Inheriting a Taoist temple, the story begins with Wu Zetian offering incense.

Who wrote Chapter 138, "A Hundred Battles in the Yellow Sands, Clad in Golden Armor"? That's giving Loulan too much credit! [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

Li Bai leaned closer to watch the video and asked in a low voice:

"Master, could this be the soul you performed the ritual for yesterday?"

Zhou Yi said with a smile:

"Whether it is or not, it doesn't matter. I finished the ritual for those departed souls yesterday, and that was my duty. As for going home to see my parents, that was all arranged by Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun. If they want to express their gratitude, they should thank Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun."

Being able to go home before entering reincarnation, visit one's closest relatives, and give them an explanation is a very fulfilling experience.

But when Zhou Yi thought about the many missing people in the world who have disappeared without a trace, and the many parents who are waiting anxiously for their children to return, he couldn't feel happy.

All beings suffer; how many can one save on one's own?

Just as I was feeling lost, Fang Hongyan walked in carrying a file folder, a very friendly smile on his face:

"These are the names we've drafted. Master Zhou, please take a look and see if any of them are suitable."

Zhou Yi took the book and began to carefully examine it.

This boss was probably heavily influenced by Pang Donglai, as all the names he chose contained the character "lai" (来), such as Wan Ke Lai (万客来), Hao Ke Lai (豪客来), Ba Fang Lai (八方来), Hao Yun Lai (好运来)...

According to Zhou Yi's analysis of Fang Hongyan's birth chart, both "Wan Ke Lai" and "Hao Yun Lai" are suitable.

As long as it's not the phrase "golden sun" which is full of yang energy, everything else is fine. Even if it has some negative effects, it will be purified by the blessed land until nothing is left.

Looking at the names chosen by Zhou Yi, Fang Hongyan decided to use the name Wan Ke Lai:
"We hope that after changing the name, our mall will have more than 10,000 customers every day."

The Book of Changes reminds us:
"The name is only one aspect. If you want your business to be successful, maintaining high quality is the most important thing. Isn't Pang Donglai's reputation built on the contrast with its competitors?"

Fang Hongyan nodded:
"We will be organizing a visit for our management team to Pang Donglai for study and inspection soon... Master Zhou, have you ever been to Pang Donglai?"

"I've been there."

Do you think the feng shui there is good?

Zhou Yi took a sip of tea and said with a smile:

"Don't always focus on feng shui. As the saying goes, timing is not as important as location, and location is not as important as people. As long as you can achieve harmony among people, even the worst timing and location can be turned around. Human will can conquer nature!"

After discussing this matter and signing the contract, Zhou Yi remembered the small temple on the rooftop:
"Do you still have anything from Thailand at home? Like amulets, ornaments, or other religious items, anything bought from temples or other places counts."

Fang Hongyan recalled carefully and said:
"It seems so. When I bought the Buddha statue, the temple gave me some ornaments as a gift and told me to fulfill my vow within three years, otherwise the gods would be angry."

Zhou Yi took out several sky-covering talismans from his bag and handed them to Fang Hongyan:
“Go home and wrap those ornaments with talisman paper. If it’s a Buddha statue, cover its eyes. Then burn it or bury it in the ground. If you find that troublesome, you can bring it to me to dispose of.”

Fang Hongyan was a little worried:

"Why don't you come to my house and take a look at the feng shui of my home? I'll pay you 50,000 yuan for the visit."

Zhou Yi would naturally not refuse a job that offered him money:
Is it convenient to go now?

"It's convenient. It's just my daughter and two nannies at home; there are no outsiders."

Fang Hongyan's wife is the financial director of a shopping mall and works regular hours. Their daughter just graduated from university and has been throwing a tantrum at home recently.
“This little girl has no choice but to get a tattoo. She said she finally managed to book an appointment with a tattoo artist and even bragged about how amazing the artist is. Her mother and I disagreed, so she threw a tantrum at home.”

