Chapter 349: Seeing Zhang Wang Again! No Elder Brother in Fate

In the early morning, sunlight filtered through the thin mist, spilling onto the small town of Qin Gu, as if draping it in a golden cloak.

The courtyard gate of the Zhang family ancestral home opened slowly. Zhang Fan walked out, took two steps, paused slightly, and looked back at the small building behind him.

This small building was like a spectator of time, witnessing the rise and fall, the grievances and entanglements of the South Zhang lineage.

People had left and the building was empty, yet it still stood there.

Zhang Fan looked at it, and it seemed as if it were looking at Zhang Fan.

"The mortal can see the Law..."

At this moment, these four words were what lingered in Zhang Fan's mind.

The clue left behind by Zhang Tiansheng regarding the Ninth Law consisted only of these four words.

Perhaps that world-renowned Divine Diviner had been contemplating the mystery of these four words until his death.

"Zhang Fan..."

Just then, a familiar voice came from not far away, pulling Zhang Fan's thoughts back.

Zhang Fan looked up and saw Ge Ge Shuangxiu sitting by the roadside, as if he had been waiting for a long, long time.

"How did it go?" Zhang Fan walked over and asked casually.

Last night, Ge Ge Shuangxiu had fought three against one, helping him block Wang Qi, Ge Ge Changfeng, and Qiu Qiu Wanmian—three experts.

"How could it go? They're all lying down now. I never leave loose ends when I do things." Ge Ge Shuangxiu's voice was calm, as if he were describing a trivial matter of no importance.

In the distance, the wailing of sirens continued to sound, piercing the silence of the early morning.

"The commotion last night was too big; the roads have already been sealed off," Ge Ge Shuangxiu said in a low voice.

Last night, three Celestial Masters had perished here, and the commotion was naturally not small—especially the hexagram Zhang Zhang Tianyang had finally manifested, "The Earth Severed from Heaven," with white light rising in the pitch-black night. Many ordinary people had seen it; it couldn't be covered up.

They were just waiting for the local investigation report, which would be nothing more than the usual clichés about natural gas pipeline explosions or meteorological anomalies.

"This place is destined to be restless," Zhang Fan sighed softly.

More than thirty years ago, the South Zhang lineage was wiped out right here.

More than twenty years ago, when Zhang Fan was born, a great fire had also broken out on this old street, burning half of it down.

And now...

"Let's go. This town will soon become lively," Zhang Fan said in a low voice.

Three Celestial Masters had died; this was an earth-shattering event. Before long, all the major sects of the Daoist world would know.

The Shangjing side would send people, and the Qiu family would send people too...

By then, the small town of Qin Gu would be much livelier than it was now.

"A place of right and wrong," Ge Ge Shuangxiu nodded and said.

The two left the old Zhang residence, left the old street, and returned to the Zhuhu Grand Hotel.

When passing the embankment by the lake, Zhang Fan took special note: the old man who painted, Zhang Zhang Tianyang, was no longer there, and even the small boat that had been docked by the lake waiting was gone.

Just as he had said, perhaps this was the last time they would see each other.

Zhang Zhang Tianyang was both a remnant of the old era and the last tomb keeper of the South Zhang lineage.

"Everyone has their own karmic connection, everyone has their own destiny..."

Zhang Fan looked at the boundless Zhuhu Lake and murmured softly.

That night, he had experienced much, and he was deeply moved.

"What's wrong with you?" Ge Ge Shuangxiu asked, seeing Zhang Fan lost in thought.

"Old Ge, do you think those Daoist priests of ancient times, who retreated into the deep mountains and stayed far from the mortal world, could avoid right and wrong and dodge the various calamities of the mortal world?" Zhang Fan asked suddenly.

"Hm!?" Ge Ge Shuangxiu was stunned by the question.

"Immortals are made by mortals; it is only to be feared that a mortal's will is not firm... As long as one is in this mortal world, there is calamity everywhere," Zhang Fan murmured, looking out the car window.

He seemed to be talking to himself, or perhaps whispering to the Heavens.

"How did you come up with so many reflections?" Ge Ge Shuangxiu changed the subject and said in a low voice, "Was this trip a waste?"

Originally, this trip was to scheme against Given Chen Long, but the situation before them had exceeded everyone's expectations.

"Not exactly," Zhang Fan shook his head.

He certainly hadn't come for nothing; he had learned much of the South Zhang lineage's past and cleared up the grievances between his family and Given Chen Long.

After that night, he was certain that the enmity between himself and Given Chen Long was almost irreconcilable.

Setting aside the past and the positions, just based on her last words last night, it was a matter of life and death.

"Ren Xiao, I can kill the first one, and I can kill the second one..."

This was a naked threat, delivered from a position of superiority, with the posture of one who controlled all life and death. Whether it was the first or the second, both were Zhang Fan's reverse scales.

This destined that between the two, only one could live in this world.

"The affairs of the world are truly unfathomable," Zhang Fan sighed softly.

