681: Chapter 677: Like Human, But Not?
681: Chapter 677: Like Human, But Not?
“Strange?
In all my years of bone-touching fortune telling, this is the first time I have seen such an anomalous fate for a child,” said the Taoist Wu Chen, causing Yun Xinyan to feel a jolt of alarm in her heart!
“Taoist Wu Chen, what do you mean by that?
What about my child?”
She had merely asked how long it would be before she could conceive, but Taoist Wu Chen’s response that her child’s fate was unusual sent Yun Xinyan’s heart into turmoil.
“Well…
I’m not sure if I should say it,” Taoist Wu Chen hesitated, then still chose to tell the truth, “Madam, the fate of your progeny is indeed very strange, it shows a form that is ‘neither human nor non-human’…”
“What!?”
Yun Xinyan was shocked, and anger flared in her eyes.
“What crazy talk is this, insulting my child like that!
Neither human nor non-human—You’re the one who’s neither human nor non-human!”
Yun Xinyan withdrew her hand and cursed loudly.
Being born into a prestigious family, Yun Xinyan was well-educated and not prone to anger easily.
Even if someone did offend her, she would just endure it silently.
In front of others, Yun Xinyan could not afford to act improperly…
But this time, Yun Xinyan couldn’t hold back because it wasn’t an insult to herself but to her child.
The term ‘neither human nor non-human’ was obviously not a compliment.
Seeing Yun Xinyan’s outburst, Taoist Wu Chen’s face was filled with helplessness.
“Madam, please do not be angry.
I am blind, and I have long ceased to yearn for the splendors of the mortal world.
Therefore, I have no need to curry favor for my own benefit.
No matter who comes to me for fortune telling, my words are always truthful.
Your child’s fate is unusual, but it is not an ominous sign.
The term ‘neither human nor non-human’ is not meant to be derogatory; it’s simply a balanced statement.
If madam is not satisfied with my words, I will apologize to you, and you can be straightforward.
Please do not destroy my dwelling place!”
Although Taoist Wu Chen’s declaration of her progeny as ‘neither human nor non-human’ was unsettling, aside from that, he said nothing offensive.
Moreover, Yun Xinyan had promised Taoist Wu Chen that no matter what he said, she would not get angry…
So, the fury within Yun Xinyan subsided…
One must always maintain the image of a lady in public!
“Taoist, I thought you were insulting my child just now, which is why I lost my composure.
This was my mistake, and I apologize to you here,” Yun Xinyan said sincerely, and Taoist Wu Chen nodded his head.
“That’s alright, madam.
I am known for being blunt when telling fortunes, never flattering or obsequious.
Therefore, those who come to me have often been angry with me.
Since madam is not fully pleased with my words, you are free to leave.
If you require my services again in the future, you are welcome to disturb me once more!”
Taoist Wu Chen was sending them away, and Yun Xinyan exchanged a glance with Ye Tian.
Indeed, Yun Xinyan hadn’t received the answer she wanted, but leaving just like that seemed a waste…
“Wait a moment, Taoist!”
Yun Xinyan quickly pushed Ye Tian in front of Taoist Wu Chen.
“If you can’t determine the fate of my progeny from me, how about you read the fortune for my husband?
Please tell us when he will be able to have a child?”
“…”
Taoist Wu Chen was at a loss for words.
Asking him to divine her husband’s prospects for children seemed redundant, didn’t it?
Ye Tian’s child would obviously be Yun Xinyan’s as well…
“Then I must trouble you, Taoist Wu Chen!”
Being his wife’s wish, Ye Tian had no choice but to extend his hand towards Taoist Wu Chen, albeit reluctantly.
Initially, Ye Tian had planned to retaliate fiercely if Taoist Wu Chen dared to speak ill of his and Yun Xinyan’s relationship.
But seeing that Taoist Wu Chen was just a scruffy blind man, he abandoned the thought.
Ye Tian couldn’t bring himself to harm someone so defenseless!
Therefore, even though Taoist Wu Chen’s ‘neither human nor non-human’ remark had infuriated Yun Xinyan, Ye Tian remained calm and unruffled, merely smiling without taking a stance.
“Sir, I still say the same.
Please regard my words as if I’m speaking idly, and take them as you will,” Taoist Wu Chen spoke as he touched Ye Tian’s hand.
As his hand made contact with Ye Tian’s palm, Taoist Wu Chen’s body suddenly shuddered!
“This…
what is this?
My heavens!
My heavens…”
Taoist Wu Chen uttered strange sounds, and compared to his previously dignified demeanor, he seemed like a completely different person.
“Taoist, are you alright?”
Seeing something was awry with Taoist Wu Chen, Yun Xinyan quickly asked with concern.
“Heavens…
my heavens…
this palmistry…
I…
I…”
Taoist Wu Chen was too preoccupied to respond to Yun Xinyan’s question; he continued muttering to himself, but his excitement left him unable to finish a sentence.
Ye Tian and Yun Xinyan were both perplexed.
What was this blind Taoist up to?
