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

Chapter 183 Xin Qiji's First Venture Capital Investment! [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

In the Sanqing Hall, Zhou Yi used the Bagua abacus to divine and discovered that someone had tried to change their fate but failed and instead suffered a backlash. They were probably coughing up blood right now.

The backlash is easy to understand. With Wang Lingguan and the Ziwei Emperor present, they didn't even need to lift a finger. A mere wisp of divine power reflected back was enough to make the opponent wish they were dead.

But this person cannot die. This kind of merit is harder to find than a wild panda, so we must seize the opportunity.

Now is the crucial moment to break through the one-pound mark, and we must collect as much merit as possible.

Just as Zhou Yi was putting away his abacus and planning to make a trip to the city, Fang Hongyan called:

"Master Zhou, the feng shui master in our neighborhood suddenly vomited blood and lost consciousness. The affiliated hospital across the street sent an ambulance. Listen, the ambulance siren is incredibly loud."

As we were talking, the sound of an ambulance came through the phone, along with the noise of security guards. I must say, the property management of this community is quite responsible.

Fang Hongyan, being quite gossipy, asked in a low voice:

"Master Zhou, how about I take this opportunity to sneak into his house and take some photos for you?"

It seems this is the person who attacked me… Zhou Yi quickly stopped him:

"No need, no need. You must not go near his house. Once your idol is repaired, I will go back with you to settle this karmic debt and purify your neighborhood while we're at it."

A heretical cultivator kept trying to get attention, and ignoring him only made him more eager to die.

There's no question about that; we must take him to where he needs to go.

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Yi returned to the Zhongtian Hall, replaced the nearly burnt-out incense and candles, sat down, and began to reorganize the whole affair:
"To change one's destiny, one needs the Eight Characters (birth date and time), a name, or a photo. How does one obtain these?"

As Zhou Yi scratched his head in thought, Fang Hongyan sent him a photo via WeChat. It showed an old man covered in blood lying on a stretcher with his eyes closed. He had a mole on his left cheek with a few hairs growing from it, making him look like a traitor and collaborator during the Anti-Japanese War.

After the photos were sent, Fang Hongyan sent a voice message:
“I took this picture at the entrance. Many neighbors came out to ask what happened. Everyone was very helpful and even said they wanted to go to the hospital to see Teacher Dai together… His name is Dai Shengli, and the residents of the community all call him Teacher Dai.”

Zhou Yi replied:
"Remember to keep the talisman I gave you last time. This person suddenly got into trouble, and the evil spirits in his house may spread everywhere. Don't get affected."

After sending it, Zhou Yi continued to ponder how his information had been leaked.

Less than five minutes later, Fang Hongyan sent another message:
"Dai Shengli's housekeeper said that a few days ago, Lao Dai disguised himself as a fortune teller and went to the countryside. Once, he came back wearing dirty clothes and was almost kicked out by the housekeeper because he thought he was a scavenger."

The countryside? A few days ago?

Zhou Yi immediately recalled that Wang Shuangqing, who sold pots a couple of days ago, had mentioned knowing a powerful fortune teller.

Could it be that this is the one who wears the mask of Shengli in disguise?

Thinking of this, he immediately forwarded the photo to Wang Shuangqing:

"Do you know this person?"

Wang Shuangqing replied very quickly:

"I know him. He set up a stall in Yunwu Town a few days ago, told my fortune, and asked about the local customs and culture. He was a very kind old man... What's wrong with him?"

The Book of Changes (Zhou Yi) fabricated the following:
"You were dancing in the square and hooked up with an old lady, but she stabbed you in the back by her lover... Where are you right now?"

Wang Shuangqing sent a photo of himself eating watermelon in the store:

"Eating watermelon? It's grown by my second uncle's fishpond, it's so sweet it's sickening. Do you want to try some?"

Zhou Yi replied with an OK emoji:

"Okay, I'll be right there!"

After replying to the message, he told Fang Hongyan to go home quickly, then rode his motorcycle down the mountain and headed straight for Wang Shuangqing's "Kitchenware Encyclopedia" store.

