Shi Qing and Meng Qing found a fortune teller under a large bridge.
The fortune teller was dressed in a yellow vest, had a long beard, wore sunglasses, claimed to be blind, and spoke with a local accent. Perhaps because of the heat, he held a towel in his hand, occasionally wiping the sweat from his forehead. In front of him was a Bagua diagram.
When he learned that Shi Qing and Meng Qing wanted their fortunes told, he first shook a tortoise shell and then poured out some copper coins from it. He looked at the copper coins on the ground, which remained still for a whole half minute, before sighing and revealing a dreadful expression.
"Oh my, oh my, this is not good at all. You two, are you here to inquire about your love lives? It's really not good; your love lives will face obstacles," he said.
Meng Qing widened his eyes and scrutinized the fortune teller in front of him, who didn't quite look like a legitimate Daoist fortune teller. Doubt started to creep onto his face.
He quietly leaned in toward Shi Qing and whispered, "How does he know we're here for a love reading?"
At first, Shi Qing had seen him and suggested getting a reading, but Meng Qing wasn't too keen on it. After all, he came from a legitimate Daoist background, but every time they tried to get their fortunes told, it never turned out well. It was understandable, though, as Shi Qing wasn't exactly human, so nothing could be accurately predicted about him.
Now, this seemingly unreliable fortune teller was claiming to know their purpose.
The Demon King took a sip of his milk tea and raised the hand that was intertwined with the young Daoist.
Imitating Meng Qing's expression, he leaned in close to the Daoist's ear, his enchanting voice lowered, "Look around this street. Do you see any other men our age holding hands like us?"
Meng Qing suddenly understood.
The "master" continued to speak, "This love of yours is destined to be opposed by your families, especially you." He pointed to Shi Qing, who was smiling and looking at him. The Daoist stroked his beard mysteriously, "Your family won't accept your relationship. It might be your father, or it might be your mother, but they will obstruct you. However, don't worry, you've encountered me, and that's your good fortune. So, I'll help you ward off this danger by dispelling negative energy."
Shi Qing still smiled, "So, Master, how much does this service cost?"
The fortune teller hesitated, "Well, why talk about money?" He waved his hand, as if he didn't care about money, and then extended three fingers, "Three hundred."
"Alright, I'll give you three hundred." Shi Qing took out the money and handed it to the Master, still wearing a smile that made him seem very easygoing. "But, Master, you have to sign a contract for me. If what you say turns out to be false, there will be consequences."
The fortune teller hesitated again and glanced at the two of them cautiously. They both had long legs and tall statures. Meng Qing looked decent, but you could tell he had a good temper. However, Shi Qing was different. He appeared friendly with his sunglasses, which were similar to the blind Master's, and looked quite cool even though both sunglasses were black.
Ignoring their appearances and temperaments, these were two strong young men. The fortune teller was sure he couldn't fight them.
Thinking this, his expression soured, "Believe it or not, I won't do it. Why bother with all this?"
He reached for his sunglasses and pretended he didn't hear anything, continuing to grope in front of him. He truly acted blind.
Seeing that Shi Qing didn't move, he became annoyed, "What are you doing? Are you, a young man, going to bully an old blind man like me? Is there no justice left in the world?"
Shi Qing asked, "How do you know I'm a young man?"
The fortune teller had no reply.
"Can I still get a reading? Can't I do that?" Shi Qing inquired.
Meng Qing lightly pulled the Demon King's hand. "Let it go."
Shi Qing leaned close to his ear and whispered, "I have a reason for talking to him."
After whispering to his lover, Shi Qing continued to question the fortune teller, "Are you really blind?"
The fortune teller straightened his back, "Yes, I'm really blind."
"You're not lying?"
"I would never lie to you."
Shi Qing swiftly reached out and took off the fortune teller's sunglasses.
Their eyes met.
The fortune teller stared at Shi Qing with wide eyes, "..."
After a few seconds, he immediately made his eyes appear vacant and started groping in front of him, "You tricked me! Give my eyes back! Are you not ashamed to bully a blind old man? Have you no conscience?"
Shi Qing clicked his tongue, "Are you really blind?"
"Of course."
Shi Qing asked, "Then can I still get a reading from you?"
