Chapter Five: Meteor

  Dai Tianyan walked for a long time, and the sun had already risen to its peak in the sky.

  Xu Yuansuo followed behind, his mouth and tongue dry, unable to help but pant heavily.

  "This young master, what's so good that you're working so hard?" Dai Tianyan stopped in his tracks, slowly turned around, and faced Xu Yuansuo.

  If it weren't for Xu Yuanshuo looking at those eyes covered with white cataracts, he would have suspected that he was not really blind.

  "I know I have the bad habit of being arrogant and looking down on others, but I'm not willing to just be a 'master', so I want to ask for your guidance, sir." Xu Yuansuo panted and bowed.

  Dai Tian Yan took two steps forward and smiled: "Do you want to sing your name in the Golden Hall?"

  "Not yet." Xu Yuansu gritted his teeth and spat out two words.

  Dai Tian's expression turned solemn, and he said, "If you want it to be that way, this old man can't teach you anything. It all depends on your own fortune."

  "Sir is too modest." Dai Tianyan said: "I don't believe there's such a magical divination technique as yours, I just want to know the beginning and end of it."

  Dai Tianyandao: "This old set of kung fu is called 'Blind Meteor', have you ever heard of it?"

  Xu Yuansuo shook his head and immediately reacted, saying: "I've never heard of it."

  Dai Tianyan was not surprised, saying: "There are also many people in the Jianghu who know this set of kung fu, and they all think it's a trick for blind people to make a living. In fact, this 'Blind Flowing Star' is not a divination technique."

  Xu Yuansuo's spirit was roused, and he looked up at the sun, saying: "Sir, now that the fierce sun is high in the sky, why not first return to Zhu's place? I'll be the host and invite you to have a drink."

  Dai Tianyan said, "This place is very open and there's no one around, so we don't have to worry about being overheard by Liu Er. It's a good opportunity to discuss some secret matters."

  "Yes, I was wrong." Xu Yuansuo hastily admitted his mistake.

  "This secret art emphasizes observing words, listening to energy, distinguishing winds, exploring waters, tongues, and attacking the heart. Foolish husbands and wives think it's a divination technique, but in fact, all the secrets are on themselves. You sneak into the house, move with a changed heart, tidy up your clothes and come out, but don't immediately go downstairs, instead, you sneak around the corridor, all sorts of things, have already revealed your temperament, habits, and many past experiences to me."

  Xu Yuansuo was like he had glimpsed the secret of magic, and once he started talking, it wasn't mysterious at all. But now he was a bit puzzled - Dai Tianyan didn't want to let others know, so why did he tell him in such detail? These people who ran around showing off their skills shouldn't they all be pretending to be profound and say something like "heavenly secrets can't be revealed"?

  "You're now in doubt, wondering why I'm speaking so meticulously, aren't you?" Dai Tianyan smiled and said.

  Xu Yuansuo was taken aback and said, "Yes."

  "Because you're just a shooting star." said Taira no Tadazane.

  "Please be clear, sir." Xu Yuansuo was not one to engage in verbal sparring with others.

  "The stars in the sky are countless, each has its own position, but there is a type of shooting star that comes without warning and leaves without a trace. Some shine brightly for a moment, while others have an impact that lasts for thousands of years."

  Xu Yuansuo nodded slightly: Didn't dinosaurs become extinct because of a meteorite hitting the Earth?

  "The meteor in the midst of the people is also like this." Dai Tian Yan said: "I heard your footsteps, breathing, tone, voice, action, reaction... all should be born into a wealthy family, trained from childhood, and with a square face, slender figure, sharp eyes, cannot bear humiliation. These are not things that the gate you just came out of can cultivate."

  "Haha." Xu Yuanshuo smiled awkwardly, this was clearly his 21st-century self.

  "And now, you're all sloppy and dull-looking, with a silly expression on your face, and a big belly. Dai Tianyan laughed again: "Your respected mother also said that you're famous in the neighborhood for being stupid and fat."

  "Hehe." Xu Yuanshu smiled again, thinking to himself: There must be some reason for this that even I don't understand.

  "You say this situation is similar to a shooting star in the sky?" Dai Tianyan returned to the subject.

  "It's indeed a mess." Xu Yuansuo's words had underlying meanings, and he pulled back to his main topic: "Sir, can you pass on this secret technique to me? I'll definitely repay you heavily when I make a name for myself in the future."

  "It's okay." Dai Tianyan was unusually talkative at this moment, and he took out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket, saying: "Apply this medicine to your eyes three times a day, and you'll be fine after three days."

  "Is it all right now?" Xu Yuansu was greatly surprised.

  "It's enough to make one blind." Dài Tián Yán said with a straight face.

  Xu Yuansuo's outstretched hand froze in mid-air as he said, "Sir, you're joking."

