The field of Feng Shui rarely sees women, particularly among the traditional practitioners. One major reason for this is that mastering Feng Shui requires a deep understanding of yin and yang. Women, naturally embodying more yin energy, can easily attract malevolent spirits. Without the right skills, this can put them in serious danger—definitely not a risk worth taking.

　　What really caught me off guard wasn’t just that the Feng Shui master was a woman; it was the fact that the person who visited Xiaoli Xu was also a woman. Could this just be a coincidence?

　　I took a moment to think it over. If this were just a coincidence, then Xiaoli Xu had something going on—there were definitely things about her I still didn’t know. But if it wasn’t a coincidence, who was that woman? I still didn’t have any leads on her.

　　“Sir?” Ma Daqiang asked, pulling me back to the present. “Why are you asking about this?”

　　I shook off my thoughts and pressed on, “What does this Feng Shui master have to do with your son’s marriage?”

　　With a heavy sigh, Ma Daqiang explained, “She told me that Xiaodong’s and Xiaoli’s zodiac signs don’t match, so even if they were together, it wouldn’t end well.”

　　As soon as he said that, a look of realization crossed his face. He suddenly asked, “Do you think she could be lying to me?”

　　“I doubt it. Feng Shui masters rarely lie, especially about their own field. I’ve never heard of one using it to con someone.”

　　Just then, Ma Xiaodong suddenly woke up, sitting up straight, his gaze fixed blankly on us.

　　Seeing this, Ma Daqiang rushed over, sitting beside his son along with his wife. “Xiaodong, can you hear me? Xiaodong?”

　　But Ma Xiaodong just kept staring, his eyes dull and lifeless.

　　“Sir, what’s going on? Why isn’t Xiaodong responding?” Ma Daqiang asked, concern etched on his face.

　　“His soul has been away for too long. It just came back, and he’ll need some time to adjust,” I explained.

　　“How long will that take?” Ma Daqiang's wife chimed in, worry creeping into her voice.

　　“It should be soon. There’s no need to worry,” I reassured them.

　　After saying this, I stood up, intending to leave. Ma Daqiang, still consumed by his son’s situation, didn’t even notice me.

　　I didn’t mind, continuing my way out. But just as I was about to step over the threshold, I paused and said, “Ma Daqiang, you should prepare a set of mourning clothes in advance; you’ll need them soon.”

　　“Mourning clothes?” He looked at me, confusion flickering in his eyes. I didn’t offer any further explanation and left without looking back.

　　I had planned to ask him more about Xiaoli Xu, but the appearance of that female Feng Shui master made me feel it was pointless. Clearly, there were some powerful forces behind Xiaoli Xu. But if she had such a master backing her, why hadn’t the master intervened when Xiaoli went mad?

　　By now, the sun had come up, and I found myself walking along the dirt paths of the village. Every so often, someone would pass by on a bicycle, and I spotted a tricycle making its way through as well.

　　He Village was a classic mountain village, with its bumpy dirt roads and hilly terrain. From a distance, the village looked like a wave rolling over the landscape.

　　Before long, I reached Xiaoli Xu’s home. The entrance had an old set of double wooden doors, weathered and worn over the years, with numerous areas showing signs of decay.

　　The door was slightly open, so I stepped inside. As soon as I walked in, I saw Xiaoli’s mother sweeping the yard with a broom.

　　“Just sweeping the yard, Auntie!” I said, grinning.

　　She returned my smile and exclaimed, “Xiaofeng, you’re here! Come on in!” As she spoke, she grabbed a small stool and offered it to me.

　　“I came to check on how your daughter is doing.”

　　“Of course! Just give me a minute. I’ll go get Xiaoli!” She dashed inside, her cheerful attitude making it clear she was glad to see me.

　　Before long, Xiaoli Xu stepped out of the house, and the change in her was striking.

　　The Xiaoli I saw now was like a completely different person from the last time. She looked so much healthier, her spirits visibly lifted. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her long hair cascaded down her back. She wore a plaid shirt on top and a pair of jeans, looking fresh and vibrant.

　　She wasn’t very tall, but she had a delicate and petite frame.

　　As I watched her walk toward me, I couldn’t help but notice something in her eyes; it felt like she was intentionally avoiding my gaze. When she finally settled into her seat across from me, she offered a somewhat awkward smile.

　　I studied her carefully, a soft smile on my face, and my instincts whispered that she was keeping something from me—or maybe she had spun a tale during our last conversation!

　　Her mother, noticing the smiles exchanged between us, piped up cheerfully, “You two young ones just chat away! I’ll whip up something for us to eat, and we can all enjoy a meal together later!”

　　“Oh, no need to trouble yourself, Auntie. I’ll just sit for a bit and then head out,” I quickly replied, not wanting to impose.

　　“That’s not happening! You’ve got to listen to me—eat first, and then you can go. Just give me a moment; I’ll be right back!” she insisted, dashing off in a hurry.

　　I redirected my attention to Xiaoli Xu, who looked really uncomfortable, not saying a word the entire time.

　　“Okay, now can you tell me who that woman was who came to see you last time?” I asked her directly, trying to break the tension.Xiaoli Xu looked at me, her fingers nervously twisting together, and said with a hesitant smile, “Xiaofeng, didn’t you ask me about this last time? I... I really don’t know.”

　　I chuckled softly, thinking she was still trying to play dumb.

　　“Do you know a Feng Shui master?” I asked, locking eyes with her. “A female Feng Shui master!”

　　Her gaze flickered for a brief moment—just a flash, but I caught it.

　　When she went silent, I pressed on, “She’s the one who visited you before, right?”

　　This time, her eyes went wide with shock as she stared at me, clearly unsure of how to respond.

　　I paused deliberately, hoping she’d finally speak up. Instead, she lowered her head, her silky hair cascading forward to hide her lovely face.

　　I could sense she was on the verge of tears; her shoulders began to shake. Sure enough, she suddenly looked up, tears streaming down her cheeks.

　　“Yes, Xiaofeng, you’re right. She is the Feng Shui master. She came to see me, but back then, I was just a madwoman—I had no idea it was her,” she confessed, her voice trembling.

　　I sighed softly, realizing she was being honest about that. After all, she had been under the weight of negative energy for so long that it had truly affected her mind, making her unrecognizable to those around her.“Are you close with her? How much do you know about her?” I asked again.

　　She wiped her tears and continued, “Not really close. I met her through Zhang Ming, so I can only say I know her a little.”

　　“Zhang Ming, your boss...” I said, piecing it together. Besides the Feng Shui master, Zhang Ming was the only other lead I had.

　　“Yes, she’s been in touch with Zhang Ming quite a bit. I remember him saying that his company often asked Li Yongxia for help,” she said seriously, looking at me. “Oh, and her name is Li Yongxia!”

　　“Li Yongxia...” I asked, “How can I find her?”

　　Xiaoli shook her head. “I don’t know. She’s elusive—hard to pin down. It’ll probably be tough to track her down properly.”

　　I frowned, thinking I couldn’t let this lead slip away so easily. “What about Zhang Ming? Where can I find him?”