Chapter 154 - 153: Going for a Big Score

Chapter 154: Chapter 153: Going for a Big Score

"Speak freely." Seeing this, He Xiaotian retracted his iron hammer.

The old Daoist let out a sigh of relief and continued, "The legends say that knife-sellers can determine life and death and predict the great shifts of the world. Their true purpose in selling knives on credit is to steal the fate of the debtor.

This ’fate’ refers to things one is destined for at birth—wealth or poverty, lifespan, and so on. The cleavers they forge through a special method can sever the user’s fate and graft it onto another person.

Rumor has it that during the Min Country period, a great warlord encountered a knife-seller and managed to defy the heavens and change his fate. He went from a mere brute to the ruler of a region. But alas, this great warlord was merely a pawn in the knife-seller’s hands.

His glory lasted only a few years before his fate was grafted onto a rival. His power base crumbled, making his enemy immensely powerful."

Once he finished speaking, Shouyangzi took a sip of tea.

He Xiaotian was utterly dumbfounded. ’You can do that?’

’This stuff sounds seriously messed up. Intercepting and transferring a person’s fate...’

Before, he would have never believed it. He might have even slammed the teacup on the old Daoist’s face and yelled, "Who do you think you’re fooling!"

But now, all sorts of impossible things were popping up all over the place.

The idea that knife-sellers had abilities like this no longer seemed so out of place.

"That said, I know a little about the art of reading people. Just looking into your eyes, I can see a baleful aura so vast it could blot out the sky. It’s a good thing I haven’t opened my Dharma Eye yet, or I’d surely be burned by it—or even blinded in a worse-case scenario.

Logically, with that alone, your fate should be worthless to them. So why would a knife-seller approach you?" Doubt clouded Shouyangzi’s mind. ’Could it be that my skills are just not up to par?’

"Why think so much about it? Since he’s on Snake Mountain, he won’t be leaving anytime soon. Next time I run into him, I’ll just grab him and ask him myself," He Xiaotian scoffed. He truly wasn’t afraid of making trouble.

’My strength is all right here. If anyone isn’t afraid to die, they’re welcome to come and offer me their head!’

"Right, you said you came here to discuss something important. What is it? Your timing is quite a coincidence, though. I was just about to message you tomorrow and ask you to come watch over the Divine Void Temple." Shouyangzi nodded at He Xiaotian’s proposal before continuing.

"Stand guard?"

"That’s right."

At this, Shouyangzi sighed.

"Snake Mountain hasn’t been very peaceful these past two days. After you left that day, the Daoist Alliance immediately informed me that the Netherworld Rift on Snake Mountain is about to open within seven days."

"Oh! So your Daoist Alliance has a way to detect Netherworld Rifts too?" He Xiaotian was quite surprised. ’As expected of a major power, I guess?’

"My senior brother, the Diviner, divined it. His predictions are practically infallible. If he says it’ll be within seven days, then it will absolutely be within seven days," the old Daoist said with a wry smile, showing no sign of happiness.

"What’s with that look on your face?" ’He’d been looking forward to the Netherworld Rift so desperately, and now that the good news had arrived, what was with this miserable look? What the hell?’

"Alas! Such is the will of the heavens," the old Daoist said with a sigh. After a pause, he continued, "What you don’t know is that a Netherworld Rift has also appeared on Dragon Tiger Mountain, and it’s even more intense than the one here. Nearly all the forces under the Daoist Alliance have been recalled to stand guard and prevent any troublemakers from getting in. They simply can’t spare anyone to protect my Snake Mountain."

’So that’s how it is!’

"If the energy tide on Snake Mountain lasts for, say, two hours, or even just one, then the Netherworld Rift at Dragon Tiger Mountain will last for at least three days and three nights! Even a pig would become a monster if it went in and came out three days later!"

At this point, Shouyangzi looked as if he were constipated, and it’s impossible to describe how miserable he felt.

"So you were going to ask me to stand guard and intimidate the riffraff?" He Xiaotian chuckled slyly. He had been looking for a reason to get involved in this matter. ’Talk about perfect timing. Yang, you might be a questionable person, but your eye for talent is surprisingly sharp.’

"Mm, it’s a last-ditch effort. Besides my brothers in the Daoist Alliance, I don’t know anyone else. And you happen to be an... ’acquaintance’ of mine, and a very strong one at that. I’m just worried that I’ll be outnumbered, and someone else will swoop in and reap all the benefits." Shouyangzi practically spat out the word "acquaintance," yet his expression was one of resigned acceptance.

He Xiaotian: "..."

’You should thank the rule of law. It’s the only thing that saved your life.’

"Who else is there besides me?"

"No one. I’ve only been in Shanghai for half a year, how could I possibly have a ton of friends? Besides, I wouldn’t dare approach all those experts and eccentric masters I’ve scammed in the past," Shouyangzi said, on the verge of tears. It was all a mess of his own greedy making.

"Goodbye!" He Xiaotian gave a cupped-fist salute and turned to leave.

THUD!

He Xiaotian found he couldn’t lift his right leg—the old Daoist was hugging it.

With tears and snot streaming down his face, Shouyangzi pleaded, "Scholar X, you have to save me! I only have this one disciple, and I’m counting on him to carry on my legacy. Using the energy tide from the rift to awaken his spiritual potential... the benefits are beyond imagination!

If you can just help me keep the riffraff in check, I, this old Daoist, will follow your lead from now on! My senior brother’s words will come second to yours! Any rumors or inside information, I’ll deliver them to you first, sir!"

"Alright, let go. I’ll do it." He Xiaotian had never actually planned on leaving; he was just testing Shouyangzi to see how much he prioritized the Netherworld Rift.

He just never expected the test to yield such an unexpected bonus.

"Really?!" The old Daoist wiped his nose, his face a picture of delighted surprise.

"Don’t worry. When I, X, make a promise, it’s set in stone. I never go back on my word." Somewhere, the villains he’d killed were probably weeping. Who was it again that promised to spare someone’s life, only to crush their skull moments later?

"Actually, defending this place is simple. We just have to muddy the waters. You spread the word that the Netherworld Rift will appear within five days. The more people that know, the better," He Xiaotian said, returning to his seat and taking a calm sip of tea.

"Muddy the waters?!" Shouyangzi was completely flabbergasted. ’Aren’t you afraid you’ll stir up some kind of demon dragon that’ll eat you alive?’

"Yep. When the time comes, they’ll all fight each other for a spot. Once they’ve more or less killed each other off, we’ll jump out and annihilate the survivors. Oh, Yang, people in this day and age are all selfish.

Nobody wants to share the energy tide from the Netherworld Rift. Or rather, the fewer the people, the greater the benefits for those who remain. So a bloodbath is inevitable—big fish eat small fish, and small fish eat shrimp.

We two will be the giant crocodiles lurking behind the scenes. When the time is right, we can swallow all the remaining fish and shrimp in one gulp. Tell me, how have you lived so many years and still not see things as clearly as I do?"

He Xiaotian’s eyes flashed with a dangerous light as he grinned at Shouyangzi.