Jan 17, 2024
—
by
Juno
in Fight for Peace and Love
If Feng Shui is considered a course, Bai Luoluo is probably still in kindergarten learning basic language, Wu Tuisan may have reached middle school and learned some basic principles, but the one they are following, Lin Zhuomian, is evidently an expert in this subject.
Hu Xianshi clings to Lin Zhuomian’s leg, wailing desperately, even leaving Bai Luoluo astonished.
Hu Xianshi said, “Master, I’ve been waiting for you for a long time—”
Lin Zhuomian seemed to have a headache and said, “Get up and talk.”
However, Hu Xianshi refused to get up, still grabbing Lin Zhuomian’s pants leg and crying.
Seeing this, Wu Tuisan became anxious and said, “Why are people from the Hu family so shameless? You’re all in your forties, yet you rely on your age. The disciples that a master accepts naturally need to have excellent qualifications and talent. Crying like this, do you think the master will take a liking to you?”
Hu Xianshi shamelessly replied, “Mind your own business.”
Wu Tuisan’s face turned various shades of purple and blue. He couldn’t believe that Hu Xianshi would be so shameless, taking advantage of his age to try to get close to Lin Zhuomian.
Bai Luoluo watched quietly from the side.
Lin Zhuomian said, “I can’t accept you.”
Hu Xianshi wanted to say something more, but Lin Zhuomian continued, “The reverse water compass in your right hand, is it passed down from your ancestors?”
Hu Xianshi nodded, looking hesitant. He probably wanted to ask how Lin Zhuomian, who couldn’t see anything, could see the compass in his hand and even knew its name was Reverse Water.
Lin Zhuomian, however, seemed to have guessed what he was thinking. He said, “Each compass forms its own Feng Shui pattern. Those who have mastered Feng Shui don’t need to rely on their eyes. They can sense the surrounding Feng Shui patterns.”
Bai Luoluo was puzzled, but the system explained to him. It said, “Let me give you an analogy. The place you live in is like the surface of the water, and the Feng Shui patterns are like whirlpools in the water, affecting the flow of other water. Experts like Lin Zhuomian, even if they can’t see with their eyes, can feel the changes around them.”
Bai Luoluo showed an expression of enlightenment.
The system added, “Well, it’s a bit complicated. Just follow Lin Zhuomian for now.”
Bai Luoluo then asked about the earlier incident where Lin Zhuomian used my finger to mark someone’s forehead. It startled him.
The system was about to explain when someone nearby spoke up.
“What did you do to Tan Shao?” One of the men who had been watching the show approached Lin Zhuomian with a stern face.
The previously fierce Tan Shao was now gently caressing another person’s face. The person being touched looked like they were about to cry, pulling at their throat and saying, “Tan Shao, Tan Shao, what’s wrong with you?”
Tan Shao, in a gentle and watery tone, pinched his throat and said, “Don’t move, I just want to take a good look at you.”
The person replied, “…”
In response to the questioning, Lin Zhuomian coldly said, “He’s young, but his temper is so strong. I did this for his own good.”
“Yeah, don’t blame this gentleman.” Tan Shao, a big man, showed a pitiful expression like Daiyu mourning flowers. He raised his delicate fingers and choked, “I used to be too rough. That was wrong. Now I like the way I am.”
Everyone had a look of trying to hold back their nausea.
Lin Zhuomian said, “Is there anything else? If not, I’ll leave.”
After saying this, he was about to turn and leave. The person who had questioned Lin Zhuomian earlier angrily said, “You just want to let him go? Have you ever thought about what would happen if Tan Shao’s father saw him like this?”
This statement awakened the others who were scared by Tan Shao’s transformation. The burly man acting as a bodyguard hurriedly approached. However, his attitude had improved significantly compared to when he invited Lin Zhuomian. He tentatively said, “Mr. Lin, can you let our boss off?”
But Lin Zhuomian had run out of patience. His whole demeanor became cold, and his tone froze as well. He said, “A dog bullying others dares to beg for mercy?!”
His words were merciless, causing the burly man’s face to change drastically.
Seeing Lin Zhuomian taking another step forward, the burly man was about to reach out and stop Lin Zhuomian. However, before his hand touched Lin Zhuomian’s arm, Lin Zhuomian subtly evaded his movement. He then raised his hand and lightly tapped his elbow.
Although the movement didn’t appear forceful and only involved two fingers, the burly man instantly emitted a miserably loud cry, clutching his arm and collapsing.
The air in the room stagnated once again.
“Everyone, everyone,” Hu Xianshi, sensing the situation wasn’t good, hurriedly said, “Don’t get excited. This time it’s indeed our fault. Mr. Lin is a Feng Shui expert. Please don’t misunderstand his identity…” He quickly mentioned several names of Feng Shui experts that people were relatively familiar with, emphasizing that these people were not even worthy of being Lin Zhuomian’s disciples.
Lin Zhuomian couldn’t be bothered to listen to Hu Xianshi’s explanations and said, “Let’s go,” taking Wu Tuisan and Bai Luoluo out.
He left gracefully, but Hu Xianshi wasn’t so fortunate.
After Lin Zhuomian left, Hu Xianshi quickly checked Tan Shao’s condition and found that the red marks on Tan Shao’s forehead, which were originally scratched by nails, had turned purple.
“Corpse qi entering the body?” Hu Xianshi looked around, left and right, confirmed that he wasn’t mistaken, and then he was completely dumbfounded, saying, “What’s going on? Corpse qi… Where did this corpse qi come from?”
Others didn’t have a good expression upon hearing the term corpse qi, and someone cautiously asked what exactly was going on and if it could be cured.
Hu Xianshi touched his beard and sighed, “It’s fine, but it’ll take half a year. I’ll prescribe some medicinal herbs. You can go and get them for him to drink. It should alleviate it a bit.”
Others quickly agreed.
After writing the prescription, Hu Xianshi hastily wanted to leave with his compass. Someone asked where he was going, and he sighed, “I have to beg
Mr. Lin again. If Mr. Lin can accept me as his disciple, my life will be worth it.”
“Is he that powerful?” Someone was skeptical.
Hu Xianshi said, “You don’t know him, and you might not know the Lin family in Mengcheng, but you should at least know the tall building in C City called Golden Tower, right?”
“We know, we know.” That person said, “That’s something everyone in our business district knows. The company that was about to go bankrupt found someone to change the Feng Shui pattern and miraculously revived. It even became the busiest business center in C City.”
Hu Xianshi said, “That’s the work of the Lin family.”
“So, who is Mr. Lin?” The person asked again.
Hu Xianshi thought for a moment and said, “The person in the Lin family you should never mess with?” He had heard of such a person’s existence and knew that the person was blind, but he had never seen them. Unexpectedly, today he had such an awkward encounter with them in this place.
After saying this, Hu Xianshi left as well.
The people in the room looked at the prescription written by Hu Xianshi and murmured, questioning if this thing was really so miraculous.
“I don’t know if it’s miraculous or not.” One person sighed, “Anyway, I can’t turn someone into a sissy with just a finger.”
Tan Shao, who was listening to this, didn’t like it. He extended his delicate fingers and said, “Who are you calling a sissy? I’m definitely not a sissy, hmph.”
