Many readers wonder why, after taking that feng shui job at the beginning, the protagonist immediately dives into recollections of the past. What exactly was that job? Well, starting from Volume Six, the real story begins, so brace yourselves...

Time flew by with startling speed; five years vanished in the blink of an eye. Our Young Master Liu had slowly matured from the naive youth he once was.

From the Northeast to the coast, and then by 'black boat' to this Hong Kong under British management, Young Master Liu's wandering life had temporarily reached a full stop. Clutching the letter of introduction from Big Grasshopper (leader of the tomb-robbing consortium, see Volume Five for details), he knocked on the door of a certain shop, and thus began Young Master Liu’s life as an employee. It was a feng shui establishment, run by a man surnamed Diao, whose given name was Yi. He had a sharp, simian face and shifty eyes—the very picture of a swindler.

Uncle Diao was quite the talker, spinning yarns that obscured the heavens and earth, claiming his shop was a Sino-foreign joint venture established by his mother, and that with Young Master Liu’s knowledge, he could surely take over his great enterprise one day. Young Master Liu wasn't a fool and naturally didn't believe a word of it. However, seeing that Uncle Diao had some know-how in this trade, learning a few tricks wouldn't hurt, so he didn't complain much.

He kept in touch with Fan Debiao over the years, but whenever they connected online, the fat man only complained to Young Master Liu. It was clear Fan Debiao wasn't doing so well. Still, Fan Debiao had picked up quite a few things following Big Grasshopper, and when he recounted his glorious achievements from the past few years, he even managed to pull off a few tricks, though without much success.

Yesterday, he spoke with Fan Debiao on the phone, and the latter sounded ecstatic, telling Young Master Liu he had just landed a big job and had to travel far. He asked Young Master Liu not to look for him for a while. Judging by the sound of it, Fan Debiao might have genuinely stumbled into some incredible luck.

Uncle Diao used to run a fortune-telling stall. Over time, he graduated from minor cons to major deceptions, finally opening this shop. But Young Master Liu had caught wind of rumors: some said that while telling fortunes, Uncle Diao also dabbled in tomb raiding on the side; otherwise, his rapid accumulation of wealth made no sense. Whenever Young Master Liu brought this up, Uncle Diao would skillfully evade the topic, but judging by his deceitful demeanor, he had certainly engaged in daodou (tomb raiding).

Uncle Diao ran a feng shui shop, and although they handled feng shui consultations, the real core of the business was, quite plainly, trading antiques. The shop wasn't large, but many people frequented it, including several regular customers who always brought in fine items. Young Master Liu knew without even looking that these people were surely tomb raiders; ordinary folk don't have so many genuine antiques to sell.

Uncle Diao often told Young Master Liu, "In this trade, you might not get a customer for three years, but when you do, that one job sustains you for three." Young Master Liu's reply was always: "Given the current climate, Uncle Diao, going three years without a sale is very possible, but sustaining yourself for three years on one deal? That’s a bit less certain." Uncle Diao would sigh profoundly every time Young Master Liu said this.

The weather had been scorching hot these past few days, making people reluctant to go out. Thankfully, Young Master Liu was used to staying in; he could easily tolerate a month indoors.

Young Master Liu settled into a chair in front of the counter, happily reading his copy of Investiture of the Gods, enjoying the cool air conditioning—a perfect indulgence!

Across from him sat the clerk Uncle Diao had hired, a woman with a truly impressive bust named Bai Bing. She was a year or two older than Young Master Liu, and being near her all day created an awkward feeling; sometimes it made Young Master Liu hesitant to even look her way.

Speaking of which, Young Master Liu couldn't help but detail Uncle Diao’s character. Uncle Diao was a bit improper, often lecherous, frequently teasing Bai Bing, yet deep down, he possessed a kind heart—though a slightly roguish one. He spoke to Young Master Liu as if they were brothers. Bai Bing was aware of Uncle Diao’s nature and didn't pay it much mind, which was probably why she had stayed employed there for so long.

As mentioned at the start, Young Master Liu had accepted that feng shui commission, and it was quite lucrative. He already knew Garden Estate was an upscale area filled with wealthy residents, but he never imagined his client lived in a villa! A villa right in the city center—the kind with two separate residences in one structure, each boasting its own private courtyard, complete with a swimming pool. Adjusting his jaw, which felt close to dislocating, Young Master Liu smoothed his small satchel, stood tall with an air of scholarly dignity, and pressed the doorbell.

