The Blade-Wielding Legend

The special smell in the small courtyard was exceptionally mixed.

There was a scent similar to that of the Land God Temple, a warmth resembling bedrock, a strange earthy smell, and even a coldness like that of the Three Talents Demon Suppression Coin...

The feeling it gave was truly like a grocery store.

These scents were very faint, clearly not top-quality goods even among those of the Mystical Sect.

But this had already proven that the other party was an expert!

Li Yan, turning anger into joy, saw that the courtyard door was wide open and stepped inside.

The small courtyard wasn't large but was very neatly kept, with a jujube tree planted on the left and a stone trough fish tank on the right, where several little red fish swam merrily to and fro.

In the northwest corner hung a copper mirror of the Eight Trigrams, and in the center, there was a stone stump.

The entire courtyard gave off a refreshing and tranquil vibe.

Li Yan took a glance around and quickly had a measure of the place.

Jujube wood represented Wood, the fish tank Water, the Eight Trigrams copper mirror Metal, and the central stone stump Earth anchoring the house, evidently a Fengshui arrangement according to the Five Elements, only lacking Fire.

Li Yan turned his head and smiled upon surveying the area.

There was a kitchen over there, dedicated to the God of Stove—wasn't that Fire?

The main house of the courtyard, too, had its door wide open, revealing an incense altar within, along with a divine statue and numerous offerings.

The statue depicted a three-eyed daoist cradling a long sword, his Daoist robe adorned with the sun, moon, stars, and the four symbols: Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Xuanwu, looking somewhat garish.

On the tablet above was written "Xuan Qi Manifests Might, Chen Tianjun."

Li Yan, not recognizing it, still could detect the incense smell, somewhat similar to that of the Land God Temple, more subdued yet more majestic.

Inside, a middle-aged Daoist was sitting upright and still in front of the altar.

Naturally, this Daoist was Wang Daoxuan, who dressed amusingly in casual neat black attire with a white vest, the Eight Trigrams embroidered behind, a squared scarf around his head, and squared black cloth shoes on his feet, adorned with auspicious clouds.

The outfit was not cheap, and although washed to a whitish shade, it was still neat.

Most attractive was his appearance: lean and tough, with black beard hanging to his chest, features upright and clear, and his gaze very gentle. Although not exactly exuding an aura of an immortal, he nonetheless inspired immediate goodwill in those who saw him.

Daoist Wang held a Wolf Brush in hand, busily writing and drawing on a piece of paper.

Opposite him sat a young man, appearing to be a scholar, his face full of bitterness and his brows furrowed with worry.

Li Yan took one look and knew that they were engaged in fortune-telling.

This craft, in the pugilistic world, ranked as Gold Sect,

Gold Sect, being the foremost among the Eight Gates, principally involves nine arts including fortune-telling, face-reading, character testing, divination, aura reading, Zou Yin, astrology, Mage, and Duan Gong. Hence, there's a catchy rhyming saying, "Nine Gold, Eighteen Leather, Seventy-Two Monopolist Tricks."

It's called the foremost among the Eight Gates because people of the Gold Sect are adept at observing others and debating, possessing many techniques. Learning the methods of the Gold Sect, one gains insights into the other Gates.

For example, the methods of the Gold Sect can be directly applied to the Leather Sect, involved in medicine selling, phrased as "Gold turns into Leather, in an early morning."

Moreover, this profession brims with mixed characters, many of whom are tricksters, yet one might also encounter someone from the Mystical Sect with real magic skills, so people from the pugilistic world generally show some respect when they meet.

Even the bandits of the Lan Family have eight things they don't plunder, one of which is the Gold Sect.

Seeing the other party engaged in business, Li Yan stood silently outside the door.

Wang Daoxuan had clearly noticed him, but did not pay heed, instead setting down his brush, picking up the paper full of writings and considering it for a while before, under the young man's anxious gaze, stroking his beard and saying,

"You provided a 'Metal' character, Metal, the treasure of the world, the encumbrance of man, refined long to become superior."

"Based on your Four Pillars of Destiny analysis, you should have an untroubled youth, but these years your fate has been rough and your family fortune has declined..."

"Furthermore, your financial luck has been poor recently, and there are petty people causing harm..."

"Yes, yes, yes, Daoist speaks the truth!" the young man immediately nodded, his face full of admiration.

Seeing this, Li Yan couldn't help but chuckle internally.

He had seen some things firsthand and had developed an interest in the Mystical Sect, but harbored doubts about this matter of fortune-telling, disbelieving that mortals could foresee the future.

Moreover, he hadn't detected any special scent.

This trick, as his father had broadly explained, was called "Horse Tie," essentially binding the customer tightly at first, then drawing them deeper into the scheme.

This young man before him looked frail, with uncalloused hands, yet wore somewhat ragged clothes, clearly a scholar who had enjoyed prestige but had fallen on hard times.

Moreover, who would resort to fortune-telling if life were smooth sailing?

The young man had come for a 'Metal' reading—without even dissecting the character, it was evident how much he needed money recently.

As for petty people, who the hell doesn't have some backstabbers!

Li Yan saw through it yet said nothing.

First, as per the rules of the pugilistic world, revealing someone's scheme amounted to smashing their livelihood, tolerable only if one couldn't bear to watch.

Second, this trick was nothing novel.

In his past life, shouting false slogans to sell goods, stirring emotions to harvest fools, luring with profits to swindle capital… countless techniques abounded, each a Horse Tie.

The pugilistic world remained unchanged, human hearts still the same, only presenting a different facade.

As expected, the time for reaping was next.

Indeed, without Wang Daoxuan having to elaborate, the young man already began lamenting with a distressed face, "Honest to say, I'm originally from Xingping County. Our family owned a silk shop, but we were swindled by deceivers and cheated out of everything."

"My father was literally infuriated to death, my mother cried until she went blind, and my studies never bore any results. Only then did I realize that all a scholar has is useless knowledge."

"Pity my wife and children who suffered with me, and the ridicule from my schoolmates, I truly can't go on living, what should I do..."

Li Yan was somewhat speechless.

In times of suffering, most people prattle endlessly, seeking someone to confide in.

But this young man, he essentially laid bare his family's situation entirely, a mere novice could easily manipulate him.

Wasn't this akin to a lamb walking into a tiger's den?

Yet, Wang Daoxuan wasn't hurried, his expression unchanging as he stroked his beard and listened intently.

After the young man finished speaking, he picked up a piece of paper and gazed at it thoughtfully for a while before saying, "There might indeed be a solution."

The young man's eyes lit up, "Please, Daoist, provide your guidance."

Wang Daoxuan pointed at the paper and said, "Look at this 'gold' character with the 'person' radical at the top, vigorous and upright, indicating that the solution lies within 'person'!"

"A nobleman?"

The young man pondered, "Does the Daoist mean that a nobleman will come to help?"

Wang Daoxuan gently nodded, "Of course, there will be a nobleman, but this nobleman is none other than you yourself."

"Me? How could that be!"

The young man was clearly stunned.

Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and said, "You have this tribulation in life, but there's a saying: no gold is pure, and no one is perfect. True gold must be tested by fire, and if you endure this blaze, your fortunes will change for the better. While you may not become immensely rich, you will live a stable life."

"This 'person' radical also represents the petty people who suppress your luck, and you should avoid them so the bad fortune will leave as well."

A glimmer of hope arose in the young man's eyes, but he hesitated before asking cautiously, "Daoist, a Yin Yang Mage came to our house, advising my mother to worship a Yin Immortal, claiming it could change our fate and protect us..."

"Nonsense and absurdity!"

Wang Daoxuan's brow furrowed sharply, "Confucius once said, to be close with the gentleman but distant from petty people, to respect the divine but keep away. It's easy to invite gods but hard to send them away. By entertaining those people aren't you just inviting trouble in?"

"If your real gold fears the fire's test, then how are you different from rubble?"

"To cut off your own fate is beyond remedy!"

The young man was immediately ashamed, "Daoist speaks wisely. I was wrong."

He then fumbled inside his robe, showing a troubled expression, "I'm not sure about the fortune-telling fee..."

Wang Daoxuan extended three fingers and said calmly, "Your fortune is obstructed, I dare not take much, three copper coins. If you withstand the refining fire, you can return and pay the rest."

The young man immediately showed gratitude, deeply bowing with clasped hands,

"Thank you, Daoist."

After saying this, he took out three copper coins and turned to leave.

When he walked out, his gaze had turned resolute.

Li Yan watched, somewhat taken aback, respect arising in his heart.

Ghostly gods cannot change fate, the human heart can.

He had realized that the young man's fate might have already begun changing at that moment.

This was the true guidance through confusion!

Thinking this, he strode confidently into the room, first bowing with clasped hands, then smilingly said, "Master Wang, your releasing the tied horse could have lost you the sheep, are you smashing your own pot?"

His advance had a dual purpose, to identify his status and to discuss the event just unfolded.

Upon hearing this, Wang Daoxuan laughed heartily and rose, shaking his head, "My words could be the key between life and death, and also accumulate moral virtue, I dare not act recklessly."

"Besides, that lean sheep had little fat, no need to bother with it."

Li Yan nodded slightly, "Daoist is benevolent."

However, Wang Daoxuan seemed not to hear his courtesy and first glanced at the blade by his waist, then at the window, shaking his head and sighing, "Last night I dreamed of evil spirits haunting me, and today I saw a magpie carrying flowers, predicting someone's visit. Yet, whether it's a blessing or a curse, I cannot deduce."

"A bladesman visits, does someone intend to take my poor life?"

"Daoist, please don't misunderstand."

Li Yan quickly bowed, "I'm actually here to consult on a doubt. If the Daoist can resolve my difficulties, a substantial reward will surely follow!"

His Divine Skills were out of control at that moment, barely managing to cope with the issue with the Lan Family.

Wang Daoxuan breathed a sigh of relief internally, stroking his beard and smiling, "Layman, do you wish to consult about the divination or choose a Fengshui site?"

Li Yan solemnly asked, "May I inquire, what is the 'Cold Altar Rampaging Soldier'?"

Hearing this, Wang Daoxuan almost pulled at his beard, his expression subtly changing as he asked,

"Sir, who exactly are you?!"