“Do you think I can guess it?” Su Jie asked in return.
“No.” Liu Shi shook his head. “I don’t believe you can see through the earth. How about a wager? If you guess correctly, I’ll grant you one request. If you can’t, you have to grant me one request. What do you say?”
Su Jie glanced at Liu Shi but declined the wager. Instead, he said, “Setting aside the minor details…which are complex and blend modern, ancient, Eastern, and Western elements…the fundamental layout is defined by a converging dragon vein. This vein is dominated by water; the interaction between Metal and Water elements boosts the water’s flow. When the water’s momentum surges, it creates the ‘Flying Dragon in the Sky’ formation. In ancient times, places with water often held gold deposits; there is gold buried beneath us. I won’t bet with you, because you would undoubtedly lose.”
Hearing this, Liu Shi was struck with astonishment.
He hadn’t expected Su Jie to have such a profound understanding of *feng shui*…capable of deducing even what lay buried underground. With such insight, nothing…be it hidden treasure or ancient tombs…could remain concealed from him.
“There’s no need for surprise. Once one reaches the realm of the ‘Living Dead,’ the arts of *feng shui* and physiognomy become second nature; with a little focused study, one can achieve mastery,” Su Jie said.
“True understanding comes from the spirit; where the spirit reaches, all things become clear and free. I notice your recent practice has led you into a specific state; your aura carries a subtle fragrance, like that of a lotus. You seem to be practicing a form of meditation where you visualize yourself as a lotus…achieving a union of person and flower. Even amidst the filth and chaos of the mundane world, you remain untainted by a speck of dust, actually drawing nourishment from that very impurity.”
“Can you perceive the past and the future?” Liu Shi was shocked once more, taking several steps back.
“That’s nothing unusual,” Su Jie said, waving his hand dismissively. “There’s no need to be surprised. In martial arts, we look at one’s *jing, qi, and shen*…essence, energy, and spirit…as well as one’s foundational base. I happen to be well-versed in various meditation techniques and have conducted extensive research on the subject, so I could instantly tell what kind of meditative practice you’ve been quietly cultivating lately. It seems you’ve gained some profound insight, allowing your mind to settle into a state of deep tranquility.”
“I’m almost tempted to think you’re the reincarnation of some enlightened master; otherwise, how could someone so young understand so much and possess such a high level of cultivation?” Liu Shi gave a wry smile. “I’ve weathered the ups and downs of the business world for years and seen it all…major crises and grand spectacles alike. I used to think that if I took up spiritual cultivation, it would be easy. But I discovered something: in this world, the hardest thing isn’t doing business, politics, or any other endeavor…it is cultivation itself.”
“Naturally. A cultivator is waging a battle against fate itself…something no emperor or general could ever hope to rival,” Su Jie said. “Which lotus visualization method are you practicing? There are white lotuses, red lotuses, and multicolored lotuses. Meditating on a white lotus represents a state of purity and *wu-wei*…effortless action. Visualizing a red lotus acknowledges karma as the root, with the weight of countless karmic deeds clinging to the self. As for the multicolored lotus, each petal embodies the nature of a different Bodhisattva. If you could share your physiological data with me, it would give me another subject for study…and it would be beneficial for you, too.”
“Mine is the ‘Void Lotus’…the wondrous nature of perfect enlightenment, like a flower blooming in the void,” Liu Shi said. “This lotus arises from emptiness; it is formless by nature, yet it appears to possess form.”
“That’s intriguing.” Su Jie savored the concept. “Only someone with a life experience as rich and varied as yours could cultivate a meditation method like that.”
Human kinesiology offers a multitude of physical training methods, and martial arts encompass countless techniques.
Yet, the methods for cultivating the mind and honing psychological resilience far outnumber the techniques of martial arts. Examples include Su Jie’s “Great Corpse State Method” and the “Ten Impurities” practice cultivated by the Muay Thai champion Bangalong…techniques used to meditate on the various gruesome and repulsive aspects of a decomposing corpse. Beyond that, there are meditations focusing on dragons and tigers, cranes, wind and clouds, thunder and lightning, or divine icons.
Each form of meditation produces distinct effects on the human body’s endocrine system, psychological resilience, and physical constitution.
Both Su Jie and Larry have been researching this; a vast amount of data from Larry’s spiritual cultivation group has been uploaded to a cloud-based big data platform for analysis by supercomputers.
Su Jie has gained considerable insight into this field.
He is currently interested in obtaining Liu Shi’s data, as Liu Shi represents a rare and valuable test subject.
Determining exactly which meditative practices yield the greatest physical benefits is a major research topic.
“I am funding the establishment of a laboratory similar to Larry’s and conducting my own research,” Liu Shi said, unwilling to share his own physiological data. “If you can get hold of the data from Larry’s side, I’ll give you a 49% equity stake in the laboratory.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that; stealing intellectual property and data is against the rules,” Su Jie immediately refused. “However, if you set up the lab, I could participate as one of the scientists. My contract with Larry isn’t exclusive…I have the right to take part in experiments elsewhere…and I’m willing to let you study my body.”
Su Jie didn’t mind acting as a test subject.
