Encouraged by the promise of extra payment, the two workers didn't hesitate any longer. Ignoring any superstition or fear, they jumped into the pit and hauled the wooden box out, placing it before me.
I crouched down, examined the craftsmanship and the strange runes carved into the wooden box, and couldn't help but mutter to myself, "Seems we're dealing with a real expert here."
Then I found a small wooden stick nearby and used it to pry open the box.
The moment it creaked open, a wave of foul, rotting stench spread out. Everyone around instinctively gasped.
Zhang Yunyao went pale with fright.
"What kind of person would do this? How vicious can you be?" Zhang Yucheng's entire body trembled with rage.
Inside the wooden box was the mutilated corpse of a cat. Its stomach had been cut open, organs spilled out, and the body was decomposed and rancid. Its eyes had been gouged out, leaving only two dark holes, and its teeth had been smashed, leaving a gory, grotesque mess.
From the looks of it, I could tell the cat had been tortured to death while still alive. Judging by the decay, the box had been buried here for at least ten days.
Zhang Yucheng, visibly shaken, turned to me. "Master Wu, what's the meaning of this? What's a dead cat doing buried in our family's ancestral tomb?"
"Your family tomb is situated on very auspicious land. Someone has deliberately sabotaged it. They've laid a formation to destroy the tomb's feng shui and drain your family's luck. After all this time, the tomb's energy has nearly collapsed. This sacred site can't be used anymore," I said solemnly.
Then I walked over to another area, stomped my foot on the ground, and instructed, "There's another one here. Dig down."
Zhang Yucheng's face turned dark with frustration. He felt lightheaded and stumbled over to me. "Master Wu, who could do such a thing? Who would want to ruin the Zhang family tomb like this?"
"You're asking me? I should be asking you. Have you made any enemies recently?" I asked, looking him in the eyes.
Zhang Yucheng thought hard. "I'm a businessman. I always try to be polite and respectful. I can't think of anyone who would hate me enough to go this far."
"I wouldn't know. I'm here to evaluate the feng shui, not track down your enemies. You'll have to think that through yourself."
As we spoke, the nearby workers resumed digging at my direction.
This time, the object was buried even deeper. They dug down more than two meters before uncovering another wooden box.
The first box was painted black. This one was lacquered in red.
Inside was something even more disturbing—nine decapitated snake bodies, twisted together. The corpses had rotted and stunk to high heaven.
After I directed the workers to uncover not one but two of these buried cursed boxes, Zhang Yucheng and Zhang Yunyao looked at me with newfound awe.
"Master Wu, you truly are a disciple of the Feng Shui King," Zhang Yucheng said in admiration. "I consulted four or five masters before you, and none of them saw anything. But you arrived and unearthed these cursed objects right away. Amazing."
"Your ancestral tomb's vegetation has all died—trees, grass, everything. That's a sure sign of depleted life energy and lost fortune. If I'm not mistaken, this is a dark technique recorded in the ancient Lu Ban methods. But your tomb still holds the final and most critical talisman—one that anchors the entire curse. If I'm right, the next wooden box should be white. And it's buried…"
I scanned the area and pointed northeast. "Seven steps in that direction from where I stand. Dig it up."
Zhang Yucheng didn't dare delay and rushed over with the workers to dig.
An hour later, they unearthed another wooden box.
Just as I had predicted, it was white.
The moment he saw it, Zhang Yucheng was completely convinced of my abilities. "Master Wu, you're incredible! You even predicted the color of the box!"
Of course, it wasn't just a guess. After eight years of training with my master, I was well-versed in various schools and methods of feng shui. This was pure experience.
As soon as the white box was brought out, Zhang Yucheng couldn't contain his curiosity. He immediately reached to open it, desperate to see what horrors lay inside.
But the moment his hand touched the box, a chill ran down my spine.
"Stop! Let me do it!" I shouted, rushing forward.
Too late.
Zhang Yucheng had already pried open the box.
At that instant, a burst of black energy erupted from within and shot straight at him.
He shuddered violently, froze in place—and then collapsed backward like a statue tipped over.
"Dad!" Zhang Yunyao screamed, rushing toward him.
I reached her just in time and grabbed her arm. "Don't touch him! He's been struck by a death curse. Anyone who touches him now will be infected."
My warning stopped everyone in their tracks. All eyes turned to me.
Zhang Yunyao was on the verge of tears. She clutched my sleeve, pleading, "Master Wu, please save him!"
"Don't worry. He'll be fine—I'm here," I said, kneeling beside Zhang Yucheng.
His complexion was darkened, his face stiffened in terror, and even his breathing had slowed to a near stop.
He'd been struck by a powerful curse. If I didn't expel it soon, he could die.
"Uncle Huzi, get me the silver needles," I called out.
He quickly brought over a roll of neatly arranged needles.
I waved my hand over them, felt for the right one, then swiftly plucked it out and pierced his 'Tanzhong' pressure point.
Moments later, as I removed the needle, a single drop of thick black blood oozed from the wound.
As soon as the black blood emerged, Zhang Yucheng gasped sharply, as if he'd been pulled from underwater.
