Entering the Tiger’s Den

Zu Ye waited a full three days, and when Peng the Physiognomist still hadn’t returned, he had no choice but to return alone to the hall.

Not long after Zu Ye’s return, Nishida Yoshiko secretly arrived in Shanghai from the Northeast. She had come to collect the percentage fees from the various “secret societies” in Jiangnan and to guide the new round of publicity campaigns.

Zu Ye sensed that the opportunity for a major undertaking had arrived.

That night, Nishida Yoshiko hosted a banquet for Zu Ye in the French Concession.

“Zu Ye, I trust you’ve been well?” Nishida Yoshiko smiled gracefully.

“I’m grateful for Miss Nishida’s concern. I’ve been contemplating something recently…” Zu Ye said.

Nishida Yoshiko laughed again: “Zu Ye has always been meticulous in his thinking. What brilliant insights do you have now?”

Zu Ye looked at Nishida Yoshiko and said: “I suggest selecting one person from among all the ‘secret society’ leaders to serve as the ‘Great Master of Chinese I Ching Studies,’ to command all the nation’s important ‘secret societies’ and better serve His Majesty the Emperor.”

“The first chair of Jiangnan is no longer enough for Zu Ye to sit in?” Nishida Yoshiko cast him an alluring glance.

Zu Ye smiled slightly and said: “Miss Nishida flatters me too much. When one receives a ruler’s stipend, one must ease the ruler’s worries.”

Nishida Yoshiko laughed heartily and said: “This will probably not receive support from the military. What the military fears most is you Chinese people uniting together. Isn’t the current divide-and-conquer strategy working well?”

Zu Ye also chuckled: “The military’s thinking is not without merit, but there are no fixed laws. Please hear me out, Miss Nishida. Divide and conquer is indeed a good strategy, but this balance will be broken sooner or later. Just as you analyzed last time, Miss Nishida, the great powers carving up China, mutually constraining and balancing each other—currently no one has the ability to completely swallow China. But don’t you see that the European and American powers are also vigorously developing converts to Christianity through religious infiltration? This superficial calm cannot conceal the contradictions among the great powers, nor can it conceal the contradictions between the great powers and the Chinese people. China will inevitably face major upheaval! When chaos erupts, who knows which way the various ‘secret societies’ will turn? ‘Secret societies’ are mostly rabble without any sense of loyalty. Has Miss Nishida considered this?”

Nishida Yoshiko’s smile faded: “What do you mean, Zu Ye?”

“The great European and American powers have just emerged from the shadow of economic crisis. While they still have no time to integrate the ‘secret societies,’ the Great Empire of Japan should take the initiative. We have geographical advantages and the advantage of cultural continuity. We should hurry to control all of China’s ‘secret societies,’ especially unifying the key ‘secret societies’ in the Northeast, Beiping, Tianjin, Jianghuai, Jiaodong, Fujian, and other regions…”

Nishida Yoshiko said: “Unified under Zu Ye’s command?”

Zu Ye shook his head and said: “Unified under the command of the Great Empire of Japan’s Imperial Religious Institute.”

Nishida Yoshiko smiled eerily and said: “Zu Ye should first unify the four halls of the ‘Jiang Xiang Sect’ under the command of the Great Empire of Japan.”

Zu Ye inwardly sighed at Nishida Yoshiko’s cunning and craftiness.

“Miss Nishida may not know that I’ve long had plans to unify the ‘Jiang Xiang Sect,’ but the ‘Jiang Xiang Sect’ is different from other ‘secret societies.’ The four halls have been separate for nearly three hundred years. This situation has existed since Grandmaster Fang Zhaoyu founded the ‘Jiang Xiang Sect’—it absolutely cannot be unified overnight, and mishandling it could alert the enemy. The West Sect and South Sect are very close to the Nationalist authorities. Whether they’re willing to cooperate with the military is still questionable. Rashly attempting to incorporate them at this time could cause trouble…”

Nishida Yoshiko nodded, then smiled and said: “It seems the first chair of Jiangnan is no longer sufficient for Zu Ye. Your appetite is quite large!”

Zu Ye laughed heartily: “I’m merely making a suggestion. As for who should bear the title of ‘Great Master of Chinese I Ching Studies,’ it’s entirely up to the military to decide!”

“‘In the south Yuan, in the north Wei, in the east Lewu; when the three immortals return, ask Zu Ye.’ You’ve already built up plenty of buzz! But this matter is absolutely not something I alone can decide. Moreover, though China’s ‘secret societies’ are a mixed bag, there are genuine masters among them. The title of ‘I Ching Great Master’ absolutely cannot be forced upon any one person. Especially since you Chinese like infighting and no one accepts anyone else’s superiority, so whether you can obtain this title still depends on Zu Ye’s own genuine abilities…” Nishida Yoshiko said.

“Furthermore…” Nishida Yoshiko paused, “Furthermore, I hope Zu Ye won’t play any tricks. Zu Ye is a smart person—the general trend cannot be changed anymore…”

Zu Ye laughed loudly and said: “Miss Nishida worries too much! This nation is already dead. The only thing that can allow this people to be reborn is Japan. I’m not helping you, I’m helping myself.”

Nishida Yoshiko smiled and nodded: “After I return to Manchuria, I’ll report this matter immediately. Zu Ye, wait for my news.” As she spoke, she opened the window and gazed at the night sky. “The night is enchanting. The moon is so beautiful, as beautiful as the moon over Hokkaido.”

Zu Ye also stood up: “There is only one moon.”

Nishida Yoshiko turned and said: “It’s quite late tonight. Zu Ye, why not rest here…”

Zu Ye shook his head and declined: “Thank you, Miss Nishida, but there are many matters at the hall. I should return early. Miss Nishida, please rest early. I’ll take my leave.”

A trace of disappointment flashed in Nishida Yoshiko’s eyes.

The Emperor’s Edict I Ching Debate Assembly

Two months later, in the height of summer, Nishida Yoshiko sent secret telegrams to ‘secret societies’ nationwide. Nearly two hundred leaders of ‘secret societies’ gathered in the Japanese-occupied zone of Shanghai.

“I’ve strongly recommended Zu Ye to the military, but the military’s plan is that this selection of the ‘Great Master of Chinese I Ching Studies’ must involve public debate. At that time, scholars from the Japanese military’s Imperial Religious Institute and masters from Japan’s I Ching community will personally attend. The top three will be selected as the final candidates. As long as Zu Ye can squeeze into the top three in the debate, the great matter can be accomplished!” Nishida Yoshiko said to Zu Ye.

Zu Ye nodded: “Miss Nishida, rest assured, I will do my utmost.”

The next day, the “Emperor’s Edict I Ching Debate Assembly” was secretly held in the Japanese-occupied zone of Shanghai. All ‘secret society’ leaders were divided into ten groups, with the following format: After the first round of debate ended, each group would select one victor; in the second round, the ten victors would take the stage in turn to accept challenges from the two hundred-plus people present. Challengers could ask various I Ching questions, and the other nine candidates could also join the questioners. Any challenger who failed to answer even one question or whose answer was inappropriate would be eliminated. Finally, the three people who answered the most questions with the most brilliant responses would be selected as the final candidates, and the Japanese military would comprehensively weigh and determine the “I Ching Great Master.”

The group debates lasted an entire day before ending. The ten victors were respectively:

Group A: Abbess Ruolan of Fujian’s “Taiji Gang”

Group B: Zheng the Half-Immortal of Jiaodong’s “Jade Ruler Dao”

Group C: Zu Ye of Shanghai’s “Jiang Xiang Sect”

Group D: Mei Xuanzi of Shanghai’s “Plum Blossom Society”

Group E: Liu the Blind of Beiping’s “Heavenly Sage Dao”

Group F: Tong Huaixiu, one of Henan’s “Central Plains Five Tigers” and heir to the Three Emperors Feng Shui tradition

Group G: Long Yufeng of Tianjin’s “Jade Pool Dao”

Group H: Pei Jinglong of Baoding’s “Imperial Pole Dao”

Group I: Ding Zixia of Manchuria’s “Purple Cloud Hall”

Group J: Jiang Tiancheng of Manchuria’s “Obedient Heaven Sect”

That night, Zu Ye summoned Huang Farong, who had accompanied him, to prepare for the next day’s elimination from ten to three. For this debate competition, Zu Ye only mentioned it to the Batous of the hall and issued a deadly order: Anyone who leaks secrets will die!

Participating in the I Ching debate competition organized by the Japanese left the Batous baffled. At the secret council meeting, Er Batou couldn’t help but ask: “Zu Ye, what are you trying to do?”

Regarding Zu Ye’s matter of “allying” with the Japanese, no one inside the “Jiang Xiang Sect” knew anything except Jiang Feiyan. Zu Ye didn’t want them to know too much either.

“Everyone just needs to work together to secure the title of ‘I Ching Great Master.’ There’s no need to investigate other matters too deeply!” Zu Ye answered.

Da Batou shook his head and said: “Zu Ye… Zu Ye hasn’t… allied with…”

Zu Ye glanced at him sideways, and Da Batou was scared into silence.

San Batou, seeing the awkward atmosphere, quickly said: “Zu Ye has his own arrangements. Years of experience tell us that as long as we follow Zu Ye, we won’t go wrong.”

Zhang Zizhan opened his mouth to say something, but Huang Farong tugged at the corner of his clothes from behind, so he said nothing more.

Wu Batou Zhang Qiling coughed once and said: “I only recognize Zu Ye. Wherever Zu Ye goes, I’ll follow.”

Er Batou glanced at him and said: “I’m not becoming a traitor anyway!”

The atmosphere at the council meeting suddenly became tense.

Huang Farong, as the Xiao Jiao whom Zu Ye had personally designated to attend the council meeting, now displayed her power:

“More clay makes a bigger Buddha, rising water lifts the boat. Su Qin promoted the Vertical Alliance, Zhang Yi promoted the Horizontal Alliance. The Horizontal made Qin emperor, the Vertical made Chu king. Securing the title of ‘I Ching Great Master,’ through an indirect path to save the nation—for the ‘Jiang Xiang Sect,’ for uniting the strength of China’s ‘secret societies,’ this is all greatly beneficial! When Master gives one command, mountains collapse and earth moves. A golden needle draws blood for the shared oath, brothers unite in harmony. Have you gentlemen forgotten the vow you made when entering the ‘Jiang Xiang Sect’?”

Zu Ye lifted his eyes to look at her and said to everyone: “Are there any other doubts?”

This sentence from Zu Ye was equivalent to “meeting adjourned.” In fact, no one understood at all—they vaguely seemed to understand, yet also didn’t understand. And so, each person left in confusion.

The Bone-Reading Master of “Heavenly Sage Dao”

The next day at the hour of Chen, the elimination debate from ten to three began. The ten candidates drew lots in sequence and took the stage to accept challenges according to the determined order.

Debate has existed since ancient times. A debate contest is like a war—without swords and spears, yet filled with lethal danger; without visible blood and wounds, yet a few words can seal someone’s mouth. Before debate, sufficient preparation, knowing yourself and your enemy, ensures victory in a hundred battles; during debate, verbal sparring, attack and defense, avoiding the substantial and attacking the weak; after debate, maintaining a pleasant demeanor, whether victory or defeat, without losing one’s bearing as a master.

Zu Ye never fought unprepared battles. Several months ago, Zu Ye had already dispatched the Batous to various places to investigate the situation of each secret society.

The first to take the stage was Liu the Blind, the “Vajra” of the Beijing branch of “Heavenly Sage Dao.”

Liu was called Liu the Blind because when he was young, his left eyeball was blown apart by gunpowder while setting off firecrackers, and his right eye could only see things vaguely.

After Liu the Blind lost his sight, his parents began pondering how this child could make a living in the future. Heaven never seals off all exits. In Youzhou, neighboring Beijing, there was an old blind man who was a bone-reading master. It was said he had read bones for Zhang Zuolin and other advisors. Liu the Blind’s mother asked someone to arrange things and begged the bone-reading master to take her son as a disciple so her son could have a livelihood in the future.

The method of bone-reading originated in the pre-Qin period and belongs to the category of physiognomy. It essentially examines bone structure. Those with eyes can look while touching; those without eyes can only rely on touch, but those without eyes, unimpeded by sight, are often more accurate!

After Liu the Blind took his seat, someone leaped up from below and asked the first question. Everyone looked and saw it was actually Zuo Yongchan, the new sect leader of “Heavenly Sage Dao” headquarters. Zuo Yongchan had thought he could leap into the top ten during this group debate, but unexpectedly, he as sect leader not only wasn’t selected, but instead the “Vajra” from a branch hall advanced. He was extremely angry in his heart. Little did he know this was all the Japanese people’s conspiracy. Zuo Yongchan was too sinister as a person—whoever offered him milk would be his mother. If he became the “I Ching Great Master,” first he couldn’t command respect, and second, once circumstances changed, if someone else offered him greater benefits, he would surely betray them. Even when looking for traitors, one must find those with good character. So he was excluded during the preliminary selection.

“Master Liu has read countless bones in his life. Has he ever read his own?” Zuo Yongchan’s first question was full of gunpowder.

Liu the Blind lifted his right eye, whether he saw Zuo Yongchan or not was unclear, and chuckled: “You and I both came from our mothers’ wombs. Our bodies, hair, and skin are received from our parents. The method of bone-reading is an art that reveals heavenly secrets. Though I understand this art, I dare not use it frivolously. Even when others come seeking readings, I must burn three incense sticks and require them to be sincere before I can reveal heavenly secrets. As for myself, when I became an apprentice as a child, my master personally touched my crown. Only he has read my bone structure; I myself have never been so presumptuous.”

Liu the Blind reacted quickly. He figured that if he said he hadn’t read his own bones, then Zuo Yongchan would certainly attack him: A bone-reading master who has never read his own bones—isn’t that laughable? If he answered that he had read his own bones, then Zuo Yongchan would certainly counter-question: Since you’ve read your own bones, how is your fortune this year? Can you win the top position in this debate? If it came to that point, whether Liu the Blind answered affirmatively or negatively, he would be at a disadvantage.

