The Four Master Fortune-Tellers Discuss Various Fortune-Telling Scams: Heart-Mind Divination, Character Analysis, Dream Interpretation, and Hasty Yin-Yang Feng Shui Techniques
After receiving the letter from the Eastern Sect, the Southern Sect, Northern Sect, and Western Sect soon set out for Jianghuai to attend the annual grand Council Meeting.
Before the three major halls arrived, Zu Ye instructed Little Six and the others to rush to Yuanhua Road in suburban Shanghai to clean up a dilapidated house they had selected in advance, stockpiling food, fruits, and vegetables in preparation for the meeting’s living needs.
Zu Ye himself went alone to the “Camouflage Photography Studio” on Broadway Road in Shanghai.
As soon as he entered, a young apprentice came forward: “Sir, please come inside. Would you like a full-body photo or a half-body photo?”
Zu Ye said: “A full-body photo standing tall from heaven to earth.”
“Have you had one taken before?”
“One per year, taken in spring but not in autumn.”
The young apprentice glanced outside the door and said in a low voice: “Sir, please wait a moment.”
The young apprentice turned and went into the back room, then ran out after a while: “Sir, please come inside.”
After turning several corners, Zu Ye followed the young apprentice to the darkroom where photos were developed.
“Instructor Zeng, I trust you’ve been well.” Zu Ye cupped his hands in salute.
Zeng Jingwu stood up with a hearty laugh: “Haha, as long as the reactionaries don’t perish, I cannot rest for a single day.”
After the War of Resistance ended, Zeng Jingwu had remained undercover in Shanghai. Although the Communist Party’s underground organization had been swept by the Kuomintang several times, it remained intact and even showed a growing trend. The few exchanges between Zu Ye and the young apprentice just now were the code words Zeng Jingwu had left for Zu Ye to make contact.
“Has Instructor Zeng heard about the Kuomintang killing over a dozen Communists?”
“Of course.”
“Was Fang Jiyu really a Communist?”
Zeng Jingwu shook his head and sighed: “He was not. He was a close comrade of our Party, providing us with supplies during the War of Resistance and voicing support for us during the Kuomintang-Communist negotiations.”
“Just because of this, the Kuomintang killed him?”
“The reactionaries, after all, always stand in opposition to the people—a blood feud. That’s why we must eliminate the reactionaries! Liberate all of China!”
“Can it succeed? Chiang has millions of troops, shouldn’t your few guns wait a bit longer?”
“We can’t wait. Chiang is no fool—how could he wait for us to grow strong? It’s not about numbers but quality.”
Zu Ye nodded, then asked again: “Is Yun Caiwei a Communist?”
“She’s even less so. In fact, the Kuomintang staged this drama for two purposes: first, to seize Boss Fang’s pharmacy business by taking advantage of the situation. Boss Fang’s business spread across the country with assets worth several million. The Kuomintang once demanded he contribute military funds, and Boss Fang said: ‘To fight the Japanese, I’ll give everything without hesitation; to fight our own people, not a cent.’ Second, to kill the chicken to warn the monkey, warning Shanghai’s major capitalists not to stand on the wrong side!”
Zu Ye suddenly understood: “I see. Then what about Fang Jiyu’s Sixth Concubine?”
“The Sixth Concubine’s real name is Shen Xiaoluan. She’s a Juntong agent. After she brought down Boss Fang this time, her identity was also exposed. Unable to stay in Shanghai, she was transferred back to the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics in Nanjing.” Zeng Jingwu said.
“So none of the dozen or so people killed were actual Communists?” Zu Ye asked again.
“This… this I cannot say. The organization has regulations. Please forgive me, Zu Ye.”
“I understand, I understand.” After speaking, Zu Ye pulled out a stack of fabi currency from his sleeve, “This money, I hope Instructor Zeng will accept!”
“I cannot, I cannot!” Zeng Jingwu pushed it away, “I’m a Communist now, not an Axe Gang member. We have our own activity funds and are not allowed to take money from the masses.”
“Hehehehe.” Zu Ye laughed, “This isn’t a subsidy, it’s gratitude money. Back in Zhoushan, if Instructor Zeng hadn’t risked his life to help, my ‘Muzi Lian’ would have been completely annihilated. At that time, the hall had no money, and I wanted to repay the favor but couldn’t. Later, running east and west, now that we’ve returned to Shanghai and the hall is doing better, I must repay this debt. This isn’t just my intention—it’s the intention of all the ‘Muzi Lian’ brothers. This has nothing to do with what party you belong to. If Instructor Zeng doesn’t accept, it means you no longer consider us brothers.”
Zeng Jingwu also smiled: “Zu Ye, you’re making things difficult for me.”
“Not difficult. I still have something to ask.”
“What is it? As long as it doesn’t violate organizational discipline, I’ll do my utmost to help.”
Zu Ye smiled slightly…
More than twenty days later, the sect leaders of the Southern, Northern, and Western Sects each brought several Batous and successively arrived in Jianghuai.
Zu Ye left Da Batou and Liu Batou to guard the home. He brought Er Batou, San Batou, Si Batou, and Wu Batou to the meeting location in the suburbs to welcome them.
This meeting’s theme: During the great Kuomintang-Communist war, how to hunt狍子 (marks)?
Before the meeting, there was a meal—this was called a welcoming feast. Over twenty people crowded around two tables, and Zu Ye arranged the best food, wine, and fruits.
The Batous from the Northern Sect who came looked at the glistening oily roasted chicken legs and steaming hot xiaolongbao with eyes turning green. Whether life is good or not can be tested at the dining table—seeing food and becoming restless, scratching ears and cheeks, definitely means they’re starving; glancing once and feeling full, eating or not eating either way, definitely means they’re stuffed every day.
Jiang Feiyan looked at the table full of food and suddenly asked Zu Ye: “Do you have pickled vegetable strips?”
The Batous from the Northern Sect were all stunned. Good heavens, with all this meat and fish before you, you want pickled vegetable strips? Are you insulting our Northern Sect’s rumbling empty stomachs?
Zu Ye smiled: “I have them prepared for you. Butler, bring out our pickled mustard strips.”
Qin Baichuan also smiled: “Sister Yan has good taste, I, Qin the Bearded, also enjoy this.”
Qian Yuelin also chimed in with a smile: “This old man can’t compare to all of you. Life in the North isn’t easy—when my brothers eat a tea egg, it’s like celebrating a festival.”
Zu Ye laughed: “Master Qian is joking. Come, come, everyone don’t just sit there, eat, eat.” As he spoke, he personally served each of the Batous Qian Yuelin brought a chicken leg, “Don’t be shy, eat, eat.”
Those Batous were named Zhou Tianlei, Xu Peilin, and Miao Yazhi. Seeing Zu Ye’s such hospitality, a warm current immediately filled their hearts—the Eastern Sect was living well indeed.
