Xia Tian was certain he had just encountered a legendary beauty—perhaps the very embodiment of good fortune. To meet such a stunning woman at a late-night food stall felt almost unreal. How could he possibly stay calm? His X-Ray Eyes scanned the two women without restraint.
Both were undeniably striking, each with her own distinct charm. One was like a cool breeze—clean and flawless—while the other radiated vivid allure, like a brilliant blossom in full bloom.
"Hooligan." The girl in Nike glared at Xia Tian before sitting down. She didn't want to share a table with him, but every other seat was taken, and he happened to be alone.
The other woman, more open-minded in demeanor, smiled at Xia Tian without saying a word.
"Beauty, I feel like we've met somewhere before," Xia Tian said, breaking the silence.
"Handsome boy, that line is too old-fashioned," the open-minded girl replied with a teasing smile.
"Oh, really?" Xia Tian grinned. "Then let me say this: I wish I could become a stone bridge, enduring five hundred years of wind, five hundred years of sun, and five hundred years of rain—just so you'd walk across it once, letting me see what you're wearing."
"Hehe." The open-minded woman chuckled softly. "You're quite funny. I like this way of flirting. But do you even know who she is?"
She was referring to the woman in Nike, who now wore an unpleasant expression, glaring daggers at Xia Tian.
"Beauty, you're sick," Xia Tian said with unexpected seriousness.
"You're the sick one! Sit quietly and stop talking, or I'll arrest you!" the Nike girl snapped, unable to hold back any longer. Since sitting down, Xia Tian had been teasing them while blatantly staring.
"Beauty, you misunderstood. You really are sick. You've been suffering from insomnia, dry mouth, irritability—and your period's late this month." Xia Tian hurried to explain.
"Do you think I won't hit you?" the Nike girl growled, her eyes blazing. She was about to strike him when the open-minded girl stopped her.
"Bingbing, don't get angry. What he said sounds true," the open-minded girl said. "Maybe he's actually a doctor."
"Him? A doctor?" Bingbing snorted. "If that's the case, every female patient would be in danger."
"That's not necessarily true, little brother," the open-minded woman said playfully. "Why don't you tell me what's wrong with Bingbing? If you're right, there'll be a reward." She leaned slightly forward, her tone deliberately suggestive.
"What kind of reward?" Xia Tian asked eagerly.
"What kind do you want?" she asked, gazing at him seductively.
"If I'm right, you'll be my little wife," Xia Tian said matter-of-factly.
Bingbing nearly exploded. Her eyes widened as she raised her hand to slap him—her movements sharp and practiced, clearly showing years of experience.
But the expected slap never landed. Xia Tian had already caught her wrist and was now examining her palm closely.
"Your love line is unusually flat, but recently a few shallow marks have appeared—that means love is approaching. Your career line used to be rough, but now a new mark shows it will soon rise. However, your life line is intermittent, which means you'll face great danger soon—but you'll survive it. In short," Xia Tian said solemnly, "you're destined to meet me."
"Hehe." The open-minded girl covered her mouth, laughing quietly.
"You shameless bastard! I'll teach you a lesson!" Bingbing shouted angrily.
"Alright, alright, Bingbing, calm down," her friend said quickly. "Let him diagnose you first—see if what he said is true." This was a crowded food stall, and if Bingbing lost her temper here, it would cause a scene. Besides, the young man in front of her was oddly intriguing.
"Hmph." Bingbing snorted and said coldly, "Let me go."
"Oh." Xia Tian reluctantly released her hand.
"Little brother, tell me then—what's wrong with Bingbing? If you're right, I'll kiss you." The open-minded woman gave him a playful glance.
"I'll take that loss," Xia Tian said with a grin.
The two women were speechless. Such a beautiful woman offered him a kiss, and yet he claimed it was his loss.
"If I'm not mistaken, you won't live past the age of thirty," Xia Tian said seriously to Bingbing.
"What?" Both women froze. It wasn't the prediction itself that shocked them—it was that he seemed to know something he shouldn't.
"How did you know that?" the open-minded woman asked in astonishment.
"There are two main meridians in the human body," Xia Tian began. "Ancient martial artists called them the Ren and Du meridians. They represent yin and yang. In men, the Ren meridian is usually stronger, and in women, the Du meridian is. That's how yin and yang stay balanced."
He continued, "If the two are the same thickness, the person is neither male nor female—what ancient texts called an eunuch. If someone possesses only one of them, it's known as the Nine Heavens Mysterious Meridian—a condition so rare it appears once in a hundred million births. Such people rarely live past the age of five."
"So which type is Bingbing?" the open-minded girl asked.
"Neither," Xia Tian said. "Her Du meridian is too strong, and her Ren meridian too weak. The Du meridian is still growing—it might even suppress or expel the Ren meridian completely. That's why she's short-tempered, has a dry mouth, and delayed menstruation." These were things his father had taught him when he was young.
"Then why won't she live past thirty?" the open-minded girl pressed.
"Thirty is just an estimate. People like her rarely live beyond that age. Judging from her condition, she probably won't live past twenty-seven," Xia Tian said. His X-Ray Eyes had already confirmed that her condition was worse than expected.
"Twenty-seven—that's next year," the open-minded woman murmured worriedly.
"Don't worry, Sister Ping. Who knows if he's even telling the truth?" Bingbing said coldly, though a chill ran down her spine. Deep inside, she knew her health had been deteriorating, but she refused to admit it.
"Marry me, and I can save you," Xia Tian said seriously.
"In your dreams. I'd rather die than marry a shameless man like you." Bingbing stood up and turned to leave.
"Bingbing, wait for me," Sister Ping called out. Before following, she leaned down and kissed Xia Tian lightly on the forehead. "Here's my number—remember to call me."
As Xia Tian looked at the business card in his hand, he understood what she meant—she wanted him to treat Bingbing. But the treatment wasn't simple. It required both of them to be naked in a pool while he opened seventy-eight acupuncture points across her body, including several private areas.
Once he saw and touched those places, he would consider her his wife. Xia Tian was not an irresponsible man, nor was he as shameless as others thought. So far, he had only one concubine—Tang Yan.
After finishing his meal, Xia Tian walked back to his suburban home, using the journey to practice his Manyun Fairy Steps.
When he got home, he went to bed early. The next day, he was visiting his aunt.
He admired the inner energy technique his father had left him—Tianxing Jue. It wasn't something to be practiced during meditation but during sleep. The method improved naturally while sleeping and could not be forced.
Tianxing Jue had seven levels, and Xia Tian was currently at the first. His father had taught him the rules of sleep: to clear the mind completely, free himself of distractions, and enter the deepest state of rest possible.
If sleep had three levels, the first was dream-filled slumber; the second, ordinary rest where one struggled to wake; and the third—Xia Tian's level—was total harmony with heaven and earth, merging completely with nature.
Some experts had even studied suspended animation to simulate deep sleep, but none had achieved this perfect state.
For Xia Tian, it came naturally. His training since childhood allowed him to reach this supreme level of sleep with ease. It not only prolonged life but also accelerated the absorption of spiritual energy from heaven and earth during slumber.
That was the true wonder of Tianxing Jue.
In deep sleep, the technique operated on its own, letting Xia Tian cultivate over ten times faster than ordinary practitioners.
He slept soundly that night. The next morning, after practicing Manyun Fairy Steps and Lingxi Yizhi several times, he showered, changed into clean clothes, and set out for his meeting with his aunt.
Ever since mastering Manyun Fairy Steps, Xia Tian rarely took vehicles. Walking no longer tired him—it was, in fact, part of his training.