Everyone showed expressions of being unable to bear looking directly at him.
Meanwhile, after Lin Zhuomian came out, the three of them hailed a cab and returned to the hotel.
In the car, Wu Tuisan complained that Hu Xianshi was disrespectful to the elderly, actually tugging at the master’s pants and crying, claiming that if crying could make the master accept him as a disciple, he could collapse the Great Wall with his tears.
Listening to his complaints for a while, Lin Zhuomian calmly asked, “What happened to Tan Shao just now? Did you figure it out?”
Wu Tuisan didn’t expect to be quizzed like this. After choking for a moment, he said, “Did the master use Yin energy to enter his forehead?”
Lin Zhuomian asked, “Yin energy entered? What are the symptoms of Yin energy entering a Yang body?”
Wu Tuisan realized he answered incorrectly but still replied to Lin Zhuomian’s question, “Mild cases result in unconsciousness, severe cases… sudden death.”
Lin Zhuomian said, “Zhou Zhizhi, what do you think?”
Bai Luoluo thought, why are you testing me again? I didn’t want to be your disciple, but he still didn’t dare to answer casually. He obediently blurred the answer the system provided him and said, “Did the master use the corpse qi from the blood jade…?”
“Not bad comprehension.” Lin Zhuomian nodded, seemingly satisfied with Bai Luoluo’s answer.
Bai Luoluo breathed a sigh of relief.
Indeed, the blood jade was different from the ordinary jade stolen from the tomb. It was the piece contained in the mouth of a corpse. As the body slowly decomposed, blood, flesh, and Yin energy merged into the jade. Therefore, the blood jade not only had a heavy Yin energy but also a rich corpse qi. However, being buried in the mouth of a corpse was just one of the conditions for the formation of blood jade; there were other more stringent conditions, or else the quantity of blood jade wouldn’t be so scarce.
“But, but, Master,” Wu Tuisan still had one thing unclear. He asked, “Why did you use Zhou Zhizhi’s hand to point at that person’s forehead?”
This time, Lin Zhuomian’s answer was quite convincing. He said, “Dirty.”
Bai Luoluo thought, “…Am I not dirty enough?”
Still, Lin Zhuomian gently said to Bai Luoluo, “Remember to wash your hands when you go back.”
Bai Luoluo wailed and cried with the system. He said he felt like his hands were just sticks, ruthlessly exploited by Lin Zhuomian.
The system calmly stated, “It’s okay. At least you’re still alive, and living is hope.”
Bai Luoluo muttered, “…” He didn’t feel comforted at all.
After returning, Wu Tuisan paid the cab fare, and the three rested in their room.
Bai Luoluo took a shower and then lay on the bed, mindlessly eating melon seeds. He said, “I feel like I’m taking an exam.”
The system said, “No need to feel; it is an exam.”
Bai Luoluo said, “If I fail, I die.”
The system: “…”
Bai Luoluo said, “Sigh.”
They were supposed to quietly sleep and leave the next day quietly. Who would have thought there would be such a loophole? They were already sleeping, and it was almost three in the morning.
The next morning, Xu Rujin came to pick up the three of them to go to the airport. Seeing their expressions, except for Lin Zhuomian, everyone else looked listless. Xu Rujin smiled and asked if they had gone somewhere fun last night.
“Yeah, we did.” Wu Tuisan sighed, “But it wasn’t fun at all.”
Xu Rujin inexplicably sensed complaints from his tone. However, he didn’t think much about it and just wanted the three to get on the car first.
“Mr. Lin! Mr. Lin!” Unexpectedly, as soon as the three left the hotel, a familiar voice came from the side. Bai Luoluo looked over and saw Hu Xianshi, who had been scolded by Lin Zhuomian yesterday.
“Mr. Lin, are you leaving so soon?” Hu Xianshi asked.
“Yeah.” Lin Zhuomian responded.
“Why are you in such a hurry to go back…” Hu Xianshi said.
Wu Tuisan, being impatient by nature, said to Hu Xianshi, “What are you doing here? If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have been kidnapped. Look at my face, it’s still bruised from last night.” He had resisted when those people came to abduct them, and as a result, his face was left with a bruise.
Xu Rujin, listening nearby, was puzzled. He asked, “What happened?”
Wu Tuisan glanced at him and vividly recounted the events of the previous night to Xu Rujin, adding some exaggeration—after all, Xu Rujin had his share in the matter.
As Xu Rujin listened, his expression became increasingly awkward because he realized that the root cause of the problem was actually him. If he hadn’t angrily scolded Hu Xianshi over the phone and been heard by Tan Shao, the three of them wouldn’t have ended up in this situation.
Xu Rujin said, “I’m really sorry, Mr. Lin. I was too angry and didn’t think much… I’ve caused you trouble.”
Lin Zhuomian ignored Xu Rujin and simply asked Hu Xianshi, “Do you have something to discuss?”
Hu Xianshi hesitated for a while before stuttering out the details of the incident.
It turned out that there was an issue with his younger sister’s house. Although he had looked at it many times, he couldn’t figure out the cause. He had advised his sister to move, but she refused, angrily stating that their Feng Shui family couldn’t even determine their own Feng Shui, and it would be better to die. So, she insisted on staying in that house, refusing to move.
Considering the past glory of the Hu family as a renowned Feng Shui expert, it was indeed a difficult situation to accept. Lin Zhuomian sighed lightly after hearing the story and said, “Forget it. I had some dealings with the Hu family back then. Consider it repaying a favor.”
Bai Luoluo, listening to this conversation, couldn’t help but wonder about Lin Zhuomian’s age…
With Lin Zhuomian’s agreement, Hu Xianshi was overjoyed, and his beard trembled with excitement. He said, “Time is of the essence. How about I take Mr. Lin to see it today?”
Lin Zhuomian nodded in agreement.
Xu Rujin, who had initially been irritated by Hu Xianshi, had a change of heart after listening to the conversation between Lin Zhuomian and Hu Xianshi. He suggested that he could drive them there since the car was already at the entrance, and Lin Zhuomian shouldn’t be polite.
Lin Zhuomian said, “Sure.”
So, the plan was settled.
Wu Tuisan thought they would be able to go back today, but unexpectedly, Hu Xianshi intervened, making his mood a bit sour.
He and Bai Luoluo sat in the back seat with Hu Xianshi, while Lin Zhuomian and Xu Rujin sat in the front.
Hu Xianshi’s sister’s house was in the outskirts, surrounded by pine and cypress trees, with a beautiful small building standing among them, indicating that the residents were either wealthy or influential.
Although Hu Xianshi lamented his family’s misfortune, the Hu family’s foundation was still evident. No matter how unfortunate, there was a limit—unless they had done something that violated Yin virtue.
Lin Zhuomian got out of the car first, closed his eyes, seemingly pondering something.
Hu Xianshi said, “Mr. Lin, I’ve checked the Feng Shui here many times, and I couldn’t find any clues on the compass. But my sister’s family keeps encountering strange incidents.”
Lin Zhuomian replied, “The house is flanked by hills on both sides, with mountains, water, trees, and peaks… It should be an auspicious place.”
