Volume One, Chapter 15: Little Martial Uncle

The elderly man, originally surrounded by a crowd, noticed the situation here and stood up. His gaze pierced through the people and landed on a delicate young girl.

Liu Chang had a certain reputation in the Hongkong Feng Shui community. Over the years, he had encountered many charlatans posing as Feng Shui masters and fortune tellers, and his attitude toward such people was always one of utter disdain, even bordering on loathing. Yet, because of his status, no one had ever dared to act so brazenly in front of him.

At this moment, his eyes scrutinized Ying Yuwei.

Ying Yuwei paid little attention to the surrounding murmurs. In contrast, An Yu, like a fiercely protective dog, immediately began arguing with those mocking her mistress. “What do you mean, showing off before an expert? My master is a true grandmaster. None of you in Hongkong are her match.”

Liu Chang, intrigued by An Yu’s words, parted the crowd and approached Ying Yuwei. “Young friend, aren’t you afraid your tongue will slip if you boast like this?”

Liu Chang was in his fifties, with over twenty years in the profession, and he wouldn't dare speak so arrogantly. In his understanding, only the old Celestial Master from the mainland had the right to speak so boldly. As for this little girl of unknown origin, she was clearly just bluffing.

The crowd around them was filled with ridicule, waiting to see Ying Yuwei make a fool of herself. But she did not engage in any arguments. Instead, she picked up the slip of paper bearing Sean’s birth details and examined it.

Birth Chart: Year 1974, Wood Tiger
Elements: Rob Wealth, Eating God
Day Pillar: Jia Yin
Hour Pillar: Ding Mao
Month Pillar: Bing Yin
Luck Cycle: Wu Zi; Wu Chen 3, Ji Si 13, Geng Wu 23, Xin Wei 33

After reading Sean’s chart, Ying Yuwei declared with near certainty, “Your father met with an accident either this spring or autumn. He injured his bones and lungs—it was a car crash.”

Sean, standing beside her, was so astonished he could barely close his mouth. “You’re right!”

Originally, Sean had no real expectation that Ying Yuwei could read the chart. He just wanted to squeeze close to Master Liu for some consolation.

The crowd had expected Ying Yuwei to embarrass herself, but now Sean was confirming her words. Still, some in the crowd refused to accept it:

“That’s just a simple guess; maybe you got lucky.”

“Yeah, saying something like that and calling yourself a master? Ridiculous.”

Ying Yuwei smiled faintly, shaking her head slightly before continuing. “You got married in 1999, the Ji Mao year. Your first child should be a boy.”

“You come from a family of three siblings, and your mother’s mental state is somewhat unstable.”

Sean’s expression grew serious. His tone held a hint of questioning. “How do you know so much about me?”

Yet Sean was certain this was their first meeting.

Ying Yuwei handed the slip with the birth details to Liu Chang, tilting her head with a smile. “You can check if I’m talking nonsense.”

The crowd pressed closer, eager to see what was written. Liu Chang took the paper, frowning slightly. The girl’s words were completely accurate. While he was still pondering, Ying Yuwei signaled to An Yu.

“An Yu, call that person and tell him we’ve arrived. Ask where he is.”

As An Yu dialed the number, Liu Chang’s phone vibrated. Ying Yuwei and Liu Chang exchanged wide-eyed glances. After a long moment, Liu Chang stammered, “Young friend, you… are…?”

Ying Yuwei withdrew an iron dagger from her bosom and bowed slightly. “My master is none other than Ying Tianlin.”

Liu Chang’s expression changed dramatically upon seeing the dagger. One side was etched with flames, the other with clouds. The ring pommel was hollowed and inlaid with golden cloud patterns, and the handle bore faint beast-face carvings. This dagger was the token of the Celestial Masters, bestowed only upon the successor of the Celestial Master’s post.

Could this little girl before him already be the current Celestial Master? Liu Chang wiped a non-existent bead of sweat from his brow.

Ying Yuwei sheathed the dagger. “I am the sole disciple of the ninety-ninth generation Celestial Master, the present Celestial Master—Ying Yuwei.”

Liu Chang swallowed hard, somewhat nervous, clasped his hands, took a step back, and bowed deeply. “Junior Liu Chang pays respects to Senior Uncle.”

Nowadays, Feng Shui and metaphysics all stem at the root from the Celestial Master sect’s branches. The Celestial Master sect originally established these branches, distributing some of their secret scriptures to subordinate schools—current schools such as the Eight Mansions and Three Harmonies are actually offshoots of the Celestial Master sect.

Branch schools recruit many disciples, who in turn take their own disciples. Because the Celestial Master sect only has one disciple per generation, its succession is slower.

Liu Chang was already a centennial disciple of the Three Harmonies school, while Ying Yuwei was only the ninety-ninth generation. In terms of seniority and lineage, although younger in age, Ying Yuwei was indeed Liu Chang’s senior uncle.

Those who had gathered hoping to see Ying Yuwei embarrassed were now utterly dumbfounded.

“What did Master Liu just call her? Senior uncle?”

“Isn’t she a fraud?”

“Why is she so young, yet Master Liu calls her senior uncle? Who exactly is this girl?”

“Master Liu is so powerful already. Could this little girl really be stronger than him?”

Everyone wore expressions of disbelief.

Ying Yuwei lifted Liu Chang’s arm lightly, palm upward. “Let’s not fuss over these formalities. First, tell me about the photo you sent me.”

Amidst the astonished gazes, Liu Chang and Ying Yuwei were escorted away by his bodyguards.

Liu Chang had brought Ying Yuwei here for the ancestral tomb of Hongkong’s richest man, Li Cheng. Within the past week, Li Cheng’s father’s tombstone had split down the middle. Li Cheng had consulted every Feng Shui master in Hongkong, all saying there was no problem. Yet, even after replacing the tombstone, it cracked again the next day.

Liu Chang had recently seen Ying Yuwei’s video performing a ritual to dispel evil at the An residence online; that was why he had taken the risk to message her and invite her over.

Surrounded by bodyguards, Ying Yuwei and Liu Chang arrived at a lavishly decorated five-star hotel. At the entrance stood a middle-aged man dressed extravagantly. As soon as he saw them enter, he narrowed his eyes and scrutinized them.

He hurried to Liu Chang’s side, anxious. “Master Liu, where is this grandmaster you spoke of?” Li Cheng glanced behind Liu Chang, completely ignoring Ying Yuwei standing beside him.

Liu Chang gestured toward Ying Yuwei. She caught the fleeting surprise in Li Cheng’s eyes.

Though surprised, Li Cheng stepped forward and shook Ying Yuwei’s hand. “So you’re the grandmaster—so young?”

After confirming that Ying Yuwei was indeed the master Liu Chang had brought, Li Cheng’s eyes showed clear disappointment and disdain. Then he asked, “What should we call you, master?”

Ying Yuwei waved him off gently. “Mr. Liu, you’re too polite. My name is Ying Yuwei.”

“Hmm, Master Ying, are you still studying? How old are you this year?”

Ying Yuwei answered honestly. “I’m a freshman, eighteen years old.”

The glimmer in Li Cheng’s eyes instantly dimmed. He sighed softly, “Ah.”