The fortune teller hesitated, then changed his tone, "You can get a reading if you want."
Saying that, he shouted, "Blue Dragon!"
"Blue Dragon!"
He called several times, but there was no response.
His face stiffened.
Then he tried a different name, "Lucky!"
"Woof woof woof woof!"
The barking of a dog approached rapidly from a distance, and a black mongrel wagging its tail happily came running over. It held its own leash in its mouth and was dripping wet, with water trickling down its fur as it ran. When it reached its owner's side, it obediently placed the leash on the ground, squatted down next to the fortune teller, and stuck out its tongue, tilting its head in an adorable manner as it looked at Shi Qing and Meng Qing.
Meng Qing had a fondness for animals, and as soon as his gaze fell on the mongrel named Wang Cai, he couldn't help but soften.
The fortune teller squatted down as if he were blind, feeling around on the ground with his hands. Wang Cai, seeing this, picked up the leash from the ground and carried it over to him. With the leash in his hand, the fortune teller felt justified.
"See that? This is my guide dog," he declared.
"Aren't guide dogs mostly Labradors?" Shi Qing observed as he looked at the adult black mongrel. "This one looks like a Chinese indigenous dog."
"Who said guide dogs have to be a specific breed? My mutt here is a guide dog, too. You guys can take a look if you don't believe me."
With that, he closed his eyes, held the leash of the dog named Wang Cai, and walked steadily forward. Wang Cai trotted along, taking small steps. Whenever they encountered an obstacle, it would bark, and then its blind owner would navigate around it.
The fortune teller continued to walk, shouting ahead, "See that? I can walk this far."
A few more steps, "Look, a guide dog!"
Then, a few more, "I really haven't deceived you."
Finally, when they reached a bend, and he was sure that Shi Qing and Meng Qing couldn't see him anymore, he grabbed the dog and started sprinting.
"Let's go, let's go, we need to run, Wang Cai."
With one person and one dog, they crossed a river and reached a row of trees. The Demon King pulled Meng Qing up onto a tree branch and watched the man and his dog as they sped away.
Meng Qing waited until the fortune teller had run far away before turning to ask Shi Qing, "What do you need from him? He seems quite ordinary and doesn't appear to be a bad person, even though his predictions are inaccurate. His aura is similar to that of an ordinary person."
Such fortune tellers were a common sight on the streets, and randomly picking one would likely yield a similar result.
Shi Qing's shoulder pressed tightly against Meng Qing's, feeling the warmth radiating from him. He yawned lazily, "I'll tell you after you kiss me."
Meng Qing's earlobes turned red.
Now, the sun was about to set, and the surrounding area was gradually darkening, but in his eyes, the Demon King was still clearly visible.
The Demon King had a pair of eyes that were always curved with a faint smile, and his lips were a rosy red.
The Demon King had beautifully slender hands.
He leaned in slightly, hidden beneath the cover of the tree branches, and fulfilled Shi Qing's request. When he turned back, the young Daoist's earlobes were flushed.
He took the initiative to reach out and gently grasp Shi Qing's hand, absentmindedly rubbing his soft palm with his fingertips. With anticipation in his voice, he asked, "After we finish this, will you go with me to meet my Master?"
At this point, his face was even redder, and he blinked in embarrassment, his long eyelashes hanging down as he spoke softly, "My Master raised me, and I want... I want to introduce you to him."
This statement was akin to an invitation to meet the family.
"No problem," Shi Qing readily agreed, teasing Meng Qing with a smile. "But what if your Master doesn't agree?"
Meng Qing had actually been pondering this question over the past few days. He answered earnestly, "If my Master doesn't agree, I'll keep asking until he does."
With that, he reassured Shi Qing, "Don't worry, my Master has been alive for a very long time. He should be more accepting of this than the average person."
Shi Qing nodded, "Indeed, he has been around for a long time."
"Five hundred years ago, I saw him once, but at that time, he was only two hundred years old. He hadn't joined the True Dao Sect, nor had he practiced Daoist techniques. He caught a glimpse of me from a distance and ran away."
Meng Qing looked utterly bewildered.
Five hundred years, plus two hundred years.
Wasn't that seven hundred years?
He always thought his master was only in his early hundreds. Although practicing Daoism could prolong one's life, human lifespan could only be extended so much, at most to around two hundred years.
