The Mysterious Old Charlatan

The grizzled man gripped Huo Xuan's right palm, his cracked lips parting in astonishment. ​**"A Buddha's Palm! This lineage marks you for ascension to Buddhahood or Patriarchhood!"**

Days prior, Huo Xuan would've scoffed. Now, clutching his Buddha's Eye secret, he stiffened. ​**"Old man—accurate reading or not?"**

"Merely glimpsing your holy destiny warrants five hundred!" The charlatan cackled, revealing a mouthful of three tobacco-stained teeth.

Huo Xuan's initial awe shattered. ​**"Five hundred for this drivel?"**

Sunlight illuminated the man's grotesque features—leathery prune-like face, triangular eyes, protruding ears. His greasy Taoist robe and chopstick-pinned hair completed the ratty ensemble.

"Deal's a deal!" The crone croaked. ​**"Inaccurate divination demands compensation!"**

Huo Xuan slammed 183 yuan on the table—all his cash. ​**"Take it and vanish."**

"Modern youths rob even destitute elders!" The fraudster pocketed the bills with viper speed, feigning indignation.

"Who's robbing whom?" Huo Xuan's knuckles whitened, restraining violence against the withered frame.

Returning to Hua Buyi, Huo Xuan vented: ​**"That fraud claims I'll become Buddha incarnate!"**

Instead of laughter, Hua Buyi's gaze turned grave. ​**"He resembles... someone."**

"Who?" Huo Xuan leaned forward.

Hua Buyi said solemnly, "When the Great Ancestor entered the capital, he encountered an old Taoist priest at Mount Wutai who divined for him. The priest gave him a number—8341. Later, the Great Ancestor passed at eighty-three years old after reigning for forty-one years."

"Master, you can't mean that old swindler under the bridge is the same Taoist?" Huo Xuan's jaw dropped in disbelief.

"The old Taoist called himself the Mad Taoist. When I was three, my own master Yangling took me to meet him once. My memory is faint from childhood, but his appearance seems to match." Hua Buyi revealed this astonishing claim.

Huo Xuan stammered, "But Master, if you met him when you were three, that would have been thirty or forty years ago. And the Great Ancestor's entry into the capital was at least sixty or seventy years back. How could he still be alive?"

Hua Buyi smiled. "After achieving the Elixir Formation, living over a century is no rarity."

Huo Xuan couldn't help but glance back at the old madman—only for any notion of him being a transcendent figure to instantly vanish. At that moment, the old fraud was being chased by city inspectors, fleeing in panic without a shred of dignity befitting a sage.

With a bitter laugh, Huo Xuan said, "Master, I'm afraid you've misjudged this time."

Hua Buyi merely smiled and said no more.

Just then, Song Shiping approached from nearby and sat across from Huo Xuan, grinning. "Young friend, we meet again."

"Indeed, what a coincidence," Huo Xuan replied cheerfully.

Song Shiping's gaze fell upon Hua Buyi, and his expression immediately stiffened, turning grave. "Young friend, is this gentleman your companion?"

"My master," Huo Xuan stated.

Song Shiping gave Hua Buyi a slight nod but said nothing further, instead asking Huo Xuan, "No wonder you're extraordinary, having such an eminent master. Your future must be boundless." Then he added casually, "Did you get your fortune told earlier? Any interesting predictions?"

Naturally, Huo Xuan didn't divulge the truth, replying with a playful grin, "The old swindler said I'll marry eight wives in this lifetime."

Song Shiping laughed along. "Young friend, if you stay in the capital awhile, I'd like to invite you for tea sometime."

"No need for formalities," Huo Xuan declined politely.

After speaking, Song Shiping left the hotel, heading in the direction the old swindler had fled.

Huo Xuan frowned. Why would an unremarkable con artist draw the attention of State Security?

At that moment, a young man entered the hotel. His eyes held no focus, gazing coldly straight ahead. Yet the moment he stepped inside, he walked unerringly toward Hua Buyi.

Hua Buyi stood, his expression uncharacteristically solemn. "Brother Situ, ten years apart—your swordsmanship has grown even more unfathomable."

This youth was Situ Xing. From the moment he entered, Huo Xuan felt an inexplicable discomfort. His feet automatically shifted into the True Womb Fist stance, his qi and blood retracting instinctively.

The young man said, "Brother Hua, I hadn't expected you to break through this barrier. Congratulations."

"Sit," Hua Buyi offered.

Situ Xing took a seat, never once glancing at Huo Xuan, speaking only to Hua Buyi.

"Brother Situ, have you come to the mainland seeking that man?" Hua Buyi asked, his brow slightly furrowed.