Seeing his first move countered, Zuo Yongchan immediately grabbed a “Blue Guard” from his side and shoved him forward to the platform:

“I’ve long heard of Master Liu’s exquisite bone-reading technique, but there are also many in the divination world who doubt the art of bone-reading. Master Liu, why not demonstrate in person today and read your beloved disciple’s bones? Master Liu need not speak of his future—just reveal the major events that happened to him in the past!”

This was a deadly trap. What fortune-tellers fear most is on-the-spot predictions. Whether doing Eight Characters, hexagrams, feng shui, or face reading, when tested on the spot, no one has confidence. Setting aside whether there’s genuine ability, even those with genuine ability inevitably make mistakes under everyone’s scrutiny. Moreover, Zuo Yongchan had already blocked Liu the Blind’s retreat—only letting him speak of past events, not future ones, because future events need time to verify, while past events can be verified on the spot!

Liu the Blind laughed heartily: “Leader Zuo flatters me too much! I can demonstrate the bone-reading technique on the spot, but it cannot be used on disciples of Heavenly Sage Dao. You and I come from the same sect. Even if I’m accurate, everyone present will think we colluded and there’s suspicion of fraud!”

Liu the Blind was using the opponent’s spear to attack the opponent’s shield. Liu the Blind understood in his heart that even if he read accurately, Zuo Yongchan’s disciple would quibble on the spot, otherwise he’d be dead when he returned. Wouldn’t a “Blue Guard” understand this principle? But Liu the Blind’s liver was trembling at this moment too. What if the Japanese judges really found someone for him to read bones on the spot right now? Whether he could read accurately, he truly had no confidence in his heart.

Zu Ye also saw through the trick here. He began to employ the method of vertical and horizontal maneuvering. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. The method of victory in war lies in uniting all forces that can be united, defeating enemies one by one.

“In that case, I’ll be the mediator. Master Liu can read my bones. I, as the fourteenth-generation sect leader of the ‘Jiang Xiang Sect,’ will test this with my own body. Does Leader Zuo have any objections?” Zu Ye said.

Mei Xuanzi, sitting to one side, saw through Zu Ye’s intention and secretly laughed.

Zuo Yongchan looked at Zu Ye, then at Nishida Yoshiko. Nishida Yoshiko nodded. Zuo Yongchan thought: It’s over! He could only reluctantly nod.

Zu Ye stood up and went on stage. Liu the Blind at this moment still didn’t know what medicine Zu Ye was selling in his gourd. He didn’t know whether Zu Ye jumping out at this time was helping or harming him.

“Master Liu, please.” Zu Ye smiled slightly.

Liu the Blind rolled his right eye and extended both hands, starting from Zu Ye’s hands, touching up to his arms, to his neck, to his skull. Then he said loudly: “Zu Ye has extraordinary bone structure. He comes from a military family. His ancestors must have had officials in the imperial court. He has no more than three siblings. His parents died young…”

Zu Ye nodded and said: “All correct! But these matters are known to friends in the profession. Master Liu, speak of some other things!” Zu Ye was telling him: Even if you’re acting, you have to act properly. Fooling the Imperial Army like this—aren’t you treating the Japanese as idiots?

Liu the Blind immediately understood and continued: “Zu Ye at age five faced a water calamity! He fell into water and nearly drowned! At age twelve, he encountered the Red Phoenix evil spirit—an old woman molested you!”

After hearing this, Zu Ye nearly laughed out loud, but said seriously: “Master Liu is formidable! All correct!”

Thunderous applause erupted below the stage.

Liu the Blind at this moment should have quit while ahead, but unexpectedly he got addicted to the game. While touching, he said: “Zu Ye’s jade pillow bone at the back of his head protrudes. This is a sign of great wealth and nobility. In all matters, he can turn misfortune into fortune and overcome difficulties to achieve success…”

Zu Ye thought: I let you play a little, and you just can’t stop. He immediately said: “I’ve heard that if the jade pillow bone is too large, it’s a rebellious bone. During the Three Kingdoms period, the Shu Kingdom’s great general Wei Yan had an excessively large bone at the back of his head. Zhuge Kongming saw at a glance that this was a rebellious bone. When everyone from Liu Bei on down to the soldiers were won over by Wei Yan’s brave fighting and loyal devotion, Zhuge Liang already harbored suspicions about him. Later, sure enough, when Zhuge Kongming died, Wei Yan rebelled. Fortunately, Kongming had prepared early and planted Ma Dai as an undercover agent beside Wei Yan, which allowed the rebel general Wei Yan to be beheaded! Master Liu says my jade pillow bone protrudes—are you praising me or demeaning me? Haha.”

The people below all laughed. Liu the Blind’s face turned completely red, even the dead flesh of his left eye turned red.

Zu Ye, in a joking manner, told Liu the Blind not to overdo it. Give a date to eat, then slap once—this both won hearts and made the other party wary of you. Zu Ye’s purpose was achieved.

The debate continued. Several more people below successively asked some common knowledge questions about bone-reading, which Liu the Blind answered one by one, then withdrew unscathed.

Four Pillars Calculation

The second person to take the stage was Zheng the Half-Immortal from Jiaodong. This person had entrenched himself in Jiaodong for many years. It was said his Eight Characters achievements were very deep. People called him the “Living Immortal.” If you reported your birth date and time, he could immediately tell you about your health, financial fortune, career fortune, and the situations of your six relatives!

“Six relatives” is a term in Eight Characters divination—that is, the social relationships generated based on a person’s Eight Characters (day stem).

People who often go to fortune-tellers know that fortune-tellers claim they can see from your Eight Characters matters concerning your parents, siblings, spouse, and even grandparents. This is all deduced through the six relatives.

The six relatives respectively refer to: parents, brothers, sisters, wife, officials/killers, and children (different versions have different explanations). From the Eight Characters, the six relatives can be derived based on the generating and restraining relationships of the Five Elements.

The Eight Characters are divided into four pillars: one pillar for birth year, one pillar for birth month, one pillar for birth day, one pillar for birth hour. Each pillar consists of one Heavenly Stem and one Earthly Branch—eight characters in total, hence called Eight Characters.

When calculating, the day pillar represents oneself, especially using the Five Element properties of the day pillar’s Heavenly Stem to deduce the six relatives. This is the first step in fortune prediction.

For example, if a person was born on the day of Geng-Chen, then the character “Geng” represents oneself. At the same time, with “Geng” as the center, deduce his six relatives.

Geng is one of the Ten Heavenly Stems, belonging to Metal in the Five Elements. The rules for calculating six relatives are as follows:

What generates me is parents. Geng is Metal. Earth generates Metal, so Earth is Metal’s mother. If among the other three pillars there appears a character of the Earth element, such as Wu Earth or Ji Earth, that character represents the mother.

What I generate is children. Geng is Metal. Metal generates Water, so Water is Metal’s children. If among the other three pillars there appears a character of the Water element, such as Ren Water or Gui Water, that character represents children.

What I restrain is wife and wealth. In ancient times, women had low status. Men viewed women as their property, things they could control. Therefore, what I restrain is wife and wealth. Geng is Metal. Metal restrains Wood, so Wood is Metal’s wife and wealth. If among the other three pillars there appears a character of the Wood element, such as Jia Wood or Yi Wood, that character represents the wife. Of course, ancient people had multiple wives and concubines, divided into proper wealth and side wealth. Now the social system has changed, but the essence remains unchanged. If a man has too many wealth stars in his Eight Characters, it indicates he’s prone to having affairs.

What restrains me is officials/killers. Besides family relationships, a person also has broader social relationships. Officials/killers represent work, superiors, and leaders. These people can all control me; I must listen to them. Therefore, what restrains me is officials/killers. Geng is Metal. Fire restrains Metal, so Fire is Geng Metal’s officials/killers. If among the other three pillars there appears a character of the Fire element, such as Bing Fire or Ding Fire, that character represents superiors. For women, due to their low social status and being controlled by men, officials/killers in a woman’s Eight Characters represent her husband. Hence ancient women called their husbands “official.”

Besides the four relationships of generating me, what I generate, what I restrain, and what restrains me, there’s another situation of neither generating nor restraining—that is, equals/competitors. Geng is Metal. If among the other three pillars there appears another character of the Metal element, such as Geng Metal or Xin Metal, then these characters are called equals/competitors, representing brothers and sisters.

Calculating Eight Characters involves first analyzing the strength or weakness of the day stem, then examining the generating and restraining relationships between the day stem and other stems and branches, then combining great luck periods and annual fortunes to predict good and bad fortune.

Zu Ye had investigated Zheng the Half-Immortal’s background through Huang Farong. This fellow was over fifty, not tall, thin, with a very long beard, and vigorous spirit. He really did have a bit of an immortal feel. This person had entrenched himself in Jiaodong for many years and had strong Eight Characters foundations. What Zu Ye feared most was this type of person—with genuine ability, then going out to deceive, it would be like adding wings to a tiger. Stupid thieves aren’t scary; thieves who can scale walls are scary. Zu Ye vowed to expose Zheng the Half-Immortal for what he really was.

After Zheng the Half-Immortal took his seat, someone leaped up from below and asked first: “Master Zheng has studied Eight Characters for many years. Can you tell me, in the end, is fate more important, or fortune more important? What’s the principle?”

Everyone looked toward the voice and saw an extraordinary, refined woman with large, bright eyes—the “Ghost Girl” Huang Farong. This was all Zu Ye’s arrangement.

Zheng the Half-Immortal nodded and said unhurriedly: “Fate and fortune—actually these are two words, one is fate, one is fortune. Fate is the Eight Characters, determined at birth and unchanging until death; while fortune changes every ten years, the so-called ten-year great luck period, with eight great luck periods in a lifetime. Regarding these two words ‘fate and fortune,’ this old man believes that fate is the root, the foundation, while fortune is supplementary, the minor aspect. Because fate is the creation of the former heaven, the destiny bestowed by heaven, irresistible in its momentum, while fortune is the qi of the latter heaven, which can be adjusted through feng shui, talismans, and other methods. My ‘Immortal Hidden Sect’ has stood firm in Jiaodong for fifty years, relying precisely on consistently effective disaster relief for the common people through latter heaven methods…” Zheng the Half-Immortal didn’t forget to advertise for himself at this moment.

“Master Zheng’s words are mistaken!” Zu Ye shouted loudly and stood up. “The fate books say: Only with illness can there be nobility; without injury, there’s nothing remarkable. All great figures have illnesses in their fate. In their Eight Characters, either the Wounding Official is too strong, or the Seal star is insufficient, or Officials/Killers combine with the body. In childhood, they face many disasters and hardships, surviving by a hair’s breadth. Once the great luck period arrives and fortune assists them, they soar upward, and their entire fate undergoes earth-shattering changes! In the distant past there was Zhu Yuanzhang, recently there was Hu Xueyan—all are living examples!”

Zheng the Half-Immortal was startled: “Haha, so it’s Zu Ye of the ‘Jiang Xiang Sect.’ My respects, my respects! So Zu Ye means that great luck periods are more important than the Eight Characters themselves? Human fate is like a tree. If the roots are deep, then the trunk is straight and the leaves flourish. The Eight Characters are the root, the foundation. Those who are first poor then rich, even if they soar upward later, it’s because their fate contained signals of wealth and nobility, only triggered during the great luck period!”

Zu Ye chuckled and said: “If that’s the case, all poverty and wealth are predetermined in the Eight Characters, then how can Master Zheng’s method of changing fate through latter heaven means be discussed?”

Hearing this, Zheng the Half-Immortal seemed to have trapped himself. He hastily replied: “The method of latter heaven disaster relief has existed since ancient times. Does Zu Ye also mock the ancient sages?”

Zu Ye said steadily: “The I Ching was created for divination. Whether Eight Characters or hexagrams or other divination methods, all methods don’t depart from yin-yang dialectics. The relationship between fate and fortune is like the relationship between an egg and a chick. Without an egg, you can never hatch a chick, but without suitable temperature, an egg is just a dead egg and also cannot become a chick. Fate and fortune—within yin there is yang, within yang there is yin, yin and yang interchange, creating transformation! It’s not that the ancient sages were wrong, it’s that Master Zheng’s understanding has a slight deviation!”

“You…” Zheng the Half-Immortal’s face turned scarlet.

Zu Ye pressed on in one breath, continuing: “Master Zheng has studied Eight Characters for many years. Have you ever calculated for yourself? Master Zheng, you’re not like Master Liu, only having your master calculate for you when you were young, are you? Eight Characters are different from bone structure—they’re suitable for frequent contemplation.”

“If you have calculated, I’ve heard that the supreme realm of Eight Characters prediction is to determine good and bad fortune to a specific day. Master Zheng, do you think you can win the championship today, or will you fail halfway?” Zu Ye continued pressing.

Zheng the Half-Immortal was indeed an old fox. He calmed down slightly and laughed bitterly: “Zu Ye is mistaken! The highest realm of Eight Characters prediction is not determining one’s own good and bad fortune to which day, but being able to see the success or failure of opponents from one’s own Eight Characters. Last night I examined my own Eight Characters and determined that today, anyone who conflicts with me will certainly lose! But I didn’t want that person to be Zu Ye! Haha!”

Zheng the Half-Immortal executed this move of using force against force quite well. Zu Ye was pushed to the blade’s edge.

Nishida Yoshiko also looked at Zu Ye, thinking Zu Ye had made a wrong move. Zu Ye smiled slightly, then deployed his killing move!

“How about this—Master Zheng uses your Eight Characters prediction technique, I use my Tieban Divine Calculation. Let’s have an on-the-spot competition—how about it?”

The crowd below gasped. Masters challenging masters on the spot is a very taboo matter. When two strong forces meet, one must be injured. Few people in the martial world play cards like this, unless they’re mortal enemies, because no one can afford to lose!

Zheng the Half-Immortal had already been forced to the edge of a cliff. He nodded viciously.

“How shall we compete?”

“We both reveal our birth dates and times, then point out each other’s private matters!”

The crowd gasped again!

“How do I know whether Zu Ye is reporting a fake birthday?” Zheng the Half-Immortal laughed coldly.

