Chapter 36: An Extraordinary Man

"What does the master mean by this?"
"In truth, all karmic ties have already formed, and there is no longer any need for you to arrange anything further. Congratulations, Madam, with such a grandson-in-law, your family is destined to prosper!" The young diviner suddenly bowed respectfully.
The old lady rose as well. "Does this mean my granddaughter has already..." She left her sentence unfinished.
The young diviner merely smiled in silence.
The old lady waved her hand, and a middle-aged woman accompanying her produced a stack of bills and handed them to the young diviner.
"This is eight thousand eight hundred. I hope your reading is worth the price!"
No sooner had the old lady spoken than someone called out, "Master, is it my turn now?"
It turned out several people were still waiting behind her, eager to take their turn.
"Madam, I must say, I came all the way from Shangdu just to meet Master Yu. Friends in my circle told me that Master Yu's readings are nothing short of miraculous. Eight thousand eight hundred per reading is absolutely worth it! Unfortunately, he only does three readings a day, chosen at random from those fated to meet him. You are truly blessed." A middle-aged businessman, radiating wealth, stood beside the old lady, speaking excitedly.
The old lady merely smiled softly. She had heard of this place and now, seeing so many flocking to it, felt her journey had not been in vain.
"Today's second reading is yours!" the young diviner suddenly pointed at the businessman.
"Me? Truly wonderful! I've waited three days, and finally it's my turn!" The businessman grinned like an elated child.
The old lady nodded to him, and the middle-aged woman beside her stepped forward to support her. "Madam, it's time to return."
The old lady nodded and departed under her escort.
The businessman immediately sat down at the stall, as if afraid someone might take his spot.
"What do you wish to know?" The young diviner glanced at the businessman, his eyes pausing for a moment.
"Heh, I'm a businessman, so of course I want to know my fortune. Oh, and my name is Yan, Yan Shouzhong from Shangdu! I happen to have a project in River City that's vital for my Yan family to break into this market, so I came especially to seek your guidance."
His words instantly caused a stir among those waiting. "So this is the head of the Yan family conglomerate from Shangdu! With all that money, he still wants to divine his fortune—aiming for the heavens, perhaps?"
"They could buy a small country, but who ever thinks they have enough money? In fact, the wealthier they become, the more they believe in fate. Nothing in business is ever smooth sailing. Coming for a reading is only natural, to find some peace of mind."
"Looks like I may not get a turn today," some lamented, though none left, for there was still one more reading left.
"Master Yu, lately I've felt uneasy. Is there some sign of loss in my fortunes?" Yan Shouzhong asked eagerly.
"Have you offended anyone recently, Mr. Yan?" Master Yu looked at his face, asking again.
Yan Shouzhong thought for a moment, shook his head, but then said uncertainly, "I can't be sure. In business, it's inevitable, but I can guarantee I've never offended anyone in private. Everyone knows I'm easygoing—easygoing brings prosperity!"
Master Yu played with several ancient coins, pondering. "You haven't offended anyone, but that doesn't mean trouble won't come your way. If it does, it will be far more than a matter of fortune. Before trouble arises, be vigilant. You must pay attention to anyone whose name contains the character 'One.' This person can be either divine or demonic; their fate is intertwined with yours!"
"What do you mean?" Yan Shouzhong asked timidly.
"I can only say so much. The rest is for you to understand yourself."
Seeing Master Yu about to finish, Yan Shouzhong hurriedly asked, "Master, are you telling me to treat this person kindly?"
Master Yu smiled without answering, tidying his things.

