"The door faces west, directly against the light. Willow trees cast shade at the entrance, and two ghost messengers stand guard. Boss, this person has a truly robust destiny."
Hu Bayi's hoarse voice came, tinged with a bit of shock and contemplation.
How ruthless must someone be to construct such an ancestral grave.
"Indeed. We wouldn't dare do this, but the people of this Yin Yang shop might have connections to our Xia Nation."
Zhang Tian nodded, then said in a deep voice.
The ghost messengers, the willows planted at the door, and the feng shui orientation—this house was built with extraordinary skill. Ordinary Taoist priests or feng shui masters couldn't replicate it, let alone Yin Yang masters.
Therefore, this shop was very likely connected to Xia Nation.
"The yin energy is very heavy."
Zhang Qilin's gaze fell upon the Yin Yang shop, his sword-like eyebrows slightly raised.
Within this place, he could sense several types of yin energy at play.
"With this layout, it would be strange if the yin energy wasn't heavy. Let's go inside and take a look."
"Let's see what mysteries this Yin Yang shop holds."
As Zhang Tian spoke, the three of them walked directly towards the shop.
Soon, at the entrance.
Before the two large willow trees, the three involuntarily felt a sense of oppression.
This was the pressure caused by the overwhelming yin energy.
The main door was made of redwood, with four steps leading up to it. On either side of the red door were small tiger-headed imps, further enhancing the eerie atmosphere.
Above the red door was a plaque, which the group looked at.
"Life and Death Shop."
"Boss, that's bold! No wonder the owner said this guy has a peculiar temper. His actions are also strange. Is he planning to determine the life and death of this young Fujian person?"
Hu Bayi looked at the "Life and Death Shop" before him, silently giving a thumbs up.
He admired the person's courage; not everyone dared to set things up like this.
"This reminds me of Huang Shuliang. Could they be raising ghosts here?"
Zhang Tian murmured, but then he shrugged it off. What business was it of his if others raised ghosts?
He was just here to buy some joss paper; he couldn't be bothered with anything else.
Zhang Tian took a step forward, directly crossing the four steps.
"Dang, dang, dang."
He knocked on the door a few times, and the sound echoed throughout the shop.
"Coming!"
A voice responded from inside, speaking in Fujianese.
"Creak..."
With a creaking sound, the red door opened, and a plainly dressed young man appeared before the three.
The young man's eyes were bright, and he exuded a masculine aura.
"Who are you?"
Seeing the opulent attire of the three, the young man's tone was questioning.
"Are you the manager of this Yin Yang shop? We're here to buy some joss paper."
Zhang Tian's tone was gentle, his gaze constantly assessing the young man before him.
The young man was only in his early twenties, not appearing to be an experienced Yin Yang master, and likely not the manager.
"Yes, I am the manager of this Yin Yang shop. If you wish to buy joss paper, please wait here for a moment, and I will fetch it for you."
The young man's reply surprised Zhang Tian somewhat.
To be a manager at such a young age, he must either be extraordinarily capable, or the true manager was unwilling to come out.
"Boss, this kid is actually the manager? Pretty impressive. He has a strong yang aura too, no wonder he can survive here."
Hu Bayi marveled from the side.
The young man's yang aura was indeed robust; otherwise, given the layout of the house, he wouldn't have survived for more than three hours.
"He has several magical artifacts on him."
Zhang Tian's gaze swept towards the young man's waist and the jade pendant around his neck.
These two items, upon appraisal, were indeed of good quality and could effectively ward off some of the yin energy.
The young man paused his departure and looked towards Zhang Tian and his companions.
"You speak Xia language?"
A look of surprise appeared on the young man's face.
Encountering someone from Xia Nation in Fujian Nation was rarer than finding gold in a pile of dung.
Moreover, this Xia person had just mentioned "magical artifacts," which carried even deeper implications.
"Are you also from Xia Nation?"
Zhang Tian looked at the young man, his expression unchanged, but his gaze became more appraising.
Since they were both of East Asian descent, it was hard to tell them apart without considering their height.
"Yes, I grew up in Xia Nation. Later, fleeing famine, I came to Fujian Nation by boat."
"I didn't expect Fujian Nation to be so impoverished, and at that time, there was war. I drifted here alone and destitute."
"However, I'm quite happy to see you. You actually know what magical artifacts are?"
The young man looked at Zhang Tian, scrutinizing him with the innocence of youth.
Soon, the young man seemed to confirm something and nodded at Zhang Tian and the others.
If a scheming person had come, it would have been very easy to trick him.
Zhang Tian lightly hummed, sensing that the child before him had very little guard against people from Xia Nation.
Or, virtually none.
There were two possibilities for this situation: first, he was genuinely naive; second, there was something powerful within this Yin Yang shop that would make it safe even if someone tried to trick them.
Zhang Tian leaned towards the second possibility.
"Yes, we've learned a bit. By the way, did you establish this place?"
Zhang Tian nodded, his expression neutral, and spoke softly.
He had begun his subtle interrogation. Although it was obvious, the young man before him showed no significant caution.
"No. By the way, let's go inside. This shop doesn't usually welcome visitors, but Xia Nation people are an exception."
"Normally, if we encounter any Xia Nation people fleeing famine, we extend a helping hand. After all, we are all one people."
"I believe Xia Nation people don't deceive Xia Nation people."
The young man said, revealing a bright smile with his white teeth, appearing very sunny.
"Boss, this kid probably hasn't experienced the harshness of the world."
Hu Bayi whispered from the side.
"Old Hu, perhaps he's just being more hospitable to his own kind. And I can tell this kid is a decent person."
Zhang Tian said. Hu Bayi rubbed his head and said no more.
"You seem to trust Xia Nation people quite a lot."
Zhang Tian said from behind the young man.
The young man waved his hand.
"My master taught me this. Kindred spirits should help each other. Those who harm our kin, no matter how far, will be punished."
"And, if not for my master, I wouldn't be alive today. I am only friendly towards Xia Nation people. If you were Fujian Nation people, you wouldn't even be worthy of knocking on this shop's door."
As the young man spoke, he exuded confidence and pride.
At the same time, Zhang Tian realized that this fellow was a dutiful disciple who followed his master's words.
"By the way, who is your master?"
Zhang Tian inquired again.
"That, I'm afraid, I cannot say. Please, come in."
The young man's tone turned colder, as if he had transformed into another person.
It was clear that the moment his master was mentioned, the young man's attitude changed.
"That's strange. There are Xia Nation experts here, and this child's temperament is also quite peculiar."
Zhang Tian thought to himself, his interest in this Yin Yang shop growing.
They entered the main gate of the Yin Yang shop.
They passed through a long corridor in the Chinese style.
Following that, a courtyard appeared before Zhang Tian.
Upon seeing the arrangement of the buildings and the layout of the courtyard, Zhang Tian was visibly stunned.
This layout was definitely not something that Yin Yang masters could create!
There was absolutely a feng shui master here who was no less skilled than himself and Hu Bayi!