The Resurrected “Tian Sister-in-law”

November—heavy snow fell in the puppet state of Manchukuo.

At the Japanese Army Fengtian Military District 007 Palace Education Institute, Zu Ye sat cross-legged in the prison cell where he was being held.

Suddenly, the iron door opened and a Japanese female military officer walked in. Standing before Zu Ye, she asked in fluent Chinese, “Zu Ye, have you thought it over? Cooperate, or not cooperate?”

Zu Ye looked at her and smiled slightly. “Cooperate.”

“Mm.” The female officer’s face showed a smile. “There’s an old Chinese saying: ‘Those who understand the times are outstanding heroes.’ That Zu Ye can see through the situation—this is progress.”

It turned out that day when Zu Ye was taken away by people from the patrol house, after his identity was verified at the French Concession patrol house, he was escorted toward the Japanese-occupied zone in Wusong.

Zu Ye’s heart trembled slightly. This was bad—the French and Japanese were conspiring together. My life is over!

On the road, Zu Ye’s mind churned like tumultuous seas, recalling more than ten years in the Jiang Xiang way of life, running east and west, risking his life in the jianghu—what had it all been for? After I die, what will happen to the establishment? What will happen to the brothers? Then he thought of his deceased relatives. His relatives had long traveled the Yellow Springs road, leaving him alone, lonely and desolate. Why had he come into this life! Then he remembered Huang Farong’s drunken words that day: “Farong’s fate is bitter, far from home, thinking of her adoptive mother to the south, her birth mother to the north, without a single relative, lonely and desolate…” At least Huang Farong still had a birth mother to think of, but he himself was truly lonely and desolate! Thinking of this, Zu Ye felt a wave of desolation in his heart!

Unexpectedly, after arriving at the Japanese military camp, the Japanese didn’t rush to execute Zu Ye but instead stuffed him into a heavy truck. After a week of day and night bumping, when Zu Ye stepped out of the vehicle again, he was already in the vast Great Northeast.

Subsequently, Zu Ye was brought into the Fengtian Military Detention Center.

“Zu Ye, you’ve been well since we last met?” As soon as he arrived at the detention center, a female officer interrogated Zu Ye.

Zu Ye looked at her, feeling this woman’s face was very familiar, as if he’d seen her somewhere. Thinking carefully, “Oh! So it’s her!”

“Aren’t you already…” Zu Ye couldn’t help but blurt out.

“Dead, right?” The woman smiled. “This is where you Chinese lose to us Japanese. You have too many traitors. As long as you’re willing to spend money, anything can be done.”

Zu Ye chuckled and said, “Tian Sister-in-law truly has divine powers.”

This woman was precisely Nishida Yoshiko, who had “shot herself to death” in Guangzhou two years ago.

“Please call me Nishida.” Nishida Yoshiko sneered coldly. “Your China is already terminally ill. The day before the Investigation Group cleared us out, we received a tip from an informant inside the Nationalist Party. That so-called Japanese female spy who shot herself was actually Chinese—a female Communist from Fujian who was captured by the Nationalists and became a scapegoat. And she didn’t commit suicide at all—it was a false scene created by the Investigation Group. While your entire nation was celebrating the destruction of the Japanese spy nest, we had already set up shop again in Zhuhai. When a country’s public officials can betray their nation for money, that country is finished. These past two years, the reason we haven’t moved against Zu Ye was because we wanted to follow the vine to find the melon and locate Wang Yaqiao. But Wang Yaqiao is truly formidable—his whereabouts are mysterious and his intelligence excellent. Several times we came up empty-handed. And that Zeng Jingwu from the ‘Jingwu Association’ is also within our sights. He thinks he’s very clever. He’s wrong. If we hadn’t deliberately leaked the assassination list, how could those street thugs and ruffians have obtained our military intelligence? You Chinese people can mostly be divided into two categories: one type is traitors who only care about their own interests and can betray everything for money; the other type is like Zeng Jingwu—they only know how to fight and kill. Has he ever thought whether killing one or two Japanese can change the overall situation?Foolhardy bravery — mere bravado!”

These words left Zu Ye feeling desolate. A vast great nation was being toyed with between the palms of a tiny island nation. In this situation and scene, what could be done?

After pondering a moment, Zu Ye suddenly asked, “Since you want to kill me this time, why not act directly but instead lure me to the French Concession?”

Nishida Yoshiko smiled. “Zu Ye is clever by nature and guards against everything. We didn’t want to charge directly into ‘Wood Seed Lotus’ and openly have a shootout with your hundred-plus brothers—that’s what fools do. After the September 18th Incident, we occupied the entire Northeast. In 1932, we again attacked Shanghai. Since the beginning of spring last year, we’ve been continuously eliminating the Northeast Anti-Japanese Volunteer Army. Just when we were fighting continuously and urgently needed to recuperate, the French took advantage of the opportunity. Using Vietnam as a springboard, they occupied nine islands in the South China Sea. These islands aren’t large in area, but their strategic position is extremely important. Whoever occupies these islands controls the Strait of Malacca, thereby controlling the shipping lanes of the Pacific and Indian Oceans…”

Zu Ye knew about this matter. In the spring of 1933, the French sent troops to the South China Sea and occupied nine islands: Nanwei Island, Taiping Island, Anbo Shoal, Beizi Island, Nanzi Island, Nanyue Island, Zhongye Island, Hongxu Island, and Hongcao Reef Island. The Nationalist government’s Foreign Ministry strongly protested—this was the shocking “Nine Small Islands Incident” that shook China and foreign countries.

“Since 1911, citizens of the Great Japanese Empire have already begun surveying operations on these islands. After the French landed, they drove our people off the islands. We won’t let this rest easily. His Majesty the Emperor urgently summoned the French consul, and they offered several conditions. One of them was that Japanese nationals in the French Concession could move about freely, and Japanese nationals would enjoy judicial immunity except in conflicts with the French. We arranged this operation in the French Concession, first to reduce Zu Ye’s defensive psychology, and second to see whether the French would honor their commitment…”

Zu Ye nodded, marveling at the Japanese people’s cunning and treachery. “Since you already lured me out, why not send more people and kill me in one stroke?”

“Haha!” Nishida Yoshiko laughed heartily. “Does Zu Ye really think those killers were Japanese? How could we send our own people to their deaths? Japanese lives are valuable. We spent money to hire several desperadoes from Shanghai’s underworld gangs, made them Japanese national certificates to put in their pockets. This way when they died in the French Concession, the French would compensate us. If we really wanted to kill you, how could we let you escape?”

“If you’re not killing me, then what do you want?” Zu Ye didn’t understand.

“Zu Ye, be patient. With Zu Ye’s disappearance this time, Zeng Jingwu will surely rush to inform Wang Yaqiao of the news. We can follow the vine to find the melon. But this isn’t the most important thing. Most importantly, we need Zu Ye…”

“Need me?”

“Mei Xuanzi is a clever person. That day we arranged for him to meet with you to discuss cooperation.”

“So it was you directing things behind the scenes? Discuss cooperation?”

“Correct. If Zeng Jingwu hadn’t arrived so quickly, Mei Xuanzi would have finished speaking. Now I can only finish the remaining words for Mei Xuanzi. China and Japan share the same cultural origin. The excellent theories and doctrines created by your ancestors have successively been transmitted to our country, including the Yi Jing and the Five Arts of Metaphysics. Apart from yourselves, Japan is the country that has best inherited Chinese culture. Now Western religions are flooding in along with the foreign powers, and traditional Chinese learning is suffering severe impact. You Chinese cannot protect your own cultural position—we who share the same lineage cannot sit idly by and watch. The Opium War didn’t just awaken you—it awakened us even more. As fellow backward Eastern countries, we were also afraid, so we carried out the Meiji Restoration. The Sino-Japanese War proved we succeeded. Since the 19th century, foreign powers have arrived one after another. If Europeans and Americans can occupy you, why can’t we? At least under the rule of the Japanese Empire, China would still preserve our shared ancestral culture! This is the difference between us and the European and American powers.

“Now various forces are entrenched on Chinese territory. This peaceful situation is temporary—sooner or later it will be broken. Think about it, Zu Ye—is it better for China to completely Westernize or to be ruled by the Great Japanese Empire? From a cultural perspective, this isn’t invasion—we’re helping you.”

Zu Ye lowered his head without speaking, slowly sorting through Nishida Yoshiko’s words.

Modern “Zhafei Technique”

“We Japanese have a Yi Studies master, Mr. Takashima. I wonder if Zu Ye has heard of him?” Nishida Yoshiko suddenly asked.

Zu Ye said, “Mm, I’ve long heard his great name.”

