Chapter 290
Chapter 290
I no longer had much interest in romance.
I was about to turn twenty-seven, yet I had only ever been in one relationship, with Fang Man.
But my curse had killed Fang Man. Seventh Master said I was destined to bring death to my wife.
My Fate Pattern was like that of the Lone Star of Sha. A wonderful woman like Fang Man had already become a tragic warning. How could I dare fall in love again?
Besides, I did not believe Lin Yin liked me. This was not some idol drama where people fell in love at the drop of a hat.
“Don’t talk nonsense. I’ve barely seen her a few times. How could I possibly like her?”
“Besides, my Fate Pattern is flawed.”
Afraid that Song Xiaotian and the others would start teasing me again, I told them that my fate was cursed against my wife. And it was not only marriage. Even a woman who merely dated me would suffer.
Anning’s hand jerked, and she almost dropped her chopsticks. She stared at me in shock. “You… bring death to your wife?”
I nodded. “Not only my wife. My curse affects my parents too.”
Song Xiaotian stared at me in horror. “You won’t curse us too, will you?”
I was speechless. “How could it be that absurd? You couldn’t find a Fate Pattern that sinister anywhere in the world. I only affect my partner and blood relatives. None of you are related to me.”
Song Xiaotian breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. You scared me so badly I was thinking of ending our friendship.”
Anning did not ask anything more. Since I was cursed against my wife, what else was there to ask?
Once they finished eating, we prepared to visit the old veteran.
We were going to borrow something, so too many visitors would only disturb his family. Meng Yifan returned to the hospital, while Song Xiaotian, Anning, and I drove there.
The address was more than forty minutes away. We arrived at exactly two o’clock.
It was an ordinary residential complex that looked rather old.
When we reached the veteran’s home, a vigorous-looking man in his sixties or seventies opened the door.
I wondered how the veteran could be so young. At his age, there was no way he could have fought in those wars…
But I soon realized I had mistaken him for someone else.
“You’re here to borrow the saber, aren’t you? My father has been waiting for you. Come in.” The old man smiled and invited us inside.
Only after entering did we see a far older man sitting in the living room. He leaned back in a chair, as aged and frail as the Ninth Concubine.
But unlike her, this old man radiated a murderous aura. Age might have weakened his body, but his eyes remained as sharp as a sword drawn from its sheath.
I had never believed that a murderous aura truly existed, yet now I saw it emanating from a centenarian.
The instant the veteran saw us, he withdrew that oppressive presence. He greeted us kindly, then led us into his room.
He opened a cabinet divided into upper and lower sections. Row after row of medals filled the upper shelf, while a long wooden box rested below.
The veteran took out the wooden box and opened it. Inside lay a large, somewhat rusty saber.
Red cloth was wrapped around its hilt. Dark red stains marked the fabric, and they appeared to be blood.
This type of saber had been among the most commonly used melee weapons in modern warfare. It must have killed a great many enemy soldiers.
A weapon like this was a treasure naturally capable of suppressing Evil Spirits. Just as Song Xiaotian’s grandfather had said, it surpassed every ritual implement.
The veteran told us the saber’s history. “This saber used to belong to my old squad leader. His family had been blacksmiths for generations. When he enlisted, his father personally forged it for him.”
“He killed many enemies with it. Later, my squad leader was killed in action. Before he died, he gave the saber to me. I carried it through several more battles and killed plenty of enemies myself. This blade has taken at least a hundred heads.”
We listened with deep respect and astonishment.
The older generation had truly been formidable. To kill so many enemies with a melee weapon in the age of firearms was worthy of admiration.
The saber possessed extremely heavy Sha, which was why it had to be kept inside a box.
In Feng Shui, sabers and swords could not be displayed casually. Otherwise, they could form Saber Sha or Sword Sha and disturb the peace of a household.
If an ordinary person hung a saber like this at home, it would ward off more than evil. It might ward off the people living there too.
“Senior, we’d like to borrow it for a while. We’ll bring it back as soon as we’re done,” I said respectfully.
The veteran nodded. “I hope it can solve the trouble you’ve encountered. I’m too old now, so I can only watch the saber go in my place. Otherwise, I would help you myself.”
Song Xiaotian hurriedly said, “You’re not old at all. You’ll live to be two hundred.”
The veteran burst into laughter. “Good, good. May your auspicious words come true. I’ll live to two hundred!”
As he spoke, he took a roll of cloth from a drawer and carefully wrapped the blade. He instructed us, “Keep it wrapped whenever you aren’t using it. A blade is an ominous object. People with weak constitutions can easily be harmed by it.”
After thanking the veteran, we took the saber and said goodbye.
Once we left the residential complex, Song Xiaotian drove me back to the Lin residence. I needed to brew Seventh Master’s medicine and take it to him.
When I got out of the car, Song Xiaotian and Anning had no intention of coming inside. He teased me again. “Your Xiao Yin is waiting for you at home. We won’t come in and play gooseberry. Heh.”
“Go to hell! Stop talking nonsense!”
I reminded Song Xiaotian to store the saber carefully so the police would not confiscate it as a restricted weapon.
Only the housekeeper and Lin Yin were home when I arrived at the Lin residence.
Lin Yin was sitting on the living room sofa, reading. The moment she saw me return, she put down the book and ran over.
“Mr. Chen, I’ve already soaked the herbs. Come take a look.”
She took my hand and led me into the kitchen.
I felt extremely awkward. I could not tell whether she was merely too enthusiastic or genuinely interested in me.
I quickly slipped my hand free and poured the herbs from the basin into the pot. Smiling, I said, “You’re a pampered young lady, yet you know how to do everything. You’re surprisingly down-to-earth.”
Lin Yin sighed. “My mother died before I came of age. My younger brother was still little then, and he’d always been frail. I was the one who cared for him growing up, so I’m quite good at looking after people.”
I had not seen Lin Xiaohua at home, so I asked where he had gone.
The boy was in very poor health and could not even attend school.
“Xiaohua has been unwell again lately. He fainted at home yesterday and is recuperating in the hospital now.” Lin Yin lowered her eyes. It was obvious how much she worried about her brother.
I could not resist asking, “What illness does Xiaohua… have?”
Lin Yin said, “Leukemia. It’s terminal. The doctors say his chance of recovery is almost nonexistent.”
I sighed, unsure how to comfort her. Lin Xiaohua truly was terminally ill. His features bore the sign of an early death.
“Medicine is so advanced now, and your family has the money for treatment. I’m sure Xiaohua can recover.” It was the only comfort I could offer.
Lin Yin fell silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Mr. Chen, you’ve seen a great deal. Is there really such a thing as Life Extension in this world?”
The words “Life Extension” immediately put me on alert.
I looked at her and frowned slightly. “Xiao Yin, where did you hear about Life Extension?”