Chapter 59

Liu San carefully examined Wang Lin for a few moments, then suddenly asked, "Are you a scholar on your way to take the imperial exams?"

Wang Lin's expression remained calm as he shook his head and said, "I am not here to take the exams. I have some skills and plan to seek a living in Tianshui City."

Liu San's expression eased slightly. His question was quite profound, as the imperial exams were approaching, and candidates often gathered in Tianshui City from surrounding villages and towns. Most of these candidates would carry writing frames, but although the man before him seemed to lack martial arts skills, if he admitted to being a candidate, it would require attention.

However, Liu San didn't take it to heart and smiled, "What a coincidence, we are just about to return to Tianshui City. Since we've met, it's a matter of fate. Friend, why don't you come with us?"

Wang Lin's face showed gratitude as he clasped his fists and said, "Thank you, Chief Liu."

The dark-faced man glanced at Wang Lin and laughed from the side, "Kid, can you ride a horse?"

Wang Lin smiled bitterly and shook his head.

Liu San pointed to the carriage behind him and smiled, "What are you thanking me for? When you're out, you'll have your hard times. Young man, get in. It's another four days' journey to Tianshui City."

Wang Lin clasped his fists and climbed into the carriage without a word. He glanced back and saw about a dozen similar carriages behind him. A quick scan with his divine sense revealed that the carriages were all empty, so he didn't pay much attention and sat down cross-legged.

Yang Sen, holding the reins, came to Wang Lin's side and asked, "Friend, why didn't you bring any luggage?"

Wang Lin shook his head and sighed, "I encountered bandits, it's a long story."

Yang Sen was taken aback, looked at Wang Lin for a long time, and then comforted him, "It's good that you're still alive. These days, it's not peaceful."

As they were chatting, Wang Lin's expression suddenly changed. He looked up at the nearby forest, scanned it with his divine sense, and immediately discovered two people hiding there, watching the convoy.

The convoy passed through the forest, and the two people did not take any action. Wang Lin pondered for a moment and then paid no more attention.

After a day's journey, as the sun set and night fell, Liu San called out from the front, "Boys, we'll be entering the Tianshui City area tomorrow. The boss will send someone to meet us. We won't find a place to stay tonight, so we'll rest here for the night. We'll set off early tomorrow. When we return to Tianshui City, I'll take you all to the Red Silk Building to have some fun with the girls."

The men laughed, took off the horse harnesses, tied the horses together, and formed a circle with the carriages. After that, they set up tents, some went to sleep, some built fires, and some drank, making quite a lively scene.

A few of them took turns patrolling the area.

As soon as Wang Lin got off the carriage, Yang Sen pulled him to a nearby fire. After a day of interaction, Yang Sen felt that he and Wang Lin were quite compatible, often boasting about his interesting experiences as a bodyguard.

Wang Lin listened with great interest. The more he listened, the more animated Yang Sen became. As soon as the convoy stopped to rest, he quickly pulled Wang Lin over.

Three people were sitting by the fire: Chief Liu San, the dark-faced man, and a middle-aged scholar in a blue robe. The scholar had a fair complexion, a broad forehead, and sharp, intelligent eyes.

Seeing Wang Lin arrive, Liu San smiled, "Sir, this is the young man I told you about, who is going to Tianshui City to seek a living." He then said to Wang Lin, "Young brother, this is Mr. Wang from our Wuwei Escort Agency. You share the same surname, so you must be relatives. You two should chat. Mr. Wang is very knowledgeable and well-traveled."

The middle-aged scholar smiled gently and said, "Old Liu, don't flatter me. My small skills are nothing much."

Liu San rolled his eyes and said, "Who said that? If Mr. Wang's skills are small, then I, Liu San, am nothing. Young brother, Mr. Wang is a living sage, knowledgeable about astronomy and geography, especially in the art of physiognomy."

Wang Lin carefully examined the middle-aged scholar, smiled, and clasped his fists, "Sir, your forehead is full and your eyes are wise, clearly indicating great intelligence. As the ancients said, 'Observe a person's spirit to know their essence.' This is indeed true."

The middle-aged scholar looked at Wang Lin with surprise and smiled, "Young brother, are you also a fellow practitioner? I see a scholarly aura in you, but it is tinged with the aura of a dragon, indicating a bright future."

Wang Lin smiled and said, "The village teacher I studied under had some knowledge of physiognomy. I learned a few things by listening to him over time."

The middle-aged scholar laughed heartily. The dark-faced man suddenly said, "Mr. Wang, can you also read my fortune? I'm not young anymore. Do I have any prospects for marriage?"

Liu San laughed and scolded, "How many times have you asked on this journey? Mr. Wang expends energy every time he reads someone's fortune. Save it for yourself."

The dark-faced man ignored Liu San and looked eagerly at the middle-aged scholar.

The middle-aged scholar pondered for a moment, then nodded with a smile, "Alright, I'll read your fortune today. Yang Sen, you've also asked me many times. I'll read both of you this time."

He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them, and a flash of light appeared in his eyes. Wang Lin's expression remained calm, but his heart stirred. He scanned the middle-aged scholar with his divine sense and saw a thread of spiritual energy suddenly emerge from his chest, flowing in a peculiar pattern and ultimately converging in his eyes.

The middle-aged scholar stared at the dark-faced man, muttering to himself as if calculating something, and quickly pinched and manipulated his right hand. After a long while, his face turned slightly red, and he frowned, "Liu Laowu, you have a dark cloud over your forehead, indicating a disaster. If you can overcome it, you will have a marriage prospect within three months."

The dark-faced man was taken aback but then laughed, "A disaster? No problem. We bodyguards live on the edge. A disaster is inevitable."

The middle-aged scholar's gaze shifted to Yang Sen. After a long while, his expression changed, "Strange, you also have a disaster." He then looked at Liu San, and his face darkened, "Something's not right. My family's physiognomy skills have never been wrong. Old Liu, you also have a disaster."

He stood up, his expression serious, and carefully examined everyone around him. His face grew darker, "Old Liu, it doesn't look good. I see everyone with a blood-colored aura. This is definitely not a coincidence!"

Liu San narrowed his eyes, looked around, and said in a low voice, "Sir, do you mean we will all face a disaster soon?"

The middle-aged scholar nodded, his gaze sweeping over Wang Lin. He suddenly froze, rubbed his eyes, and stared intently. His face instantly changed, turning a strange red, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, his face showing shock. He pointed at Wang Lin and exclaimed, "You..."