Chapter 121: Chapter 121: Why Conceal Wit for Fortune or Misfortune?

Kong Chan glanced at Xia Wenjin as if he had never met her before, greeted with a single palm, maintaining his dignified demeanor as a high monk. His voice was clear and resonant, saying, “Let the benefactor lend me your hand for a look!”

Xia Wenjin extended her hand.

The hand, fair and delicate, was exceptionally beautiful.

After examining the palm’s lines, Kong Chan was about to touch the bones when he withdrew his hand midway and simply said, “Turn it over.”

Xia Wenjin flipped her hand, revealing the back.

Kong Chan studied it carefully, glanced at Xia Wenjin’s face, and then began pinching her joints again.

This time, however, the joint-pinching was brief, only lasting two rounds before he withdrew his hand. Looking at Xia Wenjin, he said very seriously, “Benefactor… also has the appearance of early death!”

Everyone: “…”

The Abbott of Shian Temple, Master Ming Cheng, could not help but speak up, “Uncle Kong Chan!”

Every time someone came here, one or two people were told they had signs of early death. Was this not deliberately making things difficult for people? Although it is said that monks do not lie, even if you truly see signs of early death, you should at least be tactful, dashing people’s hopes and thoughts, which is not what a high monk should do.

Xia Wenjin chuckled softly, “Then tell me, how long will I live?”

She indeed found it quite funny. Mo Qingfeng, having his identity exposed last night, was now calling her short-lived in front of so many people. His tactics were impressive, she had to admit. She didn’t want to expose his identity publicly, nor go beat him up, could she? Tsk tsk tsk, this vengeful fellow.

Kong Chan’s expression remained very serious and earnest, as if he were proving to everyone that he wasn’t speaking nonsense. He said, “The benefactor’s fate holds two calamities, both ominous omens, one at sixteen, and another at twenty-four!”

Someone whispered, “Sixteen is sixteen, twenty-four is twenty-four. Does this mean if this young one lives past sixteen, he won’t live past twenty-four?”

“How do you know? Maybe sixteen is twenty-eight, and twenty-four is forty-six?”

Xia Wenjin squinted her eyes and asked, “So you mean, I will die this year?”

The crowd thought, so this youngster is sixteen this year.

Kong Chan seemed to ponder, calculated on his fingers, and then said, “It seems so, but your fate is exceedingly dangerous; however, there is a slim chance of survival in between, so you might get past sixteen!”

Just as everyone felt pity combined with a sense of relief, Kong Chan raised his head resolutely and declared, “But even if you get past sixteen, you won’t get past twenty-four! Twenty-four is your limit!”

Everyone was again abuzz with chatter.

This was spoken too decisively, wasn’t it? One would not live past nineteen, another not past twenty-four, leaving no room for negotiation. If it doesn’t turn out so, faces would be lost, wouldn’t they?

Abbot Ming Cheng’s voice changed, “Uncle Kong Chan?!”

Even if it’s a fortune-telling, who would do it so decisively?

This monk from the Bodhi Temple, who had previously spoken and acted with utmost restraint, why was he behaving inappropriately now? People came here just for a divination; you could just perform that. What’s with the face and palm reading?

Face reading should have sufficed, so why the palm reading and touching bones? One was enough; why both? And both ended with early death predictions?

One could be factual, but two predicting early death? Such things don’t exist in the world!

Even if their fates were doomed, appearances of early death, it shouldn’t be spoken so bluntly. What about Buddhist compassion? If there’s an error, how would it be rectified?

Isn’t this just stirring trouble?

Xia Wenjin’s heart stirred.

Twenty-four at sixteen, in her past life, she married Huangfu Yuxuan at fifteen. In nine years, she helped him achieve the world, ascending to the Dragon Court, only to be poisoned by the newly crowned Huangfu Yuxuan at twenty-four!

Kong Chan glanced at Ming Cheng, his voice suddenly vast and resonant like a great bell or drum, “Medicine cannot cure fatal illness, Buddha saves those destined. Realize emptiness, return to true nature, how can blessing and disaster be hidden?”

Ming Cheng was startled, and his rising irritation instantly evaporated. His heart sank—had he given rise to thoughts of wrath? He clasped his hands together, “Amitabha!”

Xia Wenjin inwardly rolled her eyes. This Kong Chan was indeed skilled, leaving even Abbot Ming Cheng in a baffled state. However, was he truly skilled, or just bluffing?

It seemed he wasn’t wrong. At sixteen in her past life, she indeed faced a life-threatening ordeal but ultimately survived. However, she truly couldn’t get past twenty-four.

But that was in the past life.

Suddenly, a realization dawned on her. If this Kong Chan was truly skilled, he should be able to see she had lived two lifetimes, but he didn’t, so those words were just for show, mere coincidence.

His intentions were clear by making such statements in such a public setting.

Going against the grain, in a sea of profound and convoluted statements meant for guessing games, a couple of straightforward, sensational remarks would undoubtedly be more memorable and make him stand out.

Xia Wenjin decided not to let him have his way and smiled, “Master, you declare one as short-lived after examining just one, who would dare to seek your service again?”

Kong Chan’s white brows rose, revealing a chilling sharpness, “This monk stays beyond mundane affairs and does not enter the five elements. If not for the fact that the two benefactors showed destiny, why would this monk perform readings for them?”

Despite the severity in his tone, his voice was gentle, appearing to have an understanding of all, yet also full of compassion. Everyone found no incongruity, instead thinking of it as Master Kong Chan having a compassionate heart, warning them due to their short, youthful lives.

Xia Wenjin almost laughed in exasperation. This Mo Qingfeng was indeed quite bold. Was he not afraid she’d expose him?

She turned to Huangfu Jingchen and laughed, “Do you believe it?”

Huangfu Jingchen laughed as well, “I believe I do, since Master has calculated for so long!”

Xia Wenjin nodded and laughed, “I believe too, though Master didn’t spend as long as you anticipated!”

Everyone: “…”

They thought these two really had big hearts. Most people would be upset upon hearing they had little time to live, more than most would become visibly upset.

But instead, they were all smiles, calm and composed, as if hearing the most ordinary of words.

In truth, their words of belief clearly indicated disbelief.

The two smiled and saluted Kong Chan, then returned to their seats.

Kong Chan’s gaze lingered on their retreating figures, before slowly getting up, saying, “Today’s divination has been concluded. Please feel free to continue!” With that, he rose and left directly.

Ming Cheng and the others expressed no surprise, offering a hands-together farewell.

As the Chief, it was apparent that all subsequent matters fell to Ming Qing to handle. He announced the end of this session, with the next one in half a month’s time.

Huangfu Jingchen said, “It’s over!”

Xia Wenjin said, “It seems we have to stay another two days!”

Upon hearing Xia Wenjin mention staying two more days, a hint of amusement seemed to flit across Huangfu Jingchen’s eyes, but he quickly straightened up, saying, “Are you sure our most important affairs are settled here?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep