CHAPTER 184: CHAPTER 155 THIS GIRL, YOU ARE DESTINED TO HAVE A CALAMITY!_2

The man nonchalantly wiped the sweat from his forehead and grumbled with some frustration, "Ah! Isn’t that the truth? Just a few days ago, the papers were selling like hotcakes, but suddenly, no one’s buying them anymore."

He folded the stack of newspapers neatly and tucked it into his bosom, trying to shield it from the snowflakes, and continued, "The newspapers were selling just fine before. Even though there were many editions, everybody was making a profit!"

"Then, just a few days ago, that Star Moon Sect came up with something called ’Push Column’ out of nowhere! They also introduced some sort of membership system where you can post whatever you want for everyone to see. I think it’s called something like ’Circle of Friends’? This Push Column is exclusive to the Star Moon Sect, so everyone went there to get a membership..."

"Damn it! If I ever find out who came up with this damned idea, I’ll definitely chop them to pieces!!"

...

Su Bei had a strange look on his face as he quietly and stealthily slipped away.

After going around in a big circle, was he the major sinner himself?

Yet, a hint of satisfaction bubbled up in his heart! Serves you right, you plagiarizing sects!

Following his spendthrift disciple into the somewhat oddly-shaped teahouse, Su Bei was immediately attracted to the large sign hanging in the center of the teahouse. It was filled with big squares, and a female disciple of the Star Moon Sect was earnestly explaining to the people in the hall, "Push Column! It was created to fuel the flames!"

"This is the newest public service project launched by our Star Moon Sect. In this world where immortals and mortals diverge, do you feel lonely and helpless due to the indifference between people? Do you feel like a clown, unnoticed? With no one to love you, and no one who loves you! Nobody willing to listen to you!"

"But our Push Column, published by the Star Moon Sect, precisely solves this problem for everyone. Let’s look at the first message on the Push Column."

"It was posted by someone called ’Hate Ear Chanting Crime,’ and he wrote, ’Every day I work my ass off writing ten thousand words, so why am I still called short-winded? *My Female Disciples All Want To Kill Me* is exclusively released on End Chinese Network. I hope everyone can support me and perhaps buy a subscription; the author is starving to death!’"

"He’s just an ordinary mortal, but with the help of our Star Moon Sect, he successfully made the whole world hear his voice! We can all make our voices heard, as long as you’re a member! As long as you purchase the official newspaper of the Star Moon Sect..."

...

After the female disciple of the Star Moon Sect finished speaking, the entire hall’s crowd erupted, waving their hands and shouting, "Me! I want to become a member! I want the world to hear my voice!"

"I have two old sows back home and two acres of land, and I’m looking for a wife... Widow Xu? Do you want a husband or not?"

...

Xiao Ruoching turned her head back, her eyes flashing with a hint of shock. Of course, she knew this idea had come from her Master.

Su Bei nodded in satisfaction. It seemed his plan was working out well. With a nonchalant wave of his hand, he led his prodigal disciple away to guess riddles.

In the bustling and crowded streets, Xiao Ruoching suddenly found her path blocked by a Mr. Fortune Teller.

An old gentleman with half-closed eyes glanced at Su Bei and his three companions, then with a meaningful look, he said to Xiao Ruoching, "Miss, you are destined for a calamity!"

Xiao Ruoching’s heart immediately tightened. Her eyes, a mix of alarm and uncertainty, fixed on the old man before her. She swallowed, and just as she was about to speak, Su Bei approached with a cheerful smile and asked, "Old gentleman, how about you take a look at my fortune?"

The old man raised an eyebrow. His expression turned serious, and then, with astonishment, he said, "Young man! You... you too have a great calamity awaiting you!"

Xiao Ruoching squinted, scrutinizing the old man before her. What is going on?

Why are all the Mr. Fortune Tellers I’ve met in this life such peculiar characters?

This isn’t the first time, is it? Can my fate really be so easily divined?

