Reborn: The Return of the Villainous Mr. Liu

Ai quickly asked, "I-It's about her accident, right? You said the Death in her card was evil."

"It is about that evil grim reaper indeed…" she whispered in the darkness of that tent. "The light she wanted to show you was that figure clad in black. But like the woman in white, she is not reborn. Hence, your path will be difficult."

Her eyes welled, and she lamented in a hoarse voice, "Jun, I was right. I was right in investigating her case in the past. I knew something was wrong with her accident. Somebody had planned it…"

The woman smiled. "Everything is far more connected than you think it is. That's why fate gave you another chance to untangle all the deceits and bring forth the truth."

Jun pulled her into a hug and patted her head. "That's what we are going to do."

He looked at the other two unfolded cards and asked, "Can we see what's inside them?"

"Yes."

The elderly woman revealed the second card. The card representing the present showed a knight on his knees with his arms stretched in the air as if he was declaring his love for the woman.

He chuckled. "That is definitely Bro wooing Xing Bi."

"Indeed. The young man faces hardships in this journey."

Ai smiled. "That's true."

She opened the third card and the future showed a similar fire endangering the woman, but the knight was with his sword, fighting off the flames and protecting the woman.

Ai anxiously inquired. "Will Xing Bi in danger?"

"The pursuit of truth might bring the flames to her," she calmly explained. "But the knight will be there to protect her. Her fate with the knight is sealed forever."

Jun gave Ai a reassuring nod. "I told you before, right? This time, we won't let anything happen to Xing Bi."

"Yes."

Jun asked the elderly woman, "...I know this will sound bizarre to you, but is there a way to see those memories of Shui and Xing Bi?" He clarified, "By Shui I mean the woman in white."

"Time…" she said, "You need to be touched by time once again if you wish to see the past that you don't know. Time has touched you once, and it went back for you two. So, there is a possibility for time to touch you again. But there are some conditions to be fulfilled."

Ai blinked. "What conditions?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. Time and nature are mystical. How they actually work is beyond human comprehension. But what I can say is that it won't happen easily just because you wish it. Time will test you. If you pass, it might grant you the blessing to go back temporarily. Also…"

"Also?"

She gave it a deep thought. "I might be wrong about this. But it's a possibility. You two died at the same place and same time in your last birth. You two never met, yet you two shared your death. It must mean something. At that moment, time took you back. If something similar to that fateful moment occurs once again in that same place, the hands of the clock might just turn for you."

Their eyes widened. Jun felt his heart thudding. "Wait, you cannot be implying that Ai will have to be in danger just to trigger this?"

"Danger or something else, I don't know. It's just a possibility I am saying."

Jun pursed his lips. "Thank you. But I don't want Ai to be in danger at all! It's fine if we cannot learn those memories. But there is no way…" he trembled, "I will let Ai face any harm."

Ai furiously nodded, tears filling her eyes. "Neither do I. I don't…I don't want to see Jun like that ever again…" she whispered.

The woman gave them a kind smile. "You two love each other so much. Just like this, always keep your love and trust for each other firm and unyielding."

They solemnly nodded.

Jun knew he didn't have much time, but he went ahead and asked, "I have a cousin who just went through a dangerous accident that could have taken his life. I…failed to protect him even though I knew this would happen. Can we see his cards even though he is not here? If there is something I could learn…"

"Yes. Just picture him in your mind and think about your intent."

Jun did so and pulled out three cards.

But before the woman could reveal the first card, Nian's looming figure came back to the tent. "You two! Come with me! Xing Bi and I were looking for you!"

"Bro?" Startled, they looked back.

He coldly said, "I don't want you to be here anymore where she only shows depressing cards whether it's Xing Bi or you two. It's already late. We should get going."

"Just two minutes-"

One quiet and deadly glare from Nian made Jun automatically shut up. He looked back at the woman. "I am sorry."

Jun quickly took out his wallet to pay for the fortune telling, but she raised her palm and denied it. "No need, young man."

"Of course not. How can I leave without-"

She shook her head. "I will be happier to see you two succeed in your quest to find the truth. Don't lose this chance that fate has bestowed upon you."

He hesitated but then nodded. They bowed and left the tent with Nian.

As silence fell in the dark tent, the elderly woman stared at the cards laid out by Jun. She touched the cards and revealed all three of them one by one. Her eyes ever so slowly widened as she studied them. "I see."

The past card showed a man clutching his head, grieving and confused. A woman stood beside him, but her back faced the man as he cried.

"Her back facing him...She didn't know about his existence at all. A pity," her eyelashes softly fluttered.

She looked outside and saw the retreating figures of Jun and Ai leaving the carnival.

"It is indeed the woman with the different shadow who is the key to everything. You, her…" she lowered her gaze at Zixin's cards, "and him. She is the answer to all."