“Haha, a gentleman is open and forthright, while a petty person is anxious and worried. I’m not afraid that Master Zheng will tell me a fake one, so what are you afraid of?”

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

“Fine!” Zheng the Half-Immortal had no way out.

Soon, the two exchanged their Eight Characters. Whether they were true or false, no one knew. In fact, at this point, truth or falsehood didn’t matter anymore. The two masters were competing in intelligence.

Immediately, Zu Ye made a gesture of deference: “Master Zheng, please go first?”

“Zu Ye, please go first!” Zheng the Half-Immortal knew well the tricks involved. When sparring verbally and mentally, whoever makes the first move often reveals a weakness.

Zu Ye smiled slightly: “Fine. However… however, I’m afraid that after I finish speaking, Master Zheng won’t have a chance to speak.”

“Hahahaha, I’ve long heard that the ‘Jiang Xiang Sect’s’ cold reading techniques are superb. Seeing it today, the reputation is indeed well-deserved. But what we’re competing in today is genuine ability. Relying on cold reading probably won’t work!”

“Haha! Master Zheng speaks most correctly! Listen carefully. If Master Zheng’s birthday is accurate, then at age five you caused harm to your mother, and she died that year!”

“Hehe, quite correct!” Zheng the Half-Immortal smiled. “If Zu Ye’s birthday is accurate, at age fifteen you caused harm to six relatives. Your parents, grandparents, and siblings all died that year!”

Zheng the Half-Immortal’s mouth was too venomous. He wanted to stir up Zu Ye’s painful memories and disturb his composure!

Zu Ye nodded: “Everyone in the profession knows these things about you and me. How about I tell you something that no one knows?”

Zheng the Half-Immortal was startled: “Please speak!” He understood in his heart that since no one knows, whether you’re right or wrong, I can say “that’s not true”!

He didn’t expect Zu Ye would say the following words.

“A person’s Eight Characters and physiognomy are interconnected. Those with Eight Characters indicating great wealth and nobility must also have faces and bodies indicating wealth and nobility. Similarly, those with poor or defective body characteristics also have corresponding manifestations in their Eight Characters. In Master Zheng’s Eight Characters, the double Yin restrains Zi Water and Hai Water, which manifests in the body as…”

“As what?” Zheng the Half-Immortal pressed.

“Master Zheng has cryptorchidism!”

“Oh!” The crowd below gasped!

Cryptorchidism is a medical term meaning a man is born with no testicles in his scrotum. For a man, this is a fatal blow!

“You?!” Zheng the Half-Immortal’s face turned purple like an eggplant.

“Shall we verify it on the spot?” Zu Ye pursued relentlessly.

Zheng the Half-Immortal never dreamed Zu Ye would combine Eight Characters with physiognomy and make an issue of his physiological problem. Cryptorchidism was his absolute secret. No one knew about it. He didn’t know whether Zu Ye truly calculated this or learned of it through some magical means.

The atmosphere at the scene became extremely awkward. What would happen next? Was Zheng the Half-Immortal really going to drop his pants?

At this moment, Zu Ye changed tack: “Haha, I was just joking with Master Zheng. Master Zheng, please don’t take offense. Everyone, please don’t take offense.” As he spoke, he bowed to Zheng the Half-Immortal in apology.

Zheng the Half-Immortal grimaced, forced a smile, and quickly returned the courtesy: “Zu Ye is humorous.”

“Shall we continue?” Zu Ye asked.

“Uh… Zu Ye’s skills are superb, absolutely not inferior to mine. I’m old and willing to yield to the younger generation!”

Huang Farong leaped up and led the applause. Everyone was stunned, then followed suit in applauding.

Zheng the Half-Immortal finally descended the stage with dignity.

Nishida Yoshiko and several Japanese masters below the stage watched dumbfounded, secretly sighing: This Zu Ye is truly extraordinary!

The remaining seven candidates below the stage also watched with trepidation. What sorcery was this Zu Ye playing that was so formidable!

“Six Lines” Divination

Next, Abbess Ruolan from Fujian took the stage. This old woman over sixty was well-versed in beauty preservation techniques. Though advanced in age, her skin was fair, and as she walked to the front of the stage, she brought with her a subtle fragrance.

Abbess Ruolan’s specialty was “Six Lines” divination.

The character for “lines” is pronounced “yao,” second tone. Six Lines prediction involves finding three identical copper coins, such as Qianlong Tongbao, placing them in your palm, closing your hands together, sincerely thinking of the matter you want to divine, then shaking them back and forth and tossing them on a table to see how many show the character side up and how many show the design side up after they settle. Each toss is recorded as one line. Repeat six times, and the six lines are born.

A copper coin has characters on one side and design on the other. When three copper coins are shaken in your hand and tossed on a table, there are four possible results after they settle: all three show designs, all three show characters, or one design two characters, one character two designs.

Whenever all three are designs or one design two characters, it’s represented by a single horizontal line: “—”. Whenever all three are characters or one character two designs, it’s represented by two broken horizontal lines “- -“.

Suppose you shake six times, and the results in order are: three designs, three characters, one design two characters, one character two designs, three characters, three designs. Then this hexagram is recorded as:

—— (sixth line)

(fifth line)

(fourth line) —— (third line)

(second line) —— (first line)

The six lines are arranged from bottom to top. The bottom is the first line, the sixth line is at the top, the so-called “counting the past goes forward, knowing the future goes backward.” Six Lines prediction involves making judgments based on the hexagram cast and configuring it with Five Elements and stem-branch elements.

Zu Ye said that Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, also played the copper coin hexagram. Legend has it that when Zhu Chongba was a monk in a temple, he felt utterly confused about his future, so he found a copper coin to divine for himself. He held the copper coin in his palm and silently prayed: Heaven, please show me the way. If I toss the copper coin and it lands with the character side up, I’ll stay in the temple as a monk. If the design side is up, I’ll go join someone else. As a result, Heaven played a huge joke on Zhu Yuanzhang. After the copper coin was tossed, it rolled around and finally got stuck in a crack, standing upright there, neither character side up nor design side up.

Zhu Yuanzhang was immediately dumbfounded. What did this mean? It neither let him join others nor let him be a monk. Did it want him to go solo? So old Zhu really did go solo, ultimately unifying the realm!

After Abbess Ruolan took her seat, holding a fly whisk, she said: “Masters, please instruct me!” She was poised and had a powerful presence!

Someone below stood up, about forty years old, wearing a national mother hairstyle, refined and elegant—it was Mei Xuanzi’s wife, the Anhui spirit medium Gai Xia.

“I’ve long heard that Abbess Ruolan’s Six Lines technique is profound. I wonder to what level the art of Six Lines can reach?”

Abbess Ruolan looked at Gai Feixian, thinking: A youngster like you wants to stump me?

“The method of Six Lines originates from the Great Expansion divination method. From limitless comes the Supreme Ultimate, the Supreme Ultimate gives birth to Two Forms, Two Forms give birth to Four Images, Four Images give birth to Eight Trigrams, the Eight Trigrams interweave to form the sixty-four hexagrams. The method of Six Lines inherits the Great Expansion number of Heaven and Earth, encompassing the way of Heaven and Earth. Above it can divine great matters for kings, below it can divine small matters for common people. All things in Heaven and Earth are without exception.” After Abbess Ruolan finished speaking, she quietly observed Gai Xia.

“Can it divine human life and death?” Gai Xia asked.

“Of course! Without fail!” Abbess Ruolan said firmly.

Gai Xia smiled eerily: “The method of Six Lines originated in the Zhou Dynasty, matured in the Han Dynasty, and the one who truly perfected and promoted it was Master Jing Fang of the Han Dynasty, correct?”

“Yes.” Abbess Ruolan answered.

“Jing Fang was supremely intelligent. He developed the Six Lines method to the extreme. Every prediction was accurate, and he was deeply favored by the emperor. But this very ancestor of Six Lines failed to calculate his own life and death and was ultimately killed by the emperor. I wonder if there’s a problem with the Six Lines method, or if Master Jing Fang’s level had problems? Also, how does Abbess Ruolan compare herself to Jing Fang?” With a few sentences, Gai Xia blocked Abbess Ruolan’s retreat.

This was all a routine and countermeasure that Zu Ye and Mei Xuanzi had discussed privately.

Abbess Ruolan was indeed old, crafty, and cunning. She chuckled and said: “The matter of Master Jing Fang is often used by later generations as a laughing stock. Techniques have nothing to do with life and death. Some things, even if calculated, cannot be avoided. Otherwise, if one could avoid life-threatening disasters, wouldn’t people live forever?”

Gai Xia nodded slightly and said: “Since the ancient sages could calculate it but still couldn’t avoid it, then how can the Abbess’s use of Six Lines method to help people resolve disasters even be discussed? The Abbess claims to have resolved countless disasters over the years. Can you cite a recent example of disaster resolution? So that we may be sincerely convinced!”

Abbess Ruolan laughed heartily: “The sages created the I Ching to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune. If disasters cannot be resolved, what use would it be? Some disasters cannot be resolved, but most can still be dissolved! Since you want to hear an example, I might as well tell you a recent one. Several months ago, the famous tea merchant Wang Wenqing from southern Fujian came to seek a reading because his business was declining. I used the Six Lines method to resolve his disaster, helping him successfully overcome difficulties. Mr. Wang personally inscribed a plaque to show his gratitude. This matter caused a sensation throughout the Fujian region. You’re welcome to verify it!”

Gai Xia smiled and said: “This indeed happened, but I wonder how many years one disaster resolution session by the Abbess can manage?”

Abbess Ruolan said: “The method of the Supreme Ultimate has no exterior beyond its greatness, no interior beyond its smallness. One hexagram can glimpse an entire life, and can also glimpse the details of one year. Mr. Wang sought a hexagram for ten years, and I resolved disasters for him for ten years!”

Gai Xia laughed heartily: “Hehe, the Abbess exaggerates too much! If it’s not that the Six Lines method has problems, then it’s that the Abbess’s technique has problems. Yesterday a tea merchant from Fujian had his tea house catch fire, and several thousand pounds of tea leaves went up in flames. The Shanghai News reported that this tea merchant was precisely the southern Fujian celebrity Wang Wenqing!”

Abbess Ruolan’s expression changed suddenly. She truly didn’t know this news. Because when she came to Shanghai’s Japanese-occupied zone to participate in the debate competition, the Japanese side required strict secrecy. Once various masters entered the Japanese-occupied zone, they were not allowed to move about freely, much less communicate with the outside world.

Abbess Ruolan said angrily: “Complete nonsense!”

Gai Xia was in no hurry and said: “Just before entering the venue, I saw several Imperial Army soldiers reading newspapers and borrowed a copy…” As she spoke, she reached out and held up the newspaper on the table. “Abbess, you can see for yourself!”

This trap was precisely laid by Zu Ye and Jiang Feiyan together several months ago. After Zu Ye returned to Shanghai from the Japanese Imperial Religious Institute, he had an all-night talk with Jiang Feiyan, telling her everything truthfully. Jiang Feiyan shed tears through the dark night. She couldn’t stop Zu Ye, nor could she persuade Zu Ye to flee far away with her. Finally, she agreed to help Zu Ye. The “Yuehaitang” and Fujian’s “Taiji Gang” had always been closely connected. What Zu Ye wanted was for Jiang Feiyan to help investigate Abbess Ruolan’s recent activities. At the critical moment, Zu Ye instructed Er Batou to set a fire, thus pulling the rug out from under Abbess Ruolan!

Abbess Ruolan’s face was full of shame, then she became angry from embarrassment, pointing at Gai Xia’s nose and shouting: “It must be you who caused this trouble!”

At this moment, Nishida Yoshiko spoke: “Abbess Ruolan need not be like this. In today’s debate, exchange comes first, success or failure comes second. Using Chinese people’s words, it’s ‘harmony is precious.'”

Abbess Ruolan flicked her fly whisk and came down from the stage, sitting down sullenly.

Heir to the “Three Emperors Feng Shui”

The fourth to take the stage was one of the Central Plains Five Tigers, Tong Huaixiu, heir to the “Three Emperors Feng Shui.”

What is feng shui? The answer: blowing wind, flowing water. Zu Ye had said that the original meaning of feng shui is wind and water. When humans first built houses, they certainly built them in places that both sheltered from wind and were near water, the so-called: “choosing land to dwell, near water facing sun.” Sheltering from wind could prevent houses from being blown down; being near water meant having water to drink, avoiding death from thirst, and there were fish in the water that could be caught to satisfy hunger. Therefore, the cradles of human civilization are all in places with water, such as Chinese civilization originating in the Yellow River basin, ancient Egypt originating in the Nile River basin, ancient Babylon originating in the two-river basin, etc. There is no civilization in the world that originated in a desert, because the conditions for human survival there are poor. In terms of destiny studies, this means the feng shui is bad. The meaning of feng shui is just that simple.

As the process of civilization advanced, elements of the Five Elements began to be added, and the content of feng shui techniques also began to enrich. From simple survival needs, it changed to considering the direction of mountain ranges, the orientation of buildings, the amount of surrounding trees, the height of terrain, the flow direction of nearby rivers, etc. Later, people began to ponder that the places where people lived after death should also have feng shui, so selecting gravesites, designing coffin orientations, matching objects around the gravesite—these modes of designing feng shui for the dead appeared. Therefore feng shui is divided into two types: Yang dwelling feng shui and Yin dwelling feng shui. Yang dwellings are places where the living reside, including residences, office buildings, etc. Yin dwellings are gravesites for the dead. Examining feng shui means examining the Yang or Yin dwelling itself and various conditions around it.

Truly systematic feng shui theory originated in the pre-Qin era and took shape in the Han Dynasty.

By the Tang Dynasty, feng shui techniques welcomed a developmental peak. Representative figures include Yuan Tiangang and his direct disciple Li Chunfeng. There are many legends about these two, and the most classic is the story of these two selecting a gravesite for Wu Zetian.

