As dusk settled in during the Hour of the Dog, people finished their daily labors, shook off their fatigue, and began preparing for yet another repeating tomorrow.
The tavern was as rowdy as ever.
Laughter and chatter over drinks, brawls breaking out among those who couldn't rein in their drunken emotions, spectators cheering them on.
And even the gambling tables, where fortunes rose and fell amid laughter and tears.
"Saw that! Saw that!! That's my win, right?!"
"Aigoo, lost again."
"Kahaha! Great fun today too, fortune teller buddy!"
The man who'd been playing against me slapped my shoulder and stood up.
I'd gotten somewhat used to it by now, but mahjong was still damn tough.
Poker or blackjack—games I'd messed around with a few times back on Earth—would've been easier, but nothing like that existed in the jianghu.
Tap tap.
"Aigoo, lost again today? You've never had a winning day, have you, brother?"
"I win sometimes when luck's on my side. Win rate's maybe around twenty percent."
"Aigoo, does that even leave you with anything?"
"You don't gamble to make money. It's all for the fun."
I knocked back the liquor I'd ordered in advance.
The sharp burn of alcohol scorched down my throat and into my gut.
"Krr..."
This was life.
After gorging on every scrap of culture via the internet back on Earth, getting dumped into this jianghu and holing up in the mountains for ten years straight—my current days felt like paradise.
"But brother... I've got a question. You're a fortune teller—why do you always lose?"
"Does it seem weird that a guy who can see the future can't read a measly gambling table?"
"Honestly, yeah, a bit."
Silence fell.
The whole area had gone quiet in an instant.
Aigoo, people always held their breath over that one.
Slurp.
Eh, no big deal.
"Keep that up, and you'll invite heavenly punishment."
It was just me trying to live long.
My goal was to stick around as long as possible, savoring this fun life.
No way was I snuffing out that spark with needless greed.
"If I really wanted cash, I wouldn't run a fortune stall—I'd be raiding secret realms and treasures. There's a reason for everything, see? Even sorcerers like me have our own headaches~."
"...Well, true. We're not the ones involved."
"Heavenly punishment, huh..."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd at my words.
Slurp.
So that's what had them curious.
"Fate and treasures are preordained by heaven and earth. They say fortune favors only the prepared. If a sorcerer like me dared trespass there, the gods would wrath upon us. Heaven's sensitive to the greed of the unprepared."
"..."
Gulp.
Swallows echoed around the room.
They were probably lost in thought.
Some dreaming they might be fated owners, others spooked into dropping their own ambitions.
Snicker.
"Come on now, no heavy vibes in a fun tavern like this. Let's all get back to enjoying ourselves. Don't let one sorcerer's ramblings throw you off."
I raised my cup high to lighten the mood.
Worried for a second no one would join, but luckily some drinking buddies I'd made around Shaanxi over the months chimed in, hoisting theirs too.
"Cheers—!"
Ah, didn't realize at first, but in the Central Plains, "cheers" means you gotta drain the whole cup.
Thud!
"Kuh—!"
How could life be this good?
Wonder if I'd catch heavenly punishment later.
"Good meat... good booze... this is paradise on earth..."
"Brother, for paradise on earth, you need women too."
"Women, huh..."
Six months out in the jianghu, and I still hadn't held one.
I could if I wanted—money wasn't an issue, and with my funds, I could've hired two or three brothel girls at once.
"...Not really on my mind."
Still, the urge never hit.
Some aversion to paid company?
Nah. Even setting that aside, chances had come plenty.
Spending every day boozing and gambling, vibes naturally heated up between men and women.
More than a few had approached—women objectively plenty attractive.
Turned 'em all down, though. That was all I remembered.
"..."
Slurp.
Why did that prickly woman's face pop into my head right now?
Finally escaped after ten years, living it up, having a blast.
Aha.
Too accustomed to that beauty—my standards got jacked up.
Made sense. Staring at a woman like that every day for a decade? My eyes weren't normal anymore.
Most street girls looked downright plain.
Damn, even out here, she was still "helping" in her own way.
Harassing my life even after I shut myself away in secluded training.
"..."
Just a tiny bit.
The teeniest bit,
but tonight, my lonely bed felt extra cold.
.
.
.
Stagger stagger.
"Oof. Pricey liquor really hits different."
Yeohong, was it? The name of this booze.
They said it was rare even for taverns—didn't stock it often. Tried it since it came in, and yeah, worlds apart from regular rice wine.
If not for that silver tael from the Mount Hua Sect woman today, I couldn't have afforded it.
Wonder where that old man scrounged it up...
That pricey? Unless you're a boozehound like me who doesn't pinch pennies, who'd even buy it.
Maybe he got it thinking of me.
"Life's seriously fun..."
Hearing clients' tales while divining, watching their reactions after—pure joy.
Earning cash, downing drinks, tavern drama, gambling thrills.
Same routine every day, but it was perfect. My ideal schedule.
That's why I wanted to live longer.
In this perilous world. Survive as long as possible. Keep savoring the joy.
They bought it hook, line, and sinker...
All those lies served that purpose.
A frail sorcerer who couldn't master a single martial art, couldn't beat a common thug— to survive here, I had to stay off the powerhouses' radar.
Live small. Bland. Nothing special.
Heaven preordains owners for realms and treasures? Fortune only for the prepared?
Lies.
Realms were realms, treasures were treasures—sitting there for whoever found them.
Just a shield to keep realm-hunters and treasure-seekers at bay.
Far as I knew, no such restrictions existed.
Not some "if I can't have it, no one can" spite.
If word got out I could pinpoint realms and treasures for others, I'd stop being just a "decent fortune teller."
Lies to prevent that.
Acting to survive.
Shaanxi's "Faceless Golden Ghost" had to be that kind of guy.
Can't have too much money. They'd think I earned it with my powers.
Can't be strong. They'd think I found realms with my powers.
Eh, all excuses anyway.
Bottom line: I boozed and gambled daily to blow cash, then whined about not wanting wealth.
Skipped proper training citing my wrecked dantian and weak body, then preached against strength.
No matter how much wealth or power I piled up in this world,
it'd just be a kid's antics to the real monsters.
...But life's fun, so that's what counts, right?
Master. Your unworthy disciple's enjoying the outside world just fine.
Way more fun stuff and people than up in the mountains.
But tonight, I kinda miss you for some reason.
..Hope you're doing well?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Ten years ago—
[Um... Master...? Where should I sleep?]
[Oh, right. We've only got one quilt at home.]
[...Pardon?]
[Sorry, Ahya. I came down for other business and took you in on a whim without prep. But the quilt's big enough for two. Come here— we'll share.]
[...]
[What's wrong? You think I'm after your body or something?]
[.....]
[Don't flatter yourself. To me, you look like a bean block that fell off the roof.]
Ridiculous words, but back then,
her overwhelming beauty made it believable.
Someone that gorgeous might really see me that way.
That's what I figured.
[Time for bed. I'll warm the quilt first.]
[Do that.]
And so time passed, and
[Master. I'm a grown man now, and sharing a quilt with a woman feels off. As the saying goes, boys and girls shouldn't sit together past seven...]
[Then chop firewood or hunt beasts yourself. I'll sell 'em and buy your own quilt.]
[...]
And passed, and
[Master. Having nightmares lately. Someone tying me up from behind, groping me. Worried it's a bad omen.]
[Ghosts. Don't resist—just stay still.]
And passed...
..No matter how I thought about it, running away was the right call.