Hu Xianshi nodded, saying, “I specifically chose this place, but who would have thought…” He had a good relationship with his younger sister, so he had chosen this treasure of a location to build a small building. However, shortly after his sister moved in, problems arose.
At first, Hu Xianshi didn’t believe that there was an issue with his Feng Shui, but reality slapped him hard in the face. What was even worse was that he couldn’t find where the problem in the Feng Shui was.
Wu Tuisan, watching the scene with great interest, whispered, “If the master could be my teacher, I’d wake up laughing from my dreams.”
Bai Luoluo kept a well-behaved expression.
Seeing Bai Luoluo like this, Wu Tuisan couldn’t help pinching his face and said, “Are you just deceiving people with this obedient expression? Too cunning.”
Bai Luoluo was inexplicably pinched by him and said, “Don’t treat me like a child. I’m actually a few years older than you.”
Wu Tuisan shrugged and said nonchalantly, “I pinched you. What are you going to do, hit me?”
Bai Luoluo: “…” Don’t force me; I might let the system beat you up.
After five hours, they finally arrived at the house that Hu Xianshi had mentioned.
Situated in the outskirts, surrounded by pine and cypress trees, the small building was a clear indication of a prosperous family.
Although Hu Xianshi complained about his family’s misfortune, the Hu family’s influence was still evident. Despite their misfortune, there was a limit—unless they had committed something that went against Yin virtue.
Lin Zhuomian got off the car first, closed his eyes as if contemplating something.
Hu Xianshi said, “Mr. Lin, I’ve checked the Feng Shui here many times, and I couldn’t find any clues on the compass. But my sister’s family keeps encountering strange incidents.”
Lin Zhuomian replied, “The house is flanked by hills on both sides, with mountains, water, trees, and peaks… It should be an auspicious place.”
Hu Xianshi nodded, saying, “I specifically chose this place, but who would have thought…” He had a good relationship with his younger sister, so he had chosen this treasure of a location to build a small building. However, shortly after his sister moved in, problems arose.
At first, Hu Xianshi didn’t believe that there was an issue with his Feng Shui, but reality slapped him hard in the face. What was even worse was that he couldn’t find where the problem in the Feng Shui was.
His younger sister is more stubborn than him, proud of being born in the Hu family. She completely refuses to acknowledge that there is an issue with the residence chosen by her brother, even though Hu Xianshi has pointed it out. According to Hu Xianshi, her sister’s exact words are: if she moves out, the reputation of the Hu family will be completely ruined, and how can they continue in the Feng Shui business? Not only does she refuse to move, but she also forbids her brother from talking about this matter.
Lin Zhuo turned around the house and nodded, saying, “You’ve indeed put in a lot of effort.”
Hu Xianshi sighed, “But what’s the use of it?”
Lin Zhuo asked, “Did you intentionally plant the trees on both sides of the house?”
Hu Xianshi replied, “Yes, I specifically had them planted.”
Having tall trees on both sides of the residence is considered auspicious, along with the wood in the Qian position and the mountain in the Gen position, forming an interplay of Feng Shui forces. The pond on the right side of the house, along with the adjacent road, together with the previous scenery, creates a scene of the Four Symbols.
With the interplay of the forces and the Four Symbols, the financial luck of the residents in this area would be exceptionally good, and their descendants would also prosper financially. Moreover, the presence of the Four Symbols would be beneficial for women, ensuring a good relationship between the woman living here and her husband, with obedient and filial children.
Lin Zhuo said, “Zhou Zhizhi, how does this scenery look to your eyes?”
Bai Luoluo, accustomed to Lin Zhuo suddenly singling him out, honestly answered, “Colorful auspicious qi surrounds the house… but…”
“But what?” Hu Xianshi urged.
“But it feels like something is blocking, as if I can’t enter,” Bai Luoluo continued describing the scene in his eyes, saying, “The house is shrouded in black energy, a bit like a vortex.”
Hu Xianshi’s face turned half blue upon hearing this.
“Let’s go inside and take a look,” Lin Zhuo showed some interest, saying, “It’s quite intriguing.”
So, the group entered the house together.
Hu Xianshi’s sister happened to be at home. Seeing the group of people, she asked in confusion, “Brother, what’s going on?”
Hu Xianshi said, “This is Senior Lin.”
Hu Xianshi’s sister, Hu Yuzhen, suspiciously said, “Senior Lin?”
Hu Xianshi briefly explained Lin Zhuo’s identity. Hu Yuzhen’s expression changed, different from the gratitude everyone expected. Instead, she seemed a bit angry, saying, “Didn’t I say I’m fine? Why did you still bring these people to our home!”
Hu Xianshi knew what his sister was thinking. With a face full of vicissitudes, he said in a hoarse voice, “Yuzhen, I know you don’t want to admit that the Hu family has declined, but these things can’t be concealed. If something really happens, we’ll be ridiculed even more. Besides, you’re my only sister. When our father passed away, I also promised him to take good care of you.”
Hu Yuzhen burst into tears at his words, saying, “Brother, you don’t understand, you don’t understand.”
“I do understand,” Hu Xianshi said, “You’re afraid that I’ll be laughed at by others… but I can’t use your life to preserve our reputation.”
Despite being quite old, these words were still particularly poignant.
Lin Zhuo’s expression remained indifferent, bypassing the sorrowful atmosphere. He said, “May I take a look inside the house?”
“Please, Mr. Lin,” Hu Xianshi consoled his sister while inviting Lin Zhuo.
So, Lin Zhuo, accompanied by Bai Luoluo and Wu Tuisan, walked around the house.
Each time they came out, Wu Tuisan and the other two at home were eager to follow Lin Zhuo. They always learned a lot whenever they went out, broadening their horizons.
The house had three floors, with the ground floor as the living room, the second floor as bedrooms, and the third floor as a miscellaneous storage room.
Lin Zhuo inspected all three floors.
Bai Luoluo and Lin Zhuo examined together. Bai Luoluo noticed Wu Tuisan nodding from time to time, so when Lin Zhuo was looking at another room, Bai Luoluo poked him and asked, “Did you notice anything?”
Wu Tuisan said, “No.”
Bai Luoluo said, “Then why did you nod?”
Wu Tuisan said, “Can’t I pretend a bit? You don’t understand what the teacher is saying in class, and you still nod, right?”
Bai Luoluo felt a bit tongue-tied; Wu Tuisan did make a reasonable point.
“But I really didn’t see anything wrong with this house,” Wu Tuisan hesitated and said, “Whether it’s the furniture arrangement or the layout of the rooms, it all follows the best Feng Shui principles. No wonder he can’t find anything.” He seemed to recall something and asked Bai Luoluo, “You mentioned there’s black energy in the house. Where do you see the heaviest concentration?”
Bai Luoluo’s eyes wandered around the house, and after a moment of hesitation, he said, “It’s quite heavy throughout the entire house.” The black energy seemed to be emanating from beneath the floor, covering the entire house.
Lin Zhuo continued wandering around the house for about ten minutes.
Hu Xianshi and Hu Yuzhen followed him, accompanying him cautiously. Lin Zhuo asked them various questions, and they answered all of them.
Finally, Lin Zhuo said, “How tall is this building?”
