I looked at the business card in my hand. On the front was his information: something about being the 107th generation head of Maoshan, a celestial master, specializing in fortune-telling, physiognomy, naming, and feng shui. The back of the card did indeed have a talisman drawn on it.

However, at this moment, I already felt this guy was unreliable—at most, just a scammer who forges certificates and swindles people. Naturally, I no longer took what he said seriously.

To save him a bit of face, I didn’t throw the business card away, just casually put it in my pocket, then told him I was heading back first, and that if I made up my mind, I’d come find him tomorrow.

After saying that, I turned to leave, but Old Priest said, “Young friend... um, now that your fortune’s been told, shouldn’t you settle the payment for the reading?”

I asked him how much the fortune-telling cost.

Old Priest said, “I, a poor Taoist, regard money as dirt. How about this: the original price is 1,980, but since fate has brought us together today, I’ll give you a discount—just 980.”

Hearing this, I couldn’t help but twitch my lips, regretting it so much I could cry. I thought to myself, damn, I’ve been scammed again today. This guy is ninety percent a fraud, definitely not some master.

To be honest, I only had about eight or nine hundred left on me. If I really gave this guy my money, I’d be a real idiot.

I spat and said, “Didn’t you say I only have one day to live? What do you need money for? Besides, who knows if your fortune-telling is even accurate. How about this: didn’t you say I can only live three days at most? If I die after three days, I’ll pay you then.”

Old Priest immediately rolled his eyes and said angrily, “Why are you all like this? When it comes to the most important step, you pull this trick. I only have one day left to live, young friend—can’t you give me a little something so I can buy a bottle of wine?”

Looks like this guy often runs into people who don’t pay for fortune-telling, but honestly, his scams are so unskilled, it’s no wonder.

Although I didn’t believe he only had one day to live, seeing that he was getting on in years and it wasn’t easy making a living, I honestly told him, “Sir, to be honest, I really don’t have much money. I only have a little over eight hundred on me, and I still need to cover this month’s living expenses. How about this: I’ll give you a hundred yuan, that should be enough for some wine.”

Old Priest’s eyes lit up, revealing a few big front teeth, and he grinned lewdly: “That’s great, it doesn’t matter if it’s a lot or a little, as long as it’s enough for wine. Sigh, you’re a good young friend, willing to pay for the reading.”

I took a hundred yuan out of my pocket and handed it to him, curiously asking, “So, when you tell fortunes for others, do they never pay you?”

Old Priest nodded angrily and said, “Exactly, not a single person has ever paid me. They all treat me like I’m crazy.”

I thought, you can’t really blame others for that—it’s just that your scams are too unskilled.

Old Priest took the hundred yuan, looking very moved, and said, “Young friend, remember to come find me tomorrow. I’ll definitely save you.”

I thought, are you treating me like I’m easy to fool? Are you planning to keep scamming me? You should know, the only reason I gave you money today is because I’m kind.

Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but want to curse. Damn it, you really don’t know how to appreciate kindness.

I turned and left. At this moment, Old Priest shouted after me, “Young friend, if you want to find me tomorrow, you can come to this overpass at night. If it’s during the day, I can’t come out—you’ll have to go to the Second City Hospital and ask for Michael Bolton.”

Hearing this, I froze in my tracks. The Second City Hospital—isn’t that the psychiatric hospital?

Damn, so this guy really is mentally ill!

I hurried back to look, but Old Priest had already slipped away without a trace. Instantly, I was left alone, bewildered in the wind...

As I walked back to my rental, I kept cursing myself. All my life I’ve been so clever, but today I was actually fooled by a lunatic. That Michael Bolton is such a bastard—only an idiot like me would fall for his tricks...

I was extremely frustrated. I thought I’d met a real master, but it turned out to be a nutcase who escaped from a psychiatric hospital. Now it seems, the matter of picking up spirit money still can’t be solved.

I walked back, dejected, and as I walked, I suddenly felt something was wrong. After walking for so long, why hadn’t I reached my rental yet?

I looked up—damn, I’d actually gone the wrong way.

How could I have gone the wrong way? I was clearly heading home, so how did I end up lost?

I looked around at where I was. I realized I’d never walked this road before—it was completely unfamiliar and desolate. The houses on both sides of the street were pitch black, as if no one lived in them, and the street itself was empty—no cars, no people, only a few dim street lamps. And those dim street lamps weren’t even electric—they were white lanterns.

On the white paper lanterns, there was a big character “冥” written on each one, hanging all along the street, making the empty road look eerie and sinister...