Where lies the path to survival?

My gaze met with Uncle Li's, and the emotions in our eyes weren't high.

Although we hadn't spent much time together, I could feel that this Mr. Zhou wasn't the type of charlatan who'd say, "Sir, your forehead is dark, there will be bloodshed soon." He had real skills. Regardless of whether what this old man and his grandson had deduced matched my actual situation, just the turtle shell Mr. Zhou had wasn't something ordinary. The faint white glow on the turtle shell wasn't due to natural aging; it was quite peculiar. I just realized, that thing was most likely the turtle shell described in my family's book, "Records of Strange Objects in the Nine Provinces."

"In the East Sea, there is a spirit called the White Turtle, formed over a thousand years, perfected over ten thousand. It carries immortals and travels. Its shell is inscribed with patterns of fate, able to penetrate three lifetimes!"

That's the description of the White Turtle in the book. The "carrying immortals and traveling" part is a bit far-fetched, but according to my grandfather, the White Turtle does indeed exist, somewhere in the East Sea. It's just extremely rare, appearing only a few times throughout history. The shell on its body is indeed a treasure for fortune telling, worth a fortune!

Could an ordinary fortune teller afford such a thing?

Now, after Mr. Zhou had done my fortune telling, he spat blood and fainted, which cast a shadow over my heart. Could it be that I've truly offended something terrifying?

Those who haven't truly faced death's threat wouldn't understand my current feelings. It's like having a loaded gun pointed at your crotch, always on edge, afraid one wrong move will result in a disaster.

At this moment, the little brat had come in, and upon seeing his grandfather's state, he burst into tears, accusing me, "It's all because of you! You, with your ominous and cursed presence, if it weren't for you asking for fortune telling, would my grandfather end up like this?"

I opened my mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately didn't. The fact was right in front of me: Mr. Zhou had spat blood and collapsed just to tell my fortune. What could I say? I only wanted to survive, not to drag others down.

"Don't blame him."

An old voice suddenly sounded, somewhat easing my embarrassment. It was Mr. Zhou, who I hadn't realized had awakened. His hair was disheveled, his face pale, looking very unwell. He sat up with great effort, casting a serious look at his grandson, slowly saying, "Zhou Jing, remember, our Zhou family will forever owe the Gao family. If it weren't for Mr. Gao back then, I would have died in that place several decades ago. Now I've had an accident while fortune telling for Mr. Gao's descendants. It's also considered repaying Mr. Gao's kindness. You can't blame him!"

Zhou Jing should be the name of that disliked brat. Although he's willful, he's very obedient in front of his grandfather. Hearing this, tears welled up in his eyes as he reluctantly nodded and stood aside.

Only then did Mr. Zhou gesture for me to come over. I quickly went to sit beside him, and after hesitating for a moment, he said, "Young man from the Gao family, from now on, let Zhou Jing follow you. His parents died early, and he's also a pitiful child. I'll trouble you. Fortunately, he has learned my skills to a considerable extent. What's lacking is practical experience. Following you could also be of some help to you."

Was Mr. Zhou actually giving me a fortune reading or giving me his last words? Even Zhou Jing, that little brat, sensed that something was off, wanting to speak several times, but being silenced by his grandfather's fierce glare.

After he finished speaking, Uncle Li anxiously asked, "Mr. Zhou, are you...?"

Mr. Zhou waved his hand, "This old man has already calculated that his end is near. I didn't expect it would be because of this Gao family boy. Nevertheless, this is also good. At least when I meet Mr. Gao in the underworld, I won't be unworthy of his life-saving grace."

Here, Mr. Zhou looked at Uncle Li and said solemnly, "This old man has spent his life calculating for others, leaking too many things that shouldn't have been leaked. I don't know how many karmic debts are attached to me. When the time comes, many will come to collect these debts from me. If it's a human, it's fine, but I'm afraid that some wicked creature will harm my grandson instead. You two, help me with this favor."

Uncle Li hesitated for a moment before nodding reluctantly.

"As for the Gao family boy..."

Mr. Zhou sighed softly, "This old man is unable to figure out what's threatening him. Once I'm gone, who knows what he'll face?"

Upon hearing about my situation, Uncle Li became anxious, asking, "Does this mean Little Tian is beyond saving?"

"It's not that he can't be saved. I've already said, this kid is temporarily safe. There's a black aura holding onto his life force in his fate palace. Although the one who can save him may not necessarily be human, he shouldn't harm him. I think the key to this lies in that marriage certificate. Understanding the origin of that marriage certificate will reveal who is protecting him. Unfortunately, that thing's abilities are profound. I can't even figure out what it is."