Hu Xianshi said, “I haven’t calculated it precisely… but the unfinished house seems to have each floor at two meters eight, so the third floor should be around □□ meters.”
Lin Zhuo pointed to the ceiling above his head, “Haven’t you noticed that the height of this house seems a bit off?”
Hu Xianshi looked puzzled, but Hu Yuzhen said, “It does seem… a little bit. My son always says the second floor is short, but I haven’t really felt it…”
Lin Zhuo said, “Open the ceiling.”
Hu Xianshi couldn’t believe it, “Is there something in the ceiling?”
Lin Zhuo said indifferently, “Let me tell you, your house has a lot of things, but the one in the ceiling is the most troublesome.”
In theory, as a Feng Shui expert, Hu Xianshi should have encountered various situations like this, but he couldn’t help feeling a chill down his spine. Hesitating, he asked, “Mr. Lin, what exactly is that thing…”
“It could be anything,” Lin Zhuo sat down.
Hu Yuzhen said, “Ah, Mr. Lin, let me pour you a cup of tea. Please have a seat and tell us slowly.”
Apart from Lin Zhuo, everyone else in the room was bewildered.
Bai Luoluo sat quietly next to Lin Zhuo, resembling a chicken as a decoration. Wu Tuisan and Hu Xianshi kept staring at the ceiling, but none of them could discern any clues. Eventually, the layman Xu Rujin couldn’t hold back and shamelessly said, “Mr. Lin, your skills are too extraordinary. How can you sense that the ceiling is amiss so easily?”
Lin Zhuo took a sip of the tea that had just been served, ignoring him. Instead, he asked, “Wu Tuisan, have you noticed any clues?”
Wu Tuisan shamefully admitted, “No, teacher.”
Lin Zhuo pursed his lips. Although his expression remained indifferent, Bai Luoluo unexpectedly sensed a hint of disappointment.
Wu Tuisan kept his head down, not daring to speak.
Lin Zhuo said, “You’ve been with me for three years.”
Wu Tuisan shrugged his mouth.
Lin Zhuo continued, “You walked around the house, but you didn’t even glance up at the ceiling. On the other hand, Zhou Zhizhi has been looking up the entire time.”
Wu Tuisan seemed inclined to defend himself, but he knew Lin Zhuo was telling the truth.
Lin Zhuo said coldly, “You’re even worse than him. I’ve taught you the principles of Feng Shui so many times – the importance of unity in every aspect, from furniture to room arrangements. Indeed, you can alter Feng Shui by changing the layout, but if the overall situation is flawed, what’s the use of making changes from the corners?”
Wu Tuisan sighed, apologizing to his teacher.
Hu Xianshi asked, “Mr. Lin, did you feel it as soon as you entered the house?”
Lin Zhuo nodded. He hesitated for a moment and then said, “I sensed that the overall energy of the house was off. Clearly, there’s something suppressing the Feng Shui of your residence. Moreover, whatever is suppressing your Feng Shui must be located in the core of the house.”
Hu Xianshi asked, “So you thought of… the ceiling?”
Lin Zhuo nodded. After a brief pause, he said, “Seeing the techniques of this person, it’s somewhat similar to what happened at the Xu residence. You should think carefully if you’ve offended someone.”
Xu Rujin and Hu Xianshi exchanged glances. In fact, even before the incident at the Xu residence, Hu Xianshi and Xu Rujin had a good relationship and often interacted.
With Lin Zhuo’s reminder, the two suddenly recalled something. Xu Rujin slapped his thigh and exclaimed, “Old Hu, the construction team I hired to renovate my old house was recommended by you!”
Only then did Hu Xianshi remember something. His face turned iron blue as he said, “The owner of that construction team is my nephew. Why would he do this?”
Unable to contain his anger, Xu Rujin cursed, “I was still wondering who hated me so much. Damn it, that despicable person will sooner or later meet his doom.”
Hu Xianshi’s chest heaved with anger, and he was ready to grab something and confront someone.
Lin Zhuo’s expression remained indifferent from start to finish. Even though he was aware of this malicious act, he didn’t show a trace of emotion.
In the end, Hu Yuzhen persuaded Hu Xianshi and invited Lin Zhuo and his companions to have dinner there. She mentioned that she had already instructed the servant to buy ingredients, and it was getting late, so they could stay overnight if they didn’t mind.
Both Wu Tuisan and Bai Luoluo couldn’t make decisions and looked at Lin Zhuo.
After a moment of contemplation, Lin Zhuo said, “Alright.”
Now that the cause had been identified, Hu Xianshi was in a hurry. He arranged for the construction team to come tomorrow morning to break open the ceiling, sitting alone at the table in frustration.
Hu Yuzhen sighed, “Don’t be angry; it won’t help. Tomorrow, we’ll have someone take out whatever is inside.”
What more could Hu Xianshi say? He could only nod.
Dinner was plentiful, but Lin Zhuo still had little appetite. It seemed that since leaving home, he had lost interest in eating, only consuming enough to maintain basic bodily functions.
On the other hand, Bai Luoluo always had a good appetite. While Lin Zhuo was speaking to him, he had a chicken wing in his mouth, and when he heard Lin Zhuo’s words, he almost choked on it.
Lin Zhuo remarked, “Is it that delicious?”
Bai Luoluo nodded vigorously.
All eyes at the table focused on Bai Luoluo. Trying hard to swallow the chicken wing, he managed it and said, “It’s really tasty.”
Everyone was surprised by Lin Zhuo’s unexpected action. He actually touched Bai Luoluo’s head and said, “Too thin.”
Wu Tuisan was so shocked that the vegetables in his mouth almost fell out.
Bai Luoluo, in terror, said to the system, “Why did he say that to me?”
The system replied, “I’m scared too.”
Bai Luoluo broke out in a cold sweat on his forehead, feeling like he was a pig raised by Lin Zhuo, and Lin Zhuo’s gentle advice to eat more was just to get more meat when slaughtering the pig.
Trembling, Bai Luoluo hugged the system.
Fortunately, Lin Zhuo’s abnormal behavior was limited to this sentence, and he soon returned to his usual cold demeanor. When others spoke, he lazily responded with one or two words, sometimes not saying anything at all.
After dinner, Hu Yuzhen arranged accommodation again.
Lin Zhuo’s room was in the middle, with Wu Tuisan and Bai Luoluo on either side. Fortunately, there was no awkward situation of needing two people to squeeze into one room due to a shortage of space.
Xu Rujin originally intended to leave, but out of curiosity about what was inside the ceiling, he decided to stay as well.
After dinner, Wu Tuisan put his arm around Bai Luoluo’s shoulder and, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, insisted on telling Bai Luoluo a story.
Bai Luoluo said, “…”
Before he could refuse, Wu Tuisan forcefully dragged him to the rooftop.
The view from the rooftop was indeed beautiful, with mountains and rivers stretching as far as the eye could see. Even though Bai Luoluo didn’t understand much, he could still appreciate the refreshing scenery.
Wu Tuisan took a puff of his cigarette and said, “Let me tell you the story of the weasel you saw earlier.”
Bai Luoluo: “…” Was this guy trying to make him back off? But… he wasn’t afraid of monsters.
