As they neared the coast of Xiangjiang, Ying Chen and the others boarded a yacht that had come to meet them.
Xie family's cruise ship, however, was inconvenient for docking, as there were still several corpses lying on board.
As for how the cruise ship and the corpses would be handled, Ying Chen cared not at all.
If Wang Liang couldn't even manage this small matter, then he was wasting the seeded qualification Ying Chen had given him.
"My lord, take care!"
Wang Liang knelt on one knee towards Ying Chen, cupping his fists in a salute.
No longer was it the etiquette of a servant, but that of a subordinate.
From this day on, Wang Liang was no longer anyone's slave, but Ying Chen's subordinate.
Ying Chen waved his hand, said nothing, and leaped directly onto the yacht.
He Chongxu followed closely behind.
Soon, the yacht broke through the waves and sped off into the distance.
On the yacht, Ying Chen stared at the spoils of his trip – a large pile of refining materials – and fell into deep thought.
After a long moment, Ying Chen suddenly pointed in a certain direction of the Xiangjiang island: "What is that place?"
He Chongxu glanced over and replied, "Datiancuo."
"That's considered the countryside of Xiangjiang, desolate and remote, with only a few elderly residents living in village houses. I haven't been there for many years either, and I suspect even the old folks are gone now, and the village houses may have collapsed due to disrepair. In short, the feng shui is average, the environment is average, and there's absolutely no human presence."
It was evident that He Chongxu held Datiancuo in low regard.
This stemmed from an experience He Chongxu had in his youth.
At that time, He Chongxu had inadvertently stumbled upon a fragment of a feng shui text that recorded several auspicious locations in Xiangjiang.
Four of these locations had already become densely populated areas with tall buildings, turning into truly prosperous districts.
Only one location remained undeveloped, in a state of wilderness.
He Chongxu was overjoyed upon seeing this.
Since the four locations mentioned in the fragment had already manifested their auspiciousness, it was certain that this remaining fifth location would also manifest!
Thus, He Chongxu excitedly traveled to the fifth location, which was Datiancuo.
However, to He Chongxu's surprise, Datiancuo was not a feng shui sanctuary at all; it was clearly a place of malevolent feng shui!
The entire area showed no sign of auspicious flow and convergence of energy, but instead exuded a sense of demise that would lead to the extinction of descendants.
As it turned out, Datiancuo originally had over a hundred households. Over the years, people had either died or moved away, leaving only a dozen or so households.
And these dozen or so households were all impoverished and afflicted with illness, clearly showing the signs of prolonged residence in a place with malevolent feng shui, leading to a decline in descendants and the withering of wealth.
He Chongxu, still unwilling to believe it, thought there might be a hidden secret.
He deliberately spent seven consecutive days exploring Datiancuo, covering every corner of the area.
Yet, he found nothing.
On the contrary, it further confirmed his initial assessment: this place was a feng shui煞地 (shadi - place of malevolent feng shui)!
Finally, He Chongxu returned in disappointment and anger, his trip a failure.
Later, He Chongxu did not completely forget about Datiancuo, and he kept an eye on its development from time to time, to avoid any oversight on his part.
Unfortunately, as the years passed, Datiancuo not only failed to develop but became even more dilapidated.
This completely dispelled He Chongxu's hopes, making him realize that either the feng shui fragment was mistaken, or the feng shui of Datiancuo had been damaged.
He did not expect, however, that Ying Chen would suddenly inquire about Datiancuo.
This caused He Chongxu's long-dormant memories to resurface.
"Oh," Ying Chen nodded.
He then issued an instruction: "Do not return to our residence for now. Head to Datiancuo."
"Ah?" He Chongxu was stunned.
He couldn't understand why Ying Chen wanted to go to such a place of malevolent feng shui.
However, since Ying Chen did not elaborate, He Chongxu dared not ask further questions.
Instructing the yacht's captain to adjust course, the yacht cut a line through the water, heading straight for Datiancuo.
...
Wang Liang stood on the cruise ship, watching the yacht carrying Ying Chen and the others disappear into the distance.
