The old man, Master Yuan, continued his explanation, adding more layers to the already complex situation. He pointed out that the tree near the entrance, which he and my grandfather had planted together, had a very specific role. The tree, by nature, could control the killing energy of the "White Tiger" and prevent the souls from escaping. This created a balance, where the White Tiger used its killing energy to suppress the underworld spirits and keep the "Yin Soldiers" from coming out. However, if water were introduced into this balance, the White Tiger would no longer function as a suppressor. While it didn't feed on humans, it wouldn't be able to keep the restless spirits in check either.
The entire area had been built during the Year of the Snake (乙巳), chosen specifically for the power of the "Fire Snake" to burn off any moisture and prevent the gathering of malevolent energy. In feng shui, certain years and elements align in such a way that they either empower or hinder the environment. In this case, the combination of fire and earth from the Snake year, along with the lack of water, was a delicate balance designed to neutralize the malevolent forces that resided in the land. The energy of this place had been carefully calculated. If it had been in a Dragon year, the energies of water and earth would have clashed, resulting in chaos.
After explaining all this, Master Yuan guided me to the slope of the land, where he asked me to look outside. "Do you see anything to the southwest?" he asked.
I looked and saw a large willow tree, its branches lush and dense.
"This is the 'Heavenly Bow Sealing the Gate,' with arrows aimed at the heart," Master Yuan said with a smile.
I stared at the scene, seeing now that the road formed a curved arc, much like the shape of a bow, with the tree acting as an arrow aimed directly at the entrance. The combination of the road and the tree created a formidable "seal" over the entrance, a natural barrier to any who sought to enter.
He continued, seeing that I was paying attention, "The Heavenly Bow can seal the 'Wan Zang Kou,' but it also traps the souls who have died here, preventing them from escaping. While it stops the spirits from leaving, it also doesn't prevent them from wreaking havoc within the dwelling. That's why people who live here face such bad luck. When someone mistakenly enters this place, I always try to stop them. But if they insist, it's their fate, and I can't interfere."
He chuckled slightly and added, "You're really brave. Not only are you staying here, but you're also trying to fix the feng shui, blocking negative energy, bringing in water, and silencing the White Tiger. Looks like you want to create a perfect feng shui place, to help those tens of thousands of souls find their way out, huh?"
His words made my face burn with embarrassment. Standing with them, I felt like a child, waiting for a scolding. Master Yuan continued, "You've made a mistake. You're too focused on the spiritual path, relying too heavily on the five elements, thinking you can solve everything with your skills. But you should understand that without understanding the principles, the way cannot be fully realized. Yes, this place has spirits that died unjustly, but this dwelling is only a hundred years old. How many people could have died here? Doesn't everyone know how to avoid danger? Why would anyone willingly enter a place with such a reputation? You see the vengeful energy here and think it's the 'Hundred Vengeful Soul House,' but that's not entirely the case. Some people, even after being warned, still choose to live here—well, that's their own doing. Heaven itself can't save them."
His words struck me like a wake-up call. He was right. As a practitioner, I should have followed the natural order, rather than trying to go against the grain. My actions had been driven by my desire to help, but I had overstepped, and now I was facing the consequences.
I realized that the cave was indeed a dangerous place, but much of the vengeful energy came from the "Wan Zang Kou" below it. The suppression of water had kept the energy from gathering, and the large eastern door helped contain the air, but it wasn't enough to stop the malicious forces entirely. I had mistakenly believed it was a "Hundred Vengeful Soul House," but breaking the feng shui here could have disastrous results.
After reflecting on what Master Yuan said, I humbly bowed and thanked him. "Thank you, Master Yuan, for your guidance. I would like to ask, did you establish the feng shui arrangement for Zhoujia Village?"
Master Yuan smiled and nodded. "Yes, I did, but I was only asked to help."
I looked at Wang Yi, curious about his involvement, but he shook his head. "I don't get involved with such things. But it was a coincidence. One day, a child overheard what you were saying and went home to tell their parents. The family had once hired me to help them build a house. They contacted me again, and it seemed like fate, so I agreed to help them with Zhoujia Village."
True masters were always discreet, removing themselves from the equation. I couldn't help but feel a bit envious of their wisdom and composure. However, the thought of my limited lifespan weighed heavily on my heart.
As the day broke, we exchanged a few more words, and I asked about my grandfather's whereabouts. Neither Wang Yi nor Master Yuan responded. I had a feeling they were hiding something, but as elders, I didn't dare press them further.
With my feng shui plans for the Four Symbols land ruined, I knew I couldn't make the White Tiger bow down. I had planned to find another place for the wandering spirits, but time was running out, and I didn't want to delay the return of Jiang Shiyu. I suggested we leave, but to my surprise, Wang Yi insisted on accompanying us. The reason was simple: his son had been severely injured in a fight and was hospitalized without anyone to take care of him. Despite his son being a bit of a troublemaker, Wang Yi had no choice but to go back and tend to him.
Little did we know, this trip would lead us down the path of no return...