Mortal Dawn and Dusk, My Eternal Life - Chapter 4

The weather in Wushui Town remained gloomy, as if holding back a heavy rain. Su Mingyue, as usual, set up her fortune-telling stall at the bridgehead.

Today, she deliberately put on an extra patched padded jacket. Not because she was afraid of the cold, but because she felt this weather, combined with her attire, better suited the image of a down-and-out fortune teller.

The old man selling malt candy had set up his stall even earlier than Su Mingyue today. As soon as he saw her, he quickly waved, his face filled with worry.

“Miss, you… you’re still coming today?”

The old man lowered his voice, his eyes full of concern, “Let me tell you, I heard people saying last night that Liu the Scabby and his gang were asking around for you everywhere! They even threatened that they’d make you regret it today!

You… you should leave quickly, don’t throw yourself away for this little bit of money!”

Su Mingyue gave the old man a faint smile, as shallow as ripples on water, vanishing in an instant: “Thank you for your concern, old sir, I know what I’m doing.”

She maintained her calm and detached demeanor, as if Liu the Scabby’s threats were nothing more than a gentle breeze to her ears.

The old man, seeing she was unyielding, stomped his foot in exasperation:

“Oh dear, girl, why won’t you listen to advice! That Liu the Scabby is a local tyrant in town, ruthless and cruel, capable of anything! How can a young girl like you fight him?”

Several early-rising women who had come out to buy vegetables heard the commotion and gathered around.

“Yes, girl, listen to the old man’s advice, leave quickly!”

“That Liu the Scabby is not to be trifled with. If he really makes a move, what will you do?”

“In these times, it’s not easy for women to be out and about. Your life is what’s most important!”

They chattered, their words filled with sympathy and concern for Su Mingyue.

While they were curious about whether the girl’s “bloody calamity” prediction would come true, they also didn’t want to see a young, beautiful girl fall victim to Liu the Scabby’s vicious hands.

Su Mingyue felt a slight warmth in her heart as she listened to these kind warnings.

It had been a long time since she had felt such pure concern from strangers.

She still said little, merely nodding to everyone, thanking them for their goodwill.

Then, she sat down at her stall and closed her eyes, resting, as if everything around her had nothing to do with her.

This calmness was interpreted in two completely different ways by those around her.

Some thought the girl must have been scared silly, which was why she was so numb.

Others secretly admired her courage, wondering if this girl truly had some hidden backing.

Time passed bit by bit, and the bridge gradually became more crowded.

Many people had come with the intention of watching a spectacle; they all wanted to know what fate awaited the arrogant fortune-telling girl today.

Would Liu the Scabby really come looking for trouble as he said?

And would the so-called “bloody calamity” come true?

Approaching noon, the sun finally squeezed out a faint glimmer of light from the thick clouds.

Just then, a burst of arrogant laughter suddenly erupted from the bridgehead.

“Get out of the way! All of you, get out of the f***ing way!”

Liu the Scabby, accompanied by his two lackeys, strutted over.

He had deliberately changed into a half-new short jacket today, his chest exposed to reveal a few sparse black hairs. In his hand, he carried a thick wooden club, looking menacing.

His two small thugs behind him, one named Skinny Monkey and the other Black Coal, also had aggressive expressions, each holding a short club, parading behind Liu the Scabby.

Wherever the three went, people scattered, afraid of getting into trouble.

“Oh, little woman, you actually dared to wait for this old man here?”

Liu the Scabby walked to Su Mingyue’s stall and tapped the ground with the wooden club in his hand, making a “thump-thump” sound.

His triangular eyes squinted as he leered at Su Mingyue, his gaze as if wishing to strip her clothes off.

“It’s been three days, and I’m standing here perfectly fine. Where’s that ‘bloody calamity’ you spoke of? Huh?”

He deliberately leaned his face close to Su Mingyue, the stench of alcohol from his breath making people frown.

Su Mingyue slowly opened her eyes and calmly looked at him, as if watching a clown.

“The time hasn’t come yet,” she said indifferently.

“The time hasn’t come?” Liu the Scabby laughed loudly as if he had heard the biggest joke. “I think you won’t give up until you hit a wall! You little b***h, today I’ll let you know what happens when you cross me!”

He paused, the smile on his face becoming even more vulgar: “However, I’m not an unreasonable man. If you obediently entertain me and make me happy, I’ll overlook your past offenses and let you off this time, how about it?”

As he spoke, he even stuck out his tongue and licked his chapped lips, his eager expression making the onlookers frown in disgust.

“Shameless!”

“Disgusting!”

A few low curses came from the crowd, but the voices were quickly suppressed by Liu the Scabby’s arrogance.

A hint of disgust flashed in Su Mingyue’s eyes, but her face remained impassive.

“In broad daylight, under a clear sky, please show some self-respect.”

“Self-respect? I weigh myself every day! Hahaha!” Liu the Scabby laughed even more wildly. “In Wushui Town, I am the law! There’s no woman I’ve set my eyes on that I haven’t gotten! Brothers, grab this little woman for me! Today, I’ll let her know what ‘living like an immortal’ truly means!”

At his command, Skinny Monkey and Black Coal, who were behind him, immediately rushed towards Su Mingyue with sinister smiles, reaching out to grab her arm.

The surrounding crowd let out a gasp of alarm. The old man selling malt candy stomped his foot in着急, but dared not step forward to stop them.

