Chapter 91 - 90: Pointing to the Mountains

Chapter 91: Chapter 90: Pointing to the Mountains ... Dong Yuqing proceeded to invite, "I would like to ask Daoist Xuanzhen to personally come and take a look at where the issue lies. I wonder if it’s convenient for you?" Daoist Xuanzhen thought for a moment and then nodded, "Since I’ve already come out today and have nothing urgent to attend to, I’ll accompany you on this trip." Dong Yuqing was delighted, and immediately brought Daoist Xuanzhen and Tang Wenjun out of the teahouse, got in the car, and headed straight for the Tang Family villa. ... Tang Wenjun’s newly built villa was located in the suburbs, over twenty kilometers away from the city center. The site was surrounded by mountains and water, with lush vegetation covering the hills, creating a serene and tranquil environment. Clear and melodious birdsong echoed continuously, providing a refreshing and peaceful experience. The Tang Family villa, rather than just being a villa, was more akin to an estate, built on the sheltered slopes of a mountain amidst dense greenery, occupying an area of over a dozen acres. It was both elegant and luxurious. For such a large estate, combining the costs of land, construction, and interior decoration, the total expense would surely exceed billions. Just by looking at this estate, one could tell that the Tang Wenjun family was undeniably extremely wealthy. As soon as he got out of the car, Daoist Xuanzhen couldn’t help but smile and exclaim in admiration, "With mountains at the back and water before us, bird songs and fragrant flowers, the moonlight shines between pine trees, and clear springs flow over stones—it truly feels like a utopia!" "You flatter me, Daoist Xuanzhen," Tang Wenjun politely gestured and said, "Please, all of you, come inside for some tea first." "No need for tea; we had plenty earlier at the teahouse," Daoist Xuanzhen waved his hand dismissively. "Instead, Mr. Tang, please show us around." "Alright, alright," Tang Wenjun was eager to solve the fengshui problems that had been plaguing him, so he immediately led the way through the estate and into the rear garden. A strong fragrance of osmanthus greeted them. The branches of the osmanthus trees were laden with golden blossoms, resembling a sky full of glittering stars. Around the garden railings, pomegranate trees grew abundantly, as if welcoming visitors. There were countless small, unidentified flowers scattered amongst dense woods, and sporadic bird calls echoed from the forest. At the center of the garden stood an artificial mountain positioned within a pond, resembling a fairy bathing herself. "Wow!" Daoist Xuanzhen couldn’t help but marvel again, "What a grand and majestic garden, Mr. Tang! This is almost comparable to the Emperor’s Imperial Garden." "This was arranged by my father. He’s elderly now and enjoys gardening and raising birds as a pastime," Tang Wenjun said as he led the group through the garden along a winding path heading toward the rear mountain. The winding path, paved with smooth pebbles, was very easy to walk on. On either side were lush, green trees exuding a clean and graceful simplicity. Clusters of bright green leaves radiated vibrant colors that were pleasing to the eyes. A refreshing mountain breeze passed through the woods, bringing a soothing fragrance and revitalizing everyone’s spirits. "Splash, splash——" After walking for a while, the sound of flowing water reached their ears. Upon reaching the top of the rear mountain, a rather magnificent waterfall came into view. The waterfall was about thirty feet wide, cascading down in three tiers like staircases, each layer following the other in graceful succession. The water wasn’t particularly fast; after traveling through the three tiers, the cascading curtain of water fell into a clear pond at the foot of the mountain before gently meandering around the slopes in front of the estate. Daoist Xuanzhen couldn’t stop praising as he observed the scene, "What beautiful surroundings—mountains and rivers in perfect harmony, like an immortal realm." "Daoist Xuanzhen, as far as I know, Qingyun Mountain where you reside has scenery no less enchanting than this," Dong Yuqing chuckled lightly, adding, "You don’t have to keep marveling at the beauty here. Please help me assess the fengshui here." Daoist Xuanzhen smiled knowingly and nodded. Then, standing at a vantage point, he slowly surveyed the surroundings before speaking, "This place is surrounded by mountains and