NOVEL WEB Chapter 13 - 13: This Child is Extraordinary!
Chapter 13: Chapter 13: This Child is Extraordinary!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The number of people often dropping by this block for a stroll was limited.
Well, it made sense. After all, who would wander here seeking the company of a charlatan? Moreover, in today’s society, such activities like fortune-telling, geomancy, exorcism, and ghost-catching are typically associated with feudal superstitions. Most people would rather avoid them.
An hour passed, and Huang Xiaolong only saw a few tourists from other places, taking turns at snapping selfies with their mobile phones in this picturesque location.
“Ah… this isn’t easy money… maybe I should consider some other alternatives?” Huang Xiaolong muttered to himself.
Just then—
“Full service? Even one dragon service? That’s quite a boast!”
A cold scoff rang out.
Huang Xiaolong lifted his head to see two men standing by his makeshift stall.
The one in the lead was a man in his fifties with speckled white hair, dressed in a Tang suit, wearing an authentic pigeon blood jade ring on his left thumb, looking distinguished and gentlemanly.
Behind this man was an aged servant bearing an umbrella to shield him from the sun.
Though the servant was old, his gaze was as sharp as a hawk’s. His glance was like a razor-edged blade and he stood straight as an arrow, holding a firm horse stance imparting the immovability of a mountain. Only someone with decades of experience in orthodox martial training would possess such a profound and majestic aura.
“Young man, practicing as a charlatan at such a tender age isn’t good.” The man in the Tang suit shook his head a bit.
“Huh?” Huang Xiaolong glanced at the man playfully, then chuckled. “My dear sir, please feel free to state your needs. Our one-dragon service is at your disposal – fair prices, no trickery.”
“You…” The man in the Tang suit was both annoyed and amused. “Fine, you’ve boasted that you’re good at everything. What exactly can you do?”
“I can do everything.” said earnestly. “Fortune-telling, geomancy, relocating graves, divination, exorcism, ghost-catching, future prediction, naming, demon-slaying…”
“Enough, enough… you’re getting increasingly outrageous…” The man in the Tang suit frowned in disgust, a trace of disappointment flashing in his eyes. “Everyone on this street is a fraud. I did not expect to see such a nonsensical chatty youngster. Such disappointment, ultimate disappointment…”
The old servant behind him respectfully suggested. “Sir, we should leave. Most of the profound metaphysical scholars are old, and like sleeping dragons, they prefer a life of recluse. It’s difficult to find them amidst the mundane world. Such a young person wouldn’t need much elaboration. He’s definitely a swindler.”
” The Tang suit man sighed, intending to walk away.
“Hey… my dear sir, you’ve been quite listless recently, lost your appetite, being drowsy, seeing shadowy figures in the evenings, and hearing strange noises in your ears… These are not symptoms of a disease, you’ve got involved with a ghost…” Huang Xiaolong’s lips curled up lazily. “Moreover, I think there’s something wrong with your children too, right?”
“What?!” On hearing this, the man in the Tang suit jolted, then turned his head, his eyes filled with disbelief as he stared at Huang Xiaolong. “Young charlatan…
no, young man, what… what else did you figure out?”
“My dear sir, our one-dragon service – you’ve collided with a ghost, I can help you sort it out. I can offer you a discounted price, 8000 yuan, half to be paid in advance.” Huang Xiaolong chuckled.
“Boy, pay attention when our master is speaking to you!” The old servant’s face turned an ashen hue, a violent killing intent welled up in his eyes as he unleashed his imposing aura while fixated on Huang Xiaolong.
Huang Xiaolong didn’t spare the old servant a glance and continued. “My dear sir, an advance of 4000 yuan.”
“He’s ignorant!” The old servant shifted slightly on his feet, appearing ready to swoop forward like a goshawk seizing a rabbit and teach Huang Xiaolong some manners.
“Uncle Fu, are you carrying any cash?” The man in the Tang suit raised his hand to restrain his servant.
“Sir, this youngster disrespected you…” Uncle Fu, the old servant, growled angrily but retracted his fierce stance. “Yes, I do have cash.”
“Uncle Fu, give the young man 4000 yuan.” The man in the Tang suit ordered.
