Chapter 26
Part 2
“I want to follow you. That youngster of mine who got into trouble is hiding out now. He won’t be coming out anytime soon, and I wouldn’t find him even if I searched the entire world. It’s better to wait a while. Maybe he’ll slip up eventually. Then I can go find him without any trouble.”
Lian Wushang always carried a faint, elusive fragrance. It was kind of disgusting, really—a grown man carrying around a body scent like that was just too effeminate. Yet Wen Heng felt no trace of effeminacy in Lian Wushang. On the contrary, he yearned to draw nearer, ever closer. Even when the ancient ancestor Mu Jiaoqian’s body once drifted with a faint, lingering fragrance, Wen Heng had only found it unpleasant to inhale.
“My family line has only me left, along with two brothers from different branches. Family matters are left to them to handle. I’m usually alone at home, my brothers are all busy. This time, the younger generation made a mistake. They simply couldn’t spare the time, so they asked me to handle it.” Lian Wushang sighed, gazing drearily at the stars in the sky.
“It’s my own incompetence, really. My health has always been poor. I wanted to help my brothers with what little I could manage, but my old ailments flared up unexpectedly. Now, not only can I not assist, but I’m dragging you all down…” Before Lian Wushang could finish, Wen Heng stuffed a pastry into his mouth.
“What nonsense are you spouting? Burden or not, us coming together is fate. Besides, Wushang, you’ve helped us immensely. If not for you today, we wouldn’t have made it into Qingcheng Town.” Wen Heng smiled at Lian Wushang. “I haven’t even thanked you yet. Saying things like that is too formal.”
Wen Heng sighed softly. “I don’t even know who I was before. When I woke up, I was in Xiaoyan Town. If Old Wen hadn’t taken me in, I’d have no idea where I’d be now. I feel like I’m not much of a person. All I want is to live a decent life with Er Gou, Xiao Mao, and you. Just having enough to eat and wear, a place to call home—that’d be more than enough.”
Lian Wushang raised his hand and patted Wen Heng’s shoulder. “It will happen. I believe you’re destined for great things.”
With the Heaven-Supporting Giant Tree within him, Wen Heng embodied a fragment of the Dao’s consciousness. Ordinary existence was never meant for him. Besides, even without the tree, a drought demon of his caliber would never blend into the crowd.
Wen Heng scratched his head, an awkward smile spreading across his sallow face. “Heh, nothing too grand. Ever since I woke up, I’ve been seeing strange things—sometimes flashes of images, other times inexplicable sensations. Some visions have come true, but not all of them.”
Lian Wushang tilted his head slightly. “Like what?”
Wen Heng counted on his fingers: “I don’t think I’ll be begging forever, nor will Doggie stay a little beggar forever. I feel I’ll have seven disciples, and maybe even found my own sect…”
Tsk. He really couldn’t control his mouth. How dare he spout nonsense in front of Lian Wushang? Wen Heng cautiously glanced at his expression.
Lian Wushang chuckled: “Why are you looking at me?” Wen Heng scratched his cheek: “Just worried you’d think I’m dreaming…”
Lian Wushang grew serious: “No one can predict the future. Maybe one day you’ll become a legendary master.”
Wen Heng laughed heartily, then leaned back against the cart: “Legendary master? That’s a stretch… But if I ever found a sect, I’d make it truly unique.”
“Unique?” Lian Wushang inquired. “How exactly?”
Wen Heng gazed tenderly at Lian Wushang. “I can’t explain it now. Maybe when the time comes, I’ll know. Besides, right now, just surviving is a challenge—let alone founding a sect!”
Lian Wushang smiled faintly, his ordinary face somehow captivating Wen Heng’s gaze. “Hang in there!”
The two sat at the cart’s entrance, listening to Gouzi’s snores while sharing the pastries wrapped in lotus leaves. Lian Wushang seemed quite fond of sweets. Wen Heng resolved that if he could sort out the identity documents tomorrow, he’d bring his some more pastries.
On their first night in Qingcheng Town, Gouzi slept soundly, his snores deafening. Baozi climbed onto the cart with disdain, looking down on the two chatting figures. What on earth could they possibly talk about? All night long, and they didn’t seem the least bit tired. Baozi yawned, covering his ears with both paws.
Wen Heng and Lian Wushang spent the entire night analyzing where they could quickly obtain the funds needed to process the identity documents the next day. Wen Heng planned to sell his labor—he was incredibly strong, one man’s strength equaling ten. Surely someone wouldn’t mind his appearance and would hire him as a laborer.
However, Lian Wushang’s idea truly astonished Wen Heng. Lian Wushang actually suggested Wen Heng set up a stall to read fortunes for people. The stall would be placed right at the entrance of the gambling house. Wen Heng waved his hands repeatedly in refusal. He didn’t even know what a gambling house was. All he had was a knack for jinxing things—how could he possibly read fortunes for others?
Lian Wushang remained utterly unfazed. He argued that cultivation matters were inherently mysterious and profound, and Wen Heng’s “jinx” might very well be a form of mysticism. Besides, some of the things he’d predicted earlier had come true. “Don’t be afraid,” he urged. “Just give it a try. If it really doesn’t work out, you can always go back to manual labor.”
Wen Heng pondered. All he had to sell was brute strength and his jinxed tongue. No one would hire him for manual labor, and his curse might offend countless people. He feared ending up penniless and chased through the streets.
“I’ll go with you. Tomorrow morning, we’ll accompany Gouzi to report to the Qingcheng Sect first, then head to the gambling house for fortune-telling.” Lian Wushang’s words gave Wen Heng tremendous support, and he finally nodded.
“Pah! Black-hearted lotus!” Baozi rolled over. A demon god inciting a beggar to become a charlatan? Hmph! Shameless! Depraved! Baozi, his limbs shattered, covered his ears.
Dog had no idea that on this very night he slept like a dead dog, his beloved Ah Heng had been lured by Lian Wushang onto the path of fortune-telling, never to return.
If Old Wen were still alive, he’d be heartbroken: “You’re courting death! Ah Heng’s jinxed mouth is bound to offend plenty of people. The casino’s full of men who’d risk their lives for money—they’ll beat him to death!”
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