Chen Xiao halted his steps and turned slightly. Behind him, Boss Wang, who had been following just a step away, immediately spoke up, "Master Chen, what did you see?"
The letter had described residential feng shui as something almost mystical, but it was still a completely unfamiliar concept to Boss Wang. He only knew it was extraordinary, but as for how, he couldn't quite grasp it. So when Chen Xiao furrowed his brows, though Boss Wang understood something might be amiss, he wasn't particularly worried.
Chen Xiao fixed his gaze on Boss Wang without speaking. Gradually, the smile on Boss Wang's face stiffened. He felt an invisible pressure rising from the young man before him, causing unease to creep into his heart. Pressing his lips together and furrowing his brow, Boss Wang asked nervously, "Master Chen? What exactly is inappropriate here?"
Seeing that the client had finally adjusted his attitude, Chen Xiao nodded in satisfaction. Feng shui was an extremely serious matter, and nothing irked him more than people treating it lightly. Adopting the composure of a master feng shui practitioner from his past life, he shifted his gaze and pointed at the ground covered in scattered stones. "Why is the courtyard paved with these loose stones?"
Boss Wang didn't understand the significance of the question, but seeing how solemn Chen Xiao asked, he still replied honestly, "These stones were brought back by my little daughter. She's still young. On an outing once, she found them pleasing in color and insisted on bringing them back to decorate the courtyard."
Chen Xiao's eyes widened in anger. "This is utter nonsense! How could you pave the courtyard with scattered stones?!"
Boss Wang was startled by his fury and cautiously asked, "But... they're just some stones. What harm could they possibly cause?"
Though Boss Wang spoke carefully, his eyes revealed his skepticism. Chen Xiao, however, remained unfazed. He simply said, "You don't believe me? Fine. Tell me, in recent years, has your business been unsteady? Small deals continue, but larger deals never seem to succeed?"
Boss Wang was taken aback. "Yes, that's exactly the case. Master Chen, how did you know?"
Chen Xiao ignored the question and asked another. "Over the years, have any of your children succeeded academically? Has anyone managed to gain admission into a proper school?"
Boss Wang's expression turned to one of amazement. "That's true as well."
Chen Xiao nodded. "And in these years, have illnesses, big or small, plagued your household non-stop?"
Now, Boss Wang looked genuinely alarmed. "Yes! That's absolutely true! Master Chen, please, tell me, how are these things related to these stones?!"
Chen Xiao spoke calmly, "A courtyard floor should be made of compacted earth, large and evenly cut stone slabs, or neatly arranged bricks. Scattered stones like these are the worst possible choice! They invite yin energy, which drains prosperity, disrupts scholarly success, and shortens lifespans."
Selecting this house wasn't a random decision on Chen Xiao's part. He had previously surveyed the area and observed that the northeast corner of the property had a small hill, an auspicious feng shui feature that should have brought wealth and academic success. However, the courtyard's energy was disrupted by an unsettling force. The moment he saw the scattered stones covering the ground, he immediately understood the reason.
Having had every issue in his household pinpointed with uncanny accuracy, Boss Wang was now in complete disarray. The Wang family had outwardly maintained a prosperous image, but in reality, business had been in decline. His children had reached school age, yet none of them had the spiritual talent required for admission. It wasn't just his family, his servants, too, had been plagued by constant ailments, and they had held four or five funerals in recent years.
Boss Wang had long been aware of his family's declining fortune, but he had no idea how to fix it. Now, hearing that the root cause was something as seemingly trivial as the courtyard's stone flooring, he felt like a drowning man grasping at his last chance for survival. Trembling, he pleaded, "Master Chen, you must help my family!"
Saying this, his legs gave out, and he nearly fell to his knees before Chen Xiao.
Though Chen Xiao outwardly maintained an air of aloofness, he couldn't bear to see someone beg so desperately. He stepped forward and caught Boss Wang before he could kneel, casting a glance at Du Rong. Understanding the signal, Du Rong stepped up and effortlessly pulled Boss Wang to his feet. Chen Xiao's expression softened slightly, and his tone became more gentle. "No need for such formalities, Boss Wang. I am here precisely to help you ward off misfortune and seek prosperity."
The feng shui issue plaguing the Wang household wasn't particularly difficult to resolve, but without a feng shui master to diagnose it, how could an ordinary person ever discover the root cause? With his expertise, Chen Xiao quickly laid out a clear plan. Not only did he resolve the courtyard's problematic energy, but he also took the opportunity to refine the overall feng shui layout, designating areas for plants and trees that would further enhance vitality once spring arrived.
Having received clear instructions, Boss Wang swiftly regained his composure. Wasting no time, he immediately ordered the removal of the courtyard's stone flooring. That very day, workers began compacting the earth to create a solid, stable ground. His unmarried daughter, upon hearing this, was quite upset and wanted to make a fuss, but Boss Wang sternly put a stop to it. Had he not indulged her whims in the first place, their family wouldn't have suffered such misfortune.
Since this was Chen Xiao's first client in Hanshan City, he took his responsibility seriously. He oversaw the process personally, not leaving until he was satisfied that the yin energy had dissipated. Only then did he nod at Boss Wang, confirming the success of the changes.