Encouraged by the promise of extra payment, the two workers didn't hesitate any longer. Ignoring any superstition or fear, they jumped into the pit and hauled the wooden box out, placing it before me.
I crouched down, examined the craftsmanship and the strange runes carved into the wooden box, and couldn't help but mutter to myself, "Seems we're dealing with a real expert here."
Then I found a small wooden stick nearby and used it to pry open the box.
The moment it creaked open, a wave of foul, rotting stench spread out. Everyone around instinctively gasped.
Zhang Yunyao went pale with fright.
"What kind of person would do this? How vicious can you be?" Zhang Yucheng's entire body trembled with rage.
Inside the wooden box was the mutilated corpse of a cat. Its stomach had been cut open, organs spilled out, and the body was decomposed and rancid. Its eyes had been gouged out, leaving only two dark holes, and its teeth had been smashed, leaving a gory, grotesque mess.
From the looks of it, I could tell the cat had been tortured to death while still alive. Judging by the decay, the box had been buried here for at least ten days.
Zhang Yucheng, visibly shaken, turned to me. "Master Wu, what's the meaning of this? What's a dead cat doing buried in our family's ancestral tomb?"
"Your family tomb is situated on very auspicious land. Someone has deliberately sabotaged it. They've laid a formation to destroy the tomb's feng shui and drain your family's luck. After all this time, the tomb's energy has nearly collapsed. This sacred site can't be used anymore," I said solemnly.
Then I walked over to another area, stomped my foot on the ground, and instructed, "There's another one here. Dig down."
Zhang Yucheng's face turned dark with frustration. He felt lightheaded and stumbled over to me. "Master Wu, who could do such a thing? Who would want to ruin the Zhang family tomb like this?"
"You're asking me? I should be asking you. Have you made any enemies recently?" I asked, looking him in the eyes.
Zhang Yucheng thought hard. "I'm a businessman. I always try to be polite and respectful. I can't think of anyone who would hate me enough to go this far."
"I wouldn't know. I'm here to evaluate the feng shui, not track down your enemies. You'll have to think that through yourself."
As we spoke, the nearby workers resumed digging at my direction.
This time, the object was buried even deeper. They dug down more than two meters before uncovering another wooden box.
The first box was painted black. This one was lacquered in red.
Inside was something even more disturbing—nine decapitated snake bodies, twisted together. The corpses had rotted and stunk to high heaven.
After I directed the workers to uncover not one but two of these buried cursed boxes, Zhang Yucheng and Zhang Yunyao looked at me with newfound awe.
"Master Wu, you truly are a disciple of the Feng Shui King," Zhang Yucheng said in admiration. "I consulted four or five masters before you, and none of them saw anything. But you arrived and unearthed these cursed objects right away. Amazing."
"Your ancestral tomb's vegetation has all died—trees, grass, everything. That's a sure sign of depleted life energy and lost fortune. If I'm not mistaken, this is a dark technique recorded in the ancient Lu Ban methods. But your tomb still holds the final and most critical talisman—one that anchors the entire curse. If I'm right, the next wooden box should be white. And it's buried…"
I scanned the area and pointed northeast. "Seven steps in that direction from where I stand. Dig it up."
Zhang Yucheng didn't dare delay and rushed over with the workers to dig.
An hour later, they unearthed another wooden box.
Just as I had predicted, it was white.
The moment he saw it, Zhang Yucheng was completely convinced of my abilities. "Master Wu, you're incredible! You even predicted the color of the box!"
Of course, it wasn't just a guess. After eight years of training with my master, I was well-versed in various schools and methods of feng shui. This was pure experience.
As soon as the white box was brought out, Zhang Yucheng couldn't contain his curiosity. He immediately reached to open it, desperate to see what horrors lay inside.
But the moment his hand touched the box, a chill ran down my spine.
"Stop! Let me do it!" I shouted, rushing forward.
Too late.
Zhang Yucheng had already pried open the box.
At that instant, a burst of black energy erupted from within and shot straight at him.
He shuddered violently, froze in place—and then collapsed backward like a statue tipped over.
"Dad!" Zhang Yunyao screamed, rushing toward him.
I reached her just in time and grabbed her arm. "Don't touch him! He's been struck by a death curse. Anyone who touches him now will be infected."
My warning stopped everyone in their tracks. All eyes turned to me.
Zhang Yunyao was on the verge of tears. She clutched my sleeve, pleading, "Master Wu, please save him!"
"Don't worry. He'll be fine—I'm here," I said, kneeling beside Zhang Yucheng.
His complexion was darkened, his face stiffened in terror, and even his breathing had slowed to a near stop.
He'd been struck by a powerful curse. If I didn't expel it soon, he could die.
"Uncle Huzi, get me the silver needles," I called out.
He quickly brought over a roll of neatly arranged needles.
I waved my hand over them, felt for the right one, then swiftly plucked it out and pierced his 'Tanzhong' pressure point.
Moments later, as I removed the needle, a single drop of thick black blood oozed from the wound.
As soon as the black blood emerged, Zhang Yucheng gasped sharply, as if he'd been pulled from underwater.