The young Daoist Shi Qing blinked in confusion, "So, Master... is really amazing, over seven hundred years old."
"Yeah, he's amazing, but a bit cowardly," replied Meng Qing.
Shi Qing changed the topic, "Do you have the invisibility talisman with you?"
Meng Qing obediently took out the invisibility talisman. Each of them attached one and headed towards where the blind fortune-teller was earlier.
The blind fortune-teller's last name was Zhang, and everyone called him Blind Zhang. He wasn't actually blind; he just wore sunglasses to appear blind, making it easier for customers to believe in his abilities.
He grew up in this area when it was still a remote and impoverished village with beautiful scenery that held no practical value for the impoverished villagers. Later, this area was developed into a tourist attraction, and that's when the villagers began to earn more.
Zhang was an orphan with no place to call home. In his youth, he worked as a laborer, but after a particularly strenuous job that left him bedridden for days, he couldn't do physically demanding work anymore.
He had no choice but to find a way to make a living. He was indeed raised by a truly blind fortune-teller, but he never learned the man's skills. Now, in his old age, he made ends meet by reading books during the day, running a stall, and studying various fortune-telling methods at night.
The townspeople knew about his hard life. He had been abandoned by his parents when he was a child, and although someone had taken him in, he lost them too when he was in his teens.
With no children of their own and no one else to rely on, the medical expenses and the cost of caring for his bedridden wife fell squarely on Zhang's shoulders.
While some people disliked him, most refrained from causing trouble for a blind man. Zhang charged only ten yuan for a fortune-telling session, and he generally spoke kindly. For example, when a mother-in-law came to inquire about her daughter-in-law, suspecting that she brought bad luck to the family, he would reassure her that her daughter-in-law was perfectly normal, just like any other person.
If a child was sick and their parents sought his advice, he would tell them honestly that he couldn't diagnose illnesses and advise them to visit a hospital.
Because he was careful with his words and actions, he never got into any trouble. If anyone ever grew suspicious of him, he would start acting blind and have his guide dog, Wang Cai, lead him home. Most people didn't bother with a blind man. Money could be earned back, but one's life had to be intact.
Today, he had spent the afternoon at his stall, seeing only five customers, including the two from earlier, and earned fifty yuan in total. Returning home, he hugged Wang Cai and rubbed its head, saying, "Good boy, I relied on you today."
"But next time, if I call you 'Qing Long,' will you respond? 'Qing Long' sounds much more impressive than 'Wang Cai.' I shouldn't have given you such a plain name when I brought you home back then."
But now, Wang Cai only recognized 'Wang Cai' and no longer responded to 'Qing Long.'
The black mongrel wagged its tail and looked at him with an obedient expression, full of charm.
"Oh well, why am I even talking to you about this? I've been calling you 'Wang Cai' for over a decade; it's not easy to change now."
Zhang sighed, rubbed his forehead, and, with a tired smile, gave Wang Cai another pat on the head before starting to prepare dinner.
After cooking, he let it cool, washed his face, and wiped the areas on his back that were wet from sweating. He looked at himself in the mirror, ensuring he didn't appear too fatigued, before taking care of his wife's hygiene, changing her clothes, and letting her get some fresh air.
She couldn't move, so all they could do was speak. When she saw him return, a smile crept onto her face. "Are you tired today?"
"Not at all," Zhang replied, full of spirit. As he cared for her and wiped her body, he shared stories, saying, "Today was quite entertaining. There was a ten-year-old elementary school student who must have been traveling with their parents. They secretly brought money to me and asked me to predict when they would escape from their studies."
"I asked about their age and what grade they were in, then I told them to subtract their current age from the age when one typically graduates from university. The kid's face turned gray when they realized it would take another ten years."
His wife weakly smiled, "How do you manage to encounter such interesting things every day?"
"I guess I'm just lucky. Among the whole town, I have the best luck."
Zhang continued, "Today, I also saw two men holding hands when they came for a reading. Times have really changed; they were so open about it, not trying to hide anything. They were good-looking, though. Handsome young men like them should be together."
His wife listened with a smile, but as she smiled, her eyes gradually grew heavy, and she couldn't keep them open. She couldn't eat the meal either. She mumbled to her husband, "Lao Zhang, I think it's my time."