After a round of toasting, Zu Ye set down his wine cup and said: “Today, our Eastern, Southern, Western, and Northern halls convene, a gathering that carries on the past and opens the future. The devils occupied our China for eight years and were finally driven out. What comes next is our Chinese people’s own business. Whether the Kuomintang and Communist Party fight or not, and whoever wins, our ‘Jiang Xiang Sect’ must certainly get a share in this chaotic world.”
“Correct.” Qian Yuelin stroked his goatee and said, “This old man believes the time has come for the ‘Jiang Xiang Sect’ to revive its glory after being in decline for so long.”
Qin Baichuan glanced at Qian Yuelin and said: “During the eight-year War of Resistance, I, Qin, lived alone in Xichuan while all of you traveled east and west. I couldn’t help much, and I deeply apologize.”
“Zu Ye, the pickled vegetables are really delicious.” Jiang Feiyan interjected.
The atmosphere instantly became a bit awkward. Zu Ye quickly responded to Qin Baichuan: “Where do Master Qin’s words come from? While we were fleeing for our lives, Master Qin repeatedly extended a helping hand. We’re all one family in the end. Come, I’ll toast Master Qin alone!”
Qin Baichuan smiled slightly: “Drink together, drink together.”
Zu Ye continued: “Although the current situation isn’t as chaotic anymore, business isn’t easy to do. After various enlightenment propaganda appeared, matters involving ghosts and spirits became difficult to operate…”
Before Zu Ye finished speaking, Zhou Tianlei, chewing on half a chicken leg, couldn’t help himself: “Grand Master is right. The Communist Party cracks down on ‘secret societies’ in their base areas. Forget playing ghost tricks—the moment you raise your fortune-telling and yin-yang flag, the villagers will stick a pitchfork in your ass.”
Er Batou nearly sprayed the food in his mouth: “Stick in the ass? Hahahaha.”
Zu Ye also chuckled secretly, sighing deeply in his heart. For thousands of years, no one had cracked down on “secret societies” as firmly as the Communist Party. The “military horse” scams of the “Jiang Xiang Sect” had virtually no use in the North. From this perspective, people should really thank the Communist Party. The Communist Party saw through it all—Chinese traditional learning and superstition are two different things. Various charlatans should no longer deceive the masses under the banner of promoting traditional learning. The Communist Party’s propaganda teams exposed the truth in one sentence: the three branches of traditional learning—Confucianism as appearance, Daoism as bone, Buddhism as heart—all ultimately teach how to conduct oneself and accumulate virtue. Looking at all the fortune-tellers, big and small, which one has Confucian appearance, Daoist bone, or Buddhist heart? Each one vulgar and wretched, drawing lots, telling fortunes, setting up feng shui arrays, scurrying through the streets like selling cabbage, preaching benevolence and righteousness to others while secretly gorging on cold pork themselves. If there really were ghosts in the world, they would be a bunch of lazy freeloaders who get something for nothing.
Qian Yuelin glared fiercely at Zhou Tianlei: “Even eating can’t shut your mouth!”
Zhou Tianlei’s face turned red, and he said no more.
Qin Baichuan interjected: “Business in Xichuan isn’t easy either. Some Kuomintang advisors are also undermining us.”
Qian Yuelin glanced at Jiang Feiyan and said: “What profound insights does Grand Master Feiyan have?”
“Ah?” Jiang Feiyan feigned ignorance.
“Master Qian is asking how Sister Yan’s business is?” Zu Ye quickly mediated.
“Oh, same as always.”
Two words—”same as always”—and Jiang Feiyan said no more. She was still holding a grudge about Qian Yuelin secretly bringing disciples to the South to set up shop last year.
Zu Ye said: “Recently, many ‘secret societies’ in Jianghuai have revived, among them quite a few masters, many said to have real abilities. Besides the eight characters and six lines methods, some play with character analysis, dream interpretation, and heart-mind divination.”
“What is heart-mind divination?” Qin Baichuan asked.
Zu Ye said: “It means not using any fortune-telling method, but relying on the current scene, any object or matter, any word or phrase, all can be used to make predictions.”
“Please give an example, Zu Ye.” Qian Yuelin was also interested.
Zu Ye smiled and said: “For example, matching marriages. The man brings the girl’s eight characters to inquire, and the fortune-teller waves his hand and says, ‘I never look at eight characters. What’s this girl’s name?’ The man answers, ‘Zhang Meiqiong.’ The fortune-teller then says, ‘This woman cannot be married. “Mei” (beautiful) means “mei” (none), nothing at all; “Qiong” (jade) means poor and destitute. Marrying such a wife will certainly lead to the family’s decline.’ Or for example, the woman brings the man’s eight characters to inquire, and the fortune-teller still asks: ‘What’s this man’s name?’ The woman answers, ‘Wang Guofu.’ The fortune-teller then laughs heartily and says, ‘Wang Guofu means perished-nation husband. Such a man absolutely cannot be married.'”
After hearing this, Qian Yuelin smiled and said: “This uses homophonic naming methods to frighten common people. Perfectly good names become inauspicious after the fortune-teller speaks.”
Zu Ye said: “This is precisely these fortune-tellers’ winning strategy. If the man and woman insist on marrying, the fortune-teller will seize the opportunity to issue a disaster-resolution list—donating money, adjusting feng shui, drawing talismans, finding a dog as a substitute, finding a peach tree as a matchmaker, etc. After a whole set of procedures, it’ll cost at least several hundred.”
“Makes sense, makes sense.” Qian Yuelin nodded in praise.
Zu Ye continued: “The better the name, the worse it becomes after passing through their mouths. For example, Song Shouzhong (sending to death), Wang Wenshu (perish-steady-lose), Yang Yulang (sheep meets wolf), Duan Mingren (cut-life person), Shen Qiushui (interrogate prisoner water), Shan Yanjing (castrate-clean)…”
Jiang Feiyan listening on the side couldn’t help wanting to laugh.
Qin Baichuan laughed heartily: “This is heart-mind divination?”
Zu Ye said: “This is just one aspect. There’s also determining fortune and misfortune based on the scene and objects at the time. For example, a merchant comes to ask about business and it happens to be pouring rain. The fortune-teller will tell them, ‘Water represents wealth. This external sign tells you that business will certainly prosper in the future! However, the rain is too heavy—much wealth will bring disaster, so you need to spend money to avoid disaster.’
“Or for example, someone wants to buy a house and asks this kind of fortune-teller to come along as an advisor. Just before reaching the destination, they happen to see two dogs fighting. The fortune-teller will say, ‘Go back, this house cannot be bought. Two dogs fighting is called “prison.” If you move into this house, you’ll have a prison disaster.'”
Qin Baichuan nodded and said: “This external sign theory does have some logic.”
Qian Yuelin said: “Would common people believe such low-level scams?”
Zu Ye smiled: “In the world of scams, common people’s intelligence has no bottom line. No matter how low-level the scam, there’s always a group of people who respond. Among the masses, if Zhang San doesn’t believe, Li Si will; if Li Si doesn’t believe, Wang Wu will. Scams pursue probability.”
Qian Yuelin nodded deeply, then said: “This compares with the ‘Hasty Yin-Yang Technique’ popular in the North.”
