Chapter 67: Wang Anguo's Transformation

"Didn't you head back home to celebrate your mother's birthday, buddy? How did you end up looking like a complete mess?"

Looking at the disheveled Li Gang in front of him, Wang Anguo was utterly shocked.

In his eyes, Li Gang had always been a remarkably proper person. Although he wasn't particularly obsessed with fashion or dressing up, he was always neat, clean, and well-groomed no matter the occasion.

Yet, the man standing before him bore no resemblance to his usual self. Not only were his clothes completely tattered, but he was also covered in dirt.

Even more unbearable to look at was his hair, half of which had been scorched away, making him look from a distance as though he had been gnawed on by a dog.

Li Gang, however, paid no attention to any of this. He staggered over to Wang Anguo's desk and said, panting heavily, "Brother, thank you!"

Wang Anguo was completely dumbfounded and immediately asked, "What on earth are you pulling here? What are you thanking me for?"

Li Gang's expression remained somewhat agitated. He braced both hands on Wang Anguo's desk and said in a deep voice, "Brother Wang, your brother here just cheated death..."

At this point, he became choked up, unable to speak, and Wang Anguo even caught a glimpse of tears welling up in his eyes.

Realizing that his childhood friend must have gone through something terrifying, Wang Anguo immediately walked over to him, patted his shoulder, and said, "It's fine... It's fine, it's all in the past!"

Afterward, Wang Anguo poured him a cup of water and motioned for him to drink it.

Li Gang drained the water in a single gulp, then calmed down slightly and said, "Brother, Brother Li Yi is simply miraculous! If it weren't for him, you'd be holding a memorial service for me tomorrow!"

Hearing Li Gang mention Li Yi, Wang Anguo hurriedly asked, "What on earth happened?"

Having finally steadied his churning emotions, Li Gang gave Wang Anguo a detailed account of what had just transpired.

Then, Li Gang said solemnly, "To be honest with you, one of my feet was already inside the grave. If I hadn't hesitated for even half a second while thinking of what Brother Li Yi said, I would have been crushed dead on the spot by the collapsing gate tower!"

"Even if I had miraculously escaped being crushed, I would have been blown to pieces by the subsequent explosion, or burned alive by the raging fire. In short, it would have been the kind of death where they couldn't even find an intact corpse; there was absolute zero chance of surviving."

Hearing Li Gang's account, Wang Anguo broke out in a cold sweat.

He truly hadn't expected that what Li Yi had predicted earlier would manifest so quickly. It was nothing short of miraculous!

Compared to the ordeal he had previously experienced, what Li Gang had just been through was likewise a brush with death!

Moreover, the outcome would have been far more tragic.

Even if he himself had died, it would have at least been from a single gunshot, leaving behind a relatively intact body.

If Li Gang had actually rushed in, there would have been nothing left of him but a handful of ashes!

Meanwhile, Wang Anguo recalled the exact words Li Yi had spoken upon first meeting Li Gang: "Deficient in Water and plagued by Fire—a doomed short-lived ghost!"

Clearly, Li Yi had already foreseen that his friend would face such a calamity. Wasn't this precisely being plagued by Fire? Meeting an untimely death at the age of twenty-six—wasn't that the definition of a short-lived ghost?

Thinking of this, Wang Anguo couldn't help but exclaim, "Brother Li Yi is truly a divine being!"

Li Gang echoed with deep conviction, "Indeed! To think that there really are such infallible, one-word-oracle fortunetellers in this world. We were simply too ignorant before!"

"Do you remember what Brother Li Yi said to you that day?" Wang Anguo suddenly asked.

"I remember, deficient in Water and plagued by Fire, the physiognomy of an early death..."

"Hold on, not that!"

"Then what?"

"A divination fee of 500!"

Only then did Li Gang remember that Li Yi had indeed told him at the time that fortune-telling wasn't free—the divination fee was 500 yuan, and he had even added that no money would be charged if the prediction missed.

Now, not only had the man hit the mark with absolute precision, but he had also indirectly saved his life. It was time to honor the promise.

"If you hadn't mentioned it, I really would have forgotten!"

Suddenly, Li Gang's expression turned somewhat grim as he said, "500 yuan! Where on earth am I supposed to get 500 yuan right now?"

Wang Anguo frowned instantly and said, "You make a monthly salary of 40 yuan, plus various allowances that bring home at least 48 yuan, and you've been working for eight years. How can you not even scrape together 500 yuan?"

Li Gang smiled bitterly and said, "You know how I am—I spend two yuan for every one I earn. I simply can't hold onto money!"

"Then what do you plan to do now? Default on the debt?"

"Who's talking about defaulting? I just don't have that much cash on hand. You have to help me!"

"How am I supposed to help?"

"Lend me some money!"

Wang Anguo said with some exasperation, "Fine, how much do you need?"

Li Gang thought for a moment and said, "I have fifty!"

Wang Anguo: "*%￥%……*"

Looking at Li Gang's carefree, impudent expression, Wang Anguo was reminded of the time this rascal bought his bicycle—the same request for a loan, the exact same routine.

"I don't have 450. Even if I did, your sister-in-law wouldn't let me lend it. 220, and not a penny more!"

With that, Wang Anguo pulled a stack of large-denomination banknotes from his pocket and handed them to Li Gang.

Li Gang didn't stand on ceremony; he tucked the money straight into his pocket and said, "I'll get the rest from my old man!"

Wang Anguo said with a twinge of heartache, "Pay me back as soon as you have it! That's my bonus for the past few months, and you've taken the whole lot. It breaks my heart!"

"Hahaha, I won't short you!"

"All right, hurry up and change into some clean clothes before heading back. Don't keep your mother waiting," Wang Anguo said.

"Got it!"

With that, Li Gang left Wang Anguo's office.

Watching Li Gang's retreating figure, Wang Anguo sank into deep contemplation.

Today's events had once again shattered his perception of Li Yi!

Such an ability could no longer be described as mere physiognomy reading; it was essentially equivalent to foreseeing the future.

Even if a person like this appeared ordinary right now, they would eventually transform into a dragon when the wind and clouds met.

Right then, Wang Anguo felt it necessary to adjust his mode of interaction with Li Yi.

Previously, he had only thought of Li Yi as someone extraordinary, and coupled with the fact that Li Yi had saved his life, his feelings were primarily gratitude. Therefore, he only wanted to look out for him within his capabilities.

However, after experiencing the child abduction case and this incident with Li Gang, he suddenly realized that it wasn't he who was looking out for Li Yi; rather, it was Li Yi who was taking care of him.

Furthermore, Li Yi's value to him went far beyond simply saving his life. Now it appeared that he was also of immense help to his career.

A person like this must never be treated as an ordinary acquaintance; he had to be treated as the closest of partners.

Although thinking this way might sound a bit utilitarian, Wang Anguo believed it was entirely necessary.

Leaving aside the guidance of a master that could save one from countless detours, his near-prophetic ability alone was enough to alter a person's destiny.

Whether for his own sake or for the sake of his family and friends around him, this man Li Yi had to be treated with the utmost seriousness; his goodwill must never be chilled.