"No, you are worthy of it," Hong Gu said with a smile.
"What do you mean?"
Zhuang Buzhou's expression turned serious as he asked.
"Because you have a tough fate," Hong Gu said, her expression now serious.
"Miss Li's husband-killing ability, no matter how tough my fate is, I can't withstand it," Zhuang Buzhou said with a bitter smile upon hearing this. Although the Lifespan problem always hung over his head, he had never thought of giving up on himself, knowing it was a pit but still jumping into it. Was he in such a hurry to die?
"No, you and Miss Li are fated. Xiao Ge Zhuang cannot avoid this marriage. Your fate is very strange, as if unaffected by various Karma. You are a 'Faceless Person,' rarely seen in a thousand years. Although Miss Li's husband-killing ability is formidable, it may not affect you."
Hong Gu said meaningfully.
"Oh."
Zhuang Buzhou's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. He then looked at Hong Gu with curiosity and said, "Hong Gu, aren't you a matchmaker? Since when are you skilled in face reading and fortune-telling? You're not joking with me, are you?" He had never heard that Hong Gu could tell fortunes or read faces. He only knew that Hong Gu was very accurate in matchmaking. Now it seemed, if she wasn't fooling him, then Hong Gu was not simple.
Subconsciously, he looked at Hong Gu with his eyes.
A number appeared before his eyes.
"Sixty-nine years, seven months, twenty-one days, fifteen hours, twenty-six minutes, thirty-four seconds."
In an instant, a number had appeared before his eyes. This was precisely the remaining Lifespan of Zhao Xiaohong, who was Hong Gu.
"Her total Lifespan is one hundred years. According to calculations, Hong Gu's current age is around thirty. This matches up. Hong Gu has a Lifespan of one hundred years. Hong Gu is indeed not an ordinary person."
Thoughts flashed quickly through Zhuang Buzhou's mind.
Based on his observations over the years, it was very difficult for ordinary people to reach one hundred years of age. One hundred years was the limit of an ordinary person's Lifespan under normal circumstances. Without a great Opportunity, it was almost impossible to break through. Just like Zhuang Buzhou himself, if he did not embark on the true path of Cultivation, he would ultimately be unable to break the hundred-year limit. Ordinary people's normal Lifespan would not reach a full hundred years; it was always either long or short.
Reaching sixty or seventy was considered long-lived.
At thirty or forty, signs of aging would appear, and they would begin to accept their fate.
But Hong Gu could reach a full hundred years. How could that be simple?
Hong Gu must not be an ordinary person.
"Don't overthink it. I, Hong Gu, can only naturally sense these things. Whether there is a fated connection or a marriage, I can see it at a glance. This is one of my talents, Hong Gu, and with this, I can make a living. In short, I, Hong Gu, can see that you and Miss Li are indeed fated. I dare to guarantee this with my reputation of these years. Of course, whether you are willing or not is still up to you to decide."
Hong Gu said with a smile.
For a person with a firm mind like Zhuang Buzhou, whether a marriage proposal would succeed depended on fate.
"Xiao Ge Zhuang, if you can withstand Miss Li, then she can bring prosperity to her husband."
Hong Gu added another sentence.
Bring prosperity to her husband?
Zhuang Buzhou was thoughtful.
"How about this, let me consider it carefully, and then we'll talk."
Zhuang Buzhou ultimately did not flatly refuse but said somewhat tactfully.
"Alright then, consider it carefully. Miss Li is indeed a good match," Hong Gu smiled and nodded, expressing her agreement.
Afterward, they did not bring up these matters again. The two of them drank tea and chatted in the courtyard. Of course, most of the time, Hong Gu was talking, and Zhuang Buzhou was listening. He did not show any impatience but always listened quietly with a smile, occasionally responding.
Not long after, he got up to bid farewell.
Zhuang Buzhou personally escorted Hong Gu to the door before turning to return to the courtyard and closing the door. He washed the tea set, and the remaining tea leaves were carefully placed into the prepared trash can nearby.
Then he sat cross-legged under the pear tree, closed his eyes, and meditated. He circulated the "Zhou Tian Cultivation Technique," moving his internal Qi. Inside his body, the twelve main meridians and eight extraordinary meridians continuously circulated internal Qi as the Zhou Tian Cultivation Technique was operated. The Acquired Tenth Layer was only one step away from the Innate Realm.
To advance to Innate, one must break open the Profound Gate and transcend the internal and external worlds. Finally, internal Qi would transform into True Qi. However, this step had stumped countless people. Many could not break open the Profound Gate in their entire lives. This step was almost a world of difference.
It was rumored that after advancing to the Innate Realm, one's Lifespan would reach the limit of a Mortal, which was one hundred years. Regardless of one's original Lifespan, one's Lifespan limit would reach one hundred years. Before attempting to break open the Profound Gate, one needed to accumulate internal Qi day by day until one had the foundation for the Breakthrough.
He circulated the Qi for nine cycles of the Zhou Tian Cultivation Technique before slowly ending his Cultivation.
Then, he began to constantly fly and leap on the plum blossom stakes set up in the courtyard, practicing light body Cultivation Technique. "Grass-Treading Flight" truly allowed him to tread on grass without leaving a trace. Although this was the most common light body Cultivation Technique, when Cultivated to its extreme, it was not inferior to top-tier light body Cultivation Technique. Being able to tread on grass without a trace might also mean being able to tread on snow without a trace.
