Huangfu Jingchen saw his mysterious airs and silently laughed to himself. He said, "Master, are you not exaggerating too much? Although I’m not of the best temper, I wouldn’t casually lay hands on soone. Why are you intentionally piquing curiosity in this way?"
Master Kong Chan sighed repeatedly, his white eyebrows fluttering, seemingly very troubled, yet he looked up and said, "If this old monk tells the truth, the benefactor truly won’t strike ?"
Huangfu Jingchen’s gaze bore a hint of mockery as he said, "I’m curious too, what kind of face could evoke such a reaction from ! Rest assured, I won’t act violently!"
His disdain for Kong Chan grew in his heart. Kong Chan’s theatrics had captured everyone’s attention in the venue, even causing the fortune-readers to montarily forget their tasks and the incense guests to stop listening, all turning their gaze towards him.
As Kong Chan scrutinized Huangfu Jingchen’s face, his voice carried hints of caution and care: "The benefactor’s features are both wealthy and noble!"
The crowd couldn’t help but laugh, and soone whispered, "Wealthy and noble—how would such a face incite violence? This is a good face; you’d barely have ti to shower it with silver!"
Huangfu Jingchen said nothing. Wealthy and noble, well, he could take that as a lucky guess, but it wasn’t hard to guess correctly. The deanor cultivated by a person’s living environnt from childhood often leaves so clues. Soone with a keen eye can see this naturally. Even if they couldn’t see it, re flattery or an attempt to please is harmless. After all, saying soone is wealthy and noble—even if they’re not presently so—who can say they won’t be in the future? Who wouldn’t hope to be?
Xia Wenjin watched from a few steps away, smiling. She stood neither too close nor too far, blocked by a few people in front of her. It seed Kong Chan hadn’t noticed her.
Huangfu Jingchen said quietly, "What else?"
Kong Chan once again stroked his fake beard, his eyes darting about before speaking, "Though wealthy and noble, it is the sign of a short life..."
The crowd murmured quietly. No wonder Master Kong Chan had warned that he might be beaten to death. Imagine hearing soone tell another person suddenly that their life would be short—one would naturally want to beat such a bearer of ill news. There’s no fault in that!
Huangfu Jingchen frowned slightly, looking at the Kong Chan before him.
After saying this, Kong Chan even closed his eyes, his eyelids twitching, looking as if resigned to be hit. However, after a mont with no blows landing, he cautiously opened his eyes and saw the young man standing calmly before him, just looking at him plain and simple. Such an elevated posture made Kong Chan uncomfortable, and he leaned back slightly, increasing the distance. Glancing at Huangfu Jingchen one more ti, he ntally praised the young man’s extraordinary deanor—it was evident at a glance. It was a naturally emanated deanor that was both gracefully noble and proudly aloof.
Such grace, such composure, such presence, and charisma—it seed to be more than just being wealthy and noble.
He squinted, his eyes rolling, unfortunately realizing that although he had dabbled in the stargazing thod, he lacked its legacy and couldn’t discern certain things.
At this ti, he heard the young man’s icy, indifferent voice in front of him, "A short life? Then how many years will I live?"
Kong Chan said, "May I borrow your hand?"
Huangfu Jingchen generously extended his hand.
Kong Chan first examined the palm lines, then extended his right hand to feel over the hand bones and the back of the hand before withdrawing his hand, lowering his eyes, and extending his left hand. His thumb continuously pinched his finger joints, moving from the index finger to the middle finger, from the middle finger to the ring finger, from the ring finger to the pinky, and started back at the index finger, repeating the cycle.
The whole place was silent!
If what Kong Chan said was true, then the youth’s grace would indeed be a pity—would the heavens truly envy one so young and outstanding?
If what was said was false, then how could soone of such a high monk’s status and identity randomly curse soone with a short life?
The most unaffected were Huangfu Jingchen and Xia Wenjin.
Huangfu Jingchen knew about the River Mouth Village incident and believed this man was just using scare tactics to draw attention, embellishing his high monk status, but, in truth, was nothing but a charlatan.
Xia Wenjin had also seen Kong Chan’s true face, rely a young man, barely older than them, masquerading under the guise of a monk to deceive people. Could such a person’s mouth speak any truth?
However, seeing his committed presentation, Xia Wenjin couldn’t help but sigh. It’s rare for a conman to be so dedicated!
The crowd didn’t think so, though. Kong Chan’s finger pinching beca faster and faster, eventually turning into a blur. Just this dexterity without disorder left the crowd in awe.
They increasingly believed Kong Chan’s words must be true, that the master was currently striving to calculate. This tall, jade-like youth, resembling an immortal, seemingly having walked out of a painting, could very well be destined for an early demise.
Finally, Kong Chan withdrew his hand.
When he looked up, he found all eyes on him. Suddenly, he scratched his bald head—a gesture quite unbecoming of a high monk, more characteristic of a little monk. But as a high monk with white hair and brows, it seed quite out of place.
At this mont, who cared about these details? Everyone was consud with whether this young gentleman had such a fate. Had Master Kong Chan calculated it?
Huangfu Jingchen said coolly, "Well?"
His indifferent countenance, chilling voice, and aloof composure, combined with that noble grace, showed no anger or fear, which was truly admirable. After all, anyone told they had a short life would induce so fear, right? This young man accepted it as if ready to et his fate—remarkable!
Kong Chan scratched his head again before saying, "As it currently seems, from the benefactor’s face and palm, one might not live past nineteen. According to my calculations, three months ago, you were supposed to... ahem, ahem, may I ask how old the benefactor is this year?"
Huangfu Jingchen replied evenly, "Seventeen years and eight months!"
The crowd murmured again, realizing that this immortal-like youth before them only had one year and four months to live?
The young incense guests from the west who had secretly admired Huangfu Jingchen were disheartened, and many present felt a sense of regret.
Kong Chan raised his eyes to look at Huangfu Jingchen, who returned the gaze, and the air between the two grew awkward.
"Pfft!"
A soft laugh broke the tension, drawing all eyes in the direction of the sound.
The laughter ca from another young man, equally exuding a unique aura. His natural elegance and ease gave him an impressive presence despite his slender stature and undeveloped physique; his presence was not diminished, and his charisma remained strong.
Xia Wenjin gleefully said, "Why not have the Great Monk check for as well? How many years can I live?" With that, she stepped forward towards Kong Chan, her eyes twinkling brightly, a playful, smiling gaze on Kong Chan’s face.
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