Starting as a dockworker

Chapter 9 Human lives are as fragile as firewood; is there truly an evil spirit?

"Perhaps it's related to the dream I had last night?"

Li Xiao frowned slightly, speculating about the matter in his mind.

It's certain that this spiritual technique wasn't something he learned on his own; he'd never even heard of it before.

But yesterday, I suddenly suggested that the fortune teller teach me the ability to see the road without using my eyes.

I had a strange dream last night, and when I woke up, I had this extra spirit.

It wasn't something I learned; it was as if it was bestowed upon me by the woman in my dream...

Who exactly is that woman? Is she a deity of this world?

So, it became a fact that he owed the fortune teller ten thousand silver dollars?

Li Xiao thought about many things, but couldn't come up with any clues. He knew too little about this world.

At that moment, he closed his eyes and concentrated, following the instructions of the spiritual method.

As my eyes closed, the world went dark.

But in this endless darkness, he actually saw countless flames.

Those bright, dancing flames floated in mid-air.

Based on the vision before closing one's eyes and the vision before one's eyes, it can be determined that the flames are on each person's head.

It's somewhat like infrared thermal imaging technology, capable of penetrating any wall.

Right now, on the street, he can see through the walls of the shops and into the flames inside.

This was the first time Li Xiao had experienced such a mysterious and wonderful sensation; it was truly amazing.

He couldn't resist playing a little longer, looking around.

Suddenly, Li Xiao, high in the sky—probably at the second floor—saw two flames very close together. The lower flame remained motionless, while the upper flame swayed rhythmically up and down towards the lower one…

"You're so energetic so early in the morning!"

Li Xiao opened his eyes and found that he was staring at the second floor of "Li's Photo Studio".

Indeed, in any era, being a photographer always comes with some perks...

"The fortune teller navigates by observing the distribution of these flames..."

"No matter how many walls there are, they cannot block the view."

"That's why she was able to find me accurately among so many rice warehouses in Huang's Rice Shop."

Thinking this, Li Xiao closed his eyes again and continued to experience the wonders of this spiritual technique.

He soon discovered some patterns.

Using this spiritual technique is not without its price; you will feel somewhat tired after using it.

Secondly, everyone's spark is different.

The flame of a young person should be brighter red, while the flame of an older person should be darker.

If it is an elderly person in their sixties or seventies, the flame will not only be murky but also very weak, as if it could be blown out by a gust of wind.

The fortune teller said yesterday that a person's life is like firewood; once the firewood is burned out, the life is gone...

Does that abundant vitality equate to "adding fuel to the fire" for oneself?

Is it possible to live longer?

Hey! That fire... it's so strong!

Suddenly, Li Xiao saw a particularly intense flame in the darkness.

The flames of the others were all about the same size, roughly the size of a fist.

The flame was the size of a basketball and burned very brightly, sizzling loudly.

Li Xiao immediately opened his eyes, wanting to see who the owner of this fire was and why it was different.

What came into view was a robust middle-aged man, dressed in a short, coarse indigo shirt and cloth shoes with multiple layers of soles. He had a braid from the previous dynasty, a wheat-colored face, and large, bony hands that looked like heavy iron in a sheath, concealing all sharpness.

At this moment, the man's hawk-like eyes were also fixed on Li Xiao.

"You were found out?"

Li Xiao was startled and immediately turned his head away, pretending to be looking around casually.

The man's attire suggested he was a martial artist, and the intense flames indicated he was a master.

Therefore, it seems that experts can sense the spying of one's "Closed-Blinds Observation of Fire Spirit Technique"...

"Li Xiao, the person you were looking at just now is extraordinary. That's Xiao Zhenshan, the master of Guiyuan Martial Arts School, a top-tier expert in Wuling City. He... seemed to have glanced at you just now?"

"I'm nothing special, I'll just look at whatever I want..."

Li Xiao mumbled something and then dropped the matter.

It seems I need to be a little more careful when using spiritual magic in the future.

To avoid causing unnecessary trouble.

On the other side...

The museum owner, Xiao Zhenshan, stood still and stared at Li Xiao's back for a long time.

Until the carriage procession drove away and disappeared around the street corner...

"Brother Xiao, what are you looking at?"

A middle-aged man dressed in black shorts asked from the side.

