Chapter 17: Previous Causes (2)

  Night had fallen. In the courtyard, the diligent fellow from daytime was squatting beside the water vat dozing off. "Crack!" A crisp and loud noise, his occipital bone had already received a severe blow.

  "You rascal, I told you to keep watch, but instead you fell asleep. Wake up quickly and pay attention, if this candle and incense go out, I'll make sure you regret it." The shopkeeper got up in the middle of the night, uneasy, and came over to take a look, only to find that his apprentice was indeed slacking off.

  "It's been a tiring day, and now I'm not allowed to sleep at night. Listening to what some Jianghu master says, this shop is so popular because of my hard work day and night, but now it seems like I've done nothing." The apprentice muttered softly as he watched the boss leave.

  A gentle breeze blew in, bringing a hint of coolness to this sweltering summer night. The young fellow fell asleep once again, sleeping very soundly, even snoring could be heard.

  A person appeared at the gate of the temple. It was the child who had been by the old man's side, still wearing a mask, but without the old man's accompaniment.

  "Fire Deity Star Lord, no need to hide anymore, you can't escape from these eyes of mine." the child said.

  The sleeping fellow emitted a puff of white smoke from his body, and in no time transformed into a human figure, bursting out laughing:

  "What a reincarnated brat, causing trouble again?" The speaker was Huo De Xing Jun.

  "What's all the fuss about? I'm just doing some good deeds for you immortals."

  "Alas, you were never listed among the immortals, all because you revealed too many heavenly secrets, and as a result, you were banished by heaven, forever stuck with the appearance of a child."

  "Heaven gave me these eyes to see through you so-called high and mighty, who think they can cover the sky with one hand. This shop owner just because he was late in making an offering to the Stove God, went before the Jade Emperor and spoke ill of him, so you're here on the Jade Emperor's orders to take revenge for someone, aren't you?" The Wheel-turning Boy spoke with conviction.

  "Alas!" Fire Deity sighed, "You only know one side of the story. This is a predestined event in his fate. If not, you wouldn't have told him about this thirty years ago."

  "I only believe what I see with my own eyes, and what I see is what it is." The child had already removed his mask, revealing a delicate face, but his eyes were quite strange, with white pupils that seemed to have some spiral patterns.

  Huode Xingjun was shocked and took a step back, saying: "You want to use the Wheel of Reincarnation eye to deal with me?"

  "Not bad, reincarnation eye, it's just what you need to reincarnate. I'm not going to let people like you who think they're superior get away with it."

  "You're deeply possessed and can't turn back now. Let me take care of you, this arrogant and self-conceited demon."

  As soon as he finished speaking, a ball of flames had already been sent towards the reincarnated child, but the child didn't flinch and stared straight at Huo De Xing Jun.

  On the second day, the shopkeeper got up very early. The first thing he did was to rush into the courtyard and see that it was in a state of complete disarray. He was extremely angry and looked everywhere for the apprentice who had been on night watch. But when he found him, he had already been dead for some time. Not far from his body, he saw a short figure lying on the ground. Judging by his clothes, he should be the child who came with the old man. The shopkeeper was extremely frightened and rushed over to pick him up to see if he was still alive. When he turned the child over, he was startled - at this moment, the child's eyes were wide open, but they had already been filled with bright red threads.

  The shopkeeper was so frightened that he pushed the child away, just as he was about to shout, someone covered his mouth. He turned around and saw it was the old man. The old man signaled him not to speak, slowly walked over, picked up the child, and left quietly. Before leaving, with his back to the shopkeeper, he said: "Your calamity has passed, but your great fortune will continue for another ten years."

  "Thank you, sir. How is your grandson?"

  "This doesn't need to be asked again. I hope you'll keep this morning's events confidential and remember not to forget the time for offering sacrifices."

  "Must remember, must remember."

  "Is there a place for quiet contemplation here?"

  "Five miles outside the town, there is a Jade Spring Temple."

  "Thank you, go bury that fellow now, he's also done a good deed for you, remember to give him a proper burial."

  "Definitely, definitely." The shopkeeper's heart was already filled with joy at this time.