The Sun family’s villa was located just over a thousand meters from Wang Yong’s home, at the edge of North City Park, adjacent to the Fu’an residential community in the northern part of the city. This area was known as Xiangyang Villa Cluster, home to hundreds of villas covering more than ten acres. Though not large, it belonged to the lower-middle category of villas. However, its geographical location was excellent—bridges over gentle streams, ancient trees casting shade, far from the noise of the streets, with a serene and pleasant environment filled with birdsong and floral fragrance. It was the perfect place for quiet contemplation and spiritual cultivation, precisely why the Sun family patriarch insisted on living here in his twilight years. Of course, there was also the traditional sentiment of returning to one’s roots in old age.
Xiong Ying had been here before. She navigated the route with ease, leading Shui Miao into the villa cluster.
Shui Miao had never visited before. As he looked at the old-style villas around him, he felt that although they weren’t luxurious, they carried a unique charm with their ancient elegance and traditional atmosphere.
For some unknown reason, Shui Miao felt especially fond of this community and everything about it.
“We’re here. It’s the one right ahead.”
Xiong Ying patted Shui Miao’s shoulder and signaled him to stop the car.
After parking, Shui Miao followed his grandfather’s gaze and saw a villa ahead, its iron fence completely covered with vines. This villa was larger than the surrounding ones, but it looked abandoned—covered in dust, like an ancient building that had withstood the trials of time.
“Hmm?”
Xiong Ying had only taken a quick glance from afar when she immediately furrowed her brows.
Shui Miao looked at his grandfather’s expression and saw it growing increasingly serious. Before he could ask, Xiong Ying quickly walked toward the villa.
The large iron gate was locked with a thick chain. The gate was rusted, but the chain was new. Inside, weeds had overtaken the yard, and dry leaves and waste paper were scattered everywhere. As Shui Miao approached, he suddenly saw a whirlwind rise inside the courtyard, swirling debris toward the gate.
“Step back!”
Xiong Ying extended her hand, shielding Shui Miao and pulling him back a step.
The Sun family villa was just over a kilometer away from Wang Yong’s home, situated by the Chengbei Park and adjacent to the Fu’an residential area in the northern part of the city. This area was called the Xiangyang Villa Complex, with hundreds of villas spread across more than ten acres of land. Though not particularly large and considered a mid-to-lower-tier villa community, its location was exceptional. With small bridges over flowing streams, ancient trees providing ample shade, and a serene environment far from noisy streets, it was a place filled with the songs of birds and the fragrance of flowers—an ideal spot for tranquility and rejuvenation. This was precisely why Old Master Sun had chosen to live here for his retirement. Of course, another reason was the deep-seated longing for one’s roots and homeland that often accompanies old age.
Xiong Ying had been here before and was familiar with the way. He led Shui Miao straight into the villa complex.
Shui Miao had never visited this place before. As he looked at the older-style villas, he felt that while they might not be particularly luxurious, they carried a familiar, classical charm that was uniquely appealing.
For some reason, Shui Miao found himself particularly fond of this community and everything about it.
“We’re here, it’s the one up ahead.”
Xiong Ying patted Shui Miao’s shoulder, signaling him to stop the car.
After parking, Shui Miao followed his grandfather’s gaze and saw a villa ahead with iron railings completely covered in vines. This villa was larger than the others nearby, but it appeared gray and dreary, likely due to being unoccupied, almost like an ancient building weathered by time.
“Hmm?”
From a distance, Xiong Ying took just one look and immediately furrowed his brow.
Shui Miao glanced back at his grandfather and noticed his expression growing increasingly grave. Before Shui Miao could ask anything, Xiong Ying quickly strode toward the villa… The large iron gate of the villa was locked with a thick chain. The gate was rusty, but the chain was new. The yard was overgrown with weeds, and dried leaves and waste paper were scattered everywhere. As Shui Miao followed and looked inside, a sudden whirlwind picked up the debris and moved toward the gate.
“Step back!”
Xiong Ying reached out, shielding Shui Miao as they took a step back.
Immediately after, Xiong Ying performed the Seven-Star Steps, his palms moving swiftly, and a small bronze bell appeared in his hand. The clear, tinkling sound of the bell rang out, and the whirlwind instantly dissipated.
Xiong Ying took another look at the villa but said nothing. He simply turned around, took Shui Miao by the hand, and walked away.
Had they encountered a ghost?
Seeing his grandfather’s serious expression, Shui Miao didn’t dare say a word and quickly followed, pushing his bicycle as they left.