Sitting there, Situ Xing resembled a sword unsheathed—his back ramrod straight, his voice calm. "Fifteen years of bitter cultivation—all for this duel."

Hua Buyi sighed. "Your paths differ. Must victory and defeat be decided?"

Situ Xing's gaze pinned Hua Buyi. "Brother Hua, now that you've achieved the Elixir, haven't you considered facing him?"

Hua Buyi's expression remained placid. "His momentum is unstoppable. Killing him would be... difficult. In the past, he failed to kill you. Today, no one can kill him."

"Not necessarily." Situ Xing's tone was flat. "I've discarded the sword."

Hua Buyi froze. Only after a long pause did he nod slowly. "Good. Good. Very good."

Three "goods" uttered, he continued, "You've cultivated beyond the sword. Now I needn't fear for your safety—even if he attains divine abilities, killing you would prove arduous."

Situ Xing asked, "Why did you seek me, Brother Hua?"

Hua Buyi produced the Twin Peaks sword, offering a faint, wry smile. "I'd hoped to trade this for your 'Heavenly Descent' technique. Yet you've abandoned the sword."

Situ Xing's gaze finally settled on Huo Xuan.

What a gaze it was—his pupils like two bottomless black holes, capable of devouring all light and life. Deep within those voids lurked what seemed like two peerless swords of slaughter, ready to reap lives at any moment.

Huo Xuan shivered, bowing respectfully. "Greetings, Senior!"

Situ Xing averted his eyes, shaking his head. "Only you would do something like this—enlisting the three supreme masters Lu Yunxiang, the Yuxu Temple Master, and Liu Zhenru to teach him. Aren't you afraid he'll bite off more than he can chew?"

Hua Buyi smiled. "How much he learns depends on his destiny. I merely guide him through the door—how far he goes is up to him."

After a moment of silence, Situ Xing said, "I can teach him swordsmanship, but you must agree to one condition."

"Name it," Hua Buyi replied.

"True sword immortals are rare in this world. Within three years, find me a disciple with exceptional aptitude."

Hua Buyi's face showed reluctance, but after some thought, he nodded. "Very well."

Situ Xing smiled. "Good. Have him come alone to Bailong Temple the day after tomorrow." With that, he rose and left.

Once he was gone, Huo Xuan rubbed his nose. "Master, I've caused you trouble again. Finding a suitable disciple won't be easy, will it?"

Hua Buyi snorted. "It took me twenty years to find a blockhead like you. What do you think?"

Huo Xuan stuck out his tongue, not daring to argue—though inwardly, he preened. If it took twenty years to find me, doesn't that prove my talent is extraordinary?

That afternoon, Hua Buyi left to treat some high-ranking official, while Huo Xuan wandered the capital alone. Truth be told, this was his first time in Jingdu. It wasn't as impressive as he'd imagined—the traffic was inconvenient, the air unclean. He'd rather live in Nangang County than stay here.

After a solitary meal, he noticed a flyer on the table advertising a major car exhibition nearby with promotional deals. On a whim, he decided to check it out.

Huo Xuan had obtained his driver's license at eighteen during a summer break, but with little practice since, his skills had rusted. Might as well buy a car now, he thought.

After his meal, he waited at a bus stop. Three attempts to board failed—each time, the overcrowded buses made his scalp prickle with frustration. He finally gave up.

If I had to squeeze onto buses like this daily, my True Womb Fist would reach new heights, he joked inwardly.

Resigned, he tried hailing a taxi. Dozens passed—none stopped. Just as annoyance peaked, a red Xiaomi SU7 glided westward—toward the auto show. Through the window, Huo Xuan spotted the driver: a striking short-haired woman in her twenties, exuding spirited charm.

On impulse, he waved and shouted, "Hey! Can I hitch a ride?"

The car braked sharply two lengths past him. The woman leaned over, scrutinizing Huo Xuan through the window before nodding. "Get in."

"Thanks!" He sprinted over and buckled into the passenger seat.

"Where to?" she asked, chewing gum, her lips crimson against pearly teeth.

"The auto show—just ahead."

"Seatbelt," she reminded, accelerating. Her accent wasn't local.

"You're not from the capital?" she asked.

"Nope. Just visiting." Huo Xuan resisted using his clairvoyance but noted her ample bust and slender waist—a silhouette guaranteed to snag male attention.

SCREECH!

The car jerked to a halt. The woman's brows furrowed as she stared ahead.

Chaos erupted outside a gold jewelry store—people fleeing, screams piercing the air.

"Stay here." She leapt out, sprinting toward the store.