Throughout history, great scientists have always been prepared to sacrifice themselves for the sake of science.
“Let’s put that aside for now; we can discuss cultivation later. Do you want to know about the dark secrets in Wen Ting’s past?” Liu Shi’s expression turned cold as he spoke.
“As long as you can use that information to convince your daughter,” Su Jie replied. “Wen Ting has a wife and children abroad…more than one, in fact. But he murdered his wife, and his children were sent to the Typhon training camp,” Liu Shi said. “It was a difficult matter to uncover; were it not for the evidence provided by Zhang Hongqing, everyone would still believe he was single.”
“That’s a personal matter. Is there anything else?” Su Jie asked.
“That’s all, but this evidence is enough to convince my daughter,” Liu Shi said. “You’re skilled at reading people…what do you think of my daughter’s personality? How do you see her future playing out?”
“Your daughter’s features look gentle, but her personality is actually fierce and unyielding; she’s the type who won’t turn back until she hits a brick wall,” Su Jie said. “You can’t control her at all, so I think persuading her will be difficult. You need to be mentally prepared. I suggest you don’t tell her just yet; otherwise, she might go confront Wen Ting, which could put her life in danger.”
“Wen Ting wouldn’t dare!” Liu Shi flew into a rage.
“Why wouldn’t he?” Su Jie sneered. “He was willing to kill *you*…though he would have gone for your son first. On the surface, he looks human, but deep down, he’s no longer human. I really hope you don’t play with fire. My advice is to make a clean break: send bodyguards to bring your daughter back, place her under house arrest to separate her from Wen Ting, and then fire him.”
“I’d rather not let things get that ugly; I don’t want to fall out with my daughter over this. I hope she’ll come to her senses on her own,” Liu Shi said.
Su Jie shook his head, deciding not to say anything more.
“This Qin Hui is quite a talent, though it would take some real skill to keep him in check,” Liu Shi remarked.
“You can certainly keep him in check.” Su Jie knew that while Qin Hui was capable, he was no match for Liu Shi; if Liu Shi couldn’t handle a person like that, he never would have built such a massive corporate empire.
“I had originally planned to go to where Wen Ting is staying today to try and persuade your daughter, but it seems there’s no need for me to play the villain now.” Su Jie stood up. “You can handle your own family matters; I’ll just find an opportunity to take care of Wen Ting.”
“How will you deal with him? Murder isn’t allowed in this country,” Liu Shi asked hurriedly.
“Don’t worry, I won’t kill him,” Su Jie said. “But I can certainly strip him of his ability to do harm. If he were just an ordinary person without any martial arts skills, he wouldn’t be nearly as dangerous.”
“If you can manage that, it would lift a huge weight off my mind,” Liu Shi said.
Su Jie nodded and turned to leave. “If the chance arises, I’d like to meet the person who designed this estate.”
“There will be a chance.” Liu Shi watched Su Jie walk away, a faint smile appearing on his face. He summoned Qin Hui once more. “Work for me now, and I certainly won’t treat you unfairly. You’re the vice-president of the student union at Q University with a bright future ahead of you…why resort to crooked paths? Isn’t it better to walk the straight and narrow? Go back to working under Wen Ting for now, and report anything that happens to me immediately.”
“Understood, Boss.” Qin Hui instantly shifted into his new role, a surge of secret delight flashing deep within him. Under normal circumstances, no matter how talented he was, he would never have had the chance to even speak to Liu Shi; now, having made this connection, it was truly a case of a blessing in disguise.
*****
Su Jie headed straight back to campus, feeling a sense of relief.
Getting rid of a petty character like Qin Hui meant one less source of trouble for himself. During the summer break, Tan Dashi, Lin Tang, and Wang Shun didn’t slack off; they all went to the Dragon Club for training. By adhering to a set schedule, they gradually learned to discipline themselves and achieve a state of mental composure and focus…a state of “stillness.”
Few people in the world manage to achieve such a state.
However, Su Jie didn’t want to train at the Dragon Club today; instead, he wanted to go to the library to study and conduct some research. He wanted to explore the relationships between Feng Shui architecture, human beings, and the changing times.
People, environment, and the era.
As these elements shift and interact, even ancient knowledge can evolve.
Even the “Great Way” itself undergoes transformation with the changing times.
This was a research topic Su Jie had conceived while at the Liu Shi Garden. At the Ke Yi massage, his observations of Feng Shui had led him to consider how human nature amplifies human capability; at the Liu Shi Garden, however, he gained insight into how the era influences the world around us.
He had entered a state where, simply by arriving at a location, he could glean profound truths from it. He could keenly sense things that remained imperceptible to ordinary people. He existed in a wondrous state of constant attunement to the natural world around him.
This was a truly extraordinary mindset…one that transcended the ordinary.
He brought his laptop to the library.
It was the summer break, so the Q University library was very quiet, though a few dedicated students were still studying inside. The atmosphere here was far superior to that of the dormitories; anyone coming here to study seemed able to quickly get into the right mindset…something that was difficult to achieve elsewhere.
Su Jie knew this wasn’t a matter of Feng Shui superstition; the importance of atmosphere for studying was a legitimate subject of psychological research.