Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Fortune-Telling Stall
Imperial Capital, under Tongtian Bridge—
Table after table was arrayed there, each seated behind by an old person with grizzled hair and beard, wearing sunglasses, exuding an air of profound mystery. Each table was accompanied by the owner's sign, boldly proclaiming services such as "Promote Good Fortune, Avoid Calamity, Fortune-telling, and Geomancy."
At a glance, one could tell exactly what kind of place this was.
After class, Zhong Niangyao came straight to the bottom of Tongtian Bridge, opened her portable folding table, pulled out a small stool, and then set up a sign on the table that read, "Three fortunes daily, only for those with fate."
Once she had set everything up, Zhong Niangyao took out her cell phone and began to play with it.
Such gestures appeared quite perplexing to the onlookers.
It was strange enough that a young girl had suddenly appeared amongst a bunch of old men; her actions now were even more unfathomable.
Especially given her dress and demeanor, she didn't seem like she was raised in an ordinary household. Such a girl didn't look like she lacked money, so why would she set up a stall here!
Faced with the curious glances thrown her way, Zhong Niangyao gave no indication that she noticed them, continuing to play with her phone.
Since arriving in this world, she had found everything about it incredibly interesting, particularly the electronic devices. She had anticipated a lengthy period of adjustment to learn how to use them proficiently. But who could have guessed that she would master them immediately upon her first try, as if she had operated them countless times before.
With time, she had grown truly puzzled about the reason she had been reborn in this body; moreover, while there was some instability between her soul and body, she felt, for some reason, that there wasn't a significant sense of rejection in this new form—as if the body was meant to be hers.
With all the coincidences and uncertainties, Zhong Niangyao did not dwell on them too much. As the sole descendant of the Ghost Valley Master sect, she did not cling too tightly to the notion of destiny; letting things take their natural course was sufficient. Thus, after arriving in this world, she quickly came to terms with her new reality and adapted swiftly.
However, this soul's instability was certainly not a good sign. Thus, she decided to return to her previous profession, accruing some Merit to stabilize her soul.
She did not want to hastily waste this rare opportunity of rebirth; after all, she might not be so lucky to be reborn again.
While Zhong Niangyao was engrossed in her phone and lost in thought, an old man in a white Tang suit and a look of inscrutable depth approached her stall.
"Elder, is there something you need?" Zhong Niangyao looked up and spoke indifferently, "If not, please step aside; you're blocking my light."
Despite the clear indication to leave, the old man acted as if he hadn't heard a thing and simply sat down opposite her, "Young lady, listen to my advice, this is not the place for you."
"Oh?" Zhong Niangyao raised an eyebrow and responded with a half-smile, "Elder, why do you assume that this isn't the place for me? Could it be that I don't look like a fortune-teller?"
Not at all like one.
Though the old man didn't voice the words, his expression conveyed his thoughts clearly enough, "Young lady, you're not someone who lacks money. Why on earth are you doing this?"
"What's wrong with what I'm doing?" Zhong Niangyao wasn't offended, "Elder, you practice your divination, and I'll do mine. There's no conflict between us, so why bother to advise me?"
This old man was the fortune-teller who set up shop next to her.
"Ah, you stubborn girl, why won't you listen to good advice!" The old man shook his head, speaking with a hint of helplessness, "At your age, you should be studying hard in school. Why come out and do this kind of work?"
"Elder, as someone with some skill, can't you see whether I have any of my own?"
She could tell that this man was not a charlatan; he did possess some skills. Indeed, based on those modest abilities, he seemed to thrive here.
But the man advised her out of good intentions and bore no malice.
So, in facing the old man, she did not get upset.
"You—"
Hearing Zhong Niangyao's words, the old man's face revealed a moment of hesitation because he was not sure whether such a young girl really had any genuine talent.