“Mr. Takashima advised the Emperor early in the Meiji Restoration that there would inevitably be two great wars between China and Japan, and also one great war between Japan and America, telling His Majesty the Emperor to prepare early. The Sino-Japanese War has already been verified once. Next, heh heh…” At this point, Nishida Yoshiko stopped.

Zu Ye had paid much attention to this person Takashima and had studied his books. This man was a genius in Yi Studies. His representative work was “Takashima’s Yi Divination.” In the late Qing Dynasty, Mr. Wang Zhiben translated this book into Chinese, and only then did people in China begin to access it. Through Yi divination methods, Takashima accurately predicted the world situation and submitted his suggestions to the Japanese Emperor in writing. The Japanese Emperor regarded Takashima as a national treasure and would inquire of him in detail whenever there was warfare.

Nishida Yoshiko said, “Now two paths lie before Zu Ye: either cooperate with us, or we kill Zu Ye.”

Zu Ye smiled slightly. “What kind of cooperation?”

Nishida Yoshiko said, “China now has over a thousand ‘religious societies.’ What Zu Ye needs to do is, with our help, unify these people under the palace education system of the Great Japanese Empire. We won’t interfere with the daily activities of each religious society, but there are two points: First, each month you must hand over a portion of money to us as our guidance fees. Second, in your daily preaching, you must gradually instill in the Chinese common people the belief of Sino-Japanese friendship and shared ancestry, and even more prominently promote Mr. Takashima’s theories and doctrines.”

After hearing this, Zu Ye suddenly understood completely—all the pent-up confusion of recent months was entirely resolved! Mei Xuanzi dared to create such a great stir because he had Japanese support. The important figure behind the scenes that Zuo Yongchan mentioned also referred to the Japanese. He also recalled the recent slogan of “Heavenly Saint Way”: “Heaven and earth face great calamity, the end times are at hand, fortune comes from the East, with full heart to save all beings.” This “East” referred to the Japanese, didn’t it? It seemed the Japanese were about to make a big move again. Thinking of this, Zu Ye said, “If I haven’t guessed wrong, Mei Xuanzi and Zuo Yongchan have long since submitted to you.”

Nishida Yoshiko said, “Heavenly Saint Way, Plum Blossom Society, Shandong’s Immortal Zheng, Fujian’s Master Ruolan, the Five Tigers of the Central Plains—all have already taken refuge with the Great Japanese Empire. With our technical support, their magic techniques can be unprecedentedly enhanced and silver dollars can be earned hand over fist.”

Zu Ye said, “Then Zhang Jiyao was also killed by you?”

Nishida Yoshiko said, “To be precise, he was killed by you Chinese yourselves. Zhang Jiyao, like Zu Ye, was a real man. But his disciple Zuo Yongchan was bought by us. The scheme of ascending to immortality was instigated by Zuo Yongchan to Zhang Jiyao. After Zhang Jiyao went in, Zuo Yongchan sealed the passage. Zhang Jiyao was roasted alive to death. Still Zu Ye is more formidable—the team you built is like an iron plate, impervious to oil and salt. But there was still a traitor. Your Si Batou told Mei Xuanzi about the black-haired coffin’s taboo. This was precisely what we wanted. Directly winning you over definitely wouldn’t work, but if we ruined your reputation, that would be easier. However, Zu Ye is indeed formidable—you actually broke our little ghost general.”

Zu Ye’s mood grew heavier. The nation’s “religious societies” were still fighting among themselves, while the Japanese already had control of the overall situation. Poor Zhang Jiyao—wise all his life, finally dying at his disciple’s hands. When people’s hearts scatter, the nation will cease to be a nation!

Seeing Zu Ye remain silent, Nishida Yoshiko said, “Zu Ye, come with me.”

Zu Ye was startled and asked, “Where to?”

“Just come with me.”

The two turned and walked out of the cell, going south for 40 meters until they reached a place like a large factory building. A sign hung at the entrance reading: “Palace Education Institute Technical Department.”

“Zu Ye, please enter.”

Zu Ye stepped into the room. Inside it was very spacious, with a passageway in the middle and tables on both sides. On the tables were placed various bottles and jars, somewhat like Zhang Zizhan’s prop laboratory. Many people were busily working tensely.

Nishida Yoshiko said, “When ‘religious societies’ perform rituals, they must intimidate the common people. Your homegrown tricks of playing god and ghost are already outdated. Just watch the various techniques of the Great Japan’s military shamans.”

Speaking, she picked up something like a glove from the table and said, “Military welding torch, modified to be concealed in the sleeve. Can perform the ‘Heaven’s Sword Slash’ scheme—the immortal waves the sword, mountains collapse and rocks split.” As she spoke, she put on the “glove,” activated the switch, and slashed at a steel plate. Where the palm edge passed, the steel plate broke into two pieces.

Zu Ye nodded secretly.

Nishida Yoshiko removed the glove and picked up a bottle of potion from a nearby table, saying with slight pride, “American banana water, incomparably fragrant. After freeze treatment, can perform the ‘Immortal Treading Steps’ scheme. Zu Ye, please watch…” As she spoke, she dripped the potion onto a glass plate, then grabbed a handful of powder resembling flour and sprinkled it on the potion. Very quickly, markings resembling fox footprints appeared on the powder surface.

“Zu Ye, look here again…” Nishida Yoshiko walked a few steps further inside, coming to a small room. She opened something resembling a projector, then opened the window and pointed outside. “Zu Ye, watch that cloud at the horizon…”

Zu Ye looked in the direction indicated. At the western sky there was indeed a thick cloud. Nishida Yoshiko inserted something like a slide into the machine. A beam of light shot out, and immediately the image of God appeared on the cloud.

“Military strong-light machine—can create the ‘God Reappears’ scheme. On the battlefield when two armies face each other, if you display the opponent’s god of faith in the sky, what result do you think will appear? If you switch to the Chinese people’s Supreme Lord Laozi or Jade Emperor, couldn’t Zu Ye summon immortals? Mei Xuanzi’s lighting of ghost lanterns by the river used technology we provided. Otherwise, with just his meager abilities, could he stir up such great waves?”

Zu Ye pondered silently. His heart had already turned cold to the extreme.

“Zu Ye can break the little ghost general, but the big ghost general will probably be difficult to crack, right? Zu Ye, come with me.” Speaking, she came out of the small room, turned a corner, and led Zu Ye toward the basement.

After walking more than ten meters, Zu Ye looked—below was like hell itself. Two rows of large iron cages, each cage holding a person. These people had bloodless faces and vacant stares. Seeing someone come, they all became excited, grinning, reaching out their hands, howling loudly. Nishida Yoshiko casually picked up a piece of raw pork from the ground and threw it in. That person pounced on the meat like a wild beast and began chewing voraciously.

Zu Ye felt cold air rising straight up his back.

“These people…”

“These aren’t people—they’re ghosts. These are all leaders of the Northeast Anti-Japanese Volunteer Army, extremely fierce by nature, perfect for refining into big ghost generals.”

After hearing this, Zu Ye’s heart felt like it was being stabbed with knives. He wished he could tear the woman before him to pieces.

Nishida Yoshiko looked at Zu Ye and said, “Zu Ye must hate me to the bone, right? If you want to blame someone, blame your country for being powerless to protect you. I’ve said it—two paths lie before Zu Ye: either cooperate or die. Zu Ye has multiple ways to die—you can be beheaded, buried alive, or made into a big ghost general…”

“Hahahaha!” Zu Ye suddenly burst into loud laughter. “In 1918, I already died once. I’m a swindler who’s done all manner of bad deeds. My death wouldn’t be regrettable!”

Nishida Yoshiko chuckled and said, “Zu Ye is a clever person. The reason we’ve kept Zu Ye alive until today is because we feel Zu Ye is moldable talent. Mei Xuanzi is outwardly strong but inwardly weak. Zuo Yongchan is disloyal and unrighteous. For the Jiangnan territory, we ultimately still plan to have Zu Ye lead. Zu Ye shouldn’t fail to appreciate the kindness. Also…”

At this point, Nishida Yoshiko hesitated.

“Also… Zu Ye has an outstanding appearance and exceptional talent. Two years ago when I met Zu Ye once in Nanyue, I still cannot forget. If you can render meritorious service to the Great Japanese Empire, the military can provide Zu Ye with Japanese citizenship. Then you’ll be a Japanese citizen. When the war ends in the future, we can fly back to Japan together. If Zu Ye doesn’t mind…” Speaking, Nishida Yoshiko placed her delicate hand on Zu Ye’s shoulder.

Zu Ye slowly pushed her hand away and said, “Please allow me to think it over.”

“Giggle.” Nishida Yoshiko laughed. “Whether to die on your filthy homeland or go to Japan to peacefully spend the latter half of your life—Zu Ye can contemplate for himself.”

