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"I will open a path of reincarnation for you. This way you will no longer have to cross the Bridge of Helplessness, nor suffer the torment of the eighteen levels of hell. You can directly enter the cycle of reincarnation and be reborn as a human," Feng Shui said with a soft smile.

Li Qiu's eyes welled up with tears, and the large, ghostly tears fell to the ground like pearls from a broken string. They were tears of gratitude. Human tears represent perseverance, while ghostly tears represent love and rebirth.

The boy saw Li Qiu's tears and quickly ran over, reaching out his hands to catch them. Ghost tears were one of the secret treasures used by demons in their cultivation, but he couldn't get close to Li Qiu.

When the boy ran to the six-pointed star array, he was suddenly struck by the light from the star and slammed into a corner, collapsing to the ground and unable to get up for a long time. The feng shui master's face was full of mockery.

Several star-shaped rays of light appeared from the six-pointed star, shooting straight up to the ceiling, clearing a bright path for Li Qiu that led directly to the place of reincarnation.

"Thank you. When I'm reincarnated, I'll definitely be a girl. When I grow up, I want to marry you. I know that if I don't cross the Bridge of Helplessness, I won't have to drink the Meng Po soup. I will remember you. No matter where you are in this world, I will find you. Goodbye, Feng Shui." After Li Qiu finished speaking these words earnestly, her entire spirit disappeared and she went to be reincarnated.

Feng Shui was stunned for a long time after hearing Li Qiu's heartfelt confession, because he never expected that this girl would say such a thing. He helped Li Qiu out of pity and did not expect anything in return. It seems that some girls are really persistent.

Feng Shui seemed somewhat helpless, and shook his head with a wry smile.

"Hypocrite, always claiming to help others, but all he wanted was to take advantage of them." The grass ash that had been slumped in the corner perked up again and said with disdain.

Feng Shui glanced at him sideways and pointed at him again with his left hand. Cao Hui shuddered, thinking that Feng Shui had been provoked by his words and was going to kill him, so he closed his eyes, ready to wait for death. However, Feng Shui did not make a move, but still held out his hand to him.

"What exactly do you want? Kill me or torture me, come on. I know I can't beat you. I'm at your mercy. Give me a painful death." Grass Ash said with a heroic expression.

"Give it to me. I have no interest in killing you," Feng Shui said with a helpless smile.

"Take what?" Grass Ash asked curiously.

“My sword,” Feng Shui said.

"Oh!" Grass Ash responded, drawing Feng Shui's black dagger from his waist and stepping forward to hand it to him. Feng Shui took it, and the black dagger vanished into thin air, startling Grass Ash.

"How did you do that?" Grass Ash asked in astonishment.

"It's none of your business, so don't worry about it. You should tell me what you really are." Feng Shui stared into Cao Hui's eyes, his gaze becoming even more unfathomable, making Cao Hui feel a little uneasy.

Under the watchful eye of feng shui, the grass ash has completely lost its self, feeling as if it has become utterly naked and exposed before feng shui.

He knew he couldn't lie in front of a real person, so he slowly recounted his origins.

"My name is Grass Ash, and I am a frog spirit. I have cultivated for three thousand years, but because I am naturally stupid, I have never been able to join the ranks of immortals. So, I have been wandering in this human world ever since," Grass Ash said with some sadness.

"You're not the Frog Prince, are you?" Feng Shui looked at Cao Hui with amusement and asked curiously.

"No, the Frog Prince is dead, and he died a horrible death," Grass Ash said helplessly.

"Did he die a horrible death? Was he burned and eaten?" the feng shui master asked curiously.

"No, he died from exhaustion, a true disgrace to the frog world. You've probably heard the story of the Frog Prince, who was kissed by a princess and turned into a human. But he was immoral and immoral, spending his days indulging in carnal desires with the princess, until he was completely exhausted and died from depletion of his virility. After he died, the princess threw him back into the pond. How pathetic!" Grass Ash said helplessly.

"Hehe, that's too much of an exaggeration. Don't tell me you're that frog in a well who's only seeing the sky from the bottom of the well?" Feng Shui asked, looking at Cao Hui's helpless expression.

“You’re right again. I really am that frog in the well. As for Fujiwara Miho in your hand, I’m quite close to her sister. I met her sister in the well, and later her sister saw that I was too lonely, so she sent Fujiwara Miho to keep me company,” Grass Ash said somewhat embarrassedly.

"Hahaha, I know her older sister, Fujiwara Sadako, right? Hahahaha!" Feng Shui suddenly found this matter very interesting and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"How do you know Sadako?" Grass Ash asked, puzzled.

"Hahahaha, not only do I know him, everyone on Earth knows him. Hahahahaha." Feng Shui laughed even louder.