He let out a sigh.
"If only I could follow such an immortal being. How wonderful that would be!"
"But I also know that's a fantasy. After all, even a renowned master like He Chongxu is merely a follower. I am nothing now, why should I follow?"
"I must prove myself first, before I can earn my lord's respect!"
Wang Liang spoke, a determined glint in his eyes, and then headed towards the cruise ship's bridge.
Soon, the cruise ship began to sail into the deep sea, like a lone wanderer heading towards self-destruction.
Siam.
Two days and two nights had passed since Xie Wenfang went to the Sand Sea Ghost Market.
And during those two days and two nights, aside from an initial joyous phone call home, Xie Wenfang had sent no further word.
"Master, what's wrong with Wenfang? Two days ago, she said she had already bought the Luosongzi and could treat the eldest madam. Why isn't she back yet?"
"Yes, Father. Little sister wouldn't deliberately delay her return to stall her mother's treatment, would she? If that's the case, then little sister's intentions are truly wicked!"
"Eldest brother, don't guess wildly. Little sister shouldn't be that kind of person. After all, the eldest madam has always treated her well. Her own mother passed away early, and she was raised by the eldest madam. By reason and emotion, she wouldn't do such a thing."
"Then why hasn't she returned for two days, and her phone can't be reached?"
The Xie family members fell into an argument due to Xie Wenfang's prolonged absence.
It would have been acceptable if Xie Wenfang hadn't returned, but the Luosongzi had to be returned!
Otherwise, the First Madam of the Xie family would truly be beyond saving!
Xie Fan, the patriarch of the Xie family, stared coldly in the direction of the entrance. After a moment, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes: "Investigate! Activate the secret tracking chip on Wenfang's yacht and find out where Wenfang is right now!"
"If it is truly Wenfang playing tricks, then the Xie family will no longer have a place for her!"
Upon hearing Xie Fan's words, both of Xie Fan's sons were secretly startled.
They never imagined their father had installed a secret tracking chip on their little sister's private yacht!
This meant that as long as their father wished, he could know all of their little sister's information at any time!
And if their father could install it on their little sister, he certainly wouldn't let them off.
Their sports cars, yachts, private jets, and so on, must all have the same tracking chips!
Their father truly never trusted anyone, not even his own children!
Soon, Xie Fan's assistant hurried over, carrying a laptop.
"Master, the chip has been activated."
"In ten seconds, we will be able to see Miss's location."
Ten seconds passed in an instant, and a light spot quickly appeared on the computer screen.
The position displayed by the light spot was the location of Xie Wenfang's yacht!
However, upon seeing this location, not only did the assistant freeze, but all the Xie family members, including Xie Fan, were stunned!
Xie Wenfang was actually... deep within the ocean!
And she was stopped there, motionless, as if her yacht had broken down in the deep sea!
"What's going on?"
Xie Fan raised an eyebrow and asked, puzzled.
The assistant was also bewildered and stammered after a long moment, "Perhaps... perhaps Ms. Xie's yacht malfunctioned?"
"Or perhaps..."
The assistant dared not say the rest.
However, even though the assistant dared not speak, everyone else had already understood.
Or perhaps – Xie Wenfang had met with an accident!
Upon considering that possibility, Xie Fan's eldest son became anxious: "Father, there's no time to lose. Hurry and send someone to check! It's one thing if Wenfang has an accident, but the Luosongzi must not be lost..."
However, before Xie Fan's eldest son could finish, he was glared at by Xie Fan.
Realizing in his haste that he had spoken his mind, Xie Fan's eldest son quickly fell silent.
After a moment of contemplation, Xie Fan suddenly pointed at the assistant: "You, immediately, at once, go to the yacht's location and investigate this matter thoroughly!"
"If you cannot investigate it clearly, do not return to see me!"
"In short, eight words – alive, we must see the person; dead, we must see the body!"
The assistant straightened up: "Understood, Master!"
Then, he sprinted out.
The remaining members of the Xie family stood in the living room, their expressions and gazes varying, each lost in their own thoughts.