After exiting through the west gate of the villa complex, Xiong Ying pointed to a stone bench by the roadside and said calmly, “Let’s sit over there for a while. When someone comes later, don’t say anything unnecessary. We’ll go for a meal afterward—eat when you’re told to eat, drink when you’re told to drink.”
“Okay…”
This was clearly a serious matter, and Shui Miao knew better than to speak out of turn.
Behind the stone bench was the park, where vehicles were prohibited. It was a quiet and comfortable spot, often frequented by elderly people walking, chatting, or exercising, so the stone bench was clean. Shui Miao parked his bicycle nearby and quickly sat down next to his grandfather. He wanted to ask what his grandfather had seen earlier, but Xiong Ying looked deep in thought, his brow furrowed in contemplation. After five or six minutes, Xiong Ying finally emerged from his reverie. Seizing the opportunity, Shui Miao quickly asked, “Grandpa, what was that about earlier? We’re a hundred steps away from the villa now—surely it’s safe to talk, right?”
“Oh? You know quite a bit, don’t you!” Xiong Ying looked at Shui Miao with surprise. He had often taken Shui Miao along in the past, but Shui Miao had never spoken up. Xiong Ying had assumed he was just quiet and too young to understand these things. But now it seemed Shui Miao had been listening and learning attent all along, already grasping quite a bit of knowledge.
Shui Miao scratched his head and smiled. “Grandpa, the more I know, the less you have to teach me.”
“Don’t try to sweet-talk me with your clever words,” Xiong Ying shot him a glance and sighed softly. “You’ve really grown these past three years away! I used to think you were just a simple, honest kid, but now it seems I can rest easy—at least I don’t have to worry about you being taken advantage of.”
It was true—Shui Miao had rarely spoken in the past, and everyone in the village knew him as a quiet, hardworking kid with a tough life.
Who would have thought that after three years away, Shui Miao had changed, becoming more mature and sharp?
Hearing his grandfather’s words, Shui Miao felt a pang of sadness. Who could understand the hardships and suffering he had endured when he first left? After going through so many trials and struggling at the bottom rungs of society, if he hadn’t learned to adapt and strive to fit in, the outcome would have been unthinkable.
Seeing Shui Miao fall silent, Xiong Ying reached out and gently patted his shoulder. “Fate is important, but effort matters even more. When your skills are sufficient, you might even be able to change your destiny.”
“Yes, I’ll work hard!” Shui Miao nodded firmly.
Xiong Ying smiled slightly and said, “There’s a very powerful malevolent spirit in that villa. After observing the energy, I realized the problem isn’t with the feng shui but with…”
“Hey! Master Xiong, I finally found you!”
A stranger’s voice suddenly interrupted Xiong Ying.
Turning toward the voice, Shui Miao saw a slick-looking young man running toward them…
This young man had a well-fed appearance and was dressed in branded clothing from head to toe, clearly the scion of a wealthy family.
But why would someone from a wealthy family be so humble and polite? Addressing him as “Master Xiong” and using formal language…
In Shui Miao’s experience, wealthy people usually looked down on the poor unless they needed something from them.
Xiong Ying tapped his temple, somewhat uncertainly. “You… you’re Sun Jihong? Sun Jijun’s younger brother?”
“Yes, yes! Master, you have a good memory. I’m Sun Jihong.” The young man reached out to shake Xiong Ying’s hand. “I just got a call from Wang Yong saying you were here. Unfortunately, my elder brother Sun Jijun has urgent matters to attend to and can’t come. Please forgive us. But don’t worry, Master—as long as you can help my family resolve this feng shui issue, I’ll take care of the payment.”
The Sun family was wealthy and never haggled over payment, so Xiong Ying wasn’t concerned about that.
However, there were some details Xiong Ying needed to clarify; otherwise, resolving this matter would be impossible.
“Heh, the payment isn’t urgent.” Xiong Ying waved his hand. “I just took a look, and the villa’s problem is quite serious…”
Xiong Ying wanted to ask a few questions, but before he could start, Sun Jihong interrupted him again.
“Master, I’ll be straightforward with you. My brother said that if you can resolve the villa’s issue, we’ll pay you 100,000 yuan.” Sun Jihong mentioned the sum of 100,000 yuan as casually as if it were a hundred yuan to an ordinary person.
Damn, they’re really rich!!
Shui Miao’s heart raced. He had worked hard for three years and only earned 30,000 yuan. Yet here was Sun Jihong, casually raising the offer from 50,000 to 100,000… Could he have misheard?
