Physiognomy

"Yes, yes! Brother Jie, feel free to choose whatever you like. If we don't have the brand you want in stock, just let me know, and I'll have it ordered for you," Li Chengxin said hurriedly, his head spinning from Xia Yunjie's words. He still couldn't figure out who Xia Yunjie was, but seeing Bald Strong so afraid of him, he knew it was best to show respect.

Although Xia Yunjie hadn't been out of school long, he could tell from Bald Strong's association with Li Chengxin that the latter wasn't exactly an upstanding businessman. Most of the bikes in the shop were probably stolen goods.

Still, every group has its own way of living—cats follow their instincts, and dogs follow theirs. Xia Yunjie wasn't a police officer, nor did he care to meddle in these matters. After all, if everyone started policing others, what were taxpayers funding law enforcement for?

However, Bald Strong and Li Chengxin's remarks left Xia Yunjie annoyed. His face darkened as he sneered, "'On me,' you say? Do you think I'm here to wrongly accuse you? I've made it clear—I don't bother you as long as you don't cross me. But this bike was stolen by one of your people. Do you think I'd go to all this trouble in this heat just to extort a bike from you? I have better things to do. Call your men and ask if anyone swiped a new Yongjiu bicycle near Blue Night Bar on Nanshan Road last night."

Bald Strong, a seasoned man of the underworld, quickly realized he'd angered Xia Yunjie. Forcing a smile, he apologized, "I'm sorry, Brother Jie. That's not what I meant. I'll make the call right now."

He pulled out his phone and dialed Xiao Liu, the thief responsible for the Nanshan Road area, who had recently stolen a deputy police chief's purse.

The moment the call connected, Bald Strong barked, "Xiao Liu! Did you swipe a Yongjiu bicycle near Blue Night Bar last night?"

"Wow, Brother Strong! You're amazing—how did you know? Are you some kind of fortune teller?" Xiao Liu exclaimed dramatically. His words, though exaggerated, revealed genuine surprise. He had only just learned about the theft from a newly recruited subordinate, yet Bald Strong somehow already knew.

Under normal circumstances, Bald Strong might have enjoyed the flattery, but today it only made him sweat more. "You idiot!" he roared. "Do you want to die? You stole Brother Jie's bike! Bring the bike and yourself to Honest Bike Store on University Road immediately!"

Xiao Liu froze on the other end. What luck is this? First, I swipe a deputy chief's purse, and now I've stolen a bike belonging to someone called 'Brother Jie.' Is this job cursed? Might as well quit and find honest work.

Swallowing his curses, Xiao Liu replied quickly, "Yes, Brother Strong. I'll be right there."

Before Xiao Liu could finish, Bald Strong slammed the phone down and turned to Xia Yunjie, wiping his sweaty forehead. "Brother Jie, I'm so sorry. My men didn't realize it was your bike. I've already told him to bring it over. Don't worry—your belongings are off-limits from now on."

Bald Strong's apologetic tone, coupled with his obvious fear, softened Xia Yunjie's initial anger. He waved dismissively. "Forget it. Since you helped me out yesterday, I'll let this slide. Tell him to return the bike to where he found it."

With that, Xia Yunjie stood and walked toward the door.

Bald Strong exhaled in relief. Finally, this terrifying man is leaving.

But just as Bald Strong relaxed, Xia Yunjie suddenly stopped at the door and turned back, fixing him with a steady gaze.

The intense stare sent a chill down Bald Strong's spine. Is he having second thoughts? he wondered, hastily stepping forward with a forced smile. "Brother Jie, is there anything else you need?"

"Not bad, Bald Strong," Xia Yunjie said slowly. "Looks like you're about to strike it rich. But let me give you some advice: ill-gotten gains won't last. They'll only bring misfortune. If you're smart, use your wealth to turn over a new leaf and start living honestly."

With a meaningful look, Xia Yunjie left without waiting for a reply.

True face-reading is a highly sophisticated skill—not the simple interpretations of surface features described in amateur manuals. While certain facial traits, like a fierce expression, can hint at someone's personality, determining a person's fate, fortune, or moral character requires unique techniques and spiritual power. Legends of skilled fortune-tellers restricting themselves to three readings per day weren't just about avoiding karmic repercussions—they reflected the immense mental and spiritual toll the practice took.

Even Xia Yunjie, who had mastered the secret arts of the Wu Clan's fortune-telling, couldn't discern such details without invoking his specialized techniques. But some cases, like Bald Strong's, were as obvious as a sick patient with swollen eyes—a striking sign that even laypeople could notice. Bald Strong's wealth palace practically glowed with fortune, signaling an imminent windfall. Sensing this, Xia Yunjie couldn't resist offering him advice before leaving, hoping to guide him toward a better path.

Naturally, Bald Strong had no idea that Xia Yunjie was a master of divination from the revered Wuxian Sect. Nodding fervently, he responded with a string of "Yes, yes," but inwardly dismissed the warning. As if I wouldn't go legit if I struck it rich!

After leaving the shop, Xia Yunjie quickly put the matter out of his mind. Bald Strong's fate was his own to decide. If he heeded the warning, his wealth could pave the way for a brighter future. If not, he'd likely end up behind bars, just as Xia Yunjie had foretold.

Walking past Jiangzhou University's gate, Xia Yunjie suddenly realized he had never set foot in a university campus. Curious, he decided to take a stroll.

Jiangzhou City, one of the most prosperous cities in Jiangnan Province, boasted a significant number of universities, second only to the provincial capital, Haizhou. However, Jiangzhou University was the city's only key undergraduate institution, renowned mainly for its traditional Chinese medicine program, which ranked among the best in the country. The university's former dean, Professor Feng Wenbo, was a legendary figure in the field.

Having gone straight to vocational school after middle school, Xia Yunjie had missed out on the chance to pursue higher education. He knew little about universities, except that Jiangzhou University was the largest and most prestigious in the city.