CHAPTER 322: CHAPTER 108: SANE AMIDST UNIVERSAL MADNESS

Su Ziceng decided not to delve further into Yamai Ichiro’s previous obfuscation. Since he could speak Chinese, why didn’t he tell her the meaning of that painting right then, instead of making her mobilize a huge effort, almost turning Karuizawa upside down, to find him?

She had intended to question him, but she recalled that on that morning, from start to finish, she hadn’t spoken any Chinese. Perhaps Yamai Ichiro thought she was Japanese, which might explain why he only spoke in Japanese to her.

"Please say it again, I need your help, and it needs your help as well," Su Ziceng felt that Red Love must have reached some kind of understanding with Yamai Ichiro; otherwise, Red Love wouldn’t have suddenly changed.

The female student waits to the side; she knows there are some words she’s not meant to hear, so she moves to the frontmost part of the church, sits near the altar, and dozes off. The tormented saint hangs high on the cross, devoid of sorrow; in this church, there is only tolerance.

"I have been waiting for you for many years," Yamai Ichiro signals Su Ziceng to take down Red Love, the previously bright, spike-like glow now gone. Before touching Red Love, Yamai Ichiro rubs his hands on his clothing and then speaks cautiously.

"This must be the lost Red Love from Mussen’s Blessing, truly beautiful," Yamai Ichiro seems to ignore Su Ziceng’s questions, as he laments with tears seeping from his dry sockets, rolling down his beard.

"Mr. Yamai, can you hear me speaking?" Su Ziceng asks again, her anxious voice echoing through the church, bouncing back as if she had asked countless times.

"Bring it out!" Yamai Ichiro returns Red Love to Su Ziceng.

He appears to want something in return; Su Ziceng feels around and takes out the dictionary beside her; it’s the only item on her that could arguably belong to Yamai Ichiro.

"This is an Astrology Painting, this is your dominant planet Mercury, where the descending node meets the gemstone, signifying a life full of changes, the superimposition of the Sun and Mercury represents endless vitality. You are the mightiest Mercury in the zodiac, rising steadily, proving that in the future, you will be suited for any position, skilled at achieving your goals amidst complex situations," Yamai Ichiro says, Su Ziceng only half-understands.

"Two pendulous figures represent you bearing the lives of others, with the fates of many around you tied to your success and humiliation," Su Ziceng understands this sentence.

The people around her, are indeed the Su Family and others including Zhou Dagen. Listening, Su Ziceng nods her head.

Yamai Ichiro continues: "However, your good fortune is borrowed from others, and will one day be exhausted. The day it runs out. At twenty-five, if you weather it, you let go of the past and step into a fulfilling marriage; if not, everything is in vain."

"But, Mr. Yamai, shouldn’t I be able to live until thirty-five? I thought you knew, I... I am a..." Su Ziceng struggles to describe her emotions, hesitating whether to recount the strange events that happened to her.

"Indeed, you are a successor of history, but you must know that your uncertainties will lead to countless others, the foreseeable and unforeseeable are equally numerous," after saying this, Yamai Ichiro closes his eyes, his breathing grows fainter, showing that it took him great effort to speak.

"So, is there any way to change my fate?" Su Ziceng’s heart was caught in limbo by Yamai Ichiro’s words, she couldn’t just sit around and wait for the imminent approach of her 25th birthday, she was already 20 years old. What exactly could happen in less than five years? Could it be that kidnapping? Impossible, despite the fact that the kidnapping experience was unforgettable for Su Ziceng, she was ultimately rescued.

Yamai Ichiro, who sat on the church pew, had become a motionless stone Buddha, silent for the longest time. "Mr. Yamai, Su Ziceng called out a few more times," her voice was high and hurried, awakening a dozing female exchange student, and even the priest, who had been resting, came out upon hearing her.

Yamai Ichiro opened his eyes again, only this time, his previously lucid gaze was now clouded and obscure, he had gone from a divination sage to a mad, ranting vagrant.

"What’s happening?" Su Ziceng listened as Yamai Ichiro couldn’t even speak fluent Chinese anymore, only muttering some awkward Japanese phrases.

"I don’t know either, it seems like he suddenly doesn’t understand Chinese anymore," the female exchange student also asked a few questions, but Yamai Ichiro didn’t respond. He just pointed at the priest, mumbling to himself.

"Mr. Yamai is a pitiful person," the priest took Yamai Ichiro to the back chamber and gave him some lavender tea to calm his nerves, settling him down for sleep. It was now three in the morning, and after being tossed around by Yamai Ichiro, Su Ziceng didn’t feel sleepy at all.

The priest said that Yamai Ichiro’s father was a Japanese war criminal who, after the early years of Japan’s defeat, sequestered himself in his residence. He didn’t even visit when Mr. Yamai was born, and by the time Yamai Ichiro was three years old, his father committed suicide, leaving behind piles of jewels looted from Country Z beside him.

Yamai Ichiro was introverted from a young age, with his only hobby being the study of various antiques. Perhaps influenced by his posthumous father, he had a particular fondness for Eastern relics. After graduating from college, he went to study in Country Z. During his ten years in Country Z, not only did he become well-versed in Han culture, but he also mastered a systematic form of divination and fate.

For reasons unknown, in the year he turned thirty-five, he hurriedly returned to his country and overnight, became immensely wealthy, purchasing a vast amount of real estate. It wasn’t until the early ’90s, when Japan’s economy collapsed, that he had no choice but to declare bankruptcy.

"Did he really go completely bankrupt?" Su Ziceng had also noticed Yamai Ichiro’s previous appearance, his dilapidated clothing, and shoes with the heels worn smooth.

"He’s entirely bankrupt, whenever he got money, he would spend it all. A few years ago, it was said he came into a large sum but rather than paying off debts, he donated it all to several churches along his way." Xize Church is one of the beneficiary churches, and it was because of Yamai Ichiro’s deeds that there’s an unspoken rule among the churches to provide him with food and clothing periodically.

"Let’s wait until he wakes up and ask him," Su Ziceng rubbed her eyes, one long night had left her tired.

"I’m afraid that’s not possible, he has gone mad, it’s been many years now, so you shouldn’t believe what he said before," the priest kindly advised.

"Mad!" Su Ziceng was stunned, how could he have gone mad? (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to go to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)