Feng Shui - Chapter 15
Realizing that Fujiwara Mishu had fainted in her arms, Jiang Yao quickly picked her up and placed her on her bed. With a gentle grasp in the air, a purple light appeared out of thin air. A "Charming Zither," its body shimmering with a flowing purple hue and occasionally punctuated by streaks of green light, appeared in Jiang Yao's hand.
Jiang Yao sat cross-legged in mid-air, her expression suddenly becoming eerily beautiful. She gently moved her slender fingers, lightly caressing the zither, and ethereal notes flowed out slowly like a gentle stream. Gradually, the entire room also became eerie, tinged with a faint bluish-purple hue, and a strange fragrance wafted through the air. Layers of phantom images of demonic flowers completely filled Jiang Yao's room.
"Soul of the night, follow my zither music and accompany you, the Western Gate is about to open, in the dark midnight, white spirits, the bright moon guides the ascension. That bright moon shines on us, that bright moon guides our direction. Night has come, the soul laughs to the sky, leading you to the Western Paradise, the Western Gate is about to open, the sun is about to rise, calling your soul."
As Jiang Yao played the zither, the night sky and the bright moon appeared increasingly hazy and distorted. Layers of pale blue "pure" clouds were drawn from all directions of the city by Jiang Yao's "Summoning the Soul" melody. Gradually, the "pure" clouds gathered more and more, and the view outside Jiang Yao's window was also painted a ghastly green.
Jiang Yao sensed these "pures," but couldn't find any fluctuations of grass ash within them. Suddenly, the zither music stopped, all the "pures" vanished, the night and moon ceased their distortion, and the world instantly returned to calm. Jiang Yao gently waved her hand, and the "Enchanting Zither" disappeared again, along with the illusory image of the Demonic Flower in the room. However, the eerie fragrance of the flower did not dissipate instantly.
"How is that possible? All the souls in the city have been summoned, so why hasn't Cao Hui's soul come?" Jiang Yao walked gently to the window, looked at the night sky outside, her brows furrowed with seriousness as she pondered.
At this moment, a purple shadow slowly drifted in from the distance of the night sky. Jiang Yao stared at the shadow and suddenly seemed to understand something. She reached out and grabbed at the shadow, and the shadow appeared in Jiang Yao's hand in the void.
With swift hand seals, Jiang Yao's left hand instantly conjured seventy "Array Realm" finger techniques, layering them one on top of another, and in no time at all created an "Essence Solidification" array realm. Enveloping the purple shadow within it, the shadow gradually began to melt into a purple bead, faintly shimmering with a soft light.
"I see, but who exactly is helping Grass Ash?" Jiang Yao pondered, looking at the purple bead in her hand that was surrounded by the array, though her expression was no longer so serious.
Without further thought, Jiang Yao suddenly transformed into her original form as a demonic butterfly, exuding a faint fragrance. She fluttered her wings, leaving a fleeting, beautiful shadow in the night sky, and flew towards the outskirts of the city.
At the very top of the night sky floated a figure with long, flowing hair, wearing loose, ornate robes, and with a pair of pale arms, silently watching the direction Jiang Yao had flown off to. Her face was obscured; only her even paler cheeks could be vaguely seen beneath her hair, which was darker and shinier than the night itself.
2004-12-08 12:10:00
Chapter Twenty-Three: Ghosts in the Mountains
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In the gray city, the blue autumn breeze and bright moonlight made the weather seem exceptionally refreshing. The bright lights of the city reminded people of many lost memories.
Feng Shui took Jiang Yao's hand and strolled along the seaside of the city. A cool autumn breeze blew by, passing through Jiang Yao's long hair and gently caressing Feng Shui's face, like a lover's whisper.
"It smells so good," Feng Shui said, enjoying the aroma.
Jiang Yao glanced at Feng Shui tenderly, kissed him on the cheek, and they both laughed at the same time.
Memories of the past slowly unfolded in Jiang Yao's heart, and a gentle sadness seemed to rise within her. The vicissitudes of life, the countless loves and sorrows, were like a surprise in fate; the separations of the past were finally being reunited with her in this moment.