Jan 17, 2024
—
by
Juno
in Fight for Peace and Love
If Feng Shui is considered a course, Bai Luoluo is probably still in kindergarten learning basic language, Wu Tuisan may have reached middle school and learned some basic principles, but the one they are following, Lin Zhuomian, is evidently an expert in this subject.
Hu Xianshi clings to Lin Zhuomian’s leg, wailing desperately, even leaving Bai Luoluo astonished.
Hu Xianshi said, “Master, I’ve been waiting for you for a long time—”
Lin Zhuomian seemed to have a headache and said, “Get up and talk.”
However, Hu Xianshi refused to get up, still grabbing Lin Zhuomian’s pants leg and crying.
Seeing this, Wu Tuisan became anxious and said, “Why are people from the Hu family so shameless? You’re all in your forties, yet you rely on your age. The disciples that a master accepts naturally need to have excellent qualifications and talent. Crying like this, do you think the master will take a liking to you?”
Hu Xianshi shamelessly replied, “Mind your own business.”
Wu Tuisan’s face turned various shades of purple and blue. He couldn’t believe that Hu Xianshi would be so shameless, taking advantage of his age to try to get close to Lin Zhuomian.
Bai Luoluo watched quietly from the side.
Lin Zhuomian said, “I can’t accept you.”
Hu Xianshi wanted to say something more, but Lin Zhuomian continued, “The reverse water compass in your right hand, is it passed down from your ancestors?”
Hu Xianshi nodded, looking hesitant. He probably wanted to ask how Lin Zhuomian, who couldn’t see anything, could see the compass in his hand and even knew its name was Reverse Water.
Lin Zhuomian, however, seemed to have guessed what he was thinking. He said, “Each compass forms its own Feng Shui pattern. Those who have mastered Feng Shui don’t need to rely on their eyes. They can sense the surrounding Feng Shui patterns.”
Bai Luoluo was puzzled, but the system explained to him. It said, “Let me give you an analogy. The place you live in is like the surface of the water, and the Feng Shui patterns are like whirlpools in the water, affecting the flow of other water. Experts like Lin Zhuomian, even if they can’t see with their eyes, can feel the changes around them.”
Bai Luoluo showed an expression of enlightenment.
The system added, “Well, it’s a bit complicated. Just follow Lin Zhuomian for now.”
Bai Luoluo then asked about the earlier incident where Lin Zhuomian used my finger to mark someone’s forehead. It startled him.
The system was about to explain when someone nearby spoke up.
“What did you do to Tan Shao?” One of the men who had been watching the show approached Lin Zhuomian with a stern face.
The previously fierce Tan Shao was now gently caressing another person’s face. The person being touched looked like they were about to cry, pulling at their throat and saying, “Tan Shao, Tan Shao, what’s wrong with you?”
Tan Shao, in a gentle and watery tone, pinched his throat and said, “Don’t move, I just want to take a good look at you.”
The person replied, “…”
In response to the questioning, Lin Zhuomian coldly said, “He’s young, but his temper is so strong. I did this for his own good.”
“Yeah, don’t blame this gentleman.” Tan Shao, a big man, showed a pitiful expression like Daiyu mourning flowers. He raised his delicate fingers and choked, “I used to be too rough. That was wrong. Now I like the way I am.”
Everyone had a look of trying to hold back their nausea.
Lin Zhuomian said, “Is there anything else? If not, I’ll leave.”
After saying this, he was about to turn and leave. The person who had questioned Lin Zhuomian earlier angrily said, “You just want to let him go? Have you ever thought about what would happen if Tan Shao’s father saw him like this?”
This statement awakened the others who were scared by Tan Shao’s transformation. The burly man acting as a bodyguard hurriedly approached. However, his attitude had improved significantly compared to when he invited Lin Zhuomian. He tentatively said, “Mr. Lin, can you let our boss off?”
But Lin Zhuomian had run out of patience. His whole demeanor became cold, and his tone froze as well. He said, “A dog bullying others dares to beg for mercy?!”
His words were merciless, causing the burly man’s face to change drastically.
Seeing Lin Zhuomian taking another step forward, the burly man was about to reach out and stop Lin Zhuomian. However, before his hand touched Lin Zhuomian’s arm, Lin Zhuomian subtly evaded his movement. He then raised his hand and lightly tapped his elbow.
Although the movement didn’t appear forceful and only involved two fingers, the burly man instantly emitted a miserably loud cry, clutching his arm and collapsing.
The air in the room stagnated once again.
“Everyone, everyone,” Hu Xianshi, sensing the situation wasn’t good, hurriedly said, “Don’t get excited. This time it’s indeed our fault. Mr. Lin is a Feng Shui expert. Please don’t misunderstand his identity…” He quickly mentioned several names of Feng Shui experts that people were relatively familiar with, emphasizing that these people were not even worthy of being Lin Zhuomian’s disciples.
Lin Zhuomian couldn’t be bothered to listen to Hu Xianshi’s explanations and said, “Let’s go,” taking Wu Tuisan and Bai Luoluo out.
He left gracefully, but Hu Xianshi wasn’t so fortunate.
After Lin Zhuomian left, Hu Xianshi quickly checked Tan Shao’s condition and found that the red marks on Tan Shao’s forehead, which were originally scratched by nails, had turned purple.
“Corpse qi entering the body?” Hu Xianshi looked around, left and right, confirmed that he wasn’t mistaken, and then he was completely dumbfounded, saying, “What’s going on? Corpse qi… Where did this corpse qi come from?”
Others didn’t have a good expression upon hearing the term corpse qi, and someone cautiously asked what exactly was going on and if it could be cured.
Hu Xianshi touched his beard and sighed, “It’s fine, but it’ll take half a year. I’ll prescribe some medicinal herbs. You can go and get them for him to drink. It should alleviate it a bit.”
Others quickly agreed.
After writing the prescription, Hu Xianshi hastily wanted to leave with his compass. Someone asked where he was going, and he sighed, “I have to beg
Mr. Lin again. If Mr. Lin can accept me as his disciple, my life will be worth it.”
“Is he that powerful?” Someone was skeptical.
Hu Xianshi said, “You don’t know him, and you might not know the Lin family in Mengcheng, but you should at least know the tall building in C City called Golden Tower, right?”
“We know, we know.” That person said, “That’s something everyone in our business district knows. The company that was about to go bankrupt found someone to change the Feng Shui pattern and miraculously revived. It even became the busiest business center in C City.”
Hu Xianshi said, “That’s the work of the Lin family.”
“So, who is Mr. Lin?” The person asked again.
Hu Xianshi thought for a moment and said, “The person in the Lin family you should never mess with?” He had heard of such a person’s existence and knew that the person was blind, but he had never seen them. Unexpectedly, today he had such an awkward encounter with them in this place.
After saying this, Hu Xianshi left as well.
The people in the room looked at the prescription written by Hu Xianshi and murmured, questioning if this thing was really so miraculous.
“I don’t know if it’s miraculous or not.” One person sighed, “Anyway, I can’t turn someone into a sissy with just a finger.”
Tan Shao, who was listening to this, didn’t like it. He extended his delicate fingers and said, “Who are you calling a sissy? I’m definitely not a sissy, hmph.”
