The Mystical Feng Shui Files - Chapter 1 - Tang Lian

My name is Jiang Ziwu, born on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month.

At the stroke of midnight, a fierce wind howled outside. My mother struggled in labor, and as she took her final breath, the traditional midwife brought me into the world.

Our family held both a funeral and a celebration simultaneously. Seven days later, as my mother was being buried, countless snakes slithered down from the mountain.

The blind fortune teller in the village declared that I had a full yin¹ fate, marked by the ominous star of solitude. He said my mother had traded her life to bring me into this world.

According to local beliefs, I was a cursed infant-bringing misfortune to family, neighbors, and anyone who came close to me. In the end, it seemed I could only coexist with lifeless objects.

No one in the village wanted anything to do with me, yet I never felt truly alone. Two children would always come to find me, keeping me company and playing with me.

The villagers grew even more terrified because they couldn’t see the children I talked about. They claimed I was conversing with ghosts.

From that point on, I was shunned wherever I went.

Adults avoided me like the plague, and children threw stones at me.

My father looked at me as if I were his sworn enemy. Eventually, he packed his bags and left, never to return.

The only person who stayed by my side was my grandfather. But when I turned ten, he suddenly fell ill and passed away.

Lost and helpless, I sat on the ground crying, but no one came to comfort me.

That was when a gaunt old man appeared. He told me to call him “Master.” After helping me bury my grandfather, he took me away to the old street of Jiang City.

My master ran a feng shui² shop. The store was filled with various items, and he explained that these were ritual instruments I would need. Every day, I was tasked with carefully polishing them with a fine velvet cloth.

I often saw wealthy people come to visit my master, treating him with the utmost respect.

It wasn’t long before I learned that my master was quite famous in Jiang City. People were desperate to seek his help, willing to go to great lengths for his services.

But my master had one rule: he would only perform three divinations each month. Whether it was inspecting a yin house³ or arranging feng shui, it all had to align with the right dates.

If the quota was exceeded or the timing wasn’t favorable, he would refuse the job, no matter how much money was offered.

From then on, my master took me along as he traveled, inspecting yin houses, arranging feng shui, exorcising spirits, and warding off evil. He dealt with all sorts of matters-except those involving living people.

I was naturally introverted and not fond of talking. My master said this was a trait favored by the heavens. He urged me to observe, listen, and learn, speaking less and asking questions only when we returned home.

He handed me a few tattered ancient books, which became my introduction to education. The cryptic phrases within were my first lessons in literacy.

Martial arts were a mandatory part of my daily routine. Every night, I had to soak in a medicinal bath that smelled so foul it made me want to vomit.

As for sleeping, it was done inside a pitch-black coffin.

And just like that, time flew by. I turned eighteen.

By then, I was capable of running the shop on my own, handling business in my master’s absence. But before leaving, he always gave me one specific instruction: “Stay in the shop. If anyone comes looking for me, take down their request in the ledger. But remember, if they’re surnamed Tang, no matter how much they offer, don’t accept!”

After my master left, I would pick up the velvet cloth and meticulously polish the ritual instruments in the shop.

There were all kinds of jade, bronze artifacts, paintings, and ornaments-each one exuding an air of antiquity.

The finest ritual instruments were enveloped in a faint white glow. If an item had been tainted by malevolent forces, it appeared shrouded in murky black mist.

Following my master to perform exorcisms, I could clearly see those malevolent ghosts with their terrifying, distorted faces.

But fear was never something I felt. Somehow, these things didn’t seem all that frightening to me.

Ever since I could remember, there had always been a beautiful woman who appeared every night, claiming to be my mother. She would soothe me to sleep.

Even when blood-soaked malevolent ghosts tried to possess me, she would fiercely protect me. This continued until my master came into my life. When I left with him, I looked back to see her standing inside the house, smiling and waving goodbye.

Around my neck hung an ancient copper coin my master had given me.

It wasn’t inscribed with anything like “Kangxi Tongbao⁴.” Instead, it bore a single character on each side: one for “Yin” and the other for “Yang⁵.”

My master explained that this was the Yin-Yang Tongbao, a talisman that would shield me from all evil.

From that day forward, I realized that nothing could ever get close to me again.

Before leaving home this time, my master gave me his usual instructions: “Ziwu, I’ll be away for a few days. Remember, you can take on any business that comes in, but if someone with the surname Tang shows up, don’t accept it. No matter what they say or how much they offer, you must refuse!”

“I understand!” I replied, though I had heard this warning countless times before. I often wondered why he felt the need to repeat it every single time he left.

I didn’t dare ask, but my curiosity always lingered. I couldn’t help but wonder if someone named Tang would actually show up one day.

As usual, I began polishing the ritual instruments in the shop with a fine cloth after my master left.