Boss Wang was overjoyed. Just as he was considering an appropriate amount of compensation for such a life-changing service, a servant rushed in with exciting news—an important business deal that had been stalled for ages had finally gone through!
Ecstatic, Boss Wang wasn't just thrilled about the successful deal itself, but what it represented, their family's fortune was turning around! The decline had stopped, and prosperity was on the horizon!
Recognizing the immense favor Chen Xiao had bestowed upon him, as well as considering his background, Boss Wang solemnly presented a hundred spirit coins as payment.
Upon hearing the amount, Du Rong nearly lost his composure, his heart skipping a beat as he struggled to maintain his tough exterior. In contrast, his young employer remained utterly nonchalant, accepting the payment without a second thought before casually handing it over to Du Rong.
To ordinary people, this was a fortune. Yet, hidden within it was also a subtle apology from Boss Wang—for in the end, he had failed to keep the letter's recipient a secret from Chen Xiao.
Going through the full motions of deception, Chen Xiao hesitated for a moment, then furrowed his brows as he retrieved the letter Boss Wang had mistakenly returned. He said, "This isn't your fault. I should have asked more carefully. Never mind, since this isn't the right person, I'll continue my search."
Boss Wang wanted to help investigate further, but Chen Xiao firmly refused. He explained that since he had been entrusted with this task and had made an error in handling the letter, he had to personally seek out the right person to make amends.
Seeing how much Chen Xiao valued the recipient of the letter, Boss Wang couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy toward the person named Pang Hemu.
Chen Xiao declined Boss Wang's invitation to stay for dinner and got up to leave. Overcome with gratitude, Boss Wang personally escorted them all the way to the street corner, still reluctant to part. Chen Xiao frowned slightly, and Du Rong, growing impatient, said, "That's enough, Boss Wang, you can stop here."
Boss Wang halted his steps, while Chen Xiao pressed his lips together and said calmly, "I came to Hanshan City to gain experience. If you come across others with similar difficulties, feel free to recommend them to me."
Boss Wang sighed inwardly. With Chen Xiao's refined demeanor and noble bearing, he should have been mingling with the upper echelons of society, yet here he was, dealing with ordinary townsfolk. It truly wasn't easy for him... And his act of aloofness was incredibly convincing. Despite earning a hefty sum from his clients, he still managed to make them feel like he was the one struggling. To be able to put on such an act so flawlessly was a rare skill indeed.
Smiling, Boss Wang replied, "Oh, I wouldn't dare trouble Master Chen with such matters. As long as you settle down somewhere, people will surely come to seek your guidance."
He had already made great efforts to persuade Chen Xiao to work on his own residence. How could he possibly allow others the honor of having this noble young master personally visit their homes? In Boss Wang's eyes, Chen Xiao belonged on a pedestal, waiting for others to come to him with offerings and requests.
With his first job in Hanshan City successfully completed, it seemed he had even gained a loyal admirer. Chen Xiao was satisfied, the rest was just a matter of letting his reputation spread. His approach here was entirely different from how it had been in County City. Back then, he had to actively seek out work, but now, all he needed to do was maintain his air of cold indifference and let the clients come to him.
Once they had walked far enough from the Wang residence, Chen Xiao finally allowed himself to relax. Stretching lazily, he loosened up his muscles and then, with a gleeful grin, said, "Uncle Rong, our first deal here went smoothly! Let's go have a feast to celebrate!"
Du Rong, however, gave him a disapproving look. After glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention, he lowered his voice and said, "Master, maintain your composure. If you want to continue acting as a noble young master, you can't suddenly break character."
Chen Xiao blinked, surprised that Du Rong had taken the initiative to correct him. This marked a shift in their relationship—did this mean Du Rong was finally seeing him as one of his own? He wasn't sure whether to be pleased that he had gained the man's trust or depressed that he now had a strict supervisor watching over him.
Though Du Rong wouldn't allow him to openly feast in public, he did arrange for a luxurious meal from one of Hanshan City's finest restaurants to be delivered to Chen Xiao's room. When Chen Xiao invited him to join, Du Rong sat down with a serious expression and asked, "Master, what's the plan from here? If you could inform me in advance, I can coordinate accordingly."
Chen Xiao pondered for a moment before replying, "I don't plan to accept just anyone. I need to make them believe that getting my help is a rare privilege. Only then will they continue to view me as an unattainable noble figure."
Understanding his intent, Du Rong nodded. "Then leave the screening to me. If anyone comes seeking help, I'll assess their situation first before inviting you to intervene."
Having someone as capable as Du Rong handling these matters was a great relief. It spared him from unnecessary socializing while maintaining his air of mystery, an advantage for his long-term plans.
After all, the wealthy merchants of Hanshan City were just the first step. His ultimate goal had always been cultivators.
At present, only the central part of his compass was illuminated, indicating it was usable. The other eighteen rings, though memorized by heart, remained dormant. He couldn't help but wonder if they had other hidden functions, just like the current needle pointing toward an unknown destination.
To activate the remaining rings, he needed more fortune. But ordinary feng shui for mortals yielded too little, too slowly. Cultivators, however, carried their own powerful auras. If he arranged feng shui for them, the karmic energy he received in return would surely surpass anything he had now.