The Way of Restraint

Chapter 92: Gathering of Northern Luo and Central Ma

“That’s exactly right. When virtue can’t subdue evil, disaster follows. Nian Gengyao wasn’t a true gentleman. Trying to act like one brought his downfall,” said Master Luo. “I’ll do three things for you. First, I’ve treated your illness — you were on your last legs, wouldn’t have made it three more months. Now, you’ve got two or three years left, though I can’t promise more. Second, I helped you choose a feng shui burial site. As I said, three zhang deep under this mountain, encircled like a jade belt — it’ll keep your family from decline for three generations.”

“Only three generations without decline? Can’t we rise to greatness?” Xu Qiaomu was unwilling to settle: “Like Feng Shoucheng — he suddenly rose to power, unstoppable. But our Xu family is already on the decline, and the younger generation is the third. Can’t we soar like him?”

“You want to shoot to the heavens with just a grave? That’s pure fantasy. In every dynasty, sages picked imperial tombs — how many empires actually lasted ten thousand years?” Master Luo said. “It all comes down to people. If someone in your family has real talent, maybe you can turn things around. Actually, you’ve got a good eye — the most important task is for me to read faces and see if any of your descendants can shoulder great responsibility.”

“Exactly.” Xu Qiaomu nodded. “Master Luo, your ancestors read fortunes for emperors. The Forbidden City archives still hold Qianlong’s birth chart and Kangxi’s comments on it — if I’m not mistaken, those comments were written by your ancestor, Blind Luo. I trust you. If your family could divine an emperor’s fate, then finding a successor for my little clan should be a walk in the park.”

Indeed, compared to ruling a vast empire, picking a family successor was child’s play.

“True. Kangxi chose Yongzheng because of his grandson Qianlong. And it’s true — my ancestor Blind Luo played a role in that. But of course, Yongzheng’s iron-fisted rule was key. History has proven certain truths,” Master Luo said.

“Then Master Luo, these are all my sons. What do you think?” Xu Qiaomu pointed to a group of men standing not far off.

Those middle-aged men, though they couldn’t hear what he said, knew exactly what was being asked — who was fit to inherit the family legacy?

Their nerves were stretched thin.

“Rotten wood — can’t be carved,” said Master Luo bluntly, not sparing anyone’s dignity. “If any of them take over, the whole family business will be gone in ten years. Clean sweep.”

“Really that useless?” Xu Qiaomu still clung to hope. Now that hope was crushed. “Then I’ll trouble you to take a look at the younger generation. See if any of them have potential. If not, well… we’ll even consider the girls.”

“Someone from the Zhang family is coming today too, right?” Master Luo said. “That’s actually why I agreed to help you. Otherwise, your house and gold wouldn’t have caught my interest. You’ve calculated this well — decades ago, the marriage alliance with the Zhangs fell through. This time, you’re offering a lot, trying to marry Zhang Hongqing’s daughter. I won’t meddle in that. But Zhang Hongqing and Ma Fengnian are sworn brothers. Ma Fengnian’s bringing her over to see if there’s any promising talent in your family. I’m actually looking forward to chatting with Ma Fengnian. You didn’t tell me he was coming — what, afraid two tigers can’t share one mountain?”

“Of course not!” Xu Qiaomu was startled and quickly explained, not wanting to offend Master Luo. “If Master Ma comes, it’s a double blessing. It’ll bring great honor to our Xu family. The two of you are the modern-day equivalents of Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng. If you both meet at my home today, perhaps we’ll even create a new ‘Tui Bei Tu’ legend.” (G: Tui bei tu is a Chinese prophecy book from the 7th-century Tang dynasty.)

“Hah! Old fox — you sure know how to flatter,” Master Luo chuckled. “We’re no Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng, and we’re not writing any ‘Tui Bei Tu’. Just academic exchange, that’s all. If I’m right, they should be arriving soon. Let’s go down.”

A large man in a Zhongshan suit pushed the wheelchair gently, smoothly, and without the slightest jolt — a level of control and strength that marked him as a true martial arts expert.

“Good kid. What’s his style?” Master Luo asked.

“He’s deaf and mute — an orphan I took in. Loyal, reliable, understands my every intention,” Xu Qiaomu said. “His name is Xu Ba. Always had great strength. Learned a bit of everything.”

“Impressive.” Master Luo nodded. He could sense the terrifying internal power hidden within this man.

The group made their way down the mountain.

At the foot, Xu Jieren had already slipped over to quietly tell some of the men what had just happened with Su Jie.

One of them — a middle-aged man — instantly flew into a rage.

“Outrageous! That brat’s gone too far — he hit someone? How’s Jiahao?” he roared. Clearly, he was Xu Jiahao’s father, furious that his son had been beaten.

“What happened?” Xu Qiaomu coughed. “Jieren, what did you just say?”