Everyone showed expressions of being unable to bear looking directly at him.
Meanwhile, after Lin Zhuomian came out, the three of them hailed a cab and returned to the hotel.
In the car, Wu Tuisan complained that Hu Xianshi was disrespectful to the elderly, actually tugging at the master’s pants and crying, claiming that if crying could make the master accept him as a disciple, he could collapse the Great Wall with his tears.
Listening to his complaints for a while, Lin Zhuomian calmly asked, “What happened to Tan Shao just now? Did you figure it out?”
Wu Tuisan didn’t expect to be quizzed like this. After choking for a moment, he said, “Did the master use Yin energy to enter his forehead?”
Lin Zhuomian asked, “Yin energy entered? What are the symptoms of Yin energy entering a Yang body?”
Wu Tuisan realized he answered incorrectly but still replied to Lin Zhuomian’s question, “Mild cases result in unconsciousness, severe cases… sudden death.”
Lin Zhuomian said, “Zhou Zhizhi, what do you think?”
Bai Luoluo thought, why are you testing me again? I didn’t want to be your disciple, but he still didn’t dare to answer casually. He obediently blurred the answer the system provided him and said, “Did the master use the corpse qi from the blood jade…?”
“Not bad comprehension.” Lin Zhuomian nodded, seemingly satisfied with Bai Luoluo’s answer.
Bai Luoluo breathed a sigh of relief.
Indeed, the blood jade was different from the ordinary jade stolen from the tomb. It was the piece contained in the mouth of a corpse. As the body slowly decomposed, blood, flesh, and Yin energy merged into the jade. Therefore, the blood jade not only had a heavy Yin energy but also a rich corpse qi. However, being buried in the mouth of a corpse was just one of the conditions for the formation of blood jade; there were other more stringent conditions, or else the quantity of blood jade wouldn’t be so scarce.
“But, but, Master,” Wu Tuisan still had one thing unclear. He asked, “Why did you use Zhou Zhizhi’s hand to point at that person’s forehead?”
This time, Lin Zhuomian’s answer was quite convincing. He said, “Dirty.”
Bai Luoluo thought, “…Am I not dirty enough?”
Still, Lin Zhuomian gently said to Bai Luoluo, “Remember to wash your hands when you go back.”
Bai Luoluo wailed and cried with the system. He said he felt like his hands were just sticks, ruthlessly exploited by Lin Zhuomian.
The system calmly stated, “It’s okay. At least you’re still alive, and living is hope.”
Bai Luoluo muttered, “…” He didn’t feel comforted at all.
After returning, Wu Tuisan paid the cab fare, and the three rested in their room.
Bai Luoluo took a shower and then lay on the bed, mindlessly eating melon seeds. He said, “I feel like I’m taking an exam.”
The system said, “No need to feel; it is an exam.”
Bai Luoluo said, “If I fail, I die.”
The system: “…”
Bai Luoluo said, “Sigh.”
They were supposed to quietly sleep and leave the next day quietly. Who would have thought there would be such a loophole? They were already sleeping, and it was almost three in the morning.
The next morning, Xu Rujin came to pick up the three of them to go to the airport. Seeing their expressions, except for Lin Zhuomian, everyone else looked listless. Xu Rujin smiled and asked if they had gone somewhere fun last night.
“Yeah, we did.” Wu Tuisan sighed, “But it wasn’t fun at all.”
Xu Rujin inexplicably sensed complaints from his tone. However, he didn’t think much about it and just wanted the three to get on the car first.
“Mr. Lin! Mr. Lin!” Unexpectedly, as soon as the three left the hotel, a familiar voice came from the side. Bai Luoluo looked over and saw Hu Xianshi, who had been scolded by Lin Zhuomian yesterday.
“Mr. Lin, are you leaving so soon?” Hu Xianshi asked.
“Yeah.” Lin Zhuomian responded.
“Why are you in such a hurry to go back…” Hu Xianshi said.
Wu Tuisan, being impatient by nature, said to Hu Xianshi, “What are you doing here? If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have been kidnapped. Look at my face, it’s still bruised from last night.” He had resisted when those people came to abduct them, and as a result, his face was left with a bruise.
Xu Rujin, listening nearby, was puzzled. He asked, “What happened?”
Wu Tuisan glanced at him and vividly recounted the events of the previous night to Xu Rujin, adding some exaggeration—after all, Xu Rujin had his share in the matter.
As Xu Rujin listened, his expression became increasingly awkward because he realized that the root cause of the problem was actually him. If he hadn’t angrily scolded Hu Xianshi over the phone and been heard by Tan Shao, the three of them wouldn’t have ended up in this situation.
Xu Rujin said, “I’m really sorry, Mr. Lin. I was too angry and didn’t think much… I’ve caused you trouble.”
Lin Zhuomian ignored Xu Rujin and simply asked Hu Xianshi, “Do you have something to discuss?”
Hu Xianshi hesitated for a while before stuttering out the details of the incident.
It turned out that there was an issue with his younger sister’s house. Although he had looked at it many times, he couldn’t figure out the cause. He had advised his sister to move, but she refused, angrily stating that their Feng Shui family couldn’t even determine their own Feng Shui, and it would be better to die. So, she insisted on staying in that house, refusing to move.
Considering the past glory of the Hu family as a renowned Feng Shui expert, it was indeed a difficult situation to accept. Lin Zhuomian sighed lightly after hearing the story and said, “Forget it. I had some dealings with the Hu family back then. Consider it repaying a favor.”
Bai Luoluo, listening to this conversation, couldn’t help but wonder about Lin Zhuomian’s age…
With Lin Zhuomian’s agreement, Hu Xianshi was overjoyed, and his beard trembled with excitement. He said, “Time is of the essence. How about I take Mr. Lin to see it today?”
Lin Zhuomian nodded in agreement.
Xu Rujin, who had initially been irritated by Hu Xianshi, had a change of heart after listening to the conversation between Lin Zhuomian and Hu Xianshi. He suggested that he could drive them there since the car was already at the entrance, and Lin Zhuomian shouldn’t be polite.
Lin Zhuomian said, “Sure.”
So, the plan was settled.
Wu Tuisan thought they would be able to go back today, but unexpectedly, Hu Xianshi intervened, making his mood a bit sour.
He and Bai Luoluo sat in the back seat with Hu Xianshi, while Lin Zhuomian and Xu Rujin sat in the front.
Hu Xianshi’s sister’s house was in the outskirts, surrounded by pine and cypress trees, with a beautiful small building standing among them, indicating that the residents were either wealthy or influential.
Although Hu Xianshi lamented his family’s misfortune, the Hu family’s foundation was still evident. No matter how unfortunate, there was a limit—unless they had done something that violated Yin virtue.
Lin Zhuomian got out of the car first, closed his eyes, seemingly pondering something.
Hu Xianshi said, “Mr. Lin, I’ve checked the Feng Shui here many times, and I couldn’t find any clues on the compass. But my sister’s family keeps encountering strange incidents.”
Lin Zhuomian replied, “The house is flanked by hills on both sides, with mountains, water, trees, and peaks… It should be an auspicious place.”
