Spirit Hunters of Maoshan Sect - c7

Chapter 7: The Hidden Master
Evening, Stone City Institute of Technology.

A young man wearing a long traditional robe and cloth shoes, with a bundle slung over his shoulder, stood outside the school gate. He looked up at the gilded calligraphy characters spelling out the school’s name on the gate building, shook his head, and walked in.

It was dinner time, and the campus was bustling with students, including many beautiful young women. Ye Shaoyang’s heart bloomed with joy – after being confined on the mountain for over a decade, this day had finally come! He deliberately stopped the prettiest girl he saw to ask directions to the president’s office, admiring the scenery along the way to the administration building.

“So you’re… Daoist Ye?” Behind the desk, a balding, slightly plump middle-aged man extended his hand with a warm smile. “Welcome, welcome! I trust your journey wasn’t too tiring.”

“Greetings, President Zhu. Please, just call me Ye Shaoyang.” Ye Shaoyang politely shook his hand.

President Zhu laughed heartily, invited him to sit, and asked his secretary to bring tea, engaging in enthusiastic conversation.

“Daoist Ye, you’re so young to be an inner disciple of Maoshan – truly remarkable! Haha, don’t look so surprised. While others might not believe in such things, I certainly do. Years ago, I was haunted by an evil ghost and fortunately saved by your master. He then gave me a wealth-attracting talisman, and my business has flourished ever since. Look, I’ve carried this talisman with me all these years.”

President Zhu took out his wallet and reverently showed Ye Shaoyang the wealth-attracting talisman from Qing Yun Zi.

Ye Shaoyang nearly burst out laughing when he saw it. These so-called wealth-attracting talismans were actually printed at a copy shop at the foot of the mountain. For the past ten years, he’d been the one handling the printing. They told believers the talismans were blessed, selling them for several hundred yuan each. If anyone was getting wealthy, it was Qing Yun Zi alone.

“Everything I have today is thanks to your master. So, Daoist Ye, having you study at our school is truly an honor. I’ve already discussed it with your master – all your expenses here will be fully covered.”

“All expenses covered?” Ye Shaoyang felt a sharp pain in his chest. Before leaving the mountain, Qing Yun Zi had reasoned with him at length, saying he’d paid all the school fees and had no money left, giving him just a thousand yuan for living expenses, telling him he’d need to earn more himself when it ran out.

All these years of serving as his caretaker, assistant, and errand boy were worth just a thousand yuan! The more Ye Shaoyang thought about it, the angrier he became. Qing Yun Zi, you old fox, playing both sides for profit!

“Daoist Ye, I’ve prepared your documents. Just fill out this enrollment form, and you’re all set.”

After completing the paperwork, President Zhu wanted to treat him to dinner, but Ye Shaoyang declined. He was here as a student and should act like one – it wouldn’t be appropriate to have the president treat him to meals. President Zhu didn’t insist but offered to personally escort him to the dormitory.

Leaving the building, President Zhu suddenly asked: “Daoist Ye, this administration building is newly constructed. What do you think of its feng shui?”

Testing me already? Ye Shaoyang smiled. Maoshan arts were divided into four major categories: techniques, geomancy, divination, and medicine. “Techniques” referred to Daoist magic, which only inner disciples could learn. The other three were outer sect skills, with “geomancy” including feng shui. Ye Shaoyang wasn’t particularly interested in this area and had only studied it superficially, though his level still exceeded that of ordinary practitioners.

He looked around, observing carefully before speaking: “This building faces south with its back to the north, its curved front gathering yang energy and solar essence. The open space in front collects the wind’s energy from all directions.” He pointed to the dozens of steps leading up to it. “I noticed earlier there’s a grove behind the building – this creates a ‘sloping front, forested back’ formation, stable as Mount Tai, with perfect yin-yang alignment and a crouching tiger posture. Whoever did your feng shui assessment had some skill.”

“However, because of the curved design, it absorbs too much solar essence without any outlet or balancing elements. Over time, this creates a fire hazard.”

President Zhu started, then respectfully said: “Daoist Ye, what divine insight! Since this building was completed, two offices have experienced mysterious fires. Fortunately, they were quickly extinguished without losses. But the building is already constructed – we can’t tear it down. Is there any remedy, Daoist Ye?”

Ye Shaoyang smiled slightly, “It’s simple. Build two rectangular pools in front of the building. If they seem out of place, you can use them as fish ponds. When sunlight hits the water, the evaporation will disperse around the building, consuming some of the excess solar essence, bringing the entire feng shui arrangement into balance.”

President Zhu was overjoyed and repeatedly expressed his thanks.

He called the Dean of Academic Affairs, and they arranged Ye Shaoyang’s dormitory and class assignments. To show their respect, both accompanied him to the dormitory.

“Daoist Ye, would you like us to arrange a single room for you?” President Zhu asked at the dormitory entrance.

“No need. I’ve never lived in a shared dormitory before – I’d like to try it.” Ye Shaoyang smiled, took the key from President Zhu, thanked them, and insisted on going up alone.

“By the way, President Zhu, who wrote the calligraphy above the school gate?”

President Zhu started, “Oh, the school name? I specially invited the province’s famous calligrapher, Master Liu Deming, to write it. Do you also appreciate calligraphy, Daoist Ye? The characters are quite good, aren’t they?”

Ye Shaoyang just smiled. Seeing how much President Zhu revered the calligrapher, there was no point in discussion.

The Dean casually asked: “Daoist Ye, you’re familiar with calligraphy?”

Ye Shaoyang replied: “Just a little. I’ve been writing talismans with a brush for over a decade, so I’m somewhat practiced.”

“We must see your work sometime.” Though the Dean’s words were polite, his expression showed skepticism – how could writing talismans compare to real calligraphy?

Ye Shaoyang noticed the dismissive look but didn’t explain. They exchanged goodbyes, and he went upstairs.

“President Zhu, judging by the young man’s expression earlier, he seemed somewhat unimpressed with Master Liu’s calligraphy,” the Dean said on their way back. He had arranged Liu’s commission himself and, being somewhat versed in calligraphy, greatly admired Master Liu’s work.

President Zhu smiled, “He’s a Daoist priest – an expert in feng shui and divination. As for calligraphy… he’s just a young man, how much could he really know?”

The Dean nodded in agreement, taking the document folder from President Zhu. “His enrollment form should be in here. Let me look at his information – I’m curious how someone so young became a Daoist priest.”

He pulled out the form Ye Shaoyang had filled out. As they walked, they looked it over. Suddenly, the Dean stopped in his tracks, staring at the form filled with fountain pen writing in astonishment.

“What’s wrong?” President Zhu hadn’t noticed anything unusual.

The Dean took a deep breath, pointing at the form, “President, we were mistaken.”

President Zhu read through the content, frowning, “Everything seems correct. What’s the mistake?”

“Not the content – the handwriting! His calligraphy is excellent, with a powerful style all his own. Perhaps… it’s truly comparable to Master Liu’s!”

President Zhu was stunned. He grabbed the form and looked again. Indeed, the strokes flowed like dragons and snakes, with boundless artistic conception. If he could write like this with a fountain pen, they could hardly imagine what his brush calligraphy must be like!

“This young Daoist Ye,” President Zhu smiled wryly, “is truly a hidden master.”