I licked my lips slightly, anticipating his reaction. And the response that came back was—
"…Huh?"
Compared to his highly suspicious appearance, it was a surprisingly cute reaction.
The long-awaited exam day had arrived. It wasn't just about my grades—it was also the day to find out whether that fortune teller's words were true or not.
And the result?
…What is he?
Out of 30 questions, 20 were spot-on. Even the remaining 10 were close enough. There's no chance the questions leaked. Not even the Beggars' Sect or the Hao Clan could get their hands on the training hall's exam questions. How could anyone, by any means, uncover questions that the Leader of the Martial Alliance personally crafts, carries with him, and reveals only on the day of the exam?
Does he really see the future…?
Fortune-telling. I'd thought it was pure quackery. No, if predictions this close to prophecy were possible through fortune-telling, the Wudang Sect or Kunlun Sect should've already taken over the Central Plains by now.
To call it a coincidence…
The accuracy was too high. Even if I assumed he somehow beat astronomical odds and the random guesses he threw out just happened to match—
It's already twice.
He also has the track record of saving Namgung Jin's life. Once could be a fluke. Twice could still be stretched into coincidence. But anything beyond that steps out of the realm of chance.
I need to keep an eye on him.
If this fortune teller's near-prophetic foresight is truly his ability, I have to secure it somehow. I need to keep him in my sights at all times. Right now, it's just exam questions, but if that ability extends to the state of the Central Plains, the movements of the imperial court, hidden divine weapon caches, or the schemes of the Demonic Cult—its potential would be limitless.
And if the Tang Clan could monopolize that power?
…
It's a slightly dangerous thought, but—
It might just upset the balance between the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families.
I haven't reported him to the clan yet. Helping someone open a fortune-telling shop out of the blue might look suspicious, but it's something I could brush off as aiding an acquaintance's friend.
"It's your first day of business. Nervous?"
"I'd be lying if I said no…"
As always, his face remained completely hidden—an uncanny sight. If he ever becomes famous, I'm certain "Faceless" will be part of his nickname.
I'm a little worried, though.
If his abilities spread across the entire Central Plains, monopolizing them later would be difficult. But I can't rashly make a move when I still don't know much about his powers or personality. For now, the best course is to help him as he wants, build some debt, and watch him from the sidelines.
"I'll stick around for your first day, so relax. If any ruffians show up, I can handle them."
"Uh… What about the training hall?"
"Skipping a day won't kill me."
I can make up the time later.
"But… isn't two silver coins a bit pricey?"
"No, it's actually cheap. Don't worry about it."
If he maintains the same accuracy he showed with me, two silver coins is a steal. Of course, since word hasn't spread yet and he's just starting today, he won't get many customers at first. But later…
Knock knock.
"Um… excuse me…"
Whoosh!
The moment I sensed someone outside, I hid myself. The customer was a woman who looked close to forty.
"Welcome! What can I do for you? Birth charts, love luck, blessings for children—anything's possible!"
"Uh… my son's about to take the entrance exam for the Huashan Sect… Can you see that too?"
"Oh, of course! A mother of an examinee, huh? Come, come, sit comfortably. I'll say a prayer to the gods of heaven and earth—oh, unless you've got someone specific you believe in?"
…His spiel sounded more like a shaman than a fortune teller, but that's not my problem.
"Huashan's great, you know. They're Taoists—refined, righteous folks—and since it's high up in the mountains close to the heavens, the natural energy's pure. If he gets in, he'll become someone big."
Clack clack clack clack.
He laid out eight wooden tablets on the table.
"Normally, I don't take proxy readings since they're tough on me, but I get where you're coming from, and you're my first customer right after opening, so I'll put in some extra effort just for you."
It didn't take long for him to start speaking.
…
…
"Well, looks like business wrapped up nicely."
"…Did it, though?"
"You botched the first customer but still got three more after that—it's a good finish."
He jingled the six silver coins in his hand proudly. The first customer had screamed, hurled every curse in the book, and stormed out after hearing his reading. Naturally, she didn't pay either.
"Maybe I should've taken payment upfront. I'd have made two more coins."
At least he started taking payment in advance after that, netting him six coins.
"Couldn't you have just said he'd pass?"
"The first customer?"
"Yeah."
That type doesn't come to really know their future. They come for reassurance, to suppress their fears with comfort from others. That woman probably came willing to spend two silver coins—a decent sum—for that peace of mind.
"Then if he fails, she'd come back to chew me out. If I'm going to get yelled at either way, isn't it better to read it properly and keep my accuracy high?"
"…Oh."
When he put it that way, it made sense.
"People's hearts are tricky, you know. They come to see the future, but if I tell them something ominous, they say I'm cursing them. I'm just saying what I see."
"Well… no one likes an ominous future."
"I'm giving them advice to avoid it, though."
Thankfully—or not—he didn't seem too bothered by the first customer's flop.
"Oh, Miss Tang, since business is done, how about we grab a meal together? My treat."
"…Sure, why not."
Someone else might be shocked to see this. Me, accepting a meal invitation from a man on the spot?
Just to clarify, don't get the wrong idea.
I still need to keep an eye on him.
He's a man whose face and name I don't even know. I'm interested in his abilities, not him rationally—there's no room for that yet.
It hadn't even been a few days since he arrived in Shaanxi, so I quietly followed, curious where he'd lead me—
"Hey, buddy, back again today? I'm happy to see you, but if you eat too much and ruin your stomach, don't blame me!"
"Haha, if I die drinking, I'd welcome it."
"Geez, a real drunkard. But you brought someone else today? A woman, no less?"
Before I knew it, we were in a tavern.