After the passing of Old Master Zhao, he was laid to rest in the auspicious burial site he had meticulously chosen. However, outsiders, including his own son, were unaware that the site had already been desecrated. His son was puzzled when he noticed that the coffin lid, which his father had described as brown, turned out to be black when the “Eight Guardians” (married men responsible for burying the dead, a custom later exploited by the semi-immortal Wang) exhumed it. He wondered, “Could my father have been mistaken due to his failing eyesight?”
He was even more oblivious to the three curses that Old Master Zhao had not fully disclosed. Thus, he remained content, believing that burying his father in such a propitious site would bring prosperity to his business and wealth to his descendants.
Strangely, since Old Master Zhao was buried in the desecrated site, the family did indeed experience a surge in fortune, with the business flourishing. Except for a violent storm, the other two curses showed no effect. The villagers were amazed when they saw the legendary stone coffin during the burial procession, and many speculated about the Zhao family’s future prosperity.
Some predicted great wealth, others foresaw the rise of officials, and a few even suggested that a central government official might emerge from the Zhao family. Amidst the envy and admiration, Old Master Zhao’s son was overjoyed.
However, reality was not as simple as they imagined. Since Old Master Zhao’s death, the family seemed to be plagued by misfortune, though it was overlooked due to their newfound wealth. The son, after a year of mourning, expelled his first wife and married a younger woman, who died of a heart attack after 49 days. His son’s wife also died at the age of 36. The third generation, represented by Zhao Shan, faced even graver issues. His wife died after bearing three “unworthy” children, and the business began to decline.
Standing before his grandfather’s tomb, Zhao Shan pondered, “As a layman, I can sense this should be a feng shui treasure. High and commanding, it gathers wind and energy. But why, by the third generation, have my wives died young, and I am left with three ‘failures’? Could this not be a true feng shui site? Did the geomancer make a mistake? If so, why did the business only decline in the third generation? Surely, my grandfather erred in hiring an incompetent geomancer.”
He wondered if the true stone coffin site was still undiscovered on Four Saints Ridge or hidden elsewhere in Xiushan Village. Despite his concerns, he preferred to believe they had buried in the true site. He recalled old tales that in feng shui, fortune and misfortune are intertwined, and great destinies often come with great trials.
He consoled himself, “Everything is temporary. If I remarry, surely I will have a worthy heir. Great fortune must come with great adversity, as seen in all great figures throughout history.” Zhao Shan suddenly laughed and signaled his butler to descend the mountain. Just as they decided to leave, they saw a man approaching.
This man was none other than Zhang Enpu, who had become a revered figure in the village for his deeds of vanquishing drought demons and pacifying spirits. Upon arriving in Xiushan Village, he sensed the excellent feng shui and the convergence of a great dragon vein, leading him to Four Saints Ridge.
When he saw the Zhao family tomb, he first smiled in approval, then turned pale with shock, “What a pity! Which unscrupulous geomancer deceived this family into burying in a desecrated site? Such a precious site wasted, what a sin!”
He muttered as he approached Zhao Shan, who inquired, “Who are you, and why are you here?”
Zhang Enpu smiled without directly answering, “Are you here to pay respects to your ancestors?”
Zhao Shan replied, “Yes, it’s Qingming Festival, and we’ve come to visit our ancestors.”
Zhang Enpu said, “This site gathers great energy, with the mountain arching towards the moon, indicating excellent feng shui. The descendants of this tomb must be particularly prosperous.”
Zhao Shan shook his head, “You flatter us, we are just ordinary, not as fortunate as you suggest.”
Zhang Enpu continued, “Don’t be modest, the wealth is guaranteed for three generations. Beyond that, it’s hard to say.”
Zhao Shan was startled, feeling as if Zhang had voiced his own unspoken thoughts, “Really, how so?”
Zhang Enpu stroked his beard, “Seeking a divine site but being deceived, wealth will dissipate, and descendants will become foolish. After three generations, your lineage will be cut off, disappearing from the family records.”
Zhao Shan was horrified, nearly fainting, but he maintained his composure, testing Zhang, “Who are you to curse my family like this? Aren’t you afraid I might have you beaten?”
Zhang Enpu replied, “You don’t need to know who I am. I’m just telling you the truth. Bitter medicine is good for the illness, and honest advice is hard to hear.”
Zhao Shan frowned, “How can you be so sure this tomb will end in three generations? Didn’t you just say the feng shui here is excellent?”
Zhang Enpu explained, “Indeed, I said the feng shui is excellent, but unfortunately, it has already been desecrated. Your ancestor was buried in a damaged site. Under normal circumstances, your family would have perished long ago. Fortunately, this is a once-in-a-millennium site, which, despite being damaged, has preserved your family’s wealth for three generations.”
Zhao Shan retorted, “Really? Sounds like you’ve read too many myth novels. I don’t believe in feng shui; it’s all superstition. I’m doing great. My children are healthy, my business is thriving. Who are you trying to scare with your yin and yang talk?”
