Chapter 0077 Master Chen Gui
Frank Fang snorted. "You can't handle a little setback? This line of work always carries risks. I've been in Southeast Asia for over a decade and I've faced things far worse than this without whining like you!"
His words actually piqued my interest. I looked at him and asked, "Brother, tell me about your past. How did you get from Huizhou to Thailand, and how did you get started in this business? Tell me everything!"
Frank thought for a moment. "Fine. Since you're so miserable you're thinking of quitting the amulet business, I'll tell you. But you know me—I'm a man of principle and my time isn't free. My rate is 1,000 Baht per hour. How's that? Fair, right?"
I wasn't surprised at all. In fact, I thought it was a bargain. For a couple thousand Baht, I could learn things you'd never find in a book—knowledge that would help me navigate the occult world much better in the future. In two words: Great value.
I pulled a 1,000 Baht note from my wallet and slapped it on the table. Frank didn't hesitate; he snatched the money, poured himself a coffee, and said slowly, "That's more like it. I wouldn't tell this to anyone else even if they paid me!"
I nodded eagerly. Frank sighed. "It was 1992. I was young, not much older than you are now, running a casino for a friend. Some guys got drunk and started harassing my girlfriend. In a fit of rage, I stabbed one of them. I had to run. First to the Philippines to run a prostitution ring, then to the Golden Triangle to move drugs for a friend. The police eventually raided us, and only I and a friend named Deng Sheng escaped. We fled to Malaysia to hide out. Two years in, we were almost in the clear until Deng Sheng accidentally offended a sorcerer named Watana. He was cursed to death. I had to run again. I ended up smuggling myself into Taiwan..."
For the next two hours, Frank told me his story. These were experiences he had never shared with anyone before.
A New Identity in Pingtung
Frank's original name was Lin Gang, a native of Huizhou, Guangdong. After fleeing the sorcerer in Malaysia, he found a human smuggler and hid in a place called Xinpi, south of Pingtung County, Taiwan. He rented a room from a villager under the guise of researching local fruit exports and changed his surname to Fang, calling himself Fang Gang.
Xinpi was a remote rural area. It was boring, but the upside was that he never saw a familiar face—no friends, no enemies. He stayed there for six months. He had plenty of money saved from his drug-trafficking days in the Golden Triangle, making him the wealthiest man in Xinpi, but the village had no high-end restaurants, KTVs, or casinos. For Frank, it was a special kind of hell.
In the southern part of Xinpi, there was a young widow surnamed Zhao who ran a fish stall. Frank, being a fan of seafood and women, frequented her stall. With his experience, he quickly seduced her, and the two began a secret affair.
However, a local bachelor named Old Wu, who had also slept with the widow, found out. Consumed by jealousy, he plotted revenge. One day, the widow told Frank some news that sent a chill down his spine.
There was a recluse living in the Dawu Mountains named Master Chen. The locals called him Chen Gui (Ghost Chen). He was a sorcerer who specialized in Maoshan (Taoist) arts. He could change a person's luck for wealth or make them fall ill and die. Old Wu had told the widow he was going to hire Chen Gui to place a curse on Frank.
Because Frank had nearly died at the hands of a sorcerer in Malaysia, he was terrified. He immediately gathered a large sum of money and headed for the Dawu Mountains.
Meeting the Master
At the foot of the mountain, Frank saw a brand-new BMW and a driver waiting by the road. He found it odd to see a luxury car in such a remote place but continued up the trail. He found Master Chen's house—a few tile-roofed buildings in a scenic spot. As he approached, a young woman wearing large sunglasses and a silk scarf over her face hurried out, looking as though she was desperate to avoid being recognized.
Frank knocked, and a middle-aged woman let him in. He entered a room that was surprisingly dilapidated compared to the tidy exterior. The walls were covered in Buddha statues and old photos. A man in his fifties, wearing a tattered white shirt, sat cross-legged on a mat. He was tall, thin, and exuded an air of quiet power.
Frank explained his situation. Master Chen nodded. "I practice Maoshan arts. I'm not like those Southeast Asian sorcerers who would kill their own parents for money. We Chinese have rules. Old Wu is just jealous; I won't take a contract to harm you for such a reason. You can leave in peace."
Relieved, Frank offered the Master a cigarette—a Dunhill from Malaysia. Master Chen accepted it and noted, "I like this brand."
Feeling safe, Frank shared his life story—from Huizhou to the Golden Triangle to Malaysia. Master Chen sighed. "You've seen much. They say trouble comes from the mouth; let this be a lesson. But these days, people always chase what they weren't meant to have. Especially those stars—they are too obsessed with fame and fortune."
Frank, sharp as ever, immediately thought of the woman he had seen leaving. He asked who she was. Master Chen smiled. "You're a clever one. She's an actress from Keelung. She's been in several TV dramas and is quite famous."
"What was she here for?" Frank asked. "A curse?"
"No," Master Chen replied. "She wants to be a superstar. She begged me to boost her luck. I refused at first, but she insisted she loved acting and was in financial trouble. She offered a massive amount of money, so I agreed."
A lightbulb went off in Frank's head. He tentatively asked, "Master Chen, if I could find more clients who need your help... would you be willing to see them?"
Master Chen shrugged. "Everyone needs to eat and make money. As long as the request isn't wicked or unreasonable, we can talk."
Frank was ecstatic. "Master Chen, have many celebrities visited you? Can you tell me more?"