waters, capturing the wind and accumulating Qi. The scenery is delightful—truly a rare treasure of fengshui. Furthermore, the stream at the entrance is clear rather than turbid, curving gently to embrace the land rather than shooting straight ahead. This is clearly a layout known as ’Jade Belt Encircling the Waist,’ marvelously designed." "I think it’s indeed the ’Jade Belt Encircling the Waist’ arrangement," Dong Yuqing agreed, adding, "Mountains nurture people; waters signify wealth. With clear streams nourishing the household, continuous prosperity is ensured. Living here not only allows one to refine their character but also brings blessings to future generations." "But..." Dong Yuqing hesitated before continuing, "The waterfall cascading down might represent ruthless water... If there’s an issue with the fengshui here, could it be due to this waterfall?" "Not necessarily," Daoist Xuanzhen said confidently, "The waterfall splits into three tiers and descends gradually, with a gentle water flow. What appears ruthless is actually affectionate; there should be no major concerns. This place remains an excellent location for fengshui." "That’s a relief," Dong Yuqing said with obvious pleasure. "I originally thought about planting a row of trees here on the mountaintop to block the waterfall, so it would no longer be visible." "’Jade Belt Encircling the Waist’? ’What appears ruthless is actually affectionate’? Hahaha! I’m dying of laughter!" Yan Xiaobao suddenly burst out laughing. "With your limited expertise, do you even dare to set up a Fengshui Formation? You’re practically ruining people without taking responsibility!" "How are we ruining anyone? I..." Daoist Xuanzhen held back the indignant Dong Yuqing and humbly asked, "May I know what insights Mr. Yan has to offer?" "Insights? Do insights even matter here?" Yan Xiaobao pointed at the estate halfway up the mountain and said, "Such a massive estate—you didn’t notice? Consulting fengshui should take both the innate terrain and the modifications made by humans into account. What you’re doing, if not ruining people, then what is it?" "Ah!" Daoist Xuanzhen was shocked, inwardly cursing his own foolishness. The art of fengshui requires considering not only the natural configuration of landscapes but also human-made alterations to the environment. For instance, in ancient dynasties during times of change, individuals would attempt to sever "dragon veins," tampering with the fengshui energies of prior regimes to hasten their decline. This was a classic example of human influence on fengshui dynamics. "I never expected Mr. Yan’s expertise in fengshui to be so profound. I am truly humbled." Daoist Xuanzhen respectfully adopted the manner of a junior as he eagerly sought instruction, "I humbly request Mr. Yan’s guidance." Dong Yuqing stared at Yan Xiaobao in astonishment, utterly stunned. She had initially believed that inviting Daoist Xuanzhen would solve her pressing concerns and rid her of Yan Xiaobao’s meddling. But she’d never imagined that after just a few exchanges, even Daoist Xuanzhen would declare himself "humbled," leaving her thoroughly embarrassed. However, just as Dong Yuqing thought that Yan Xiaobao might seize this opportunity to exploit her again, Yan Xiaobao didn’t bother playing coy. He directly "instructed" Daoist Xuanzhen, saying: "You stated this spot embodies the ’Jade Belt Encircling the Waist’ arrangement; that was correct, originally. But the Tang Family constructed such a massive estate halfway up the mountain, immediately altering the fengshui dynamics of this location." "What?" Tang Wenjun quickly asked, "Then what kind of arrangement does it represent now?" "The estate is square and perfectly symmetrical, nestled within mountainous rocks. It unequivocally resembles an official seal," Yan Xiaobao lifted his hand to point, radiating the dignified aura of commanding the land. "A seal symbolizes the token of nobility—it cannot be used arbitrarily by non-nobles. If placed in the Hai direction, it represents ’Red Snake Around Seal’; if in the Shen position, it becomes ’Monkey Holding Seal’; if in the Hai position, ’Boar Guarding Seal.’ The source of water is in the direction of the Si position, winding like a snake as it gently encircles the estate. Hence, the fengshui arrangement here has shifted from the ’Jade Belt Encircling the Waist’ to the ’Red Snake Around Seal.’" ... [Please save, recommend, donate, and support!] ... The most uptodate novels are published on free(w)ebnov(e)l.com