Clearly of the same sect and origin, clearly both the last remaining embers of the Southern Zhang lineage, yet they had walked onto different paths, even to the point of meeting in a life-or-death confrontation.

The profound mystery of fate is nothing more than this.

"You've become stronger!?" Ge Ge Shuangxiu suddenly said.

At this moment, Zhang Fan's emotions fluctuated slightly, and his aura leaked out, allowing Ge Ge Shuangxiu to perceive a trace of something unusual.

"A small improvement," Zhang Fan chuckled.

He had refined Qiu Qiu Buyi's soul-aspect and had already stepped into the Eighth Realm of the Great Being, but more importantly, he had witnessed a Celestial Master battle and felt the vast atmosphere and pressure of such heaven-man interaction; especially the shock and marvel of a Celestial Master's fall—this was the most precious harvest.

Such a harvest was the root of Zhang Fan's transformation; for a long time to come, such experiences and such gains would have a huge impact on him.

Of course, besides this, Zhang Fan had also obtained a clue to the Ninth Method, even if he had not yet penetrated its mysteries at this time.

In short, this trip could be considered worthwhile.

"Old Ge, when you are under Zi Shu, you must be extremely wary of this person," Zhang Fan's voice rose again, permeated with a trace of solemnity and warning.

"You mean..." Ge Ge Shuangxiu's brows furrowed slightly, revealing a meaningful expression.

"This time, he was evaluating me, and he was also testing Given Chen Long..." Zhang Fan said in a deep voice.

The intelligence that Given Chen Long had come from afar to Qin Gu Town was leaked by Zi Shu; perhaps everything was within his calculations, including Zhang Fan's identity and Zhang Fan's reactions...

Even the movements of the Daoist sects and the actions of the Northern Zhang were all within that rat's calculations.

What he wanted to measure was not just Zhang Fan, but more importantly, the depth of Given Chen Long.

He was using Zhang Fan, using the Daoist Alliance, and using the Northern Zhang to measure exactly what height Given Chen Long's strength had reached.

Everything that happened in Qin Gu Town was more like a game, a test, in the eyes of that rat.

The three great Celestial Masters were all dead, yet he remained hidden behind the scenes, as if standing in the shadows, silently watching everything.

It is no exaggeration to say that Zi Shu did not participate in this matter from beginning to end, yet it seemed as if Zi Shu's shadow was hidden in it from beginning to end.

"If that's the case..." Ge Ge Shuangxiu said in a solemn voice.

"That rat is dangerous, extremely dangerous!" Zhang Fan said in a deep voice.

At this very moment, he had already developed the intention to give up cooperating with Zi Shu; an ally hidden in the shadows made him feel very insecure.

"Then I can jump out..." Ge Ge Shuangxiu said in a deep voice.

If he had to choose, he would naturally stand on Zhang Fan's side.

"Not for now. If you jump out now, it's equivalent to tearing off the mask. This person is a variable; perhaps there will still be opportunities for cooperation in the future, so don't move for the time being," Zhang Fan said in a deep voice.

The Thirteen Zodiacs are indeed a force that cannot be ignored.

However, this force can only exert its effect and make people feel at ease if it is truly mastered by Ren Xiao.

"Metabolism is the law of nature, after all."

At this moment, Zhang Fan couldn't help but think of Qin Ergou, who was studying at Mount Zhongnan.

"We're here."

The car stopped at the entrance of the Zhuhu Hotel, and the two got out of the car, bumping into Fang Fang Changle and his group head-on.

"Zhang Fan..."

Li Li Miaoyin walked up quickly, took Zhang Fan's hand, and looked him up and down.

"Are you alright!?"

"I'm fine, don't worry!"

Zhang Fan patted Li Li Miaoyin's hand; two simple words, yet they instantly put down the heart Li Li Miaoyin had been holding up all along the way.

"Cough... cough..."

Ge Ge Shuangxiu coughed dryly twice, and only then did Li Li Miaoyin see him.

"What's the situation? Do you have any idea about last night..."

Just at this moment, Fang Fang Changle came over; they had just arrived in Qin Gu Town when news came from the Maoshan side.

Only then did Fang Fang Changle know what a huge incident had occurred in Qin Gu Town last night.

The three great Celestial Masters had fallen, and the juniors of the Qiu family and the Ge family had also died here, not to mention other casualties, which were even harder to count.

Such a huge incident was simply like poking a hole in the sky; even if Maoshan wanted to stay out of it, it would probably be difficult.

"I know, but it has nothing to do with me," Zhang Fan spread his hands.

Heaven and earth are my witness, the deaths of the three great Celestial Masters really had nothing to do with him; existences of that level are not something just anyone can kill.

"Of course I know it has nothing to do with you," Fang Fang Changle rolled his eyes; if Zhang Fan had that ability, his enemies would be reduced by more than half.

But the problem is, when the three great Celestial Masters died, he happened to be nearby too.

"Why is it that wherever you go, something happens?" Fang Fang Changle curled his lips and said.

"Don't tell me the three great Celestial Masters were jinxed to death by you!"