After practicing movement techniques for an hour, he did not stop but began to Cultivate "Iron Cloth Shirt." This was an external Cultivation Technique, and external Cultivation Technique was more difficult and painful to Cultivate. Few people could Cultivate external body tempering to a profound level. Of course, once achieved, the Physical Body's defense would reach a terrifying level, becoming impervious to blades and spears, and difficult to injure with sharp weapons.
Zhuang Buzhou had even Cultivated it to the Major Achievement Realm. He was only one step away from Perfection. Ordinary swords and blades could not cut through his skin.
Whoosh!!
After completing all his Cultivation, Zhuang Buzhou slowly exhaled a mouthful of turbid Qi. As he exhaled, the Qi was like white mist, like a Qi sword, flying three zhang away before dissipating into the air.
"I still need to accumulate. It is said that if one can Awaken a Spiritual Root, one does not need to break open the Profound Gate to easily reach Innate and condense True Qi. I really don't know what the world of Cultivators is like."
Zhuang Buzhou sighed to himself.
Spiritual Root. Only by Awakening a Spiritual Root could there be a way to live. Otherwise, even if he broke through to Innate, it would only be a hundred years, and with his current Lifespan consumption, he wouldn't be able to last for many years. It was difficult, truly too difficult.
How could it be so hard to live?
Bang, bang, bang!!
Not long after he fell into contemplation, a series of urgent knocks came from outside.
"Zhuang Tou, Zhuang Tou, are you home? Something happened. There's a murder case at the Zhang Family."
A shout came from outside the door.
"Zhang Family? Murder case."
Zhuang Buzhou frowned slightly upon hearing this, and his heart tightened. In a small city like Qingyun City, murder cases were rare, and each one had a significant impact.
Thinking to himself, he did not hesitate at all. He quickly walked over and opened the door. At the doorway, a young constable with a scar on his face was waiting anxiously outside. His name was Fang Dayou. During an arrest of a criminal, he was struck by a blade, leaving a scar on his face. From then on, he was called Little Blade, Fang Xiaodao. Of course, this was how his own people referred to him; outside, he was called Brother Blade.
Among the constables, Fang Xiaodao admired Zhuang Buzhou the most. Zhuang Buzhou had saved his life several times, and he greatly admired Zhuang Buzhou's abilities. He could be said to be a staunch follower; whatever Zhuang Buzhou said, he would be willing to do.
"What happened? Which Zhang Family?"
Zhuang Buzhou picked up his long saber and quickly asked.
"It's the Zhang Family in the East District. Someone just reported that Zhang Yuhai, the second Young Master of the Zhang Family, died in his room after returning early this morning. His death was very strange. The Zhang Family reported it, and County Magistrate Li Xian wants you, Brother Zhuang, to go immediately. Forensic Doctor Wu is already on site investigating and preparing for the autopsy."
Fang Xiaodao's face immediately lit up when he saw Zhuang Buzhou, and he quickly reported everything he knew.
In the East District, there was only one prominent Family, the Zhang Family, which owned most of the rice shops, restaurants, and clothing stores in Qingyun City. Their Family fortune naturally went without saying; they were definitely a wealthy Family. The eldest Young Master, Zhang Yulin, was even a scholar with official recognition.
This greatly enhanced the Zhang Family's status in the city.
The second Young Master of the Zhang Family, however, was an unlearned and utterly debauched Young Master, indulging in all sorts of vices. Below him were three daughters. Overall, the Zhang Family was still prospering, and to outsiders, the Family seemed harmonious.
Zhang Yuhai's sudden death clearly hinted at something strange.
"Let's go, we'll go take a look."
Without another word, he immediately headed towards the Zhang Family.
A vermilion gate, a pair of stone lions, and bronze animal-head knockers on the door, clearly indicating a prominent Family.
At this moment, the main gate was wide open.
Constables stood at the gate. A heavy, oppressive atmosphere permeated the air, giving a somber feeling.
"Zhuang Tou."
"Zhuang Tou!!"
The constables guarding nearby called out when they saw Zhuang Buzhou arrive. Their faces showed respect. This was respect and renown earned through skill.
"Hmm, Xiao Liu, what's the situation inside?"
Zhuang Buzhou asked.
"The County Magistrate and the forensic doctor are already inside. As for the specific situation, you'll have to go in and see for yourself, Zhuang Tou," a thin constable replied. His name was Liu Qiao. His Family's ancestors were all woodcutters, so he was given the character 'Qiao' (woodcutter). Unfortunately, he didn't fulfill his Family's wish to become a woodcutter but became a constable instead.
He strode forward, entering the Zhang Family residence.
The Zhang Family's courtyard was quite spacious, and the scenery within was also pleasant. However, there was no mood to appreciate the scenery now.
He walked straight ahead, guided by a Zhang Family servant, directly to an inner courtyard.
In the inner courtyard, continuous crying could be heard, and a large number of constables guarded the surroundings.
A middle-aged man in official robes, with a slender build and a grim expression, stood outside. He possessed the elegant Aura of a Confucian scholar, and of course, he exuded no small amount of majesty. Standing there, he naturally had an Aura of unangered authority, which naturally came from the official robes he wore.
This person was Li Xian, the County Magistrate of Qingyun City.
And beside him stood a portly old man, who was Zhang Shiping, the Family Head of the Zhang Family. On Zhang Shiping's face, a clear expression of sorrow could be seen. This was the pain of losing a son. For a white-haired person to bury a black-haired one, how could such a thing not hurt to the bone?