This middle-aged man in black shorts was no ordinary person; he was Huo Jiu, the leader of the Dingyang Gang.

Xiao Zhenshan said, "It felt like I was glanced at by something just now, but then it seemed like nothing happened."

Huo Jiu asked, "You mean, evil spirits?"

Xiao Zhenshan shook his head and muttered, "It shouldn't be. Perhaps he's been blinded by these evil spirits lately and has been misled..."

Huo Jiu sighed and said, "Since the fall of the previous dynasty, these evil spirits have been appearing one after another. I heard that it was caused by the severing of the dragon vein. My mine has been experiencing strange occurrences lately, so I had no choice but to ask Brother Xiao for help..."

Xiao Zhenshan said, "Brother Huo, let's go inside and talk..."

.......

Jiangguan Wharf, Warehouse No. 3.

Li Xiao and the other nine laborers worked hard moving goods, no longer as leisurely as yesterday.

Yesterday everyone was moving at a leisurely pace, but overnight, everyone was working like crazy to move the goods.

I have no choice but to work hard. Who knows if I'll disappear if I stay at Huang's Rice Shop any longer?

During this time, while urinating, Lao Gang also privately inquired about information from many other laborers.

The dockworkers, scattered throughout the city, were all sharp-eared and would gossip about various places when they had nothing to do.

Old Gang actually managed to find out some inside information.

"We're doomed, guys..."

Old Gang, who had returned after gathering the information, looked panicked and whispered, "I just found out that there really is something dirty going on in the Huang family. Seven of their own employees suddenly disappeared, and many of the remaining employees resigned to save their lives. Those who stayed were paid a lot of money to stay."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone froze and stopped what they were doing.

Before, it was just a suspicion, but now it's completely certain.

Suddenly, everyone's face showed fear.

At this moment, Liu Kai returned, and someone immediately asked, "Kai, how did it go?"

Liu Kai shook his head: "I just asked my relative, and the Huang family really did contact the person in charge at the dock. If we don't finish this job and leave, we can't stay at the dock any longer. My relative doesn't have enough influence to speak up..."

"It's over, completely over."

Everyone wore a bitter expression.

They sat on the burlap sacks, sighing and complaining.

They were afraid of dying, but also afraid of losing their jobs and going hungry; they couldn't make up their minds.

Among the crowd, only Li Xiao sat calmly on the sack.

Upon seeing this, Lao Gang hurriedly sat down and said, "Ah Si, you're very lucky. Why don't you tell us what we should do next?"

After he finished speaking, everyone else looked at Li Xiao.

Logically speaking, no one would let a greenhorn make the decisions.

But after these two days of dealing with the fortune teller and the old man, her opinion of Li Xiao has changed somewhat.

Li Xiao said slowly, "Actually, there is only one kind of disease in this world."

Kai asked, "What illness?"

Li Xiao said, "Poverty is a disease."

Everyone's eyes lit up; he had really hit the nail on the head.

Li Xiao continued, "Without money, we'll be bullied; without money, we can't move an inch. Without work at the docks, none of us will survive. Am I right?"

Now that things have been said to this point, everyone understands.

Old Gang: "But are we really going to swallow this insult?"

Li Xiao: "Of course not, so when we go back this time, we need to make things clear with the Huang family."

Old Gang: "What did you say?"

Li Xiao: "We need to pay more!"

The scene immediately froze. Old Gang rubbed his hands together and laughed, "That's right, we can't just be sent off with a few coins for such dangerous work, we need to be paid more! Ah Si, you've got a good head on your shoulders!"

The way others looked at Li Xiao changed; this kid was indeed quite clever.

Li Xiao laughed and said, "That's right, fortune favors the bold."

"Well said, fortune favors the bold."

Everyone agreed to the suggestion and planned to go back and ask for more money.

The laborer named Haigen asked, "How much would be suitable?"

Li Xiao said, "I'll talk to them when we get back to the Huang family. You guys can help me out."

Haigen looked at him with skepticism: "You...can you do it?"

Old Gang immediately stepped forward: "Why not? Let Ah Si negotiate. We'll all listen to him. I believe Ah Si can definitely negotiate a good price. Don't forget that the fortune teller said he has great fortune."

Having said that, everyone tacitly accepted it.

Unbeknownst to them, Li Xiao's words had begun to carry weight...