Chapter 32: Unrivaled in the Limelight

When the massive green snake behind me emerged from the water, everyone present was struck dumb. Even Chen Yanlong and his grandson stared at me with expressions of utter shock. They clearly had not expected that I would remove all nine Soul-Locking Nails they had embedded into the creature’s body.

At that moment, Chen Yanlong approached with a gloomy look. He sneered and said to me, "Borrowing the tiger's prestige, are we? This green snake was already wounded by me, which is why you were able to subdue it so easily. If it weren't for the injuries I inflicted, would you have been able to handle it?"

"It’s truly a case of me performing the rain ritual, only to have the credit stolen by you."

Chen Yanlong was truly a shameless old fox. To seize the fortune my grandfather had left for me, he would stop at nothing. His meaning was clear: he was claiming that I had only succeeded because I rode on his coattails. As the preeminent Feng Shui master in the provincial capital, his words, though baseless, carried enough weight to sway the onlookers at the Liu villa. They turned their gazes toward me, waiting to see how I would explain myself.

His words put me in an awkward position. Having not been in the world for long, I lacked the cunning and manipulative skills of this old fox. Just as I was feeling anxious, the green snake lowered its head before me, repeatedly nuzzling my body as if inviting me to mount it.

Without hesitation, I leaped onto the back of the great green snake, and it soared into the air. In an instant, a fierce wind whipped up, and the lake water churned violently. At the same time, the roar of tigers and the buzzing of insects echoed around the Liu villa, as if the local wildlife had been startled from their slumber.

As I wondered what was happening, the snake beneath me let out another cry. The sound was immensely powerful, booming beside me like a thunderclap. It was the true sound of a dragon’s roar, echoing across the heavens. As the green snake roared, all beasts fell silent. It was my first time hearing a dragon’s roar, and I nearly tumbled from its back. The snake had transformed; it now possessed the embryonic form of a true dragon.

With the snake’s transformation, everyone present was utterly stunned by the sound. Even Chen Yanlong and his grandson looked at the dragon-like creature with terror. However, just then, a cloud of Yin energy seemed to emerge from the mountains to the northwest of the villa. Ordinary people might not have seen it, but to those of us practiced in the arcane arts, it was plain as day.

As the Yin energy emanated, a grim, hollow voice reached the ears of everyone present. The voice flowed through our minds like a cryptic proverb:

"Young master of divination, the green snake turns to dragon.
A single finger points to heaven, charms and spells quell the earth.
Slaying generals and crowning gods, nothing is forbidden!"

Hearing this ancient and powerful voice in my mind made the hair on my arms stand on end. I patted the snake’s head, signaling it to set me down.

Although it had transformed, it remained my spiritual pet and followed my commands. As the snake lowered me to the ground, I snapped my fingers, and it submerged into the artificial lake, vanishing from sight.

Chen Yanlong and his grandson, though displeased, dared not act recklessly now that the snake had transformed and become my companion. I was less concerned about them, however, and more preoccupied with the voice I had heard. Was this entity human, ghost, or corpse? The thought of such a thing existing nearby was chilling. And the fact that the proverb seemed to cast me as the protagonist left me unable to find any peace. What did he mean? Was it a warning, or an expectation? I didn't know. A storm of questions swirled in my mind.

Yet, the appearance of that strange voice had inadvertently done me a great favor. All the other Feng Shui masters, excluding Chen Yanlong and his grandson, were now kneeling on the ground. Their gazes were filled with awe, their demeanor humble. Under the influence of that voice, they clearly viewed me as a formidable existence.

Ignoring them, I walked toward Liu Sihai with an air of feigned profundity and said slowly, "Liu Sihai, my grandfather exhausted half a lifetime of merit to change your family’s fate. Though our families have severed ties, the fortune my grandfather left for me is something none of you can take."

After saying this, I glanced at Liu Qing. Though we were no longer linked, I would not allow anyone to obtain the fortune my grandfather had left upon her. It might have been selfish, but I am no saint; I cannot be so selfless. Liu Qing said nothing, but her expression toward me shifted. I could sense a hint of joy in her heart—after all, she no longer had to marry Chen Feng, a man she did not love, for the sake of her family.

I walked over to Chen Yanlong and his grandson and whispered, "Master Chen, I’ve made myself clear. I only want to reclaim my fortune. My grandfather paid for it with half his life’s merit; none of you shall touch it. If you interfere again, don't blame me for being ruthless, regardless of our shared roots."

Chen Feng looked as if he wanted to retort, but before he could speak, Chen Yanlong slapped him back. "Since you are determined to reclaim this fortune, there is nothing more for us to say. But I warn you: the Liu family’s fortune is not as easy to take as you imagine."

His words caught me off guard. What was he implying? Was he trying to scare me into backing down so he could take the fortune for his grandson? How ridiculous!

I smiled and said to him, "As for whether I can reclaim the fortune left by the master of the Golden Compass, you needn't worry yourself. You should focus more on your precious grandson—his calamity is likely approaching."

"Don't be so arrogant, boy. We will have plenty of opportunities to meet again..."

With that, a furious Chen Yanlong took his grandson and left the villa, followed by the other Feng Shui masters. Yet, as they departed, they still gave me respectful bows. It seemed my performance today had truly stunned them.

I didn't linger. I caught a taxi back to Uncle Hu’s house. My feat of riding a green dragon and besting the master of the Chen Mansion would surely spread through the Feng Shui circles. This was the first step in upholding the reputation of the Qingma Divination arts. My next goal was to open my own Feng Shui parlor in a bustling district of the provincial capital and fulfill my grandfather’s dying wish to see the Qingma arts flourish.

When I arrived back at the Hu residence that afternoon, Uncle Hu was pacing the yard nervously. From his anxious expression, I could tell he was deeply concerned about my trip to the Liu villa.

"Uncle Hu, what’s wrong? You’re sweating buckets," I called out. He rushed over to me at once.

"Qiyue, are you alright? That old scoundrel Chen Yanlong didn't lay a hand on you, did he?" He began checking me over for injuries.

"Don't worry, Uncle Hu. My Profound Yang energy has reached the threshold of mastery. Even if they wanted to attack me, they’d have to consider whether they could even stand a chance."

"That’s good, that’s good. You are the grandson of my mentor and the only heir to the Qingma arts. I must protect you; I cannot let anything happen to you. Otherwise, I, Hu Tieshou, would have failed my mentor."

"Rest assured, Uncle, I’m perfectly fine." I spun around to show him. Chen Yanlong was all talk and no real skill. "You see? I’m completely unscathed!" I said earnestly.

But before I could finish, I noticed the look in Uncle Hu’s eyes change. It was a look of horror, as if he were witnessing something terrifying happening to me.