That night, Zu Ye sat alone in the cell. Everything churned continuously in his mind—this filthy nation, this incompetent government, these ignorant masses… His parents died at the hands of nationals, his younger siblings died at the hands of nationals… Warlords fighting chaotically, not caring about people’s livelihoods. Throughout the entire nation, not a glimmer of hope could be seen…

No, absolutely not! There were still patriots, still resisters!

He could not become a traitor! Only death, to apologize to the nation’s people!

The cell door opened.

“Zu Ye, have you thought it over? Cooperate, or not cooperate?”

“Cooperate.”

Zu Ye’s Stratagem

Zu Ye accepted the “Palace Education Token” from Nishida Yoshiko’s hand and returned to Jianghuai with his new identity as the Emperor’s Education Reserve.

“Zu Ye has returned! Zu Ye has returned!” the steward shouted loudly. Jiang Feiyan, Huang Farong, Da Batou, Er Batou, San Batou, and others swarmed out.

“Zu Ye!”

Zu Ye smiled and said to everyone, “It’s nothing, nothing.”

The steward quickly instructed servants to prepare food to calm Zu Ye’s nerves and wash away the dust.

Zu Ye said, “No hurry. Er Batou, you bring Mei Xuanzi’s son and come with me to the Plum Blossom Society.”

Everyone stared blankly at Zu Ye. Zu Ye looked at everyone and said again, “It’s nothing. Everyone rest first. We’ll talk tonight.”

At this time, Mei Xuanzi was anxiously restless at the “Plum Blossom Society.” Hearing that Zu Ye had come with his son, he hurriedly stood up and went out to greet them.

The two came into the room. Zu Ye said, “Returning the jade intact to Zhao.” He handed the son over to Mei Xuanzi.

Mei Xuanzi hugged his son tightly, then handed him to a servant, then said, “Zu Ye, what happened?”

Zu Ye smiled. “I was about to ask Master Mei what happened.”

Mei Xuanzi stammered, “That day, I just wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with Zu Ye…”

“You wanted to discuss cooperation, right?”

Mei Xuanzi was startled.

Zu Ye reached out, pulled out the “Palace Education Token,” and slapped it on the table. “I have one too.”

“Uh…” Mei Xuanzi felt awkward. “This…”

Zu Ye said, “You have one, I have one, Zuo Yongchan also has one. His Majesty the Emperor wants us to work for him but doesn’t want us to unite, so Zuo Yongchan competed for favor and told me about your collusion with Qi Chunfu.”

“He said it?” Mei Xuanzi said in shock.

Zu Ye sneered coldly. “This is precisely what His Majesty the Emperor wants to see—everyone working for them, but no one united. They must have also promised you that they’d let you be the number one chair in Jiangnan.”

“This…” Sweat broke out on Mei Xuanzi’s forehead.

“Hehe, Master Mei, rest assured. The number one chair isn’t yours—it’s mine.” Zu Ye said coldly.

“You’ve also become a traitor?” Mei Xuanzi asked in terror.

“Even as a traitor, I’m better at it than you!” After speaking, Zu Ye stood up and walked away without looking back.

That night, the establishment was lively and bustling. With Zu Ye’s safe return, everyone was in high spirits.

At the dinner table, Jiang Feiyan asked what had actually happened. Zu Ye said, “A close call with no real danger. After I was taken to the French Concession, I was imprisoned in a secret cell that you couldn’t find. Fortunately, Fourth Master Jia has some influence in the French Concession. I gave the guards some silver and had them deliver a message to Fourth Master Jia. Fourth Master Jia spent a large sum to bribe the patrol house, and only then was I released. The Japanese wanted to put me to death, so I first went to Fourth Master Jia’s residence to hide for a while. Now that the heat has died down, I dared to come back. I’ve made Sister Yan and all the brothers worry. I toast everyone.”

Everyone raised their cups, saying, “Zu Ye, fortune favors the good.”

After the meal, everyone dispersed. Zu Ye called Jiang Feiyan to the study and revealed the true situation in full.

After hearing it, Jiang Feiyan was greatly shocked. “Zu Ye truly agreed to the Japanese?”

Zu Ye sneered coldly and said, “Bowing one’s head isn’t a loss. Sister Yan, just listen to me…”

As Jiang Feiyan listened, her brow gradually relaxed, then became worried again, saying, “Zu Ye, doing this is extremely dangerous. You could lose your life at any moment!”

Zu Ye sighed. “This is the only way. There’s no other method.”

Jiang Feiyan looked at Zu Ye’s weathered cheeks, her heart rippling with a trace of sympathy. “Zu Ye… why not…”

“Sister Yan, speak freely if you have something to say.”

“Why not…” Jiang Feiyan, despite being a great master, at this moment appeared extremely hesitant, her face full of shyness, wanting to speak but stopping.

“Why not what?” Zu Ye asked, not understanding.

Jiang Feiyan suddenly raised her head, looking deeply at Zu Ye, and said, “Why don’t we leave together!”

Zu Ye was startled. We? Leave together? He immediately understood Jiang Feiyan’s meaning.

Zu Ye had high emotional intelligence. When he first met Jiang Feiyan in 1932, he had read the word “admiration” from Jiang Feiyan’s eyes. In 1933, when Zu Ye brought Zhang Zizhan to “Yue Haitang” to propose marriage, Jiang Feiyan inquired about Zu Ye’s lifelong matters, and Zu Ye also understood what she meant. But Zu Ye had always deliberately avoided these matters.

It wasn’t that Zu Ye was unfeeling and loveless, but Zu Ye believed that the A’Bao identity was truly unsuitable for marriage. Two swindlers combined—when a child was born it would be a little swindler. He himself had walked this path and didn’t want his child to live in a swindler’s shadow.

Moreover, being an A’Bao meant living from day to day, not knowing when one might lose one’s life, leaving behind orphans and widows. If people from the underworld came seeking revenge, how could they survive?

Furthermore, both were great masters. If they united, wouldn’t it shock all of Southeast Asia? Not to mention friends in the domestic underworld—Jiang Feiyan and Zu Ye had numerous friends in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, and Nanyang. If they did this, what would the establishment’s brothers think? In the future if brothers from the two families had conflicts, how would they handle it? No one could guarantee that establishments would always coexist peacefully with each other.

More importantly, in the current situation, how could Zu Ye just leave! When he took over the “Wood Seed Lotus” banner from Old Master Zhang Dancheng years ago, he had firmly resolved to lead the “Jiang Xiang Sect” toward brilliance and firmly established the belief of robbing the rich to help the poor, punishing evil and promoting good! Now that the Japanese wanted to manipulate all of China’s “religious societies,” with unknown conspiracies behind it, could he, as the leader of one hall of the “Jiang Xiang Sect,” just run away?

Seeing Zu Ye remain silent, Jiang Feiyan understood somewhat. She said, “Zu Ye, you alone can’t change the overall situation, and neither can I. Wuniang’s death suddenly made me feel that none of this is so important anymore. I want to live a normal person’s life. We can hand over the establishment to others—how many people want to compete for this position but can’t get it? We can go abroad together, to a place where no one can find us, change our names, and peacefully spend our remaining years.”

Speaking to the emotional point, Jiang Feiyan unconsciously placed her hand on Zu Ye’s hand.

How could Zu Ye not want such a life? He could leave everything behind—the Japanese could never find him again, nor could the Chinese. He would never again have to rack his brains daily for schemes, never again exhaust his mind worrying about the establishment’s livelihood. What Zhafei techniques, what fortune-telling, what feng shui—all would be cast far behind, leaving only happiness. He could hold Jiang Feiyan’s hand, strolling on the golden beaches of France, wandering along the tree-lined boulevards of England, embracing in the magnificent churches of America.

But what about the establishment’s brothers? After he left, who would take the helm? Would the brothers take refuge with the Japanese invaders, selling out the country for glory, or fight to the death? Would they all be killed by the Japanese, or scatter like birds and beasts, fleeing in all directions? Da Batou’s look of protecting his master with his life, Er Batou’s eyes of loyalty unto death, Zhang Zizhan’s tears of entrusting his life’s fate, Huang Farong’s lament of lonely desolation… all this tugged at Zu Ye’s heart.

Seeing Zu Ye still remain silent, Jiang Feiyan withdrew her hand, her heart filled with desolation. After a long while, she said, “Zu Ye, is it because Feiyan’s body is no longer pure that Zu Ye won’t show favor?”

Zu Ye raised his head, looking at Jiang Feiyan with guilt. “Sister Yan has misunderstood. Sister Yan has sacrificed everything for the ‘Jiang Xiang Sect.’ I only have admiration in my heart—how could there be any disgust? I… I cannot bear to leave my brothers. But I have a plan…”

Jiang Feiyan said no more, only leaned in to listen closely.