"Don't talk nonsense, this is just a coincidence," Zhang Fan rolled his eyes.

"Did you come alone?"

"Senior Brother Yu Hua has already gone to see the people from the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance," Fang Fang Changle said in a solemn voice.

Jiangnan Province is Maoshan's territory after all; with such a huge incident occurring, it would be strange if Maoshan didn't show up.

Besides, a mess like Qin Gu Town probably couldn't be cleaned up by the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance alone.

"By the way, I also brought someone along."

As he spoke, Fang Fang Changle stepped aside, and a figure walked out from behind him.

"Zhang Wang!?" Zhang Fan's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but reveal a look of pleasant surprise.

Since parting at the Qin family that day, he had been worrying about this little brother; who would have thought he would actually meet him here today.

"Why are you here?" Zhang Fan asked.

"This is really a coincidence," Zhang Wang said with a smile.

"Let me introduce you, this is Zhang Wang, he is also... considered a person of the Daoist sects," Zhang Fan looked at Ge Ge Shuangxiu and introduced him.

Recalling Zhang Wang's wild-fox-Zen-like cultivation method, Zhang Fan added: "He is quite a master at fortune-telling."

In the art of divination alone, Zhang Wang still had some talent; that day he had predicted that the Qin family's fortune was exhausted, and even said that if the Qin family were to revive in the future, the key would lie with that child named Qin Qin Daoyuan.

The latter half of the matter cannot be verified now, but the first half has already been fulfilled.

"Just superficial knowledge," Zhang Wang said with a smile.

"If Zhang Fan praises you, it definitely isn't superficial," Ge Ge Shuangxiu said casually: "Then why don't you tell his fortune."

As he spoke, Ge Ge Shuangxiu pointed at Zhang Fan.

"Hmm!?"

Zhang Fan was stunned for a moment; he had originally just been being polite, who would have thought Ge Ge Shuangxiu would actually test Zhang Wang.

"Let's go, let's go inside and talk," Zhang Fan didn't mind.

"Red light pierces three feet of heaven, black clouds urge fate to the brink of severance!" Zhang Wang suddenly said.

"What does that mean?" Ge Ge Shuangxiu pressed.

"The trials in this world are all linked together, intersecting with fate; pass one trial, and there is one fortune; when fortune reaches the zenith, there is a life-and-death trial."

Zhang Wang whispered: "I see Brother Fan has just escaped a major trial, and is exactly at the time when his great fortune is at its peak..."

"But often, when fortune is at its peak, it is also the most dangerous moment in a person's life..."

"Red light eventually has a time to dissipate, and black clouds also have a day of arrival," Zhang Wang looked at Zhang Fan and warned.

"Beware! Beware!"

"Hahaha, this brother's craft can earn him a living," Ge Ge Shuangxiu laughed.

This kind of panacea-like talk can be said to anyone; it is completely mysterious and lacks real learning.

Seeing this, Zhang Wang only smiled in response and didn't say much more.

"Let's not talk about the future, Zhang Wang, why don't you take a look at Old Zhang's past?" Fang Fang Changle hurriedly came out to smooth things over.

Zhang Wang's eyes narrowed slightly, he looked Zhang Fan up and down, and then said: "Many changes in the family in early years, drifting in foreign lands, no support from parents, no brothers or sisters in your fate..."

"This..."

This is the standard script for fortune-telling, which is extremely consistent with the fate of many, many people.

Many changes in the family in early years, this is not wrong; ten years ago, under Long Hu Shan, Zhang Fan's family suffered a disaster; it can be said there was no greater change than this.

Since then, Zhang Fan had no mother, and followed Zhang Lingzong to settle in Bai Yujing City; from then on, Zhang Lingzong was away all year round, so having no support from parents also fits.

But this "no brothers or sisters in your fate"...

"I actually have an older brother," Zhang Fan said in a low voice.

"Older brother!?"

Li Li Miaoyin looked sideways, understanding three parts more about Zhang Fan's family situation.

Hearing this, Zhang Wang looked at Zhang Fan and then shook his head.

"It can't be wrong, you have no older brother in your fate."

"I really have an older brother," Zhang Fan said with a bitter smile.

"Alright, everyone has reunited after a long time, just be happy; let's go, let's go inside and talk."

Fang Fang Changle interrupted the conversation between the two and led everyone into the hotel.

They couldn't stay in this place for long either.

"Old Fang, let's leave quickly in a while; this small town is now a place of right and wrong."

"Nonsense, of course I know, but we have to wait for Senior Brother Yu Hua to come back and clarify the situation first," Fang Fang Changle said in a low voice.

"Zhang Fan!"

Just at this moment, Zhang Wang's voice came from behind, calling him.

"What's wrong?" Zhang Fan stopped his steps and turned to ask.

"Where is your older brother now?" Zhang Wang asked.

"Hmm!?" Zhang Fan was stunned for a moment.

"I want to see him!" Zhang Wang's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a faint, elusive smile.

(End of chapter)