Feng Shui wasn't one for fighting. The Fujiwara Miho he was carrying wasn't dead; she was merely unconscious from exhaustion of yin energy. And the creature before him, the frog-turned-human, Cao Hui, didn't seem like a bad person either. Although Cao Hui had indirectly killed Li Qiu, what could you say to a frog that only knew how to "sit in a well and look at the sky"? Complaints? He simply didn't understand. Reluctantly, Feng Shui decided to let Cao Hui and Fujiwara Miho go, for saving a life was a great act of merit. Besides, they had cultivated for over three thousand years; everyone had experienced the hardships of cultivation. Li Qiu had already gone to reincarnation. Her life in this one had been meaningless, a mundane existence without any significant achievements. Feng Shui had already calculated Li Qiu's next life: she would be reborn as the daughter of a wealthy and powerful family, with a future a thousand times brighter than her current one.

Since everything has been resolved satisfactorily, there is no need to pursue anything further.

"Alright, you two can leave now. Don't hurt anyone again, or I won't let you off so easily this time." Feng Shui handed Fujiwara Miho back to the ashes and said threateningly.

Cao Hui took the book from Fujiwara Miho, looking at Feng Shui with shock, unable to believe what he was hearing was true. Humans and demons were fundamentally different, and he knew Feng Shui was an absolute master, a true high-level expert. He and Fujiwara Miho were on completely different levels. If they had encountered such a master in the human world before, they would surely have been killed.

2004-12-7 13:08:00

Chapter Three: Lifeline

The 13th day of the seventh lunar month—this is a night belonging to the underworld. The gates of both the human world and the underworld open simultaneously, providing a space of solace for the souls who are already in another world.

Burning paper money on the street has once again become the best-selling low-value consumable item today. Bundles of rough yellow paper and stacks of super-large banknotes printed with the words "Underworld Bank" have been exchanged for RMB.

At this point, these pieces of waste paper that could have been exchanged for RMB had turned into piles of unburnt garbage, and their ashes were flying everywhere at the crossroads of the streets and alleys.

The night deepened, and all was silent. Tonight was not a good night for nightlife. The wealthier people become, the more timid they become. They also become more convinced of superstitions about ghosts and spirits. This is why wealthy families often have shrines to so-called deities. Humans are inherently fragile.

The moon in the night sky turned reddish, with a faint blush of red emanating from its white edges. Was it because people were burning paper money and staining the sky red? Or was tonight going to be a blood-red night?

On the edge of the city, a procession of eighteen people appeared out of nowhere, perfectly aligned, all of uniform height, each wearing a large black hooded cloak. This attire was rare in this era, but quite common in the Middle Ages, as it was clothing worn by those who bore the burden of sin, for they could not show their faces to others, for they were the embodiment of evil.

These people weren't moving very fast, but in the blink of an eye, they had disappeared from the street into the alley.

In the city center, all the streets were deserted, even the streetlights were dim. The night shift taxi drivers had already burrowed into their blankets, because tonight wasn't a profitable night, and nobody wanted to work. When they did their shift handover and accounting in the morning, they found a few pieces of ghost money. It was truly eerie; you couldn't deny it.

The group of eighteen formed a circle, silent and unable to see each other's faces. Suddenly, one of the men in black lightly waved his right hand, and the other seventeen vanished instantly, reappearing in various corners of the city. The man in black who had waved remained standing in the same spot.

He raised his head, and a beam of red moonlight shone on his face. He was a handsome man with a pale and serene face like the autumn moon, sharply defined sideburns, eyebrows like ink paintings, a nose like a hanging gall, and eyes like autumn waves. Even when angry, his eyes seemed to smile, and they appeared affectionate. However, there was a hidden, inexplicable evil aura in his eyes.

She gently removed the hoodie from her head, revealing a thick, black braid, glossy as lacquer, that stretched from the top of her head to the ground. Her entire being exuded a classical yet eerie beauty.

"Let's begin!" the man said with a wicked grin.

In the feng shui home, the house was completely silent, and a rich, luminous green light filled the entire room with a mesmerizing glow.

Grass Ash and Fujiwara Misaki stared wide-eyed at the feng shui in front of them, their mouths agape and their eyes wide as saucers.

The emerald green light emanating from Feng Shui was coming from his body, but his face looked incredibly ferocious. His once handsome face was now covered in bulging veins, crisscrossing like the roots of an old tree. His eyes were filled with a horrifying gaze of pain and struggle. From his neck down to every exposed part of his skin, veins were prominently displayed, just like on his face, making him look particularly terrifying. At the same time, large beads of sweat had soaked through his clothes, as if he had just emerged from a pool of water.

Feng Shui knelt by the bed, his hands, covered in terrifying blue veins, gripping his hair tightly. His whole body trembled violently, and a series of deep, muffled roars remained unreleased in his throat, only adding to the terrifying atmosphere.