Hu Xianshi nodded, saying, “I specifically chose this place, but who would have thought…” He had a good relationship with his younger sister, so he had chosen this treasure of a location to build a small building. However, shortly after his sister moved in, problems arose.
At first, Hu Xianshi didn’t believe that there was an issue with his Feng Shui, but reality slapped him hard in the face. What was even worse was that he couldn’t find where the problem in the Feng Shui was.
Wu Tuisan, watching the scene with great interest, whispered, “If the master could be my teacher, I’d wake up laughing from my dreams.”
Bai Luoluo kept a well-behaved expression.
Seeing Bai Luoluo like this, Wu Tuisan couldn’t help pinching his face and said, “Are you just deceiving people with this obedient expression? Too cunning.”
Bai Luoluo was inexplicably pinched by him and said, “Don’t treat me like a child. I’m actually a few years older than you.”
Wu Tuisan shrugged and said nonchalantly, “I pinched you. What are you going to do, hit me?”
Bai Luoluo: “…” Don’t force me; I might let the system beat you up.
After five hours, they finally arrived at the house that Hu Xianshi had mentioned.
Situated in the outskirts, surrounded by pine and cypress trees, the small building was a clear indication of a prosperous family.
Although Hu Xianshi complained about his family’s misfortune, the Hu family’s influence was still evident. Despite their misfortune, there was a limit—unless they had committed something that went against Yin virtue.
Lin Zhuomian got off the car first, closed his eyes as if contemplating something.
Hu Xianshi said, “Mr. Lin, I’ve checked the Feng Shui here many times, and I couldn’t find any clues on the compass. But my sister’s family keeps encountering strange incidents.”
Lin Zhuomian replied, “The house is flanked by hills on both sides, with mountains, water, trees, and peaks… It should be an auspicious place.”
Hu Xianshi nodded, saying, “I specifically chose this place, but who would have thought…” He had a good relationship with his younger sister, so he had chosen this treasure of a location to build a small building. However, shortly after his sister moved in, problems arose.
At first, Hu Xianshi didn’t believe that there was an issue with his Feng Shui, but reality slapped him hard in the face. What was even worse was that he couldn’t find where the problem in the Feng Shui was.
His younger sister is more stubborn than him, proud of being born in the Hu family. She completely refuses to acknowledge that there is an issue with the residence chosen by her brother, even though Hu Xianshi has pointed it out. According to Hu Xianshi, her sister’s exact words are: if she moves out, the reputation of the Hu family will be completely ruined, and how can they continue in the Feng Shui business? Not only does she refuse to move, but she also forbids her brother from talking about this matter.
Lin Zhuo turned around the house and nodded, saying, “You’ve indeed put in a lot of effort.”
Hu Xianshi sighed, “But what’s the use of it?”
Lin Zhuo asked, “Did you intentionally plant the trees on both sides of the house?”
Hu Xianshi replied, “Yes, I specifically had them planted.”
Having tall trees on both sides of the residence is considered auspicious, along with the wood in the Qian position and the mountain in the Gen position, forming an interplay of Feng Shui forces. The pond on the right side of the house, along with the adjacent road, together with the previous scenery, creates a scene of the Four Symbols.
With the interplay of the forces and the Four Symbols, the financial luck of the residents in this area would be exceptionally good, and their descendants would also prosper financially. Moreover, the presence of the Four Symbols would be beneficial for women, ensuring a good relationship between the woman living here and her husband, with obedient and filial children.
Lin Zhuo said, “Zhou Zhizhi, how does this scenery look to your eyes?”
Bai Luoluo, accustomed to Lin Zhuo suddenly singling him out, honestly answered, “Colorful auspicious qi surrounds the house… but…”
“But what?” Hu Xianshi urged.
“But it feels like something is blocking, as if I can’t enter,” Bai Luoluo continued describing the scene in his eyes, saying, “The house is shrouded in black energy, a bit like a vortex.”
Hu Xianshi’s face turned half blue upon hearing this.
“Let’s go inside and take a look,” Lin Zhuo showed some interest, saying, “It’s quite intriguing.”
So, the group entered the house together.
Hu Xianshi’s sister happened to be at home. Seeing the group of people, she asked in confusion, “Brother, what’s going on?”
Hu Xianshi said, “This is Senior Lin.”
Hu Xianshi’s sister, Hu Yuzhen, suspiciously said, “Senior Lin?”
Hu Xianshi briefly explained Lin Zhuo’s identity. Hu Yuzhen’s expression changed, different from the gratitude everyone expected. Instead, she seemed a bit angry, saying, “Didn’t I say I’m fine? Why did you still bring these people to our home!”
Hu Xianshi knew what his sister was thinking. With a face full of vicissitudes, he said in a hoarse voice, “Yuzhen, I know you don’t want to admit that the Hu family has declined, but these things can’t be concealed. If something really happens, we’ll be ridiculed even more. Besides, you’re my only sister. When our father passed away, I also promised him to take good care of you.”
Hu Yuzhen burst into tears at his words, saying, “Brother, you don’t understand, you don’t understand.”
“I do understand,” Hu Xianshi said, “You’re afraid that I’ll be laughed at by others… but I can’t use your life to preserve our reputation.”
Despite being quite old, these words were still particularly poignant.
Lin Zhuo’s expression remained indifferent, bypassing the sorrowful atmosphere. He said, “May I take a look inside the house?”
“Please, Mr. Lin,” Hu Xianshi consoled his sister while inviting Lin Zhuo.
So, Lin Zhuo, accompanied by Bai Luoluo and Wu Tuisan, walked around the house.
Each time they came out, Wu Tuisan and the other two at home were eager to follow Lin Zhuo. They always learned a lot whenever they went out, broadening their horizons.
The house had three floors, with the ground floor as the living room, the second floor as bedrooms, and the third floor as a miscellaneous storage room.
Lin Zhuo inspected all three floors.
Bai Luoluo and Lin Zhuo examined together. Bai Luoluo noticed Wu Tuisan nodding from time to time, so when Lin Zhuo was looking at another room, Bai Luoluo poked him and asked, “Did you notice anything?”
Wu Tuisan said, “No.”
Bai Luoluo said, “Then why did you nod?”
Wu Tuisan said, “Can’t I pretend a bit? You don’t understand what the teacher is saying in class, and you still nod, right?”
Bai Luoluo felt a bit tongue-tied; Wu Tuisan did make a reasonable point.
“But I really didn’t see anything wrong with this house,” Wu Tuisan hesitated and said, “Whether it’s the furniture arrangement or the layout of the rooms, it all follows the best Feng Shui principles. No wonder he can’t find anything.” He seemed to recall something and asked Bai Luoluo, “You mentioned there’s black energy in the house. Where do you see the heaviest concentration?”
Bai Luoluo’s eyes wandered around the house, and after a moment of hesitation, he said, “It’s quite heavy throughout the entire house.” The black energy seemed to be emanating from beneath the floor, covering the entire house.
Lin Zhuo continued wandering around the house for about ten minutes.
Hu Xianshi and Hu Yuzhen followed him, accompanying him cautiously. Lin Zhuo asked them various questions, and they answered all of them.
Finally, Lin Zhuo said, “How tall is this building?”