“You…
layman…
no, not a layman…
you…
you are really…”
Taoist Wu Chen immediately stood up, his face showing an unusually panicked expression.
Ye Tian quickly shielded Yun Xinyan, readying himself for defense.
Given this Taoist’s odd behavior, should he cause trouble for him and Yun Xinyan, he had to stop him immediately!
But what happened next left Ye Tian dumbstruck!
All of a sudden, with a loud “snap!”, Taoist Wu Chen knelt down on the ground!
“Divine being, spare my life…
I didn’t know a divine being had come…
I’ve angered you…
please don’t blame me…
I swear to heaven…
from now on…
I will no longer read fortunes by examining bones…
revealing the secrets of fate…”
Not only did he plead with Ye Tian for mercy, but Taoist Wu Chen also kept kowtowing, the “thump thump thump!” echoing, his forehead already bleeding profusely.
“Ah!”
Yun Xinyan screamed in fright at the sight of Taoist Wu Chen’s bloodied head.
However, Ye Tian was taken aback, watching Taoist Wu Chen — he didn’t seem to be acting, but rather genuinely mad.
Yet why he had gone mad, Ye Tian had no idea.
It couldn’t be that just from touching his hand, he went mad, could it be?
With the strength Ye Tian possessed now, he could destroy the other person’s heart meridian with his Inner Strength, which could indeed make them lose their mind, but he had done nothing.
What exactly drove this Taoist Wu Chen into madness?
“Divine being…
spare my life…”
Taoist Wu Chen’s heavy kowtowing hurt his head, leaving him to collapse soon after, unconscious on the ground.
Seeing this, Ye Tian quickly lifted Wu Chen onto the bed…
“Ye Tian, what happened to this Taoist?
Why did he suddenly go mad?” Yun Xinyan asked, puzzled, but all Ye Tian could do was shake his head.
“I don’t know…”
The behavior of Taoist Wu Chen was too bizarre and had gone beyond anything Ye Tian had foreseen.
Now, looking at the barely alive Taoist Wu Chen lying on the bed, Ye Tian took out a silver needle but hesitated about whether he should check Wu Chen’s pulse.
“Ye Tian…
this Taoist has a weird temperament, let’s not meddle in affairs that aren’t our concern!” Yun Xinyan advised.
Even if Ye Tian managed to cure him with the needle, it likely wouldn’t be beneficial if Wu Chen was inherently mad.
“…”
Ye Tian was still undecided about whether to use the needle on Wu Chen when a young acolyte walked in.
The acolyte was only about thirteen or fourteen years old.
Seeing Wu Chen lying on the bed, he didn’t appear surprised but instead greeted Ye Tian and Yun Xinyan with a bow.
“Respected laymen, please do not disturb my master’s rest.”
It seemed that this young acolyte was Wu Chen’s disciple.
Yun Xinyan gave the acolyte a surprised look and said, “Young Taoist, your master just had a sudden fit of madness and collapsed.
Won’t you get a doctor to treat him?”
The acolyte quickly responded, “Rest assured, female layman, my master has a chronic illness and often talks incoherently.
There is no need to worry; it’s just a recurrence of his old ailment.”
“…”
“…”
Ye Tian and Yun Xinyan looked at each other in bewilderment.
So, Taoist Wu Chen’s illness was not because of his fortune-telling for Ye Tian but rather a pre-existing condition.
Yun Xinyan added, “Young Taoist, if your master is sick, why allow pilgrims to come to his room for fortune-telling?
Shouldn’t he close his doors and rest well instead of receiving guests?”
Faced with Yun Xinyan’s doubt, the acolyte answered, “Female layman, you may not know this, but although my master has his illnesses, his skill in fortune-telling through examining bones is unmatched.
Everything he predicts comes true.
I’ve also heard my master say that he has opened his ‘Heavenly Eye’ since going blind, allowing him to ‘reach the heavens’ with his hearing and understand past and present!”
“Is that so?”
Ye Tian couldn’t help but retort, with the times being what they are, it was incredibly superstitious.
Having a ‘Heavenly Eye’ wasn’t new because he also had the ability to see through things, but claims like ‘reach the heavens’ with hearing and understanding past and present were straight out of mythology.
Ye Tian didn’t believe in those stories, so he didn’t take the acolyte’s words seriously at all!
“Let’s go, wife!”
Since Wu Chen had fainted, Ye Tian and Yun Xinyan couldn’t disturb his rest, so he took Yun Xinyan by the hand and left the shrine.
Yun Xinyan drove them straight back to the city center of Jiangcheng, but her heart felt uneasy.
“Ye Tian, I feel so aggravated about this matter.
How could that Taoist say ‘like a person yet not a person’ about our child?
Isn’t that cursing me to give birth to a monster?” Yun Xinyan said angrily, and due to her emotions, she also drove exceedingly fast.
Driving in high heels and speeding, Ye Tian felt a sudden tightness in his chest and anxiously advised, “My dear wife, why take a mad Taoist’s word to heart?
The fate of our child should be decided by us, what does it have to do with anyone else?”