Chapter 027: A Classic Resolution

Zhou Beitang arranged for his female assistant to stay behind and handle matters here. He called for another driver, then took us with him to his home.

At this point, the whole affair really had nothing to do with the Shang brothers anymore. They had already made it clear they were powerless to help. Shang Wuyong, in particular, had bluntly told Zhou Beitang, “Then go ahead and die!” Zhou Beitang, however, seemed to understand their personalities—or perhaps he was wary of Master Miao—so he didn’t take offense. When the Shang brothers insisted on coming along, he didn’t object.

“Mr. Yu… Is my situation really that serious?” Zhou Beitang asked me anxiously as we sat in the car.

“I have no reason to exaggerate,” I replied.

“Then… please, Mr. Yu, you must help me! If you manage to resolve this for me, I’ll pay every penny I promised!” Zhou Beitang twisted around in his seat, pleading with me in the back.

At that moment, Shang Wuyong, who was sitting beside me, leaned over and said, “Oh, Xiaowei, don’t worry. We’re just here to watch, we won’t take any of your money! The whole three hundred thousand is yours!”

Hearing this, the corner of my mouth twitched. I truly didn’t know what to say. This fool! Discussing the payment right in front of the client.

Besides, even though I’d already figured out the cause, I hadn’t yet seen what kind of Feng Shui calamity was at play. If it turned out to be something I couldn’t handle, wouldn’t that be awkward?

So, I ignored him and said to Zhou Beitang, “Mr. Zhou, I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to solve your problem. Let’s wait and see after I’ve taken a look.”

“Regardless, Mr. Yu, you have to help me! I’ve already had so many experts come, and they all inspected the building, saying the problem was there. You’re the first to say it’s my house!” Zhou Beitang exclaimed.

“You don’t need to doubt this,” I said. “I’m certain the problem lies in your home. Even if I can’t solve it, at least we know the source now—just find someone else to deal with it if you must.” I truly couldn’t promise a solution, but I was sure about the location. I’d previously tested everyone present with a talisman, and only Zhou Beitang’s blood reacted.

The car drove through the city and out into the suburbs.

“We’re here!”

We stopped in front of a detached villa. Zhou Beitang turned to address me. After stepping out, I looked up at his house.

It was a three-story villa in a European style—quite striking. Twenty or so meters in front of the house was a four-lane road, and just beyond it, a half-moon-shaped pond.

At the sight of that half pond, I began to shake my head.

I didn’t even need to take out my compass; the problem was obvious at a glance.

“Mr. Zhou, this is a major issue,” I said, pointing to the pond in front of his house.

“What issue?” Zhou Beitang asked nervously.

“Come,” I beckoned, leading him to the roadside.

“Look,” I said, “this pond was originally a complete circle, but half was taken away to widen the road. Now only a semicircle remains, right?”

“That’s right! Is that a problem?” Zhou Beitang asked.

“What does that semicircle remind you of?” I asked.

“Uh… the moon?” Zhou Beitang offered.

“The moon?” I raised an eyebrow. “Since when is the moon a semicircle? Isn’t it usually a crescent? And look at the iron fence you put up—is that curved like a crescent?”

There was a waist-high iron fence by the pond next to the road. Its design was stylish, but the fence itself was straight.

“Well… what do you think it looks like?” Zhou Beitang asked.

I traced a shape along the pond’s edge with my finger and said, “Doesn’t it look like a bow?”

“A bow?” Zhou Beitang frowned, then nodded. “Now that you mention it, yes, it does.”

“Now look at that iron fence—doesn’t it resemble a bowstring?” I continued.

He nodded again. “It really does.”

“And look at the path you’ve laid out—doesn’t it look like an arrow nocked on the string?” I pointed to the small path.

The pond, now only half remaining, had a pebble path leading from the front door straight to the pond’s edge, ending at a small wooden bridge that crossed to the iron fence, completely bisecting the pond. The pebble path was charming, decorated with colored stones in intricate patterns. The wooden bridge added a touch of elegance, with potted plants lining both sides.

It was all very attractive, but this layout was a textbook example of the “Reversed Bow Sha” in Feng Shui. Normally, having a curved bow facing the main door is already a major inauspicious sign. But here, you had the bow, the string, and the arrow—completely assembled. No wonder misfortune had come.

“Reversed Bow Sha? What’s that?” Zhou Beitang asked.

“Just look it up on your phone. ‘Reversed Bow Sha’ is one of the most classic negative Feng Shui patterns. I can’t believe you made such a mistake,” I sighed.

I wasn’t exaggerating. Reversed Bow Sha, Heaven-Cutting Sha, Piercing Heart Sha—these are among the most notorious Feng Shui threats. Once formed, they bring great harm to the owners.

“Really? Then… what should I do?” Zhou Beitang was flustered.

I heaved another sigh and said, “If the bow and arrow weren’t aimed at your front door, but faced the other way, it would be a completely different story. Then it wouldn’t be ‘Reversed Bow Sha’ but the highly auspicious ‘Jade Belt Water’. The difference between the two is night and day.”

Indeed, the only difference between Reversed Bow Sha and Jade Belt Water is their orientation. One is a calamity, the other a blessing. One harms, the other enriches.

“So… you mean I should turn it around?” Zhou Beitang asked.

“It’s too late! The Reversed Bow Sha has been in place for a long time. And now, the most serious problem isn’t even the Reversed Bow Sha, but the Thousand Nether Blood Worm,” I said.

“Huh? What’s with this Blood Worm?” Zhou Beitang asked.

“That, I haven’t figured out yet. I need to conduct a thorough investigation,” I replied.

The Shang brothers had been following us quietly. While I explained, they said nothing, merely nodding in agreement. I could tell they recognized the truth of my words.

“Then… I’ll leave it to you, Mr. Yu!” Zhou Beitang’s tone was now one of utmost respect; it seemed he’d placed his trust in me.

I took out my compass and went to the front door, holding the instrument steady, sensing the Qi.

Feng Shui is fundamentally about capturing and gathering wind and water. Its core principle is the management of Qi: seeking vital energy, following nature, judiciously using and altering the environment to create the most suitable setting for human health and activity, achieving the ultimate harmony of Yin and Yang, Heaven and Man, body and mind.

There are many types of Qi: vital Qi, stagnant Qi, Yin Qi, Yang Qi, earthly Qi, ground Qi, accumulating Qi, gathering Qi, receiving Qi, pulse Qi, mother Qi, and so on. Whether for the living or the dead, only by acquiring Qi can auspicious signs manifest.

So, to find the root of the Thousand Nether Blood Worm, I had to first untangle the Feng Shui currents of the house, to locate any breaks or leaks.

Compass in hand, I paced up and down in front of the main entrance twice, needing to map out the flow of Qi across the open courtyard. Qi gathers without wind, merges with water. After inspecting the entrance, I circled the house twice. Returning to the pond, I continued my assessment, not allowing anyone to follow, lest they disturb the process.

“Mr. Zhou, come over here,” I called, crouching by the pond.

He hurried over at my call.

“Mr. Yu, have you found the problem?” he asked anxiously.

“Go get a pump and drain this pond. I’ll show you something truly remarkable,” I said with a faint smile.