Chapter One: Awakening the Gift to Save Lives, The Miracle Worker Transformed into a Grandmaster

Early June, beneath the overpass.

Shi Yi sat in the shade of a large tree, a bandage wrapped around her forehead, her left arm in a cast, clutching a bottle of chilled coconut juice in her lap.

In front of her was a small stall, beside which stood a banner.

— One fortune-telling session, one hundred yuan. If it’s not accurate, you don’t pay!

Her lake-blue hair was striking, drawing the attention of many passersby.

People walking by, noticing Shi Yi mingling among a group of street vendors, couldn’t help but look on with pity.

Such a beautiful young girl, what a shame she’s just another charlatan.

Not far away, a middle-aged man holding bundles of gift boxes stood under the overpass, scanning the surroundings. When his gaze landed on Shi Yi, his eyes lit up.

“Master Shi!”

He hurried over to her stall, and before even steadying himself, dropped to his knees with a thud.

Without another word, he began bowing fervently, startling those nearby.

“Master, thank you so much for saving my mother! If you hadn’t predicted she’d be injured by falling debris and stepped in to save her, she might have really...” His eyes grew red at the corners as he bowed again.

“Thank you, Master Shi, you’re truly incredible!”

Shi Yi set down her drink, her heart pounding, though her face remained calm.

“No need for thanks—just pay, and disaster is gone.”

But in her heart, she felt a little guilty. She couldn’t actually tell fortunes.

She’d saved the old lady simply because she’d seen someone dropping things from above.

With quick reflexes, she pulled the woman aside, even shielding her with her own arm.

Luckily, the man before her was grateful—not only did he cover her medical bills, he gave her a thousand yuan.

She squeezed the cash in her pocket, her heartbeat slowly returning to normal.

Tomorrow’s medicine was assured...

Shi Yi had been diagnosed with ALS in high school; the symptoms had begun, and her life could only be sustained with medication.

But she cared little—live for today, drink for today. If she had money, she bought medicine; if not, she left it up to fate.

With her good arm, she helped the bowing man to his feet, her expression still composed.

The next moment, an unfamiliar memory flashed through her mind.

“Ah—”

Startled, she let go of the man’s arm, her coconut juice rolling onto the ground.

The scene had been so grisly—if she hadn’t been a streetwise trickster, she might have vomited then and there.

Shi Yi broke out in cold sweat, goosebumps prickling all over, as if she’d seen a ghost.

In the vision, the man was crossing the street opposite, struck by a massive truck—flesh mangled, intestines and brain matter scattered everywhere. Instant death.

Impossible.

Shi Yi pressed her forehead, wincing in pain as she touched the bandage.

She forced herself to breathe calmly—was this an aftereffect of being hit by falling debris?

But...

Her experience taught her: better to believe than not.

Saving a life is greater than building seven pagodas—her master’s first lesson.

The man stood aside, confused. Seeing Shi Yi drenched in sweat, he spoke timidly.

“Master, are you alright?”

Shi Yi returned to herself, casually wiping her brow, shaking her head.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry, you’ve paid for my medical bills. We’re even.”

It was midsummer, yet Shi Yi felt a chill throughout her body.

She had lost all interest in keeping her stall open, thinking to pack up early.

The commotion drew the attention of those nearby, who stopped to watch.

The man, noticing her cast, grew more apologetic, placing his gifts before her with care.

“Master, this is a little token of my gratitude. Please accept it.”

Shi Yi shook her head—she’d already taken his money, she couldn’t accept more.

She might be a trickster, but she had her own rules.

Seeing her firm resolve, the man didn’t insist. He thanked her repeatedly before turning to leave.

Shi Yi stood, her expression cold.

“Wait! Don’t jaywalk—let’s all be civilized.”

The man laughed awkwardly—he had indeed intended to cross the street directly. Master Shi was truly sharp, even predicting this.

He already held her in awe; hearing her words, he immediately stopped, heading for the crosswalk.

“Bang—”

“Crash—”

In a breath, a roaring truck collided with the roadside fence, raising a cloud of dust.

The spot it struck was precisely where the man had planned to cross.

He turned, gazing at the accident, his entire body numb, rooted to the spot.

He had just... brushed past death...

Shi Yi, still standing, sighed in relief, her lips pressed tightly together.

[Ding—]

[Congratulations, Host, on turning eighteen. Task one completed. Crime Warning System activated.]

[When the host touches someone, you can see major events in their future.]

[Completing tasks will automatically extend your life by one year.]

A mischievous boy’s voice sounded in her mind, startling Shi Yi.

It took her a while to regain composure and digest the reality.

Just as she did, the man before her dashed over.

With a thud, he knelt again, bowing so hard his forehead bled, tears in his eyes from either terror or excitement.

“Master! You’re my savior, my second parent! You’re amazing—you must have foreseen I’d be hit by that truck, and saved me! Master...”

This man, well over six feet tall, now cried like a helpless child.

“No, no, sir, please get up—I can’t accept this.”

Shi Yi was drenched in sweat, and a crowd quickly gathered, pointing and whispering.

Yet the words were all in praise—remarking on her youth and her ‘true mastery.’

Some even seemed eager for her fortune-telling services.

The middle-aged man remembered something and sprang to his feet, wiping his tears.

He walked up to Shi Yi, pulled out a wad of cash from his wallet, and emptied it entirely.

“Master, this is all I have on me—please, don’t refuse! Words can’t express my gratitude. If you ever need anything from Zhao Yong, I’ll brave fire and blades for you!”

With that, Shi Yi saw her arms filled with red bills.

For a moment, she felt dizzy.

Was this the happiness of being knocked senseless by money?

Shi Yi finally managed to coax the man away.

She packed up her stall, loaded it onto her tricycle.

Glancing at her backpack, at today’s earnings, a rare smile curved her lips.

Saving a life had not only extended her own by a year, but brought her extra reward.

Suddenly, the world seemed brighter, and her mood lifted.

She rode to the familiar old neighborhood, got off, and struggled to unload her stall’s equipment.

A crisp, clear voice rang out, “Sister Shi Yi! Why are you home so early today?”

Shi Yi turned—it was her neighbor’s little girl, Zhao Lingling.