An elder opened the door. He was a man in his late sixties or early seventies, radiating scholarly refinement, and very polite: "Hello there..."

"Greetings, Uncle. I am Young Master Liu. I’m here today to consult on the feng shui of this residence," Young Master Liu introduced himself immediately, showing the old man the identification card he had cleverly acquired from the Provincial Taoist Association.

The elder glanced at the credentials and smiled gently, "Truly a young talent emerging."

He seemed slightly untrusting; Young Master Liu knew he couldn't afford to be careless. He mustered his full attention and followed the elder into the garden area. They walked past the small swimming pool and approached a study room adjacent to the garden, its entrance a large glass door. The elder slid the glass open, inviting Young Master Liu in, and they stepped inside together. The furnishings alone proclaimed the owner an exceptionally wealthy man. There was a desk, a set of circular-backed chairs, and bookshelves, all made of high-grade Huanghuali wood—how expensive must that be! The ornaments on the antique display case were equally aged and elegant. Although Young Master Liu was still somewhat new to the antique trade, after learning from Uncle Diao for quite some time, his eye had sharpened considerably. Just by judging the wood, he knew those pieces were priced outrageously high.

"May I ask your honored surname, Uncle?" Business was about to begin; he needed to know how to address his client first.

"Ah," the elder smiled, "My surname is Wang."

"Very well, Uncle Wang. I shall now begin the survey of your residence. When was this house built?"

"It was built the year before last."

"Could you first lead me around so I can get a full overview of your property?"

After a full circuit, Young Master Liu had a general sense of things. Based on his knowledge, the house had clear passage from north to south, facing Kan (North) and oriented towards Li (South). There were no overtly ominous external forces outside the structure. While the Qi convergence inside was slightly deficient, it wasn't a major flaw, and the interior arrangements did not conflict with the Tai Sui or activate inauspicious energy fields. Logically, the elder should not have any serious health issues?

"Shall we proceed to your bedroom to take a closer look?" Young Master Liu decided to examine everything again with meticulous scrutiny.

By the bedroom window, he observed carefully. Suddenly, he noticed the building opposite, where a family had modified their original window, extending a new one. One sharp corner of this new window was precisely aimed at the elder's window. Though the impact was minute, he felt compelled to verify his suspicion.

"Uncle Wang, may I ask if your zodiac sign is the Dog?"

Seeing the instant flash of surprise in Elder Wang’s eyes, Young Master Liu knew he was correct. Having confirmed this, his confidence soared.

"Uncle Wang, the situation is this: your residence has no major flaws; the structure is sound and should not bring you misfortune. However, your window is being slightly impacted by that neighbor’s extended window, which is why you have been feeling unwell."

"Is that so?" the elder asked, half-believing. "But why is my wife perfectly fine?"

"Uncle Wang, is your Auntie not a Dog?"

"No. She was born in the Year of the Horse. Does this have any connection?"

"Uncle Wang, the orientation of that extended window is in the Chen sector, which directly strikes the position corresponding to the Dog sign, which is Xu, the master of the room. That is why I asked if you were a Dog—to verify my academic theory."

"So that's how it is!" Elder Wang realized with sudden understanding. "Then how do we counteract it?"

"This is relatively simple. I prefer methods that are natural when I practice feng shui; I generally avoid activating energies unless it is unavoidable. Furthermore, unless a situation is truly malefic, I advise against making changes. Your window issue has two solutions. One is to discuss it with your neighbor and see if they can remove it. The other is that you simply switch rooms, and the problem will vanish. If you truly wish to remain in this room, then things become rather more complicated..." He drew out the last word, watching the client’s expression. If the client wasn't afraid of money or trouble, he stood to earn significantly more!

Indeed, Elder Wang responded readily: "Not afraid, not afraid. As long as it’s fixed properly, money is not an issue."

"Then I will need to arrange furnishings or make alterations near the window. Rest assured, I am not like some feng shui masters who insist the client rearrange and add numerous items just to inflate their fee. I prioritize the client's best interests. Therefore, the method I employ will be the one that best suits you and takes care of your situation."