Ai quickly asked, "I-It's about her accident, right? You said the Death in her card was evil."
"It is about that evil grim reaper indeed…" she whispered in the darkness of that tent. "The light she wanted to show you was that figure clad in black. But like the woman in white, she is not reborn. Hence, your path will be difficult."
Her eyes welled, and she lanted in a hoarse voice, "Jun, I was right. I was right in investigating her case in the past. I knew sothing was wrong with her accident. Sobody had planned it…"
The woman smiled. "Everything is far more connected than you think it is. That's why fate gave you another chance to untangle all the deceits and bring forth the truth."
Jun pulled her into a hug and patted her head. "That's what we are going to do."
He looked at the other two unfolded cards and asked, "Can we see what's inside them?"
"Yes."
The elderly woman revealed the second card. The card representing the present showed a knight on his knees with his arms stretched in the air as if he was declaring his love for the woman.
He chuckled. "That is definitely Bro wooing Xing Bi."
"Indeed. The young man faces hardships in this journey."
Ai smiled. "That's true."
She opened the third card and the future showed a similar fire endangering the woman, but the knight was with his sword, fighting off the flas and protecting the woman.
Ai anxiously inquired. "Will Xing Bi in danger?"
"The pursuit of truth might bring the flas to her," she calmly explained. "But the knight will be there to protect her. Her fate with the knight is sealed forever."
Jun gave Ai a reassuring nod. "I told you before, right? This ti, we won't let anything happen to Xing Bi."
"Yes."
Jun asked the elderly woman, "...I know this will sound bizarre to you, but is there a way to see those mories of Shui and Xing Bi?" He clarified, "By Shui I an the woman in white."
"Ti…" she said, "You need to be touched by ti once again if you wish to see the past that you don't know. Ti has touched you once, and it went back for you two. So, there is a possibility for ti to touch you again. But there are so conditions to be fulfilled."
Ai blinked. "What conditions?"
She shook her head. "I don't know. Ti and nature are mystical. How they actually work is beyond human comprehension. But what I can say is that it won't happen easily just because you wish it. Ti will test you. If you pass, it might grant you the blessing to go back temporarily. Also…"
"Also?"
She gave it a deep thought. "I might be wrong about this. But it's a possibility. You two died at the sa place and sa ti in your last birth. You two never t, yet you two shared your death. It must an sothing. At that mont, ti took you back. If sothing similar to that fateful mont occurs once again in that sa place, the hands of the clock might just turn for you."
Their eyes widened. Jun felt his heart thudding. "Wait, you cannot be implying that Ai will have to be in danger just to trigger this?"
"Danger or sothing else, I don't know. It's just a possibility I am saying."
Jun pursed his lips. "Thank you. But I don't want Ai to be in danger at all! It's fine if we cannot learn those mories. But there is no way…" he trembled, "I will let Ai face any harm."
Ai furiously nodded, tears filling her eyes. "Neither do I. I don't…I don't want to see Jun like that ever again…" she whispered.
The woman gave them a kind smile. "You two love each other so much. Just like this, always keep your love and trust for each other firm and unyielding."
They solemnly nodded.
Jun knew he didn't have much ti, but he went ahead and asked, "I have a cousin who just went through a dangerous accident that could have taken his life. I…failed to protect him even though I knew this would happen. Can we see his cards even though he is not here? If there is sothing I could learn…"
"Yes. Just picture him in your mind and think about your intent."
Jun did so and pulled out three cards.
But before the woman could reveal the first card, Nian's looming figure ca back to the tent. "You two! Co with ! Xing Bi and I were looking for you!"
"Bro?" Startled, they looked back.
He coldly said, "I don't want you to be here anymore where she only shows depressing cards whether it's Xing Bi or you two. It's already late. We should get going."
"Just two minutes-"
One quiet and deadly glare from Nian made Jun automatically shut up. He looked back at the woman. "I am sorry."
Jun quickly took out his wallet to pay for the fortune telling, but she raised her palm and denied it. "No need, young man."
"Of course not. How can I leave without-"
She shook her head. "I will be happier to see you two succeed in your quest to find the truth. Don't lose this chance that fate has bestowed upon you."
He hesitated but then nodded. They bowed and left the tent with Nian.
As silence fell in the dark tent, the elderly woman stared at the cards laid out by Jun. She touched the cards and revealed all three of them one by one. Her eyes ever so slowly widened as she studied them. "I see."
The past card showed a man clutching his head, grieving and confused. A woman stood beside him, but her back faced the man as he cried.
"Her back facing him...She didn't know about his existence at all. A pity," her eyelashes softly fluttered.
She looked outside and saw the retreating figures of Jun and Ai leaving the carnival.
"It is indeed the woman with the different shadow who is the key to everything. You, her…" she lowered her gaze at Zixin's cards, "and him. She is the answer to all."
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