Suddenly, a light rain began to fall, a gentle, fine drizzle. The unpleasant memories were carried away by the raindrops, washing away all the melancholy. After the rain, the sky cleared, and scattered stars twinkled in the night sky. A gentle breeze accompanied the two lovers. Jiang Yao was held tightly in Feng Shui's arms, sitting warmly on a bench under a tree. Looking back on the past, it seemed like a dream, and she couldn't help but let out a soft, almost imperceptible sigh.
"What's wrong?" Feng Shui asked curiously.
"It's nothing, I just feel how wonderful it would be if these days could continue forever," Jiang Yao said with a touch of sadness.
"Hehe, you need to understand, we're in a relationship now, don't think about anything messy." Feng Shui gently tapped Jiang Yao's smooth nose and said softly.
"Of course I know, then let's enjoy the taste of love to the fullest," Jiang Yao said happily.
“By the way, we’ve been together for almost five months now. I think that if things were to develop normally, you should take me to your home to meet your parents and then we could talk about marriage,” Feng Shui said very seriously.
"Hehehe, it seems you still haven't recovered your past memories. I wonder if you've really forgotten them? Or are you just forcing yourself not to think about them? If it were the feng shui from your past life, it would never say such a thing. Hehe. But, being able to discuss marriage like a normal person is truly a very pleasant thing," Jiang Yao said with emotion.
Five years have passed since Feng Shui died in her previous life. Jiang Yao suddenly remembered what she had said on the day Feng Shui vanished: "I want to continue my studies, then become an ordinary woman, and when Feng Shui comes back, I will live a good life with him and enjoy the life of an ordinary person."
Perhaps blinded by happiness, Jiang Yao sometimes forgot her past thoughts. However, the Feng Shui of today was no longer the one with millions of years of demonic cultivation experience from her previous life, but a Feng Shui with the experiences and attitudes of an ordinary person. Although Feng Shui didn't know his true identity now, and only had Jimi's side of the story, it couldn't truly make Feng Shui understand the path of demonic cultivation and the meaning of the demonic body. Moreover, in Feng Shui's eyes, Jiang Yao was just a beautiful and passionate girl, an ordinary woman who was going to love him, and he didn't associate her with any demonic butterflies, nor did he know what demonic butterflies were.
Feng Shui now only knows that he is an ordinary person with good luck, while Jiang Yao is the first woman to truly appear in his life, and is Feng Shui's first love.
Jiang Yao looked tenderly at Feng Shui's earnest and persistent eyes, and suddenly felt like laughing, but couldn't. Jiang Yao knew that Feng Shui's mindset was just that of a normal person, not some so-called cultivator. Jiang Yao found that she really liked Feng Shui, and increasingly cherished this peaceful, ordinary life, at least this way she could be with the person she loved most.
"Alright, come to my house tomorrow to meet your future in-laws, your future brother-in-law, and other relatives and friends," Jiang Yao said with a sly smile.
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Jiang Yao's reincarnation was exactly as predicted by the feng shui calculations of her previous life—a member of a wealthy and noble family in this city. Perhaps due to her aristocratic background, Jiang Yao possessed a noble and extraordinary aura even before becoming a demonic butterfly; this is the so-called difference in social standing between people. Some noble descendants are professionally trained from birth to learn everything necessary to become superior, including temperament, demeanor, walking posture, and interpersonal skills. These qualities are inseparable from their environment and atmosphere, and are inimitable by ordinary people.
People born and raised in aristocratic families possess an air of nobility and distinction that shines through in every gesture. While some wealthy individuals, such as those who amassed their fortunes through illicit means, may possess a repulsive, money-grubbing quality, they will never exude that innate air of refinement. They may sometimes consider themselves superior and try to imitate this, but the result is often an affected and nauseating display.
This is a piece of land covering more than 7,000 square meters, carved out on the edge of several deep mountains in the suburbs of the city. It is surrounded by a white wall nearly three meters high, making it impossible to see what is inside.
The entrance was flanked by two simple, ancient mahogany doors. Though unadorned, they exuded a mysterious and noble air. Even more striking was the presence of soldiers guarding the entrance, suggesting it was the residence of a high-ranking military officer.
