Chapter Seven: The Three-Year Promise

When I pushed the Western Han military tally back toward Yue Leiting, I saw his expression darken. Sensing the tension, Liu Hao hurried over to smooth things out.

“Big brother, this isn’t something we can force. Since they can’t eat at our table, I say let it go—let them leave.”

As we were about to leave, I noticed Yue Leiting was a man of temperament—clear about gratitude and grudges, essentially decent at heart. So I spoke once more, telling him he had the fate of the Eagle Coiling Snake: sixty years of good fortune. Judging by his aura, he contends without anger, though anger is righteous and contention breeds hostility. His life would be spent competing fiercely with others. Though his features were favorable, his thick brows, sharp as blades, foretold violence—he would not escape punishment, and I warned him he would face prison and even threats to his life.

My intention was to warn him kindly and depart. But unexpectedly, Huo Qian interjected, saying Yue Leiting’s brows were indeed unfavorable, but he was blessed with a prominent nose, which signifies wealth and honor. He spoke of the rise and fall of fortune, that Yue Leiting’s name would surely be adorned with purple robes, predicting a lifetime of prosperity.

I was surprised—Huo Qian clearly had a grasp of fate and physiognomy, and his words were precise and well-founded. I nodded in agreement: the nose indeed governs wealth. If it’s legitimate wealth, all will flourish, but Yue Leiting’s is ill-gotten. His hooked nose should bring both fortune and longevity, but as appearance is born from the heart, his violent nature brings forth murderous intent, marking his nose with horizontal lines—disaster will inevitably follow.

After I finished, Huo Qian humbly asked if there was a way to avert Yue Leiting’s calamities.

Though gifted in Daoist arts, I had never discussed or exchanged ideas with peers. Meeting Huo Qian, a true expert, stirred me—forgetting to leave, I candidly told him: appearance is fated, features are shaped by the heart, fortune and misfortune hinge on a single thought. Cultivating virtue and accumulating good deeds is essential, but one must also have a master of fate and physiognomy to guide and interpret, to turn danger into safety.

Speaking thus, I glanced at Huo Qian’s own features: his brow bones were full, reaching into the heavenly vault, signifying wisdom—commanding thousands, leading armies across vast lands, earning fame throughout the realm. I advised him to often admonish Yue Leiting.

Huo Qian shook his head, troubled. “Reading faces and fate, one must stop at the right moment. You yourself said appearance is heaven-ordained. Speaking too much reveals heaven’s secrets—incurring divine retribution. Why should I risk my own virtue for an outsider?”

“That’s not how it should be. Fate and physiognomy hinge upon kindness; if not used to help and save others, what’s the point of learning?” I immediately retorted.

“Heh, these days everyone sweeps their own doorstep—mind your own business if you can. Especially when it concerns your own fortune and longevity. I simply can’t do it.” Huo Qian smiled mildly and sipped his tea. “Not just me; I doubt you can, either.”

Hearing this, my goodwill toward him vanished, replaced with disappointment. Though Qin Yishou never liked me, he taught me from childhood: a crooked heart makes for a crooked sword. Huo Qian, a student of fate and numerology, should know that saving a life surpasses the merit of building seven pagodas; ignoring the dying forfeits all virtue.

A surge of heat flooded my mind, and I pointed at Yue Leiting, declaring loudly,

“I can do it! Even if I risk revealing heaven’s secrets and speaking of fortune and disaster, I will help him avoid danger.”

“Good!” Yue Leiting clapped enthusiastically, grinning at Huo Qian. “Your tongue truly impressed me today. Everyone knows you talk well, but I didn’t expect you could coax the dead to speak, hahahaha.”

---

Huo Qian looked at me with a meaningful smile.

“It’s not that I’m persuasive—it’s that this young man is benevolent at heart, willing to stay and help Brother Ting.”

I slapped my forehead, nearly smacking myself. My intentions were pure, just reading Yue Leiting’s face and fate, but Huo Qian had dug a pit and coaxed me right into it with a few words.