“100,000…”
To his surprise, Xiong Ying shook his head. “For your family’s problem, 100,000 might not be enough.”
Hearing this, Shui Miao felt his heart leap into his throat. What was his grandfather doing? Was 100,000 really not enough!?
“In that case, Master, name your price.” Sun Jihong paused slightly.
Seeing Sun Jihong’s reaction, Xiong Ying frowned slightly, stroked his beard unhurriedly, and said with narrowed eyes, “This isn’t about the money…”
“Then what is it about?” Sun Jihong responded urgently.
Xiong Ying paused and asked, “Previously, who lived in the villa? How long have they been gone, and what did they do there? I need to know all of this.”
“This… my brother knows about this. I… I’ll call and ask…”
Sun Jihong hesitated. Though he had been casual about the money, he stammered when it came to this matter.
Even Shui Miao sensed that something seemed off.
Noting Sun Jihong’s reaction, Xiong Ying narrowed his eyes and suddenly stepped forward, pressing Sun Jihong’s hand down. “Don’t rush to make that call. There are still some things I’m not clear about. Why don’t you take us inside the villa first? After that, I need to hurry back for a meal.”
“Uh…”
After a moment’s hesitation, Sun Jihong quickly said, “Right, right! Let’s eat first. There’s no rush to see the villa. Anyway, my father won’t be back for a few days. Let’s eat first. I’ve already booked a restaurant. Please don’t stand on ceremony, Master. I’ll go get the car. Wait for me at the intersection.”
Without waiting for Xiong Ying to respond, Sun Jihong finished in a rapid-fire manner, turned around, and hurried off to get the car.
Watching Sun Jihong run off, Xiong Ying smirked coldly and muttered to himself, “Just as I thought. Both brothers are no good!”
“Grandpa, what do you mean by that?” Shui Miao asked, confused.
Xiong Ying waved his hand, signaling Shui Miao to push the bicycle as they walked. “Child, do you think that after we help them resolve this, they’ll really generously hand over the money?”
“They’re so wealthy—wouldn’t they?” Shui Miao sensed there was more to his grandfather’s words.
“It’s hard to say…” Xiong Ying shook his head. “But based on my judgment, they might give us the money, but they’ll eventually take it back. And they might even harm us in the process. Of course, it’s not just about the money. There are some secrets of theirs involved. If we find out, they won’t be able to sleep peacefully.”
“Grandpa, I don’t quite understand. He doesn’t seem like that kind of person!” Shui Miao found it hard to believe Sun Jihong could be so malicious.
“It’s not about appearances. You can’t judge a person’s heart by their face. Only experience and the lingering malevolent energy around them can reveal the truth.” Xiong Ying quickly glanced around and lowered his voice. “My initial judgment is that Sun Jihong and Sun Jijun might have killed a woman in that villa. This woman had a very strong destiny energy. After death, her spirit didn’t dissipate and has grown increasingly powerful. Sooner or later, she will seek revenge on Sun Jijun and Sun Jihong. If we get in her way, she will retaliate against us, even kill us.”
Xiong Ying’s deduction sent a chill down Shui Miao’s spine.
Shui Miao swallowed hard. “If what you say is true, Grandpa, can you defeat her?”
“It’s dangerous. This time, I’m really not very confident.” Xiong Ying felt uncertain. The fact that the spirit could summon a ghostly wind to attack in broad daylight spoke volumes about its terrifying power.
If even his grandfather wasn’t confident, wouldn’t this be a life-or-de situation?
Shui Miao quickly said, “Grandpa, I think we should just stay out of this, don’t you?”
“Heh…” Seeing Shui Miao’s fear, Xiong Ying instead smiled faintly. “You! Retreating at the first sign of trouble—that won’t do. In life, you have to dare to strive, use your brain, give it your all, and win with your wisdom. That’s what makes life interesting! Heh… Don’t say another word. Just follow me and watch carefully. See how your grandfather plays them like a fiddle, gets the money, and escapes unscathed.”
Old gambler… he’s betting with his life again!!
Shui Miao felt a headache coming on. His grandfather was addicted to gambling and had never won the final bet!
Often, the more seriously he took a gamble, the less likely he was to win. This time, he wasn’t just betting money—he was betting his life, and even dragging Shui Miao into it…
Shui Miao wanted to back out but couldn’t bring himself to say it. His grandfather had shown him great kindness; how could he retreat at a critical moment?