Passing through the gate, a long pebble path winds around the courtyard. This path is entirely paved with cobblestones, and if you wear thin-soled cloth shoes, walking on it will give you a foot massage effect.
The layout of the mansion is divided into four parts: east, south, west, and north.
The mansion is surrounded by birch trees along its perimeter. In the center lies a garden, complete with artificial hills, bridges, and flowing water, resembling the courtyard of an ancient high-ranking official—a place of picturesque scenery, elegant halls and pavilions, and lush vegetation. To the north and south stand two three-story modern residences, built along the water's edge, echoing each other across the water. Winding water corridors and reflections of the buildings create a serene and tranquil atmosphere. To the east and west, however, lies a flat, grassy area with bamboo groves and winding streams, offering a spacious feel.
Feng Shui wore a rather nice suit today, a "Baoxi Bird" suit he had just bought for over three thousand yuan a couple of days ago. He also got his hair done and then went to Walmart to buy some good cigarettes and alcohol for over a thousand yuan. He certainly couldn't lose face on his first visit to his future in-laws.
However, the moment Feng Shui stepped into the mansion, he was utterly stunned. Not only by the mansion's extravagance, but also by its feng shui layout. It was a feng shui arrangement of a uniquely balanced and ever-changing geomantic site, a system of principles governing the five elements and their endless cycles. Although Feng Shui's current memory couldn't fully comprehend the intricacies of feng shui, his innate sensitivity allowed him to immediately recognize the mansion's exceptional design. Jiang Yao, standing beside Feng Shui, smiled approvingly, pleased with his reaction. It wasn't that she wanted to flaunt her family's wealth, but rather that she was delighted that Feng Shui could sense the mansion's design.
The interior layout of this mansion was entirely designed by Jiang Yao herself. Because Jiang Yao was her father's most beloved child, he would fully support all of her requests, even major renovations at home.
However, her father was very satisfied with the completely renovated courtyard layout, and even more so with admiration, because Jiang Yao's father was also a person who was very knowledgeable about feng shui. Jiang Yao's father knew that this kind of courtyard layout could not be designed by an ordinary feng shui master, and even a highly skilled master would not have such ability; it was a stroke of genius.
The outer courtyard was already luxurious enough, but the residence itself was even more extravagant. Jiang Yao lived alone in a building on the north side, in front of which was a parking lot covering nearly 300 square meters. However, Feng Shui did not find a single car. Stepping inside, the first floor featured a luxurious hall the size of a basketball court, and behind the hall was a 100-meter indoor swimming pool.
"How extravagant!" the feng shui master exclaimed.
"Hehe, this whole place is mine, but I don't come back to stay here often. Let's go rest for a while, my parents will be here soon," Jiang Yao said with a gentle smile.
2004-12-08 12:11:00
Feng Shui felt somewhat awkward because he hadn't realized Jiang Yao's family was so wealthy; he had assumed she was just an ordinary girl. He thought the gifts he'd bought for over a thousand yuan were impressive enough, but he found himself feeling quite stifled.
"Ah, this, this." Feng Shui was a little nervous and didn't know what to say.
"Hehe, don't be so nervous. Just make yourself at home. There's no need for us to distinguish between you and me. Everything I have is entirely because of you," Jiang Yao comforted Feng Shui.
The second floor is the main leisure and entertainment area, with four rooms: an aerobic gym, a bathroom, a movie and entertainment area, and a study. Each room is nearly 100 square meters in size. Feng Shui makes me feel a bit like Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden.
Sitting in Jiang Yao's study, with bookshelves lining all four walls and reaching the ceiling, filled with a vast array of books, it resembled a library. Feng Shui and Jiang Yao sat side-by-side before a large, antique sandalwood desk. Feng Shui looked around, realizing that the lives of the wealthy were truly indescribable.
"By the way, Jiang Yao, your family is so rich, why did you still choose to become a doctor?" Feng Shui asked, puzzled.
"Hehe, the money in the house belongs to the family. Being a parasite is not my style," Jiang Yao said with a smile.