“Father!” Xu Jiahao’s dad said, “Your grandson Jiahao was knocked unconscious by that boy Xu Ying brought back. Right in our ancestral home!”

“Where were security? Why wasn’t he detained? What do we even pay you people for?” Another man — Xu Jieren’s father, Xu Ziqiang — chimed in.

“Master Huang intervened to protect that little thug and stopped us,” Xu Jieren quickly explained. “We couldn’t lay hands on him, so we came to report to you.”

“You mean Xu Ying came back?” Xu Qiaomu narrowed his eyes in his wheelchair. “With his son? And the kid beat up Jiahao? The guards tried to stop him, and Master Huang got in the way?”

“Yes, Grandpa.” Xu Jieren bowed deeply.

“Master Huang really should mind his business. Let him train the branch kids — why meddle in the main family’s affairs?” Xu Ziqiang muttered. “I’ll go speak with him.”

“Master Huang doesn’t act without reason,” Xu Qiaomu said. “We’ve got bigger things to handle today. You go deal with that. Since Xu Ying is back, bring her to the hall — and the younger ones too. The Zhangs are coming soon, and I’ll be greeting them myself.”

“The Zhangs are just sending a girl this time. Do you really need to greet her personally?” Xu Ziqiang asked, puzzled.

“Master Ma is coming with her,” Xu Qiaomu narrowed his eyes. “To be frank, the Zhangs are bringing Master Ma to use his Ma-style face-reading to assess whether there’s any talent in our Xu family — if we’re even worthy of marriage. Whoever catches the eye of Master Luo and Master Ma will inherit the entire family estate. I’m laying this down right now. If it’s a younger one, their father will first be the successor, and then it’ll pass to them — I’m following the Kangxi–Yongzheng–Qianlong model.”

Everyone felt the weight of that declaration.

“Xu Ying’s kid dares to hit people — what should we do? Toss him in jail for a few days?” Xu Ziqiang asked.

“Bring him to the hall. I want to see what kind of kid he is,” said Xu Qiaomu.

“Dad, Xu Ying ran off from an arranged marriage — made us enemies with the Zhangs. If we want to rebuild that alliance, showing his face might not help,” said Xu Ziqiang.

“You think you’re in charge now?” Xu Qiaomu shot him a glance, and Xu Ziqiang instantly fell silent.

“I’ll take care of it, Dad.” Xu Ziqiang bowed and left.

*****

At the village entrance.

A car rolled up to the Xu family estate. Out stepped two people — Master Ma and Zhang Manman.

“Uncle Ma, the feng shui of the Xu ancestral home seems decent,” Zhang Manman said, surveying the area.

“It’s alright. But feng shui’s secondary — people are the key. Ever read The Humble Room Inscription? ‘A mountain doesn’t have to be high — if there’s an immortal, it’s famous. Water doesn’t have to be deep — if there’s a dragon, it has spirit.’ A place’s feng shui depends on who lives there. If it’s someone like King Wen of Zhou, even a prison becomes a birthplace of the Book of Changes. But the Xu family hasn’t produced a single notable figure in years — all mediocrities. Even the best feng shui can’t save that,” Master Ma smiled. “Since ancient times, land gains prestige from people — never the other way around. That’s why places become ‘former residences’ only after someone made a name.”

“And they’re offering my dad so much just to marry me off?” Zhang Manman frowned. “I don’t get what he’s thinking, asking me to come check things out.”

“Doesn’t hurt to look.” Master Ma said, “Your dad’s leaving the final decision to you. The Xu family’s current head, Xu Qiaomu, isn’t dead yet — he still holds massive influence. Even if he dies soon, they can coast on his legacy for a while. Unless the new head botches things and the clan splits.”

“That’s already happening,” Zhang Manman nodded, just as the ancestral gates opened and a welcoming party emerged — led by an old man in a wheelchair.

“Xu Qiaomu is actually coming to greet us? Not for me — that’s your reputation, Uncle Ma,” Zhang Manman thought to herself.

“Let’s go,” said Master Ma.

The two walked up.

“Hahaha…” Xu Qiaomu laughed. “Master Ma! I’ve tried to invite you so many times without success — seems Hongqing’s face holds more sway.”

“I’m just here accompanying my niece,” Master Ma replied, catching sight of Master Luo. He laughed. “Old Luo — so you’re working this gig too?”

“Old Ma, I knew you’d come — I’ve been waiting for you here,” Master Luo’s eyes gleamed like lightning.

“You two are usually impossible to book — even billionaires can’t get you. Today you grace our Xu family — my ancestors must’ve done something right,” Xu Qiaomu said hurriedly. “Please, come in — let me host you properly.”

Xu Qiaomu truly dared not offend either of them. First, there’s the old maxim: never offend feng shui masters. Second, these two weren’t ordinary mystics — they were highly educated, had legions of disciples, and networks far deeper than Xu’s own. Befriending them could bring tremendous benefits.

The group entered the hall.