Chapter 2: The Five Vices and Three Deficiencies

Once, I noticed that my favorite girl, Wang Meng, had a faint greenish glow on her face, with a red spot flickering between her brows—an ominous sign of being plagued by malicious gossip. Sure enough, a day later, rumors began to swirl at school, accusing her of scandalous behavior in the village. The entire student body was whispering about her, and seeing her anguish after being slandered pained me deeply.

I wanted to help her, yet I was haunted by my grandfather’s warning. He had once sternly told me that if I used my abilities to read others’ fates before turning twenty-one, my loved ones would suffer—either through death or crippling misfortune. Ultimately, I resolved not to interfere in Wang Meng’s affairs; compared to my family’s safety, her troubles seemed insignificant.

But when I saw the soul lamp flickering above her right shoulder, on the verge of extinguishing, I realized the situation was dire. She must have been unable to bear the humiliation and slander at school, contemplating suicide to prove her innocence. In my panic, I forgot my grandfather’s admonition and decided to inform her family, urging them to watch over her and prevent any tragedy.

Wang Meng was saved by her family, but I soon fell ill for no apparent reason. At first, it was just a headache, fever, and weakness so severe that even standing up seemed impossible. Eventually, I lost consciousness entirely. When I awoke three days later, I was devastated to learn that my grandfather had died.

That year, I was eighteen, and I lost the person who loved me most forever. My parents told me that on the second day of my fever, my grandfather had gone alone into the back mountain, found the worst possible spot for feng shui, dug a pit, and buried himself alive—without coffin or funeral. No one knew how he managed it; if he hadn’t appeared in my father’s dream to tell him, our family might never have known he had passed.

That day, I knelt at my grandfather’s grave until I fainted from grief. According to the face-reading techniques he taught me, it was clear he sacrificed himself to save me, giving his life to his grandson. The blow was immense. I could not accept that my grandfather died because of me.

From that day, I withdrew from school and saw no one but my parents. I secluded myself in the old house where my grandfather had lived, diligently studying the secret feng shui techniques he left me. At that moment, I was consumed by a single purpose: to carry forward my grandfather’s legacy.

He had always told me to ensure that the secret arts of Qingma would not fade from the world. Deep and profound, they must endure.

Now that my grandfather was gone, the responsibility to carry on his feng shui legacy fell squarely on my shoulders. I was determined not to tarnish his reputation, no matter what, and to honor and expand the Qingma arts.

This was his dying wish, and I was bound to fulfill it.

Time flew by, and soon my twenty-first birthday arrived. Once the day passed, I would be free to use the feng shui techniques my grandfather had taught me. The thought filled me with anticipation.

There was another matter that stirred a ripple in my otherwise tense heart. Just earlier, I received a call from the Liu family: they would be coming over for lunch at noon. Naturally, Liu Qingqing—my betrothed since childhood—would accompany them.

As my fiancée, I was curious about her appearance. Near noon, a brand-new luxury car pulled up at our gate. My parents, already expecting the guests, greeted them warmly at the entrance. Nervous about meeting a girl for the first time, I peeked out from the inner room window to catch a glimpse of the girl promised to me since childhood.

Amidst polite greetings, I saw a sweet-faced young woman enter the courtyard. She was tall and graceful, with a strikingly beautiful face and large, lively eyes shining with spirit. Surely, this was Liu Qingqing, my fiancée.

I had imagined her appearance countless times, but never expected her to be as lovely as a fairy.

“Please, come in. The meal is ready, let’s have a drink together soon,” my father said warmly, displaying the mountain folk’s hospitality.

“You’re too kind. Today is July’s birthday, and it’s also the anniversary of the engagement between myself and Old Mr. Chen. We’re sorry to impose on you like this,” said a portly middle-aged man, addressing my father with a gentle tone.

He must be Liu Sihai, who received my grandfather’s last reading. In just a few years, he’d become the foremost tycoon in our entire northeast region.

I instinctively glanced at Liu Sihai’s face—long and thin, not the typical look of someone blessed with enduring fortune. People with such features usually have scant luck with wealth and rarely attain great riches. Yet Liu Sihai had undergone surgery on his nose and chin, altering his fate, no doubt thanks to my grandfather’s guidance.

Led by my father, everyone entered the courtyard. My mother loudly called for me to come out and meet my new bride. Helpless, I blushed and stepped out of the house.

Liu Qingqing sized me up and down, then suddenly asked, “What’s your name?”

“Chen July. My grandfather gave it to me,” I replied, cheeks burning.

Hearing my name, she broke into laughter. “July, what a nice name. Your grandfather must have been that feng shui master, right?”

I nodded silently.

“We’re here for an important reason. I actually...” Liu Qingqing stopped mid-sentence, quickly covering her mouth. “It’s better if my father tells you later.”

With that, she hurried to catch up with Liu Sihai and entered the inner room.

Though she hadn’t finished her thought, I sensed something unusual. Their visit was not just for a meal; there was more to it.

Soon, my mother laid out a sumptuous country lunch. At the table, my father and Liu Sihai chatted happily, clearly fond of their future daughter-in-law. But I knew things would not be so simple.

After a few cups of rice wine, Liu Sihai’s face was tinged with red. Suddenly, he stood up, bowed respectfully to my parents, and said earnestly, “Brother Chen, I owe my success to Old Mr. Chen’s advice. Years ago, we arranged an engagement, but times have changed, and people now value freedom in marriage. I wonder if we should dissolve the betrothal?”

Hearing this, my parents’ faces turned pale, their hands trembling as they held their wine cups.

“Brother Liu, are you sure about this? My father gave you a great blessing. Do you really want to destroy it?” my father said, his face darkening.

“I know Old Mr. Chen was a master of feng shui. I can’t say if my success is due to his guidance, but I, Liu Sihai, am not one to break my word. Here’s one million in cash as compensation to Old Mr. Chen. Is that acceptable?”

He gestured to his driver, who placed a new lockbox on the table.

“In that case, do as you wish. But don’t regret your decision,” I said coldly to the Liu family.