"Do you think, ten years from now, twenty years from now, or even a hundred years from now, what will this place be like?"
Zhang Tian looked at the muddy road, at the rickshaw pullers beneath, and the few cars. His voice was quiet, as if he were talking to himself.
"It will definitely be much better than it is now."
Xie Yuchen's voice was also soft. He seemed to have seen many things, and this statement sounded like a heartfelt sigh.
"You asked me to come, what's up?"
Zhang Tian spoke casually, his gaze fixed on that slash of bright red flag. The banner fluttered in the air, moving with the wind, like a red ocean.
"I believe, Young Master Zhang, you have already obtained the map to the Medicine King's Tomb. We agreed that after you looked at it, you would return it to the Xie family. Now, I can waive that, but..."
"Stop!"
"Brother Xie, while that may be so, this map was not delivered by you, and as far as I know, it was given by your second uncle. Is there any reason to take it back?"
Zhang Tian directly interrupted Xie Yuchen's discourse. He couldn't believe this guy had the nerve to pull this. He never expected to hear words like this from someone other than Fatty.
Xie Yuchen was taken aback and did not pursue the topic further. He had intended to use the map as a test, though he didn't hold out much hope.
"Let's forget about the map. But I do want to ask you for a favor."
Xie Yuchen spoke again, and Zhang Tian's heart bloomed with joy. Indeed, the feeling of getting benefits from both master and disciple was wonderful! Two birds with one stone, tsk tsk.
"Are you going to the Medicine King's Tomb?"
Zhang Tian looked at him with a half-smile.
"If you can take me there, I owe you a favor, and I can give you money, or something else."
Xie Yuchen was serious, clearly, the Medicine King's Tomb held extraordinary significance for him.
Zhang Tian looked at him and inwardly chuckled. Was the favor Xie Yuchen could offer as valuable as his master's? Honestly, the resources Xie Yuchen could currently provide Zhang Tian were not as impactful as Er Yue Hong's. However, this young man had great potential in the future. Therefore, Zhang Tian wasn't expecting much from him right now.
"To be frank, Young Master Xie, that map is only a fragment. To find the true Medicine King's Tomb, we'll probably need to find the other pieces."
Zhang Tian said, his voice a little serious.
Xie Yuchen was stunned and stared intently at Zhang Tian. His beautiful eyes held a trace of suspicion. He was still doubtful, and quite so.
"Really?"
"Really. I have no reason to lie to you. If the map were complete, do you think I would be in this place right now?"
Zhang Tian said helplessly. Xie Yuchen considered this and felt a sense of relief. If the map was fine, Zhang Tian would have left long ago, and wouldn't be here haggling with him.
"Alright. However, I want to go with you to tomb raiding. Frankly, I can't go back right now either."
Xie Yuchen glanced in the direction of the Xie family home. He had sneaked out, and if his family found out now, he wouldn't be allowed out for a long time.
"Of course, with the participation of the young master of the Xie family, our strength will certainly be enhanced."
"However, I have a few conditions."
Zhang Tian paused here. Xie Yuchen cursed him inwardly for being shameless but nodded his head without changing his expression.
"Please, tell me. As long as we go to the Medicine King's Tomb together, I can fulfill some of your requests."
Xie Yuchen was also straightforward and spoke directly.
"First, I will take you there, and afterward, you will need to fulfill two requests for me. I haven't thought of what they are yet, I'll tell you later."
"Second, why are you so fixated on the Medicine King's Tomb? Your Xie family is immensely wealthy, are you short of money?"
Zhang Tian looked at him and asked the question that had been lingering in his mind.
"For my master!"
Xie Yuchen uttered only a few words and said no more. Zhang Tian guessed something; the elixirs from the auction were taken by the Xie family. Those elixirs could preserve youth and remove toxins. He presumed it was for that girl. This time, Xie Yuchen's obsession with the Medicine King's Tomb undoubtedly meant he wanted to find heaven-defying elixirs. Connecting these series of events, Zhang Tian quickly found the answer.
"Alright, I won't pry into your affairs anymore. There are only four rooms at our place, and they are already full."
Zhang Tian said. Xie Yuchen frowned slightly, a hint of worry in his delicate brows.
"However, you can share with my brothers. I suggest you room with Hu Bayi."
Zhang Tian added. A smile appeared on Xie Yuchen's face.
"Thank you."
He clasped his hands in a salute and said earnestly. As for why he didn't suggest Fatty, Zhang Tian was mainly afraid of startling the young Mr. Hua Hua.
Afterward, they chatted for a while longer, and Zhang Tian led Xie Yuchen out of the Drum Tower. Xie Yuchen was dressed in rough cloth and had even disguised himself, so no one on the street paid him much attention. Conversely, many people noticed Zhang Tian, as the incident of him telling fortunes had spread like wildfire throughout Beili City, and even after ten days, people still remembered.
"Young Master Zhang, can you tell my fortune?"
"Yes, Young Master Zhang, I beg you."
The passersby on the side said this, while Xie Yuchen looked at Zhang Tian in surprise. He had been confined at home and knew little of outside affairs.
"You can tell fortunes?"
Xie Yuchen looked at Zhang Tian, his voice soft and questioning.
"Haha, a little bit. And, I'm not very skilled."
Zhang Tian gave an embarrassed smile. Fortune-telling wasn't about spending money; it was about risking one's life. Zhang Tian dared not casually admit to it. Xie Yuchen nodded. He didn't believe Zhang Tian, so young, could actually tell fortunes.
At the Wu family's residence.
Wu Tianzhen sat in his room, feeling depressed. He looked at his grandfather's notes. "I wonder where Uncle Three has gone. Is the person who has been at home all this time Uncle Three? And, Young Master Zhang's predictions were too accurate. He could even figure this out." Wu Tianzhen murmured, truly believing Zhang Tian's fortune-telling. He felt somewhat dejected, and Wu Tianzhen couldn't leave the courtyard for the time being. As for Zhang Tian's fortune-telling, very few important figures paid much attention. After all, he had only told fortunes in Beili City for one day, and he had only divined for three people. It wasn't worth their notice.
Meanwhile, in the courtyard.
Fatty and Hu Bayi sat in rocking chairs, while the Little Brother sat under a willow tree. Beside the Little Brother, a small white fox with pure white fur lay curled up. This creature was becoming quite dependent.
"Old Hu, where do you think Boss has gone? He's not home early in the morning. Did he sneak off to some small restaurant without telling us?"
"What nonsense is Fatty spouting? Boss definitely has something else to do. Have you been cultivating these past few days? You only know how to flap your gums."
Hu Bayi looked at Fatty with some exasperation.
"Old Hu, Fatty's life is hard. I cultivate during the day, and I have to cultivate at night too. Fatty wants to rest."
Fatty looked bitter. Suddenly, he seemed to recall something.
"Right, Second Brother wasn't home last night either, and Boss isn't here today."
"Did the two of them go off to stir up trouble behind our backs last night?"
Fatty said with a simple smile, and Hu Bayi flicked his forehead.
"Nonsense! Look, Boss is back."
Hu Bayi finished speaking just as Zhang Tian's figure appeared at the entrance.
"Holy crap, Boss, you're juggling two boats!"
Upon seeing Xie Yuchen, Fatty almost jumped out of his skin. Zhang Tian looked confused. What had Fatty's overactive imagination cooked up now?