"What do your parents do?" Feng Shui asked curiously.
“This courtyard is ancestral property. My grandfather’s father was a person who made great contributions to the country, so the country gave our family such a large property. And my father was a high-ranking officer in the military, so there are soldiers guarding the gate,” Jiang Yao said calmly.
"Impressive," the feng shui master exclaimed.
"But all of this means nothing to you and me; it's just fleeting glamour," Jiang Yao said with a smile.
Feng Shui was filled with mixed emotions about all of this, truly believing that a good birth inevitably leads to a better life. However, when Feng Shui thought about his own background, he felt somewhat disheartened.
He got up and walked to the open-air balcony outside the study. The fresh air unique to the mountains and fields blew across his face, making him feel extremely comfortable.
From afar, Feng Shui could vaguely see the spire of a tall tower emerging from the mountains.
"Is there a Taoist temple in this mountain?" the feng shui master asked curiously.
"No, I think you mean that tall tower, but it's just a solitary tower," Jiang Yao said with a smile.
"But the solitary tower in the deep mountains seems very unlucky." There was a vague feeling in the feng shui that the tower was giving off a very uncomfortable feeling.
“That’s right, but I set up a formation there, and that tower is the core of the formation,” Jiang Yao said with some pride.
"Formation? Do you know anything about feng shui formations?" the feng shui expert asked curiously.
"Hehe, it seems you've really forgotten everything about feng shui. Oh well, it looks like my parents won't be back until very late. I'll take you for a walk in the mountains. I can also let you refresh your memory of your old cultivation techniques," Jiang Yao said with a sigh.
Feng Shui listened to Jiang Yao's words and felt somewhat bewildered. Although he didn't understand what she was talking about, he felt that this was going to be a very interesting thing.
Jiang Yao's mansion has a back door, and outside the back door is a narrow path that leads directly into the mountains. Although the mountain doesn't look very big, once you're inside, you'll find that it has a large, rolling, dense forest.
After walking for nearly an hour, I felt an inexplicable fondness for this mountain and this dense forest. Perhaps it's because I've spent too much time in the city; urban dwellers are always filled with a sense of novelty and curiosity towards the environment of mountains and forests.
"I never expected there to be such a dense forest on this mountain, it's truly beautiful," Feng Shui remarked.
“These nearby mountains and forests are all my family’s property,” Jiang Yao said with a smile.
"Wow, I never imagined that a private individual would own so much land." Feng Shui looked around and exclaimed in amazement.
"You're mistaken. These mountains aren't as simple as they seem," Jiang Yao said with a slightly serious expression.
"It's not that simple? Is there something else going on with these mountains?" Feng Shui found himself increasingly intrigued by Jiang Yao's family background.
“These mountains have actually been listed as forbidden areas a long time ago, and have been designated as prohibited land for development by the National Land Resources Administration,” Jiang Yao said.
"Is it because it's your family's private land that it's listed as a prohibited development area?" the feng shui master asked.
“That’s not the reason. Even members of my family have never set foot inside these mountains. Because these mountains have been recorded in history, and some historical books refer to them as ‘forbidden and lost places’! During the Anti-Japanese War, a force of nearly 10,000 people mysteriously disappeared in these mountains. Even the local people who have lived here for generations have never dared to enter these mountains, because no matter who goes in, they have never come out again,” Jiang Yao said mysteriously.
"Isn't that a bit exaggerated? Is there some special significance to these mountains?" Feng Shui's curiosity was piqued.
“Some national exploration teams and land survey departments have also explored these mountains, but all the explorers mysteriously disappeared. Later, several rescue teams went there, but they met the same fate. After that, the country never sent anyone into these mountains again, and designated this area as a restricted zone, prohibiting anyone from entering,” Jiang Yao said mysteriously.
"That's amazing. Why did your family choose to live here?" Feng Shui asked, puzzled.
“Because this place is beautiful, and it’s our ancestral home. Although these mountains are mysterious, the more dangerous a place is, the safer it is.” Jiang Yao said with a mysterious smile, a strange look in her eyes.
Looking at Jiang Yao's expression, Feng Shui couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
"I think we should forget it and go back as soon as possible," Feng Shui said somewhat timidly.