I stood dumbfounded, unable to respond. When it comes to fate and destiny, Huo Qian is no match for me, but in worldly matters, strategy, and cunning, I am far beneath him. Later I learned, Yue Leiting owed half his success to Huo Qian—his strategist and advisor, every move and action orchestrated by Huo Qian.

Cornered by Huo Qian’s clever maneuver, I was rendered speechless, just as he asked Liu Hao: what would have happened if Liu Hao hadn’t paid the medical fees? Liu Hao answered, without money, no surgery—by the time I arrived, it would have perforated, and further delay would have been life-threatening.

I sighed heavily, knowing Huo Qian was digging the pit deeper, and I could not escape. Sure enough, he smiled smugly, telling me,

“Saving a life surpasses the merit of building seven pagodas—you said it yourself. Since Liu Hao saved your life, he’s your benefactor. When your benefactor asks something of you, you shouldn’t refuse, right?”

“This is bullying! My brother saved you, but you take advantage of his good nature and set him up.” Xiao Lianshan caught the implication of Huo Qian’s words. “If that’s how it is, my brother saved his life too. Shouldn’t he repay that favor now? We don’t want anything—just let us leave.”

I nearly laughed aloud. A scholar cannot reason with a soldier. Huo Qian had read my mind from the start: I would travel any distance for Liu Hao, so he knew I was one to repay kindness. His approach worked well on me, but Xiao Lianshan was straightforward, no scheming, so his words left even Huo Qian momentarily stunned.

Though Huo Qian’s methods were less than upright, reason was still on his side. Liu Hao had saved my life—this debt must be repaid. Secondly, I had promised to stay and help Yue Leiting. Though I wouldn’t claim my word was law, I understood the importance of keeping promises. With a helpless smile and a heavy sigh, I raised three fingers toward Yue Leiting.

“Three years. I’ll stay for three years!”

Xiao Lianshan looked at me, puzzled. I explained that Liu Hao had indeed saved my life, and I sought no reward for saving Yue Leiting—they were separate matters. Since Liu Hao wished me to stay, I would repay the debt.

“Good! It’s settled.” Yue Leiting slapped the table and stood, laughing heartily.

Huo Qian lifted his tea and approached Xiao Lianshan and me.

“Brothers—ha, we’re all family here, so I won’t stand on ceremony. Yan Hui, Lianshan, you two are men of honor. I admit my victory today was unworthy—using underhanded means to keep you. But it’s only because I wanted Ting to have talented men at his side, and you, so young, one scholarly, one martial, both loyal and courageous. Ting values loyalty above all; he will never wrong you. Today, let this tea stand as wine—my apology to you both.”

I hesitated a moment, then took the tea with a bitter smile. Huo Qian’s words matched his name—always giving an impression of humility. But from now on, I knew I would never underestimate him; he plans meticulously, calculates every move, and who knows when I might again fall into one of his traps.

---

Seeing me silent, Huo Qian smiled apologetically, speaking earnestly,

“I make my living with words, but in terms of true ability, Yan Hui, you are the hidden gem. Feng Shui, fate, and numerology attract many, but only a few master them, and none so young and precise as you. If you use your talents wisely, your future will be limitless.”

“Enough, enough—let’s not get sentimental.” Yue Leiting hopped down from his chair, patting both my and Xiao Lianshan’s shoulders. “I, Yue Leiting, am a man of clear debts and favors—my life was saved by you two. From now on, what’s mine is yours. I’m a few years older; just call me Brother Ting, hahahaha!”

“I have a condition!” Xiao Lianshan said solemnly.

“Speak! Anything you want.” Yue Leiting thumped his chest, brimming with bravado. “If I fail, I’ll crawl on the ground like a turtle.”

Xiao Lianshan glanced at me, then spoke seriously after a long pause.

“Food—enough food… and… and meat. Meat at every meal.”

Yue Leiting, Huo Qian, and Liu Hao exchanged glances, silent for a moment before all three burst out laughing.

I could barely hold back myself, biting my lip as Xiao Lianshan looked utterly innocent.

“What? Is that too much to ask?”

Yue Leiting struggled to contain his laughter, instructing those beside him,

“When those freeloaders at the hotel are gone, set up fifty tables for me—I’ll host a welcome banquet for my two brothers.”