Yeah."
That type doesn’t co to really know their future. They co for reassurance, to suppress their fears with comfort from others. That woman probably ca willing to spend two silver coins—a decent sum—for that peace of mind.
"Then if he fails, she’d co back to chew out. If I’m going to get yelled at either way, isn’t it better to read it properly and keep my accuracy high?"
"...Oh."
When he put it that way, it made sense.
"People’s hearts are tricky, you know. They co to see the future, but if I tell them sothing ominous, they say I’m cursing them. I’m just saying what I see."
"Well... no one likes an ominous future."
"I’m giving them advice to avoid it, though."
Thankfully—or not—he didn’t seem too bothered by the first custor’s flop.
"Oh, Miss Tang, since business is done, how about we grab a al together? My treat."
"...Sure, why not."
Soone else might be shocked to see this. , accepting a al invitation from a man on the spot?
Just to clarify, don’t get the wrong idea.
I still need to keep an eye on him.
He’s a man whose face and na I don’t even know. I’m interested in his abilities, not him rationally—there’s no room for that yet.
It hadn’t even been a few days since he arrived in Shaanxi, so I quietly followed, curious where he’d lead —
"Hey, buddy, back again today? I’m happy to see you, but if you eat too much and ruin your stomach, don’t bla !"
"Haha, if I die drinking, I’d welco it."
"Geez, a real drunkard. But you brought soone else today? A woman, no less?"
Before I knew it, we were in a tavern.
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