Zhang Enpu remained calm, “You don’t believe me? Then let me ask, who is buried in this tomb?”
Zhao Shan answered, “My grandfather.”
Zhang Enpu nodded and calculated, “You are exactly the third generation. Let me tell you, and see if I’m right. First, your grandfather, buried here, was struck by lightning when a tree fell on him. This was a punishment from heaven for offending the stone coffin.”
“Then your grandfather’s business flourished after his death, and he expelled his first wife to marry a young Zhao woman, who died 49 days later. Your father’s business was even better, but your grandmother died unexpectedly at 36. Then it’s your turn. Although you’ve improved morally, the fate cannot be changed. Your business is declining, and your wife died at 40, leaving you with three unworthy sons. One is foolish, one is crazy, and one is idle. They cause you trouble daily, indifferent to your family’s legacy, right?”
Zhao Shan was stunned, almost prostrating before this living deity. With just a glance at the tomb, Zhang had recounted the misfortunes of three generations. Zhao Shan sighed, “You are indeed a master. As you said, my grandfather was struck by lightning. My grandfather, father, and wife all died young, and I do have three unworthy sons, and my business is declining. Sir, you mentioned my grandfather was buried in a damaged site. What do you mean? To my knowledge, this site was chosen by a geomancer my grandfather hired!”
Of course, he was even more unaware of the three curses that Old Master Zhao had not fully disclosed to him. Therefore, he remained cheerful in his heart, thinking that if his father was buried in a treasure spot, his own business would flourish and his descendants would grow increasingly prosperous.
Strangely enough, since Old Master Zhao was buried in this ruined auspicious site, good fortune indeed began to follow him, and he became more and more successful in business. Because aside from the stormy weather, the other two curses had shown no signs at all. The villagers were especially amazed when they finally saw the legendary stone coffin during the funeral procession up the mountain, and everyone was filled with wonder.
Some said, “The Zhao family will become extremely wealthy.” Others said, “The Zhao family will produce government officials.” Even some claimed, “Perhaps even a central government official will come from the Zhao family.” There were sounds of admiration, jealousy, and curious onlookers. In any case, regardless of what people said, Old Master Zhao’s son was the happiest of all.
However, the reality was not as simple as they imagined. Since Old Master Zhao’s death, the Zhao family seemed to begin suffering from a curse that affected their women. But everyone overlooked this because the family was becoming wealthy, thinking, “That’s just how rich families are.” For example, Old Master Zhao’s son, one year after his father’s death, used his wealth to drive away his original wife and married a younger woman. But that young woman died suddenly of a heart attack after living with him for forty-nine days. The son of Old Master Zhao’s son did not follow his father’s example by driving away his wife, but she also died of illness at the critical age of thirty-six. Then the “good fortune” passed to the third generation, Zhao Shan, whose situation was even worse and beyond anyone’s expectations. His wife not only failed to bear sons for the Zhao family but also left him with three “troublesome children” before dying. What was even worse was that the business was no longer as prosperous as his grandfather’s generation; it seemed to be heading into decline.
Zhao Shan now stood in front of his grandfather’s tomb, gazing at the surrounding landscape, and couldn’t help feeling surprised. “Even as a layman, he could tell this should indeed be a feng shui treasure spot. High ground offers a wide view. It gathers the wind and collects the energy, enjoying a unique advantage. But why, by the third generation, did his wife die young, and why did he end up with three sons who failed to amount to anything? Could it be that this place is not truly a feng shui treasure spot?”
Was there a possibility that the geomancer had made a mistake back then?
If it was true, then why did the business start to decline by the third generation?
“It must have been Grandpa’s mistake—he hired a fake geomancer,” Zhao Shan couldn’t help but suspect.
“But if our family was buried in a fake stone coffin site, where is the real stone coffin site? Could it still be undiscovered on the Four Holy Hills, or perhaps hidden elsewhere in Xiushan Village?” Although worried, he preferred to believe that their family had indeed been buried at the real stone coffin site. He had heard from some elderly villagers who only half-understood feng shui that geomancers often follow the principle of yin and yang, where opposites complement each other, and this principle governs everything in the world.
A blessed place can also be a cursed one. Heaven bestows great responsibilities on those who endure great trials—just like how the monk Xuanzang faced eighty-one tribulations while fetching scriptures from India. Sima Qian was a great literary figure, yet he was castrated by Emperor Wu of Han. King Goujian of Yue was a ruler, yet he served as a slave for ten years in another country. He comforted himself: “Everything is temporary. If I marry another wife, surely I will have a heroic son.”
“It must be like this. Great blessings often come with great hardships—this has been the case for great men throughout history.” Suddenly, Zhao Shan couldn’t help but smile. He turned around and waved at Old Zhang, the family steward, signaling it was time to go down the mountain. However, just as they were about to leave, they suddenly saw someone approaching from the opposite direction.