Just as I parked my motorcycle at the door, Jia Ziwang, who sells pesticides, fertilizers, and seeds, arrived:

"Wang Shuangqing said that the watermelon seeds in my family have produced fruit and invited me to try them. I never expected that these days, not only fishermen like to treat others, but even watermelon growers are starting to show off."

The two entered the kitchenware store, where Wang Shuangqing enthusiastically helped them by moving stools and cutting watermelons.

Zhou Yi took a bite of the watermelon and thought it tasted really good, with a strong watermelon flavor.

However, he wasn't there to just watch the show. He put down the watermelon and said to Wang Shuangqing:
"Come on, sit down. Don't go to fortune tellers for no reason next time; it won't do you any good."

Wang Shuangqing belatedly realized and said:

"What's wrong, Xiao Yi? Am I possessed by a ghost?"

Zhou Yi shook his head:

"No, let me check you first. Sit still and don't move."

Wang Shuangqing's facial features are fine, but that doesn't mean his destiny is also fine. A detailed examination using the I Ching is needed to see exactly what Dai Shengli did.

Jia Ziwang was just enjoying the show when he unexpectedly encountered this scene:
"Xiao Yi, do I need to avoid suspicion?"

"No need, it will be over soon."

Zhou Yi pointed his fingers together like a sword and placed it between Wang Shuangqing's eyebrows. Wang Shuangqing's body trembled involuntarily, as if he were very frightened, even he himself was stunned:
"How is this going?"

“Your fate has been tampered with, so you have a strong resistance to my sword finger.” Zhou Yi held the twenty-four black beads on his wrist in his hand, put his other hand on Wang Shuangqing’s shoulder, and began to pluck the beads and recite the “Precious Proclamation of the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak”.

The Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak holds the power over life and death. By praying to him, one can restore one's destiny from disorder to its original state and eliminate all negative effects.

Changing one's destiny isn't something that can be done by just asking the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak. Other deities like Wang Lingguan, the Great Emperor of Longevity of the South Pole, the Great Emperor of the Central Heaven Ziwei, and the Heavenly Venerable of Perfect Understanding and Freedom can also handle it; it's considered a minor issue.

After reciting the scriptures, Wang Shuangqing rubbed his head and said:

"I feel like something shattered in my brain. Was it done by that old fortune teller from last time?"

Zhou Yi nodded:

"He learned what I looked like from you, cast a curse on me, and then suffered the backlash. That blood-covered photo is the result of that backlash."

To make Wang Shuangqing realize the seriousness of the matter, Zhou Yi told him the truth.

After saying that, he placed his sword fingers together on Wang Shuangqing's forehead. This time, the reaction was normal, and he no longer trembled all over.

Jia Ziwang was so engrossed in watching that he forgot to eat the melon.
"I've met that fortune teller before, why would he curse you, Xiao Yi?"

Zhou Yi pointed to the misty mountains not far away:

"They want to take over Cloud Mist Mountain."

Wang Shuangqing's fate was altered quite a bit, even including an instruction to crash into Zhou Yi with a car whenever he saw him. Unfortunately, man proposes, God disposes. Wang Shuangqing's act of giving cookware to Hunyuan Palace helped him escape a calamity. Now that Zhou Yi has changed his fate back, Dai Shengli's painstakingly designed killing scheme has been rendered useless.

The saying "favorable timing is not as important as favorable location, and favorable location is not as important as favorable human relationships" perfectly describes this situation.

Even the most perfect layout can be neutralized by the "human factors" of Cloud Mist Town.

Wang Shuangqing was filled with gratitude:

"Xiao Yi, how much money should I give? Is eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight enough?"

Zhou Yi picked up the watermelon and continued eating:

"This watermelon is the payment; there's no need to discuss the money."

Wang Shuangqing felt guilty and wanted to do something, but Jia Ziwang slapped his thigh and said:
"Then let's arrange a table at a restaurant in Anchao. Zhao Wei, Aimin, Da Tou Yang, and I will accompany you. You arrange a proper table, and we'll have a proper meal with Xiao Yi. Perfect!"

