I Only Want to Lie Flat But Am Forced to Cultivate Immortality
Chapter 278 - 154: Dry Thunder, Living off a Woman

Chapter 278: Chapter 154: Dry Thunder, Living off a Woman

Capital City, outside the West Gate, beside Guangning Temple.

A female Divination Master was performing fortune-telling for someone.

"Layman, I see your forehead is low, your chin is sharp, and your lips are thin. It seems your year has not been smooth, and lately, you’ve faced many worries..." View the correct content at NovelFire.

Jiang Half-Immortal was about to head into the city when he suddenly heard this remark.

To think that he, the renowned Jiangbei Divine Calculator, would one day be mocked by an unknown Wild Divination Master on the roadside.

Jiang Half-Immortal was both angry and amused. He turned back and pointed at the female Divination Master, saying, "I have been in distress for days, three days without food, only eating the wind and drinking dew. Anyone can see my face is gaunt and sharp. Your street tricks can deceive others, but to me, you are like selling Talisman Water at Dragon King’s Temple, utterly senseless."

The female Divination Master, dressed in a washed-out Divination Robe, wasn’t angered by his ridicule. She cheerfully replied, "So, it’s a fellow practitioner. In that case, I should form a good bond with you."

"I see your life palace is dark, and your heaven gate is shut. Perhaps you’ve offended a celestial face? If so, it might be best for you to refrain from divination for a while, lest it brings disaster."

Jiang Half-Immortal was astonished. How could this young female Divination Master so easily discern his situation?

Rivalry among the same trade, jealousy among peers.

Beyond his shock, Jiang Half-Immortal couldn’t help but feel a strange emotion in his heart.

After decades of mastery in this path, he’s always been the one to read others, never imagining being outdone by a young girl. Moreover, her skill in divination seemed superior to his.

Once a person harbors jealousy, malice can easily arise.

Jiang Half-Immortal has long roamed the world, with more experience in trickery than anyone else.

So now, Jiang Half-Immortal, with a concealed ill intention, said smilingly to the young woman, "You are indeed formidable for your age. Why don’t you predict why the dragon above has grown thinner?"

The female Divination Master, sharp in wit, glanced up at the national fate dragon overhead and shook her head, saying, "It’s unfortunate to perceive hidden dangers, and ill omens to foresee the concealed. A good diviner refrains from probing. Why would you intentionally lure me?"

Jiang Half-Immortal laughed heartily, and as he strode away, he remarked, "There’s no Divination Master who isn’t curious. I don’t believe you can resist!"

About an hour later, the female Divination Master finished her fortune-telling and packed up her stall. On her way back to the inn, she couldn’t resist looking back at the national fate dragon above the Capital City.

That thin dragon, originally unremarkable, was now a persistent thought after Jiang Half-Immortal’s remark.

Why did this dragon grow thinner? Is it man-made or destined?

The female Divination Master’s slender hands emerged from her Divination Robe, and she began calculating with her fingers.

White-eyed big cat, a farmer tilling the field, a malevolent nun...

Her fingers calculating faster and faster, twisting from human-like fingers to beast-like sharp claws, with a green light swirling in her palm.

When she calculated the fourth identity, a thunderous clap resounded outside the city again.

This was the second time in half a month, the first occurring at the Celestial Master’s Mansion, where it’s said the main hall’s great hole still hasn’t been repaired.

As the thunder dissipated, only a singed tuft of animal hair remained at the original spot; a gentle breeze swept by, carrying the hair fragment away into the air.

Not far from the lightning strike, on the official road, a blue-haired fox darted panic-stricken into the roadside grass.

...

Meanwhile, within Luojing City.

Jiang Half-Immortal looked up at the city outskirts; that unexpected thunder was exceptionally loud, and even in the city, he could imagine how terrifying it was.

"A good diviner refrains; how many can truly achieve that?"

Jiang Half-Immortal was amused. To him, nothing was more delightful than seeing peers have misfortune.

Humming a tune, Jiang Half-Immortal wandered until he arrived at Cao Cheng’s residence.

Cao Cheng was once the Chief Eunuch of the court and, having retired due to age, had set up properties outside the palace to enjoy life as a wealthy man.

Even though he was outside the palace, the significant events within did not escape Cao Cheng’s grasp.

On this day, as Cao Cheng was discussing official matters with his adopted son Feng Dehai, a servant came in to report that a poor man with the surname Jiang, claiming to be an old acquaintance of Manager Feng, was there to visit.

Cao Cheng appeared puzzled. Feng Dehai, being the palace’s supervising manager, rarely had the chance to visit; how had someone claiming to be an old friend found him here on the very day Feng Dehai came?

Feng Dehai was momentarily taken aback but quickly realized, "It must be Mr. Jiang. Please bring him in. No, lead the way, and I’ll personally invite him!"

Before leaving, Feng Dehai told Cao Cheng, "I used to know a Jing Sect Divine Master, Mr. Jiang. He is versed in divination, a figure as elusive as a dragon’s head, and I’ll introduce him to you later, foster father."

Jiang Half-Immortal, after freshening up and having some snacks and tea, followed Feng Dehai to Cao Cheng’s residence.

After some pleasantries, Cao Cheng ordered a banquet to be set up, and during the meal, Feng Dehai frequently toasted Jiang Half-Immortal.

"If it weren’t for Mr. Jiang’s guidance, I wouldn’t be where I am today."