Earlier, just as Zhao Shan was about to descend the mountain, he unexpectedly encountered someone walking toward them. This person was none other than Zhang Enpu. By now, Zhang Enpu was no longer the unfamiliar old man he once was. Thanks to his three life-saving deeds—eliminating the drought demon, subduing the spirit official, and dispelling negative energy—he had been revered as a deity by the villagers of both villages. Since arriving in Xiushan Village, he had sensed the excellent feng shui and believed that a great dragon must gather here. Driven by his professional instinct, he followed the energy lines and spiritual currents all the way to the Four Holy Hills.
When he saw the location of the Zhao family’s ancestral tomb, he first smiled with satisfaction, but then his face turned pale with shock: “What a pity! Which unscrupulous geomancer tricked this family into burying their ancestor in a ruined site? Alas! Such a precious treasure spot has been wasted. What a sin!”
Muttering to himself, he walked toward Zhao Shan and the others.
“May I ask who you are and why you are here?” Zhao Shan noticed him.
Zhang Enpu smiled but did not directly answer: “You are here paying respects to your ancestors?”
Zhao Shan replied, “Yes, it’s Qingming Festival, so we came to visit our ancestors.”
Zhang Enpu said, “This place gathers powerful energy, facing the sky and embracing the moon. The feng shui here is excellent. The descendants of this tomb must be particularly prosperous and wealthy.”
Zhao Shan shook his head and said, “You flatter us. We are just average; not as good as you say.”
Zhang Enpu replied, “There’s no need to be modest. Your family’s financial fortune within three generations is guaranteed. But beyond that, it’s hard to say.”
Zhao Shan was deeply shocked, feeling as though Zhang Enpu had spoken the very thoughts that had long lingered in his heart: “Is that so? How exactly will it go wrong?”
Zhang Enpu stroked his beard: “Seeking a divine burial site in vain, your wealth will dissipate, and your descendants will become foolish. After three generations, your family line will be cut off, and you will vanish from the family records forever.”
Zhao Shan was horrified and nearly fainted, but he still tried to remain calm. He wanted to test the other man’s identity: “Haha, Mr., who exactly are you to curse my entire family like this? Aren’t you afraid I’ll have you beaten up?”
Zhang Enpu was not offended but spoke calmly: “You don’t need to know who I am. I just want to tell you the truth. Good medicine is bitter to the taste, and sincere advice is often unpleasant to the ear.”
Zhao Shan frowned: “On what basis do you claim that this tomb will bring extinction after three generations? Didn’t you just say the feng shui here is excellent?”
Zhang Enpu nodded: “Indeed, I did say the feng shui here is excellent, but unfortunately, someone has already ruined this place. Your ancestor was buried in a broken site. According to ordinary feng shui standards, your family would have perished long ago, coughing blood and dying out. Fortunately, this is a rare treasure spot, and although damaged, it still preserved your family’s prosperity for three generations.”
Zhao Shan said, “Is that so? You speak as if it were true. Perhaps you’ve read too many myths and novels. I never believed in feng shui—it’s all superstition. Let me tell you, I’m doing just fine now. My children are healthy, and my business is growing bigger and better. Who are you trying to scare with your talk of yin and yang?”
Zhang Enpu was not angry but spoke calmly: “You don’t believe me? Then let me ask you, who is buried in this tomb?”
Zhao Shan replied, “My grandfather.”
Zhang Enpu nodded and calculated something with his fingers: “Hmm, you are exactly the third generation. Let me tell you something and see if it matches. First, your grandfather, the one buried here, was crushed to death when lightning struck a tree and knocked it down. This was a divine punishment for angering the stone coffin and invoking heavenly wrath.”
“Then came your father, who prospered in business after your grandfather’s death. He drove away his original wife and married a young woman surnamed Zhao as his second wife. Unfortunately, this second wife died of illness just forty-nine days after the wedding. Then came your father’s generation, whose business grew even more prosperous, and the family wealth accumulated further. But your mother died unexpectedly at the age of thirty-six. And now it’s your turn. Although your moral character has improved slightly, the fact that your family’s fortune has run out cannot be changed. Your business has already begun to decline, and your wife could not escape an early death, passing away when you were forty. To make matters worse, she bore you three sons who are unworthy of carrying on the family name—each one foolish, mad, or lazy. They constantly cause trouble and never care about the family business. Am I right?”
Zhao Shan was stunned, almost wanting to prostrate himself before this living deity. The man had only looked at his ancestors’ tomb but had recited every detail of the family’s three generations as if he were listing treasures. Sighing, Zhao Shan smiled bitterly and said, “Sir, you are truly a master. Everything you said is true. My grandfather was indeed struck by lightning. My father, my grandfather, and I all failed to escape early deaths for our wives. Most importantly, I do indeed have three unworthy sons, and my business has also declined. Ah, what did you mean earlier when you said my grandfather was buried in a broken site? As far as I know, this site was personally selected by a geomancer hired by my grandfather back then!”
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