"No, no, how can that be? You're only in your early forties. There are many days ahead of us."
"I can't go on like this. In my current state, I'm just a burden. We've been married for twenty years, and I've been a burden to you for ten of them. I can't keep dragging you down. You were doing fine with your stall, and your life could be good. You shouldn't turn yourself into this, pretending to have supernatural powers because of me. I know you have real skills; it's all because of me..."
"No, you're not a burden."
Zhang Xiazzi sniffled, "People say I have bad luck, but I know I'm lucky. I was an orphan, abandoned from a young age. My master found me and raised me until I was in my teens before he left. That's just when I could start making a living on my own."
"Living all alone, barely in my twenties, I met you. I got a wife and a home. You see, if I weren't lucky, how could I be this fortunate?"
He spoke at length, but his wife could hardly hear him anymore.
When people are near death, they often drift in and out of consciousness.
The middle-aged woman stared at the ceiling, let out a long sigh, and said, "I can't go on, Lao Zhang. I can't hold on any longer."
"I have to go. You have to live a good life on your own."
"Don't go, don't go!"
Zhang Xiazzi hastily grabbed his wife's hand and took out some money from his pocket. "Look, I earned money today, look!"
"Don't look, don't look..."
Suddenly, his wife, with a last burst of energy, moved her hand, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"The one I can't let go of is you!"
Then she went still.
Zhang Xiazzi, with a stiff body, called out, "Wife, wife?"
He struggled to force a smile, then picked up a bowl of rice and spooned it toward his wife's mouth. "Look, I made stir-fried shredded potatoes today. You like shredded potatoes, right? I cut them finely so you won't have any trouble eating."
"I didn't put any chili because I know you don't like it."
"Today, I ran into Wang Shuhua. You were close to her, right? But today, she really tore into me. So mean."
"Our Wang Cai was acting strangely today too, didn't catch any fish, even though it used to be so good at it."
"Wife, come on, open your mouth and eat. The food is getting cold."
No one answered him.
He slowly buried his head in the bed and began to cry softly.
Outside, Wang Cai barked energetically, "Woof! Woof!"
But unfortunately, his owner was lost in grief and didn't think to come out and check.
"What a good dog, don't you think?"
Shi Qing patted the dog's head and turned to ask Meng Qing, "Do you think your master would like it?"
Meng Qing hesitated.
"Master... seems not to like dogs."
"It's okay. I think he'll like it when he sees it."
After saying that, they both entered the room.
Inside the room, Zhang Xiazzi had cried and come to terms with his wife's passing.
In this world, his only attachments were his wife and Wang Cai.
When Wang Cai's life came to an end, he would no longer have any reason to live.
He reached out and touched the dog's head, and then asked Meng Qing, "Do you think your master would like it?"
Meng Qing hesitated.
"Master... seems not to like dogs."
"It's okay. I think he'll like it when he sees it."
After saying that, they both entered the room.
Inside the room, Zhang Xiazzi had cried and come to terms with his wife's passing.
In this world, his only attachments were his wife and Wang Cai.
When Wang Cai's life came to an end, he would no longer have any reason to live.
As he reached out to grab a white piece of clothing to cover his wife's face, he paused.
His hand, gripping the clothing, had swollen to a pale color.
Shi Qing and Wang Cai came in, and when Wang Cai approached Zhang Xiazzi, it wagged its tail and made a low, whimpering sound, more like a puppy than a grown dog.
Zhang Xiazzi stared at it in bewilderment and reached out to pat it.
This was rare behavior for Wang Cai.
After growing up, this was only the second time he had seen it act this way.
The first time was... when?
He suddenly had a flashback to a rainy day.
He was walking on a bridge, but his feet slipped, and he fell into the river.
Strictly speaking, he didn't drown; his head hit a rock in the river, and he floated downstream.
Wang Cai followed and jumped into the river, pulling him out.
Just like it was now, Wang Cai whimpered and called out to him with a low voice.
He felt that he was bleeding, bleeding...
His whole body felt cold.
He wanted to sleep; he felt so tired.
But he couldn't sleep, how could he?
If he slept, what would happen to his wife and Wang Cai?