“I’d like to hear the details.” The reason Zu Ye threw out this topic was to have each sect leader talk about the novel scams in their regions.
Qian Yuelin stroked his beard and spoke eloquently: “‘Hasty Yin-Yang’ is claimed to be a feng shui technique, and users boast about it as incredibly miraculous. Ordinary feng shui masters looking at feng shui must take a compass and survey the site in person, first determining the Eight Trigrams directions and dragon vein flow, then observing the Five Elements’ mutual generation and restraint and the Six Beasts’ fortune and misfortune. But ‘Hasty Yin-Yang Technique’ is different—they don’t use anything. They just walk around your courtyard once, as quick as a hasty tour, and immediately give a fortune or misfortune answer.”
“Is it accurate?” Qin Baichuan asked.
“Hehe. Whether it’s accurate or not, only ghosts know. They have a secret manual called ‘Hasty Yin-Yang Mind Method.’ This old man was fortunate enough to obtain a copy. Opening it, everything imitates our ‘Jiang Xiang Sect’s’ ‘Military Horse Text’ style, only the wording is crude and easy to understand, specifically for telling illiterate common people. To put it bluntly, it’s just crude vernacular poetry that blocks both ends.” Qian Yuelin said.
“Master Qian, please elaborate.” Zu Ye’s eyes sparkled as he raised his wine cup.
After drinking deeply, Qian Yuelin recited the core formulas of “Hasty Yin-Yang” in one breath. Everyone present admired the old fellow’s memory.
Two trees before the gate, two surnames in this household.
A bend behind, beware of adulterous women causing chaos.
Door facing the toilet, children won’t live long.
Crossroads intersection, sooner or later young death occurs.
House high on all eight sides, carrying pole won’t make a sound.
House low with rainwater pooling, legitimate wealth thrives and thrives.
…
Zu Ye listened carefully, pondering these divinations—indeed they mixed truth with falsehood, rhyming and easy to understand.
These formulas more or less incorporated some knowledge from “Yang Gong Feng Shui”—this was the real stuff. But thinking again: what use is truth or falsehood? “Yang Gong Feng Shui” could be called China’s largest feng shui school. Its founder Yang Junsong devoted his life to developing feng shui techniques, with fame great enough to be mentioned alongside Mencius, yet his final outcome was tragically miserable.
Just as Daoist Peng once said, those who calculate all the heavenly secrets never end well. They penetrated the heavenly secrets, mastered the Five Elements, wanting to use them to benefit the people, yet often things went contrary to wishes. Why? They ignored the importance of a person’s own cultivation as a subject. Whether feng shui, eight characters, or Qimen, all are external things. Entrusting one’s future and fate to external things is in itself a way of losing oneself. Heaven and man united, the human heart is key. Without emphasizing one’s own cultivation and elevation of realm, all external ritual methods are illusions.
Yang Junsong was born in the late Tang Dynasty, extremely intelligent, proficient in the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, Seven Stars and dragon veins. He traveled the jianghu for decades relying on feng shui techniques, gaining great fame. Countless students swarmed to learn and imitate, which opened the gates of evil. People all believed in feng shui but no longer cared about their own moral cultivation. Those committing crimes, plotting rebellion, scheming for political chaos all attempted to use feng shui techniques to help themselves.
In 900 AD, the warlord Lu Guangchao of Ganzhou found Yang Junsong and asked him to help adjust his ancestral grave’s feng shui to realize his emperor dream. Yang Junsong used all his abilities to relocate the grave of Lu Guangchao’s old mother to a feng shui blessed land. Afterward, Lu Guangchao held a banquet to thank him, poisoning the wine Yang Junsong drank. Lu Guangchao thought: you can adjust feng shui for me, you can adjust feng shui for any prince. I must kill you to eliminate future troubles.
Poor Yang Junsong unknowingly drank the poisoned wine. On the way home, he suddenly felt abdominal pain and hurriedly asked his disciple: “Where are we now?”
The disciple answered: “This place is called ‘Yaokou’ (Medicine Mouth).”
Upon hearing this, Yang Junsong’s entire body broke out in goosebumps: “Yaokou, Yaokou—the poison has entered my mouth. My life ends here!”
A generation of feng shui master thus died with resentment.
Whenever thinking of these ancient masters, Zu Ye felt endless sighs. China’s capable people are too clever—they can penetrate countless heavenly secrets. They invented Yin-Yang and Five Elements, invented the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, invented various fortune-telling methods, yet could never control their own fates. Conversely, some seemingly dull people were naturally complete—they didn’t understand Yin-Yang or Eight Trigrams, only understood being good people and acting according to conscience, yet each had children and grandchildren filling the hall, living peacefully their whole lives. This is precisely the saying: foolish people have foolish blessings.
“Xichuan also has a fortune-telling technique called ‘Calculate Your Surname.’ It’s quite mysterious.” Qin Baichuan interjected.
Hearing this, Zu Ye thought that if even the battle-hardened Qin the Bearded said this method was mysterious, then it must have some elusive tricks.
“I’d like to hear the details.” Zu Ye said.
Qin Baichuan chuckled: “This is actually an elementary trick for hooking marks, like feeding medicine to a pig before slaughtering it. Once you lose your guard, then comes the ruthless knife.”
“Please elaborate, Master Qin.” Qian Yuelin was also interested.
“Please bring the four treasures of the study, Zu Ye.” Qin Baichuan said.
Zu Ye nodded to Wu Lao’er, who immediately brought brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
Qin Baichuan spread out four sheets of paper, thought for a moment, wrote over twenty surnames on each sheet, then said to Zu Ye: “Zu Ye, think of a surname in your mind, don’t tell me.”
Zu Ye smiled and nodded.
Qin Baichuan held up one sheet of paper and asked Zu Ye: “Is the surname you’re thinking of on here?”
Zu Ye looked and answered: “No.”
Qin Baichuan held up another sheet of paper: “What about this one?”
Zu Ye answered: “Yes.”
Qin Baichuan held up the remaining two sheets: “What about these two?”
Zu Ye answered: “The one in your left hand doesn’t have it, the one in your right hand does.”
Qin Baichuan laughed heartily, then said confidently: “This gentleman, your surname is Zhao!”
Zu Ye also smiled, nodding in admiration.
Er Batou was very surprised: “Master Qin, how did you know Zu Ye chose the surname ‘Zhao’?”
Qin Baichuan spread all four papers containing the Hundred Family Surnames on the table to analyze the mystery for everyone.
Finally, everyone understood—this was actually a permutation and combination. The fortune-teller’s so-called “calculating your surname without you speaking” was actually produced by cross-selecting from the Hundred Family Surnames on different boards. Skilled fortune-tellers could cross-determine the mark’s surname with just three sheets of paper.
But this scam also had loopholes—the inquirer’s surname must be listed on the boards. If it was an extremely obscure surname, like Yehe Nala or Niuhuru, and the fortune-teller hadn’t included it, then flaws would be exposed.
Fortunately, the four major surnames Zhang, Wang, Li, and Zhao almost occupied 20% of the population. Adding several dozen other common surnames, over 80% of the population could be covered. This way, fortune-tellers could almost never fail.