"Hehe, don't be afraid. With me here with you, even the most dangerous things will become safe." Jiang Yao held Feng Shui's hand and comforted him.
"No way." Feng Shui was genuinely a little scared.
Jiang Yao didn't let Feng Shui think too much about it and took his hand as they walked into the deep mountains. The forest grew denser and denser, and gradually the trees blocked out the sunlight, allowing only a few rays to penetrate.
2004-12-08 12:13:00
Chapter Twenty-Four: The Realm of Illusory Arrays
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The rain began to fall.
Heavy raindrops pounded on the leaves of the trees, creating a lively and dense patter. Jiang Yao and Feng Shui continued their walk, traversing a larch forest. The air was cool, the light hazy, and the ground was covered with fine pine needles, making it soft and sticky to walk on. After walking for about half an hour, they emerged from the dark pine forest into a bright and open beech forest. Everything here was bright and green, with fine raindrops occasionally filtering through the dense foliage. Suddenly, a small squirrel appeared above Feng Shui's head, leaping from branch to branch.
The rain stopped, and Feng Shui and Jiang Yao walked further and further away, deeper and deeper into the darkness. The surroundings were damp and gloomy, without a ray of sunlight or a sound, save for the occasional cry of a falcon overhead. Then, a dense thicket appeared before them, impassable to the naked eye. Feng Shui looked at Jiang Yao with some difficulty, but Jiang Yao wore a gentle smile. She took Feng Shui's hand and suddenly began to move with strange, shuffling steps, slowly approaching the thicket. In Feng Shui's eyes, the thicket suddenly parted, revealing a secluded path, as if it had always been there. As this path appeared, Feng Shui and Jiang Yao's steps gradually returned to normal. Feng Shui looked back; the thicket was still there, but there was no way back.
Feng Shui didn't dwell on it, as Jiang Yao quickened her pace, hurrying deeper into the secluded path, where the trees on both sides grew even more lush. A quarter of an hour later, the shade on Feng Shui's left suddenly vanished; the path wound its way up a hillside, and climbing it revealed a completely different, bright and sunny world. Far below lay a tranquil, azure lake, almost entirely surrounded by sun-drenched green trees; only one gap in the forest revealed a distant stretch of green mountains. Across the green forest directly opposite, a patch of white, like snowflakes, appeared; fruit trees were in bloom. On the high lakeshore stood a tall tower, its white structure standing out beautifully against the green leaves. A bird took flight from the tower's tip, circling slowly over the lake.
"This place is so beautiful!" Feng Shui exclaimed.
Feng Shui gazed at the idyllic paradise around him, his eyes lingering on the pagoda's reflection gently swaying in the mirror-like lake, beyond the treetops beneath his feet. Suddenly, he couldn't control himself and rushed towards the lakeside. Jiang Yao, watching Feng Shui's retreating figure, wore an enigmatic smile.
The road descended steeply, the oak trees below quickly casting their green shade, but also obscuring the lake in front; only occasionally could glimpses of water be seen through the gaps in the branches. A short while later, a gentle slope appeared, and the woods on both sides receded abruptly, replaced by small hills laden with grapevines, and fruit trees in bloom on both sides of the road; swarms of bees buzzed and flitted among the flowers.
Here, there is no artificial embellishment, only towering cliffs, clear lake water, colorful flowers and trees, and an endless sea of forest. Truly natural and unadorned, simple yet beautiful! Surrounding peaks rise one after another, some plunging straight into the lake like screens or walls, others receding to form bays. A white pagoda stands tall on the lakeshore, its reflection in the water creating a magical effect. The ever-changing peaks and the endlessly fantastical reflections combine to form a magnificent and varied landscape!
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Fujiwara Mihide, barefoot, soaked in the lake. A large expanse of lotus leaves in front of her rippled gently in the breeze. A small, bright green frog stared intently at Fujiwara Mihide sitting by the lake. In the frog's eyes, one could see a deep tenderness and affection, like that of a human. Fujiwara Mihide, in turn, looked back at the frog, a helpless yet tender smile on her face.