As she saw her Master’s eyes narrow, a chill rose in Xiao Ruoching’s gaze.

The nearby cotton candy vendor sneered and turned his head away. That’s the one hundred and thirty-first time I’ve heard that old charlatan say that line today while setting up my stall, he thought.

The old man, stroking his beard, didn’t even deign to look directly at Su Bei.

Su Bei smiled, took out two taels of silver from his pocket, placed them in front of the old man, and said, "Please, enlighten me, old sir!"

Xiao Ruoching pressed her lips tightly together, her expression tense as she watched the fortune-telling elder.

The old man, a smile crinkling his face, accepted the silver Su Bei handed him, stroked his white beard, and said in a low voice, "Very well. Seeing your sincerity, today I shall divine your destiny!"

"Hmm! Boy, have you ever cultivated before?"

Xiao Ruoching, who had been all ears, visibly relaxed and sighed in relief. And here I was thinking just anyone could fathom the secrets of heaven, she thought. Turns out he’s just a charlatan.

Just as she was about to share her realization with her Master, she noticed he was earnestly looking at the old man, his expression one of sincere inquiry.

"I have never cultivated before!" Su Bei stated.

The old man’s eyes visibly lit up. He coughed heavily, then spoke slowly with his hands clasped behind his back, "Boy, do you know of the Cataclysm of Ten Thousand Clans that occurred a thousand years ago? Cultivators from The Wilderness emerged en masse back then, and nearly all of the Twenty-One Provinces fell."

He looked at Su Bei with a grave expression, his tone growing fierce. "Later, here in Luoxue City, eight hundred Sword Immortals emerged from the Underworld Sword Sect! The heavens and earth were filled with Sword Qi, and silver light tore through the cosmos, nearly splitting the firmament!"

"It *is* the Sword Sect! The greatest Sword Sect in the Twenty-One Provinces!"

"Boy, I see that you have an exceptional foundation; you’re naturally suited for sword cultivation. I happen to know Elder Su from the Sword Sect! Do you know of Elder Su?"

"The very same Elder Su who suppressed Luo Ritian of Wuhua Palace with a single sword stroke, preventing him from advancing even an inch! Come, leave your name with me. You must go and sign up at the Sword Sect, understand? When you go, hand over this name card of mine and make sure to say that I recommended you to the Sword Sect..."

Su Bei took the card with a smile. He then looked back at the three women, who were still in shock, before walking forward with his hands clasped behind his back. Looking at the riddles and lanterns ahead, he had an odd expression on his face. Who would have thought, he mused, that the old man I met back in Mo City would actually manage to pull this off...

...

Faintly, he seemed to hear the old man’s voice call out again from behind, "Miss, you are destined for a calamity!!"

...

「Atop No-Sword Peak.」

Dan Wulan indifferently observed the woman before him. Why is it, he wondered, that even though I’ve seen this woman more than once, the sight of her always brings a feeling of displeasure? Is it perhaps due to the poor impression she left on me back in Mo City? Or is it because she once embraced Senior Brother?

Life is full of uncertainties. This woman, whom I thought I’d have no dealings with in this lifetime, has unexpectedly become my junior niece. Indeed, Senior Brother’s disciples are all so irritating—just as loathsome as Xiao Ruoching!

"What are you doing here?"

His words were indifferent, devoid of any emotion, as cold as his usual icy demeanor.

Sensing the obvious antipathy from this Ninth Uncle of hers, Mo Li paused briefly. She met his gaze and said blandly, "No-Sword Peak belongs to Master. As his junior niece, isn’t it perfectly normal for me to be here?"

"I wonder, though, why Ninth Uncle has appeared here?"

Her words contained not a hint of politeness.

Or more precisely, she harbored a pathological urge to eliminate anyone who got close to Su Bei.

Dan Wulan set down his watering can, took two steps forward, faced the woman, and said coolly, "Senior Brother planted this grove of peach trees for *me*."

"*I* come to tend to them. Is there anything wrong with that?"

...