Originally, Su Fan’s plan was to simply destroy this Tarot deck.
But after hearing the system’s prompt, he became reluctant to do so.
It clearly hinted that this was a great opportunity to comprehend a new skill; how could he just let it slip away?
Before completely erasing the soul attached to it, he had to see the deck’s abilities for himself.
Across from him, Haley was stunned.
“Huh?”
Shouldn’t the next step be an exorcism?
How did it suddenly turn to fortune-telling…
Was the boss losing his mind?
“Do I need to repeat myself?”
“Oh! No, no, no… Are you sure you want a reading?”
“Positive. Let’s begin.”
They already had the Tarot cards. As for the cloth and candles, they could easily be bought from any shop down the street.
The items were quickly gathered, and Su Fan sat down opposite Haley.
Trembling, Haley shuffled the Tarot deck several times before laying the cards out one by one in the positions of the twelve houses.
Finally, she drew one card and placed it in the center.
After just one glance, Haley broke out in a cold sweat.
This spread… didn’t have a single positive aspect…
“Say whatever you see.”
“What’s your zodiac sign, sir?”
“Sagittarius, I suppose. I quite like that one—Pegasus Meteor Fist and all that.”
“…”
Haley had no idea what Su Fan was talking about, but she could hear the sheer casualness in his tone.
Still, she couldn’t argue and had to continue.
“As a Sagittarius, you yearn for a free and unconstrained life… but your excessive lack of discipline can be a weakness. Often, you act without a plan…”
“Not bad. A carefree life suits the temperament of a cultivator.”
Su Fan nodded, seeming quite pleased.
“…Lately, your interpersonal relationships might not be going smoothly. You could even lose your job due to conflicts with superiors.”
Haley interpreted the card in the fourth house.
“That’s fine too. A true man stands between heaven and earth; how can he linger under another’s roof in frustration? Besides, I’ve never liked the idea of working for someone else.”
Su Fan nodded again.
“…Although your love life is prosperous with many secret admirers, there hasn’t been much progress in romance…”
“Suits me perfectly. Women would only slow down my draw.”
“…Finances…”
Haley picked up another card.
“The Six of Pentacles in reverse represents poor financial income, even financial loss. It might indicate that you…”
“Hold on a second.”
Su Fan interrupted her with an expressionless face.
“Do you even know how to read Tarot?”
Haley: ?
“If people really needed life advice, why wouldn’t they just go see a psychologist?”
“As a fortune-teller, you need to skillfully reframe others’ flaws and shortcomings into positive traits, expressing them tactfully…”
Grant and Paxton, standing to the side, exchanged confused glances.
Did this guy actually know what “tactful” meant?
“Can you give some examples?”
Haley, suddenly reminded of her ex-boyfriend Grant’s reaction, found herself listening intently.
“If a client has been unsuccessful all their life and can only rely on their children for a turnaround, you tell them their children will be filial, and they’ll enjoy a happy old age.”
“Earlier, you said I haven’t made progress in love. You could’ve said I’m unburdened by romance, free and unfettered.”
“Or, for instance, in a situation like this, if you’re unhappy with the card spread, you can just deal again.”
“Otherwise, you’ll inevitably run into trouble with stubborn or ill-tempered clients.”
Why isn’t Su Fan afraid?
For no other reason than his own formidable strength.
As Su Fan spoke, the black aura on the Tarot cards—invisible to ordinary people—quivered violently.
Haley had nothing to say and could only follow Su Fan’s instructions.
But for some reason, as she touched the Tarot cards, she felt a strange palpitation.
After redealing the cards, the card in the career and wealth position was still the same as before…
“Again…”
Su Fan shook his head lightly.
Haley reshuffled the deck, and this time, the earlier palpitation turned into panic.
For a moment, she felt as if the Tarot cards in her hands were living beings, slowly awakening…
Suppressing her fear, Haley continued dealing, but the result remained unchanged.
“Boss… I…”
Su Fan waved his hand, cutting her off.
He looked down, his glowing eyes fixed intently on the cards on the table.
“Is it so hard to deal me a good card for my finances?”
Just then, a gust of wind swept through the room, rustling the reversed Six of Pentacles representing financial loss.
“What if I insist you deal me one?”
The antiques in the shop began to sway, and the lights flickered, as if some invisible presence was stirring with rage.
Before the lights flickered, a dark figure appeared at the door.
Pale skin, a blood-stained neck and mouth, cracked hands, surrounded by an eerie ghostly aura.
The astrologer from centuries ago, who had cursed the Tarot deck with her life, had appeared!
Her pitch-black, pupil-less eyes were fixed intently on Haley’s back.
No—more accurately, they were fixed on Su Fan beyond her.
Her daughter had died because she couldn’t produce the Tarot spread the Count demanded—one that foretold the successful birth of his child—leading the deranged Count to take his anger out on her.
Now, Su Fan’s actions reminded her of that ordeal, stirring up her resentment and fury.
Black energy surged from the astrologer’s feet, spreading across the entire floor of the antique shop in the blink of an eye.
Grant and the others, huddled in a corner, didn’t dare make a sound, even holding their breaths cautiously.
If not for the protective talismans on their chests, they would have already been invaded by this chilling aura.
This entity was far beyond their ability to contend with!
The astrologer raised her hand.
Simultaneously, across from Su Fan, Haley’s hand also began to rise, moving against her will.
Her eyes turned red, a sign of blood suffusion.
Being forcibly controlled by such a powerful evil spirit, Haley’s vitality visibly drained at a rapid pace.
She doesn’t have a protective talisman?
Su Fan frowned and casually waved his hand, sending Haley tumbling off her stool.
That single motion broke the astrologer’s control over Haley.
Gasping for air on the floor, Haley shot Su Fan a grateful look before quickly scrambling away.
Su Fan, however, was inwardly exasperated.
If you didn’t have a protective talisman, you should’ve said so earlier! If you die, who am I supposed to collect payment from?
Across from him, the astrologer’s pitch-black eyes betrayed no emotion.
She didn’t pursue Haley further.
Instead, her gaze remained fixed on Su Fan.
That eerie stare would chill any ordinary person to the bone.
But Su Fan remained completely unaffected, calmly pointing at the table.
“You, come over here. Deal me a couple of good cards.”
