Chapter 3

To be honest, Chen Yan is no longer just strange and absurd.

He has even sparked a hint of wariness and panic.

Mr. Ma fixed his gaze on Chen Yan, then suddenly smiled as if enlightened: "Alright, Mr. Chen, could you please deliver a message to Old Grandma? Say that Xiao Ma of West Lake wishes to pay her a visit—wondering if he has such a fortune."

Just look at that title: Xiao Ma of West Lake!

"Uh…"

Chen Yan's mind brimmed with questions; he carefully phrased his words: "Old Grandma is at home, and our door is never locked—villagers, old men and women alike, often drop by to pick some garlic or whatever… If you want to see her, just knock on the door…"

Mr. Ma burst into laughter, then immediately sobered.

"Mr. Chen, this is how it is. Back then, when Old Grandma met me, she told me one of her rules."

"What rule?"

Mr. Ma sighed: "Old Grandma said that when she calculates fate for mortals, it can only be a single encounter."

A single encounter?

"Meaning, she and any person seeking fate's guidance share only that one meeting.

After that one reading, there will never be a second in this lifetime. She said that fortune is ordained by heaven; revealing too much heavenly truth would shorten her lifespan."

Mr. Ma spoke cautiously, as if carefully choosing his words.

A single encounter?

Revealing heavenly truth?

Shortening lifespan?

These are all web novel terms.

Wait, Mr. Ma, aren't you mistaken?

The one who invested in web novels is a different Mr. Ma—not you!

Mr. Ma looked embarrassed and ashamed: "It's like this—Old Grandma's help back then was immense! It was nothing short of a rebirth! Had it not been for her guidance at the time… there would be no Mr. Ma today!

After I achieved success, I tried many times to see her again, but every attempt was refused."

As Chen Yan listened, a terrifying thought grew stronger in his mind…

Mr. Ma sighed: "Lately, I've truly run into some trouble. With no other options, I've come again to beg for an audience. I thought—if I can't see her, maybe I can ask a family member for a favor… That's why I boldly had you brought here…"

Chen Yan's hand trembled!

Mr. Ma looked uneasy: "I know this sounds harsh, even heartless.

My selfishness… sigh, it's truly shameful to say! Mr. Chen, I'm so sorry, so sorry!!

I'll punish myself with a drink!"

Saying this, Mr. Ma raised his cup…

Hum!

Chen Yan, who had been dazed since entering the house, still numb from all this absurdity,

suddenly felt his mind explode—a clear thought blasted into his skull.

Chen Yan stood up abruptly!

His mind was foggy, yet his face showed no expression.

If Old Grandma isn't a fraud—if she truly possesses power…

Then…

That prophecy of 【Approaching Death】…

Chen Yan's scalp prickled!

He took a deep breath, his voice flat: "Excuse me, Mr. Ma, I think I must return home immediately."

Chen Yan rushed out the door. The black-clad men outside seemed ready to block him, but Mr. Ma called from behind: "Don't stop him! Send a car to take Mr. Chen!"

Chen Yan strode out, swift and steady.

·

The car stopped at the village entrance. Chen Yan leapt out and sprinted home in one breath. As he neared his door, his legs grew weak.

This time, he was truly afraid.

The main room door stood wide open.

Old Grandma sat inside, shelling peas.

For some reason, seeing this scene eased Chen Yan's heart slightly.

"Back?" Old Grandma glanced at Chen Yan, dropped the peas she held, pulled a cigarette from the pack on the table, lit it, and took a drag.

"Old Grandma…" Chen Yan whispered, voice tense.

Old Grandma smiled warmly at him:

"You didn't eat a single dish from that table, did you?"

Hum!

Chen Yan's mind went into overdrive!

Chen Yan was breathless: "Old Grandma, you knew?"

Old Grandma smiled: "I foresaw that Mr. Ma would come to you. You're not stupid—you'd figure it out, and then… you'd run straight back here, right?"

"I…" Chen Yan's voice trembled with fear.

"The peas I shelled this morning—I'll stir-fry them for you at lunch, okay?" Old Grandma's voice now was unusually gentle, tender.

"Grandma…" Chen Yan's voice shook.

Old Grandma sighed, set down what she held, and slowly walked to Chen Yan's side, her wrinkled hand gently resting on his cheek.

"You always call me Old Grandma—why suddenly Grandma?"

"I, I'm afraid in my heart..."

Chen Yan trembled: "It's all, it's all... is this all real?"

"Mm, this is also the last time I'll cook for you. After this, there won't be such a chance anymore." The Old Grandma pinched Chen Yan's cheek: "My good grandson, you've actually grown up long ago. Now when Grandma pats your head, I have to stand on tiptoes."

Thump!

Chen Yan knelt on the ground, looking up at the Old Grandma with red eyes, his throat so dry he could barely make a sound.

"Grandma! Is it all true? Is it really true?"

The Old Grandma stroked the hair on top of Chen Yan's head: "Fate, it's all fate. Don't be afraid, ah, don't be afraid..."

How could he not be afraid?

Raised from age two to twenty-two!

Since he could remember...

No father, no mother, from childhood to now, the whole world was just this Old Grandma standing before him!

"Alright, alright, I'll stir-fry the edamame first."

"I don't want to eat!"

