The old man, who had just displayed his skills, was stunned for a long while. Then he said, “You’ve truly revolutionized this old man’s understanding of heavenly talents.”

Jiang Wang said, “There are no two people in this world who are exactly the same. Everyone you see is very new.”

The old man clicked his tongue and said, “You talk in circles. You’re quite suited to be a xiangshi (fortune teller).”

“So fortune tellers rely on their glib tongues?” Jiang Wang looked at him with a smile. “If talking in circles makes one suited to be a xiangshi, then I know two exceptionally talented people. If you can give me a thousand yuan stones, I’ll introduce them to you to be your inheritors. I guarantee they can carry on your lineage and make it flourish!”

“No thanks!” The old man waved his hand dismissively, then looked at Jiang Wang with a touch of curiosity. “Are you truly not afraid of death?”

Jiang Wang didn’t answer directly, but instead asked, “That young man who just walked by, he died of illness before he was thirty-seven, leaving behind an orphan and a widow. It’s truly pitiful. Since you can see the future, why didn’t you help him?”

The old man sighed and said, “Birth, aging, illness, and death, suffering and parting. Everything in this world has its fixed destiny. How can human power save it?”

Jiang Wang then asked, “Then is it a fixed destiny that I will face a bloody disaster soon, or is it a fixed destiny that you will help me dispel the bloody disaster?”

If the former is fixed destiny, what use is your protective amulet?
If the latter is fixed destiny, why should I spend money?
In short, since everything has a fixed destiny, what is the meaning of a xiangshi’s existence?

Having his livelihood questioned in such a manner, the old man surprisingly wasn’t angry, nor did he argue with him. He just laughed heartily, “To know me or not to know me, it’s just like this. Interesting, interesting!”

After laughing, he handed the protective amulet over again. “Young man, just one daoqian (coin), I’ll sell it to you!”

Jiang Wang didn’t refuse again. He took out a daoqian and placed it in the hand that was as wrinkled as old tree bark, accepting the extremely crudely made protective amulet at the same time.

“May I ask for your origin, old sir?”

The old man, who called himself “spirit gone and person thin,” just stroked the fiery red mane of Yan Zhao, then smiled and stepped back.

Between heaven and earth, there was a song that said—

“Extraordinary lies in the common folk, others are busy and unattainable.”
“Looking north and south for three hundred years, the stars shift and a lifetime ends!”

He walked backward into the crowd, yet walked out of Jiang Wang’s sight.

It was a very strange sensation, as if things were happening on two levels simultaneously. But what Jiang Wang saw before him was indeed only the bustling crowd, and no trace of the old man.

Only the protective amulet in his hand was still reminding him of the reality of this experience.

How vast is the current world, how many strange people there are.

Jiang Wang looked at the protective amulet in his hand, flipped his hand and put it away, saying nothing more.

Gently rubbing Yan Zhao’s neck, the fiery red horse consciously stepped forward, its hooves light in the bustling city of Linzi, heading towards the distance.

Its mane in the wind, swaying like fire.

When Jiang Wang arrived outside the “Yi” (Justice) Gate on his horse, Lin Youxie had already been waiting there for quite some time.

“Lord Jiang, you’re late,” she said to Jiang Wang, looking at him.

Her tone and expression were distant.

Having agreed to meet Lin Youxie in half an hour, it didn’t take much time to return to the mansion, mainly because he was extorted for a long time on the way.

Jiang Wang knew he was in the wrong. He took out the scroll from his storage box and went straight to the point. “Less idle talk, Head Constable Lin, this is a portrait of the scene after Huang Yixing’s death. Why don’t you take a look and see if there are any clues.”

“I’ve already seen it,” Lin Youxie said.

Jiang Wang: …

Good heavens, I’m really just a figurehead, aren’t I?

But Lord Jiang was now a bit experienced, and he smiled very naturally. “Then may I ask, Head Constable Lin, if you have any clues to discuss with me?”

He himself had seriously studied this painting and just happened to have some insights, ready to dampen the sharp edge of this inheritor from a family of Qingpai (elite constables).