The next day, Zu Ye bid farewell to Jiang Feiyan. Jiang Feiyan, carrying the secret plot reached with Zu Ye, quietly returned to Nanyue.

Not long after Jiang Feiyan left, Zu Ye summoned Huang Farong.

“I want to raise a matter with you. See if it’s feasible?”

Huang Farong’s large eyes blinked rapidly as she asked, “What are Zu Ye’s instructions?”

Zu Ye said, “If someday I unfortunately meet with disaster, ‘Wood Seed Lotus’ will be controlled by you. What do you think?”

Upon hearing this, Huang Farong’s small face turned pale with fright, and she fell to her knees with a thud. “Zu Ye, I dare not, dare not!”

Zu Ye said calmly, “Those who presumptuously discuss the great master shall die; those who split the establishment shall die. You’re aware of these rules, aren’t you?”

Huang Farong was so frightened that tears fell, and she said tremblingly, “Zu Ye, forgive me. Zu Ye, forgive me.”

Zu Ye glanced at her and said, “Considering this is your first offense, if there’s a next time, I absolutely won’t spare you!” Zu Ye’s tone grew heavier.

Huang Farong kowtowed repeatedly, saying again and again, “Thank you, Zu Ye. Thank you, Zu Ye.” But in her heart she thought, how does he know about the conversation I had with my adoptive mother? Could adoptive mother have betrayed me?

“Don’t think about it anymore. Although I’m not at the establishment, nothing can be hidden from me.” Zu Ye said.

Huang Farong’s heart trembled. Has this become like the Eastern Depot?

“You may rise.” Zu Ye sighed.

Huang Farong stood up trembling with fear.

“You’re a clever girl, but being too clever can be your undoing. You understand this principle, don’t you?” Zu Ye said.

Huang Farong quickly said, “Zu Ye, I won’t dare again, won’t dare again!”

Zu Ye nodded silently. “I’m giving you a task.”

“Zu Ye, please give your instructions.”

“I’m sending you back to your hometown in Shandong.”

“To do what? I don’t want to go back to that home. My parents are still forcing me to marry.”

“I’m not sending you home. I’m sending you to Jiaozhou. Feel out Immortal Zheng’s situation in Jiaozhou—look at his establishment’s scale, number of disciples, and his recent Zhafei techniques…”

Huang Farong said, “This is easy to handle. I can infiltrate his establishment under the pretext of seeking to become his disciple and learn the Way. Why does Zu Ye want to investigate him? He’s not on the same territory as us.”

“Just go do it… Also, prepare plenty of silver and quietly send it to your hometown. Although you can’t go home, you mustn’t forget your parents’ kindness in raising you…”

Huang Farong’s eyes reddened as she lowered her head and said, “Thank you, Zu Ye.” She then withdrew.

Zu Ye watched Huang Farong’s retreating figure, his expression growing grave…

The next day, Huang Farong packed her bags, received a large sum of money, and headed for Shandong. On the road, she was still surprised—why had Zu Ye given her so much money to repay her parents? All the way she was happy and calculating. She didn’t know this was Zu Ye’s final payment to save her life—Zu Ye had already decided to eliminate her.

At the same time, Er Batou headed for Beiping, San Batou headed for Hebei. Zu Ye’s chess game had begun…

Wu Batou’s Complete Retirement

Another Spring Festival arrived, and restless China welcomed 1935.

During the cold spring season, Wu Batou Liang Wenqiu’s gunshot wound relapsed. His left arm hurt so much he couldn’t straighten it. Zu Ye saw this with his eyes and felt pain in his heart. This old Batou who had followed him for twelve years had always been utterly loyal. Now approaching the age of destiny, his hair white, having been an A’Bao all his life, without wife or children—he had dedicated everything to the “Jiang Xiang Sect.”

That night, Zu Ye specially arranged for servants to prepare a table of dishes and invited Old Man Liang over.

“Master Liang, is your arm better?” Zu Ye asked with concern.

Zu Ye rarely called him “Master Liang.” Although his age was great, the establishment’s etiquette couldn’t change. Normally in front of all the brothers, Zu Ye called him “Old Five.”

“It’s nothing serious. I’ve troubled Zu Ye with worry.” Liang Wenqiu smiled knowingly.

“Master Liang blocked a bullet for me. I’ll never forget it my whole life.”

“Zu Ye speaks too seriously. Zu Ye is the establishment’s leader. As a brother, this is what I should do.”

“Master Liang, have you thought about your future plans?”

Liang Wenqiu was startled and quickly said, “Zu Ye, I can still work! I can still work!” He thought Zu Ye felt his movements were no longer nimble and wanted to kick him out.

Zu Ye sighed deeply and said, “Master Liang, you and I both deeply know the bitterness of being an A’Bao. On the surface wearing gold and silver, looking impressive, but we can’t be seen in public. Having walked this path, some people can cleanse their background, but some can never cleanse it for their entire lives. Master Liang has no lives on his hands—you can wash your hands clean…”

Upon hearing this, Liang Wenqiu quickly said, “Zu Ye, you’ve frightened me to death. In life I’m a person of the establishment, in death I’m a ghost of the establishment. I’ll never betray.”

“Master Liang, tonight there are no outsiders. You and I brothers can speak from the heart. You needn’t be constrained by formalities.”

“Mm.”

“Master Liang’s family of four—parents died early, only a younger sister married in Hangzhou. These years, Master Liang has been busy outside. Your parents’ graves probably haven’t been swept in many years either. People like us, risking our lives in the jianghu, fighting and killing every day—one careless move and we’ll lose our lives. You know, I know, all the brothers know. It’s just that everyone doesn’t want to face it. Clearly knowing it’s a golden millet dream, yet not daring to wake up.”

Liang Wenqiu’s tears silently fell.

Zu Ye’s eyes also reddened as he said with sadness, “I can no longer cleanse my background. There’s no way back. This lifetime is what it is. Next lifetime if I become human again, I hope heaven won’t arrange things this way again.”

“Zu Ye, let’s have a drink.” Liang Wenqiu raised his cup and drained it in one gulp.

Zu Ye continued, “You know the establishment has rules—once an A’Bao, always an A’Bao for life. Even if you die of old age at the establishment, you cannot leave. But after I took over the establishment, I set a precedent. When Old Master Zhou Zhenlong left that day, I didn’t obstruct him, because I trusted him and knew he would never reveal the establishment’s secrets. Now I’m prepared to set a second precedent. Master Liang can leave the establishment. Take the silver, go outside and find a woman, live a normal person’s life. These are my heartfelt words. I hope Master Liang can understand clearly.”

“Zu Ye…” Liang Wenqiu’s old tears flowed freely.

“Take the silver and go south—the farther the better. Don’t go north. The Japanese may be sending their great army southward.”

“Great army southward?”

“Mm. These matters Master Liang needn’t worry about. In the future if you encounter difficulties outside, you can still return to the establishment. Though you’re leaving, I must still repeat the establishment’s regulations: ‘Those who have illicit relations with outsiders shall die; those who leak establishment secrets shall die; those who split the establishment and cause turmoil shall die!'”

“Zu Ye!” Liang Wenqiu suddenly knelt on the ground, clutching Zu Ye’s legs, tears streaming down. “Zu Ye, Zu Ye…” Then he buried his head deeply against Zu Ye’s leg to show his gratitude.

The “A’Bao Text” says:

“I came from the mortal world to practice physiognomy,

All things of the mortal world are but the past.

Thunder strikes and fire burns, but I won’t leave the wind,

Life and death all within the physiognomy gate.”

This was the oath every person joining the “Jiang Xiang Sect” had to make. It meant: I transformed from an ordinary person in the mortal world into an A’Bao, practicing “physiognomy” to deceive people. I no longer cling to worldly things. Even thunder strikes and fire burns won’t make me leave the establishment. Life and death, I’ll always mix in the establishment.

Once a person entered the “Jiang Xiang Sect,” they could never break free for their entire life. Some people who joined the “Jiang Xiang Sect” out of life’s necessity, after mixing in for a while and getting some silver, wanted to run away. They were all caught and brought back, then cut down.

If one could break free from the establishment, it meant rebirth. Liang Wenqiu had obtained rebirth.

A few days later, Liang Wenqiu, under Zu Ye’s arrangement, at a Council Meeting claimed illness and requested to resign from the Batou position. Zu Ye granted it, letting him retire to a secondary position. Everyone thought he was retiring to a secondary position—no one knew this was a permanent farewell. Subsequently, Liang Wenqiu, under the pretext of returning home to sweep graves, left and never returned, forever leaving the establishment. Before leaving, he kowtowed three times to Zu Ye. Zu Ye embraced him, brothers shedding tears, parting forever in the jianghu!

