I followed Uncle Huzi into the courtyard.
Before long, Zhang Yunyao appeared, walking toward us with a short-haired young woman by her side.
The moment we saw her, both Uncle Huzi and I couldn't help but brighten up, exchanging a knowing glance and sharing a smile.
This short-haired woman looked to be in her twenties, strikingly beautiful, exuding a calm, capable air. She was tall, with delicate features, and when she stood next to Zhang Yunyao, they looked like a pair of sisters. If they walked together down the street, they'd undoubtedly turn heads.
"Master Wu, this is my best friend, Guo Xiaotong. We've known each other since we were kids. Her family's run into some trouble, and she's hoping you can help," Zhang Yunyao introduced.
"Hello, Master Wu. I've heard so much about you lately that my ears are practically growing calluses from all of Yun Yao's stories. She says you have extraordinary skills, so I've come to pay my respects. I hope I'm not disturbing you?" Guo Xiaotong's eyes curved into lovely crescents as she smiled.
Zhang Yunyao's cheeks reddened at her friend's words, and she gave Guo Xiaotong's arm a discreet pinch.
Guo Xiaotong feigned a wince of pain.
Clearly, these two shared an exceptionally close bond.
I took a closer look at Guo Xiaotong—and noticed something unusual. The problem wasn't with her directly, but with someone in her family.
"Hello, hello," I greeted politely.
"Master Wu, I—" Guo Xiaotong began, but I raised a hand to interrupt her. "Don't say anything yet. Let me see if I can figure out what's going on with you, all right?"
Both women's eyes lit up, staring at me intently.
Smiling, I said, "Judging from your face, the area representing your parents looks dim—meaning one of them is having issues. With the star positions of Lianzhen and Qisha in the illness sector, the problem lies with your spleen or kidneys. It seems your father is the one in trouble. The presence of certain malignant influences could make it serious—possibly even life-threatening—especially with signs of blood-related misfortune. From this, I'd say your father's symptoms have been there for quite some time."
Guo Xiaotong's expression shifted from polite amusement to wide-eyed shock. By the time I finished, her mouth was open wide enough to fit a whole egg.
"Master Wu, I'm impressed! Yun Yao was right—you're incredible! I didn't tell you a thing, and you already know everything!" she exclaimed.
"Just my line of work. I specialize in feng shui and divination. For most people, one look is enough to know the situation—it's not as mystical as you think," I replied with a smile.
"It's still amazing! I've never met anyone like you," she said, stepping closer and grabbing my arm. "Master Wu, please come back with me to see my father. He really has been unwell lately."
"No rush. Let me go back and grab a few things, then we'll head over," I said.
Uncle Huzi and I returned to the house to gather my tools. Just as we were about to leave, he grinned slyly. "Young master, your way with the ladies is getting sharper by the day—just like your master back in the day. A little charm, and they're completely taken with you."
"Uncle Huzi, don't talk nonsense. I'm an honest man," I said, rolling my eyes.
"Yes, yes, the most honest. Like when you were at the Zhang family's ancestral tomb—rolling around on the ground with that young lady and making her cry earlier today…"
I could only stare at him, speechless. The misunderstandings ran deep, but I wasn't going to bother explaining.
With a bag slung over his back, Uncle Huzi followed me outside.
Two cars were parked at the gate—a Porsche sports car driven by Zhang Yunyao, and a big Mercedes SUV driven by Guo Xiaotong. I didn't know the exact prices, but they were definitely expensive.
As soon as we stepped out, Guo Xiaotong said, "Master Wu, ride with me. My car's more spacious, and we can talk about my father on the way."
I nodded and got into her SUV without a second thought.
As I climbed in, I caught a glimpse of Zhang Yunyao—her expression seemed a little downcast.
Inside the SUV, a sweet fragrance filled the air. Despite its rugged exterior, the interior had been customized in soft pink, with plush toys and dolls everywhere.
Clearly, wealthy people moved in circles filled with other wealthy people. Guo Xiaotong's family was obviously well-off.
I looked around with interest.
"Do you like it, Master Wu?" she asked.
I hesitated, unsure if she meant the car or herself. "Miss Guo, you are indeed… pleasing to the eye," I said.
"I meant the car's décor," she said, laughing.
I felt my face heat up. "Both are nice," I admitted with an awkward smile.
To change the subject, I asked, "So, what exactly is going on with your father?"
At that, her smile faded. "I'm not exactly sure. For the past month, his health has been getting worse. Some mornings, he can barely walk. He's lost over twenty pounds. We've taken him to the hospital, but they can't find anything wrong—just prescribed tonics. Still, he's getting weaker. That's why I suspect something supernatural—maybe bad feng shui at home or in our ancestral graves."
"Yun Yao has been talking about you a lot lately, so I asked her to bring me to meet you."
The situation was unusual, and I wasn't entirely certain yet.
"What do you think is wrong with him?" she asked.
"I'll wait until I see him in person before making any conclusions," I replied.
About forty minutes later, we arrived at a hillside villa community.
When I saw the sign at the gate, I froze—it was Yānbei New City, the most expensive neighborhood in Yānbei. Villas here went for at least hundreds of thousands per square meter, and you'd feel embarrassed to drive anything under a million into the complex.
The SUV pulled into the driveway of a standalone villa halfway up the hill.
We got out, and Guo Xiaotong led me to meet her father.
The moment I laid eyes on him, I was taken aback—his condition was far worse than I had expected.