“B-Blood Calamity?”
Qiu Zhongji’s face twisted in shock and disbelief.
“Sir, could you have made a mistake in your reading?”
“If I say you’re doomed with a Blood Calamity, then you are.”
The fortune teller continued stroking his goatee, smiling as he fixed his gaze on Qiu Zhongji.
Qiu Zhongji panicked at once, grabbing the fortune teller’s hand in desperation. “Please, sir, save me! Or… or teach me how to avoid this fate!”
“Boy, do you know what happens to those who mock me?”
“What?!”
The fortune teller stood up suddenly and thrust his palm toward the crown of Qiu Zhongji’s head.
“Aah!”
Not far away, several people turned pale with fright on the spot. Song Linjia nearly fainted.
Li Ran trembled from head to toe, horror in his eyes.
Qiu Zhongji fell to the ground with blood all over his face, eyes wide in disbelief and terror.
The fortune teller casually tossed the bloodied skullcap into a corner and sat back down at his stall as if nothing had happened, twirling his beard with interest. “Fortune-telling! Spiritual readings! Guaranteed results, or your money back!”
Everyone was frozen in fear, unable to calm the dread in their hearts.
Li Ran frowned, his gaze narrowing slightly.
[Fortune Teller]
[Grade B Infection Entity]
[Eerie Power: 160]
[A compulsive gambler in his early years, he racked up massive debts and fled, eventually getting one of his eyes gouged out. His family fell apart, and he should have died alone. But he never reformed. Instead, he hatched a plan—posing as a blind fortune teller to swindle people for a living.]
[Warning: Mocking or exposing him is dangerous.]
[Hint: Reverse the roles. When his true self is revealed, return his eye to him—there may be unexpected rewards.]
After seeing the golden finger prompt, Li Ran understood. A plan had already formed in his mind.
He walked toward the stall and sat down directly across from the fortune teller.
“How about I read your fortune, sir?”
To Xiao Yi, Chen Jiabin, and Song Linjia, this move was no different from courting death.
Li Ran’s action seemed just as foolish as Qiu Zhongji’s earlier taunt.
The fortune teller stopped stroking his beard and raised an eyebrow. “Boy, you want to read my fortune?”
“Indeed. Or… are you afraid?” Li Ran asked.
“Afraid? Ridiculous! There’s nothing in this world I fear. I just don’t want your nonsense ruining my reputation.”
“Then let’s test it. If I’m right, you pay me the reading fee.”
“Oh? Interesting. And if you’re wrong?”
“You can deal with me however you like.”
“Very well.”
Under the stunned gazes of the trio, Li Ran took the fortune teller’s hand and began palm reading.
[Mission Triggered: Fortune Reading]
[Mission Reward: +20 Eerie Power, +200 Points]
[Hidden Reward: Quality Weapon x1]
“Tsk~”
Li Ran clicked his tongue, brows furrowed.
The fortune teller asked, “Boy, what’s with the hesitation?”
“Then I’ll speak frankly.”
“Go on.”
Li Ran held the fortune teller’s palm seriously. “From your palm lines, I see a lifelong bachelor. You’ll have food and shelter, sure, but no wealth to speak of.”
The fortune teller didn’t get angry. He chuckled. “If that’s all you’ve got, don’t blame me when—”
“Patience, sir. I’m not done.”
Li Ran returned the hand and began examining the man’s face in earnest.
“Oh dear, your facial features are not the kind that bode well.”
The fortune teller sneered with disdain. In his eyes, this boy was clearly bluffing and making a joke out of him.
He had already felt a flicker of killing intent but decided to watch for now. Perhaps this kid would amuse him a little more before he died.
Li Ran continued, “People with your features are endlessly greedy and addicted to gambling. Once involved, your fate is ruined—family destroyed, wife gone. If you lose, you run. If you’re lucky, you get away. If not, you lose an arm, a leg, an eye, or an ear. At worst—your life.”
At those words, the fortune teller visibly trembled. He could barely hold onto his fortune flag.
Li Ran saw it all and pressed on, “Sir, if I’m not mistaken, you just thought to yourself: ‘Even if he guesses correctly, I just won’t pay him. Then he’s wrong by default.’”
“Am I right or wrong?”
The fortune teller shook violently, sliding right off his stool.
Xiao Yi, Chen Jiabin, and Song Linjia were dumbstruck.
The fortune teller looked at Li Ran in disbelief. It was true—he had thought exactly that. No matter what the kid said, if he didn’t pay, then the fortune was wrong.
But this boy didn’t just divine his past; he also saw through his current intentions.
Where did this kid come from?
Could he really tell fortunes?
Shock flooded his heart.
Years ago, he had indeed gambled away all his money and even scared off the wife someone introduced him to. Refusing to give up, he mortgaged his house for one last bet, but lost even worse. He was buried in debt, fled, and was eventually caught and had an eye gouged out.
He had always wanted to recover that eye, but there wasn’t a trace of a lead.
He swore that if he ever found it, he would turn over a new leaf.
He wore dark glasses to feign blindness and play the part of a mysterious fortune teller. Only by acting the part convincingly could he fool people. Even if they suspected, his missing eye helped the act.
He always targeted the elderly—easy to deceive, with money to spare.
A few vague phrases were usually enough. And even if he was wrong, he always left himself an out.
Most people who came to him were struggling with life and unstable in mind. Often, they knew it was fake but still sought comfort.
Just like someone who’s always broke but keeps telling themselves that if they can just get through this month, they’ll make it next month. Self-deception.
He had always thought fortune tellers in books were all fakes. He never dreamed someone could actually read fate.
At that moment, Li Ran stepped before him.
“Sir, perhaps you were looking for this?”
The fortune teller slowly removed his sunglasses, stunned.
Li Ran held out a human eye—his long-lost one.
Thud!
The fortune teller dropped to his knees, forehead pressed to the ground. All traces of “mystical sage” were gone.
“Master! Master! This fool was blind to your greatness! I deserve death! I do!”
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Heavy thuds as his head struck the ground. Blood oozed from his brow.
Xiao Yi, Song Linjia, and Chen Jiabin stood there, mouths agape.
Seeing his goal achieved, Li Ran stood with hands behind his back, playing the role of the unfathomable master.
“You indeed deserve death. Had you not met me, your fate would’ve come for you in fourteen days.”
(End of Chapter)