During the late Emperor Longping’s reign, no one knew which Prince would ascend the throne, and it was Jiang Half-Immortal who directed Feng Dehai, earning him merits for assisting the dragon...

Midway through the drinking, Feng Dehai suddenly remembered something: "Speaking of which, I’ve recently encountered a matter. I wonder if Mr. Jiang could take a look for me."

Feng Dehai was inquiring about none other than the disappearance of Long Engui.

Jiang Half-Immortal wasn’t bothered when he heard it was a simple matter of finding someone.

Finding people and things isn’t considered a particularly difficult divination for Jing Sect Divination Masters.

Especially when it’s just an ordinary person.

With confidence, Jiang Half-Immortal sat at the table, stretched out a hand and began to calculate, fully displaying his air of a master. View the correct content at NovelFire

"The path of life is blocked, your son is most likely already lost to the Underworld."

Feng Dehai frowned slightly and instinctively asked, "Mr. Jiang, can you divine who was responsible for my son’s demise?"

Jiang Half-Immortal pondered for a moment, recalling what the fellow divination masters had pointed out to him outside the West Gate.

Exaggerated warnings; he had also cast a divination earlier without seeing any issues...

However, just as Jiang Half-Immortal was about to calculate once more, before he got halfway, the skies above Cao Mansion were filled with the sound of thunder.

Jiang Half-Immortal’s eyes widened, the black and white chess pieces of his past were all gone, and he had no means of substitution for death.

At this moment, to the surprise of outsiders, Feng Dehai, who was not usually known for martial strength, displayed an ability far beyond that of Condensing Gang Realm martial artists, swiftly evacuating the mansion.

In his original spot, pale lightning appeared out of nowhere, shattering the banquet hall into pieces in an instant.

Feng Dehai looked at the mansion in front of him with lingering fear; had he been a step slower, he’d have been severely injured if not dead.

Regaining his composure, Feng Dehai ordered his men to search the ruins, only to find some patches of charred remains.

It must have been residues of Jiang Half-Immortal and his foster father Cao Cheng.

...

July 2nd, auspicious for opening a business, cleaning, and burial; avoid other tasks.

Today was a joyful day for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the shroud shop’s opening.

To celebrate the grand opening of the branch, Xu Qing had invited many people over to liven things up. His broad connections and reputation were all that made anyone attend a shroud shop celebration.

Early in the morning, the shroud shop put up a new pair of couplets.

First line: New clothes fit gracefully, bless with celestial dew;

Second line: Shroud complete in form, bathed in benevolent wind.

Top inscription: Apparel in readiness.

After setting up the couplets, two large paper red lanterns were hung at the shop’s entrance, with the character for longevity written on them, surrounded by designs of five bats holding longevity symbols.

Hu Baosong swayed leisurely to the front, and upon seeing the couplets at the door, the old man exclaimed, "You’ve managed to arrange this more impressively than Shopkeeper Yao; even wandering spirits will be entranced by your shop!"

The two chatted idly, waiting for the neighbors to arrive, and once they were mostly there, Xu Qing cut the red ribbon, set off firecrackers, creating a scene reminiscent of New Year’s Day.

"Dazhuang, bring out the table, and once Erzhuang has finished cooking the side dishes, serve them up."

Guan Dazhuang was visiting the city for the first time for the opening and didn’t dare speak much to others; whatever Xu Qing asked him to do, he did without a word.

"This young man is good, robust and straightforward; he looks like someone who can both eat and work hard," Hu Baosong said smiling, praising him. But once Guan Dazhuang entered the room, the old man quipped sharply, "You really know how to bring trouble; ever heard of raising trouble? You dare to use such a character..."

"Raising trouble? I understand, you’re implying you don’t want to support Sister Yizhen. I’ll talk to her and have her return to the Five Elders Temple sooner."

"Don’t play dumb with me; that’s not what I meant!"

Xu Qing cheerfully entertained the guests, and once everyone had finished the opening drinks, the Underground Street, briefly bustling, returned to its usual deserted state.

The new shop lacked staff, so Xu Qing had Sun Erzhuang temporarily manage it, and planned to visit the broker to seek out Li Si for a capable and eloquent assistant to settle the matter.

Since the branch’s opening, Xuan Yu’s whereabouts became unpredictable again.

Fortunately, Xu Qing, while performing last rites for the doomed couple of Wanshou Village, acquired a pair of Crane Bone Flutes and two Red Strings.

The two items had different uses but shared one trait, which was their inherent connection, bonded in life.

If one Crane Bone Flute broke, the other, regardless of distance, would break into two as well. The two Red Strings reacted to each other, allowing their respective owners to perceive each other’s location no matter how far apart.

During this time, Xu Qing used the Red String as guidance to keep track of Xuan Yu’s movements, discovering that sometimes the cat aided city dwellers by removing rats and bringing peace; other times, when incense offerings weren’t provided in the city, it would visit villages in Xijing Mountain that worshipped the Cat Immortal to help resolve various matters.

"Xuan Yu need not toil so hard. Once Crow Master returns, there will be an unending supply of incense."

"But what if Crow Master doesn’t return on time and you need incense?"

Xu Qing was left speechless; although he possessed the Heaven Concealing Skill to delay calamities, if the black crow failed to return with seeds, then Cat Immortal Hall’s regular incense stocks would be his only reliance.

To think that he, the Grand Sect Leader of Cat Immortal Hall, with a five hundred years of zombie cultivation, would end up relying on a cat for survival; even living off others shouldn’t be like this!