Yan Shouzhong lingered for a moment, seeming to grasp something, then bowed deeply. "Many thanks for your guidance today!"
Without further delay, he left after laying down the payment, his expression solemn.
"That's all for today!" the young diviner suddenly announced.
"What? Isn't there one more reading? Why is it over?" The waiting crowd erupted in protest.
"Master Yu, you always do three readings a day! You've only done two today!"
"I'll pay double—please, just read my fortune now!"
"Hmph, double? I'll pay four times as much!"
"Enough. Everyone, please disperse." The young diviner was unmoved, speaking calmly. "The last reading for today already has its recipient, so I ask you all to leave."
"What? Someone already has it? Where are they?"
"Master, are you deceiving us? Where is this person?"
"Don't speak that way. Master Yu would never deceive us. If he says someone has it, then someone has it. I think we should all head home and try again tomorrow."
After much commotion, the crowd finally dispersed.
The happiest of all were the other fortune-tellers, whose turn it was at last to do business.
Once everyone had gone, a middle-aged man with a goatee and long robe behind Master Yu hurried to take down the sign and pack up.
"Little Ge, what brings you here today?"
The man in the robe was Master Ge, though Master Yu addressed him as 'Little Ge,' which seemed odd.
"Master, I wish to ask you for a reading!" Master Ge actually called Master Yu 'Master,' behaving as a true disciple.
"I know what you want to ask. Let's talk as we walk." Master Yu sighed softly.
They walked on as Master Yu spoke.
"In my youth, I chanced upon the art of destiny. Yet it is so profound that I have never grasped its essence, and my life is gradually slipping away. If not for a peculiar method in this art—collecting the energy of fate through three readings a day to sustain my life—I might long ago have faded into smoke."
"But Master, you still possess eternal youth!" Master Ge exclaimed with envy. His own aptitude was mediocre, and his understanding of the art of destiny barely scratched the surface.
Master Yu sighed again.
"It's merely a façade. Do you know why I took the name 'Yu Sheng'—'Remaining Life'? Because my time is running out. I hope to find true immortality in these remaining days."
He paused. "Today, both readings were connected to the same person. This has never happened before. And the reading you wish to ask is also about him! Could this be a sign? Could this person help me fulfill my wish?"
They arrived at an old, weathered house. Yu Sheng sipped tea calmly.
"Master, I once cast a reading for this person, but all I saw was a fog. What does this mean?" Ge asked respectfully.
"It means he is no ordinary man!" Yu Sheng's gaze grew distant, his hand cradling the teacup with a feminine grace.
"Ah!" Ge was startled. "No ordinary man!"

Yu Sheng was silent for a while.
"Enough, you should go. I cannot divine this person, and you should not seek me again." Yu Sheng set down his cup, waving his hand and speaking softly.
"Master, are you going to travel again?" Ge asked, for Yu Sheng often wandered, his identity ever-changing.
"Our master-disciple bond has long since ended. You need not call me Master anymore. I once told you to pursue Buddhism—now is the time. Let go of everything and go." Yu Sheng closed his eyes, saying nothing further.
Ge hesitated, then knelt before Yu Sheng, bowing three times, and departed silently.
After a long while, Yu Sheng opened his eyes and suddenly recited:
"The bearer of fate is energy; the root of energy is fate; the endless cycle is fortune; the rules are destiny!"
Between his brows, a faint shadow of a vertical eye appeared before his eyes closed again.
Some time later,
He suddenly opened his eyes wide, his face paler than ever, and spat a mouthful of blood.
"Truly no ordinary man!" He wiped the blood from his lips with his sleeve, his voice trembling with weakness.
"I burned ten years of my hard-won lifespan, yet it was not enough to divine this person's destiny. Yet I am satisfied—at least I glimpsed that he is indeed my opportunity!"
His gaze grew fervent, and a flush appeared on his deathly pale cheeks.
Then his expression became calm, his face grave. He extended a slender finger, and a beam of light suddenly shone from its tip.
He pointed toward the distance, chanting: "No one can escape destiny's grasp. Though I cannot see your fate, I will let destiny's seed take root in your heart. Your destiny is meant to fulfill mine! This is the art of destiny."
He withdrew his finger, his face now even paler. Rising, he walked to a wall, gently traced it with his fingertip, and a mottled wooden door appeared.
He pushed it open, and a wave of musty decay greeted him.
Though the room had long been unvisited, its furnishings were not chaotic—only thick with dust. The decor was old, almost ancient, and everywhere were feminine items; it was clearly a woman's boudoir.
Yu Sheng entered, walked to the dressing table, and picked up a mirror, brushing off the dust.
It was a bronze mirror, exuding an ancient aura.
As the dust was cleared, the hazy surface reflected not Yu Sheng's face, but that of a long-haired woman with jet-black locks.
Yu Sheng gazed at the image for a long while, then formed a mystical gesture with his hands: "Reverse Yin and Yang, shift Heaven and Earth, the mysteries of the cosmos, harmony and light! Celestial Mirror, restore my true form!"
The old bronze mirror suddenly radiated light, wrapping Yu Sheng in its glow like a rosy cloud.
Within moments, a graceful figure appeared in the light—a woman with hair flowing to her waist...