Calculating your surname was just bait to make people feel respect and trust, thus arousing their desire to seek fortune-telling. Next, whatever wealth fortune, official fortune, children, etc., was left to his discretion. In the end, marks would all pull out dozens of yuan to express thanks. (Note: This scam still circulates today. Many swindlers often appear in parks, squares, and other morning exercise places, cheating old ladies. Five yuan each time.)
That night, after the feast ended, Zu Ye again didn’t sleep all night.
During the following days of meetings, it was nothing more than summarizing experiences, the four major halls exchanging with each other, then formulating new coordinated scamming strategies for the new year.
On the last day, Zu Ye prepared a lavish dinner banquet to entertain all the Grand Masters and Batous.
When the wine was half-drunk, Zu Ye suddenly raised his cup and said: “That the ‘Jiang Xiang Sect’ has endured hardships and come this far depends entirely on the unity of the four major halls. Though we live in four places, our hearts are always twisted together. During these days of meetings, I deeply understood Master Qian’s difficulties. The Northern Sect’s business isn’t easy—not because of Master Qian and the brothers’ fault, but because of the situation. But I believe, as long as the four major halls work together through thick and thin, we can cross any difficult threshold. The Eastern Sect is unworthy, but willing to donate 3,000 silver dollars to the Northern Sect brothers to help overcome difficulties!”
Qian Yuelin hurriedly wiped his mouth, thinking he’d heard wrong. He struggled to lift his drunk and numb scalp, saying: “Zu Ye is saying…”
“Master Qian, my Eastern Sect voluntarily donates 3,000 silver dollars to the Northern Sect. I hope Master Qian will graciously accept.” Zu Ye said.
Qian Yuelin finally heard clearly, his lower abdomen burning with joy: “This… this… this makes this old man feel… hehe.”
Even Qin Baichuan was envious, setting down his wine cup and saying: “Zu Ye is so magnanimous! Admirable, admirable!”
Jiang Feiyan said nothing. She understood in her heart that with Zu Ye doing this, at least Qian Yuelin wouldn’t target the four southeastern provinces anymore.
The three Batous under Qian Yuelin were already so excited they didn’t know what to do with themselves. They looked at each other, casting grateful and admiring gazes toward Zu Ye.
Qian Yuelin raised his wine cup, leaned toward Zu Ye and said: “True feelings are seen in hardship, brothers are remembered in poverty. Zu Ye, this kindness, this old man will never forget. But when the Northern Sect prospers, I will certainly repay in full! I toast Zu Ye!”
“Master Qian speaks too seriously. The four major halls are as close as brothers—no need to be polite. Please!”
The two drained their cups.
Zhou Tianlei, Xu Peilin, and Miao Yazhi also stood up with cups raised: “We toast the Eastern Sect’s Grand Master.”
Zu Ye waved his hand, saying: “Wrong, wrong. You should toast Master Qian. If not for Master Qian standing firm as a pillar, leading you through wind and rain in campaigns north and south all these years, you would probably have been lost to the world long ago.”
Hearing this, the three quickly turned to Qian Yuelin: “Master above, we disciples wish you longevity and health!”
Qian Yuelin smiled so much his eyes couldn’t be found.
Qin Baichuan calmly watched all this: Well done, Zu Ye, playing the heart-winning card.
Zu Ye coughed twice lightly at the “Muzi Lian” brothers. Er Batou, San Batou, Si Batou, and Wu Batou understood tacitly, raising their wine cups and taking turns, frequently toasting with the Grand Masters and Batous who came from afar.
Especially Er Batou—simply an invincible capacity, drinking wine like water, like an unbridled wild horse galloping freely in the celestial river.
“Drain it! Must drain it! Wine is grain essence—the more you drink, the younger you get! I’ll drain it first as respect!” Er Batou’s spittle flew everywhere.
“Second Master, we can’t handle liquor well…” people from the Western and Northern Sects said.
“I couldn’t handle it before either, but got better with practice. I toast brothers with wine, if brothers don’t drink, they think I’m ugly. Do you think I’m ugly?”
“Not at all, not at all. Second Master has extraordinary bone structure, I… I really can’t drink anymore… let me eat some food first to settle my stomach.” Zhou Tianlei was already dizzy from Er Batou’s forced drinking.
“Wine is dear father, food is dear mother—better to drink to death than eat to death! Come, drain it!” Er Batou shouted again.
Zu Ye laughed in waves, wondering where this kid got all these phrases.
Later, Er Batou’s tongue also lost strength, eyes misty, holding the pot handle as the spout, still wondering: why won’t it pour out?
Amidst the clinking cups, one person never drank alcohol—Qin Baichuan’s eldest disciple: Shen Dingwang.
Shen Dingwang had stated upfront: “Zu Ye, all Masters, I’ve never drunk alcohol since childhood. The moment I touch it, I break out in bumps all over, then my joints ache throughout my body. Please forgive me, all Grand Masters. I can only substitute tea for wine to toast all the Grand Masters.”
Zu Ye knew there was a type of person who by nature couldn’t drink alcohol—a physiological issue. Whether or not Shen Dingwang belonged to this category, it wasn’t appropriate to force him to drink.
Er Batou just didn’t like this type of person.
“Men who don’t drink walk the world in vain; men who don’t visit brothels wander the world in vain. Brother Shen, are… are you even a man!” The drunk Er Batou wanted to pick a fight.
“Hehe.” Shen Dingwang’s face reddened, saying, “Second Master, besides not being able to drink alcohol, pick anything else and little brother will definitely keep you company to the end.”
Qin Baichuan squinted his eyes and said nothing.
“Good!” Er Batou slapped the table and stood up, “Drink vinegar! Wu Lao’er, bring vinegar!”
Wu Lao’er turned and went out, soon returning with a large bucket of vinegar.
Seeing this, Zu Ye smiled and said: “You two brothers are really going to compete drinking vinegar?”
Er Batou burped, shook his head and said: “Zu Ye, people came from afar without touching a drop—how embarrassing. I heard winemakers say, ‘Wine jars first brew vinegar.’ This wine and vinegar are both grain essence, both make you younger the more you drink! That… whoever, that Wu Lao’er, bring two more large bowls.”
Wu Lao’er brought up two large blue and white bowls.
“Fill them!” Er Batou said.
Wu Lao’er lifted the vinegar bucket, gurgling as he poured two large bowls.
“Brother Shen, please!” Er Batou raised the large bowl.
“Second Master, please!” Shen Dingwang showed no weakness.
The two tilted their necks back and a bowl of vinegar went down. A whole table of people felt their mouths turning sour along with them.
“Again!”
“Please!”
“Please!”
“Again!”
“Please!”
“Please!”
The two each drank over ten bowls in one go.
Er Batou swayed and asked: “Brother Shen, how about it?”
Shen Dingwang swallowed a mouthful of sour liquid and said: “Satisfying!”
“Hahahaha!” Qin Baichuan laughed heartily, “Now this is a disciple of our ‘Jiang Xiang Sect’!”