Mr. Zhou's words made me shudder.

"Come, Gao family boy, come here."

I quickly went over and sat down. Mr. Zhou hesitated for a moment before saying, "Gao family boy, in the future, let Zhou Jing accompany you. This kid is also from a family of collectors. His parents died early, and he's also a pitiful child. I'll trouble you. Fortunately, he has also learned some of my skills, lacking only some practical experience. Having him by your side may also be of some help to you."

Was this Mr. Zhou giving me a fortune or leaving his last words? Even Zhou Jing, the little brat, sensed that something was off and wanted to speak several times, but was silenced by his grandfather's stern look.

After he finished speaking, Uncle Li quickly asked, "Mr. Zhou, are you...?"

Mr. Zhou waved his hand, "This old man has already foreseen his end. I didn't expect it would be because of this Gao family boy. Nevertheless, this is also good. At least when I meet Mr. Gao in the underworld, I won't be unworthy of his life-saving grace."

Here, Mr. Zhou looked at Uncle Li and said solemnly, "This old man has spent his life calculating for others, leaking too many things that shouldn't have been leaked. I don't know how many karmic debts are attached to me. When the time comes, many will come to collect these debts from me. If it's a human, it's fine, but I'm afraid that some wicked creature will harm my grandson instead. You two, help me with this favor."

Uncle Li hesitated for a moment before nodding reluctantly.

"As for the Gao family boy..."

Mr. Zhou sighed softly, "This old man is unable to figure out what's threatening him. Once I'm gone, who knows what he'll face?"

Upon hearing about my situation, Uncle Li became anxious, asking, "Does this mean Little Tian is beyond saving?"

"It's not that he can't be saved. I've already said, this kid is temporarily safe. There's a black aura holding onto his life force in his fate palace. Although the one who can save him may not necessarily be human, he shouldn't harm him. I think the key to this lies in that marriage certificate. Understanding the origin of that marriage certificate will reveal who is protecting him. Unfortunately, that thing's abilities are profound. I can't even figure out what it is."

Mr. Zhou's words made me shudder.

Uncle Li asked, "Is there no other way?"

"There is."

Mr. Zhou said decisively, writing a single word on the table with the water from his teacup— "天" (Tian, Heaven).

Uncle Li's expression darkened, "Mr. Zhou, is there no other way? You know, the Gao family only has this one remaining descendant. If we have to go to them, wouldn't it be deliberately throwing him into a fire pit? Those people live by putting their heads where their pants are! Little Tian's father protected him for over twenty years to keep him out of this mess. But now, I've brought him here. Isn't this like deliberately putting a target on my back?"

"Sometimes, fate must be accepted. Sometimes, pushing against fate is futile."

Mr. Zhou sighed deeply, smiling bitterly, "If I had another choice, how could I let the Gao family boy go to those people? But now, the thing threatening him can't even be calculated by me. I'm afraid only by staying close to the Gao family boy will he be safe. After all, you know their abilities too. This is the fate of the Gao family boy, something we can't change. If you don't take him now, he'll still get involved later!"

Uncle Li fell silent.

Mr. Zhou didn't say much more, giving Zhou Jing some paper and a pen, then scribbled down an address and handed it to Uncle Li, saying, "I can only say this much. If you understand, take the Gao family boy to this place and find this person. He's not malicious, and he'll do his best to help the Gao family. As long as he's with this person, his safety will be somewhat assured, and ordinary dirty tricks won't harm him!"

Uncle Li sighed and took the paper.

Their conversation was too cryptic for me to understand, so I looked at Uncle Li, but he didn't say anything.

"I don't have much time left. If you two don't have anything else, please wait outside."

Mr. Zhou said, "Let me talk to my grandson for a moment and give him some instructions."

"Okay, we'll wait outside."

Uncle Li nodded decisively, pulling me out of the room. I looked at Uncle Li's face, filled with worries and concerns, and he seemed more and more distant to me.

I thought my family was just an ordinary family of antique collectors, but now it seems that's not the case at all!

What did the "天" (Tian, Heaven) written by Mr. Zhou on the table mean? Who were those people they kept mentioning?

I didn't understand anything, my mind was in chaos. It seemed that ever since I obtained the Hundred-Defying Saber, my life had become uncertain, and fate was pushing me towards an unknown direction...

Is what lies ahead life? Or death?

I didn't know. I was just foolishly led away by Uncle Li, feeling increasingly bewildered.