After parting with Mr. Chen yesterday afternoon, we strolled around the street and prepared to return to the hotel.
It is said that a Double Ninth Festival temple fair will be held here in two days, and there will be special program groups and media coming over, so many shops in the downtown street are busy, hanging up lights and decorations, painting walls, and making preparations in advance.
The ancient city had not yet become truly bustling, and there were few pedestrians on the streets in the evening. The two of them walked all the way to the hotel area outside the scenic area.
It's more of an inn than a hotel.
The inn has the typical features of an ancient city, with bungalows and is very "long". After the two came out of the downtown street, they crossed a narrow bridge and walked around the river for a long time before they saw the main entrance.
Jing Cheng is used to going to a place and checking out the local geomancy and feng shui.
While observing along the way, Jing Cheng discovered a problem.
The developers here probably wanted to create a poetic atmosphere of "streams flowing around every house and willows hanging behind every house". This area specially designated for tourist accommodation not only has a separate path on the street for the stream to flow, but also the entire street is planted with weeping willows on both sides.
This kind of mood can probably only be reflected in summer. Now that the Double Ninth Festival is approaching, it is already late autumn. The willow branches on the trees are almost all bare. Yellow leaves are floating on the stream, piling up. In such a damp environment, the leaves are bound to rot. A layer of slippery moss is floating on the nearby bluestone road.
On this short journey, Jing Cheng saw at least three cases of children slipping.
...
...
"The developer must be out of his mind." Qin Yan saw many girls wearing high heels spraining their ankles along the way, and said, "If there is a river on the road, it will definitely accumulate water when it rains. Aren't they afraid that the river will overflow and cause a disaster?"
"It's obviously a northern city, but it chose to copy the south, making it look weird. Don't they understand the principle of adapting to local conditions?"
Jing Cheng nodded in agreement: "Besides, the location where these willow trees are planted is not right, and it violates the taboo of Feng Shui."
Qin Yan turned his head and asked curiously: "What taboo?"
"In Yangzhai Fengshui, it is said that the Five Ghost Trees should not be allowed into the house. The Five Ghost Trees refer to willow, poplar, mulberry, chinaberry and locust. These trees are Yin in nature. Mulberry trees should not be planted in front of the door, and willow trees should not be planted behind the house. Look at the position of the willow tree here..."
Qin Yan looked in the direction Jing Cheng pointed. In fact, he had noticed it on the way here. The willow trees here were basically planted behind the houses.
Jing Cheng said: "The property of willow trees is to cut off water and overcome wood. Water represents 'wealth' in Feng Shui, so cutting off water means cutting off wealth. Generally, willow trees are planted by rivers or ponds, dozens of meters in front of the door, to fix external wealth."
Qin Yan was confused and couldn't help asking, "From what you said... is it good or bad to plant this willow tree?"
"Of course it's not good." Jing Cheng shook his head, "But it's only this place that's not good."
The small streams and ponds here are all artificial and of Yin nature. Coupled with the large areas of ghost willows, they are more likely to attract evil spirits. And there is Taiyin Mountain next door... Tsk.
No wonder “accidents” happen so frequently here that even people from the Taoist Association have rushed here.
After listening to Jing Cheng's explanation, Qin Yan became interested and analyzed along the lines of his words: "There is a river running through the ancient city. You just said that water is wealth, so this place can be developed into a tourist attraction, and wealth can be generated everywhere."
Jing Cheng was still immersed in his own thoughts. He nodded indifferently when he heard this: "You can understand it that way."
Qin Yan had just wanted to agree with him, but now he could sense that he was not in a good mood and felt a little confused. Wasn't he very happy when he received the money just now?
The hotel was just around the corner. Jing Cheng raised his chin and said, "Let's not talk about this anymore. Let's go back and solve your problem first."
Qin Yan followed him in confused and solved his problem... What problem did he have?
…
Around nine o'clock that evening.
Jing Cheng was setting up the altar in the room.
Qin Yan and Fu Le sat on chairs nearby and silently observed his movements, feeling awe-inspiring.
When Jing Cheng came back, he specially bought the tools needed to set up the altar at the God of Wealth Store.
At this moment, there were three incense sticks inserted in the small incense burner, which had been lit. Thin smoke was rising, and the whole room was filled with a faint fragrance.
Then, Jing Cheng started to draw talismans.
Qin Yan and Fu Le didn't dare to disturb him, so they turned their phones to silent mode and chatted quietly.
Qin Yan: Why are you back so early?
Generally speaking, in a nationally famous tourist attraction like the ancient city, there will be many interesting activities at night. Most of the tourists who come here will "stay out all night", and it is common to stay up all night. He thought Fu Le would also spend a night in the Internet cafe with others.
Fu Le: I wanted to do that, but the owner of the Internet cafe disagreed. He said that all shops would be closed before 9 o'clock, and no one could be on the street at 10 o'clock. Damn, why haven't I heard of such a weird rule before?
Qin Yan: ...
Fu Le: I heard that this regulation was only introduced in recent years. Wasn't the ancient city known as the "city that never sleeps" before? Now there is no nightlife. How can it still be a tourist city? If we had known this, why would we have come here?
Qin Yan: What about the temple fair in two days?
Fu Le: It seems that the temple fair can be held all night long, but only on the Double Ninth Festival. It is said that the Yang energy of the Double Ninth Festival is strong and can ward off evil spirits [spreading hands].
Qin Yan: ...
Fu Le: Damn, what is Orange doing? Is he setting up an altar to catch ghosts? It's a bit scary to see this. [Frightened]
They both looked up at Jing Cheng, and saw him holding a peach wood sword and taking strange steps in front of a table with an incense burner. He was wielding the peach wood sword with great force, and was muttering something in a mysterious way.
