Chapter 85 You Claim to Be a True Gentleman

"Though he is far less handsome than I am," the Abbot said, drawing out his tone without a single blush or skipping a heartbeat. Although everyone despised Wang Menglong’s character, there was no denying his looks; he could easily pass for an elegant and refined young gentleman.

"However, his name is even uglier—far worse than mine." With that, the Abbot burst into laughter. The scene fell dead silent. What a chillingly bad joke. Wang Menglong didn't mind at all; instead, he wore a calm expression, having already begun to slowly adapt.

It was just like what his master had once told him: "A tree without bark must surely die, a man without shame is invincible." Wang Menglong reckoned that only now did he truly begin to grasp a fraction of its meaning, though whether he had completely misinterpreted it was anyone's guess.

Anyway, he figured that had he acted like this beforehand, he wouldn't have been in such a pathetic state when wrongfully accused. So, pressing his advantage, he continued, "You truly live up to your name—you are peerless in this world."

"I just love your shamelessness," the Abbot declared. "Well, I suppose I should reward you with something. This old man isn't a stingy sort."

"Alright, let's go with this." The Abbot slapped his thigh hard and said, "If you ever want your fortune told, I'll knock ten copper coins off the price for you. But you only get one chance—next time, it's full price."

Those who had been straining their ears to hear what kind of reward it would be were left dumbfounded on the spot. Wang Menglong was equally startled, but seeing the Abbot wear an expression that clearly said *you've already gotten a huge bargain*, Wang Menglong gritted his teeth and whispered, "May I ask how much a fortune-telling session costs?"

Another unexpected answer. The Abbot replied, "Twenty coins." Put that way, saving ten coins certainly wasn't a small amount, but the problem was that Wang Menglong didn't feel like he was short of a few copper coins.

The Abbot looked at Wang Menglong's expression, reading his thoughts with absolute clarity, and remarked out of nowhere, "Only when you're old do you realize how hard it is to come by these coins." While true, it felt rather out of place.

Wang Menglong wasn't stupid; he quickly figured out the crucial point, the crux of the matter. Cupping his fists, he asked, "Is there something special about these coins?" Upon hearing Wang Menglong's question, a look of sudden realization dawned on many faces.

This time, the Abbot did not disappoint. He stated, "One coin for a year of life." Twenty coins a session meant twenty years of life per reading. What a heavy toll, what an exorbitant price.

An uproar ensued.

"This old man can calculate the shifts of heaven and earth, this old man can foresee the impermanence of the world! My divination is infallible!" The Abbot gave the cloth banner a vigorous wave, though nothing much changed. "Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, don't miss out! Come one, come all for readings on your future, romance, fortune, and misfortune!" The towering, otherworldly demeanor he had built up in the first half of his sentence vanished completely in the second.

"Why don't you just explain what this thing actually is?" someone shouted loudly. By this time, quite a few people had decided this fellow was nothing more than a charlatan. After all, while true masters in these troubled times hid their abilities, there were also plenty of swindlers trying to fish in troubled waters.

"Cannot say, cannot say." The Abbot glanced up at the sky and said in a hurried voice, "He is watching."

"Hocus-pocus! You old geezer, why don't you calculate my future then?" A booming voice rang out, and the crowd was more than happy to watch the show. After all, the more reckless people there were, the better the contrast, and the more entertaining the spectacle.

The Abbot wasn't angry at all. With a beaming smile, he said, "Twenty coins, fair to young and old alike, no haggling."

"If you have the ability, come and take it." A man pushed through the crowd, walked up, and stared coldly at the Abbot. Then he swept his gaze across the surrounding people with utter disdain. "A bunch of cowards clinging to life, destined to achieve nothing."

Those words were harsh, but they were indeed the truth. Even so, a cold glint flashed in the eyes of the crowd; such words begged to be hated. In an instant, the man accumulated a large number of enemies, yet he remained completely unfazed, wearing an expression that seemed to say, *What can you possibly do to me?*

Upon hearing this, the Abbot tugged fiercely at his beard and paced back and forth in circles on the spot, carving out tiny footprints. Suddenly, he stopped and shouted loudly, "Great misfortune!"

"Nonsense! Who dares lay a finger on me? Just on account of these good-for-nothings?" True or false, anyone hearing those words would find them grating.

With a swift motion of his hand—reaching out and pulling back as if snatching away money—the Abbot sat down casually on the ground and said, "We are even. Ask again and you'll have to pay." With just those two gentle gestures, the man suddenly looked noticeably older, though the change was subtle due to his status as a cultivator.

However, there were plenty of profound cultivators present among the onlookers who clearly felt that shift. Of course, the one who felt it most acutely was the man himself. At that moment, not a shred of his previous arrogance remained. Twenty years of his lifespan had vanished in an instant. For a first-realm cultivator, that blow was by no means light.

"How dare you?" The man pointed a trembling finger at the Abbot, shock and terror written all over his face.

"Why wouldn't I dare?" The Abbot smiled faintly, causing the crowd to involuntarily take several steps back. Someone who could snatch away another person's lifespan with a wave of his hand was simply too dangerous; everyone instinctively wanted to distance themselves from him.

The Abbot shook his head, wearing an expression that said *you're all out of your minds, I'm just a good person so don't be afraid of me*. Reaching out, he picked up a branch, tied the cloth banner to it, and stuck it into the ground.

The four large characters *Infallible Divination* fluttered slowly on the cloth, looking crooked and distorted as the wind blew, almost as if they were about to peel right off the fabric.

Wang Menglong retreated a few steps along with the crowd, then suddenly snapped to his senses: *I've scored a massive bargain!* Indeed, living life like this meant having great luck. Wang Menglong felt a surge of excitement. *But what should I have my fortune told about? My future, my romance, or perhaps who is framing me? It's only ten years of life—I can afford it!*

Just as Wang Menglong's mind was churning with excitement, a silver egg flashed.

Two figures materialized, both dressed in black.

Looking out at the world before them, they felt a sense of displacement, as if ages had passed. Yet only a few days had actually gone away, though Bai Sansheng felt as though countless years had flown by. There was also a profound sense of unfamiliarity, as if he had never been here before.

Bai Yun patted Bai Sansheng on the shoulder and smiled. "We have finally escaped the cage." Bai Sansheng clearly felt a bit unaccustomed to this somewhat affectionate gesture and instinctively wanted to pull away. Bai Yun didn't mind and withdrew his hand. Gazing up at the sky, he said, "From now on, heaven and earth are merely our scenery, and you and I are the viewers. All living beings in this world are to us nothing more than a play."

"Including Liu Erhei? And those subordinates of mine, your friends?" Bai Sansheng asked. When the three of them had been traveling together, a single sweep of obliteration had left Liu Erhei dead on the spot. Yet Bai Yun had continued walking unconcernedly, simply saying, "This place holds no danger for us; we are merely onlookers."

*Our* meant you and me, with no one else.

Bai Yun nodded and said indifferently, "A true gentleman does not speak while watching the game."

A voice came from afar, brimming with mockery. "What gentleman? You're merely two wandering ghosts added to heaven and earth from this day forward."