Chen Bin’s friend was indeed very wealthy, living in a grand mansion in the city center. Two stone lions guarded the entrance to the residence.
"Look at these two stone lions, so imposing," Chen Bin couldn't help but exclaim. He looked at Li Se and said, "Li Se, with stone lions like these guarding the place, there shouldn't be any malevolent spirits causing trouble, right?"
Li Se smiled and nodded. "Stone lions hold a high status in Buddhism; they are auspicious divine beasts that ward off evil and protect the household. Placing stone lions at the main entrance can help people overcome misfortune, bring peace, and ensure prosperity for descendants. However, these stone lions are more of a symbol of power and status. As for their ability to ward off evil, just look at how unlucky your friend appears to be."
Chen Bin thought that was true. If these stone lions could really bring good luck, his friend's family wouldn't be so unfortunate.
Before long, a young man in his early twenties came to open the door. Upon seeing Chen Bin, he eagerly asked, "Chen Bin, you said you'd find me a feng shui master. Where is he?"
"This is the one, quickly, call him Master Li!" Chen Bin introduced. He then introduced his friend to Li Se, whose name was Du Jiexi.
"Uh..." Du Jiexi rolled his eyes, clearly not believing Li Se to be a feng shui master. "Chen Bin, are you fooling me?"
"I'm not fooling you at all. My friend is truly skilled in feng shui. You know about my family's processing plant, right? He's the one who sorted it out!" Chen Bin said boastfully.
However, Du Jiexi was still somewhat skeptical.
Li Se didn't seem to mind, smiling. "Although I haven't entered your mansion yet, I can tell from the outside that your family's feng shui layout should be one that 'hides wind and gathers qi,' right?"
"You know that?" Du Jiexi asked, somewhat surprised.
"What do you mean by 'hides wind and gathers qi'?" Chen Bin asked, not quite understanding.
Li Se explained, "The 'Book of Burial' states that qi disperses when it encounters wind and stops when it meets water. The ancients acted to prevent it from dispersing and gathered it to a standstill, hence it is called feng shui. For a house to 'hide wind and gather qi,' it must first have ample sunlight, good air circulation, and appropriate temperature and humidity. If the dwelling is in a place with strong winds, even if auspicious qi is gathered, it will be blown away by the fierce winds. Conversely, if the wind is too slow, the air will not circulate, and better qi cannot be introduced."
He paused before continuing, "Furthermore, this mansion also achieves 'eight directions complete and full.' An excellent residence should conform to what feng shui calls 'eight directions complete and full,' meaning its floor plan should be square and regular. Missing corners are most detrimental. If any direction is missing more than one-ninth of the total house area, it will cause the corresponding trigram position to be incomplete and harm the family member corresponding to that trigram position. At best, things will go smoothly; at worst, disasters will befall. Only a square and regular residence, 'eight directions complete and full,' can ensure that every family member is in their rightful place, enjoying peace and happiness."
"Amazing!" Du Jiexi was truly convinced this time. How could he not know the feng shui layout of his own home? He truly believed Li Se was a feng shui master now.
Du Jiexi respectfully welcomed Li Se inside. However, there were already other feng shui masters in the mansion.
"Master Cheng Feng, for some reason lately, our entire family has been experiencing one setback after another. Can you see if there's a problem with the feng shui?" Du Jiexi's father, Du Yongnian, said with a sigh.
Master Cheng Feng held a luopan (a compass used in feng shui) and looked around with a serious expression. "I need to observe further."
Du Yongnian said, "We'll be relying on you, Master Cheng Feng."
"Dad, I've also invited a feng shui master," Du Jiexi quickly introduced Li Se to his father.
Du Yongnian, however, frowned slightly. "Such a young age, and already a feng shui master?"
"Dad, he's incredible. Before we even entered the mansion, he knew our feng shui layout," Du Jiexi said, now quite impressed with Li Se.
Du Yongnian looked at Li Se with some surprise. If he could know the feng shui layout before entering, then he indeed had some skill.
Master Cheng Feng, however, let out a disdainful snort. "What kind of skill is this? Mr. Du, he probably investigated beforehand. I've seen many young people like this; they're nothing but charlatans, their intentions simple: nothing more than money."
Du Yongnian thought that made sense. Otherwise, how could he know their feng shui layout before entering? He coldly said, "Jiexi, give him a thousand yuan and send him away. Don't bring such feng shui masters back again."
"Dad, he..." Du Jiexi tried to say something more.
Du Yongnian interrupted, "That's enough. Master Cheng Feng is examining our feng shui. Take your friend and leave, don't disturb Master Cheng Feng."
Du Jiexi dared not say any more. He knew that if he continued, his father would get angry.
"Mr. Du, are you sure you want me to leave?" Li Se asked at this point.
Du Yongnian frowned slightly. "Do you have something else?"
Li Se smiled and said, "I already know where the problem lies with this feng shui layout."
"Oh?" Du Yongnian asked, surprised, but not quite believing him.
"Nonsense!" Master Cheng Feng said with displeasure. "How can there be a problem with the feng shui layout? Since you investigated beforehand, you should also know that this feng shui layout is a 'hiding wind and gathering qi' and 'eight directions complete and full' formation. This is an excellent feng shui layout, and it's also the feng shui arrangement I personally set up for Mr. Du. You're just making random claims, saying there's a problem with the feng shui layout. Very well, tell me, where is the problem?"
Li Se was taken aback. He had expected this Master Cheng Feng to be like Master Hua Yang back then, nothing more than a fraud. He didn't expect him to have some actual skill. To be able to arrange this feng shui layout, one would truly need some ability in feng shui and metaphysics. However, he wouldn't be inferior to this Master Cheng Feng. He said, "This feng shui is indeed good, but the geographical location is incorrect."
"Hah!" Master Cheng Feng laughed. "This geographical location was also carefully selected by me for Mr. Du. You actually say the geographical location is incorrect, what boundless arrogance!"
"Show him out!" Du Yongnian was already angered and shouted.
Du Jiexi broke out in a cold sweat. This Li Se actually dared to question Master Cheng Feng. Although he thought Li Se had some ability, he didn't believe he could be compared to Master Cheng Feng.
Chen Bin frowned slightly, wanting to speak up for Li Se, but Du Jiexi stopped him. He shook his head. "We should leave first."
Li Se, however, was somewhat annoyed by Master Cheng Feng's arrogance and retorted, "Master Cheng Feng, so you believe that the geographical location you chose is absolutely faultless, and the feng shui arrangement is perfect? Then why is the Du family still experiencing one misfortune after another?"