"Sir, please save me!"
The fortune teller's face turned pale with fright as he clung to Li Ran's hand, begging desperately.
The sight left Xiao Yi and the others dumbfounded.
Wasn’t this eerily similar to what just happened with Qiu Zhongji?
In just a few short minutes, the situation had taken a dramatic turn.
The fortune teller who had just killed Qiu Zhongji was now kneeling and pleading with Li Ran.
What exactly had Li Ran done to him?
“In that case, I’ll reluctantly show you a path to survival,” Li Ran said calmly.
The one-eyed fraud was moved to tears and quickly expressed his gratitude.
“For the next fourteen days, you are not allowed to set up a stall or scam anyone. Stay quietly at home and you’ll survive this calamity. But if you dare step out the door even half a step, not even the gods can save you!”
“Master, may I return to making a living this way after fourteen days?”
“You may. Your death tribulation lies within this period. Once you pass it, you'll be fine.”
Li Ran maintained the demeanor of a wise master, and the one-eyed fraud believed every word.
“Understood! Understood! I’ll pack up and head home right away. I won’t deceive anyone ever again.”
The fraud quickly packed up his stall, a look of panic plastered across his face.
It really was like a fake monk meeting the real deal — the villain met his nemesis and was utterly exposed. Completely shameful.
Li Ran reminded him, “You haven’t paid for the fortune yet.”
The fraud looked embarrassed. “Master, your fortune is truly accurate, but I gambled all my money away yesterday. Could I possibly owe it for now?”
Upon hearing this, Li Ran flipped his palm, and the eyeball disappeared from his hand like a magic trick.
The fraud panicked at once.
“Master, though I have no money, I do have some old items. Please take a look, and if any catch your eye, they’re yours. Just please return the eyeball to me!”
“Oh?”
Li Ran raised an eyebrow, putting on an air of mystery.
The fraud pulled out several old items from his Taoist robe and laid them in front of Li Ran.
[Item: Aged Slave Bridle]
[Effect: When fastened onto a target, it grants temporary control. Duration: 10 minutes.]
...
[Item: Wooden Horse Toy]
...
[Equipment: Antique Hairpin (Excellent)]
[Restriction: Female Players]
[Attribute: Eerie Power +10]
...
[Weapon: Thunder Dagger (Excellant)]
[Attributes: Eerie Power +20, Agility +20, Strength +20]
[Effect: Attacks leave a thunder mark, paralyzing target for 0.5 seconds upon hit]
...
Li Ran swiftly scanned the items, their stats fully visible to him.
Not far off, Xiao Yi and Chen Jiabin both looked surprised.
Song Linjia clasped her hands together, a face full of envy.
Li Ran didn’t get greedy. The earlier quest had mentioned a weapon reward.
He immediately set his sights on the Thunder Dagger — a weapon that would boost his stats significantly.
Besides Eerie Power, it also granted bonuses to other attributes.
That’s exactly what he needed most.
Simply increasing Eerie Power wouldn’t help against B-rank or even A-rank monsters with the same level of power. He’d lose without question.
That’s where supplemental attributes, top-tier equipment, or powerful skills came in.
Though the bridle was also tempting, he chose to follow the rules and not take more than he should.
“I’ll take this one.”
Li Ran picked up the Thunder Dagger, then handed the eyeball back to the fraud.
The fraud was overwhelmed with gratitude, blew on the eyeball, and popped it back into his empty socket.
“I... I can see! I can see everything!” The fraud joyfully looked around in all directions.
Li Ran was dumbfounded.
What the hell? You can just plug in an eyeball like that?
Do you think your body’s made of spare parts?
[Quest Completed: Fortune Telling]
[Reward: Eerie Power +20, Points +200, Superior Weapon 1]
[You successfully reformed the fraud. Quest completed perfectly. Bonus reward granted.]
Just then, the cold mechanical voice rang in Li Ran’s ear.
Before he could react, the fraud shoved the rest of the items into Li Ran’s arms.
“Master! I’m so happy! I’m no longer disabled! I will cherish this second chance! I won’t deceive people anymore. I don’t need these things — they’re all yours now!”
After speaking, the fraud skipped away like a child who had been reborn, happily hopping toward the apartment complex.
“I can see! I don’t have to pretend to be blind anymore~”
His voice echoed in the ears of the others.
“What a pleasant surprise.” Li Ran looked at the items now in his arms.
[Aged Slave Bridle]
[Wooden Horse Toy]
[Antique Hairpin]
In the distance, Xiao Yi’s face darkened. He adjusted his glasses and muttered, “Life and death are decreed by fate; wealth and honor lie in heaven,” then walked away.
Chen Jiabin didn’t understand what Xiao Yi meant, but still trotted after him.
“Li Ran, you’ve truly impressed me today.”
Song Linjia stepped forward to congratulate him, her words sincere.
“Just lucky, that’s all.”
Li Ran gave the same response, still offering no detailed explanation.
“Was it really just luck?”
Song Linjia widened her eyes, her dark irises studying Li Ran with growing curiosity.
“There’s something mysterious about you, something I can’t see through.”
“There’s no mystery. I just think a bit faster than others, that’s all.”
But the more he brushed it off, the more intrigued Song Linjia became. She was dying to get to the bottom of it.
“You’re not hiding some cheat code or golden finger, are you?”
Li Ran staggered, almost losing his footing.
Girl, can you not guess so accurately?
“Hahaha, just kidding. Anyway, it’s getting late. I’ll head back now.”
“That hairpin seems to be for female users. Would you be willing to trade it with me?”
Li Ran took out the Antique Hairpin, thinking: Player equipment, my wife’s an NPC, so she probably can’t use it.
Plus, it’s limited to female players. He couldn’t equip it either. Better to give it as a favor.
“I’ll trade you this for it.”
Song Linjia handed him a sandalwood box.
Li Ran didn’t hesitate, accepting it and handing her the hairpin.
After saying their goodbyes, Li Ran began tallying his gains for the day.
“Truly a bountiful harvest.”
He immediately equipped the Thunder Dagger, and with the quest rewards, his stats got a solid boost.
[Name: Li Ran]
[Eerie Power: 100]
[Agility: 20]
[Strength: 20]
[Points: 460]
[Active Skill: Shadowstep]
[Passive Skills: Thunder Mark, Mind Focus (Immune to mental attacks)]
With all the stat increases, Li Ran felt a powerful surge of energy rushing through his body.
At this point, he could easily beat his son to a pulp.
He could even take on Su Bingyao, a B-rank in a room fight without flinching.
In other words, neither his ex-wife nor his son could threaten him anymore.
Li Ran looked up at the sky. “Been out for a while now. It's getting late. I’d better get back and make dinner.”
On the way back, Li Ran pulled out the sandalwood box Song Linjia had given him.
“Can’t open it?”
Li Ran used both hands to pry at it.
With a soft crack, the box popped open easily.
(End of Chapter)