Zhou Yi was wondering what to eat for dinner and thought this arrangement was excellent.

Wang Shuangqing immediately picked up his phone and called Jin Anchao, saying that he would be hosting a banquet for distinguished guests at the Shanju Restaurant that night, and that a private room on the third floor had been reserved, and that any kind of fresh seafood, poultry, or wild animals could be arranged.

After hanging up the phone, the three continued chatting. Wang Shuangqing mentioned that business was becoming increasingly difficult, a sentiment echoed by Jia Ziwang.
"You're doing alright. I still have a bunch of unsold seeds. Not to mention eggplants, peppers, carrots, and the like, there are at least a couple hundred pounds of corn seeds alone. If I want to return them, I'll have to argue with the suppliers..."

Zhou Yi, who was about to leave because he was thinking about the incense and candles on the mountain, immediately became interested upon hearing Jia Ziwang's words:
"Brother Wang, I'll take care of the rest of your seeds for you. A customer who grows in greenhouses is really interested in trying out some off-season crops. I'll try to get the seeds for him, just don't set the price too high."

Jia Ziwang looked at Zhou Yi with surprise:

"Really? You can really help me with this? I'll give it to you at cost price. I don't need to make a profit, just break even."

Zhou Yi stood up and said:

“You can send any seeds that you can’t sell to me up the mountain, and I’ll transfer the money to you directly then… You two continue chatting, I have to go back. There are still statues of gods in the Taoist temple. I’ll come down after the sun sets.”

Jia Ziwang had only intended to join in the fun and keep company, but Zhou Yi had unexpectedly solved his biggest worry, so he immediately offered to cover all the drinks for the evening.

"I have a box of Jiannanchun liquor that I've been treasuring for almost ten years. I'll move it over tonight, and we brothers can go all out and have a good time."

After saying goodbye to the two, Zhou Yi rode his motorcycle back up the mountain.

Meanwhile, in the Southern Song Dynasty, in Yanzhou, Shandong.

After returning to this place, Xin Qiji hurriedly descended Mount Tai with several friends overnight, rode horses to Fengfu County at the foot of Mount Tai, and went to visit the Dang family.

Among the Dang family members who settled in Fengfu County was a talented young man named Dang Huaiying. Xin Qiji once studied with him under the educator Liu Zhan. The two were both outstanding in their studies and were known as Dang Xin.

After returning from Hunyuan Palace, Xin Qiji was preoccupied with finding like-minded people to undertake great things together.

As a result, he excitedly went to find Dang Huaiying, but this classmate and friend not only refused to participate, but also wanted to go to Yanjing to take the imperial examination and hoped to become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the Jin Dynasty.

Inside the Dang family's study, Xin Qiji earnestly and patiently said:

"Brother Shijie, the Jurchens have gone too far in bullying the people of our land. How can you associate with them?"

Dang Huaiying smiled bitterly:
"The people of China were struggling under the iron heel of the Jurchens, while the imperial court of China was singing and dancing in the southeast corner. When they executed Yue Fei, I knew there was no hope. The people looked south for the royal army, but did the royal army ever remember us, their northern compatriots?"

Xin Qiji felt a pang of pain in his heart, but still wanted to try again:
"It is precisely because there is no hope in the South that we are starting an uprising and taking matters into our own hands to drive out the Jin Tartars. Brother Shijie, are you really not going to join me in this great undertaking?"

Dang Huaiying bowed deeply in apology:
“The Dang family has several hundred members, and I cannot take that risk… There is a granary at the east end of Dang Village outside the city, containing a thousand bushels of grain, which I will give to you.”

Xin Qiji originally wanted to find a right-hand man, but unexpectedly only managed to attract venture capital, so he had to take his leave.

On the way, several friends asked:
"More than a thousand bushels of grain are too much for just a few of us to carry. Could it be that Dang Huaiying knows we are few in number and is deliberately being so generous?"

Xin Qiji glanced back at the city gate of Fengfu County and said to his friends:
"It's alright, I have my own way of transporting that grain... Let's first inquire if there are any outlaws nearby. If we search diligently, we'll surely find like-minded people!"

(End of this chapter)