“Again!” Er Batou raised his bowl once more.
Shen Dingwang shook his head.
“What’s wrong? Can’t continue?” Er Batou asked.
“One skill is hard to determine superiority! I have a suggestion—Second Master, do you dare to follow?” Shen Dingwang said loudly.
“As long as it’s not eating shit or drinking piss, mountains of knives or seas of fire, I’ll follow!”
“Good! In our Sichuan, real men dare to eat raw chili peppers without adding any food. Does Second Master dare?” Shen Dingwang challenged.
“Hahahaha. I thought it was something big. It’s just eating chili peppers? Tell me, how do we eat them?”
“You and I each eat one jin of raw chili peppers, without adding anything, eat them directly. Does Second Master dare?”
“Wu Lao’er, bring the chili peppers!” Er Batou shouted.
Wu Lao’er froze for a moment and looked at Zu Ye.
Zu Ye blinked and said: “The kitchen has no chili peppers?”
“Oh! There are! There are! Hebei ‘Little Buddha Hand’! I’ll go get them.”
“Little Buddha Hand,” also called “Spicy to Death,” was a type of chili pepper produced in Hebei. Completely red all over, shaped like a buddha’s hand, because it was incredibly spicy, it was generally only used as seasoning. If an ordinary person ate even a tiny bit, their tongue would feel like it was on fire.
Before long, Wu Lao’er came in carrying a bundle of “Little Buddha Hand” peppers.
Er Batou reached out and grabbed them, spread them on the table, divided them into two piles, and said to Shen Dingwang: “Brother Shen, please go first.”
“Good.” Shen Dingwang picked up one, put it in his mouth, and chewed with crunching sounds.
The several female A’Baos under Jiang Feiyan were all stunned, muttering with pursed lips: “How spicy must that be?”
Er Batou also picked up one, put it in his mouth, and chewed vigorously.
Just like that, the two of them ate one after another, and before long finished the entire bundle of chili peppers. Looking at their complexions, their faces were red as fire, skin completely flushed, red all the way to the base of their necks, eyes full of bloodshot vessels, the white of their eyes turned red, tears flowing uncontrollably.
“Hahahaha!” Zu Ye laughed wildly.
Qin Baichuan, Qian Yuelin, and Jiang Feiyan also laughed together.
“Quickly give them some cool water to relieve the spiciness.” Zu Ye instructed Wu Lao’er.
Wu Lao’er turned and went out.
Suddenly, urgent footsteps sounded in the courtyard.
Everyone immediately became alert.
With a bang, the door opened, and over a dozen policemen rushed in with lightning speed, surrounding everyone.
This sudden turn of events left everyone confused.
Zu Ye stood up and asked: “What is this about, gentlemen?”
“Cut the crap! Catching Communist bandits!” said the leader.
“Communist bandits?” Zu Ye was bewildered.
“Which one is Qian Yuelin?” the leader asked.
Qian Yuelin’s disciple Zhou Tianlei stood up: “I am.”
The leader looked at Zhou Tianlei and slapped him across the face: “Go to hell! Intelligence shows an old geezer! You beardless idiot still want to impersonate him!”
Qian Yuelin stood up: “I am.”
The leader looked at Qian Yuelin: “Hmm. Came to Jianghuai to make contact, didn’t you? Juntong has been watching you for a long time. Take him away!”
Qian Yuelin said calmly: “Juntong is watching me?”
The leader smiled: “Still pretending? You old fox hiding in the shadows, think that disguising yourself under the fortune-telling banner means we can’t catch you? And you all!” He pointed at everyone and said, “You bunch of fortune-tellers babbling all day, what iron-plate divine calculations, what foreknowledge—you know nothing! Qian Yuelin is a Communist, did you calculate that? A bunch of stupid birds!”
“Take him! Take him!”
With the leader’s command, Qian Yuelin was tied up and shoved out.
“Zu Ye, what’s going on?” Qin Baichuan asked anxiously.
Zu Ye furrowed his brow tightly, unable to provide an answer for the moment.
Zu Ye Cleverly Obtains the “Military Horse” Secret Manual
In the interrogation room, super-strong lights shone so brightly that Qian Yuelin couldn’t open his eyes. Beside him, chili water boiled vigorously, and branding irons in the stove burned red-hot.
“Confess.” the jailer said.
Qian Yuelin was dazed: “Confess what? I’m not a Communist!”
The jailer nodded and smiled: “Admirable! Admirable! Men, first give Master Qian some chili water to moisten his throat!”
Two guards rushed up, pinched Qian Yuelin’s nose, and poured a ladle of chili water down his throat.
“Cough cough cough!” Qian Yuelin choked, his throat burning like fire, shouting: “I’m really not a Communist!”
The jailer smiled again: “Why suffer? How much benefit did the Communist Party give you?”
“I… I’m just a fortune-teller wandering the countryside.”
“Fortune-teller? Oh! Then did you calculate that you’d be caught by us today?”
“This… this is an unwarranted disaster. A misunderstanding, misunderstanding. You’ve misunderstood, sir.” Qian Yuelin said with a forced smile.
The jailer suddenly changed the topic: “Where is the ‘Military Horse’?”
Qian Yuelin’s heart skipped a beat—how does he know about the “Military Horse”? But he said: “What ‘Military Horse’? Is that Chinese chess?”
“Hahahaha! Old Qian, you shouldn’t be a fortune-teller, you should be an actor.” After speaking, the jailer turned to the two guards and jerked his head, “Don’t just stand there, bring the branding iron. Warm Master Qian’s belly.”
The red-hot branding iron pressed onto Qian Yuelin’s belly, and the aroma of roasting meat instantly filled the entire room.
Qian Yuelin grimaced and screamed wildly: “Ah! Ahh…”
The jailer leaned over: “Don’t tough it out. I’m telling you, everyone who falls into my hands opens their mouth and tells the truth. ‘Military Horse’ is your underground organization roster. As long as you hand over the ‘Military Horse,’ the Party-State will not only not make things difficult for you, but will heavily reward you.”
Qian Yuelin was confused—underground organization roster? When did “Military Horse” become a roster?
Seeing Qian Yuelin looking thoughtful, the jailer asked: “Are you enlightened now?”
“Enlightened about what?”
“Brand! Brand! Keep branding until he confesses the ‘Military Horse’!” the jailer shouted.
The two guards each held a branding iron, one in front and one behind, wantonly branding Qian Yuelin’s belly and back, the sizzling sound of roasting meat rising and falling.
Qian Yuelin really couldn’t take it anymore and shouted: “Stop! Stop!”
“Figured it out?” the jailer asked.
Qian Yuelin nodded and said: “Figured it out! Please bring paper and brush, I’ll write.”
“That’s right! If you’d done this earlier, wouldn’t everything be fine!”
Qian Yuelin picked up the brush, his brain racing rapidly, then wrote down over a hundred names in one breath: Yang Biyun, Chen Fengkao, Zhang Xiaoting, Xu Huashan…
After finishing, he presented it: “This is the ‘Military Horse’ roster!”