Hu Xianshi said, “I haven’t calculated it precisely… but the unfinished house seems to have each floor at two meters eight, so the third floor should be around □□ meters.”
Lin Zhuo pointed to the ceiling above his head, “Haven’t you noticed that the height of this house seems a bit off?”
Hu Xianshi looked puzzled, but Hu Yuzhen said, “It does seem… a little bit. My son always says the second floor is short, but I haven’t really felt it…”
Lin Zhuo said, “Open the ceiling.”
Hu Xianshi couldn’t believe it, “Is there something in the ceiling?”
Lin Zhuo said indifferently, “Let me tell you, your house has a lot of things, but the one in the ceiling is the most troublesome.”
In theory, as a Feng Shui expert, Hu Xianshi should have encountered various situations like this, but he couldn’t help feeling a chill down his spine. Hesitating, he asked, “Mr. Lin, what exactly is that thing…”
“It could be anything,” Lin Zhuo sat down.
Hu Yuzhen said, “Ah, Mr. Lin, let me pour you a cup of tea. Please have a seat and tell us slowly.”
Apart from Lin Zhuo, everyone else in the room was bewildered.
Bai Luoluo sat quietly next to Lin Zhuo, resembling a chicken as a decoration. Wu Tuisan and Hu Xianshi kept staring at the ceiling, but none of them could discern any clues. Eventually, the layman Xu Rujin couldn’t hold back and shamelessly said, “Mr. Lin, your skills are too extraordinary. How can you sense that the ceiling is amiss so easily?”
Lin Zhuo took a sip of the tea that had just been served, ignoring him. Instead, he asked, “Wu Tuisan, have you noticed any clues?”
Wu Tuisan shamefully admitted, “No, teacher.”
Lin Zhuo pursed his lips. Although his expression remained indifferent, Bai Luoluo unexpectedly sensed a hint of disappointment.
Wu Tuisan kept his head down, not daring to speak.
Lin Zhuo said, “You’ve been with me for three years.”
Wu Tuisan shrugged his mouth.
Lin Zhuo continued, “You walked around the house, but you didn’t even glance up at the ceiling. On the other hand, Zhou Zhizhi has been looking up the entire time.”
Wu Tuisan seemed inclined to defend himself, but he knew Lin Zhuo was telling the truth.
Lin Zhuo said coldly, “You’re even worse than him. I’ve taught you the principles of Feng Shui so many times – the importance of unity in every aspect, from furniture to room arrangements. Indeed, you can alter Feng Shui by changing the layout, but if the overall situation is flawed, what’s the use of making changes from the corners?”
Wu Tuisan sighed, apologizing to his teacher.
Hu Xianshi asked, “Mr. Lin, did you feel it as soon as you entered the house?”
Lin Zhuo nodded. He hesitated for a moment and then said, “I sensed that the overall energy of the house was off. Clearly, there’s something suppressing the Feng Shui of your residence. Moreover, whatever is suppressing your Feng Shui must be located in the core of the house.”
Hu Xianshi asked, “So you thought of… the ceiling?”
Lin Zhuo nodded. After a brief pause, he said, “Seeing the techniques of this person, it’s somewhat similar to what happened at the Xu residence. You should think carefully if you’ve offended someone.”
Xu Rujin and Hu Xianshi exchanged glances. In fact, even before the incident at the Xu residence, Hu Xianshi and Xu Rujin had a good relationship and often interacted.
With Lin Zhuo’s reminder, the two suddenly recalled something. Xu Rujin slapped his thigh and exclaimed, “Old Hu, the construction team I hired to renovate my old house was recommended by you!”
Only then did Hu Xianshi remember something. His face turned iron blue as he said, “The owner of that construction team is my nephew. Why would he do this?”
Unable to contain his anger, Xu Rujin cursed, “I was still wondering who hated me so much. Damn it, that despicable person will sooner or later meet his doom.”
Hu Xianshi’s chest heaved with anger, and he was ready to grab something and confront someone.
Lin Zhuo’s expression remained indifferent from start to finish. Even though he was aware of this malicious act, he didn’t show a trace of emotion.
In the end, Hu Yuzhen persuaded Hu Xianshi and invited Lin Zhuo and his companions to have dinner there. She mentioned that she had already instructed the servant to buy ingredients, and it was getting late, so they could stay overnight if they didn’t mind.
Both Wu Tuisan and Bai Luoluo couldn’t make decisions and looked at Lin Zhuo.
After a moment of contemplation, Lin Zhuo said, “Alright.”
Now that the cause had been identified, Hu Xianshi was in a hurry. He arranged for the construction team to come tomorrow morning to break open the ceiling, sitting alone at the table in frustration.
Hu Yuzhen sighed, “Don’t be angry; it won’t help. Tomorrow, we’ll have someone take out whatever is inside.”
What more could Hu Xianshi say? He could only nod.
Dinner was plentiful, but Lin Zhuo still had little appetite. It seemed that since leaving home, he had lost interest in eating, only consuming enough to maintain basic bodily functions.
On the other hand, Bai Luoluo always had a good appetite. While Lin Zhuo was speaking to him, he had a chicken wing in his mouth, and when he heard Lin Zhuo’s words, he almost choked on it.
Lin Zhuo remarked, “Is it that delicious?”
Bai Luoluo nodded vigorously.
All eyes at the table focused on Bai Luoluo. Trying hard to swallow the chicken wing, he managed it and said, “It’s really tasty.”
Everyone was surprised by Lin Zhuo’s unexpected action. He actually touched Bai Luoluo’s head and said, “Too thin.”
Wu Tuisan was so shocked that the vegetables in his mouth almost fell out.
Bai Luoluo, in terror, said to the system, “Why did he say that to me?”
The system replied, “I’m scared too.”
Bai Luoluo broke out in a cold sweat on his forehead, feeling like he was a pig raised by Lin Zhuo, and Lin Zhuo’s gentle advice to eat more was just to get more meat when slaughtering the pig.
Trembling, Bai Luoluo hugged the system.
Fortunately, Lin Zhuo’s abnormal behavior was limited to this sentence, and he soon returned to his usual cold demeanor. When others spoke, he lazily responded with one or two words, sometimes not saying anything at all.
After dinner, Hu Yuzhen arranged accommodation again.
Lin Zhuo’s room was in the middle, with Wu Tuisan and Bai Luoluo on either side. Fortunately, there was no awkward situation of needing two people to squeeze into one room due to a shortage of space.
Xu Rujin originally intended to leave, but out of curiosity about what was inside the ceiling, he decided to stay as well.
After dinner, Wu Tuisan put his arm around Bai Luoluo’s shoulder and, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, insisted on telling Bai Luoluo a story.
Bai Luoluo said, “…”
Before he could refuse, Wu Tuisan forcefully dragged him to the rooftop.
The view from the rooftop was indeed beautiful, with mountains and rivers stretching as far as the eye could see. Even though Bai Luoluo didn’t understand much, he could still appreciate the refreshing scenery.
Wu Tuisan took a puff of his cigarette and said, “Let me tell you the story of the weasel you saw earlier.”
Bai Luoluo: “…” Was this guy trying to make him back off? But… he wasn’t afraid of monsters.
