Chapter 190: I Will Read Your Face

Louguan Tai sits at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain, at this moment covered in white snow, appearing even more secluded and mysterious.

The Daoist temple with blue-gray tiles and white walls appears and disappears in the snow; thick snow piles on the stone steps before the gate, ancient pines on both sides are draped in silver, and occasionally a pine branch unable to bear the weight of the snow puffs out a spray of snow mist.

Two people walked from afar, their bodies not carrying a speck of falling snow.

Yu Lin stopped his steps, gave a slight smile: "Daoist Master, this is the place; I won't go in with you."

"Let's part ways here."

The old Daoist's beard and hair are all white, his face gaunt, yet his eyes are bright as stars; his immortal wind and Dao bone aura lets one know at a glance he is no ordinary mortal.

Seeing Yu Lin about to leave, the old Daoist hastily spoke:

"Hey, young friend, wait a moment."

Yu Lin stopped his steps, raised an eyebrow and said: "Daoist Master, do you still have something?"

The old Daoist laughed: "Thanks to your help today, young friend, I have escaped freezing to death in this vast snow."

He stroked his snow-white long beard: "I, the poor Daoist, now possess nothing else but a single skill—especially the art of physiognomy."

"Let me give you a physiognomy reading and bestow upon you an opportunity—how does that sound?"

Physiognomy?

Yu Lin felt a bit of interest, nodded and said:

"Then thank you, Daoist Master, for your kindness."

The old Daoist waved his hand: "No problem, no problem—repaying kindness with kindness."

"Come, please come over."

Yu Lin stepped forward, only to see the old Daoist sweep both hands before his eyes, murmuring an incantation.

As the incantation rose, his hands gradually glowed with a soft white light, then slowly moved to caress Yu Lin's face.

At the instant his fingertips touched Yu Lin's face, the old Daoist's movement suddenly froze!

His expression changed abruptly, disbelief flashing in his eyes: "This... this... young friend, you have the potential of a Human Emperor!"

"Huh? No... no... young friend, you......."

Before he could finish speaking, the old Daoist spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, staining the snow red.

He staggered and fell to the ground, trembling hand pointing at Yu Lin: "Little... little friend, wait... wait until I wake... wake up, then I will... for you...... the poor Daoist will definitely..."

Before his words finished, his head tilted and he fainted outright.

Yu Lin: "............"

Well, now I still have to send this person inside.

Yu Lin shook his head, lifted the old Daoist from the ground, and walked toward Louguan Tai.

Louguan Tai, having succeeded in early investments in the Li imperial clan, and with the strong support of the Wu De Emperor, has now become the foremost Daoist sect at this moment.

The buildings within the temple have been completely renewed; the vermilion roofs and green tiles appear even more solemn in the snow.

If it weren't for the heavy snow sealing the mountain, at this time usually there would be a constant flow of worshippers, with incense smoke swirling.

Yu Lin carried the unconscious old Daoist, walking steadily on the snow-covered stone steps.

Fortunately, few people are out in the snow, the way was clear all the way until we were stopped at the temple gate.

The two young Daoist guards wearing thin Daoist robes showed no fear of the severe cold.

Seeing Yu Lin's appearance, one stepped forward and bowed: "Please, devotee, halt your steps."

"What is this for?"

Yu Lin gently set down the old Daoist: "This Daoist Master is someone I found down the mountain; seeing him unconscious, I gave him aid."

"After waking, he said he wanted to come to your temple; just now down the mountain he said he wanted to read my face to repay kindness, but after a look he fainted again."

The two Daoists glanced at each other, stepped forward to carefully examine the old Daoist's face, both showing puzzled expressions: "We two do not know this Daoist Master. Please, devotee, follow us into the temple."

Yu Lin nodded and followed them through the temple gate.

Inside the main hall, candles burn brightly, enshrining two statues: on the left, Tai Shang Lao Jun with kind eyes and benevolent gaze; on the right, Wen Shi True Person Yin Xi, solemn expression, holding a scroll of the Tao Te Ching; their positions show the distinction between master and disciple.