“Sigh! If that’s how it is, then let’s gamble!”
Shui Miao let out a long sigh. This was his first time gambling… and he was betting his life on it. He wondered if he had gone mad!
Xiong Ying looked at the villa for a moment longer, then turned around and silently pulled Shui Miao away.
Had they encountered a ghost?
Seeing her grave expression, Shui Miao dared not ask questions and quickly pushed his bicycle to follow her.
After exiting through the west gate of the villa cluster, Xiong Ying pointed to a stone bench by the roadside and said calmly, “Go sit over there. When people come later, don’t speak out of turn. When we go to eat, eat only when told to, and drink only when told to.”
“Okay…”
This time, something serious was happening. Shui Miao naturally understood the gravity of the situation—he would definitely not say anything unnecessary.
Behind the stone bench was the park, a vehicle-free zone that was quiet and comfortable. Many elderly people often came here to walk, chat, and exercise, so the benches were kept clean. Shui Miao leaned his bicycle against the bench and quickly sat beside his grandfather, eager to ask what she had seen earlier. But his grandfather wore a solemn expression, frowning and deep in thought. After waiting five or six minutes, she finally emerged from her contemplation. Shui Miao seized the moment and asked, “Grandpa, Grandpa, what was that just now? We’re more than a hundred steps away from the villa now, so can you tell me?”
“Oh? You know quite a bit, huh?” Xiong Ying looked at Shui Miao with some surprise. In the past, she always took him along, but he never spoke. She had assumed he was just a quiet, young boy who didn’t understand much. But now, she realized he had been listening carefully and learning diligently all along, picking up quite a bit of knowledge.
Shui Miao scratched his head and smiled, “Grandpa, the more I know, the less you have to teach me.”
“Don’t get smart with me, you cheeky kid,” Xiong Ying shot him a glance and sighed lightly, “You’ve really matured during these three years away. I used to think you were too innocent, but now I can rest easy. At least I don’t have to worry about you being taken advantage of anymore.”
Indeed, Shui Miao had been a quiet boy before, known in the village as a simple, unfortunate child.
But after three years of hardship outside, he had changed—he had grown more mature and clever.
Hearing his grandfather’s words, Shui Miao felt a pang of sadness. Who could imagine the suffering he had endured in those early days? Struggling at the bottom of society, he had no choice but to change and adapt, or he would have been left behind.
Seeing Shui Miao fall silent, Xiong Ying gently patted his shoulder and comforted him, “Fate is important, but effort is even more so. When your cultivation deepens, you might even be able to defy fate itself.”
“Yes, I will work hard!” Shui Miao nodded firmly.
Xiong Ying smiled slightly and continued, “Inside that villa is a very powerful evil spirit. I observed the energy for a while and found that the problem with the villa isn’t about feng shui, but rather…”
“Hai! Master Xiong, I finally found you!”
A strange man’s voice suddenly interrupted Xiong Ying.
Turning toward the sound, Shui Miao saw a young man with slicked-back hair and a pale face running toward them…
The young man looked well-fed, dressed in brand-name clothes, clearly the son of a wealthy family.
But why would a rich kid be so humble and polite? Addressing Xiong Ying as “Master” and saying “you” with such respect…
In Shui Miao’s experience, the rich usually avoided associating with the poor unless they needed something from them.
Xiong Ying tapped her temple slightly, somewhat uncertainly asking, “You… are you Sun Jihong? Sun Jijun’s younger brother?”
“Yes, yes! Master, your memory is amazing. I’m Sun Jihong.” The young man shook Xiong Ying’s hand, “I just got a call from Wang Yong saying you were here. Unfortunately, my older brother Sun Jijun is tied up with important matters and couldn’t come in person. He sincerely apologizes. But rest assured, if you can help us resolve our feng shui issues, I’ll personally take care of the payment.”
The Suns were wealthy, and they never reneged on payment. Xiong Ying had no concerns about that.
However, there were certain things she needed to clarify before she could proceed.
“Haha, payment isn’t urgent,” Xiong Ying waved her hand, “I just took a look earlier, and the villa has some serious issues…”
Xiong Ying wanted to ask more questions, but before she could, Sun Jihong interrupted again.
“Master, I won’t beat around the bush. My older brother said that if you can resolve the villa’s issues, we’ll pay you 100,000 yuan.” Sun Jihong said the amount casually, as if it were a mere 1,000 yuan to most people.
Wow, they’re really rich!!