According to legend, when Wu Zetian was just born, Yuan Tiangang saw Wu Zetian and perceived that this child had the aura of an emperor. Later, after Wu Zetian became emperor, she also valued Yuan Tiangang highly. In Wu Zetian’s later years, she was quite concerned about her posthumous affairs, especially where she should be buried to have the best and safest feng shui, which gave her much trouble.

One day, Wu Zetian summoned both Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng and had them select a place with the best feng shui as her gravesite. To prevent Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng from falsifying and deceiving her, Wu Zetian had them act separately. Li Chunfeng went first to search, while Yuan Tiangang stayed in the palace. When Li Chunfeng returned, the two were not allowed to meet. Li Chunfeng stayed behind, and Yuan Tiangang went out to search. When Yuan Tiangang returned, Wu Zetian sent people to survey according to the locations each of them described.

As a result, Li Chunfeng went for forty-nine days, traveling across countless mountains and rivers, and finally found a feng shui treasure land. To leave a marker, he buried a copper coin in the center of this treasure land for future reference. After burying it, he returned to the palace.

After Li Chunfeng returned, Yuan Tiangang departed. He also went for forty-nine days and finally found a treasure land. Yuan Tiangang also feared it would be hard to find later, so he pulled out the silver hairpin from his head and inserted it at the core position of this treasure land.

After Yuan Tiangang returned, Wu Zetian sent two groups of people to search separately according to the locations the two men described. The two groups finally met together and were astonished to discover: Yuan Tiangang’s silver hairpin was inserted precisely into the hole of Li Chunfeng’s copper coin!

This legend, shocking enough to leave later generations speechless, almost elevated Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng to the throne of immortals.

After Tong Huaixiu took the stage, he bowed deeply: “Everyone, please instruct me!”

This member of the Central Plains Five Tigers, Zu Ye had only heard of. Seeing him today, this person was just over thirty years old, with a dark face, medium build, speaking with a thick Henan accent—a typical Central Plains man.

Someone below stood up and said: “I’ve long heard that Master Tong’s ancestors for three generations were all heirs to Three Emperors Feng Shui. What does Master Tong think of Three Emperors Feng Shui compared to Yang Gong Feng Shui?”

Everyone looked toward the voice—it was Yang Jingsha, heir to “Yang Gong Feng Shui” from Shandong.

Tong Huaixiu nodded and said: “Yang Gong Feng Shui belongs to the Form and Configuration School, emphasizing the five characters ‘dragon, sand, water, direction, cavity,’ making much of external forms but insufficiently utilizing the qi of the Five Elements. Three Emperors Feng Shui encompasses Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, the Nine Stars of heavenly timing, the Nine Stars of earthly plate, comprehensively considering many factors of advantageous timing and terrain…”

“Hehe.” Before Tong Huaixiu finished speaking, Yang Jingsha interrupted him. “Being able to say such words shows that Master Tong’s research on feng shui schools is still somewhat immature. Since ancient times, Chinese feng shui schools have been numerous. Just Xuankong Flying Stars alone can be divided into hundreds of small sects. Different sects, different perspectives—looking horizontally it becomes a ridge, from the side it becomes a peak—but different paths lead to the same destination, all methods return to one source. Regardless of which sect, there is only one truth. Moreover, ‘Yang Gong Feng Shui’ has existed since ancient times, ranking among the six major schools. But the so-called ‘Three Emperors Feng Shui’ has never been seen in official histories. This method is nothing but some wild path tricks, con artist techniques for wandering the martial world!”

Tong Huaixiu wasn’t angry at all and said: “Whether orthodox techniques or wild path tricks, effectiveness is the hard truth! I’ve traversed the Central Plains for over ten years, and no one has said I’m inaccurate.”

“Hmph!” Zu Ye laughed once and stood up. “What does Master Tong consider to be the principle of feng shui techniques?”

Tong Huaixiu looked at Zu Ye, trembled in his heart, and couldn’t help breaking out in cold sweat all over.

Tong Huaixiu thought briefly and counter-questioned: “What brilliant insights does Zu Ye have on the principles of feng shui techniques?” He knew Zu Ye didn’t study feng shui, so he counter-questioned. He would wait for Zu Ye to reveal a weakness, then attack at the right time.

“I only have slight research into Tieban Divine Numbers. When it comes to feng shui, I’m far inferior to Master Tong, hence I humbly seek instruction!” Zu Ye said.

Seeing Zu Ye wouldn’t take the bait, Tong Huaixiu could only steel himself and say: “All methods don’t depart from I Ching principles. The adjustment of feng shui lies in the harmony and smoothness of yin-yang and Five Elements. When Five Elements are blocked, then misfortune continues; when Five Elements flow smoothly, then great fortune and benefit!”

Zu Ye nodded and said: “Mm! With Master Tong’s many years of experience, can you tell at a glance whether a certain place’s feng shui is good or bad?”

Tong Huaixiu said: “Of course! Determining yin and yang while riding a horse, one glance is enough!”

Zu Ye said: “Good! The place where Qin Shi Huang was born—was it good feng shui?”

“Of course! Otherwise how could he sweep away the six states and unify the realm!”

“Mm, such good feng shui—several thousand years have passed, why hasn’t a second Qin Shi Huang emerged? In fact, no great figures have ever emerged again?”

“This… this feng shui was all used up by King Qin Ying Zheng, therefore…” Tong Huaixiu couldn’t justify himself.

“Hehe!” Zu Ye laughed once. “It seems Master Tong’s research on feng shui principles is not yet thorough! I boldly venture an analysis. If anything is incorrect, I hope Master Tong will be understanding! The technique of feng shui must be combined with people to have meaning in its existence. Talking about feng shui alone has no value. China has numerous feng shui schools, but very few combine feng shui with destiny studies. Those who study feng shui often talk endlessly about a house, either saying it’s good or saying it’s bad. Don’t you see that when different people move into the same house, they have different fates? The mansion at 23 Nanjing Road—many masters all said this was feng shui treasure land, because at that time celebrities gathered there. Later, ‘Green-Red Gang’ backbone Lu Zhanshan purchased it for himself. Within three days, he was hacked to death in the bedroom. The feng shui was still that feng shui, the house was still that house, yet instantly great fortune became great misfortune—how can this be explained? Moreover, there are many business shops where the previous businesspeople, no matter how they operated, lost everything. As a result, later people took it over at low price. Once they moved in, business flourished and wealth poured in. The shop was still that shop, the feng shui was still that feng shui, yet their fates were utterly different—how can this be explained? Also, Caishikou in Beiping used to be a place where people were beheaded, a place of greatly inauspicious feng shui. Today great changes have occurred—merchants stand in forests, flowers bloom like brocade—how can this be explained? In summary, one sentence: talking about feng shui alone, there’s no such thing as good or bad fortune. Feng shui must be combined with a person’s Five Elements to be proper principle. What’s suitable is the best, what’s unsuitable is the worst! These humble views—I wonder if they have merit? I hope Master Tong will teach me!”

Before Tong Huaixiu could answer, warm applause erupted below the stage. Even Yang Jingsha, heir to “Yang Gong Feng Shui,” cast an admiring gaze at Zu Ye!

At this moment, Nishida Yoshiko had been deeply moved by Zu Ye’s knowledge, her eyes revealing infinite appreciation and affection. She didn’t know that all this originated from Zu Ye’s exchange with Peng the Physiognomist that night. Zu Ye’s memory was extraordinarily strong, and he could draw inferences from one instance, applying what he learned flexibly—no one could match him.

Tong Huaixiu returned to his seat in disgrace, shaking his head repeatedly, sighing endlessly.

The Mystery of Palmistry

The fifth to take the stage was Long Yufeng of Tianjin’s “Jade Pool Dao.” Long Yufeng was in her forties, with peach blossom eyes, cherry mouth, tall figure, quite having the style of a fairy maiden. Under her command were nearly a hundred disciples, all women. She often compared herself to the Jade Pool Fairy, hence the hall was called “Jade Pool Dao.” “Jade Pool Dao” rose through physiognomy. Long Yufeng was a famous physiognomy expert in Tianjin, very proficient in both palmistry and face reading.

Palmistry means a person’s palm shape, hand lines, and the texture and color of the hands. Reading palms means examining these elements, especially hand lines, which have always been one of the main reference indicators most promoted by physiognomy practitioners.

Ancient methods emphasized examining the left for men, the right for women. When you spread open your palm, over 99% of people will see three clear main lines. The line starting from below the index finger to the center position at the base of the palm is the life line. The line starting from below the middle finger to below the little finger is the emotion line. The line between the life line and emotion line is called the wisdom line. The ancients believed these were the three major lines of human life. The life line governs health and longevity, the emotion line governs marriage and love, the wisdom line governs a person’s intelligence and stupidity. Of course, different people also have different other hand lines, such as money strings, horizontal lines, etc. Palm prediction mainly relies on the depth, thickness, color, length, and whether these hand lines are broken to determine good or bad fortune. Traditional Chinese medicine can also deduce diseases based on the characteristics of hand lines.

Face reading—in the narrow sense, face reading only refers to a person’s face and the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and eyebrows attached to it. In the broad sense, face reading includes not only the face and facial organs but also the body, limbs, moles on the skin, as well as a person’s squatting, walking, sitting, lying down, moving, and even defecating and urinating. Physiognomy practitioners judge a person’s poverty, success, early death, or longevity based on facial and body proportions, the size, height, color of various organs, as well as behavior and mannerisms.

In Chinese history, this strange phenomenon once appeared: during a certain period when the country urgently needed talent, or during a certain stage when for various reasons not many people passed through the civil service examinations, additional recruitment was needed. The basis for additional recruitment wasn’t exam scores, wasn’t age, wasn’t character, but the quality of face reading. A group of failed candidates or people who never took exams were gathered. Several chief examiners sat in a room and had these backup candidates interview one by one. First look at whether they had an official appearance, then listen to whether their speech had an official tone, finally have them walk a few steps to see if they had an official gait. In this situation, those with big fat heads and ears who walked with chest out and head raised—these wine sacks and rice bags—could basically all be recruited. This shows the dark stupidity of feudal civil service examinations.

Physiognomy originated in the pre-Qin period and matured in the Han Dynasty. To this day no one can propose who the founder of physiognomy was, nor are there related historical records. But academic circles generally believe that the production of physiognomy was a long process, absolutely not something one generation could complete.

Physiognomy’s ability to connect human appearance with good and bad fortune must have been experience derived through extensive practice and evidence. For example, people with sheep-like eyes have short lives (sheep eyes, short life), people with long philtrum and deep nasolabial folds (the two grooves on both sides of the nose) live long, etc.

In ancient times there were no imaging devices, and transportation wasn’t convenient. To investigate and research, one could only rely on two legs and two eyes, summarizing from tens of thousands of examples the commonalities and peculiarities of eyes, nose, ears, teeth, body hair, as well as speaking, eating, and defecating that led to shared characteristics and individual characteristics. This is the precious aspect of the ancients.

Speaking of using eating and defecating to discuss physiognomy, Zu Ye once told the brothers at the hall about historical materials in this regard. Ancient physiognomy books had physiognomy methods regarding eating, defecating, and urinating. The general meaning was this:

Regarding eating appearance: those who sit steadily and upright, body not tilted, not rushed not impatient, “bringing food to mouth” (meaning using chopsticks to pick up food, upper body straight without leaning forward, slowly bringing the food into the mouth) all have fortunate appearance. Those who sit and lie unstably, wolf down food hastily, “bringing mouth to food” (meaning when eating, upper body bends down, head lowered, mouth brought to the bowl, using chopsticks to shovel rice into the mouth) all have poor and lowly appearance.

Zu Ye once said with a laugh: “Complete nonsense! What kind of eating appearance depends on whether the person eating is hungry or not. Wealthy and noble people have food and drink. The previous meal hasn’t finished digesting when this meal begins again. Of course they sit steadily, eat slowly, ‘bring food to mouth,’ methodically and orderly. Poor common people have nothing to eat or drink, eating one meal without knowing the next, sometimes not eating their fill for several days straight. When they finally have a meal, of course they sprawl over the rice bowl, ‘bring mouth to food,’ wolfing it down. If you starve some landlord for three to five days, see if he still sits steadily and ‘brings food to mouth’?”

Regarding defecation, ancient books say: those whose feces are long and soft, oily yellow and gleaming bright all have fortunate appearance. Those whose feces are dry, black, thick and shriveled all have poor and lowly appearance.

Zu Ye continued to laugh heartily and said: “What kind of feces you produce depends on what kind of food you eat. Nobles and landlords have three meals a day, properly balanced between meat and vegetables, with fresh peaches and fruits constantly available—of course they won’t be constipated. Slaves and the peasant class eat coarse grains, tree bark, and miscellaneous roughage. When extremely hungry, they eat incense ash and Guanyin clay—of course their feces will be black and thick. Putting the cart before the horse, putting the cart before the horse!”

Speaking of physiognomy, there’s one person who must be mentioned. Her name was Xu Fu. Zu Ye greatly admired Xu Fu and told us many stories about her.

Xu Fu was a famous physiognomist of the Western Han Dynasty, the number one talented woman in China’s physiognomy world. There are many legends about her, and evaluations of her are very positive. Especially the legends of Xu Fu reading the physiognomy of Empress Lü, Liu Bang, and other great figures are even more mystical.

Zu Ye once said that Xu Fu didn’t refer to just one person, but represented a group of people in the Western Han era. These people played a huge role in inheriting and developing physiognomy, making physiognomy gradually systematic and standardized starting from the Han Dynasty.

According to ancient people’s thinking, extraordinary people must have extraordinary experiences, otherwise they wouldn’t be worthy of history. Since Xu Fu was so formidable, her birth should also be different from others. She wasn’t an emperor, so when her mother gave birth to her, she couldn’t see dragons flying and phoenixes dancing. Thus an even more beautiful legend was born.

Legend has it that Xu Fu was born with a piece of white jade in her mouth, and on the white jade there was faintly visible a bagua diagram. After Qin Shi Huang heard about this, he considered it an auspicious omen, rewarded Xu Fu’s parents with much money, saying they had given birth well!