"Big, big, big brother~~~~, what, what's wrong?" Grass Ash asked tentatively in a low voice.

However, Feng Shui did not answer him. The emerald green light emanating from his body intensified, and gradually the room was completely filled with the emerald green light until it was pitch black. The entire space turned into a emerald green.

Kusakabe and Fujiwara Miho dared not move, for the current state of the feng shui was no different from that of a wild beast about to go berserk. They didn't know what the consequences would be if they made the slightest move. However, the wisest choice at this moment was to remain still, to do nothing and say nothing. Because even a flood will eventually recede, and Kusakabe and Fujiwara Miho were waiting, waiting for the moment when the feng shui, which was like a primordial beast, would calm down.

Cao Hui and Fujiwara Mishu's breathing gradually became heavy. In this pitch-green world where one couldn't see their own hand in front of their face, the oppressive feeling emanating from it made them feel uneasy.

The low growl from the feng shui's throat continued, becoming even more frightening.

After a whole night, Fujiwara Mihide's mental endurance was exhausted, and she had already fainted. At the last second before dawn, Kusahi also completely gave up her mental resistance and fainted as well.

When Grass Ash woke up again, he found himself shaken awake. The moment he opened his eyes, he saw Feng Shui smiling, now back in his normal human form. However, this smile now appeared particularly terrifying to Grass Ash. Grass Ash unconsciously took a step back, only to find himself backed against the wall, with no way to retreat.

Looking at Cao Hui's terrified eyes and trembling body, Feng Shui could only manage a helpless, bitter smile before extending his left hand to help Cao Hui up. Cao Hui, seeing Feng Shui's left hand, trembled even more violently, tears of despair welling in his eyes.

Feng Shui reluctantly withdrew his outstretched left hand, turned and walked to the window. A ray of desolate morning sun shone on his shoulder, giving him a sacred yet strange feeling.

"I'm sorry, I lost my temper last night. I scared you all, I'm really sorry." Feng Shui looked out the window, his tone apologetic, and spoke softly to the grass ash behind him.

Upon hearing Feng Shui's words, Cao Hui's emotions stabilized slightly, but he still couldn't help trembling a few times, indicating that he hadn't fully recovered from his fear.

"As for why I became like that last night, I don't want to say, and you shouldn't ask." Feng Shui's tone suddenly turned cold, but still left a trace of gentleness.

Cao Hui knew that he had no right to inquire about feng shui matters, because his role at this time was merely that of a subordinate of the feng shui master, and his responsibility was to follow and obey.

"Brother Feng Shui, it's already morning, time to wash up," Cao Hui said tentatively as he stood up with difficulty.

“Okay, I’ll take you two shopping today, and I’ll pay for everything. Today’s theme is ‘happiness’.” Feng Shui turned around, a gentle smile in his eyes, and said softly.

Cao Hui forced a smile but didn't answer.

Feng Shui went to the bathroom to wash up, and Cao Hui shivered. He woke up Fujiwara Miho, who was still unconscious beside him, and gestured for her to quickly make breakfast and not ask any questions. Because Fujiwara Miho was his "little brother." Rank matters.

Fujiwara Mihide was very curious, but the traditional Japanese woman's personality is one of obedience to her man, making Japanese women most suitable to be housewives. Kusakabe, on the other hand, was born lucky, having a virtuous wife at home.

Fujiwara Mihide went to the kitchen to make breakfast, Feng Shui was washing up in the bathroom, and Kusahi was left alone in the room. He opened the window. A gentle breeze blew in, brushing against his cheek, and Kusahi felt a chill. He reached up and touched his face, only to find it was already soaked with cold sweat.

Cao Hui let out a soft sigh, gave a wry smile of relief, and turned to walk towards the computer in the room.

I turned on my computer and a gentle song was playing: Jay Chou's "Dong Feng Po".

The melodious music slowly drifted from the speakers, filling the room with an atmosphere of tension and dread. The sunlight outside the window gradually intensified, and the large trees outside had long since been uprooted and thrown to the heavens by the ashes. Only then did the room truly regain its freshness and tranquility, all the oppressive gloom vanishing.

However, the image of Feng Shui that had weighed heavily on Cao Hui's mind last night could never be erased; instead, it was deeply imprinted on his soul. Cao Hui finally realized that Feng Shui was not a normal human being, and as for who he really was, Cao Hui didn't want to know. Because he feared that if he ever found out, he would disappear from this world.

On the streets, in the city, it's always like this: bustling yet empty, decadent yet still real.

Walking among the bustling crowds, people didn't seem to feel anything because it was Ghost Festival. Life had to go on, and people still had to eat. As long as it wasn't the end of the world, who cared what festival it was? As long as they were alive, that was enough.