  "The blind are good at listening. If they weren't blind, they would only be confused by the appearances of this world, how could they open their mind's eye?" Dai Tianyan said: "If you want to learn this secret skill, it is impossible if you are not blind."

  Xu Yuansuo withdrew his hand and said: "Sorry, although the young man admires this secret technique very much in his heart, he is not willing to pay such a great price."

  Dai Tianyan took back the porcelain bottle and smiled: "It can be seen that you and I indeed have no master-disciple fate."

  "Yes, in Mr. Xu's opinion, being able to see the mysteries of heaven and earth, and the changes in people's hearts is worth more than a pair of eyes." Xu Yuansuo still didn't give up and said: "Mr., since we can't be master and apprentice, I wonder if we can have a relationship like that between a teacher and a student."

  "Isn't it different?"

  Xu Yuansuo saw that Dai Tianyan did not leave, and apparently wanted to listen to the statement, so he said leisurely: "The relationship between a master and his apprentice is like that of father and son. I am your son. As for the teacher-student relationship, one gives money and the other teaches, it's a matter of giving money and teaching."

  Dai Tianyan smiled: "You don't have the heart to see through people's changing minds, why bother learning this skill?"

  "Sir, in this world of ups and downs, whether it's business or officialdom, it all comes down to the two words 'being a person'. If I can see through someone's true nature at a glance, it would be like holding a sharp blade, unstoppable! How could I not be tempted?"

  "If it's just this, your innate talent is already sufficient. In the future, you only need to fix your heart in the midst of people coming and going, and naturally, you will be as clear as observing fire."

  Xu Yuansuo slightly furrowed his brow, pondering the meaning of "keeping one's heart steadfast".

  "If you have a strong family background, you can naturally be proud and make rapid progress." Dai Tianyan said: "But if not, then one can only be careful and cautious... Ah, your foolishness is actually a good protective charm, reacting slowly to things, the heart will naturally calm down."

  Dai Tianyan said: "In that case, I won't accept your betrothal gift. Consider it a free gift from me."

  "The young man is indeed impolite." Xu Yuansu bowed and thanked him, saying: "In fact, it's also because the young man has no money. If we meet again in the future, I will definitely thank you again, sir."

  "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter." Dai Tianyan waved his hand lightly and turned to leave.

  Xu Yuansuo suddenly had a movement in his heart and asked, "Sir, since it's a listening technique, how did you know my father left before or after the beginning of summer and returned at the end of the month?"

  "Do you really want to know?" Dai Tian Yan said: "This can't be given away for free."

  Xu Yuansuo said: "Can we postpone the payment?"

  "Five taels of silver." said Dai Tianyandao.

  "Okay."

  Xu Yuansuo was quite confident in his own future and didn't think he couldn't afford the five taels of silver. Moreover, as long as he paid Dai Tianyan, there would be a transaction between them, and this fate would naturally deepen by another notch. Who knows when he might need to rely on this folk hero again?

  "Your father indeed returned from Xi'an before and after the summer solstice, but he was delayed in handling matters in Nanjing and only settled everything a few days ago. Also, because he has a good friend in Suzhou who invited him to stay for a few days, that's why he didn't return until the end of the month or the beginning of this month." Dai Tianyan said: "If not for this, he should have arrived home by now."

  Xu Yuansuo was even more surprised: "Sir, can you really hear this?"

  "Naturally." Di Tianyan's expression didn't change: "I heard him say it himself on the boat."

  Xu Yuanshuo almost dislocated his neck vertebrae.

  "It's just on our way to make a deal." Dai Tianyan was unapologetic: "You should understand."

  "I understand, young one understands." Xu Yuansu gently wiped the sweat from his forehead.

  Dai Tianyan smiled and said: "I'll take my leave now, we'll meet again someday if fate permits."

  "Goodbye, sir, see you later."

  Xu Yuansuo watched Dai Tianyanqian walk away, letting out a long sigh. He looked down at his own body, pinching the fat on his belly with some dissatisfaction, and let out another long sigh before walking slowly towards home.

  All the way, Xu Yuansuo thought about Dai Tianyan's words and became more convinced that people should not be judged by their appearance. The old blind man, who seemed ordinary and unremarkable, was actually insightful and had a strong character. Even when what he saw and heard went against common sense, he could still tolerate it in his heart without becoming flustered or doubting himself. This is indeed a high level of self-cultivation.

  Think back to when I had the help of my parents and family, it seemed like I started from scratch, but in reality, it was all thanks to others that I was able to succeed, there may have been some hard work involved, but it's not worth mentioning.

  How difficult it is to make a fortune from scratch!

  Firstly, forget the past, focus on your current identity. Even if you have to crawl forward, don't give up on your longing for the future!