“Hmph! So greedy for money at such a young age, he’s surely up to no good!” The old servant, Uncle Fu, counted out forty crisp notes and put them on the table in front of Huang Xiaolong.
Huang Xiaolong’s eyes lit up, and he quickly picked up the banknotes, counting each one, “It’s not reprehensible that people risk their lives for money and birds for food. Yes, I am greedy, but as a gentleman, I love money and know how to acquire it properly. There’s nothing wrong in that.”
After counting the money, Huang Xiaolong placed it close to him, then slowly looked up at the man in Tang garb with a steady calm. “Sir, your official-salary palace is luxuriant and smooth, shining and open, showing a supremacy like a rhinoceros piercing the ceiling. This implies that you are either a wealthy merchant or an official with a public position. However, your philtrum is dark, there is a black aura above your head, and your spirit is tired, showing signs of being marked by a malicious spirit. Your disease-injury palace is scarred, a redness growing within the white, implying that if this continues, your health will suffer greatly.
“In addition, I see your children’s palace, it’s sunken and colorless, this suggests a health issue existing amongst your children.”
“Also, there are threads of life force fluctuating in your moving palace, accompanied by a yin aura. If I’m not mistaken, you recently relocated and it was this move that led you to encounter a ghost.”
With each word Huang Xiaolong spoke, the man in Tang garb’s face turned paler. By the end, his face was filled with shock and astonishment. Every sentence Huang Xiaolong uttered was indeed accurate, hitting the nail on the head!
Even Uncle Fu, couldn’t help but mutter, “This young man, indeed… has some ability…” There was a look of admiration in his eyes.
“Little… Master… You are right! Absolutely spot-on! Really, appearances can be deceiving…” The man in Tang attire had changed his address to ‘Little Master’ for Huang Xiaolong, speaking with respect and deference, “I am Cui Dong, please forgive my earlier disrespect… Please, Little Master, help me with this trouble… Furthermore, I do have a single daughter, who indeed has some health issues. Please also help take a look at her.”
“Mr. Cui, I take other’s money to ward off their disasters. Now that I have accepted your deposit, you can be assured that no matter how big the trouble, I can help resolve it.” Huang Xiaolong said nonchalantly. “However, your daughter’s issue will require a separate charge. The specifics of that charge can be determined after I have seen her.’
“Such a little money-grubber.” Uncle Fu shook his head with a mixture of annoyance and amusement.
“Uncle Fu, do not disrespect Little Master.” Cui Dong quickly chastised Uncle
Uncle Fu nodded, saying no more.
“Mr. Cui, add me on WeChat.” Huang Xiaolong took out his phone, “Send me your address later. After dinner, around 7 0’clock, I’ll come to you.”
“Okay.” Cui Dong took out his own phone and added Huang Xiaolong as a friend on WeChat.
Only very few people knew the number of Cui Dong’s personal phone and only a select few were added on his WeChat. These people were either powerful figures controlling a city, officials at the provincial or ministerial level, or tycoons of the business world.
But now, there was an extra contact – Huang Xiaolong – in Cui Dong’s WeChat!
Seeing this, Uncle Fu narrowed his eyes, shocked to the core!
He never imagined that this young man, in Master’s eyes, would hold such an important role!
“Little Master, let me send a car to pick you up tonight?” Cui Dong asked earnestly.
“No need to go to that much trouble. Just send me the address. I have my own car.” Huang Xiaolong said with a smile.
“Alright,” Cui Dong didn’t insist. “Then, I will await your visit to my humble residence this evening.”
Cui Dong and Uncle Fu left Hua Lake Street unhurriedly.
Outside, a luxury Rolls-Royce Phantom glinted brilliantly in the sunlight.
The several bodyguards waiting nearby hurriedly opened the doors, bowing, “Master, please.”
“Master…” Uncle Fu began but then fell silent.
“Ah– Uncle Fu, you surely want to ask why I consider the little master so highly?” Cui Dong chuckled.
Uncle Fu nodded.
“Uncle Fu, in my life, I have spent time in both the battlefield and the business world. I have dealt with countless individuals. However, Little Master is in his early twenties yet bears a poise and tranquility that is unswayed by praise or insult. I have never seen that before.” Cui Dong looked back at Hua Lake Street, murmuring. “This young man is indeed extraordinary.”