Xian Ni: The God of Killing Returns, Marries Li Muwan at the Beginning

As the morning sun bathed the bluestone path in a pale gold hue, Lin Che had already set up his fortune-telling stall.

The faded blue cloth divination flag was lifted by a corner by the wind. The four characters "Lin Family Divination" on it were worn and blurred, but they still exuded a sense of peaceful warmth under the morning sun.

Lin Che carefully placed the three copper coins in the wooden box, then took out a rough earthenware bowl from the cloth bag, poured half a bowl of leftover cooled boiled water from yesterday, and just as his fingertips touched the rim of the bowl, he heard familiar footsteps behind him.

"Good morning, Mr. Lin!"

Turning my head, I saw Aunt Wang, who sells tofu, walking by with her load on a shoulder pole. The tofu blocks in her bamboo basket were wrapped in gauze and were still steaming.

Lin Che smiled and nodded: "Aunt Wang, the tofu looks especially tender today."

"you do not say!"

Aunt Wang put down her load, took out a paper package from her pocket and handed it over, saying with a smile, "Yesterday my son said that your fortune telling was accurate, and he insisted that I bring you a piece of sweet cake."

"Don't be disgusted, it's from Zhang's shop at the alley entrance. It tastes best when it's hot, but it's cold now. Just make do with it to fill your stomach."

Lin Che took the oil paper package, his fingertips touching the warm sugar cake, and his heart warmed as well. This fortune-telling stall was set up at the east gate of the county town, and the people coming and going were all neighbors.

He never overcharged for fortune telling, and he would even waive the fee for those in financial difficulty. Over time, he became friends with the surrounding merchants.

Just as Lin Che was about to thank her, he saw Aunt Wang carrying her load into the alley, turning back to call out, "If you don't have any business at noon, come to my house for a bowl of tofu pudding!"

As the sun slowly climbed higher, more and more people appeared on the streets.

Old farmers carrying vegetable baskets, women with cloth bags, and students carrying book boxes passed by the fortune-telling stall in twos and threes.

Unlike other fortune tellers who shout their wares, Lin Che simply sat on a small stool, twirling three copper coins in his hand, watching the passersby with a peaceful gaze.

Around 7:30 AM, a young man in a blue cloth robe stopped in front of the fortune-telling stall, his fingers gripping the hem of his robe, his toes shuffling on the ground as if he had something to say.

Lin Che looked up at him. The boy was about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a childish face. The book box on his back was worn shiny, and he was obviously a student who had been studying for many years.

"Young man, do you want your fortune told?" Lin Che lowered his voice.

The boy suddenly looked up, his eyes brightening, then quickly lowered his head again and whispered, "Sir, I... I want to know if I will pass the imperial examination this time."

As he spoke, the boy took out a few copper coins from his pocket, carefully placed them on the divination cloth, and smiled, "I've saved up this money for a long time. If it's not enough..."

"enough."

Lin Che pushed two coins back and smiled, "It's not easy being a scholar, three coins are enough."

Pick up the copper coins, flick your fingertips, and three coins clink to the divination cloth, two facing up and one facing down.

Lin Che glanced at the divination result, then looked up at the young man. He saw that the young man had clear eyebrows and eyes full of longing for fame and fortune, but also a hint of unease.

"The divination indicates that although there will be setbacks in your examination this time, you will eventually pass."

Lin Che spoke slowly.

"Have you been staying up late studying lately? You look tired. Remember to rest for a couple of days before the exam, don't overwork yourself."

The boy suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with surprise: "Really...really can I win? My mother always says I have a weak foundation and tells me not to have too much hope..." "Just believe in yourself."

Lin Che smiled and continued, "Do you always carry an old book in your book box? The pages are all worn out. Was it left by your father? Thinking about it during the exam will give you some confidence."

The boy stood there, stunned, and tears suddenly welled up in his eyes. His father had passed away last year, and he had always carried the Analects of Confucius with him, even keeping it by his pillow when he slept. No one knew about this except his mother.

Wiping away his tears, the young man bowed deeply to Lin Che: "Thank you, sir! If I really win, I will definitely come back to kowtow to you!"

"What's your name?"

Lin Che looked at the boy in front of him and asked calmly.

The boy shrugged, bowed towards Lin Che's position, and replied, "My name is Lin Yi. I am not from Zhao. I was originally a citizen of another cultivation country and came here with my mother."

Upon hearing the name Lin Yi, Lin Che slowly stopped what he was doing, subconsciously looked at the handsome young man in front of him, and then smiled slightly.

"I see. Actually, you don't need to care too much about studying. You can go to a cultivation sect to learn immortal techniques. Although you are not a citizen of Zhao, if you can successfully break through, you might even be able to benefit Zhao."

Hearing Mr. Lin Che's words, Lin Yi nodded slightly and said, "I understand, sir. After I pass the imperial examination with top honors, I will go to a nearby sect to cultivate. I promise I will not disappoint you."

After saying that, Lin Yi, carrying his book box, waved goodbye to Lin Che and ran off into the distance with light steps, as if he were about to fly.

"Lin Yi...that name sounds familiar, like I've heard it somewhere before..."

Lin Che watched Lin Yi's retreating figure, sighed softly, and the pale gold patterns on his fingertips flickered before quickly disappearing.

Ever since he helped Tian Kongzi with his divination, these lines have been appearing unexpectedly, and he can see more things as well.

For example, the old books in the boy's book box, the candy for his grandson hidden in Aunt Wang's bamboo basket, and the herbal medicine for her husband's cough that a passing woman secretly put in her cloth bag.

When the sun was high in the sky, the aroma of wontons wafted from the alleyway, and Lin Che realized he was hungry.

Just as I was about to pack up and go get a bowl of wontons, a man dressed in coarse cloth shorts rushed over, his trouser legs still covered in mud, his face full of anxiety.

"Sir! Sir! Please help me figure this out, my girl has gone missing!"

The man grabbed Lin Che's wrist, his voice trembling, and hurriedly said, "I brought her to town to buy cloth this morning, and she disappeared as soon as I turned around! I've been looking for her for almost two hours, I'm so worried!"

Lin Che patted his hand reassuringly and comforted him, "Don't worry, tell me first, how old is your girl? What clothes does she wear?"

"She was five years old, wearing a pink cotton dress, with two little braids tied with red ribbons."

The middle-aged man spoke quickly, replying immediately, "My name is Li Laosan, and I live in Lijiazhuang outside the city. Today I brought my daughter to buy fabric for new clothes, thinking that her birthday is coming up soon..."

Lin Che picked up the copper coin, and just as he was about to toss it, he saw the golden thread on his fingertip flash, and a scene appeared before his eyes.

A little girl in a pink dress squatted under a willow tree at the entrance of the alley, holding a willow branch in her hand, teasing a lame kitten.

Lin Che felt relieved, then said to Li Laosan, "Don't panic, your girl isn't missing. She's in Willow Lane to the west, squatting under the big willow tree playing with the cat. Hurry up, or she'll run far away with the cat."

Li Laosan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized what was happening, thanked Lin Che repeatedly, and turned to run west. (End of Chapter)