After Liang Wenqiu left, the position of “Wu Batou” became vacant. Zhang Qiling took the stage.

Zhang Qiling, ancestral home in Fujian, joined the establishment at eighteen as a Xiao Jiao under San Batou Xue Jiaren’s command. This person was talent discovered by San Batou. His grandfather was an inheritor of the Three Emperors Feng Shui. He learned some superficial knowledge from his grandfather and began setting up shop for business. But this person’s methods were too dark—his feng shui adjustment fees were demanded too high, and he was arrogant and conceited. Over time, those seeking readings became fewer and fewer, and business gradually became quiet.

In 1932, when San Batou was practicing on the street with several Xiao Jiao, Zhang Qiling happened to pass by. An idle busybody, he heard the flaws in San Batou’s theories and pushed through the crowd to argue with San Batou, making San Batou lose face and unable to save the situation.

Afterward, San Batou had Xiao Jiao tail him, then went back himself to report this matter to Zu Ye.

After hearing it, Zu Ye said, “Can he be recruited?”

San Batou said, “I’ll give it a try.”

The reason San Batou volunteered was because he had similar experiences. He deeply understood the psychology of down-and-out practitioners. After finding Zhang Qiling, he revealed his intentions, recounted his own experience of being taken into the establishment by Zu Ye, then greatly embellished the scene of silver rolling in after joining the establishment. Upon hearing this, Zhang Qiling immediately had a feeling of finding an organization. Slapping his head, he said, “Finally a place to use my skills!”

People easily become confused in front of money and forget basic right and wrong. He only heard San Batou talk about the gleaming silver but didn’t know this profession could result in severed limbs and broken arms, and if not careful, could cost him his life. Had he foreseen that nineteen years later Zu Ye would cut him down, he would never have joined the establishment.

Zhang Qiling had some ghostly talent. He could sketch out all the mountain ranges in the entire country one by one—north from Kunlun, south to Hainan, west from the Himalayas, east to Fujian… He had memorized all the large and small hills in his heart. After coming to the establishment, Zu Ye arranged him under San Batou’s command. He himself was also very excited, and every time they set up a scheme, he wanted to deliberately show himself off. After coming to the establishment, he had participated in more than a dozen large and small feng shui schemes.

San Batou had once proposed promoting this person to Batou, but Zu Ye used the rule that the establishment temporarily maintained only five Batou as an excuse and deflected it. Toward this kind of person who was money-hungry, Zu Ye had always been relatively cautious.

After Liang Wenqiu left, San Batou began vigorously recommending Zhang Qiling. Actually, there was another person who wanted to compete for this position—Huang Farong. Initially, Zu Ye really did want to give this position to the ice-smart Huang Farong, but after Huang Farong and Jiang Feiyan presumptuously discussed the establishment’s succession matter that night, Zu Ye’s steward Wu Lao’er overheard it and told Zu Ye. Zu Ye then changed his mind. The current Huang Farong was still working hard for Zu Ye within Zu Ye’s chess game, not knowing this was her last struggle.

Thus, amid a chorus of congratulations, Zhang Qiling became the new Wu Batou.

From then on, Zhang Qiling and Xue Jiaren became sworn allies, until finally climbing the incense together and meeting death.

Secret Meeting with Mei Xuanzi

Buddha said, “All dharmas are empty, but cause and effect are not empty. Cause and effect follow like shadow follows form.” People may not believe in anything, but you cannot escape cause and effect. People do things, heaven watches. Every action and movement, heaven keeps an account for you. The black-haired coffin, Batou betrayal, ghost general turmoil, assassination at Xiya Building, imprisonment in puppet Manchukuo, life-and-death choices… one incident after another made Zu Ye feel very tired. But he couldn’t blame others—he had chosen this path himself. Recalling these years of Jiang Xiang life—apart from deception, it was still deception. Daily scheming and fighting, maneuvering this way and that, now he had finally maneuvered himself onto the blade’s edge!

For the first time, he reflected on whether joining the “Jiang Xiang Sect” was right or wrong. He thought of Zhang Dancheng—imposing and commanding, dominating the winds and clouds. And in the end? Without wife or children, incomplete and departing with tears. He thought of Qiao Wumei—traversing black and white, calculating all heavenly secrets, yet never calculating she would die suddenly. He thought of Zhang Jiyao—spending his whole life playing the savior, yet dying miserably in his own Eight Trigrams furnace. The next one might be himself…

Zu Ye even began to envy Liang Wenqiu—envying him for having a good great master, envying him for being able to start a new life. Yet he himself was riding a tiger unable to dismount, stepping into emptiness!

Zu Ye wasn’t afraid of death, but he knew his business wasn’t finished yet. Everything has a beginning, so there must be an ending. No matter how heavy the burden, he must carry it forward. This time it wasn’t for himself, and even less for the “Jiang Xiang Sect,” but for Great China! Zu Ye began thinking about the next countermeasures. This chess move was very dangerous—one careless move and the entire game would be lost. His own life or death wasn’t important. What was important was where China’s “religious societies” would go, what the Japanese’s next step would be, and what would happen to the Chinese nation.

Over all these years, Zu Ye had set up countless schemes. He had never feared anything, but this time he was afraid. He couldn’t afford to lose—losing would make him a sinner through the ages. Zu Ye pondered bitterly, thinking about how to arrange the scheme. Finally, he found the breakthrough.

That night, he took two personal Xiao Jiao and went to the “Plum Blossom Society” for a secret meeting with Mei Xuanzi.

“Master Mei, you’ve been well!” After entering, Zu Ye clasped his fists in greeting.

This made Mei Xuanzi’s heart skip a beat. He was already completely confused about Zu Ye becoming a traitor, and Zu Ye’s late-night visit made him even more suspicious.

“Zu Ye honors us with your presence. What instructions do you have?” Mei Xuanzi asked.

“I’ve come to discuss with you how to better serve the Japanese Emperor.” Zu Ye said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“Oh.” Mei Xuanzi was startled. “Zu Ye jests. Based on my understanding of Zu Ye and the ‘Jiang Xiang Sect,’ Zu Ye would absolutely never become a traitor!”

“Haha!” Zu Ye laughed heartily. “Master Mei flatters me. A mere commoner surviving in chaotic times—we swindlers like us, living one day at a time, when death comes, who cares about righteousness?”

Mei Xuanzi was startled again. Zu Ye rarely spoke crudely—this time was very abnormal.

“Hasn’t Master Mei also become a traitor?” Zu Ye asked in return.

“Hehe.” Mei Xuanzi chuckled lightly. “Yes, we swindlers like us, living one day at a time, when death comes.”

Zu Ye smiled slightly. Mei Xuanzi was truly not simple. When both sides were mutually testing each other’s depths, neither dared speak rashly.

“I think this number one chair in Jiangnan should still be sat in by Master Mei.” Zu Ye said.

Mei Xuanzi shook his head and chuckled. “‘Plum Blossom Society’s’ foundation is shallow—how can it compare to Zu Ye’s ‘Jiang Xiang Sect,’ standing firm for three hundred years? Some time ago when we had Japanese backing us, we did raise our heads somewhat. Now that Zu Ye has also received the ‘Palace Education Token’ bestowed by the Japanese Emperor, this number one chair in Jiangnan belongs to none other than Zu Ye.”

Zu Ye also shook his head. “Master Mei is too modest. If neither you nor I are suitable, then we can only yield to Sect Leader Zuo of the ‘Heavenly Saint Way’!” Zu Ye was too cunning—he was testing Mei Xuanzi’s view of Zuo Yongchan.

Mei Xuanzi finally exploded, saying, “That beast! Zhang Jiyao was killed by him! Once a teacher, forever a father. Whether righteous or evil path, a master is a master. Killing one’s master is like killing one’s father. Is he even human?”

Zu Ye remained impassive, murmuring, “Living one day at a time, when death comes…”

Before finishing, Mei Xuanzi interrupted Zu Ye. “Zu Ye, stop acting! We’ve dealt with each other for more than just a day or two. What kind of person Zu Ye is, I know very clearly. If you dare become a traitor, aren’t you afraid that Jiu Ye (Wang Yaqiao) behind you will cut you down?”

Zu Ye smiled again. “People can’t avoid death. Becoming a traitor is death, not becoming a traitor is also death. Being glorious before death—it’s worth it!”

Mei Xuanzi stood up abruptly, his eyes staring fixedly at Zu Ye, squeezing out several words through his teeth: “I—despise—you!”

Zu Ye still sat steadily and said, “Master Mei, turn around.”

Mei Xuanzi was startled. “What… what do you mean?”

Zu Ye pointed to the Western mirror behind Mei Xuanzi and said, “Look at that person inside. Say it to him first.”