The door creaked open, and the copper bell hanging above it chimed softly, signaling the arrival of a guest.

Turning around, I saw a young woman about my age stepping inside.

She wore a light blue dress, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, and delicate high-heeled sandals.

With arched brows and almond-shaped eyes, crimson lips, and pearly white teeth, she was strikingly beautiful.

“Excuse me, is Master Wu here?” Her voice was gentle, carrying the soft charm characteristic of women from Jiangnan.

Master Wu-my master, Wu Ming.

“My master is out at the moment! If you need something, you can tell me, and I’ll make sure he contacts you when he returns.” I lowered my gaze, feeling a bit shy about looking directly at her, and reached for the notebook on the counter to jot down her details. She seemed disappointed. “Do you know when he’ll be back?”

“No, I’m not sure.”

“And who are you to him?” Her curiosity about me was evident.

“I’m his disciple. If your matter is urgent, you can tell me, and I’ll record it for him to address when he returns,” I repeated.

After a brief hesitation, she said, “My family would like to invite Master Wu to inspect a yin house.”

Hearing this, I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of unease. Inspecting a yin house wasn’t something people typically hesitated to talk about, so why was this young woman so hesitant?

“Alright, your name, address, and contact number, please!” I picked up the pen again, ready to write.

“My name is Tang Lian,” she said. “I live in Jiang City West…”

“You’re surnamed Tang?” I suddenly looked up, startled.

“Yes, I am!”

“Sorry, we can’t take your case!” I put the pen down and walked to the door. “Take care, and goodbye!”

“Why not?” Tang Lian asked, clearly puzzled. “We’re not asking Master Wu to work for free. You can name your price!”

I shook my head firmly, standing by the door without budging, waiting for her to leave.

“You…” Tang Lian’s face flushed slightly, a mix of embarrassment and annoyance. “What kind of person are you? Running a business and yet driving customers away?”

Her flustered expression was both beautiful and endearing, making my heart pound uncontrollably. But my master’s words echoed in my mind, so I steeled myself and said, “Apologies!”

Seeing my resolve, Tang Lian’s annoyance suddenly melted away. She smiled and took a few steps closer, standing so near that I could feel her breath. A faint, intoxicating fragrance wafted toward me-something between orchids and crabapple blossoms-filling my senses.

My heart raced even faster, and my face burned with heat. Instinctively, I took a step back.

“Sorry, miss, but please leave. We really can’t take your case!”

Tang Lian suddenly laughed. “You’re blushing!”

Though we seemed to be about the same age, hearing such a remark from a girl made me even more self-conscious.

“How old are you?” Tang Lian asked again. “You look about my age. Can you even handle cases? Your master isn’t here, so why don’t you take it?”

“I’m not fully trained yet,” I muttered, staring at my toes, too embarrassed to meet her gaze.

“What’s your name? And why won’t you take my case?” Tang Lian seemed to be teasing me on purpose.

Clearing my throat, I replied, “My master left specific instructions: we can take any case, except those from someone with the surname Tang.”

Tang Lian looked at me for a moment, then suddenly leaned in close to my ear and whispered, “Tell your master it’s about the purple-gold compass. He’ll take it.”

I froze, staring at her face, which was now just inches away. Our eyes almost met.

“Alright then, I’ll leave for now. But I’ll be back in a few days!” Tang Lian suddenly stepped back, waved her hand, and walked out.

Footnote:

1. Yin(阴): In traditional Chinese philosophy and metaphysics, yin represents the dark, passive, and feminine aspect of the cosmological duality of yin and yang (阴阳). It is often associated with qualities such as darkness, coldness, and negativity. In the context of supernatural or spiritual beliefs, a “full yin” fate may suggest an individual deeply connected to the spiritual or ghostly realm.
2. Feng Shui(风水): A traditional Chinese practice that involves arranging buildings, objects, and spaces in harmony with the environment to achieve balance and positive energy flow.
3. Yin House(阴宅):In Chinese geomancy (feng shui), a “yin house” refers to a burial site or tomb. Proper selection and arrangement of a yin house are believed to influence the fortune and prosperity of the deceased’s descendants.
4. Kangxi Tongbao(康熙通宝):A type of Chinese coin minted during the reign of Emperor Kangxi (1661–1722) of the Qing dynasty. The term “Tongbao” (通宝) literally means “currency in circulation” and was commonly used to refer to coins issued by imperial dynasties. These coins are highly recognizable and valued for their historical and cultural significance.
5. Yang(阳): In traditional Chinese philosophy and metaphysics, yang represents the bright, active, and masculine aspect of the cosmological duality of yin and yang (阴阳). It is often associated with qualities such as light, warmth, and positivity.