There are two people in China who were born with jade in their mouths—one was Jia Baoyu, the other was Xu Fu. One male and one female, one fictional, one real. As for whether a person can actually be born holding a piece of jade, this question is hard to say, but the possibility of “jade” being produced in the human body does exist.

The “jade” spoken of here isn’t real jade, but a type of stone. When stones form in the human body, over time, some stones will have bright colors and smooth surfaces, and some can even be expelled from the body. In the early Republican period, there was such a case: a girl always felt pain in her lower abdomen and difficulty urinating. One day when urinating, with a sharp pain, she passed two bright red small particles. The girl was very frightened and told her family. A “learned” relative said this was the legendary human body beautiful jade, priceless, must not spread the word, and encouraged the girl to urinate out a few more.

Later the girl died. Not suffocated to death by stones, but because news of the human body beautiful jade leaked out, the girl was killed and her abdomen cut open to extract the “jade.” What an absurd murder case! What ignorant people!

According to this pattern, it can be determined that anyone born with jade in their mouth was because their mother had stones in her body, and coincidentally this stone fell into the fetus’s mouth, and this stone happened to be smooth as jade. Xu Fu’s mother was just so miraculous.

Long Yufeng moved her body gracefully and came onto the stage.

“Please instruct me!”

“Sect Leader Long, I trust you’ve been well!” Ding Zixia of Manchuria’s “Purple Cloud Hall” was the first to stand up and cleverly asked.

Long Yufeng smiled gracefully and said: “Thanks to Master Ding’s concern, Yufeng is well!”

Everyone listening felt these two families seemed to have some entanglement.

Zu Ye smiled slightly. He could just sit on the mountain and watch tigers fight.

Ding Zixia said angrily: “Every time ‘Jade Pool Dao’ sees someone, they say the other person’s face contains peach blossoms. Nine out of ten people have the peach blossom evil spirit, and within three days, this person will inevitably have a woman throw herself at him, then either injure his body through lust or lose wealth through lust. Finally, having no choice, they must ask Sect Leader Long to resolve the disaster. Is there nothing else about a person besides face containing peach blossoms?”

This question obviously carried great gunpowder flavor, essentially insinuating that Long Yufeng had been setting up schemes, using seduction to attract roebucks, then wielding a “harsh blade” against them!

Long Yufeng giggled charmingly and answered: “Wine doesn’t intoxicate—people intoxicate themselves. Lust doesn’t seduce—people seduce themselves. Which man doesn’t like sex, which woman doesn’t have romance? Everyone seated here studies metaphysics and divination. Whether palmistry, face reading, Six Lines, or Eight Characters, the peach blossom evil spirit is a major evil. Men and women’s love, human nature. Nine out of ten men have peach blossoms, and the other one becomes a monk. What’s wrong with that? Zu Ye, tell me if I’m right?” As she spoke, her bright eyes turned and she gazed at Zu Ye with tender affection.

Zu Ye’s heart trembled. Before Zu Ye could speak, Huang Farong became anxious and suddenly stood up: “Wine is poison that pierces the intestines, lust is a steel blade that scrapes bones. Those who use lust to bewitch sentient beings will all fall into the Avici Hell! Those who study the I Ching should educate sentient beings to stay away from lust and desire—this is the righteous path! Moreover, Sect Leader Long is mistaken! The peach blossom evil spirit has broad meaning, not solely referring to lust and desire. Peach blossoms are also divided into peach blossoms within the wall and peach blossoms outside the wall. Peach blossoms within the wall indicate beauty, handsome appearance, and also intelligence. Only peach blossoms outside the wall indicate leaving affection everywhere, much promiscuity and lust! Sect Leader Long generalizes from one part—it loses elegance!”

Long Yufeng glanced at Huang Farong, then said: “I think you have peach blossoms on your face, and they’re peach blossoms outside the wall with extremely heavy evil spirit. Your husband should be careful…”

At this moment, a Japanese judge below said in broken Chinese: “Debate should stick to the matter at hand, no personal attacks allowed. If Sect Leader Long has no defense, you may leave the stage.”

Both Long Yufeng and Ding Zixia had risen through the three northeastern provinces by serving the great traitors. They had no real ability. Their participation in this debate competition—both sacrificed their beauty in exchange for advancement slots. Nishida Yoshiko saw this and noted it in her heart. She had already agreed with several chief examiners to let them advance to the top ten, then eliminate them—giving face to the traitors while not ruining the great matter.

Long Yufeng waved her long sleeves and angrily descended the stage. Ding Zixia secretly laughed, but she didn’t know that soon her outcome would be the same as Long Yufeng’s.

The Authenticity of “Mei Hua Yi Shu”

The sixth to take the stage was precisely Ding Zixia of Manchuria’s “Purple Cloud Hall.”

Ding Zixia was very tall, with phoenix eyes, high nose bridge, eyes like torches, vermilion lips and jade teeth—a typical northeastern beauty. Her “Purple Cloud Hall” was established after the September 18th Incident and was a superstitious gang jointly supported by traitors and Japanese.

During Zhang Zuolin’s period, the “Blood Swan Bird Massacre” that frequently appeared in the three northeastern provinces was manufactured by this gang. “Blood Swan Birds” specialized in eating children’s intestines. Some common people would lock young children at home when going to work in the fields. When they returned home, they found the child missing. Mobilizing fellow villagers to search everywhere, they ultimately discovered the child’s corpse at places where swan birds gathered, belly already cut open by swan birds, intestines eaten empty. The fairy maidens of “Purple Cloud Hall” took advantage of this to promote the “Child Returns to Heaven” theory, taking the opportunity to resolve disasters and collect wealth.

Zu Ye deeply detested this “Purple Cloud Hall.” He had long discussed with Zeng Jingwu whether they could send some assassins to eliminate Ding Zixia. Unfortunately, Ding Zixia’s movements were secretive and she had many guards, making it difficult to strike at once. Meeting her here today, a nameless fire rose in Zu Ye.

“Please instruct me, masters!” Ding Zixia said.

“Great Immortal Ding often says she can see immortals from heaven descending. She frequently performs magic to summon immortals with repeated success. Today with so many distinguished friends gathered, why doesn’t Great Immortal Ding summon immortals once to let us open our eyes? Great Immortal Ding, don’t say the immortals aren’t home today!” Long Yufeng, who had just descended the stage, fired the opening shot.

Ding Zixia smiled coldly: “What difficulty is there in this? Actually, right now the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady and Queen Mother are beside me, but ordinary mortals cannot see them!”

“May I ask Immortal Ding, what are the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady and Queen Mother doing beside you?”

Ding Zixia looked at Zu Ye and said: “Of course they’re protecting this humble one!”

Before the words fell, a flying nail shot out with a whoosh, extremely powerful, fast as lightning, instantly knocking open the hair bun on Ding Zixia’s head, scaring Ding Zixia so her fragrant soul scattered and her face turned pale.

“It seems the Mysterious Lady and Queen Mother are not beside you!” Zu Ye smiled coldly.

Several Japanese guards surrounded Zu Ye with a whoosh, fearing he would shoot another dart and kill a Japanese master below.

Clap—clap—clap! Three claps. Nishida Yoshiko stood up and led the applause for Zu Ye. Everyone was stunned, then thunderous applause followed.

The Japanese judges waved their hands, and the Japanese guards withdrew.

Ding Zixia descended the stage in panic and alarm.

“‘Jiang Xiang Sect,’ stop being wild!” Someone leaped up from below. Everyone looked toward the voice—it was Jiang Tiancheng of Manchuria’s “Obedient Heaven Sect.” Originally he was next to take the stage, but he couldn’t hold back. Without waiting for the announcement, he jumped up himself. Because Ding Zixia, also from a Manchurian gang, had been humiliated by Zu Ye from Jianghuai.

“Hehe.” Zu Ye smiled calmly, but thought to himself: Just based on this performance of yours, you’re destined to lose today!

After Jiang Tiancheng took the stage, he pointed directly at Zu Ye: “Zu Ye, whatever questions you have, just ask!”

Everyone seeing this posture—he had essentially excluded everyone else’s opportunity to ask questions—their gazes all turned to Zu Ye.

Zu Ye remained unmoved, nodded, and said: “‘Obedient Heaven Sect’ has traversed the three northeastern provinces for decades. Master Jiang received the true transmission of both Shao Yong’s ‘Plum Blossom Yi Numbers’ and ‘Supreme Principles Governing the World,’ integrating and comprehending them, performing Yi numbers and Yi principles to the pinnacle realm. No one in the martial world doesn’t know this. This junior has also long admired senior’s great name. Seeing you today, Master Jiang truly has the bones of a Daoist immortal and extraordinary bearing!”

Jiang Tiancheng was nearly sixty years old, so Zu Ye called himself “junior.”

Jiang Tiancheng had originally come on stage full of anger. Being “flattered” by Zu Ye, he suddenly felt somewhat embarrassed: “Zu Ye is too modest. The ‘Jiang Xiang Sect’ has traversed the martial world for hundreds of years. The ‘Wood Seed Lotus’ dart-throwing method stands alone in the Jianghuai region. This old man is in his twilight years—the younger generation is formidable.”

“Master Jiang has studied ‘Plum Blossom Yi Numbers’ for many years. How accurate do you feel this method is in responding to people and matters?” Zu Ye was asking him about the accuracy rate of “Plum Blossom Yi Numbers.”

“All methods return to one source. Whether it’s accurate or not doesn’t depend on the method but on the person. As long as one studies thoroughly, any magical art can divine heaven and earth. ‘Plum Blossom Yi Numbers’ was created by Song Dynasty Yi studies master Shao Gong Kangjie and became famous throughout the world because of one ‘observing plum blossoms divination’ incident! This method utilizes Former Heaven Eight Trigrams numerical principles, borrowing inner trigrams, outer trigrams, interwoven trigrams and other trigram images, incorporating sounds, directions, time, movement and stillness, geography, heavenly timing, people, colors, animals and plants into the trigrams. All things in the world can be divined!”

“Plum Blossom Yi Numbers” has been transmitted mystically in the divination world since ancient times. It’s said to have been created by Song Dynasty prediction master Shao Yong. The reason it’s called “Plum Blossom Yi Numbers” all stems from the “observing plum blossoms divination” mentioned by Jiang Tiancheng.

Ancient books record: One day, Shao Kangjie and a friend were admiring plum blossoms in a garden. Suddenly they saw two sparrows chirping and quarreling on a plum branch. Suddenly one sparrow attacked and pecked the other sparrow to the ground. After Shao Kangjie saw this scene, he immediately cast a hexagram, then said to his friend: “Tomorrow evening, a girl will definitely come to the garden to pick plum blossoms. The gardener will mistake her for a thief and chase her, causing the girl to fall from a tree and break her thigh!” Sure enough, the next day such an event truly occurred. “Plum Blossom Yi Numbers” became famous throughout the world from this point on!

Zu Ye suddenly changed tack and said: “I have something to say. I wonder if I should say it or not?”

“Please speak!” Jiang Tiancheng said.

“I believe ‘Plum Blossom Yi Numbers’ is a forgery!”

The crowd below gasped! Forgery means fake work—that is, saying that piece of history doesn’t exist at all and was fabricated by later generations.

Jiang Tiancheng was so angry his beard shook: “‘Plum Blossom Yi Numbers’ and ‘Supreme Principles Governing the World’ are Shao Gong’s two great lifetime studies. For Zu Ye to recklessly claim it’s a forgery—isn’t this the greatest absurdity in the world?”

Zu Ye said methodically: “Shao Yong possessed great talent. From youth he read extensively. ‘Song History’ states he was ‘firm and austere in hardship, not using a furnace in winter, not using a fan in summer, not going to bed for several years,’ ‘received the River Chart and Luo Book, Fuxi’s sixty-four trigrams images,’ ‘the books he wrote are called Supreme Principles Governing the World, Inner and Outer Chapters on Observing Things, Fisherman and Woodcutter Dialogue, and his poetry is called Yichuan Collection of Beating Earth.’ When later dynasties continued earlier dynasty histories, they were certainly very rigorous, never speaking falsely or recklessly. The cited evidence and examples all had verifiable basis. But Song History’s ‘Biography of Shao Yong’ for such a legendary figure only lists four types of writings: Supreme Principles Governing the World, Inner and Outer Chapters on Observing Things, Fisherman and Woodcutter Dialogue, and Yichuan Collection of Beating Earth. If ‘Plum Blossom Yi Numbers’ truly is as Master Jiang said, one of Shao Kangjie’s two great studies, the Song History compilers would absolutely not dare omit it. From this it can be seen that ‘Plum Blossom Yi Numbers’ is indeed a later fabrication falsely attributed to him! I am shallow in talent and learning, but not to the point of not understanding classics and histories. I don’t know between you and me, who exactly is the greatest absurdity in the world!”

Just as Jiang Tiancheng was about to argue, Zu Ye immediately continued: “Just now was only from the perspective of classics and historical texts verifying that ‘Plum Blossom Yi Numbers’ is a forgery. Now let’s look from the content perspective at whether ‘Plum Blossom Yi Numbers’ is a forgery. ‘Plum Blossom Yi Numbers’ throughout seems to explain divination methods, but has no specific guideline to coordinate, and even more has no explanation of specific deduction methods and models. The entire text is mystical, ultimately using a poem to replace calculation methods. The poem says: One thing comes with one body, one body still has one universe; able to know myriad things complete in me, willing to establish roots separately from three talents; heaven toward one center divides creation and transformation, humans upon the heart raise order and principles; immortals also have two kinds of speech, the way isn’t falsely transmitted but lies only in people. Those with slight cunning will discover this poem is extremely similar to Shao Yong’s ‘Observing Things Chant’ in his ‘Collection of Beating Earth.’ ‘Observing Things Chant’ says: One thing from the beginning has one body, one body still has one universe; able to know myriad things complete in me, willing to establish roots separately from three talents; heaven toward one center divides substance and function, humans upon the heart raise order and principles; heaven and humanity have no two different meanings, the way isn’t falsely transmitted but lies only in people. Everyone please look—this clearly plagiarized Shao Yong’s concepts and theories. Later generations established their own school to attract attention! If Master Jiang persists in this delusion, I fear he will truly become the greatest absurdity in the world!”

