Chapter 380: Transforming Talismanic Water
Upon reaching the fortune-teller’s residence, the group realized why the vendor had said, “Maybe you’ll make it into the queue.”
There’s only one sorceress, but there are hundreds of people wanting their fortunes told; even if they wait until the sun goes down, it’s not a guarantee that they’ll get their turn.
Jane McCain was frustrated and said, “Let’s go. There are so many people; we’ll definitely not get our fortunes read today.”
Purple Summers thought for a moment and said, “Wait here for a bit.”
She went to the front of the queue, and after a few moments, she returned and said, “Okay, we can go in now to have our fortunes told.”
Everyone was astonished and asked her, “How did you manage that?”
Purple Summers laughed and explained: “I asked the person in the first place if he’d give up his spot for a thousand yuan, and he agreed.”
“Purple, you’re amazing!” Jane was ecstatic, hugging her as if she wanted to kiss her out of gratitude.
The group squeezed into the front of the line, but the people behind them were immediately unhappy. Even if they were willing to pay to be first, they shouldn’t be able to let four people cut in front of them like that!
Zara Jameson stepped out of the queue and waved her hand, “You guys go ahead; I don’t really have any questions for the sorceress.”
Ryan Wesley wasn’t particularly interested in fortune-telling either.
Finally, only Jane McCain and Purple Summers entered the sorceress’s room.
The sorceress lived in a house with green tiles and white walls, resembling an ancient courtyard house. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw a huge old pagoda tree.
Jane held back her excitement, whispering to Purple Summers, “Look, pagoda trees are ghostly by nature; most people don’t plant them in their homes as they attract bad spirits.”
Purple looked at her oddly, “We have one in my house.”
Jane was stumped, “…”
Purple Summers observed the surroundings and felt that the smell of incense permeating the air was very similar to the scent surrounding Tiny the night before.
After passing the pagoda tree and walking a few more steps, they reached the entrance, where a large water bowl with scribblings on it was placed outside the door, and a young girl in a green, buttoned cotton jacket stood nearby.
The girl looked only eight or nine years old, and her face was pale from the cold, as if she were not dressed warmly enough.
As Purple Summers and Jane McCain were about to enter, the girl scooped two bowls of water from the bowl and handed them to them.
Purple Summers thought to herself: Did those college students also drink from this bowl?
Just as she was preparing to drink, Jane McCain stopped her, “This isn’t for drinking now; it’s for use later when the talismanic water is prepared.”
Purple Summers felt baffled as she carried the bowl and followed Jane inside.
While it was bright and sunny outside, the main room had a dark and gloomy atmosphere. In the center stood a long table covered with a red cloth, an incense burner sitting on top with curling plumes of smoke. In the midst of the layers of hazy smoke sat an old lady with white hair.
Presumably, this was the legendary sorceress.
“Do you want a palm reading, a divination, or just ask a question?” the sorceress asked them, her expression unchanged.
“Ask a question.” Jane put the bowl in front of the sorceress, and, seemingly embarrassed, hesitantly asked her, “Can you help me see if the person I like… likes me or not?”
The sorceress didn’t say anything, just tapped on the table with her knuckles.
Jane understood, looked down and fumbled through her wallet, then asked, “Can I pay using a card?”
The sorceress took out a POS machine from under the table.
Purple Summers: ”?? ”
Keeping up with the times, apparently.
After Jane swiped her card, Purple Summers saw the sorceress take out a piece of talisman paper from the bundle around her waist and placed it on the table. She then marked and drew on it before setting it on fire.
As she muttered incantations, the burnt talisman, now just ash, was thrown into the bowl just before the flames completely consumed it.
The ashes dissolved in the water, scattering into fragments that sunk or floated. The sorceress stared at the bowl, as if seeing a hidden mystery within.
“The person you like… doesn’t know your feelings yet, but he’s very close to you,” the sorceress said after a while.
Jane McCain nodded vigorously, feeling that the sorceress’s words were very accurate!
The sorceress continued, “Don’t worry, young lady; good fortune comes through adversity. After you drink this talisman water, your wishes will come true.”
Jane McCain respectfully said, “Thankyou, sorceress!”
Then she picked up the bowl and drank the water!
Purple Summers was wide-eyed. At this moment, the sorceress looked up and asked, “As for you, do you want a divination or just ask a question?”