The jailer looked at it and scratched his head: “What is this?”
“The roster!”
“Bullshit! Would the Communist Party’s underground organization roster be written this stupidly? You’re playing me, aren’t you? Brand! Brand! Keep branding!”
Qian Yuelin was completely baffled, thinking: What the hell is going on? How did I become a Communist underground agent?
“Sir, can I ask? Who said I’m a Communist?” Qian Yuelin asked.
The jailer frowned: “Are you interrogating me, or am I interrogating you? Brand! Brand it!”
After another round of torture, Qian Yuelin was completely covered in wounds. In the midst of painful dizziness, he retained a thread of clarity—there must be a problem somewhere. The Kuomintang mistakenly thinks I’m a Communist. Should I reveal all the secrets of the “Jiang Xiang Sect” to prove my innocence? No! If Zu Ye and the others are also caught, I’m completely finished. As long as I don’t reveal the “Jiang Xiang Sect’s” secrets, Zu Ye and the others will be safe, and that way they’ll think of ways to rescue me. If they don’t rescue me, they’ll also worry that I can’t hold out and will reveal the “Jiang Xiang Sect’s” secrets, and then we’re all fucking done! As for the “Military Horse Text,” revealing it doesn’t matter—outsiders can’t understand it at all.
Thinking of this, Qian Yuelin opened his eyes and said: “Sir, to tell the truth, I don’t even know I’m a Communist myself. But the ‘Military Horse’ you mentioned, I do know about it. If you truly understand the ‘Military Horse,’ you’ll know whether what I write next is genuine. Bring the brush!”
Qian Yuelin finally wrote out the complete “Military Horse Text.” This exceptionally clever old fox, since inheriting the “Military Horse,” had firmly memorized it in his mind and burned all the paper copies.
The jailer held the “Military Horse Text” written by Qian Yuelin and carefully reviewed it: “Hmm, once you enter Military Horse, ten thousand men are killed, not even afraid of the Emperor… this seems genuine, but I still need to trouble Master Qian to explain in detail how to decrypt the Communist army’s underground organization from between these lines!”
After hearing this, Qian Yuelin felt dizzy: “Sir, this thing is my ancestral fortune-telling method. As for whether it’s related to the Communist Party’s underground organization, I really don’t know!”
“Brand! Brand! Keep branding!” the jailer became frantic again.
“Wait!” Cai Xuezhong walked in with several people.
“Captain!” the jailer quickly saluted.
Cai Xuezhong looked at the barely alive Qian Yuelin and said: “Oh dear, so sorry, Master has suffered. My subordinates are incompetent and made a mistake.”
Qian Yuelin’s ears rang: Made a mistake? Made a mistake?
Cai Xuezhong turned and pointed at the jailer’s nose, saying: “You people, jumping to conclusions at every rumor. The real ‘Military Horse’ has already been captured in Nanjing. Look what you’ve done to the Master—quickly find a doctor for him. This is Mr. Tieban’s guest. How can I explain this to Mr. Tieban!”
That last sentence Qian Yuelin understood—Zu Ye had come to his aid.
All of this was a conspiracy between Zu Ye and Zeng Jingwu.
Ever since Fang Jiyu’s Sixth Concubine Shen Xiaoluan brought down Fang Jiyu and his associates, the underground organization led by Zeng Jingwu began working to eliminate Shen Xiaoluan, this Juntong viper.
In the decades-long Kuomintang-Communist confrontation, both sides planted countless agents and insiders within each other. After Dai Li’s death, the Juntong Bureau of Investigation and Statistics was severely damaged. At this moment, the Red agents led by Li Kenong displayed great prowess. On this smokeless hidden front, Li Kenong made tremendous contributions to the birth of New China. In the crisis-filled Kuomintang-Communist struggle, his precise and accurate intelligence and miraculous layouts saved the lives of many CCP elders.
Those who study onomastics say that Dai Li’s courtesy name was Yunong (Rain Farmer), while the CCP’s spy chief was called Li Kenong (Conquer Farmer). One Rain Farmer, one Conquer Farmer—Dai Li was always restrained by Li Kenong. So in the decades of Kuomintang-Communist confrontation, Li Kenong was always one move ahead, one skill superior. In the end, Dai Li was utterly destroyed, and Li Kenong assisted Mao Zedong in creating the brand-new People’s Republic of China.
The highest realm of espionage is the double agent—both the Kuomintang and Communist Party consider him their own person, and only he knows which side he truly belongs to. For example, the Communist Party planted a piece long ago within the Kuomintang. This person was utterly loyal within the Kuomintang, trained for many years, and regarded as a confidant by the Kuomintang. Then the Kuomintang infiltrated this person into the Communist Party, and he would continuously send various intelligence to the Kuomintang as a Kuomintang agent. Except for a few high-level CCP members, no one knew this Kuomintang agent was actually the Communist Party’s own person.
Once the war was settled and peace prevailed, the double agent would remove his mask and reveal his true face. At that moment, whether Kuomintang or Communist Party, both would give this person a thumbs up. The winning side felt they won as a matter of course; the losing side lost with sincere conviction.
Therefore, if a person became a double agent, it was the highest honor. But if a person was not a double agent yet was wrongly labeled as one, that was very bad indeed. Under a false reputation, dying in frustration, dying mysteriously, dying inexplicably.
Shen Xiaoluan was this type of person. She joined the Communist Party in 1933. After the failure of the Fifth Counter-Encirclement Campaign, she defected to the enemy, immediately exposing twelve underground organizations in the Ganzhou area, and dozens of Communist Party members were killed. After the War of Resistance, she secretly infiltrated Shanghai under Juntong’s arrangement, hiding with the identity of a teacher in a women’s vocational school, successively entrapping over a dozen Communist Party underground organization backbones, and finally killing Fang Jiyu who was unwilling to cooperate with the Kuomintang.
Zeng Jingwu was enraged: This person must be eliminated!
Just as Zeng Jingwu was contacting his superiors to plan the operation, Zu Ye suddenly visited, wanting to request Zeng Jingwu’s assistance in setting up a scheme to force Qian Yuelin to hand over the Northern Sect’s secret manual “Military Horse Text.” Zu Ye elaborated in detail on his original intentions, telling Zeng Jingwu his deepest thoughts. After hearing this, Zeng Jingwu praised repeatedly: “Zu Ye has put so much thought into this!”
Thus, Zeng Jingwu, while clearing out Shen Xiaoluan, deliberately released false information in Shanghai: There was a Communist insider disguised as a fortune-teller coming from north of the Yangtze to Shanghai to make contact. This person carried the underground organization roster for the Jianghuai region, called “Military Horse.”
After Cai Xuezhong captured this information, he first thought of Zu Ye. He found Zu Ye late at night and asked: “How much does Zu Ye know about the fortune-telling gangs north of the Yangtze?”
Zu Ye naturally boasted extensively: “As for other things, I don’t know much. But as for fortune-telling matters, nothing can be hidden from me.”
“Have you heard any news recently about a fortune-teller from north of the Yangtze coming to Shanghai?”