Lin Youxie was silent for a while, then said, “Do you know? A painter recording a scene and presenting details can only present the details that person sees.”

“Of course I know.” Jiang Wang frowned. “Is there a problem with that?”

“Unless I painted it myself, I can only determine what clues I’ve obtained after personally observing the scene. Any judgments before that might be influenced by others and create a preconceived impression. An excellent Qingpai wouldn’t make such a choice.” She glanced at Jiang Wang. “That painting can only give a general idea.”

I think the painter drew very detailed, not necessarily worse than you. The eyes are very expressive! Jiang Wang silently thought in his heart.

On his face, he smiled. “Then let’s set off.”

With a light tap of his leg, Yan Zhao shot forward like an arrow leaving a bowstring, instantly galloping on the official road, like a flowing line of fire.

Lin Youxie quickly rose from the ground and flew beside Yan Zhao.

Yan Zhao was naturally a fine steed, galloping on the boundless official road. Although Lin Youxie’s flying speed was not slow, she had to exert herself to keep up.

The scenery along the road rapidly receded.

Soon, they had galloped out of the Linzi area and entered the territory of Le’an Prefecture.

While flying rapidly, Lin Youxie couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Wang several times.

It was common for Qingpai constables to travel around for cases, and she didn’t feel it was hard work.

But while she was flying strenuously, consuming Dao Yuan, the other party was riding a tall horse, leisurely and comfortably, even seemingly practicing cultivation, as if studying Dao arts… it was truly infuriating.

“Lord Jiang,” Lin Youxie spoke in the strong wind.

Jiang Wang gave a somewhat insincere “En,” indicating a question.

“You are the number one Inner Mansion in the world, and this humble subordinate is just a little ant who has just entered the Inner Mansion realm. Whether it is Dao Yuan reserves or cultivation strength, I am far inferior to you.”

That was the truth. Jiang Wang thought.

“Then what?” he asked.

Lin Youxie said, “Great men of the world all have great magnanimity.”

Jiang Wang also sighed with emotion, “It’s not limited to men and women. At the Guanhai Platform, I was fortunate to have an audience with the Emperor Mu. He truly had a magnificent bearing, with a myriad of phenomena.”

Lin Youxie couldn’t respond to this, so she changed the subject. “I’ve heard that those who have achieved great things throughout history are very considerate of their subordinates.”

Jiang Wang asked, “Why haven’t I heard that?”

Lin Youxie: …

“Lord Jiang still needs to read some books.” There was already a hint of gnashing teeth in her words.

“Books, this official also reads them. I’ve read several Daoist scriptures too.” Jiang Wang said steadily, sitting on the back of the galloping horse, very self-satisfied. “Just recently, I also discussed reading with the Eleventh Prince.”

Even the Eleventh Prince discusses reading with me!

How dare you, Lin Youxie, say that the Eleventh Prince’s knowledge is insufficient?

Lin Youxie indeed dared not. “That was presumptuous of this subordinate.”

Jiang Wang didn’t hold back in lecturing her. “Head Constable Lin should still focus her energy on the case and stop thinking about other things.”

Feeling more and more annoyed, Lin Youxie simply clamped her mouth shut.

However, although he didn’t give an inch with his words, Jiang Wang himself truly felt that he should set aside some time to read.

Now holding a third-rank official position, he seemed to be in the upper echelons of the Qi Kingdom, but he deeply knew that his horizons were far from sufficient. He couldn’t always wait for Chong Xuan Sheng to help and guide him, and Chong Xuan Sheng couldn’t be with him at all times.

Moreover, traveling ten thousand miles and reading ten thousand volumes are both ways of understanding the world and a form of cultivation.

He had already traveled ten thousand miles and would continue to do so in the future. But reading ten thousand volumes couldn’t even be considered the beginning.

When he was in the Dao Academy, he didn’t perfunctorily read the Daoist scriptures, but later, leaving his hometown, focusing on becoming stronger, he indeed hadn’t read the words of the ancient sages much since then.

Of course, he wouldn’t say these words to Lin Youxie.

They were not fellow travelers, just temporarily on the same path.