Chapter Eighteen: Playful Words Are Not Nonsense

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Daxia City, Longhu Villa Estate

Nearly all the wealthy class of Daxia City reside here. This estate was developed with significant investment by the renowned Longhu Capital. Nestled between mountains and rivers, the environment is picturesque. Each detached villa starts at a minimum of 400 square meters and comes with comprehensive lifestyle services, including security, housekeeping, and cleaning.

Legend has it that during the initial construction, the great tycoon Dai Heming spent a fortune to consult a master who laid out a grand Feng Shui formation known as the Nine Dragons United Cauldron. This formation, consecrated by the heavens and earth and witnessed by the sun and moon, is said to harness the fortune of all directions and absorb the essence of a thousand years, granting longevity and eternal youth to those who dwell here long enough.

This gave rise to a peculiar belief: those who move into Longhu Estate are destined for great wealth and honor, blessed by the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. To not prosper here is impossible. Moreover, the neighbors are influential figures from Daxia City and even nationwide—people whose mere footsteps can send tremors through the city. With such connections, how could one fail to thrive?

Many small business owners have gone to great lengths, even taking out loans, just to secure a residence here.

However, the estate operates on a strict recommendation system: wealth alone cannot buy you a home; you must have the right credentials. For the elite of Daxia City, gaining entry into Longhu Estate is a matter of pride.

Property prices soar as high as 286,000 yuan per square meter, with the cheapest villas costing over a hundred million yuan.

This made Shen Lin, who had just arrived, pause and survey the scene for a while.

Coming from a family that was neither too wealthy nor too poor in both his past lives, this was his first close-up encounter with such legendary mansions.

The main gate of Longhu Estate is designed in the traditional style of a noble manor, grand and resplendent from afar. Rumors say that to preserve the dragon energy of the Nine Dragons United Cauldron formation, the master ordered the construction of a network of canals here, creating a unique water pattern.

Shen Lin naturally could not comprehend the playthings of the wealthy.

He turned his gaze to the father and son duo beside him, Li Meng and Li Yihui. Strictly speaking, today he was a junior tagging along with his family elders to broaden his horizons.

“Xiao Lin, it looks decent, right?” Li Yihui’s pride was hard to conceal. Ever since he learned that Shen Lin had saved Li Meng during that terrifying attack, their family treated Shen Lin almost like their own nephew.

“Dai Heming put a lot of thought into building this place. He hired the famous Feng Shui master Jin Xia, who is said to be a disciple of Lu Liangsheng, a Taoist master from the Sui Dynasty eight centuries ago. The groundbreaking ceremony here was quite the spectacle,” Li Yihui explained.

Li Yihui had invested part of the funds for Longhu Estate and held a 20% stake, making him one of the estate’s owners.

“Spectacle? I’m not so sure. You all make this master sound like a miracle worker, but the estate he personally laid out still has ghost problems,” Shen Lin smiled. In this revived world, such feudal superstitions were nothing but jokes. Even the sharpest peachwood sword couldn’t harm these vengeful spirits.

That so-called Master Jin Xia was nothing but a fraud.

Li Yihui’s once proud expression immediately fell, his face full of helpless frustration.

“You attract people with auspicious Feng Shui signs, but when these incidents happen, they’ll leave because of the ghosts, and some might even sue you. Uncle Li, just in terms of property transfers recently, there must be countless orders.” Shen Lin remarked.

“Uncle won’t hide it from you—you’re exactly right. Strange things have been happening lately. People in the estate have started disappearing without reason. At first, we didn’t take it seriously, but as the missing numbers grew, families came daily, threatening to make us pay if we couldn’t solve it,” Li Yihui said with a bitter smile.

“Have you checked the surveillance footage?” Shen Lin asked.

“Of course. We’ve involved the police several times over this. But the footage shows everything as normal. On the day the people disappeared, the cameras even recorded activity in the area. It’s downright bizarre,” Li Yihui replied.

Shen Lin pondered. Disappearances were not surprising—most victims either died on the spot or vanished. This was common. It was also understandable that the surveillance was useless. Looks like they had to start from scratch.

“Dad, I’m telling you, for this matter, you should turn to Lin. No one’s more professional,” Li Meng chimed in, standing up for his close friend.

How professional? Who knows. But since my buddy managed to get me out of that mess in Anhe Estate, he’s the best, no matter what Jesus says.

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Li Yihui smacked his son on the back of the head, about to say more but held back with Shen Lin present.

He had no real hope for today. How could two kids solve a problem that countless masters couldn’t? If not for his son’s relentless pestering, he wouldn’t have come at all.

Having just escaped danger, the entire family was overly protective of Li Meng. Unable to refuse, Li Yihui finally agreed.

After years of navigating the business world, this old face didn't matter much anymore. He figured he might as well let the kids have their fun—what harm could it do?

Letting them babble and act out a little wouldn’t actually solve anything, but Li Yihui knew better than to expect miracles.