Zu Ye feigned surprise: “Ah? Could it be the great fortune-telling master from north of the Yangtze, Qian Yuelin?”
“Right, right! That’s the person! Zu Ye knows him?”
“Of course I know him! This person has always been active in Communist Party territory, and occasionally comes south to exchange ideas with us in the same profession.”
Cai Xuezhong nodded and said: “That’s right then.”
“Right?”
“Yes. Zu Ye doesn’t know—this person is a Communist. His fortune-teller identity is just a disguise. Does Zu Ye know who he’s making contact with?”
Zu Ye paused and said: “With me.”
Cai Xuezhong smiled: “Zu Ye, stop joking.”
Zu Ye said: “Really with me. Not long ago, he sent me a letter saying he’d be coming to Shanghai soon. I felt that since we’re all in the same profession, coming and going and looking after each other is human nature, so I told him I’d definitely host a banquet. For this, I specially invited several prominent fortune-telling masters to accompany.”
“Hmm. It seems this old fox is deeply hidden.” Cai Xuezhong said.
“Captain Cai hasn’t made a mistake, has he? Qian Yuelin can’t possibly be a Communist, can he?” Zu Ye asked.
Cai Xuezhong said: “Why not possible? Anyone could be.”
“Then… wouldn’t I also be implicated? I’ve had many dealings with Qian Yuelin, and our relationship is quite good.” Zu Ye said with a smile.
“Hehe. Zu Ye is joking. You’re the Party-State’s talent, personally appointed by Commander Bai as ‘Deputy Staff Officer of Kunlun Pass Defense,’ and personally verified by Director Liu. You can’t be wrong.”
Zu Ye smiled and said: “Captain Cai trusts me this much?”
“Hehe, I don’t trust you—I trust your wisdom. If you were really mixed up with the Communist Party, could you still be in the fortune-telling business? Silver everywhere on the ground, and Zu Ye wouldn’t pick it up? Zu Ye has no grudge against silver, right? Zu Ye sits securely in Jianghuai. Although you don’t declare your position, everyone in the world knows Zu Ye is the Party-State’s ‘Master.’ You people least want the Communist Party to come over.”
“Hahahaha!” Zu Ye laughed heartily, giving a thumbs up and saying: “Captain Cai, brilliant! Brilliant!”
Cai Xuezhong smiled and said: “This time I still need to trouble Zu Ye to notify me promptly of the time Qian Yuelin arrives in Jianghuai and find a way to keep him there. If this matter succeeds, Zu Ye will have great merit.”
“To serve the Party-State is the utmost honor!”
“I won’t disturb you further.” Cai Xuezhong lifted his rear to leave.
“Wait!” Zu Ye stood up, pulled out a stack of bills from his sleeve, and handed them over.
“This?” Cai Xuezhong was startled, “Didn’t you already give this month’s?”
“Captain Cai, you’re being too formal. Recently the fortune-telling hall has been prosperous, all thanks to the Captain’s wise protection. Now that Captain Cai is catching Communist bandits, you’ll certainly have to work your brothers hard. Consider this money for buying them drinks. To defeat the Communist bandits, military and civilians united—those with money contribute money, those with strength contribute strength.”
Cai Xuezhong’s eyes narrowed to slits: “Master is indeed a master—such high awareness! Then I’ll respectfully accept rather than decline. Zu Ye can rest assured, from now on, anyone who comes to your residence to cause trouble, whether they’re local ruffians, hooligans, or gangs—as long as I’m here, Zu Ye need not fear.”
“Indeed, indeed.”
Thus, eager to achieve merit, Cai Xuezhong thought he had obtained top-secret intelligence and attempted to make his name in one battle. This led to the farce at the four major halls’ banquet where police suddenly rushed in and Qian Yuelin was arrested.
At the same time, the CCP’s double agent planted in the Kuomintang high levels, coordinating with Zeng Jingwu, deliberately leaked some true and false information to Shen Xiaoluan in Nanjing, then deliberately leaked “secret telegrams” by radio, painting Shen Xiaoluan as a CCP agent lurking within the Kuomintang.
After Dai Li’s death, on the eve of the great Kuomintang-Communist war, Mao Renfeng, who was conducting a major purge of Juntong, detained Shen Xiaoluan according to the principle of “absolutely purifying the ranks.” Not until the Kuomintang completely retreated was Shen Xiaoluan released, and soon she was sentenced to death by the new government for “counter-revolutionary” crimes.
Zu Ye set up this scheme intending to obtain the “Military Horse Text”—he didn’t want to eliminate Qian Yuelin. Because Zu Ye knew well that once Qian Yuelin died, the Northern Sect would fall into chaos. The A’Baos without a leader would lose their rules and cause havoc everywhere. Gathering these people together again would not be easy.
When Cai Xuezhong received the secret order from the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics that “‘Military Horse’ has been captured in Nanjing,” he couldn’t help but shudder with horror. So Shen Xiaoluan is a Communist! Why is the intelligence on my side always so unreliable!
Reading further down, the secret order stated: We cannot relax vigilance toward Qian Yuelin and various fortune-tellers either. We can adopt a roundabout strategy—first release them and observe their subsequent actions; especially Mr. Tieban—this person’s allegiance is unclear, observe cautiously, avoid alerting the enemy.
At the same time, Zu Ye also received news from Zeng Jingwu’s side that Shen Xiaoluan had been imprisoned. Only then did Zu Ye pretend to know nothing and visit the prison as a fellow practitioner of traditional learning: “Captain Cai, has Qian Yuelin’s identity been verified?”
Cai Xuezhong went with the flow: “Verified. Not a Communist. A misunderstanding, misunderstanding.”
“Then what about the so-called ‘Military Horse’ roster?”
“What roster! It’s all random gibberish. Information about fortune-telling.”
Zu Ye’s heart trembled: “May I take a look?”
“Look at what? Take it, take it!” Cai Xuezhong grabbed Qian Yuelin’s confession from the table and tossed it to Zu Ye.
Zu Ye received it like a treasured find, his heart surging with emotion. After all these years, what he’d dreamed of had finally come to hand! He flipped through the pages of confession, feigning composure and saying: “It’s some fortune-telling techniques, somewhat useful.”
Cai Xuezhong smiled: “Experts see the method, laymen see the excitement. With Zu Ye obtaining this material, won’t it be like adding wings to a tiger?”
“This requires many thanks to Captain Cai.” As he spoke, Zu Ye pulled out a jade pendant from his sleeve, “This small item is said to be from the Song Dynasty. I hope Captain Cai will accept it with a smile.”
Cai Xuezhong’s eyes brightened, saying: “Oh my, Zu Ye, you’re always so courteous. You and I really regret not meeting sooner.”
“A small token, hardly worthy of respect.”
“Zu Ye can rest assured, as long as Cai is here, Shanghai won’t turn upside down. As long as the Party-State doesn’t fall, your fortune-telling hall can continue operating.”
“Then… I’ll take my leave.”
Zu Ye picked up Qian Yuelin from the prison, hired a rickshaw, and pulled him back to Yuanhua Road.