As they were talking, Fang Hongyan looked at Zhou Yi and asked:

“My daughter said that a friend of hers got a Pixiu tattoo and has never lost money playing mahjong since then. She also often gets free meals when she goes out to eat. Master Zhou, is this true?”

Tattoos within the realm of metaphysics are considered unorthodox and unorthodox practices; I haven't really studied the I Ching much.
"All gifts come with a hidden price tag, so it's best not to try to take advantage of it in this way... Heaven cannot be deceived, and fate cannot be defied. From a metaphysical perspective, this kind of debt is very difficult to repay."

While it may seem like you've saved money and won some money, you might pay a different price later.

For example, when it comes to fortune, lifespan, and blessings, those who resort to unorthodox methods will ultimately become scum of those unorthodox practices.

Upon hearing this, Fang Hongyan decided to go back and persuade his daughter again. He asked the driver to prepare the car, then took the elevator downstairs to bring Zhou Yi home for a visit.

Meanwhile, in the world of Emperor Yuan of the Western Han Dynasty, Chen Tang and Gan Yanshou, along with their entourage, finally arrived at the ancient city of Loulan on the banks of the Puchang Marsh after a long and arduous journey.

Puchangze is what later became known as Lop Nur. During the Han Dynasty, it was a huge saltwater lake, also called Puchanghai by the people of the Western Regions. The ancient city of Loulan was located on the shore of the lake.

It is called the ancient city because there were no more Loulan people in the city at this time, only a Han army stationed there.

During the Han and Tang dynasties, people did not travel through Hami and Turpan to reach the Western Regions. Instead, they went directly west from Yumenguan or Yangguan in Dunhuang, which led them directly to the Protectorate of the Western Regions.

Loulan, located in the middle of this road, had a geographical advantage. It set up checkpoints to collect tolls and was very wealthy because it was backed by the Puchangze salt fields.

Ever since Zhang Qian discovered the existence of the Loulan Kingdom during his expedition beyond the Great Wall, this tiny land had never been at peace, repeatedly provoking the Han Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Wu, it repeatedly switched between the Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu. Emperor Wu simply sent Zhao Ponu to lead an army to capture the king alive, and the entire Loulan Kingdom surrendered. Zhao Ponu felt that his military achievements were not enough, so he also destroyed the Cheshi Kingdom as well, before returning to the capital.

For decades afterward, Loulan continued to waver between the Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu, even hanging the head of a Han envoy on the city wall, which thoroughly angered the Han Dynasty.

Fu Jiezi killed the King of Loulan at a banquet, installed his brother as the new king, and ordered the Loulan people to move to the area on the northern slope of the Altun Mountains, which is now RQ County in modern society, and renamed it Shanshan.

In less than thirty years, Shanshan Kingdom completed its Sinicization and became a complete vassal of the Han Dynasty, but the Han Dynasty's hatred for Loulan for killing the Han envoy never subsided.

Even in the Tang Dynasty, those poets would often write poems with Loulan as their hypothetical enemy, expressing their patriotism and turning this country's name, which had long since disappeared from the annals of history, into a viral sensation.

Those who don't know might think the Loulan Kingdom was very powerful, existing from the Han Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty.

"Having fought a hundred battles in golden armor, I will not return until Lou Lan is conquered... Old Gan, what do you think of this poem?"

At the gate of the ancient city of Loulan, Chen Tang shamelessly recited Wang Changling's "Song of Joining the Army" and enthusiastically invited Gan Yanshou to give some impromptu comments.

Gan Yanshou unscrewed the one-liter mineral water bottle, gulped down several mouthfuls of boiled water, and then said:

"Who wrote this poem? It's giving Loulan too much credit. It's just a tiny place, why would it need a hundred battles? I can take it with one charge."

Chen Tang said speechlessly:
"This is rhetoric in art. Do you understand rhetoric? I'll write to Wang Changling when I have the chance, and ask him to elevate the imagined enemy a bit, such as 'I will not return until Paris is conquered,' or 'I will not return until London is conquered.' Wouldn't that enhance the artistic conception?"