“Mr. Li!”

Around them, a chorus of melodious calls echoed. The security at Anhe Estate operated on a mixed-gender team.

The men wore suits, muscular and imposing, either professionally trained or former soldiers, each capable of handling a fight.

The women, clad in elegant qipaos, had voluptuous figures and stunning faces. Their main role was reception—most of the time they simply stood there, adding to the estate’s grandeur.

“Alright, everyone, get back to your posts,” Li Yihui waved his hand, signaling the gates to open as they drove in.

Though the residents of Longhu Estate were fewer than those in Anhe Estate, the area was much larger, making walking a slow option.

Their destination was a villa owned privately by tycoon Dai Heming. The European architectural style blended with Su-style gardens, creating a masterpiece of aesthetics. The backyard boasted a meticulously maintained swimming pool, with dedicated staff managing the water daily.

To enhance the scenery and greenery, Dai Heming had bamboo planted around the property, one of the “Four Gentlemen” in Chinese culture, symbolizing his own refined character.

Inside, the hall was already filled with people. An elderly man dressed in a black-and-white Taoist robe was fiddling with a compass, causing the room to fall into a hushed silence.

“That’s Master Jin Xia. Dai boss spent a fortune to bring him out of retirement for this issue. You two, keep your eyes sharp,” Li Yihui whispered.

Master Jin Xia muttered incantations, his right hand forming an indistinct mudra. After a long moment, he finally concluded his ritual.

Good thing he finished, or Li Meng would have fallen asleep.

“Master, what do you see?” Dai Heming asked cautiously, careful not to offend.

He had heard many rumors about such mystics. During the Republic era, a wealthy boss who offended such a person suffered a curse on his ancestral tomb, leading to his family’s ruin within a year and mysterious deaths across generations.

Better to believe than not, no one wanted to provoke these people.

Master Jin Xia closed his eyes for a long moment before slowly speaking:

“On the day the Nine Dragons United Cauldron was established, I warned you again and again not to disturb the formation. Why did you not listen?”

His voice carried an aura of otherworldliness, and when he turned to look, his tiger-like eyes seemed to pierce the soul, exuding immense pressure.

Even without his words, his very demeanor was that of a true master.

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Dai Heming forced a smile.

“Master, a resident got drunk one day and accidentally drove into and damaged the artificial rockery. But I had craftsmen restore it quickly. It should be fine, right?”

“Fine?” Master Jin Xia snorted coldly.

“Then find someone more capable.” With that, he turned to leave.

Dai Heming and the others panicked and hurriedly persuaded him to stay.

“The Nine Dragons United Cauldron is my life’s work: one mountain, one cauldron, nine dragons united, transforming the water energies of rivers, lakes, and seas to nourish the land. But all things are destined—every sip and every peck is fate. The blessings you receive come with corresponding consequences. This is the karma of a mountain and river. Can you bear it?” Master Jin Xia said slowly. After a sweeping glance, he leisurely sipped his tea.

“Not bear it, not bear it,” Dai Heming’s younger brother, Dai Henian, blurted out, clearly terrified. People like them feared death above all and dreaded such supernatural matters.

“Master, you must save us. Money is no object.”

These words caught Master Jin Xia’s old eyes with a glimmer, but he remained calm.

“One mountain restrains one sea; one sea hides one dragon. If the mountain breaks, the sea can no longer be restrained, and the dragon can no longer be concealed. The east has Jia and Yi wood; the west has Geng and Xin metal. The power of the mountains and rivers suppresses the dragon, but this naturally breeds the dragon’s resentment. This is the Azure Dragon’s Doom—it is a trapped dragon escaping, seeking revenge on everyone in this estate.”

The crowd was left bewildered and on edge, their hearts pounding. The mention of the Azure Dragon claiming lives made many break into a sweat, wiping their brows incessantly.

“Master, please, can you save us? Saving one life is better than building a seven-story pagoda,” someone knelt, clutching the old master’s hand, tears streaming down, their polished facade vanishing.

“Difficult, difficult, difficult. I, a disciple of Grand Sui’s Lu Heavenly Master, was told my fate holds seven calamities, one of which involves dragons. I was advised to prepare early. Thus, I developed this trapped dragon formation to break the calamity. Now, I fear I am powerless.”

Master Jin Xia shook his head, sighed deeply, and fell silent.

Dai Heming quickly tapped Dai Henian, who understood immediately and pulled out a card.

“Master, please show mercy. This is a token of our sincerity and filial respect to the Heavenly Lord. One hundred million yuan as an advance, with another three hundred million to follow—four hundred million in total. We beg you, Master, have pity on us and intervene this once.”

The old master’s eyes brightened further. A smile crept beneath his snowy white beard.

“Very well. Since it is fate, it cannot be avoided. I will do battle with this trapped dragon and strive to win you a sliver of hope.”

Before anyone could rejoice, an uncontrollable laugh burst forth.

“Pfft~”