Mei Xuanzi angrily turned around, his eyes staring motionlessly at himself in the mirror. Suddenly he shouted loudly, “Fuck!” With a sweep of his long sleeve, he knocked the mirror to the ground with a crack. Turning back to glare at Zu Ye, he said coldly, “I know you’re not a traitor, and you won’t become a traitor. Now I’m telling you—listen well. I—Mei Xuanzi—am also not a traitor!”

Zu Ye’s heart stirred. This was precisely what Zu Ye wanted.

In earlier years, when Mei Xuanzi established his own practice in Shanghai, Zu Ye had people investigate his background. When he learned that he was a disciple of the venerable scholar of Chinese classics, Elder Mei Fuzu, he regarded this youngster with new eyes. Mei Fuzu was a master of Chinese classics—both his character and talent were first-rate. The old gentleman spent his life teaching and nurturing students, with disciples throughout the land. After becoming a monk, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to spiritual cultivation. He and Mr. Li Shutong—one Buddhist, one Daoist—each contemplated life’s realm on different life trajectories, ultimately one achieving nirvana and Buddhahood, the other ascending as an immortal.

When the upper beam is straight, the lower beam follows. Students taught by Mei Fuzu couldn’t possibly turn out too badly, so Zu Ye was very puzzled at the time. As for why Mei Xuanzi returned to secular life from the Daoist gate and established his own hall on Shanghai Bund—the reasons within, no one knew.

“Zu Ye, come with me.” Mei Xuanzi calmed his emotions slightly.

Zu Ye knew the real secret was about to be revealed.

The two entered the west side room. Zu Ye looked—it was a memorial tablet inscribed: “Spirit Tablet of Late Master Mei (taboo name) Fuzu.”

Mei Xuanzi took out three sticks of incense, lit them, respectfully inserted them into the incense burner, then kowtowed three times. Then he told Zu Ye the reason for his return to secular life.

Being at home is difficult, but leaving home is even more difficult. Whether monk or Daoist, those who truly leave home aren’t hiding away seeking peace and quiet—that’s called escape, not spiritual cultivation. The “Avatamsaka Sutra’s Universal Worthy’s Conduct and Vows” states: “Like the lotus flower not clinging to water, also like the sun and moon not dwelling in space.” The lotus emerges from water yet doesn’t get wet; the sun and moon hang in space yet don’t depend on it. This realm of easy grace and ethereal spirituality cannot be achieved through avoidance. Throughout history, countless eminent monks and great virtuous ones have been models of diligent progress. Under their compassionate great vows of taking all beings under heaven as their own responsibility, every action and movement, every minute and second, they thought of all beings. Even at the moment of nirvana they still thought of all beings, making vows before heaven, not abandoning sentient beings—just like Dizang Bodhisattva’s vow: “Until hell is empty I vow not to become Buddha; only when all beings are saved will I attain Bodhi.”

Therefore, leaving home temporarily is easy, but leaving home for life is difficult. Mei Xuanzi exemplified this saying—he had too many bad habits. Especially gambling—he couldn’t quit.

Despite Mei Fuzu’s repeated teachings, he still couldn’t change, like a dog unable to stop eating filth. Sometimes he even wanted to take a knife and chop off his own hands. Later, by chance, he heard senior brothers privately discussing that the “Scripture Repository” in the back courtyard contained Mei Fuzu’s annotated books on “Qimen Dunjia.” This news sent a shock through Mei Xuanzi’s entire body!

“Qimen Dunjia” is the highest level of Yi Jing predictive studies. In ancient times it was called the “Emperor’s Learning.” It encompasses the Five Elements, Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, Nine Palaces, Eight Trigrams, Star Gods and many other predictive elements using the Heaven Plate, Earth Plate, and Gate Plate as framework—it’s the culmination of China’s mysterious culture. The ancients had a saying: “Learn Qimen Dunjia, and need not ask those who come.” Meaning if you understand “Qimen Dunjia,” while you’re sitting at home drinking tea and someone knocks at your door, before they even speak, you already know their purpose. This immortal-like praise made “Qimen Dunjia” an object of pursuit in countless people’s hearts. Throughout the ages, researchers of divination arts have flocked to it.

After Mei Xuanzi learned of the “Scripture Repository” news, he tried every means to get his hands on this book. Once he learned this skill, he’d never worry about food or drink. He could “set up schemes” at any time, using Qimen techniques to choose a good day for gambling, then choose a good position at the gambling table. In the most auspicious time and space, he’d surely win without doubt!

Little did he know that all predictive arts have spirituality. All predictive methods based on the Zhou Yi follow one rule: families that accumulate goodness will have surplus blessings; families that don’t accumulate goodness will have surplus calamity. The sages created the Yi to educate all beings, to seek fortune and avoid disaster—not to satisfy private desires. If predictive arts are used for crooked paths, the sword takes a deviant edge and will ultimately destroy oneself. Some folk who learned “Qimen Dunjia” with dreams of getting rich ultimately went mad and became insane.

Elder Mei Fuzu saw through Mei Xuanzi’s state of mind and said to him earnestly: “All conditioned dharmas are illusory bubbles. Your six roots are impure. You’re not suitable to learn metaphysical Daoist arts, otherwise you’ll inevitably be burdened by them!”

Mei Xuanzi nodded deeply, but actually he didn’t listen at all. The thought of “steal the book and leave” rose surging in his mind. The next day at the third watch, Mei Xuanzi went alone to the back courtyard, secretly infiltrated the “Scripture Repository,” lit a candle, shielded the candlelight with his sleeve, rummaged through boxes and cabinets, and finally discovered a handwritten manuscript “Qimen Dunjia Collected Annotations.” At this time, the young Daoist priests on night patrol also discovered firelight flickering in the Scripture Repository and shouted loudly: “There’s a thief! There’s a thief!”

Mei Xuanzi hurriedly hid the scripture in his bosom, flew through the broken window, then climbed up a ladder he’d placed beforehand, scaled the high wall, and ran down the mountain in the darkness like a wisp of smoke.

After dawn, Mei Xuanzi had run forty or fifty li and sat under a large tree, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and laughed heartily. Then he pulled out that book from his bosom. Opening it, he immediately deflated—it turned out this was only a general outline, just a summary, mainly discussing the principles of “Qimen Dunjia” and types of schemes and basic deductive elements. It didn’t touch on specific operational methods at all. Only then did Mei Xuanzi discover the book’s title was “Qimen Dunjia Collected Annotations Volume One.” With “Volume One” there must naturally be “Volume Two,” “Volume Three,” even “Volume One Hundred.” Last night in his panic, he hadn’t clearly seen the name before stealing the book and running out. Thinking of this, Mei Xuanzi was both regretful and angry!

He wanted to go back and continue stealing, but reason conquered madness. He knew it was simply impossible. Perhaps if he returned, he’d be beaten to death by his senior brothers, and his master would expel him from the school. Mei Xuanzi thought it over and decided to leave this place forever. His conscience hadn’t completely died—he kowtowed several times toward the direction where Plum Blossom Temple was located, then disappeared from sight.

Two years later, Mei Xuanzi saw a newspaper report on the street saying that the venerable scholar of Chinese classics, Elder Mei Fuzu, had passed away. Regardless of everything, he ran back to the temple. The book theft incident from two years ago was still vivid in his mind. Arriving at the entrance, he hesitated. At this moment, the temple door opened—it was Senior Brother Xuankong.

Xuankong said, “Come in. Before master departed, he kept calling your name.”

Upon hearing this, Mei Xuanzi’s tears burst forth.

Kneeling before Mei Fuzu’s memorial tablet, Mei Xuanzi’s thoughts ran wild. Scene after scene from the master’s life turned back and forth before his eyes.

Xuankong said tearfully, “Before master departed, he said many things to us senior and junior brothers. He said his greatest regret in this life was not successfully converting you. He had five hundred disciples and students—every one walked the right path. Only you he couldn’t pull back. But he believed that one day you’d return from your wrong path. He believed everyone has roots of goodness—it’s just that the opportunity hasn’t arrived, hasn’t yet reached the day of sprouting. He made a great vow: if he was wrong, after death he’d suffer thunder strikes and fire burns, his entire body consumed; if he was right, the iron tree before the gate would immediately bloom. The result—the second day after master passed away, that iron tree at the entrance that hadn’t bloomed in ninety years actually sprouted bright yellow flower buds!”

“Master—” Mei Xuanzi wailed toward heaven. The autumn wind rustled mournfully, grass and trees contained sorrow. Mei Xuanzi’s tragic cry resounded through the clouds.

Reading Feng Yuxiang’s Face

Mei Xuanzi appeared again in people’s view during the Second Zhili-Fengtian War in 1924, when he established the “Plum Blossom Society” in Shanghai.