Especially his wife; without him, who would take care of her, turn her over, change her clothes?
He slowly opened his eyes, sat up, and led Wang Cai back home.
When he reached the mirror, he wiped his face, but he gradually felt puzzled.
Strange, why was he all wet?
Zhang Xiazzi stood up in confusion, turned around, and saw his daughter-in-law staring at him. He didn't leave because he couldn't let go of her. She didn't leave because she couldn't let go of him either.
Outside, the ghost messenger cautiously poked his head in and said to Shi Qing, "M-Master, it's time for us to go..."
Beside him, the woman in colorful clothing also curiously peered in, saw the scene inside, and clapped her hands, saying, "Oh my! Sister! Lao Zhang! Both of you are dead too! Come on, come on, keep me company!"
Shi Qing asked Meng Qing, "Didn't you notice that he's a walking corpse?"
The young Taoist blushed and shook his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I didn't. This is the first time I've seen a walking corpse."
"Walking corpses usually maintain a semblance of normalcy due to unresolved attachments. His attachment is to his wife."
The Demon King asked his righteous Daoist lover, "Seeing this scene, do you have anything to say?"
Meng Qing shook his head. "I don't. Do you?"
"I do."
Shi Qing yawned and leaned on the Daoist like a boneless body. "A family should always be together."
With that, he snapped his fingers, and the black dog that had tragically lost both its owners came running over.
The Demon King patted its head. "Poor thing, they've both passed away, and now it's just you."
"But don't worry; I'll make you the first cultivatable dog."
Meng Qing recalled memories from the past and looked at his lover with sparkling eyes. "Walking corpses can't leave the mortal realm without someone to guide them. You came here specifically to help them, right?"
"Don't think too much."
Shi Qing raised an eyebrow and pet the dog. "I just wanted this dog and happened to guide them."
Meng Qing didn't expose him. He blushed and quietly crouched beside his lover. "Shall we go see my master?"
"No! Absolutely not!"
Meng Qing's master, with his white beard bristling, was full of anger. "Meng Qing! Snap out of it! How can you be with him? He's a demon! A demon!"
"You! I've raised you with great difficulty, a good seed of righteousness, and you let him tarnish you!"
"Let me tell you, even if you get married and have children, you can't be with him!"
Meng Qing blushed, lowered his head, and felt a bit embarrassed. "Master, Shi Qing and I are meant to be together. It's a destined marriage."
His master, fuming, said, "Who?! Who dares to say such things?!"
"Otherwise, why haven't you allowed me to get certified yet?"
The master grumbled, "Cultivation certifications require education! You've been with me since childhood and didn't attend school. How can you get one?!"
However, no matter how much he grumbled, Meng Qing's face remained red, and he spoke quietly but resolutely, "I want to be with Shi Qing. I love him!"
"No! I won't allow it!"
The master suddenly stood up, his anger almost making him spit blood. "Even if he's a demon, I'm not afraid of him! I've been cultivating for seven hundred years, and I fear nothing!"
With that, he marched out boldly.
Meng Qing quickly followed, calling out, "Master!"
As soon as they stepped outside, the master and disciple saw Shi Qing, holding Wang Cai on a leash.
The young Taoist's eyes sparkled with joy, and his face was beaming with happiness. As for Zheng Xing, he stared fixedly at Wang Cai, and his expression had turned rigid.
Shi Qing said, "I heard that the Daoist Master doesn't approve of me being with Qingqing."
Zheng Xing stuttered, "Y-Yes! That's right! I absolutely don't approve! I'm Zheng Xing, and I'll never approve!"
"Alright, Daoist Master, although I am a demon, I respect your decision. Consider this dog a parting gift from me and Qingqing. If you insist on separating us, please accept this dog."
Meng Qing was taken aback, his fists clenched involuntarily as he took a step forward. "Shi Qing..."
The Demon King blinked at him and released the leash.
Wang Cai joyfully ran over.
Zheng Xing stammered, "..."
Wang Cai reached him.
Zheng Xing stammered, "..."
Wang Cai stuck out its tongue and sniffed his scent.
Zheng Xing stammered, "..."
Zheng Xing stammered, "..."
"Dog!!!!"
He plopped down onto the ground, transforming into a plump groundhog, squeaking as he swiftly ran away.
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