Beginning with the Ubume Bird-Chapter 618 - 4: Gu Luan Fiend!
The phone’s ringtone beeped insistently as Chen Zhengcong, haggard beyond measure, sat at his desk and pressed the answer button, "Zheng Dazhuang, how’s the situation?"
"The Department of Justice has officially filed charges against you, and the court hearing is in two days. Right now, many pieces of evidence are against you, and it’ll be difficult for me to get you acquitted. Huamao’s chairman, Yang, and Sir Zhong are old friends. If she is willing to speak out, there may still be a chance."
"..."
"Mr. Chen? Are you listening?"
"I, I understand. I’ll call you back later."
"Okay."
Crash!
Fragments of the vase scattered everywhere, and Chen Zhengcong’s eyes turned bloodshot as his chest rose and fell with intense agitation.
After a while, he composed himself and started rummaging among the table full of various thread-bound ancient books.
"Thinking of kicking me out? Not a chance! I stayed by that old demon’s side for a full five years. I deserve this, and I will get it back, that bitch... causing me..."
For a long time, his gaze caught a handwritten, unnamed notebook, and his spirit suddenly jolted.
Found it!
Chen Zhengcong’s heart raced as he traced the yellowed traditional characters on the book with his fingers and meticulously deciphered them for a good while,
"Corpse Oil, Schisandra Vine, Pagoda Tree Puppet..."
Having finished reading, Chen Zhengcong opened his laptop, sent an email with the materials listed in the book. Then, he stared fixedly at the screen, refreshing the page almost every ten seconds.
Finally, a reply came to his email.
"Five hundred thousand."
The reply came from a red avatar.
Chen Zhengcong exhaled.
"I’ll transfer the money to you later. Send me the stuff first."
He clicked the send button, his eyes catching a line marked in red on the book.
Endure little in the cold quilt, destined to the Gu Luan; sleep alone in early widowhood, beset by solitude each day.
Years ago, in private, he had divined Yang Baojin’s fortune with this prognostication, pointing to the Gu Luan Fiend in the Four Pillars, which dominate one’s spouse. Judy, born with affluence, shone with fortune stars in her destiny palace, her sinister energy far beyond the typical Gu Luan Fiend. According to fortune-telling texts, she was a "Purple Mantis," capable of consuming all her partner’s fortunes totally.
Her late husband, Sir Deng, had a destiny of extreme wealth and nobility, yet he could not resist her sinister energy, dying prematurely. The wealth indicated in his destiny was wholly absorbed by the Gu Luan Fiend. Only one who was fierce and extremely fortunate in their life chart could break such an ominous curse. Such a person might not appear even once in a few hundred years; in other words, Yang Baojin was doomed to a life of solitude.
People cursed with such fatalistic energy are vengeful, ruthless, cunning, and yet, fortune smiles upon them and turns misfortune into blessing. Chen Zhengcong initially did not want to become Judy’s enemy, but with the knife against his throat, he had no choice but to think of a plan.
No matter how noble the destiny, they are still mortals. Tainted with some unorthodox sorcery, it’s hard for them to escape unscathed.
After a short time, Chen Zhengcong received another email again.
"Check the goods, if you think there are no problems, I’ll ship them."
The email also included many photos. There were glass jars containing yellow liquid, withered vines resembling herbs, but the most sinister was a fetal corpse, barely resembling a human shape, preserved in formaldehyde.
The computer screen emitted a fluorescent glow. While browsing, a cold smirk formed on the corner of Chen Zhengcong’s mouth, "Let’s see if you don’t die this time?"
————————————————
"Mr. He, I really don’t know how things turned out this way, that day the person was clearly fine, who knew that during the span of a meal, he just..."
He Changhong’s face was expressionless, as Mr. Chen was anxiously pacing around him, drenched in sweat.
This was a simply arranged memorial hall. The table was set with an urn bearing Pei Dongsheng’s black-and-white photograph, and a brazier was placed on the floor. Besides He and Chen, by the eight immortals’ table, an old man with crane hair and chicken skin in a black gown sat silently, continuously adding joss paper to the fire.
That day Pei Dongsheng had made startling predictions, not only foreseeing the troubles in He Changhong’s business but also declaring his father seriously ill, which earned him the sincere admiration of He and Chen. He Changhong had arranged to personally take Pei Dongsheng to the He Residence today to treat Sir He’s illness, but unexpectedly, this incident occurred.
Pei Dongsheng had just driven out of the Jinlong Building when he collided head-on with a heavy truck, dying on the spot. It was a pity that this forthright fortune teller who made accurate predictions for many high officials and nobles met such a tragic death, utterly unaware of his own fate.
"..."
He Changhong, with his hands on his hips, walked a few laps around the room and said to Mr. Chen, "Now that the man is dead, what am I supposed to do? He even took a deposit of one hundred thousand US dollars. Where’s the money?!"
"The money is in the package."
The old man in the black gown, staring at the brazier, suddenly spoke up.
"I found it when I was sorting through Dongsheng’s belongings; it should be your money, take it back."
He Changhong softened his harsh demeanor and scrutinized the black-gowned old man. He softly asked, "You are, the Master’s...?"
"I am his godfather."
The old man in the black gown struggled to stand up, hobbling on a cane, and only then did He Changhong notice that the old man was lame.
"How should I address you?"
The old man poured himself a cup of boiled water: "My name is Qian Wu, everyone calls me Mr. Wu, I’ve seen your business card. You are an important person, Mr. He, if you feel wronged, you can call me Lame Wu instead."
"How can you say such a thing, Mr. Wu."
He Changhong had intended to maintain his dignity a little longer, but time waits for no one. He had to beat around the bush and ask, "Uh, Mr. Wu, this art of physiognomy that the Master practiced, didn’t he learn it from you...?"
"I have been minding the bodies at the funeral parlor for over thirty years, I only know how to clean up the corpses, not a thing about physiognomy. The kid used to apprentice under Wong Taisin for Wong Taisin, you might want to ask him."
"..."
He Changhong somewhat sullenly pursed his lips, and after a long while, he coldly said, "I will take my leave."
"Take it slow, take the money from the package with you."
He Changhong raised his hand: "I misspoke earlier as the junior, Mr. Wu, please do not be offended. As for the money, consider it the funeral expenses for the Master."
"Undeserved wealth is not taken." The old man was stubborn: "Take it back."
He Changhong ignored him and headed straight for the door, with Mr. Chen following behind.
"Mr. He truly has a heart of compassion. Regardless, the Master did not manage to help, and to donate a hundred thousand US dollars just like that, generosity indeed."
Once out of the shop, the two got into the car, with Mr. Chen flashing a thumbs up to He Changhong while wearing an apologetic smile.
"Just avoiding trouble, that’s all. The old guy’s getting on in years, his godson’s gone, how would he look after himself in his old age? Doesn’t want it? Hmph."
He Changhong slammed down on the gas pedal, and the car sped towards the Wong Taisin District.
In the room, Mr. Wu sipped from his teacup until he had drunk all the water, only then did he open the package on the table, took out the greenish US dollars, and one stack at a time placed them into the fiercely burning brazier.
The flames slowly devoured Franklin’s portrait.
"For these past three years, you’ve indulged in lust and avarice, climbed over others for fame and gain without a second thought for the life or death of others. Now you’ve been killed without reason, all due to karmic retribution. I taught you to ’Alter Fate on Behalf of Heaven’; I bear some responsibility. Dongsheng, if you have any awareness below, you should also reflect on yourself. In your next life, be someone who contributes positively to society."