He once said to his senior and junior brothers: “You cultivate well in the temple, guard master’s spirit tablet well. I’ll struggle outside for a few more years. Everyone walks different paths, but rest assured, I won’t do anything against my conscience again!”

Mei Xuanzi saw Great China’s decline. Since the Opium War, foreign powers invaded, national territory was lost, and faith was also being lost. He wanted with his own strength to once again promote Daoist culture. Later when he actually implemented it, he discovered it wasn’t so easy: he told others about Daoist learning, others told him about Western learning; he talked about alchemy, others talked about artillery; he spoke of self-cultivation, others spoke of freedom; he preached abstinence from desire, others preached romance; he mentioned the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, others mentioned Jesus Christ… Only then did he understand that the foundation of Chinese classical learning had already been shaken. Under the rampage of foreign powers’ mighty ships and cannons, religious thinking was also slowly permeating. The anesthetization of thought was most terrifying. He began pondering what method could make Chinese people all believe in him.

Just at this time, he met the famous spirit medium from Anhui, Gai Feixian. Gai Feixian’s real name was Gai Xia. As a child she frequently “bumped shells”—meaning she was possessed by unclean things, such as dead people, village foxes, or wronged evil ghosts. Later after growing up, she often said she could see things attached to others. One evening, the neighbor Wang, an old man, was just returning from herding cattle. She pointed at the old man’s back and said, “You have a horse head on your back, and also a bull head.” People all knew these were Ox-Head and Horse-Face. Once such strange phenomena appeared behind an old person, they weren’t far from death. Sure enough, the next day, crying sounds of mourning came from the neighboring house separated by one wall—the old man had gone west.

People discussed in succession—this matter was too sinister! Later gradually, people began visiting Gai Xia. Gai Xia’s reputation grew larger and larger. She frequently exorcised ghosts and treated illnesses for people. Later she gained the beautiful reputation of “Gai Feixian.”

Mei Xuanzi suddenly understood—the power of superstition was this strong. So he thought of every method to approach Gai Feixian, frequently showing goodwill. Later he actually won her favor. The two were compatible in feelings and thought, ultimately tying the knot, and together founding the “Plum Blossom Society.”

Just like the “Jiang Xiang Sect’s” robbing the rich to help the poor, the “Plum Blossom Society’s” true purpose wasn’t to swindle money either, but to drive out foreign religions and restore Chinese classical learning. Therefore, when meeting with Zu Ye at the Xiya Restaurant, Mei Xuanzi would express the lament “cultivate the self to develop goodness, continue the sage’s learning to open the future,” and would solemnly tell Zu Ye: “In the twelve years since the ‘Plum Blossom Society’ was established, every account has been kept crystal clear. Apart from maintaining the establishment’s normal expenses, all income has been deposited in the accounts…”

Over the years, Mei Xuanzi had been looking for bigger backing to promote Chinese classical learning, but warlords were busy fighting chaotically, authorities were obstinately persisting in error, and “religious societies” established their own practices. He felt it was truly difficult to accomplish anything. Just at this critical juncture, the Japanese found him. Upon hearing, he thought the opportunity to “use force against force” had come—heaven-sent opportunity. He would use Japanese power to drive foreign religions out of the nation’s territory. When the time was ripe, he’d pull out the firewood from under the pot and overturn the Japanese boat as well.

Mei Xuanzi told Zu Ye everything in his heart. After hearing it, Zu Ye nodded silently, sighing incessantly. Then he said in a low voice to Mei Xuanzi, “When people don’t understand yet you’re not resentful—Master Mei has long borne an ill reputation, which has indeed been difficult. Master Mei, just listen to me…”

Mei Xuanzi bowed his head to listen carefully. The two great masters had a heart-to-heart talk. Former bitter enemies actually talked so congenially. Before national crisis, they smiled and erased old grudges!

Later the two also formulated detailed plans for what came next, continuing until dawn, still not finished talking. Around noon, the two knelt together before Elder Mei Fuzu’s spirit tablet, burned incense and took vows, performed eight bows and kowtows, and became sworn brothers!

Having allied with Mei Xuanzi, Zu Ye felt much more at ease, but he always felt something was still missing. Three days later, Zu Ye secretly met with Zeng Jingwu, told him the plan in his heart completely, and had him relay it to Jiu Ye. Actually, Zeng Jingwu had recently also been looking for an opportunity to talk with Zu Ye. If Zu Ye truly became a traitor, he would definitely kill Zu Ye with his own hands.

When he learned of Zu Ye’s true intentions, Zeng Jingwu said with concern, “Zu Ye must be extremely careful. The Japanese aren’t easy to deal with.”

Zu Ye nodded and said, “I must also trouble Instructor Zeng with one matter.”

“Zu Ye, please speak!”

“Help me find someone…”

A week later, through clues provided by Zeng Jingwu, Zu Ye found the famous physiognomist Peng Hanfeng who was living in seclusion in Anhui.

Master Peng was a famous divination figure in the Republican era who had considerable research in physiognomy. People called him “Divine Physiognomist of a Generation” and “Iron Mouth Direct Judgment.” The reason Master Peng had such great ability, besides being naturally intelligent and diligently studious, was also because he had the fortune to obtain physiognomy fragments from the Dunhuang Mogao Caves.

The reason Dunhuang studies became famous overseas all stemmed from the Scripture Cave that inadvertently saw daylight again, and those Dunhuang fragments that remained after being divided by foreign powers.

On the twenty-sixth day of the fifth month of the twenty-sixth year of Guangxu (June 22, 1900 CE), the Daoist Wang Yuanzuan, who guarded the Dunhuang Mogao Caves, while clearing the silted sand in Dunhuang Cave 16, unexpectedly discovered the sound of a hollow cavity in the right stone wall. Daoist Wang believed this stone wall was hollow, so he broke through the mural. This one breakthrough was extraordinary—it revealed the shocking “Dunhuang Scripture Cave” that shocked China and foreign countries! Buddhist scriptures, Daoist scriptures, and divination classics from thousands of years all displayed themselves before people’s eyes! This included ancient transmitted physiognomy texts. Sadly, these scripture scrolls didn’t attract the Qing government’s attention. The restless final dynasty could barely take care of itself and had no time to bother with these things. Subsequently, foreign powers swarmed in. The Dunhuang scripture scrolls were divided up completely by the Japanese, Americans, Russians, and Germans. What remained for the Chinese was very little. The generation’s master of Chinese classical learning, Mr. Ji Xianlin, once lamented: “Dunhuang is in China, but Dunhuang studies are in the world.”

Afterward, Master Peng, seeking Dunhuang learning, traveled thousands of li to Gansu, explored the Scripture Cave, visited hermits, and finally obtained twelve volumes of Dunhuang physiognomy fragments. Then he went into seclusion for three years, painstakingly researching, and finally achieved the great method.

Before the Central Plains War, General Feng Yuxiang personally invited Master Peng to read his face. Master Peng carefully examined Feng Yuxiang’s features, then said one sentence: “Born on Sword Mountain, will die in a sea of fire.”

The first half, Feng Yuxiang could understand. Feng Yuxiang’s ancestral home was Anhui, his birthplace was located on prosperous dragon vein land. To the left of his ancestral residence was a mountain named “Sword Testing Mountain,” legend said it was the place where Guan Yu during the Three Kingdoms period first tested his “Green Dragon Crescent Blade,” hence the name “Sword Testing Mountain.” As for “die in a sea of fire,” Feng Yuxiang pondered deeply but couldn’t understand.

Eighteen years later, history verified this statement. When Feng Yuxiang boarded the “Victory” steamship sailing from New York toward Odessa, midway through the journey film on the steamship caught fire. His entire family perished in the sea of fire. Master Peng’s skill was evident!

The reason Zu Ye sought Master Peng was because he wanted to learn true physiognomy. Over all these years, Zu Ye had always been thinking—what fortune-telling method was simplest and most practical? Eight Characters requires birth dates, Six Lines requires copper coins, Qimen requires setting up schemes. Only physiognomy—observing a person’s appearance reveals fortune and misfortune, hearing a person’s voice reveals good and bad luck. If he could thoroughly learn this method, at this critical juncture it would be like adding wings to a tiger.

The most profound aspect of physiognomy is being able to see the “flowing year fortune” from a person’s face. “Flowing year” is a destiny science term—also the each year that common people pass through. Time flows like water, years flow like water, hence the beautiful name “flowing years.” From flowing years to flowing months, from flowing months to each day—from the daily features and complexion on a person’s face, one can judge a person’s recent fortune and misfortune. A brilliant physiognomist—even small matters like whether you just had sexual relations, he can accurately judge from the complexion of your Jian gate. Zu Ye wanted to use this method, hoping at critical moments to accurately judge the opponent’s success or failure, and also judge his own success or failure.