Shui Miao’s heart raced. He had worked hard for three years and barely earned 30,000 yuan. Now Sun Jihong casually increased the offer from 50,000 to 100,000… had he misheard?
“One hundred thousand…”
But to Shui Miao’s shock, Xiong Ying actually shook her head, “Even with 100,000 yuan, your problem might not be solved.”
Hearing this, Shui Miao’s heart nearly jumped into his throat. What was his grandfather doing? Refusing such a large sum!?
“Alright then, Master, name your price,” Sun Jihong paused slightly.
Seeing Sun Jihong’s reaction, Xiong Ying slightly furrowed her brows, slowly stroked her beard, and squinted as she said, “It’s not about money…”
“Then what is it about?” Sun Jihong responded quickly.
Xiong Ying paused and asked, “Who lived in the villa before? How long ago did they leave? What happened while they were there? I need to know all of this.”
“This… my older brother knows. I… I’ll call him to ask…”
Sun Jihong hesitated. The man who had spoken so casually about money now stammered when it came to this.
At this point, even Shui Miao felt something was off.
Seeing Sun Jihong’s reaction, Xiong Ying narrowed her eyes, suddenly stepped forward, and placed a hand on his, “Don’t call yet. There are still some things I’m not clear about. Why don’t you take us inside the villa first? I still need to go home for lunch.”
“Eh…”
Sun Jihong was taken aback for a moment, then quickly said, “Right, right! Let’s have lunch first. There’s no rush to check the villa. My father won’t be back for a few days. Let’s eat first—I’ve already booked a hotel. Master, please don’t be modest. I’ll go get the car now. Wait for me at this intersection.”
Sun Jihong rattled off the words, not waiting for Xiong Ying to respond before hurrying off to fetch his car.
Watching Sun Jihong run away, Xiong Ying coldly chuckled to herself, “Just as I suspected. These two brothers are definitely not good people.”
“Grandpa, what do you mean by that?” Shui Miao asked, puzzled.
Xiong Ying waved her hand, signaling Shui Miao to push the bicycle and walk with her as she spoke, “Kid, do you really think they’ll just hand over the money once we solve their problem?”
“They’re so rich, wouldn’t they just pay?” Shui Miao felt his grandfather was implying something.
“It’s hard to say…” Xiong Ying shook her head, “In my opinion, they might pay us, but they’ll find a way to take it back—and maybe even take our lives. This isn’t just about money. There are secrets involved. If we uncover them, they won’t be able to sleep soundly anymore.”
“Grandpa, I don’t get it. He doesn’t look like a bad person,” Shui Miao doubted Sun Jihong’s cruelty.
“It’s not about appearances. People’s hearts are hidden behind their faces—we must be cautious. Some things can’t be judged by looks alone. Only experience and the residual negative energy around them can reveal the truth,” Xiong Ying quickly glanced around and lowered her voice, “I suspect Sun Jihong and Sun Jijun may have killed a woman in that villa. The woman had a strong birth chart, and after her death, her spirit hasn’t dissipated—it’s growing stronger. Sooner or later, it will seek revenge on the brothers. If we stand in its way, we could be targeted too.”
Xiong Ying’s deduction made Shui Miao’s blood run cold.
He swallowed hard, “If your guess is right, Grandpa, do you think you can defeat her?”
“Dangerous. This time, I really don’t have much confidence,” Xiong Ying admitted, her voice low. “A ghostly wind during broad daylight—this spirit must be terrifyingly powerful.”
If even his grandfather wasn’t confident, wasn’t this mission nearly suicidal?
Shui Miao quickly said, “Grandpa, maybe we shouldn’t get involved in this?”
“Hehe…” Seeing Shui Miao’s fear, Xiong Ying smiled calmly, “You! You always want to back down when trouble comes. That won’t do. Life is about taking risks, thinking, giving your all, and using your wisdom to win. That’s what makes life exciting! Don’t say anything else. Just follow me and learn. Watch how I outmaneuver them, get the money, and walk away safely.”
Another gamble… and this time, it’s for our lives!!
Shui Miao felt a headache coming on. His grandfather was a compulsive gambler who had never won the final round.
The more important the bet, the less likely he was to win. This time, he wasn’t just gambling money—he was gambling lives, including Shui Miao’s.
Shui Miao wanted to back out, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it. His grandfather had done so much for him—how could he abandon him now?
“Ah! Fine then, let’s gamble!”
Shui Miao sighed deeply. This was his first gamble—and it was for his life. He didn’t know if he had gone mad.
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