The Mystical Feng Shui Files - Chapter 14 - Taking Charge

“So, we’re leaving at midnight. Has the issue with the possessed villagers been resolved?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. Shi Dan must have been holding back his questions all day, only to ask now.

“Of course, it’s all sorted!” I replied. “Once the matter was taken care of, those people will gradually recover.”

“Oh!” Shi Dan didn’t seem entirely satisfied with the answer. After a pause, he asked, “So what was it all about? Does it have anything to do with those blood-stained clothes I showed you?”

I wasn’t sure how to explain it to him, so I said, “Not really related. It’s mainly because the belongings of the deceased carry heavy yin energy. Women and children, being weaker, can get affected, almost like being possessed!”

We chatted on and off, not even realizing when we fell asleep.

Though I still hadn’t figured out why my master brought Shi Dan and Aunt Liu to Jiang City, having two more people at home made it livelier than before, and I was quite pleased.

Aunt Liu treated me well, washing my clothes until they were spotless and folding them neatly in the closet.

This sometimes reminded me of the woman who waved goodbye to me when I left my old home. She claimed to be my mother, though I’d never met her. Now I felt that if my mother were alive, she might be like Aunt Liu.

Shi Dan was sensible and hardworking too.

The next morning, after breakfast, I started teaching him how to work in the shop.

“These ritual instruments need to be wiped down every day!” I instructed Shi Dan while polishing a ritual instrument with a cloth. “These are called ritual instruments, used specifically for feng shui arrangements!”

Shi Dan listened attentively and then carefully picked up a bronze Buddha, wiping it gently with a soft cloth. “Is this right, brother?”

“Exactly!” I nodded, pointing to the items inside the counter. “Those are for wearing, so don’t touch them casually. Always wear gloves when handling them.”

“I got it!”

My master entered from outside, holding today’s newspaper. “Ziwu, come with me!”

“Coming!” I quickly told Shi Dan and followed my master to the study.

This was my second time entering my master’s study, and it still felt solemn and dignified.

“Have a seat!” My master sat on the Luohan chair¹ and gestured to the seat opposite him.

Curious, I glanced at the Luohan chair. Its surface had developed a patina, a deep red hue, indicating its age.

“Ziwu! From today on, try handling the shop’s work. Follow the rules I’ve set before!” My master, unusually, brewed some tea and poured me a cup.

As I reached to take it, he stopped me. “Master!” An indescribable feeling welled up inside me, as if my master was preparing to leave me, giving final instructions.

Seeing my lips pressed tightly together and my anxious gaze, my master actually smiled.

He smiled!

In all these years, I rarely saw my master smile, and today he did.

“Master!” I called out again, uneasy. “Are you feeling unwell, or are you going on a trip?”

I didn’t dare to ask if he was leaving me.

Over the years, I had grown accustomed to my master’s presence. He was like my only support in this world. Without him, I truly didn’t know what I would become.

My master laughed heartily, then sighed, shook his head, and poured me another cup of tea, leaving me feeling both anxious and unsettled.

“Ziwu! It’s been nearly ten years since I brought you here. You’ve surpassed my expectations in talent. I’ve taught you everything I can. What remains is for you to gain experience and insight. You can’t rely on your master forever. One day, I won’t be here. What will you do then?”

“But you’re in great health, not a single ailment!” I protested, my voice rising in frustration.

“I know, I know,” my master reassured me. “I’m just saying you should start trying to handle things independently. Whether I’m here or not, you should be able to stand on your own. Consider it a part of your training before you fully master your skills.”

I breathed a sigh of relief, as long as he wasn’t leaving.

“Oh,” I replied, still not entirely pleased.

“Today, you should go see Teacher Hu. Let me tell you about it first.”

I straightened up. “Okay!”

“According to him, he’s been feeling like someone’s watching him lately, and he’s been having a string of bad luck. He was teaching when suddenly the glass board shattered! Walking down the street, a brick almost fell on him from above. Even crossing the road, cars seem to not see him, nearly causing accidents several times!”

“That’s really unlucky!” I exclaimed, astonished at his misfortune.

“Though nothing major has happened, he’s still suffered some minor injuries,” my master continued. “While cooking, the gas was supposedly turned off, but it suddenly leaked at night. If it weren’t for the gas leak alarm, it could have been disastrous.”

I listened intently. Hu Tieming was in his year of offending Tai Sui, so encountering some mishaps was common. Usually, wearing a consecrated Guanyin peace amulet or staying at a temple for a while could resolve it.

But since my master took on his case, it indicated it wasn’t that simple. His four pillars of destiny showed a fated calamity, the clash of metal and wood. If we didn’t find the root cause, he might not escape it.

“Yesterday, when he came, he had a jade piece that inexplicably cracked,” my master added. “I told him to stay home today and not go out. I’ll have you visit him tonight.”

“I understand,” I said. “I’ll check his usual surroundings. If there’s no malevolent spirit causing trouble, it’s likely just the fated calamity of his birth year, which is manageable.”

My master said, “Didn’t you notice the clash of metal and wood in his fate? Sharp objects, stabbed to death? Throat or wrist slitting suicide? Car accident, accidentally hit to death, these all count.”

I nodded. “I checked his face yesterday. It only showed traces of a malevolent aura, not the look of someone doomed to die…”

I suddenly stopped.

Since there was no sign of imminent death, accidental death wasn’t an inevitable calamity. I quickly looked up.

“Figured it out?” my master asked with a faint smile.

“Someone or something is causing trouble!” I declared firmly, or perhaps it was a moment of realization.

My master nodded in satisfaction. “Good to know! In the future, when you encounter situations, ask more questions. Divination and face reading are the same. Think carefully before speaking. Also, many things are masked by appearances. You must be attentive!”

His words struck me deeply, and I quickly stood up. “Your teachings are invaluable, master. I will remember them!”

“Alright, that’s all I wanted to say. Go on with your tasks!” my master said. “By the way, Shi Dan is a sensible kid, and Aunt Liu has a kind heart. They’re reliable!”

This was my master’s way of reassuring me.

In our line of work, without deep understanding, we rarely trust anyone easily.

Leaving the study, I found Shi Dan still polishing the ritual instruments, turning to give me a silly grin, doing quite well.

“What did Master Wu call you in for?” he asked me quietly.

I looked at him, blinked, and flicked his forehead. “He told me to start waking up early for exercise with you. Look at your skinny arms and legs, like a bean sprout!”

“Hehe…” Shi Dan covered his head, chuckling foolishly.

With no customers during the day, I went over the shop rules with Shi Dan again. After dinner, I packed my bag and took a cab to see Hu Tieming.

Footnote:

1. Luohan Chair(罗汉椅):A traditional Chinese chair, typically wide with a low backrest and often low or no armrests. It’s designed for comfortable sitting, sometimes even reclining, and is often used in sets with a small table. The name “Luohan” (Arhat) refers to Buddhist enlightened beings, possibly alluding to the relaxed, contemplative posture it encourages.