C19 The Last Divination

"Father... Father..." I was speechless, overcome with shock. I fell to my knees before him, struggling to grasp the reality unfolding before my eyes.

My foster father toyed with a compass, a turtle shell, and a few copper coins, managing to squeeze out a faint smile. He said to me, "I've done some calculations. There's just enough time left for me to give you some final words of advice."

"Father... Father, what's happened to you? You were fine before, weren't you?" Tears had long since clouded my vision. My foster father was my sole support, my pillar of strength. If he were to pass away, I couldn't fathom a reason to go on living.

"Changsheng, my biggest regret in life is that I couldn't provide you with a normal childhood, one where you could attend high school and eventually go to college," my foster father said, reaching out with his gnarled hand to stroke my head.

Clutching his hand tightly, I sobbed, "Father, there's still hope. I have a check for six hundred thousand yuan. Let's not waste another minute. I'll take you to the best hospital in the city!"

"Changsheng, please, calm down. There are some things I need to say to you," my foster father insisted, gripping my arm with a serious look in his eyes.

I nodded, heartbroken, fully aware that even the most powerful immortals would be powerless to help him now.

Holding my hand feebly, my foster father asked, "Changsheng, do you know why I chose that name for you?"

I shook my head, grief-stricken. He gazed at the turtle shell and explained, "There are two reasons. First, you were born under a Yin destiny. Alone, you will face many trials and tribulations, and you're not expected to live beyond eighteen."

"What... What! Not live past eighteen? That means I have less than three years left!" I exclaimed in shock, but then I let out a resigned smile. "Maybe it's for the best. My existence only seems to bring misfortune to others. I was born under an unlucky star, causing you to end up like this."

I spoke with a sense of loss and bitterness, but my foster father, stirred with emotion, coughed a few times and sat up, "Changsheng, you are mistaken. You are not a curse! If I hadn't rescued you from that heap of corpses and taken you in, I would have died fifteen years ago!"

"What? Dad, please, calm down and speak slowly." I gently patted my foster father's back and assisted him as he lay back down on the bed.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, my foster father continued, "Sixteen years ago, I divined the future for a very influential and powerful individual. Unfortunately, I inadvertently disclosed heavenly secrets and was met with divine punishment. I was destined to die within three years. But then, a mysterious figure advised me to adopt you, and that's how I managed to cling to life for an additional fifteen years."

The revelation from my foster father was incredibly hard to believe, prompting me to blurt out, "Why... Why would that be?"

"I've pondered that question for the last fifteen years," he said with a wry smile. "But now, it's up to you to find the answer."

"I'm afraid I might let you down, Dad. If you haven't found the answer in fifteen years, and I only have three years left to live..." I spoke with a heavy heart.

"Cough... I won't let you die!" My foster father coughed with emotion, propping himself up and beginning to manipulate the compass and copper coins in his hands.

"Dad, what are you planning to do?"

"I'm going to use the last of my life force to cast a fortune for you!"

"But Dad, that could hasten your death. You... you might still have a chance!" I tugged weakly at the hem of his garment.

"My child, you must survive. There are many unresolved matters I need you to finish for me," he said with affection. I dabbed at my tears and nodded vigorously.

He sighed deeply once more and said, "Before I cast your fortune, there are a few things I need to instruct you on. The first is a matter of life and death. You must consume the flesh of the dead to survive..."

I wasn't shocked by this revelation. When I realized I had been eating human flesh recently, everything made sense. Yet, I was curious as to why.

"The second thing is that you must use your ability wisely. You are not a harbinger of disaster; on the contrary, your gift can help you and others to avert misfortune and evade calamities," my foster father said in a frail voice. I nodded earnestly in agreement.

"The third thing you need to be wary of are those individuals who aren't bound by shackles. They are masters of the Yin and Yang arts, most of whom have used dark magic to cheat death and have lived unnaturally long lives. But they will eventually face their comeuppance, just like your father did..."

"Father..."

"Yesterday, a Ghost Messenger from the Underworld came to seize me. If I don't die, they will return tonight at midnight. Therefore, I must die today, or I risk bringing harm to you. Changsheng, have you committed all three things to memory?"

"Father, I have!" I affirmed with a vigorous nod.

My foster father repeated the word 'good' three times, his face breaking into a contented smile, "That's a relief. I'm about to commence the divination for my departure. Please, do not interrupt me during this process."

"Yes..." I replied, my voice catching in my throat.

Taking a deep breath, my foster father began to shakily manipulate the Feng Shui compass. A brilliant gleam emerged from his eyes, growing increasingly intense by the moment!