Before the statues, incense smoke curls; several lodging worshippers follow a Daoist in chanting sutras, listening as if to the Tao Te Ching.

And to one side, there is an old Daoist with white beard and hair sweeping the floor, appearing outwardly ordinary, just like a common old man.

But in Daoist temples and Buddhist monasteries, such sweeping elders are the ones most not to be overlooked.

If a fight really breaks out, the most fearsome are precisely them!

Indeed, this is indeed the case.

The two Daoists came before the old Daoist, bowed and said: "Observatory Master."

"This devotee.........."

After they briefly explained the situation, the old Daoist handed them the broom in his hand:

"Go sweep the snow in front of the gate."

"Yes."

The two of them left.

The old Daoist then came before Yu Lin, bowed and smiled:

"I, the poor Daoist, am Qi Pingding, the current Observatory Master of Louguan Tai."

"I have met you, young friend."

Yu Lin returned the salute: "Yu Lin has met Daoist Master Qi."

Next, Qi Pingding stepped forward to the old Daoist lying on the ground; upon seeing him, he did not hastily employ any rescue means, but instead took out a talisman paper from his sleeve.

Then, seeing him mutter some incantation, the runes on the talisman paper lit up, and immediately a light mirror appeared in Yu Lin's field of vision.

Qi Pingding crouched, raised his hand, pointed at the old Daoist on the ground, and spoke to the mirror:

"Yuan Tiangang could not match me, Qi Pingding; our magical duel ended in defeat here, and to this day he remains unconscious."

Keep a copy of the portrait as proof.

Having said that, he raised his hand and pointed; this light mirror flew back into the Talisman Paper, then he gestured to the young Daoist beside him and said:

"Bai He, mount this Talisman Paper and hang it before my master's door."

"Yes."

The young Daoist named Bai He received the Talisman Paper and trotted off happily.

After finishing all this, Qi Pingding, satisfied, squatted down again, took out a green little ball resembling a Healing Pill, and stuffed it into Yuan Tiangang's mouth.

Smack!

With a raise of his hand and a slap, it went straight into Yuan Tiangang's stomach.

Not long after, Yuan Tiangang slowly came to, covering his mouth, grimacing and said: "Ah, why does my mouth hurt so much..."

"Old Man Qi, what did you do to me?"

Qi Pingding looked at his nose, then at his heart, appearing unconcerned, and said with a light smile:

"What did I do? Of course I saved your life!"

"You this guy, thinking your fate is unusually hard, having mastered the art of physiognomy to a high degree, whether it's nobles or commoners, whenever someone seeks your reading or you suddenly feel like it, you insist on giving a reading..."

"Now that you've met Little Friend Yu, do you still dare to do this?!"

"By then you'll probably faint again, not knowing heaven from earth! Hahaha."

Yuan Tiangang: ".........."

"In consideration of your help, today I won't quarrel with you."

Afterwards he cupped his fists toward Yu Lin and said: "Thank you again, little friend."

"Previously, not knowing your exalted status, I have offended; please little friend, don't blame me, don't blame me."

Yu Lin waved his hand: "No problem, no problem; I also wanted to let the Daoist Priest take a look."

"Don't blame the Daoist Priest."

"Since the Daoist Priest is unoccupied, I'll take my leave first."

Seeing him about to leave again, Yuan Tiangang and Qi Pingding shouted in unison: "Little friend, stay!"

Yu Lin stopped his steps: "What is it this time?"

After exchanging a glance, Qi Pingding spoke: "We have a few things we'd like to ask you, little friend, for a casual chat."

"I don't know if little friend can conveniently stay overnight?"

Yu Lin thought for a moment.

Having heard that Louguan Tai focuses on Soul Cultivation, if we could obtain their cultivation method from them and teach it to Zhong Kui.......... it wouldn't be impossible.

He then nodded and said: "Good."

The three walked toward a quiet room to the side.

But Yu Lin suddenly stopped, turned his head to look at the statue of Tai Shang Lao Jun behind him.

How come I feel he's looking at me?