Volume 1, Chapter 4: One Million

Ying Yuwei walked in with an air of unhurried elegance. Even though she had braced herself for the scene, she still couldn't help but frown ever so slightly.

She approached the people sprawled on the ground, pulled half a bottle of mineral water from her bag, and casually poured it over one of them. Instantly, black smoke hissed from the man’s body, and his sunken cheeks began to plump up as if returning to life.

Zhou Dawei, standing nearby, was too shocked to speak. He remembered how he had been puzzled when he saw Ying Yuwei packing that half-bottle of water earlier; now, it was clear the water was a powerful artifact.

Lin Dali was equally stunned. He had only ever seen such things on television, and in his heart, he remained a skeptic of feng shui. He sneered, "What kind of chemical reaction is this? You've certainly made it look realistic."

"Mr. Lin, what chemical reaction do you think could restore vitality to a face that has already begun to rot?" Ying Yuwei remained unruffled, offering a bright smile as she explained, "Mr. Lin, this is a treasure of our Xuan Sect: Yin-Yang Water."

"Yin-Yang Water? Never heard of such nonsense. Boss, I’m telling you, she’s a con artist. We shouldn't fall for this!" Lin Dali’s driver, Old Li, interrupted, leaning over to whisper to his employer.

"Yin-Yang water consists of two opposing forces. The 'Yin' water is groundwater that has never seen the light of day, while the 'Yang' water is rainwater that has never touched the earth. Mixing them creates a concoction that can protect the body and dispel evil spirits."

Though filled with fear and doubt, Lin Dali still found it hard to believe her. He had seen many swindlers over the years; it wouldn't be the first time someone posed as a feng shui master to pull a scam. He scrutinized her suspiciously. Could such a young girl really possess any true skill? Of course, he kept these doubts to himself.

Noticing his distrust, Ying Yuwei turned and pointed to the buildings on the construction site. "The buildings in the east, south, west, and north corners have all been topped out. Only the northeast—where we are standing—remains unfinished. In the Bagua, the northeast is the Xun position, which represents the wind and the eldest daughter. Has your daughter been suffering from lumbar problems lately?"

Lin Dali’s brow furrowed, his heart skipping a beat. "How could you possibly know that?"

His eldest daughter had recently twisted her back while going downstairs, leading to a herniated disc. It was impossible for Ying Yuwei to know this, as his daughter was currently abroad, and he had only learned of it himself during a recent phone call.

His reaction was all the confirmation Ying Yuwei needed. She offered a faint smile without answering. She walked to the northeast corner where the people were clustered, pushed through the tangled limbs, and tapped the floor. A hollow sound echoed back. She grabbed a construction shovel from the ground, pried up the floorboards, and unearthed a small earthenware jar. It looked like a common pickle jar, but its exterior was covered in a ring of dark red runes.

The runes were peculiar: a circle of tiny figures, each depicted with a pair of bird wings on its back—a grotesque sight.

***

Lin Dali, now fully convinced, asked with a hint of urgency in his voice, "What exactly is going on here, Master Ying?" His address had shifted from "little girl" to "Master."

Ying Yuwei picked up the jar and walked outside. "This is a 'Soul-Sealing Jar.' It is crafted using a snake, a scorpion, a mouse, a centipede, and the spirit of a deceased infant, all sealed within and refined with these runes."

"Someone has used these jars to lay a 'Seal of Malice' across your property. Over time, the accumulated baleful energy will turn this site into a place of death, and everyone in this area will perish."

Lin Dali turned deathly pale. Trembling, he stammered, "Master, please look into it! I have never done anything wicked in my life. You must save me! I have money—I have plenty of money! One million! Please, help me!"

As Lin Dali continued to ramble, Ying Yuwei rubbed her temples, annoyed by the noise. She waved a hand to silence him. Observing Lin Dali’s face and aura, she concluded he was not a man of bad karma; he hadn't set the formation himself. She wondered who was behind this and what their motive could be.

"Besides this one, there should be four more jars, one in each of the four cardinal directions. Go dig them up and bring them here," she commanded the three men.

"We go alone? Master, aren't you coming with us?" Zhou Dawei asked, trembling. In his mind, only Ying Yuwei’s presence offered any safety.

Ying Yuwei took the remaining mineral water from her bag, poured it into the cap, and gave a small portion to Lin Dali, the driver, and Zhou Dawei. "This Yin-Yang water will protect you from the baleful energy for a short time. I will go to the east; you three retrieve the others. Be quick, or everyone will die!"

Urged by her words, the three men dared not delay and headed toward their assigned directions.

Ying Yuwei was the first to return with her jar. Shortly after, Lin Dali and Zhou Dawei returned, panting heavily. But even after they caught their breath, there was no sign of Old Li.

***

"Master, has something happened to Old Li?" Lin Dali asked, craning his neck toward the direction the driver had gone.

Ying Yuwei was growing anxious. They had consumed the Yin-Yang water; they should have been safe. Just as she prepared to go look for him, a figure emerged from the darkness, clutching a jar.

"Heh..." A heavy, ragged breath echoed in the dark. Old Li dropped the jar and leaned against his knees, gasping for air.

"Master Ying, we’ve got all the jars. Can you begin the ritual now?" Lin Dali urged.

Ying Yuwei didn't answer. She walked up to Old Li, grabbed his jaw with both hands, and with lightning speed, shoved a string of Five-Emperor coins into his mouth.

"Hiss!" Black smoke billowed from Old Li’s mouth. He clutched his throat and let out a shrill, inhuman scream. He turned to flee, but Ying Yuwei chased him down, kicked him to the ground, and pinned him. She quickly produced a red cord and expertly bound him.

"Someone, help me move him next to the jars!"

Zhou Dawei and Lin Dali were frozen in terror. Old Li was thrashing, and wherever the red cord touched his skin, puffs of black smoke erupted. His face was twisted into a hideous, snarling mask.

Seeing the two men paralyzed, Ying Yuwei shouted, "What are you waiting for? Come and help!"

The three of them then hauled the struggling Old Li over to the jars.