Unexpectedly, after meeting Master Peng he was greatly disappointed. Master Peng gave Zu Ye a blow to the head: “Fortune-telling and physiognomy are all evil paths. Not only do they confuse the people’s minds, they also lead oneself astray. Those who practice fortune-telling—not one has a good ending. Han Dynasty Six Lines master Jing Fang practiced fortune-telling his whole life, and was ultimately killed by the emperor, his corpse divided and eaten after death. Eight Characters founder Li Xüzhong—Han Yu praised his fortune-telling as ‘not one miss in a hundred,’ yet he died from accidentally swallowing mercury. Ming Dynasty’s Liu Bowen had the beautiful reputation of ‘knowing five hundred years before, knowing five hundred generations after,’ yet was ultimately poisoned to death by Hu Weiyong. His two sons—one jumped into a well, one hanged himself. The family line’s incense was extinguished from then on. Even more numerous nameless fortune-tellers—either plagued by bad luck their whole lives, or their descendants mostly disabled or mentally impaired… I long ago stopped reading faces for people. All books I wrote on destiny and physiognomy have been burned!”

These words struck Zu Ye’s heart sentence by sentence. Zu Ye was confused and asked cautiously, “Why?”

“Stealing people’s wisdom, departing from the true path.” Master Peng said silently.

“Please enlighten me, True Man!” Zu Ye still didn’t understand.

“The ‘Yi Jing’ from beginning to end discusses principles of being human. From start to finish it emphasizes individual self-cultivation. Only by following the heavenly way, reflecting on oneself, improving one’s virtue and conduct can one achieve the purpose of seeking fortune and avoiding disaster. In other words, the only person who can change your destiny is yourself. This is a fundamental law of the ‘Yi Jing.’ But fortune-telling precisely breaks this law. It makes people place hope on external things, on fortune-tellers, on drawing talismans, chanting spells, feng shui, naming and other crooked paths, causing all beings to lose their own nature and self. This is theft of the soul. Tell me, how great is this sin?” Master Peng explained.

Zu Ye nodded vigorously, deeply agreeing, then pursued the question: “Does this mean whether true masters who understand destiny principles or small-time frauds in the jianghu—none have good retribution?”

“What’s the difference between a master and a fraud?” Master Peng asked in return.

“One is real, one is fake.” Zu Ye answered.

“Hahahaha.” Master Peng laughed heartily. “Wrong! Masters and frauds are separated by the distance of ‘fifty steps laughing at a hundred steps.’ Their starting point is both to make people place destiny on fortune-telling while ignoring the importance of self-cultivation. The goal is both for money. They speak cleverly and eloquently, their minds thinking of the gleaming silver in guests’ pockets. It’s just that their performance skills vary in level. Those who hide it well and temporarily remain unmoved by money are masters; those who hide it poorly and their eyes shine golden when seeing money are frauds. But once you strip off the master’s painted skin, you’ll discover he’s greedier and more deceitful than the fraud!”

Enlightening revelation! Zu Ye was enlightened! “True Man speaks extremely correctly! Extremely correctly!”

Master Peng chuckled. “In my view, true masters throughout history—there’s only one: Zhang Liang of the Han Dynasty. He was someone who truly understood the Yi Jing’s true meaning, so he never practiced fortune-telling for others. After assisting Liu Bang in establishing the Great Han, he immediately retreated at the height of success. This is the only person who played with the Zhou Yi to divine perfection yet lived to a natural end. Zhuge Liang also doesn’t qualify—in his later years he went against heaven, wasting people’s resources, ultimately dying at Wuzhang Plains. Liu Bowen even less so—suffered the disaster of family extermination. Jing Fang needless to say—died without a complete corpse. Shao Yong counts as half a master. In his early years he also tried to change common people’s destinies through fortune-telling methods. Later he discovered it didn’t work. Finally he simply stopped saying anything. This point is fully manifested in his work ‘Huangji Jingshi.’ He only wrote about yin-yang origins and the social pattern of natural evolution, but didn’t reveal any calculation methods, precisely fearing others would learn this method and go astray.”

Zu Ye nodded repeatedly. “True Man’s teaching is correct!”

“Moreover, have you noticed an interesting phenomenon?” Master Peng raised an eyebrow.

“What phenomenon?” Zu Ye didn’t understand.

“People who like fortune-telling—their destinies will actually get worse and worse. Those seeking wealth fortune—their wealth fortune gets worse and worse; those seeking marriage—their marriage gets more and more troubled; those seeking health—their bodies get worse and worse; those seeking official fortune—sooner or later lose their official hat…” Master Peng said with a smile.

“The more fortune is told, the thinner it gets?” Zu Ye had some realization.

“Mm.” Master Peng nodded. “Because these people hand their destiny over to others to manage. Can it still be good?”

Zu Ye nodded again, then quickly told Master Peng his true intentions.

After hearing, Master Peng nodded slightly. “You’ve come to save the nation… If I drove you out the door, that would be unbenevolent and unrighteous… I’ll transmit some Five Elements mental methods to you. Perhaps they’ll be useful. As for how to use them, you decide for yourself. If done wrong, it could cost your life!” Zu Ye quickly bowed to listen attentively.

Only then did Zu Ye discover that this Master Peng was not only extremely proficient in physiognomy, but also had considerable research in other divination categories. This was because all predictive arts cannot depart from the generation and control of the Five Elements. The deductive tools are all Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. When one method is mastered, ten thousand methods are mastered—the principles are all the same! The two talked by candlelight through the night without sleep! From face reading to palmistry, from palmistry to Eight Characters, from Nayin destiny calculation to Iron Plate Divine Calculation, from Qimen Dunjia to Plum Blossom Yi Numbers—Master Peng selected the essentials to transmit, and Zu Ye carefully memorized everything!

At the fifth watch, Zu Ye still wasn’t tired, but considering Master Peng’s health, Zu Ye suggested he rest first.

After Master Peng went into the master bedroom to sleep, Zu Ye gently closed the door, walked out alone, came to the wilderness, sat cross-legged on a large bluestone, took a deep breath of fresh air, and reviewed everything Master Peng had transmitted in one night. Thinking to exciting points, he couldn’t help but lament the greatness and wonder of Chinese divination arts!

The sun rose high, the time nearing Si hour. Zu Ye figured Master Peng had already risen, so he returned to Master Peng’s residence. After entering the courtyard, he lightly knocked on the door.

“Master Peng?”

No one answered inside. Zu Ye was eager to learn, but then remembered the allusion of “standing in the snow at Cheng’s gate.” Since the old gentleman hasn’t awakened, then wait here. Zu Ye stood outside the door for a full hour. Seeing the time nearing noon, he couldn’t help but knock again.

Still no sound from inside. An ominous premonition rapidly spread through Zu Ye’s entire body. He suddenly pushed the door open.

“Ah!” Zu Ye cried out in alarm. The bed was completely empty—Master Peng had disappeared!

Zu Ye was utterly perplexed. Then he used “Qimen Dunjia” techniques to set up a scheme on his hand, to see where Master Peng had gone. Finally he divined Yang Dun Ninth Bureau, with the master falling on the Rest Gate. Qimen Dunjia has eight gates: Rest Gate, Life Gate, Injury Gate, Obstruction Gate, Scenery Gate, Death Gate, Alarm Gate, Open Gate. Among them, Rest, Life, Scenery, and Open were the four auspicious gates; the rest were the four inauspicious gates. In the past, Wei General Cao Ren set up the “Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation” wanting to lead Liu Bei into the Death Gate, but was seen through at a glance by Liu Bei’s strategist Xu Shu. Later Zhuge Kong Ming improved this method and created the “Eight Formations Diagram.” In 222 CE, Wu General Lu Xun “burned the connected camps” and heavily defeated Liu Bei, pursuing fiercely all the way. He carelessly drilled into the Eight Formations Diagram set up by Zhuge Liang. If it weren’t for Zhuge Liang’s father-in-law leading him out through the Life Gate, he would have been trapped to death inside! Zu Ye applied what he learned, setting up the scheme on his palm. Seeing the master fall on the Rest Gate represented no worry of life, but it represented “distant travel.” Was it that Master Peng himself left, or did some accident occur? Zu Ye’s skill wasn’t enough—for a time he couldn’t analyze it…

Just as he was hesitating, he discovered a package on the desk. Attached to the package was a piece of rice paper. On the paper were clearly visible characters. Zu Ye looked carefully—it was Master Peng’s own handwriting: “All divination arts are illusions; the great way lies within.” Zu Ye hesitated for a moment, then slowly opened the package. A book appeared. The book’s title was four characters: “Liaofan’s Four Lessons.”

Zu Ye’s head buzzed. Childhood memories instantly filled his vision…