Zu Ye knew Jiang Tiancheng was treacherous and cunning, recognizing a thief as his father, so he showed him absolutely no mercy. Whether because Jiang Tiancheng was too old or because Zu Ye’s words were too harsh, Jiang Tiancheng actually became flushed all over his face, gasping for breath. His disciple quickly shouted: “My master has asthma, quick, get medicine!”

Jiang Tiancheng was thus carried down by his disciples.

This was the first time in Yi studies history that doubts were raised about ‘Plum Blossom Yi Numbers.’ Zu Ye’s doubts were heard by the two hundred-plus people present. Later this doubt was brought into the martial world. Not until after New China was established did scholars finally verify that Zu Ye’s doubts were correct.

“Qimen Dunjia”

The eighth to take the stage was Pei Jinglong of Baoding’s “Imperial Pole Dao.” Pei Jinglong was a rising star in the Chinese Yi studies world, just twenty years old. At fifteen, he became apprenticed to an old pedant from the “Zhili Governor’s Office Folk Customs Supervision Section,” obtained a handwritten copy of the palace treasured edition of “Qimen Dunjia,” then studied it day and night, actually comprehending the mysteries within.

During the Central Plains War, Wang Jingwei united various warlords to crusade against Chiang Kai-shek. People in the martial world all said: Chiang Kai-shek’s life is finished! But Pei Jinglong observed celestial phenomena at night, analyzed using Qimen methods, and obtained the prophecy “there must be fierce troops from the Gen direction, sweeping away Qian Kun Zhen and Dui!” Later, when the war between both sides entered a stalemate, Zhang Xueliang from the Northeast suddenly telegraphed the entire nation: Support Chiang Kai-shek, and brought two hundred thousand Northeast Army troops south, decisively establishing the victory and defeat pattern of the Central Plains War. After the great war ended, Chiang Kai-shek and Zhang Xueliang even became sworn brothers of different surnames! The Northeast direction in Later Heaven Eight Trigrams is precisely at the Gen position. This precisely verified the prophecy “there must be fierce troops from the Gen direction.” Pei Jinglong became famous in one stroke!

Zu Ye had long heard of this Yi studies younger generation. Meeting him this time, he saw Pei Jinglong had refined and handsome features between his eyebrows, extraordinary bone structure, resolute gaze, calm and composed spirit. He couldn’t help but sigh: This is great talent!

Zu Ye always firmly believed that a kind heart makes bright eyes. A bright heart and bright eyes mean exceptional intelligence, which also reaches the pinnacle in academics. All things are interconnected. Kind-hearted people aren’t covered by worldly material desires. Wholeheartedly pursuing learning, they can reach the pinnacle. Zu Ye used physiognomy to examine people’s hearts, then used people’s hearts to infer achievement. He couldn’t help but have the intention of recruiting him.

Earlier, Zu Ye had discussed with Mei Xuanzi that in this Yi studies debate, they should pay attention to finding people whose conscience hadn’t died. Perhaps among these people bearing the stigma of traitors, there were people like them bearing humiliation and heavy burdens, only waiting for the time to mature, then they would flip like a dragon’s tail and wash away blood vengeance!

According to Zu Ye’s arrangement, Mei Xuanzi would ask a few questions to test this person’s depth, because Mei Xuanzi also studied “Qimen Dunjia.”

Mei Xuanzi stood up and asked: “Those who study ‘Qimen Dunjia’ all know that the Qimen method is wondrously incomparable. Unfortunately, very few reference materials have been transmitted since ancient times. Especially calculation methods are even more rarely mentioned. Many students, after learning to set up the structure, wander without progress for years. The reason is they only know how to arrange the plate but don’t know how to analyze, much less how to resolve disasters! In the ‘Song of the Smoky Waves Fisherman,’ regarding disaster resolution, only one sentence is left: In urgency follow the spirit, in leisure follow the door! I wonder what brilliant views Mr. Pei has on this?”

The most essential content of “Qimen Dunjia” is all condensed in a song formula—”Song of the Smoky Waves Fisherman.” This is also content that countless people studying Qimen Dunjia throughout history must comprehend.

“In urgency follow the spirit, in leisure follow the door” is a sentence within it, discussing how to resolve disasters through the information revealed by the “Qimen Dunjia” plate structure. Speaking plainly, it’s how to choose advantageous time and space to do things beneficial to oneself.

“In urgency follow the spirit” means in situations where matters are urgent and time is tight, you can’t afford to consider all aspects of this plate structure. What to do then? You need only act according to the direction of the Six Jia duty charm in the plate structure or the direction of the Nine Stars duty charm—either escape and avoid difficulty from this direction, or break out of the encirclement from this direction.

“In leisure follow the door” means if the matter isn’t too urgent and there’s room to think, then you should comprehensively weigh the overall situation, examine the eight doors’ good and bad fortune, then select a direction to guide action.

Pei Jinglong smiled and said: “‘In urgency follow the spirit, in leisure follow the door’ is indeed an essential sentence, but urgent versus not urgent has no accurate judgment standard. This completely comes down to the individual’s mental state quality. Some people aren’t afraid even when Mount Tai collapses before them. Some people worry the sky will fall when the wind blows the grass. So I judge that urgent versus not urgent considers not only the matter at the time but also examines the good and bad fortune of host and guest in the divined plate structure. Combining substance and function, one can accurately judge. Otherwise, it’s misunderstanding the sage’s method!”

Zu Ye listened while smiling and nodding.

Mei Xuanzi continued asking: “Everyone says ‘Qimen Dunjia’ originated from what the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady bestowed. I wonder what brilliant views Mr. Pei has on this?”

This was indeed a problem in history. “Qimen Dunjia” has always been transmitted mystically, but as for how this book actually came about, there’s no historical material that can convincingly verify it.

Legend has it that “Qimen Dunjia” originated in the Yellow Emperor’s era. In ancient times, when the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan fought Chi You in Zhuolu (today’s Zhuolu County in Hebei Province), both sides fought inseparably. Suddenly Chi You used sorcery to lay down heavy fog. The Yellow Emperor and his army immediately lost their direction, trapped at the mountain base. Just when the Yellow Emperor had no plan, a thunderclap sounded in the sky, and a rainbow hung up. A fairy maiden walked out from the rainbow—this fairy maiden was the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady. She bestowed upon the Yellow Emperor a book. The Yellow Emperor followed the methods described in this book to arrange troops and deploy forces, finally crushing Chi You’s army.

Later this book was transmitted to Jiang Taigong’s hands. Jiang Taigong held this book while fishing, reading while fishing, fishing until eighty years old, finally waiting for King Wen of Zhou, from then on being entrusted with important responsibilities. Finally, Jiang Taigong used his lifetime learning to help King Wu of Zhou defeat King Zhou of Yin.

Later this book was transmitted to the hands of someone called Old Man Huangshi. One day this old man encountered someone called Zhang Liang on a bridge. Seeing this child’s physiognomy was good, he had the heart to test him. The old man deliberately threw his shoes into the river and said, “Pick them up for me.” Zhang Liang was very angry at the time and wanted to beat this old man, but thinking again he was an old person, why bother with him? He silently picked up the old man’s shoes. The result was the old man pushed his luck and said, “Young man, put them on for me.” Zhang Liang was almost about to explode with anger, but thought since he’d already picked them up, what harm in putting them on for him? So he respectfully put the shoes on the old man.

The old man was pleased: “Forget it, forget it. Child, come again in five days and I’ll give you a small gift.” Later, Old Man Huangshi gave Zhang Liang a book called “Taigong’s Art of War.” Zhang Liang was immediately moved to tears, hastily knelt down and kowtowed to become his disciple. From then on Zhang Liang used this book with wind and cloud figures like Han Xin and Xiao He to help Liu Bang conquer the realm. Later Zhang Liang revised this book and renamed it “Qimen Dunjia.”

Later still, it’s said “Qimen Dunjia” reached Zhuge Liang’s hands. Thus it achieved Zhuge Liang’s great accomplishments of “merit covers the three-part nation, fame achieved through the eight array diagram.”

This is the legendary origin and development of “Qimen Dunjia.”

Pei Jinglong nodded and said: “Mm, from the Yellow Emperor battling Chi You, to Taigong assisting Kings Wen and Wu to become emperors, to Zhang Liang assisting Liu Bang to unify the realm, then to Zhuge Liang helping Liu Bei divide the world into three parts. Throughout history, whenever ‘Qimen Dunjia’ appeared, it was when the world was in great chaos, all inseparable from warfare. ‘Dunjia’ means hiding ‘Jia.’ Of the ten Heavenly Stems, Jia is first, like a great general in the army. When troops march a thousand miles, the general is the center. Hiding Jia means protecting Jia, not letting the great general be harmed by stray arrows, not letting the great general be beheaded by others. So all signs indicate that Qimen Dunjia originated from ancient military troop deployment and array formation! As for the exact era, there’s currently no way to verify!”

After the crowd below heard this, they secretly nodded. With just a few words, he explained such a profound question reasonably and appropriately. Immediately thunderous applause erupted. Zu Ye also couldn’t help but applaud for him.

Pei Jinglong also slowly walked down from the stage amid everyone’s admiring gazes.

The ninth to take the stage was Mei Xuanzi. According to the strategy he and Zu Ye had agreed upon, they absolutely couldn’t let the Japanese detect that the two had reconciled and come together. So after he took the stage, Zu Ye asked first, and with full gunpowder flavor. The two engaged in sharp verbal sparring, using the stratagem of deceiving heaven to cross the sea, fooling the Japanese eyes.

The last to take the stage was Zu Ye. Actually Zu Ye didn’t need to take the stage—victory and defeat were already decided—but at this moment Zu Ye was the target of all! Those masters below wanted nothing more than to bite Zu Ye to death. Various difficulties emerged endlessly. Zu Ye was steady as Mount Tai, answering one by one.

Question: “The divination world all considers ‘Tieban Divine Numbers’ a forgery. How does Zu Ye explain this?”

Answer: “It is indeed a forgery! But not a fake work! My former master Tiebuzi comprehended this method from Shao Yong’s ‘Supreme Principles Governing the World,’ but didn’t dare claim credit. He borrowed the names of former worthies to transmit the Yi Dao method—this is the style of a great master. What’s wrong with it?”

Question: “Does Zu Ye think Eight Characters or feng shui is more formidable?”

Answer: “The ancients said first grave, second house, third Eight Characters. It seems feng shui comes first. Actually feng shui and Eight Characters are interconnected, mutually supplementing and completing each other. There’s no such thing as which is more formidable—only the saying that the user’s skill is solid!”

Question: “Twins have the same Eight Characters. Does that mean their fates are the same? How does Zu Ye view this?”

Answer: “Twins don’t come out of the mother’s womb at the same time either. There must be first and later. The later one comes out, the closer to the next hour, and the Five Elements qi also becomes closer to the next hour. Don’t you see in ancient times there were twin brothers born—when the elder came out, the rooster crowed loudly. When the younger brother came out, the rooster had finished crowing and only gasping sounds remained. As a result, the elder became a top scholar, the second became a beggar. Twins’ fates are certainly not entirely the same!”

Question: “Does Zu Ye know how many types of Eight Characters there are in total?”

Answer: “Five hundred twenty thousand types!”

…

At this moment Zu Ye had developed Yi studies thinking to the fullest extent. This benefited from his many years of humble study, benefited from Huang Farong coming to “Wood Seed Lotus,” benefited from Peng the Physiognomist’s careful guidance!

This grand “Great Master of Chinese Yi Studies” debate competition finally came to an end. Zu Ye deservedly won the championship and also became the number one “traitor” in the Chinese Yi studies world!

Serving the Nation with One’s Body

A new official takes office with three fires blazing. The first thing Zu Ye did was unite various “secret societies” to build the “Japan-China Friendship Yi Studies Exchange Institute.” This was Zu Ye’s second move—he wanted to drain the livelihood money of each “secret society”!

When various “secret societies” heard this, they were furious. Monthly tribute to the Japanese was one thing, but now they had to build some institute. So they sent letters to the Japanese military opposing it. But this proposal received strong support from the Japanese military and intelligence agencies!

Ultimately this institute was built on a twenty-square-kilometer wetland in the Zhoushan Archipelago. This was a feng shui treasure land jointly recommended by Zu Ye and Pei Jinglong.

That wetland had beautiful scenery. The endless surface was covered with thick grass meadows. Four small rivers passed through the middle, winding continuously. Where the water veins intersected, patches of tidal flats formed. Flocks of waterfowl and wild birds flew back and forth. On ordinary days, 80% of this wetland was exposed. Once the tide rose, it could reduce to 60%.

The Japanese supported Zu Ye’s decision, but actually had their own calculations in mind. This “Japan-China Friendship Yi Studies Exchange Institute” on the surface was a Japan-China friendship academic exchange venue, but actually was the core intelligence agency for Japan to control China’s “secret societies.”

After the September 18th Incident in 1931, Japan successively occupied the three northeastern provinces, then extended its devil’s claws toward the Zhoushan Archipelago, known as the gateway to East China. After the January 28th Incident

Setting the core agency for controlling China’s “secret societies” in Zhoushan was also the result of deep deliberation by the Japanese. Establishing an intelligence agency here, vertically it could connect the Northeast, Shandong, Anhui, and Fujian; horizontally it could reach directly to Henan, the two lakes region, and Shanxi; retreating, it could circle back by sea directly to the Japanese headquarters. The lifeline of all of China’s “secret societies” was grasped in the Japanese hands! To achieve full-scale invasion of China, the Japanese had truly done their homework!

Subsequently, the Japanese mobilized laborers, and the “Japan-China Friendship Yi Studies Exchange Institute” broke ground in the Zhoushan Archipelago.

Time flew by, seasons changed, autumn passed and winter came.