After their official identities were verified, the two entered the city and stayed at a post station full of sand. The food was quite good, with plenty of mutton, but there were no leafy greens. Chen Tang simply took out a few onions, cut them in half, and ate them with the mutton like apples.

After passing the ancient city of Loulan, the next step is to cross a vast desert and finally reach Yumen Pass.

The saying "Spring breeze does not reach Yumen Pass" refers to this very pass.

Gan Yanshou asked:
"Who will take charge of the Western Regions Protectorate next?"

Chen Tang shook his head:

"The history books don't mention it, but I plan to recommend Xin Qingji, the governor of Jiuquan, for the position. He is capable and has the military talent to prevent the humiliating situation of the Protectorate being besieged by the Wusun from happening again."

Xin Qingji was the son of Xin Wuxian, the general who broke through the Qiang. In his youth, he was stationed in Chigu City and participated in the internal strife between the Greater and Lesser Wusun. He was very skilled in politics and served as the chief secretary of Jincheng, the governor of Zhangye, and the governor of Jiuquan. He had a good understanding of the Western Regions and was a talent that Chen Tang had been paying attention to for a long time.

This name may be unfamiliar, but his descendants are more well-known, such as Xin Ping, a strategist for Yuan Shao in the late Eastern Han Dynasty; Xin Pi, a strategist for Cao Cao; Xin Hong and his son Xin Mian in the Jin Dynasty; and Xin Yunjing in the Tang Dynasty, etc.

In addition, Xin Qiji, the Southern Song Dynasty poet who wrote "In my drunken stupor, I pick up my sword by lamplight; in my dreams, I hear the bugles echoing through the camps," was also a descendant of Xin Qingji in terms of lineage.

Times may change, but the spirit and courage that runs deep in Xin's bones remain the same.

Gan Yanshou took a bite of lamb leg, feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the rapid march:

“I and Xin Qingji’s father once fought against the Qiang people. When we arrived in Jiuquan, we needed to rest for a few days. It was a good opportunity to find out Xin Qingji’s attitude towards guarding the border. If he is willing, you can ask the immortal for some supplies to send to him.”

Chen Tang nodded:

"As long as Xin Qingji is willing to guard the border, there will be absolutely no problem with supplies."

While the two were discussing Xin Qingji, Zhou Yi and Li Bai rode in Fang Hongyan's Bentley to a villa area near the Qingshui River in Yiyang City.

The villas here are almost all located by the river, making it very tranquil. The landscaping is also very well done, making it one of the top residential areas in Yiyang City.

Arriving at the gate of a detached villa, the group got out of the car. Zhou Yi looked at the feng shui and thought it was perfect, especially the Qingshui River, which encircled the villa area like a jade belt, a typical feng shui arrangement for accumulating wealth.

"Master Zhou, is the feng shui of this villa alright?"

"Excellent, very good, it's clearly arranged by a master."

Fang Hongyan explained:

“When this villa was being developed, a director of the Yiyang City Feng Shui Folk Customs Association helped set up the feng shui layout. At that time, the real estate company was rich and gave him a villa directly. It's located at the very back of the community. We still greet each other occasionally when we meet.”

Oh my, the directors of the Feng Shui Folk Customs Association are really everywhere!
Of the nine council members, one, He, has already died. Leaving aside the blind man, there are still seven left. I never expected to run into him during a simple home visit today. It seems that fate is pushing me to rid the people of this scourge.

Fang Hongyan led Zhou Yi through the villa gate. There was a pond in the yard, filled with plump koi and water lilies. The whole yard looked charming and picturesque.

Upon arriving at the villa's first-floor living room, Fang Hongyan instructed the housekeeper to prepare tea. Zhou Yi was suddenly drawn to a brightly colored painting on the wall:
"Mr. Fang, where did you get this painting?"

"My daughter bought it from that tattoo artist. It's said that hanging it at home can ward off evil spirits. Is there a problem, Master Zhou?"

Zhou Yi nodded:

"There's a problem, and it's a big problem!"

(End of this chapter)