Chapter 29: Another Prophecy

County Town. The State-run Restaurant.

When Li Yi drove his mule cart up to the state-run restaurant, he saw from a distance that Liu Jingshan was standing outside the entrance with a man in an olive-green uniform, seemingly engaged in conversation.

Paying little mind to this, Li Yi called out a sharp "Whoa!" as the cart reached the front of the restaurant. The large red mule stopped immediately. Just as Li Yi was about to tether the mule to a nearby poplar tree, he heard Liu Jingshan call out, "Brother Li Yi, you're here! Captain Wang has something he wants to discuss with you."

Li Yi looked up and recognized Wang Anguo, the man he had met briefly that other day.

Wang Anguo strode over to Li Yi, grabbed his hand, and exclaimed, "I’ve finally found you!"

Seeing the excitement and warmth in Wang Anguo’s demeanor, Li Yi guessed that the one-yuan coin had indeed served its purpose.

"It is truly good to see you alive," Li Yi said sincerely.

Upon hearing this, Wang Anguo felt a jolt of shock. After the arrest operation yesterday, when he had pulled out the one-yuan coin that had been pierced by a bullet, he and his entire team had broken into a cold sweat. While everyone else marveled at his good luck, Wang Anguo knew this wasn't about luck—someone had saved his life.

In truth, after meeting Li Yi that day, Wang Anguo hadn't taken his words to heart. A staunch atheist, he didn't believe in ghosts, spirits, or fortune-telling. He had only kept the coin because he had simply forgotten about it. He never imagined that this very coin would save his life.

"Brother Li Yi, are you truly a practitioner of physiognomy?" Wang Anguo asked in a low, serious voice.

Returning home last night, he had carefully recalled every scene from when Li Yi gave him the coin, as well as every word spoken. He was certain he had never met this young man before. Furthermore, the fact that the dangerous fugitive Zhou Baoshan had fled to Qingshan County was not public knowledge, so there was no possibility of a setup. Besides, his own decision to lead the team to the front lines had been spontaneous, with no prior plan. Therefore, Wang Anguo concluded that the young man had genuinely foreseen his danger and taken preemptive measures.

If not for that one-yuan coin, Wang Anguo believed he would now be a corpse.

Realizing this, Wang Anguo was filled with gratitude toward Li Yi; he wanted to thank him in person. At the same time, he was deeply intrigued and wanted to ask how he had anticipated the danger and why he had chosen such an incredible method to ensure his survival. Recalling that their first meeting took place at the state-run restaurant—where Li Yi seemed to be delivering goods—Wang Anguo had arrived early that morning to inquire about him. As the manager of the restaurant, Liu Jingshan naturally knew the captain of the criminal police and answered his questions without hesitation.

Thus, Wang Anguo had been waiting there for Li Yi.

"You already have the answer in your heart, don't you?" Li Yi said calmly.

Wang Anguo laughed heartily. "Brother Li Yi, you really are a remarkable man. I will never forget this life-saving debt. May I treat you to a meal?"

Li Yi smiled. "There is no rush for a meal. Let me finish delivering my goods first."

Liu Jingshan, standing nearby, interjected quickly, "Brother Li Yi, why don't you and Captain Wang go inside and sit for a while? Leave the weighing to me." With that, he signaled his staff to begin unloading the goods.

Happy to be relieved of the labor, Li Yi thanked him and walked into the restaurant with Wang Anguo. Once inside, Wang Anguo offered to order food, but Li Yi stopped him. It was not yet ten in the morning; it was far too early for lunch, and he had no appetite.

Li Yi looked at Wang Anguo and said, "I know you have many questions, but my profession has its own rules. Please forgive me for not being able to explain much."

Wang Anguo had heard that some mysterious sects held strict codes that their members dared not violate, so he nodded. "I understand. I won't ask."

He then paused and said, "I suppose you don't know who I am yet. Let me introduce myself..."

Before he could finish, Li Yi spoke up: "Your name is Wang Anguo. You are twenty-eight years old, served in the military in your youth, sustained a life-threatening injury, and are now the captain of the county’s criminal investigation unit."

"You... you..."

"I haven't investigated you, nor do I have the capability to do so. These are things I calculated. Of course, you are free not to believe me."

"No, I believe you!" Wang Anguo replied hurriedly. That he was a police captain was no secret, and his military service was common knowledge, but the fact that he had sustained a life-threatening injury was unknown even to his parents, wife, and children. How could Li Yi possibly know? Coupled with the incident of the coin, Wang Anguo was now deeply convinced of Li Yi’s abilities.

"Captain Wang, I am just a common citizen. Saving you was merely because I couldn't bear to see a man who had bled and suffered for his country die such a pathetic death at the hands of scum. You don't need to take it to heart," Li Yi said.

"Brother Li Yi, a debt of life is not easily forgotten. If you ever need anything in the future, come to the county bureau. I, Wang Anguo, will do whatever it takes to help you!"

Seeing the sincerity in Wang Anguo’s expression, Li Yi nodded. He was a man who knew how to repay kindness; saving him had been worth it.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to Li Yi. Not long after Wang Anguo was originally destined to die, a terrifying incident had gripped Qingshan County: over a dozen children went missing in a very short span of time. Despite the massive police mobilization, the case remained unsolved. Li Yi remembered that because of this, many in the county bureau were held accountable, and the chief, deputy chief, and the captain of the criminal police were all stripped of their positions.

Since Wang Anguo was still alive and serving as captain, he would likely be the one held accountable when this incident occurred. Li Yi hesitated, wondering if he should offer a warning.

Seeing Li Yi frowning, Wang Anguo asked, "Brother Li Yi, what's wrong? Is something troubling you?"

"Not me, but you."

"What do you mean? I'm doing just fine," Wang Anguo asked, bewildered.

"You will have trouble soon enough." Li Yi looked at him. "Unless things change, a major event will soon occur in the county. If not handled correctly, your future will be severely impacted."

"What? What kind of major event? Is it that serious?" Wang Anguo asked urgently.

"Heaven's secrets must not be revealed."

After maintaining this air of mystery, Li Yi added, "Wait for now. If you truly cannot solve it, come find me."

With that, Li Yi walked toward Liu Jingshan to settle the payment, leaving behind a completely stunned Wang Anguo.