Feng Shui strolled leisurely down the commercial street, feeling relaxed. Behind him, Cao Hui and Fujiwara Mishu, dressed in a new outfit like a fashionable white-collar lady, followed closely.

Cao Hui's image is completely like that of a "Korean and Japanese pop culture enthusiast," while Fujiwara Mishu has shed her pale-faced image like a traditional Japanese theatrical actor, transforming into a normal person with light makeup and silky hair cascading down her shoulders, exuding a fresh and elegant feeling.

Feng Shui was quite pleased with the two's attire, as he wanted to make Cao Hui and Fujiwara Misaki feel more relaxed. He felt somewhat guilty about his unusual behavior the previous night. Although Cao Hui was a demon, and Fujiwara Misaki was a half-demon, they both still possessed human forms. As Tang Sanzang had said, "If a demon has a human heart, it is no longer a demon."

Feng shui is actually a person, and it has a human heart. Time may be merciless, but people are not. There is true affection in the world.

"What would you like to eat?" Feng Shui asked Cao Hui and Fujiwara Mishu happily.

"Hehe, what does Feng Shui Brother want to eat? Let's go eat whatever he wants," said Grass Ash, lacking any opinion.

"You little rascal, since I already said I was bringing you and Meixiu out to play, of course it's up to you two to choose. Never mind, I won't ask you anymore, ask Meixiu, ladies first," Fengshui said with a smile.

“I haven’t had any food from my hometown in a long time. How about we go eat Japanese food?” Fujiwara Mihide said softly.

"Hehe, great! It's been a long time since I've had Japanese food. The theme today is for everyone to have fun, so let's go try some sashimi and wasabi," Feng Shui said happily.

Fujiwara Mihide was delighted to hear Feng Shui say that, her joy evident on her face. But it wasn't because she could eat her hometown food; rather, it was because she felt that the current Feng Shui was worlds apart from the grotesque one from the previous night. The former was a devil, the most terrifying kind, while the latter was a gentle and gentlemanly man, the most gentlemanly kind.

Feng Shui had already flagged down a taxi at the intersection, calling out to Cao Hui and Fujiwara Misaki. Cao Hui tugged at the excited Fujiwara Misaki, signaling her to be more reserved. Fujiwara Misaki, however, stuck out her pink tongue, made a face, and jumped into the taxi. Cao Hui shook his head helplessly and got in as well.

"Target: Japanese cuisine," Feng Shui said happily from the passenger seat.

Sakura Japanese Restaurant is a traditional Japanese restaurant located on the city's busiest commercial pedestrian street. It has a history of nearly 100 years in the city, having been preserved since the late Qing Dynasty, and is considered a relatively famous place in the city.

People stroll leisurely through every corner of the commercial pedestrian street, and you can meet people of all races here, because it is an open, prosperous, and diverse city.

Next to the Sakura Japanese Restaurant, there was a fortune-telling stall. Sitting in front of the stall was a man dressed in a black hooded cloak, his face obscured, but his physique suggested he was a burly man. His attire seemed somewhat out of place on the street, but few people paid it any mind; everyone assumed he was trying to attract attention and get more business.

However, when the feng shui master saw the cloaked man, a strange expression inadvertently appeared on his face. This was because the man's location was precisely at the vital point indicated by the feng shui, and this vital point was the very lifeblood of the city.

Chapter Four: The Great Man of Benefit

Heaven is high and earth is low; thus, the universe is established. High and low are arranged, thus the noble and the lowly are positioned. Movement and stillness have their constants; thus, the strong and the weak are distinguished. Things are grouped according to their kind, and objects are divided according to their type; thus, good fortune and misfortune arise. In the heavens, phenomena are formed; on earth, forms are created; thus, change is revealed.

----------《Appended Remarks, Part I》

A city has two lifelines, much like the "dragon vein" of the Qing Dynasty mentioned in "Wei Xiaobao," but there is a qualitative difference. The dragon vein refers to the destiny of a country, while the lifeline only exists at the gateway of a city's rise and fall.

A city doesn't have just one lifeline, but two. Because everything has its yin and yang aspects, and all things in the world are born from yin and grow from yang, that's why people often say that good things come in pairs.

※ ※ ※

It was already dusk; the city's starry sky had long been obscured by the neon lights, replaced by a dazzling, decadent, and empty panorama of light and shadow. Feng Shui, along with his underling, Kusahime, and Fujiwara Misaki, strolled amidst the vibrant city lights.

As the saying goes, the night is long and sleep is elusive. With such a vibrant nightlife, no one wants to waste their precious youth in the monotonous routine of sleep. So, the three decided to spend the night in the most bustling commercial pedestrian street of this city that never sleeps.