On November 1, 1935, the Kuomintang Fourth Central Committee Sixth Plenary Session convened. At the meeting, a shocking event occurred: Kuomintang veteran Wang Jingwei was assassinated at the venue. The assassin was Sun Fengming, a reporter for the Morning Light News Agency and a patriotic volunteer. Wang Jingwei was hit by three shots. The second shot between the sixth and seventh ribs was the fatal wound. Although he didn’t die on the spot, he was already in critical condition. After emergency treatment he survived, but in 1944 the gunshot wound relapsed and he died in Nagoya, Japan.

The mastermind behind this assassination was Wang Yaqiao. Originally the primary target of this assassination was Chiang Kai-shek. Unexpectedly, on the day of the operation, Chiang Kai-shek saw the venue was too chaotic and delayed coming downstairs. As a result, Sun Fengming turned his gun on Wang Jingwei.

When the news appeared in the papers, it shocked the entire nation. Zu Ye immediately broke out in cold sweat and couldn’t help but recall Wang Yaqiao’s personal letter from not long ago: “…Brother overestimates himself and intends to undertake a great deed in Nanjing again, behead the three traitors’ heads to wash away national humiliation, manifest righteous bodies openly in China!” This Ninth Master truly had great courage. What he wanted to do, nothing couldn’t be achieved. But once this matter occurred, Ninth Master’s situation would inevitably become even more dangerous. The Kuomintang would certainly spare no cost to eliminate Ninth Master. Thinking of this, Zu Ye broke out in cold sweat all over. Once Ninth Master met with misfortune, there would no longer be anyone in the martial world to back him up.

Actually, since Zu Ye joined the Japanese Imperial Religious Organization, he had almost no contact with Wang Yaqiao. Occasionally sending messages through Zeng Jingwu was extremely cautious. He feared the Japanese would follow the vine to get the melon, avenging Wang Yaqiao’s assassination of Shirakawa Yoshinori. But after a period of observation and probing, he discovered the Japanese didn’t seem eager to act. Not until after Wang Jingwei’s assassination did Nishida Yoshiko reveal the truth: We’ve long since found Wang Yaqiao’s whereabouts, but directly assassinating Wang Yaqiao isn’t as good as waiting for him to kill Chiang Kai-shek. The Kuomintang will inevitably counterattack furiously. We’ll just sit on the mountain and watch tigers fight, making up with a shot at the critical moment!

“When the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman profits. Zu Ye wouldn’t fail to understand this principle, right? Unexpectedly Chiang Kai-shek had great fate and actually avoided calamity.” Nishida Yoshiko said, “The good show is about to begin. Zu Ye, don’t forget your mission!”

Subsequently, on November 24, under Japanese manipulation, the great North China traitor Yin Rugeng launched the “East Hebei Incident,” issuing a declaration in Tongxian breaking away from the Nanjing National Government. On the 25th, he established the “East Hebei Anti-Communist Autonomous Committee,” declaring twelve counties in East Hebei would break away from National Government control.

During the process of the twelve counties of East Hebei gaining independence, the Beiping “Heavenly Sage Dao” branch hall’s propaganda efforts were indispensable. They continuously promoted slogans like “Heaven and Earth face great calamity, the end times are upon us, blessings come from the east, Manchuria saves all sentient beings,” slowly infiltrating the concept of “Sino-Japanese friendship.” They also relied on dart-throwing techniques provided by the Japanese Imperial Religious Institute, playing tricks with spirits and ghosts, deceiving common people. After the twelve counties gained independence, common people actually thought good days had arrived.

At the same time, Japanese intelligence chiefs rushed about in Baoding, Taiyuan, Jinan, and other places, attempting to use Song Zheyuan in the Hebei-察-Beiping-Tianjin region, Yan Xishan in Shanxi, Han Fuju in Shandong, Shang Zhen in Hebei, and others to achieve “autonomy of five North China provinces”!

Amid much clamor, China passed through the critical year of 1935.

On New Year’s Eve, Zu Ye once again fell into deep contemplation.

The Japanese side continuously urged various “secret societies” to create momentum, promoting concepts of “Sino-Japanese friendship” and “same ancestry, same race.” They repeatedly manufactured grand immortal schemes in North China, Jiaodong, and Jianghuai, scaring common people silly. Leaders of various “secret societies” recognized thieves as fathers, completely losing the bottom line of being Chinese. Zu Ye felt matters were becoming increasingly urgent!

Zu Ye began constantly urging progress on the “Japan-China Friendship Yi Studies Exchange Institute” construction.

The “Japan-China Friendship Yi Studies Exchange Institute” was a building complex, constructed according to Zhuge Liang’s “Eight Arrays Diagram” layout.

The entire building complex sat south facing north, with nine small buildings total. The main hall was one, located in the center. Front, back, left, and right each had a deputy hall. Each of the four corners was matched with an auxiliary hall. This structure was precisely the Eight Trigrams Nine Palaces diagram. Twenty-four large trees were transplanted at the Kan position, symbolizing the twenty-four mobile cavalry formations. Four small rivers shuttled through the building complex—the appearance of feng shui circulation, bringing out the qi of the eight gates: Rest Gate, Life Gate, Injury Gate, Obstruction Gate, View Gate, Death Gate, Alarm Gate, and Open Gate. Halls were connected by fully enclosed corridors. Connected areas were blocked by stone gates. People entering the building complex had to enter through Life Gate, circulate following the Eight Trigrams qi, finally exiting through Rest Gate to come out safely. Otherwise, once mistakenly entering Death Gate and triggering the stone gate mechanism, the stone gate would automatically seal, and those who entered would surely be trapped to death inside. There was a trick here: when lost, one must absolutely not stay indoors. One needed only to walk out, walk in the direction of the river flow, follow the qi downward, then one could find Life Gate again and afterward escape through Rest Gate.

This design came entirely from the hands of Pei Jinglong and Zu Ye and received great praise from the Japanese side. The Japanese anticipated that after the “Japan-China Friendship Yi Studies Exchange Institute” was completed, Japanese military intelligence agents and Imperial Religious Institute sorcerers would gather here, inevitably attracting Chinese assassins to come for assassination. What if a group of death-defying people were drawn? Would the Japanese divination talents be wiped out in one pot?

After hearing Zu Ye and Pei Jinglong’s explanation of the Eight Arrays Diagram, the Japanese military finally felt relieved, but they didn’t dare underestimate the enemy. Japanese warships patrolled day and night around the Zhoushan Archipelago to prevent unexpected events.

Under Zu Ye’s repeated urging and personal supervision, on May 6, 1936, the “Japan-China Friendship Yi Studies Exchange Institute” was victoriously completed. Japanese intelligence chief Kodama Yoshio personally attended the ribbon-cutting. Chinese and Japanese divination masters all attended to celebrate. In view of Zu Ye and Pei Jinglong’s outstanding merits, the Japanese side specially prepared two rooms in the South Hall for the two masters, for their long-term residence, study of divination, and better service to the Imperial Army.

At this time, “Wood Seed Lotus” was in an uproar. Paper can’t wrap fire—the matter of Zu Ye becoming “Great Master of Chinese Yi Studies” was ultimately known by all the brothers.

Not to mention the Xiao Jiaos’ discussions, even the Batous began to have differences. San Batou and Wu Batou firmly supported him. Da Batou and Er Batou firmly opposed. Si Batou Zhang Zizhan was also watching. This upright and honorable Zu Ye, this fourteenth-generation sect leader of “Wood Seed Lotus,” this Jianghuai master who hated evil like an enemy—how had he become a traitor?

At night, Zhang Zizhan desperately questioned Huang Farong: “What exactly have you and Zu Ye been doing these past months? My father was killed by the Japanese. My eldest brother was also killed by the Japanese. What exactly are you doing?”

Huang Farong calmly said: “We must trust Zu Ye!”

Zhang Zizhan became angry: “I’m telling you to tell me!”

Huang Farong said composedly: “You understand the hall’s rules. Matters that should be known, Zu Ye will naturally announce. Matters that shouldn’t be known, no one dares say more!”

Zhang Zizhan was stunned: “Are we husband and wife or not?”

Huang Farong smiled: “How are we not?”

Zhang Zizhan shouted irritably: “Get out! Get out!”

Huang Farong looked at him, silently, no longer making a sound.

On the night of August 15, Zu Ye suddenly summoned the Batous for a meeting.

Strangely, this time Zu Ye didn’t hold the meeting at the hall, but led everyone to the ancestral shrine where the ancestors of the “Jiang Xiang Sect” were enshrined.

Zu Ye lit three incense sticks and respectfully inserted them in the incense burner, then didn’t speak, only silently gazing at the ancestral tablets and portraits.

The room was very quiet. The Batous also raised their heads, carefully studying the genealogy:

First Generation Ancestor: Fang Zhaoyu, Lady Xu, Lady Zeng

Second Generation Ancestors: Tang Yonghe, Fang Dazhong, Lin Kaishi, Yuchi Lin

Third Generation Ancestors: Xiao Wenyuan, Zhou Yuncai, Jiang Acai, Zhao Siniang

…

Looking and looking, Zu Ye’s eyes became moist. The Batous’ eyes became moist. The portraits of successive ancestors were all reflected in the lamplight. Those once turbulent stories seemed right before their eyes: opposing the Qing and restoring the Ming, assassinating Yongzheng, robbing the rich to help the poor, acting on Heaven’s behalf, traveling south and venturing north, pacifying the martial world. Scene after scene of heroic and stirring scrolls shuttled through the corridors of thought. The stars shifted, great changes occurred. The “Jiang Xiang Sect” had walked through nearly three hundred years of history, and now…

Suddenly, Zu Ye lifted his long robe and knelt on the ground. All the Batous also knelt down.

“This evening we meet to unite all under heaven!” Zu Ye loudly recited.

“This evening we meet to unite all under heaven!” The Batous involuntarily followed.

“From all seas we recruit, all surnamed Hong!”

“From all seas we recruit, all surnamed Hong!”

“With golden needles drawing blood, we jointly make our vow!”

“With golden needles drawing blood, we jointly make our vow!”

“Brothers unite in heart and must harmonize!”

“Brothers unite in heart and must harmonize!”

The resonant voices accompanied by passion stirred in the night sky. Righteous courage and heroic spirit were fully displayed!

Then Zu Ye rose and turned around, facing all the Batous, saying: “Brothers! The time has come for the ‘Jiang Xiang Sect’ to serve the nation with our bodies!”

The Batous all widened their eyes, staring blankly at Zu Ye. Zu Ye did everything with purpose. The Batous knew Zu Ye was about to speak the truth.

“I came from the mortal world to practice physiognomy. All in the mortal world is past. Thunder and fire won’t blow away wind. Life after life, death after death in the physiognomy gate! In life, I’m a person of the ‘Jiang Xiang Sect.’ In death, I’m a ghost of the ‘Jiang Xiang Sect’! Tomorrow at the third quarter of the hour of Xu, I will perish together with the Japanese devils! Those willing to go with me, go together. Those unwilling to go, stay here. After the great matter is settled tomorrow, you can divide the wealth and go your separate ways!”

“Men!” Zu Ye shouted loudly.

Six strong-bodied A’Baos entered from outside the door, bare-chested, all holding gleaming large sabers. Zu Ye said: “It’s not that I don’t trust the brothers, but this matter is extremely important. Before the operation, not half a word of wind can leak! Brothers unwilling to go, before the third quarter of the hour of Xu tomorrow, may not leave even half a step!”

The Batous looked at each other, still not quite understanding. Er Batou couldn’t hold back and finally asked: “Zu Ye, we’ve all been kept in the dark. Please instruct us clearly, Zu Ye. We pledge to follow Zu Ye to the death!”

Zu Ye nodded and revealed the operational plan one by one.

Only then did the Batous understand Zu Ye’s painstaking effort. To wait for this moment, Zu Ye was willing to bear humiliation and heavy burdens. For this moment, Zu Ye was willing to deceive his brothers. For this moment, he was willing to bear the stigma of “the number one traitor in the Yi studies world”!

After hearing this, the Batous’ blood boiled. This was the Zu Ye worth following for a lifetime!

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Breaking the cauldrons and sinking the boats, a hundred and two Qin passes will ultimately belong to Chu! Heaven doesn’t let down those who work hard. Lying on brushwood and tasting gall, three thousand Yue soldiers can swallow Wu!” San Batou shouted.

“Zu Ye, we pledge to follow you to the death!” The Batous said in unison.

Zu Ye looked at his brothers, his eyes moistened, and shouted: “Bring wine!”

Several Xiao Jiaos carried over a jar of fine Daughter Red wine and poured seven or eight bowls in one breath.

Zu Ye took out a golden needle, pierced his middle finger, fresh blood gushed out and dripped into the bowl. The Batous each took needles, pricked their fingers, and dripped blood into the bowls.

Zu Ye raised his wine bowl, facing the ancestral tablets, and said loudly: “We don’t seek to be born in the same year, same month, same day, but seek to die in the same year, same month, same day!”

The Batous followed with tears streaming down: “We don’t seek to be born in the same year, same month, same day, but seek to die in the same year, same month, same day!”

After speaking, everyone raised their necks, swallowed the wine, then raised the bowls high and smashed them on the ground, shattering them to pieces.

The Great Final Battle

August 16, the Qiantang River great tide.

This great tide was the largest tidal wave the Qiantang River had seen in ten years. Zu Ye was waiting for just such an opportunity. The newspapers had long since published information about tide-watching. Even General Feng Yuxiang would personally go to Yanguan to watch the tide on the day of the tidal wave.

Earlier, Zu Ye feared the tidal timing might be wrong and had Pei Jinglong use Qimen methods to divine and predict. After analysis, Pei Jinglong told Zu Ye: “Zu Ye, rest assured. At the third quarter of the hour of Xu, the tidal wave will affect the entire Zhoushan Archipelago. At that time, waves will be seven feet high. The great matter can succeed!”

Zu Ye nodded deeply, then looked at Pei Jinglong and said: “Brother Pei, let’s part ways here. When the war ends in the future and China has peace, the promotion of Yi studies will depend on you, worthy brother!”

Pei Jinglong looked at Zu Ye admiringly and said with deep feeling: “Zu Ye, though you and I are not the same age, we’re close friends. In life, having one true friend is enough. This great battle will surely be nine deaths and one survival. I can’t leave. I’ll board the island together with Zu Ye! Those Qimen mechanisms were designed by my own hands. At the critical moment, perhaps I can help Zu Ye!”

