Chapter 205 3/3

“What’s wrong?” Li Laogen immediately asked.

The Taoist said, “These two children have extremely strong fates, but this can lead to some difficulties. One must beware of road misfortunes, and the other must be cautious with their words.”

He was referring to Li Damao needing to be cautious of road misfortunes and Li Ermao needing to watch his words.

Li Laogen quickly asked the Taoist for a way to resolve these issues, and even Jin Xiaoye joined in. It was better to believe in it than not.

The Taoist said, “I will perform a good deed today.” He took out a jade pendant, saying it could ward off road misfortunes. As for Li Ermao, he just advised him to be cautious with his words in the future.

The pendant was actually made of polished marble, worth at most a few hundred coins.

Jin Xiaoye, not knowing much about stones, gave ten taels of silver after some consideration.

They hadn’t brought much money with them on this trip.

Li Qingzhi didn’t say anything.

But he had a keen sense and noticed that this Taoist, who appeared calm and indifferent, was actually carefully observing everyone. He was most likely a fraud.

However, Li Qingzhi had no evidence.

Everyone around him believed the Taoist, even Jin Xiaoye was half-convinced. If he said something now, others would probably be displeased.

Of course, the main reason Li Qingzhi didn’t expose him publicly was that this Taoist only took money from the wealthy.

He read faces for ordinary people without charging them and gave them positive predictions, making them satisfied.

But ten taels of silver was quite a lot. Li Qingzhi planned to talk to the Taoist later and get the silver back, at least nine taels, keeping one tael for the pendant.

Other people had given one or two taels, but Jin Xiaoye gave the most because she received a pendant and couldn’t judge its value.

After finishing his noodles, the Taoist took one tael of the silver he received to buy some braised meat from the shop owner. The owner, however, refused to take his money.

The Taoist thanked him sincerely and said some good words before leaving.

Some people still wanted to ask him questions, but he claimed to be tired, so they refrained.

“Xiaoye, I’m going for a walk. You go back first,” Li Qingzhi said to Jin Xiaoye.

Their inn was nearby, and it was safe with Wu Baichuan and others around.

“Okay,” Jin Xiaoye agreed.

Li Qingzhi left the shop and followed the Taoist.

He intended to get the silver back but noticed others following the Taoist.

After several days on the boat without much exercise, he welcomed the walk and didn’t rush to confront the Taoist, keeping a distance instead.

His eyesight and hearing were sharp, allowing him to follow without being noticed.

The Taoist left the town, and another person caught up, calling, “Master!”

Even though it was dark, Li Qingzhi recognized the voice as the boy from the dock.

So, the Taoist had his disciple gather information at the dock and used it to pose as a fortune-teller? Clever!

The Taoist likely knew he was a scholar and a Jieyuan, so saying he had a bright official future was a safe bet. Wu Baichuan knew him, so calling Wu Baichuan’s benefactor also couldn’t go wrong.

This Taoist was skilled at reading people and using their conversations to say exactly what they wanted to hear.

A talent, indeed.

Just then, this “talent” was speaking ill of him.

The Taoist smiled at his disciple, “Dear disciple, I bought meat, half for each of us.”

“Master, how much did you earn?”

“Not much. That Jieyuan was very stingy. I gave him a jade pendant, and he only gave ten taels of silver.”

Li Qingzhi said, “That pendant is worth only a few hundred coins, and you still think ten taels is too little?” Even those few hundred coins were mostly for the polishing work!

The Taoist immediately ran, with his disciple splitting off in a different direction.

Li Qingzhi thought, this guy is experienced in escaping!

He quickly chased after the Taoist.

Since arriving in this world, Li Qingzhi had been healing and strengthening his body. Despite his slim appearance, his physical strength surpassed ordinary people’s.

He hadn’t had a chance to use his strength, but today…

He quickly caught the fraudster.

The Taoist struggled but couldn’t break free, his face changing color.

Li Qingzhi smiled, “You took my money and called me stingy?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the Taoist did something unexpected.

The Taoist knelt down without hesitation, “Master Juren, I’m sorry, I had no other way to make a living… Please be merciful…”

Then he offered the money he had swindled back to Li Qingzhi, “Master Juren, take this money and let me go. I have a family to support…”

Li Qingzhi was speechless.