Chapter 146: The Old Swindler Who Fooled Su Yan

“Little girl, I see your forehead is dark and you are shrouded in ill fortune. I fear a disaster may occur in the coming days.”

“Pfft.”

Before Su Yan could even react, Sun Mang burst out laughing.

“Uncle, you’ve really misread her this time. Do you even know who she is?”

As he spoke the latter half of his sentence, Sun Mang even straightened his back.

The old man seemed extremely dissatisfied with his attitude, his expression as stern as still water.

“I am speaking to the little girl, why is a brat like you interrupting?”

Sun Mang hadn't expected the old man to be so fierce; he hurriedly tugged at Su Yan’s sleeve.

“Su Yan, let’s just ignore him. Let’s go inside.”

These kinds of street-side fortune tellers existed in their county town as well, and nine and a half out of ten were frauds.

Just as Su Yan withdrew her gaze, the old man's voice rang out once more.

“A person on the brink of death. A pity, what a pity.”

“Hey, who are you calling a person on the brink of death? Don't think we'll be fooled by you like that!” Sun Mang's reaction was many times more intense than Su Yan's as he confronted him in a fit of indignation.

Beneath the black cloth, Su Yan's brows furrowed slightly as she re-evaluated the old man.

“Sun Mang, stand aside.”

Having said that, she walked straight up to the old man's table.

“Then I shall trouble you, old gentleman, to calculate for me. If you are right, I will pay you double. But if you are wrong...”

Su Yan did not finish her sentence, but her low voice carried an immense sense of pressure.

Sun Mang truly did not understand why Su Yan would listen to the nonsense of that old fraud.

The old fraud said "a person on the brink of death"—how could Su Yan, who was so young and capable, possibly die?

It was definitely just to scam money!

At this moment, Su Yan extended her hand.

The old man, however, shook his head. “I only need to observe your physiognomy to tell your fate.”

Su Yan waited expressionlessly for him to continue.

“Observing your features, you are clearly someone destined for an early death, yet you have somehow defied heaven to change your fate. However, even so, your lifespan will not exceed twenty years.”

“Does the old gentleman mean I only have two years left to live?” Su Yan concluded calmly.

“Correct. If you can break through this great tribulation of life and death, you will surely soar to greatness and your name will be known throughout the world in the future.” The old man's voice carried a hint of excitement toward the end.

“Didn't the old gentleman just say I wouldn't live past two years? How can I break through a tribulation of life and death?” Su Yan's gaze grew cold.

She had originally thought the man possessed some level of skill, but it turned out he really was just an old fraud.

“With your own abilities, naturally you cannot. But if you have my help, there will absolutely be no problem.” The old man wore an air of profound mystery.

Su Yan's soft, delicate voice trembled slightly. “Please, old gentleman, help me.”

“You and I share a destiny. Even if it means defying heaven, I shall attempt to save you.” The old man spoke with powerful conviction, pulling a yellowed talisman from his pocket.

“As long as you carry this talisman on your person for two years, it will ensure you evade the tribulation of life and death and achieve great wealth and status.”

Su Yan didn't even intend to take it, but instead asked, “With such a great kindness from the old gentleman, how much do I need to pay?”

The old man's eyes widened. “What kind of person do you take me for? Some shameless swindler? This is destiny between us; whatever you pay is simply your own heartfelt offering.”

Su Yan had never seen someone describe scamming money in such a noble manner; she almost wanted to give the old man a thumbs up.

At that moment, the figures of patrol officers suddenly appeared in the distance. The old man's expression changed instantly, and he hurriedly packed up the items on his table, fearing that a single step too late would result in him being taken away.

A few seconds later, the space in front of Su Yan was empty.

“Little comrade, which way did that fortune-telling fraud run?”

By the time the patrol officer reached them, the old man had already vanished without a trace. Su Yan said calmly, “I cannot see, but based on the sound, it seems he ran that way.”

As she spoke, she pointed in the direction the old man had fled.

After the farce concluded, Su Yan walked away from the table.

Sun Mang immediately crowded beside her. “Su Yan, I told you he was an old fraud!”

Only now did his heart finally settle.

Su Yan did not respond; she didn't want to let such a thing affect her mood.

Once the two entered the park, Sun Mang became like a frolicking duck, constantly calling out.

“Su Yan, there are boats over there, we can go rowing!”

“Su Yan, there's a seesaw here, come quick, let's do it together!”

“Su Yan, there are swings too, come sit on one and feel it!”

Su Yan was kept busy by his arrangements.

Although the surroundings were still filled with scrutinizing gazes, she did not care in the slightest.

This was the first time in her life that Su Yan had come to a place like this. Although her face did not show much emotion, she remained in a relaxed state throughout.

After a round of playing, Sun Mang went to buy water. As she sat on a bench to rest and reached for her handkerchief to wipe her cheeks, she visibly froze.

In the next second, she actually pulled a yellowed talisman out of her cloth bag.

This was not her talisman, but the one from that old fraud.

She remembered clearly that she had not taken the talisman at all, and the old fraud had fled in a panic, yet now this talisman appeared in her bag.

All her relaxed expressions were replaced by seriousness.

The patterns on the talisman were ones she had never seen before.

Her skills had all been taught by Granny Li, and Granny Li was quite accomplished in talismans; there were very few incantations she had not seen.

Originally, she thought this was merely some random scribbling, but looking at the intricate incantations, it was definitely not that simple.

So, had she really misjudged the man this time?

“Su Yan, the water is here!”

Sun Mang was still over ten meters away, but his shouting reached her first.

Su Yan put the talisman back into the cloth bag. By the time Sun Mang arrived, there was no sign of anything unusual.

“Su Yan, when I went to buy water, I saw a sea of flowers over there that was beautiful. Shall we go take a look in a bit?” Sun Mang's enthusiasm remained undiminished.

“Are you still wearing the sandbags?” Su Yan's sudden question made Sun Mang's head knot up.

“Of course I am.”

Fearing she wouldn't believe him, Sun Mang directly pulled up his pant legs, but then realized she couldn't see and had to let them down again.

“Very good.” Su Yan stood up from the bench. Looking at the setting sun, it was time to head back.

Sun Mang was somewhat unaccustomed to her sudden praise.

“Let's go back.” Su Yan picked up her Demon-Subduing Staff and walked past him.

Sun Mang was not quite ready to leave. “We're going back already?”

“Mm. Your training has been quite good lately; you can increase some other types of training.”

This sentence from Su Yan made Sun Mang jump for joy on the spot; nothing else, not even the sea of flowers, mattered anymore.

After more than half a month of weighted training, he had finally passed!

***

The Inn.

When Sun Mang saw Su Yan take out three more sandbags, his entire body froze in place, motionless.

“These two ten-jin ones are tied to your arms, and this twenty-jin one is tied to your waist.”

Su Yan instructed him very seriously. Including the forty jin on his legs, the total weight would reach eighty jin. This should be sufficient.

“Su Yan, if I do something wrong, you can just criticize me directly. Even hitting me a few times is fine, but can you please not use corporal punishment like this?”

Sun Mang's voice trembled. Sandbags this heavy could actually kill a person!

(End of Chapter)