Chen Yan hugged the Old Grandma's legs tightly: "I just want you not to die! Grandma, don't die, okay? You're very powerful, right? You can't save yourself?"

Didn't you say before that you know magic and have supernatural powers?

Grandma! Don't die, okay?"

The Old Grandma looked down at Chen Yan, her expression somewhat complex.

She seemed about to speak but stopped: "Actually... also..."

"Actually what? What?" Chen Yan immediately jumped up from the ground, as if suddenly finding hope: "What do you mean by that? Actually what? Actually... you have a way, right? Right?"

The Old Grandma's tone was somewhat strained: "A way... well, it's not that there isn't one, but it's a bit difficult to arrange."

"Difficult to arrange means we must do it! What way?"

The Old Grandma took a deep breath, her face solemn!

"Three things are needed."

"What are they? I'll go find them immediately!"

"The first thing: I need the tender bud from the highest new branch at the very top of the old willow tree at the river head of the village entrance! Willows are yin in nature and best connect yin and yang! You must take that new tender bud, strip off the bark, and extract the most tender section."

"I'll go pick it! What else?"

"Second: Go behind the broken temple on the small hill south of the village, at the position of the number of the Great Dipper, and dig out a earth stone that has absorbed the earth's qi. That stone must be half black and half white, warm to the touch on the front and cold on the back."

"Okay, I can go dig! What is the third?"

A hint of difficulty appeared in the Old Grandma's eyes: "The third... is the most difficult to arrange."

"Speak! Speak it out!"

The Old Grandma's expression was solemn: "The so-called life-extension technique is actually borrowing life! To extend my life, you must find someone close to me; this technique will take ten years of his yang lifespan! Chen Yan, do you understand? It requires ten years of yang lifespan..."

"I'll give it! Don't say ten years, I'll give twenty!" Chen Yan interrupted the Old Grandma's words without hesitation.

"Good grandson, Grandma truly cannot bear it, you..."

"I'll give the yang lifespan!" Chen Yan declared firmly, "Willow branch, yin-yang stone! And my ten years of yang lifespan? That's all, right?"

"... Yes."

"Good!" Chen Yan's expression was decisive: "I'll go pick the willow branch right now! I'll go dig the stone! Wait for me! I'll go find those two things for you!!"

Seeing Chen Yan about to run out, a strange glint flashed in the Old Grandma's eyes: "Mm, remember, the willow tree at the village head, the Great Dipper number on the southern hill slope. When you were little, I taught you the algorithm for the Great Dipper number, you still remember, right?"

"I remember! I remember!" Chen Yan nodded hurriedly.

Watching Chen Yan rush out the gate and sprint away, the Old Grandma's face showed a gentle smile.

She turned around, lit another cigarette, silently took a few puffs, glanced at the shelled edamame on the table, stood up, and carried it into the kitchen.

On the stove, the fire was already lit.

Chen Yan almost sprinted to the village head and found that willow tree.

No one knew how many years this willow tree had stood; he remembered playing under this big tree often when he was little.

He remembered villagers saying this tree probably had a history of several decades or even a hundred years.

Mm, it seems there really is something special about it?

Chen Yan climbed onto the tree—children raised in the countryside, climbing trees was no difficult thing at all.

He climbed the tree and searched for a long time, finding many new willow branches that looked very tender at the top of the canopy.

Unable to determine which one was the most tender, Chen Yan simply grabbed them all and pulled them down, gathering a thick large bunch.

Jumping down from the tree, Chen Yan tucked the willow branches into his chest, turned around, and ran toward the southern hill slope of the village.

The second task: the small broken temple on the mountain! Go dig up the stone underground!

Probably running too urgently, after a few dozen steps, Chen Yan suddenly stumbled and crashed to the ground, his elbow scraping and drawing quite a bit of fresh blood, and the willow branches scattered all over the ground.

Chen Yan jumped up from the ground and immediately began picking up the willow branches from the ground.

But after picking up a few branches, Chen Yan suddenly froze in his movements.

He realized it!

Something's wrong!!

He hurriedly took out his phone and checked the time.

Last night the Old Grandma had said: My yang lifespan has eighteen hours and forty-three minutes left!

When she spoke, it was around six o'clock in the evening.

Calculating this way, counting back eighteen hours and forty-three minutes from six o'clock last night.

It should be around one o'clock this afternoon!

The time displayed on the phone...

Noon, twelve fifty-seven.

Only three minutes until one o'clock.

Chen Yan's heart suddenly sank; he threw away the willow branch in his hand and sprinted toward home at full speed!!

·

The door was closed.

Chen Yan pushed the door open with force; the main hall was empty.

On the table, inside the mosquito net, lay a plate of steaming hot... stir-fried pork with edamame!

All of Chen Yan's strength seemed to be drained away at once; panicked, he rushed to the Old Grandma's doorway and pushed the door open.

Chen Yan's legs gave way.

Inside the room, the bedding on Grandma's bed had already been replaced with brand new ones.

The Old Grandma lay on the bed, dressed in full burial clothes, red and green, all neatly arranged, her hands crossed over her chest.

The Old Grandma lay there, eyes closed, her expression peaceful.

Her smile resembled her usual self...

Only, there was no breath at all.

"Old Grandma, you deceived me..."

With a thud, Chen Yan knelt on the ground.

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(One more update coming)

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