Qin Baichuan, Jiang Feiyan, and the others were waiting anxiously. Everyone didn’t know what Qian Yuelin’s true identity was and were even more worried he had revealed the “Jiang Xiang Sect’s” secrets.
When everyone saw Zu Ye supporting the wounded Qian Yuelin back, their suspended hearts finally settled.
“Zu Ye, what happened?” Qin Baichuan stepped forward to ask.
“Aiya, it’s a long story. First help Master Qian into the house.”
Zu Ye also had Wu Lao’er invite a physician to treat Qian Yuelin’s injuries.
Two days later, Qian Yuelin slowly recovered some vitality. With a long sigh, tears fell: “Sigh… an unwarranted disaster. How did they turn me into a Communist?”
Zu Ye feigned bewilderment: “Did Master Qian have dealings with the Communist Party in the North?”
Qian Yuelin shook his head: “Dealings? I avoid them like the plague!”
Qin Baichuan narrowed his eyes and asked: “What did they ask Master Qian?”
Qian Yuelin said: “They said from the start I was a Communist underground agent and told me to hand over the ‘Military Horse’!”
Qin Baichuan was startled: “‘Military Horse’? What do they want that for? To study fortune-telling?”
“No! They insisted the ‘Military Horse Text’ was an underground Party roster. This old man has held the ‘Military Horse’ since the first year of Xuantong (1909 AD)—that was still the Qing Dynasty’s world. How could it be a Communist roster!”
The more Qin Baichuan listened, the more something felt off. He glanced at Zu Ye, then asked Qian Yuelin: “So Master Qian really confessed the ‘Military Horse Text’?”
Qian Yuelin looked helpless: “I wanted not to confess, but I really couldn’t hold out. Those bastards used branding irons on me. If I didn’t confess, I would’ve become a roasted sparrow!”
Qin Baichuan was shocked: “This… our ‘Jiang Xiang Sect’s’ secret manual was revealed just like that?”
Qian Yuelin smiled: “I still held back. I didn’t write the most core twelve sentences of the ‘Priceless Formula.’ Even if outsiders obtain the ‘Military Horse,’ without these twelve sentences threading it together, the ‘Military Horse’ becomes a heavenly book, completely unusable!”
Qin Baichuan glanced at Zu Ye and nodded sinisterly.
Zu Ye listened and understood clearly. The “Military Horse Text” had a total of twelve hundred words divided into three parts. The first part was the Five Elements exposition, totaling two hundred words—the basic knowledge of the Five Elements and Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. Without this foundation, the following words would be hollow. The third part was specific fortune-telling divinations, including six major categories: fame, longevity, official fortune, wealth fortune, husband and wife, children—totaling 988 words. The second part was the crucial formula connecting the previous and following sections. Put plainly, it was the mental method for connecting the Five Elements knowledge of the first part with the specific fortune-telling divinations of the third part. Though only twelve sentences, each was worth a thousand gold. Like martial arts—if you only know the moves but don’t use the mental method, facing the enemy in battle, you can only be flustered and counterproductive.
Fortunately, Zu Ye had learned years ago from Zhang Dancheng’s mouth this priceless “Priceless Formula.” Unfortunately, Zhang Dancheng only had these bare twelve sentences and never obtained the following 988 divination sentences for actual combat—this was his lifelong regret. Now Zu Ye had finally fulfilled this wish for him.
Child Water holds the lead position, flowing endlessly with emotion, if the destiny matches the pattern, naturally issue forth sounds of rivers and seas. Turn to Fame section.
Ugly Earth transforms to Second Yang, rooster and snake have reliable directions, Heaven can generate all things, cold metal encounters deep hiding. Turn to Fame section.
Gen Palace seen in spring, Three Yangs gather at Yin, transcending the mundane meeting Geng-Wu, courier horse jianghu person. Turn to Wealth Fortune section.
Vigorous Wood receives deep spring, worry that metal won’t form forest, meeting clash surely fallen goose, person returns but wandering soul. Turn to Longevity section.
Chen Earth heaven and earth warm, nurturing ten thousand wood roots, if the tomb opens the treasury, gold mountain presses gold basin. Turn to Wealth Fortune section.
Early summer fire increases light, true yang overflows four directions, Three Punishments rarely harmful, first-rank champion scholar. Turn to Official Fortune section.
Wu Fire blazing upward, Six Yangs position improper, seeing earth altar merit complete, peach blossom beauty not constant. Turn to Husband-Wife section.
Future fire sees decline, official hidden fortune not hidden, if pig and rabbit arch together, wanderer form easily lost. Turn to Children section.
Adamant metal Shen branch meets, longevity in this palace, what spirit comes to protect, long buried obtains sharp edge. Turn to Children section.
You flourishing metal water flows, romantic moon need not worry, rivers and mountains utterly uninteresting, evil grows toward Jade Pool. Turn to Husband-Wife section.
Xu Dog nature unyielding, harboring tiger fighting literature, crashed Dragon King Temple, chief tomb becomes vast ocean. Turn to Longevity section.
Hai position deep water hidden, Five Lakes unite Three Forms, heaven and earth great shift, establish destiny in court hall. Turn to Official Fortune section.
The twelve formula sentences respectively connected to several hundred divinations concerning longevity, children, husband-wife, fame, official fortune, and wealth fortune. Thus, the “Military Horse Text” became vivid and lively—when used properly, invincible in battle.
This was why ordinary fortune-tellers couldn’t compete with the “Jiang Xiang Sect.” Ordinary fortune-tellers relied on basic theory; the “Jiang Xiang Sect” relied on flexible and mobile deception techniques based on mastering theory. Jiang Xiang disciples were like netherworld ghosts shuttling through the world, confusing people’s minds, seizing people’s souls. A single “Book of Changes” was stirred up by them into demonic winds everywhere. The bright and clear universe was made by them into a bizarre spectacle. Reaching up to the nine heavens, down to the eighteen levels of the netherworld—in the “Jiang Xiang Sect’s” sinful world, there was no worst, only worse.
Whether history gave Zu Ye an opportunity, or Zu Ye gave history an opportunity, one couldn’t know. As the last Grand Master, a person who had wandered between good and evil for a long time, the “Jiang Xiang Sect’s” three hundred years of blood, tears, love, and hatred, and his own decades of life-and-death struggles brought him sudden enlightenment: he must thoroughly and completely eliminate the Jiang Xiang Sect.
This was a blood debt—a blood debt the “Jiang Xiang Sect” owed the world for three hundred years. For three hundred years, the world’s kindness and ignorance achieved the “Jiang Xiang Sect’s” singular excellence among countless white bones. The A’Baos devouring human flesh and blood each opened their bloody mouths wide, vowing to carry evil through to the end. The net of heaven is vast, through karmic convergence, the “Jiang Xiang Sect” finally awaited Zu Ye. His dragon tail strike, his counter-attack, would surely proclaim the karmic truth that heaven has eyes.
Only when the “Jiang Xiang Sect” perished would Zu Ye and his brothers be reborn.