Paintings of Terror C.299: Gu-xiang

“Granny, what do you mean by innate bone structure?” Ke Xun decided to ask step by step.

“Here, right here,” the old lady extended her wrinkled, orange peel-like hand and shakily touched Ke Xun’s forehead. “The skin of a person is called the pi-xiang. The bones inside are called the gu-xiang, the innate bone structure. When judging a person and their fate, gu-xiang reveals most of it.” RmQA97

From behind, Wei Dong muttered quietly, “Can this old lady’s street-side fortune-telling really be accurate…”

He would rather she be inaccurate, rather she be like those street-side fortune-telling scammers… all lying.

Zhu Haowen spoke unemotionally, “It is said that in the scientific community, there is research and theory that suggests ‘one can judge a person’s character, adaptability, and psychological functions based on the shape of the skull.’ So using skull shape to judge and tell fortunes isn’t completely baseless.”

Wei Dong: “… I don’t know whether to feel comforted or alarmed by what you said…” EVFNJR

Zhu Haowen ignored him, his gaze continued to fall on Ke Xun’s full, round forehead under the old woman’s withered hand.

“Are you referring to the shape of the bones when you say gu-xiang?” Ke Xun continued to inquire further.

The old woman shook her head, her finger pointing at the center of Ke Xun’s forehead, “The shape of the bones is also called gu-xiang, but what I mean by -gu-xiang is the essence, energy, and spirit of the bones. Bones are the fundamental root of the physical body, so they manifest in the face. The essence, energy, and spirit shown on a person’s face are actually those of their bones. However, some essence, energy, and spirit can be seen through the pi-xiang, while some are rooted deep within the bones. What I see in your gu-xiang is the root appearance deep in the bones… Unfortunately… my old eyes are dim, my skill not enough, I can see but not clearly, and what I see clearly, I do not recognize…”

“What do you mean by not recognizing?” Zhu Haowen also walked a few steps forward to the bedside and asked. BXnwu0

The old woman looked up at him, then withdrew her hand from Ke Xun’s forehead, making a gesture in the air, “There is something on your gu-xiang… black and blurry, covering it all…”

Wei Dong, Luo Bu, and Wu You shivered upon hearing this. “That gave me shivers,” Luo Bu said as he rubbed his arms.

“Do you mean the bones themselves are black, or is there something black on the surface of the bones?” Zhu Haowen continued to ask.

“Not on the surface,” the old woman shook her head, her cloudy eyes intently fixed on Ke Xun’s face, “inside the bones.” ZLWnpF

“Are the entire bones black?” Ke Xun, feeling uncomfortable under the old woman’s gaze, couldn’t help but rub his face.