Master Cheng Feng was momentarily speechless. Logically, with this feng shui arrangement, things shouldn't be going so poorly. Yet, he couldn't pinpoint the exact problem. However, being told by a mere youngster that his feng shui was flawed was highly displeasing.
"Master Cheng Feng, you were ultimately mistaken in your assessment of the geographical feng shui," Li Se stated, enunciating each word.
Mistaken?
Had he truly misjudged?
Master Cheng Feng began to question himself internally, but quickly dismissed the thought. As a renowned feng shui master, he had immense confidence in his geomancy skills. Even if he were wrong, it wasn't for a young upstart to point fingers. He said coldly, "I, Cheng Feng, began studying feng shui at the age of five and was already advising people on feng shui by fifteen."
"At twenty-five, I advised a Hong Kong magnate on feng shui, specifically selecting an auspicious location for them, after which their lives became even more prosperous."
"At twenty-nine, I competed in feng shui metaphysics with a master from Jiangnan, and I emerged victorious, dominating the entire event!"
"At thirty-three, I selected an auspicious location for the Qingyun City Municipal Government..."
"At thirty-seven..."
"..."
Master Cheng Feng recounted his past, each achievement a source of pride, and the reason for his fame across the land.
As a celebrated feng shui master, his status and standing were not something Li Se could compare to.
"And so what?" Li Se retorted. "This is indeed an auspicious land, but this land also has a problem."
Master Cheng Feng chuckled dismissively. "Then by all means, tell me, where is the problem?"
Li Se smiled confidently and walked towards a spot in the courtyard.
Everyone followed. Du Yongnian frowned slightly, "Young man, it's best not to waste everyone's time."
He was quite displeased with Li Se. How dare such a young person question Master Cheng Feng? Wasn't he inviting humiliation?
This auspicious land was chosen by Master Cheng Feng for him. Over the years, he had also consulted other feng shui masters about this land, and all of them had marveled at it, stating unequivocally that there could be no issues with it.
He had faith in Master Cheng Feng.
Upon reaching a certain spot, Li Se picked up a hoe and began to dig. Soon, a fleshy, wriggling thing appeared.
"This is..." Master Cheng Feng exclaimed in surprise upon seeing the fleshy object, "Tai Sui!"
"Precisely!" Li Se nodded, looking at Master Cheng Feng. "This land is indeed auspicious, but only on the surface. Beneath this auspiciousness lies the Tai Sui. Isn't this tantamount to disturbing the Tai Sui? This is offending Tai Sui!"
Master Cheng Feng had truly not anticipated that Tai Sui would be growing beneath this auspicious land. This was a major taboo in feng shui. If one offended Tai Sui, how could things go smoothly?
Du Yongnian's attitude shifted instantly. He quickly asked Li Se, "Master, should I have someone dig up the Tai Sui right now?"
Even his address had changed. He now largely believed Li Se to be a master. Earlier, he had thought Li Se had investigated his family, but now it seemed not; rather, the young man genuinely possessed the skill.
Du Jiexian beamed with pride, "Hmph, I'm the one who invited this master."
"Since you've already offended Tai Sui, digging it up won't help," Li Se shook his head.
"Then what should I do?" Du Yongnian's expression changed slightly. Offending Tai Sui was a rather metaphysical concept, and he hadn't expected to encounter it.
Li Se smiled, "It's very simple, just buy a feng shui painting."
"That simple?" Du Yongnian seemed incredulous.
Master Cheng Feng, however, clapped his hands in admiration, "That's brilliant! Feng shui paintings are considered a simple yet effective method for feng shui adjustments. Paired with the user's birth date, they can address deficiencies in one's destiny, drawing in external forces to aid luck. Through the natural energy of the aura, they can harmonize the adverse effects of offending Tai Sui, also serving as an unparalleled method for warding off Tai Sui in feng shui."
"Alright, I'll go buy one immediately!" Du Yongnian made up his mind. For a wealthy man like himself, purchasing a feng shui painting was a trifle.
At this moment, Master Cheng Feng's face turned somewhat red. He cupped his hands towards Li Se and said, "Alas, the waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves before. I am old."
Previously, Master Cheng Feng had held immense confidence, even arrogance, in his feng shui metaphysics. Now, defeated by a young man, he felt humbled. Though he harbored some unwillingness, he perhaps truly fell short of the young man before him in the art of feng shui.
For Master Cheng Feng, who was devoted to feng shui, this was a blow, but also an awakening of his desire for knowledge. He eagerly said to Li Se, "Master Li, could you take me as a disciple?"
Li Se glanced at Master Cheng Feng and shook his head. "The profoundness of feng shui and metaphysics is truly unfathomable. Even I have only glimpsed a fraction of it. I have no intention of taking disciples."
Master Cheng Feng sighed softly, feeling increasingly ashamed of his past arrogance. Even such a capable young man knew humility, while he had been excessively proud. The thought made him feel rather uncomfortable.
Du Yongnian paid Li Se five million for the consultation to resolve the issue and invited him to dinner, but Li Se declined. He had only one request: to take away the Tai Sui. In traditional Chinese medicine, Tai Sui is also an extremely rare medicinal ingredient.
Du Yongnian readily agreed to this.
Leaving the Du family, Chen Bin was immensely impressed with Li Se. He said, "Li Se, I almost don't recognize you. How come you were never this amazing before?"
Li Se merely smiled, offering no explanation, as such matters were truly difficult to explain.
"Oh, right," Chen Bin suddenly remembered something. "There's a class reunion tomorrow. Li Se, why don't you come with me? I heard our class beauty will be attending."
"Jiang Ranran?" The mention of the class beauty instinctively made Li Se think of Jiang Ranran. But hadn't she gone to her grandfather's house?
Chen Bin looked at him with a peculiar expression, "Are you still in contact with Jiang Ranran?"
Li Se very much wanted to say, "Not only am I in contact, but she's now my girlfriend."
Seeing Li Se remain silent, Chen Bin didn't press further. He continued, "It's another class beauty, Cheng Mengsi. Don't you remember? I recall she confessed to you back then. But you really were oblivious, rejecting even the class beauty."
Li Se then remembered that incident. However, he didn't have a very good impression of this Cheng Mengsi. In his memory, she was a woman who craved vanity, and the primary reason for his rejection back then was that he was already with Zhang Yunyun.
"I'm telling you, so much time has passed, there might be a chance now," Chen Bin chuckled slyly. "Aren't you regretting rejecting her back then? So, when you attend the class reunion tomorrow, you know how these things go at reunions, hehe."