Just as those two dirty hands were about to touch Su Mingyue’s sleeve—

Su Mingyue’s fingers, hanging by her side, moved almost imperceptibly, as if flicking away an invisible speck of dust.

“Ouch!”

“Thud!”

With two screams, Skinny Monkey and Black Coal, who had aggressively rushed forward, suddenly slipped as if they had stepped on lard. They stumbled, collided with each other, and then both fell flat on their faces, biting the dust!

Skinny Monkey’s front teeth hit the stone slab, immediately drawing blood. He clutched his mouth, howling in pain.

Black Coal was even worse off. When he fell, his head hit a nearby stone block with a dull “thud” that made one’s teeth ache just to hear it.

He groaned twice, his eyes rolled back, and he actually passed out.

This sudden turn of events stunned everyone.

Liu the Scabby’s lecherous smile also froze. He stared blankly at his two useless followers, momentarily unable to comprehend what had happened.

“Damn it! You… you two good-for-nothings! You can’t even walk without falling? What the f*** are you good for!” he cursed furiously.

He kicked the unconscious Black Coal!

Su Mingyue remained seated, as if everything that had just happened had nothing to do with her.

She didn’t even raise an eyelid.

Just as Liu the Scabby was about to step forward himself, an unexpected change occurred!

“Crash! — Bang!”

A loud noise came from the second floor of a nearby rice shop.

For some unknown reason, the entire window frame, along with several rotten wooden planks from the second-floor window facing the street, suddenly fell down without any warning!

The window frame, without deviation, fell directly towards Liu the Scabby, who was standing beneath the window!

“Look out!”

Someone in the crowd gasped.

Liu the Scabby heard the abnormal rush of wind above his head, instinctively looked up, and was instantly terrified out of his wits!

He wanted to dodge, but it was too late!

The heavy wooden window frame, with a whistling sound, smashed heavily onto his forehead!

“Thud!”

Another dull thud.

Liu the Scabby didn’t even have time to let out a scream. He just felt his vision go dark, and a warm liquid flowed down his forehead, blinding his eyes.

He swayed twice, then fell straight backward, hitting the ground with a “thud,” kicking up a cloud of dust.

Blood gushed from his forehead, quickly pooling into a small puddle on the stone slab beneath him.

The entire bridgehead instantly fell into a dead silence.

Everyone stared, dumbfounded, at this dramatic scene, unable to speak for a long time.

Liu the Scabby, who had been arrogant and invincible just moments before, now lay on the ground like a dead dog, unconscious, his head covered in blood.

“Bloody… bloody calamity…”

Someone, trembling, uttered these words.

The crowd immediately erupted like a boiling pot, with discussions, gasps, and sharp intakes of breath rising and falling.

“My goodness! It actually came true! There really was a bloody calamity!”

“So accurate! This girl is truly a divine fortune teller!”

“Why didn’t that window fall earlier or later, but precisely at this moment to hit Liu the Scabby?”

“This… could this really be destiny?”

The old man selling malt candy stood with his mouth wide open, looking at Su Mingyue, his eyes filled with awe and disbelief.

He finally understood why this girl had been so calm the entire time.

She truly had ability!

Su Mingyue slowly stood up, her gaze calmly sweeping over Liu the Scabby lying on the ground. She then looked at Skinny Monkey, who was still groaning on the ground, and Black Coal, who had passed out.

She walked to Liu the Scabby’s side, squatted down, and extended two fingers to check his pulse on his neck.

“Still breathing, not dead,” she said faintly, her voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone’s ears.

Then, she stood up and said to the stunned crowd: “Could someone please report this to the authorities, or inform his family?”

After speaking, she no longer bothered with the chaos there, turned, and returned to her stall, calmly beginning to pack her things.

It was as if everything that had just happened was merely a spectacle unrelated to her.

Soon, some busybodies ran off to report to the authorities.

Others ran to inform Liu the Scabby’s shady friends.

A moment later, several constables from the town arrived, scrambling to carry away Liu the Scabby and his two unfortunate followers.

Before leaving, the leading constable even specifically looked at Su Mingyue a few times, his gaze complex.

When most of the people had dispersed, Su Mingyue also finished packing her things.

She carried the faded cloth bundle, ready to leave.

Just then, the old man selling malt candy tremblingly walked over and bowed deeply to Su Mingyue:

“Miss… no, Daoist! This old man was blind and ignorant, I apologize for my previous offenses, please be magnanimous!”

He was now utterly convinced and filled with respect for Su Mingyue.

This was no ordinary fortune-telling girl; this was clearly a living immortal wandering the human world!

Su Mingyue subtly turned to the side, avoiding his profound bow.

“Old man, you’re overstating it.”

“Daoist Buyu,” the old man corrected himself, feeling that the title “Miss” was no longer fitting for such a distinguished person. “You are truly divine! That Liu the Scabby deserved this calamity!”

“Daoist Buyu?” Su Mingyue raised an eyebrow slightly at this title.

She hadn’t left a name when setting up her stall, only writing “Know Fate, Ask Fortune.”

Perhaps it was because she usually spoke little, or perhaps her detached demeanor made people feel that she disliked speaking, which led to this title?

Never mind, a title was just a title; it didn’t matter what she was called.

“Daoist, where are you going next?” the old man asked cautiously.

Su Mingyue thought for a moment and said, “Back to the inn for now.”

She had done a divination for herself this morning. If she didn’t go home, she would encounter a lot of trouble!