The lights in the room were dim. Jing Cheng had his eyes closed. Half of his profile was exposed in the light, and the other half was hidden in the shadows. As he moved, the light and shadow cast on his face flickered, making it look even more eerie in this small room.
A little man made of yellow paper had appeared on the table in front of him. The man's facial features were lifelike, and the paper was covered with strange runes written in cinnabar.
After looking at each other for a while, they suddenly felt a chill on their backs and their whole bodies went cold.
Fu Le: I think that villain is not right. Why does it feel like he is stabbing a villain? What is he doing?
Qin Yan: ...He said he wanted to solve my problem. He said that my life was accidentally “replaced” by someone during the day, and it seemed to be related to my fortune.
Fu Le: ??? Exchange your life? Big brother, tell me the truth, are you still my brother Yan now? Is your body occupied by a wandering ghost? Tell the truth! [Sly smile]
Qin Yan: Get lost.
Fu Le: By the way, did Chengzi say he would help me solve my problem? I lost ten games in a row in a PK this afternoon, and Dongzi called me and said I was crazy, because I was not good enough! I told him that I was suffering from Mercury retrograde recently, and he kicked me out of the group.
Fu Le: [Baby is feeling miserable]
Qin Yan: ...
Fu Le: Brother Yan, well, I’m going to tell you the truth, please don’t be unhappy about it.
Qin Yan glanced at him and poked the screen lightly with his fingertips: Then don’t say it.
Fu Le pretended not to see it. He was bored anyway, so he spoke out what he had buried for a long time.
Fu Le: I always feel that Orange and we are not from the same world. Look at his daily behavior, the words he uses, and his peculiar hobbies... He gives me the feeling of a person from an older generation. I once heard his classmates talking about him behind his back, saying that he didn’t even know the English letters “abcd”, and... he actually wrote in traditional Chinese characters!
Fu Le: Didn't the Jing family tell the public that he had just returned from abroad? I didn't react this morning, but now I think there is something wrong with it. This news must be misleading to the public.
Fu Le has been using his mobile phone and computer for many years and he types very fast. In the time it took Qin Yan to raise his head, he had sent over a large number of messages.
Qin Yan: What do you want to say?
Fu Le hesitated for a moment and moved his fingers: I think, no matter where he comes from, he is always a man who can do great things.
Qin Yan: So?
Fu Le: So I think there’s probably no chance for you two.
I didn't expect him to say this. Qin Yan's chest suddenly became angry and his face turned as black as charcoal.
Fu Le didn't know that the people around him were already cheering in their hearts, and continued: "Let me analyze it for you. Our family emphasizes matching up with each other, and having similar aspirations. He is a Taoist priest. Look at those Taoist priests on TV, especially the powerful ones, which one is married?"
Fu Le: She is just a fairy, and we are ordinary mortals. There will be no good ending for the love between fairies and mortals.
Fu Le: So...Brother Yan, you should think twice.
Qin Yan's anger jumped directly from his chest to his head.
He sneered and wrote: You big-headed ghost, I will become an immortal soon.
If he was still hesitant before, now he is determined to learn Taoism from Jingcheng.
Didn't Jing Cheng say it before? His constitution is extremely yang, which is the best constitution for practicing Taoism, while his opponent's constitution is extremely yin. They are a perfect match, one yin and one yang!
There is no other pair of people in this world who are as well-matched as they are.
Qin Yan glanced at Fu Le coldly.
Fu Le: “…” I’m going to die, Charizard exploded.
Fu Le bowed his head timidly. He had a premonition that Qin Yan was going to resort to violence against him.
Fu Le reflected on himself in his heart, why was he so talkative... No, why was his hand so naughty!
Unexpectedly, he waited for a long time but no fist landed on him. When he raised his head again, he saw that the two men had been standing together since he had no idea what was going on, and were talking about something with serious expressions.
Jing Cheng also slapped a piece of talisman paper on Qin Yan's shoulder.
The moment the talisman paper touched Qin Yan's body, it suddenly flashed and disappeared abruptly.
Fu Le: “!!!”
Fu Le rubbed his eyes. He suspected that he had spent too much time looking at the computer in the afternoon and that something was wrong with his eyes.
Jing Cheng saw him looking up and waved to him like a puppy: "That's great, come over here too."
Fu Le was distracted just now and had no idea what the two people had said before. Hearing what they said, he stood up and walked over for no apparent reason.
Jing Cheng handed him a note: "Read it every night before going to bed in the next few days, and it's best to memorize it."
Fu Le looked down and saw that although it was written in traditional Chinese characters, they were all relatively simple characters. He could recognize them and read them out slowly: "Please ask the Heaven Official to relieve the heaven disaster, the Earth Official to relieve the earth disaster, the Water Official to relieve the water disaster... What is this?"
"A spell to remove evil." Jing Cheng replied, and handed him a triangular amulet. "This is yours. Wear the amulet and don't take it off. Remember not to get it wet."
Fu Le was stunned for a moment, and said: "No need, I have something Brother Yan gave me..."
"The amulet's effectiveness has weakened since you took it off. You're so unlucky, it's probably useless now."
Fu Le wanted to take out the amulet Qin Yan lent him from his pocket, but he took out a handful of ashes instead.
Fu Le: “…”
What the hell happened to me?
-----
The author has something to say:
Well, the dead person was neither the old man nor Mr. Chen.
My eyes got inflamed today, so I wasn't in the right state to write. That's why I postponed the important details. I hope you don't mind.
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