The one called Ghost Calculator shook his head, a lewd smile appearing on his face: "Yesterday I cast a divination for myself, and the omen indicated I would encounter a great opportunity this time."
Executioner Li scoffed, "You mean this treasure will ultimately be snatched by you?"
Ghost Calculator shook his head, his expression one of profound mystery, "I wasn't referring to the treasure."
Executioner Li raised his teacup and took a sip, "Aren't fortune tellers forbidden from casting divinations for themselves? I see you cast them for yourself every day, yet nothing seems to have happened."
Rumor had it in the martial world that fortune tellers could not cast divinations for themselves, lest they face retribution, ranging from severed limbs and shortened lifespans to immediate death.
Ghost Calculator raised his hand, a cunning grin spreading across his face, "That is the price."
Executioner Li looked at the two severed fingers on each of Ghost Calculator's hands. He had heard that Ghost Calculator had chopped off those four fingers himself before swallowing them.
Ghost Calculator sized up the two people sitting beside him and chuckled, "Executioner Li, those two brats are doomed to die today."
Executioner Li glanced at the two individuals from earlier, as if already knowing their fate, "Isn't that normal? Speaking to the crowd, he added, "Here, simply looking after oneself is the greatest skill."
Ghost Calculator cackled. He didn't deny that coming here without considerable skill was akin to courting death.
Upstairs.
Yu Daohen had been meditating with his eyes closed, while Li Shiyao watched him from the side.
It wasn't until noon that Li Shiyao checked the time; it was already half past twelve. Seeing Yu Daohen still meditating with his eyes closed, she decided to bring him some food later.
As Li Shiyao opened the door and took two steps, she saw two men walking towards her.
Upon seeing the beauty accompanying Yu Daohen, one of the men flashed a lecherous smile and signaled to the man beside him. They couldn't afford to offend Yu Daohen, but they wouldn't pass up this easy prey that had come to them.
Li Shiyao, seeing the ill intentions in their eyes, was about to retreat into the room when one of the men sent a talisman flying towards her. Before Li Shiyao could dodge, the talisman stuck to her.
Li Shiyao's expression changed. She tried to shout, but her mouth felt as if it were stuffed with something, rendering her voiceless. Her legs were also unable to move.
One of the men licked his lips, looking as if he could devour Li Shiyao on the spot. The other man pulled a silver needle from his waist, "Let's make her unconscious first." With that, he shot the needle directly at Li Shiyao.
Li Shiyao fell into utter despair. Yu Daohen was still meditating with his eyes closed in the room; it seemed no one was coming to save her.
Just as Li Shiyao closed her eyes in resignation, a hand suddenly reached out from behind, and two fingers caught the flying silver needle. Li Shiyao turned her head and saw Yu Daohen glaring at the two men with icy eyes.
Yu Daohen tore off the talisman stuck to Li Shiyao. Li Shiyao looked at Yu Daohen, tears streaming down her face.
Seeing that it was Yu Daohen, the two men's expressions turned grim. One of them swallowed hard and spoke nervously, "Master Yu, this is all a misunderstanding."
Yu Daohen glanced at Li Shiyao beside him, then looked back at the two men and coldly spat out one word: "Scram!"
The two men quickly departed.
Yu Daohen took a tissue from his pocket and handed it to Li Shiyao, "Don't worry, with me here, no one can touch you."
Li Shiyao nodded, wiping away her tears.
Yu Daohen then led Li Shiyao downstairs for lunch. Upon arriving downstairs, Executioner Li saw Yu Daohen descending and greeted him, "Young Master Yu, coming down for a meal?"
Yu Daohen nodded, "Yes, coming down for something to eat." Simultaneously, several other people greeted Yu Daohen, to whom he responded with brief acknowledgments.
The Midnight Spirit Shop was not a reputable sect and was divided into factions, both righteous and unrighteous. Yu Daohen adhered to the principle of remaining detached from worldly affairs. As long as his interests were not involved, he paid no heed to anything else. This was also why Yu Daohen could navigate both the righteous and unrighteous paths.
Yu Daohen ordered two meat dishes, one vegetable dish, and a soup. Li Shiyao ate very little, perhaps due to the earlier incident.