Zhang Xiaoqiang and the others felt Shi Bingzhi was spouting nonsense, but they didn't notice Yu Daohhen's expression turn serious.
Yu Daohhen said with a solemn face, "What if I told you I don't take disciples?"
Yu Daohhen indeed planned to take Zhou Fu as his closed-door disciple after the Fengtian Assembly concluded.
Shi Bingzhi shook his head without refuting, "Six months from now, if your closed-door disciple dies, I will come to claim this cleaver."
Shi Bingzhi's words were as clear as they could be: within six months, Yu Daohhen would take a disciple, and that closed-door disciple would die.
Yu Daohhen looked at the cleaver in Shi Bingzhi's hand, which felt as cold as ice, unwilling to accept this outcome.
Yu Daohhen had also heard the legends of the赊刀人 (she dao ren - cleaver sellers).
"Iron mouth determines life and death, divine calculations control the universe!"
What they said was bound to happen. If it were a fortune teller saying this, Yu Daohhen might have had some doubts, but coming from a cleaver seller, it was bound to occur.
"Is there no way to break this?" Yu Daohhen asked, finding it difficult to accept the outcome.
Shi Bingzhi shook his head, "Master Yu should also know about death tribulations, shouldn't he?"
Upon hearing the words "death tribulation," all of Yu Daohhen's hopes, which he had been clinging to, were dashed.
"Death tribulations are unsolvable; no one can change that."
Yu Daohhen clenched his fists, unwilling to accept this result.
Shi Bingzhi sighed and said calmly, "Master Yu, your fate is sealed. Take the cleaver."
Da Hu and Su Lai, standing beside them, could see the grim look on Yu Daohhen's face.
Yu Daohhen gazed at the cleaver in Shi Bingzhi's hand, his outstretched hand stopping midway, hesitant to take it.
Seeing Yu Daohhen's hesitation, Shi Bingzhi spoke, "Master Yu, the outcome will be the same whether you take this cleaver or not."
Yu Daohhen closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and accepted the cleaver from Shi Bingzhi.
Seeing Yu Daohhen take the cleaver, Shi Bingzhi said, "Then I shall take my leave."
With that, Shi Bingzhi turned and left, carrying a backpack taller than himself.
After Shi Bingzhi departed, Zhang Xiaoqiang couldn't help but ask, "Master Yu, are you really planning to take a closed-door disciple? Who is it?"
Yu Daohhen didn't answer, instead gazing intently at the cleaver in his hand.
Da Hu seemed to have guessed who it was and probed, "Could it be that kid Zhou Fu?"
Yu Daohhen still didn't speak, merely nodding silently.
Seeing Yu Daohhen nod, Zhang Xiaoqiang and the other two fell silent.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Zhang Xiaoqiang forced a smile, "Master Yu, don't listen to that kid's nonsense. They're just a bunch of cleaver-selling swindlers."
Although Zhang Xiaoqiang said this, he was uncertain in his heart.
"Iron mouth determines life and death, divine calculations control the universe."
They all knew the legends of the cleaver sellers. Since Shi Bingzhi had said it, it meant Zhou Fu truly had a death tribulation.
Yu Daohhen put away the cleaver and smiled faintly, "It's just a death tribulation, nothing major. I'll have him live in the shop for a year or so, and I'll see who dares to take his life!"
Seeing Yu Daohhen acting as if nothing was wrong, Zhang Xiaoqiang and the other two knew that he was likely more anxious than anyone else at that moment.
Two hours passed, and the subsequent matches were more exciting than the last.
In the match between Wang Fubao and Chen Hua, Wang Fubao, without even summoning any celestial beings, forced Chen Hua to surrender directly.
The match between Liang Jing and Shi Bingzhi was even more thrilling. The two fought to a draw, a result that surprised everyone present.
The most spectacular was the bout between Lu Ping and Wang Ming. Wang Ming was pushed to use the first four of the five great Buddhist martial arts by Lu Ping, barely managing to win.
Although Lu Ping lost, his fame after this battle was undoubtedly no less than that of Wang Fubao or any of the others.
Despite the brilliant matches, Yu Daohhen was preoccupied with Zhou Fu's affairs and had no mood to watch the competition.
Liang Jing and Shi Bingzhi's draw, coupled with Fen Yue's withdrawal, created an open spot. Thus, both Shi Bingzhi and Liang Jing advanced.
That evening, at the hotel.
Zhou Fu, nursing his injuries, remained in his room and did not come down. The rest of them gathered around a table.
Zhang Xiaoqiang raised his wine glass and spoke first, "Although Xiao Fu and Xiao Lu both lost, reaching the top eight is enough to brag about for a lifetime. We lost one."
Su Lai and the others also raised their glasses, clinked them together, and drank them down.
Yu Daohhen, unusually, was somewhat tipsy that night.
After Lu Ping and the others left, only Yu Daohhen and Zhang Xiaoqiang and the other two remained at the table.
Su Lai looked at the slightly inebriated Yu Daohhen and asked, "Master Yu, what are your plans for Xiao Fu's situation?"
Yu Daohhen shook his head; to be honest, he didn't know what to do now.
The sudden knowledge of Zhou Fu's death tribulation left Yu Daohhen struggling to accept it.
"Should we consult Elder Guan?" Zhang Xiaoqiang suggested.
Su Lai nodded in agreement, "Yes, Elder Guan is known as a semi-divine fortune teller. Perhaps he has a solution."
Upon hearing Elder Guan's name, Yu Daohhen suddenly felt a glimmer of hope.
In the world today, if anyone possessed the most formidable fortune-telling skills, it would be Elder Guan.
There were rumors that Elder Guan could divine a thousand years into the past and a hundred years into the future, earning him the title of a reincarnated Zhuge Liang.
While there were certainly exaggerations in these tales, the fact remained that Elder Guan's fortune-telling abilities were extraordinary.
If there was anyone in this martial world who could resolve this death tribulation, it would likely be Old Master Guan.