Zu Ye looked at this young man before him, nodded, then patted his shoulder. A pair of close friends embraced tightly, trusting each other completely.

Zu Ye hadn’t misjudged. Pei Jinglong’s conscience indeed hadn’t died. After the Yi studies debate concluded that day, Zu Ye and Mei Xuanzi secretly met with Pei Jinglong. When asked why he submitted to the Japanese, Pei Jinglong revealed the truth. It turned out the Japanese had held Pei Jinglong’s mother hostage, threatening that if he didn’t cooperate with the Imperial Army, he would be killed without mercy. Pei Jinglong was a famous great filial son. Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety cannot both be fulfilled, so he had no choice but to bear humiliation and heavy burdens, compromising reluctantly. After Zu Ye heard this, he secretly calculated. Within a week, through North Sect “Xuemeng Cao” sect leader Qian Yuelin, he cleared relationships in the Zhili region, spent heavy gold to bribe several traitors, and rescued Pei Jinglong’s old mother.

Afterward, Pei Jinglong was moved to tears. Zu Ye saw the time was ripe and revealed the truth. After hearing it, Pei Jinglong’s blood boiled and he requested: I pledge to follow Zu Ye to the death! But Zu Ye refused: “The ‘Jiang Xiang Sect’ isn’t suitable for you. You’re a true Yi studies scholar. Be an upright person, pursue scholarship steadily. In the future, you’ll surely become a great talent!” Pei Jinglong nodded with tears: “How can I repay Zu Ye’s great kindness and virtue?”

Zu Ye patted his shoulder and spoke in a low voice…

On the 16th at noon, Zu Ye, the Batous, Huang Farong, Mei Xuanzi, Pei Jinglong, and over two hundred secret society leaders controlled by the Japanese all boarded the island to watch the largest tidal wave in nearly ten years.

During lunch, Nishida Yoshiko specially sat at the same table with Zu Ye.

“Zu Ye has worked hard with great merit. I toast Zu Ye.” Nishida Yoshiko’s eyes were full of affection.

Zu Ye smiled slightly and said: “All thanks to Miss Nishida’s cultivation.”

Nishida Yoshiko smiled gracefully and said: “The moon is yin, the sun is yang. Where yin and yang attract, there are tides. I’ve heard that the moment of the tidal wave is when men and women most easily become emotional. I wonder if Zu Ye has heard this?”

Zu Ye still smiled without speaking.

“After tonight’s tidal wave, Zu Ye might as well rest here.” After speaking, she placed her hand on Zu Ye’s hand again.

This time Zu Ye didn’t dodge. Instead, he placed his other hand on Nishida Yoshiko’s hand, gripping tightly: “The moon in China is truly different from Japan’s. The moon over Hokkaido is still the most beautiful.”

Nishida Yoshiko was startled.

After 7 p.m., the sun neared the western mountains. The tidal water gradually surged up.

Everyone gathered on the rooftop of the second floor of the main hall, watching the gradually approaching tidal water. Before long, the wave tide drew near. The tidal wave formed surging wave billows, like ten thousand horses galloping, crashing against hidden reefs and sandbars, raising giant waves over ten meters high! After passing obstacles, the ten-thousand-mile sea waves formed a white curve. Towering turbulent waves came排空而来, overturning rivers and seas with unstoppable momentum! The protective embankment outside the nine halls was leaped over high by the sea waves. Everyone cheered!

At this moment, the moon emerged. The setting sun left shadows, the plain moon rose in the east—sun and moon shining together! The sea waves rolled, the crowd boiled!

Suddenly, Nishida Yoshiko’s brows furrowed tightly. She discovered some swimming things mixed in the sea waves. She hastily whispered a few words to a guard beside her. That guard immediately returned inside, and before long brought out military binoculars.

Nishida Yoshiko took the binoculars and looked, then shouted: “Not good!”

It turned out many snakes were mixed in the water. Following the rolling of the giant waves, they all surged into the “Japan-China Friendship Yi Studies Exchange Institute.”

“Where did all these snakes come from?” Nishida Yoshiko looked carefully. These snakes had peculiar patterns, all extremely venomous. She hastily shouted: “Close the stone gates! Quickly close the stone gates! There are snakes in the water!”

Soldiers rushed downstairs one after another, but it was too late. Tens of thousands of snakes had already entered the buildings. People were only focused on watching the sea waves and didn’t notice at all that venomous snakes had entered the building complex following the beating of the seawater.

At the stairway entrance, a soldier raised his gun, just about to shoot at the snake群, when a venomous snake stuck out its tongue, whooshed and leaped onto that soldier’s forehead, opened its mouth and bit. The soldiers panicked, firing their guns in warning!

When the gunshots rang out, the crowd immediately froze. When everyone bent down to look, they couldn’t help but gasp. Countless venomous snakes, as if cursed, shuttled like flying between trees and wall grass, then suddenly leaped up, climbing onto the rooftop one after another. The crowd scattered with a whoosh, fleeing in all directions!

Liu the Blind had only one eye and ran vaguely with the crowd. Suddenly a black shadow passed before his eyes. Just as he opened his mouth to shout, a venomous snake whooshed into his mouth, biting his tongue hard! Liu the Blind couldn’t endure the pain. He wanted to shout but couldn’t. Both hands grabbed the snake’s belly hard, not letting the snake enter his abdomen. Suddenly, his body swayed, he fell from upstairs, dropping into ten thousand snakes!

In the chaos, Zheng the Half-Immortal hid in a wardrobe, tightly closing the cabinet door, breathing heavily. Suddenly he felt a hissing sound above his head. “Not good!” Zheng the Half-Immortal cried inwardly. A venomous snake had already entered the wardrobe. Just as Zheng the Half-Immortal looked up to observe, that venomous snake hissed, its venom glands shot out a string of venom, all spraying onto Zheng the Half-Immortal’s eyeballs. “Ah!” Zheng the Half-Immortal let out a miserable scream. His body tilted sideways, involuntarily knocking open the cabinet door. Hundreds of snakes instantly engulfed him.

Long Yufeng and Ding Zixia ran to the stairway corner below the main hall and were blocked by a group of venomous snakes at the stairway entrance. Several soldiers were using guns and flamethrowers to block them.

The flamethrower’s high-intensity flames burned the venomous snakes with sizzling sounds. Countless venomous snakes writhed and twisted, piles of them sliding down from the stairwell.

But the venomous snakes came wave after wave, swarming forward, unstoppable.

Long Yufeng and Ding Zixia anxiously spun in circles. Ding Zixia was even more frightened, crying out loudly.

Long Yufeng pulled her hard, shouting in a thick Tianjin accent: “What is this! Your mother, stop shouting! Your shouting makes me confused! Don’t you have the Queen Mother protecting your body! Where’s the Queen Mother!”

Ding Zixia looked viciously at Long Yufeng: “Slut, shut up!”

While the two were cursing each other, there was a cracking sound. The two didn’t know what the sound was and immediately quieted down.

“What sound?”

“Ah!” Ding Zixia let out another miserable scream. It turned out to be the sound of a soldier’s bones being crushed. Unknown when, a giant python had leaped up. The python was quite spiritual, its body agile. With three shakes and two sways, it dodged the flame spray, leaped up, and wrapped tightly around the soldier holding the flamethrower. The snake’s body tightened, the soldier’s bones all shattered, his cervical vertebrae broke, and his head immediately drooped down.

The other two soldiers hastily raised their guns and shot at the python. The python’s tail was hit by one shot. Suddenly it released the dead soldier, slithered up the handrail to a high place. Before those two soldiers could react, it fiercely leaped down from midair, instantly coiling around them, binding the two soldiers together. The python violently straightened. With several cracking sounds, both men’s bone frames broke and they fell like paper figures.

Then the python lunged at Long Yufeng and Ding Zixia…

At this moment, Zu Ye was closely following Nishida Yoshiko. He wanted to personally watch this vicious intelligence chief die!

Nishida Yoshiko carried a pistol and came downstairs under soldiers’ guard. At this time, the sky had completely darkened. Seawater flooded in, snakes danced chaotically. Several soldiers carried flamethrowers to clear the way. This building designed according to the Eight Arrays Diagram was inherently directionally confusing, shaped like a labyrinth. In the darkness, direction was even harder to distinguish. Nishida Yoshiko said nervously: “Quickly find Life Gate! Only by entering through Life Gate can we exit through Rest Gate!”

Easier said than done, but truly difficult to find. At this moment, Nishida Yoshiko couldn’t care about secrecy anymore and shouted: “Run in the direction of the river flow and you can find Life Gate!”

After hearing this, Zu Ye sighed toward heaven. Over a year of painstaking layout had finally been fulfilled today!

This was precisely the result Zu Ye had racked his brains to achieve. He bore humiliation and heavy burdens, willing to be a “traitor,” then deliberately schemed to obtain the title of “Great Master of Chinese Yi Studies.” Subsequently, he borrowed the name of constructing the “Japan-China Friendship Yi Studies Exchange Institute” to drain the finances of various “secret societies.” Finally, with Pei Jinglong, he set up this exquisitely ingenious Eight Arrays formation!

Nine Palaces Eight Arrays, four dragon veins (rivers) shuttling through them. From Life Gate to Death Gate, all had rules to follow. Zu Ye was waiting for this decade’s largest tidal wave. When the great tide surged in, it could cause the rivers to reverse. Once the rivers reversed, mechanisms reversed, dragon veins collapsed and blocked, the Five Elements qi instantly changed, the Nine Palaces qi also suddenly transformed. Life Gate became Death Gate, Death Gate became Life Gate. The buildings hadn’t changed, but the good and bad fortune pattern was utterly different. This was the miraculous aspect of the Eight Arrays Diagram!

Zu Ye followed Nishida Yoshiko’s group running along the river. After about a quarter hour, they finally saw a stone gate with the two characters “Life Gate” written on it.

Nishida Yoshiko smiled slightly: “Heaven helps me!”

Immediately several people drilled inside.

After turning several corners, a stone gate blocked their way. Nishida Yoshiko said: “This stone gate is one-way. Only by entering through Life Gate can it be pushed open.” As she spoke, she put the pistol in her pocket and reached out to push the door.

The stone gate didn’t move. Nishida Yoshiko pushed again, still no movement. Several soldiers also came over to help.

At this moment, Zu Ye quietly circled to Nishida Yoshiko’s back, instantly drew out Nishida Yoshiko’s sidearm, and with lightning speed, bang! Bang! Bang! Fired three shots in succession, killing three soldiers. Immediately, Zu Ye pointed the gun at Nishida Yoshiko.

Nishida Yoshiko was startled. After all, she was a veteran spy trained for many years. She immediately understood everything and said calmly: “So it was you who played this conspiracy?”

Zu Ye nodded: “You’ve killed so many Chinese people. New and old grudges should be settled.”

Nishida Yoshiko used her hand to smooth her temple hair dampened by seawater and smiled bitterly: “It seems Zu Ye has been deceiving me all along…”

“It’s you who’ve been deceiving the Chinese people all along.”

“I’ve been deeply devoted to Zu Ye in vain…” Nishida Yoshiko said sadly.

“Hehe.” Zu Ye laughed once. “Love between children is small, the life and death of the nation is great. Didn’t Miss Nishida also come to China for Japan?”

Nishida Yoshiko shed tears. After a long while, she said: “My father was a fisherman. When I was small, I especially liked lying on the beach looking at the moon, looking at that big, beautiful moon. Now I’ve joined the military, become a spy. A spy’s body doesn’t belong to herself—it belongs to the Great Empire of Japan’s Emperor. I can’t turn back. I really want to return to childhood, lying carefree on the beach, looking at that big, round moon…”

“Why must there be war? Why can’t we live in peace?” Zu Ye said darkly.

“The law of the jungle, the strong eat the weak—this is the law of the human world. Even if Japan doesn’t invade China, other countries will… Unfortunately, there are too few people like Wang Yaqiao and Zu Ye in China…” Speaking to here, Nishida Yoshiko looked deeply at Zu Ye once. “Zu Ye, I’ll ask you one thing. Please answer truthfully.”

Zu Ye nodded.

“Have you ever had the slightest stirring of the heart toward me?”

Zu Ye looked at Nishida Yoshiko and nodded firmly.

“Then hold me once.”

Nishida Yoshiko moved her body gracefully, slowly approaching, her arms spreading. In the instant she opened her arms, suddenly her left hand flashed, blocking Zu Ye’s right arm. Her body turned, using a grappling technique, attempting to seize the gun from Zu Ye’s hand.

Zu Ye’s right arm was controlled. He immediately pushed, switched the pistol to his left hand, and pulled the trigger. With a bang, Nishida Yoshiko fell into Zu Ye’s arms.

With her last breath, Nishida Yoshiko exhaled toward Zu Ye. She smiled, lying in Zu Ye’s arms, her breath weak as she said: “If… there were no war, I would be willing… to watch the moon together with Zu Ye.” After finishing, she forever closed her eyes, yet the corners of her mouth still held a smile.

At this moment, a sharp whistling sound of artillery shells tore through the night sky. Immediately after, with a boom, the earth shook and mountains swayed. The beams in the corridor collapsed from the震动. Zu Ye took off his own long robe, wrapped it around Nishida Yoshiko’s corpse, then quickly ran outside. Another huge explosion. Wall debris shook down one after another. The instant he rushed out of the corridor, Zu Ye couldn’t help but look back once. Nishida Yoshiko’s corpse was gradually buried in rolling dust and smoke. Zu Ye couldn’t bear to look anymore and rushed out without looking back.

Outside, artillery fire flew everywhere, flames soared to the sky. Japanese warships patrolling near the Zhoushan Archipelago received distress signals sent by spies on the island. Countless artillery shells shot from the sea, streaked across the night sky, exploded with thunderous noise, mud flew everywhere. Venomous snakes and crowds were blown apart together. The magnificent “Japan-China Friendship Yi Studies Exchange Institute” collapsed with a rumble amid the war flames…