Tales of Folk Feng Shui Mysteries

The monstrous creature's strength was astonishing. Bubbles swirled around its body like boiling water as it clamped onto my leg with a force that dragged me downward. No matter how I struggled, I couldn't shake it off. In desperation, I pressed my hands against the well wall for leverage. Fear gripped me—what lurked beneath? Stranger still, it had no teeth. If it pulled me under, I'd drown for sure. I kicked wildly, fighting the creature in the water, my thrashing loud enough to attract attention.

"Help! Someone's drowning!" Chen Xiaomei's shrill cry pierced the air as she peered into the well. Her voice carried clearly even through the water. Moments later, Mao Shi hurled his coat toward me. I grabbed it instinctively, creating a stalemate with the creature.

"Beneath the well—there's something!" I shouted.

Before I could finish, Mao Shi produced a pouch of red nitrate and scattered it into the water. White smoke rose instantly—a precious ritual ingredient worth at least 50,000 yuan. He then drew a peachwood sword, tossing it onto the water's surface. With a flick of his finger, the blade began spinning wildly. Three copper coins followed, pinning the sword in place. The well water churned violently, as if bullets pierced the depths. The creature released my leg, and I was dragged to safety.

The villagers gaped in awe at Mao Shi's ritual. Exhausted, I coughed up water on the ground while the crowd turned furious. "Old Chen broke his promise!" they shouted. "Remember last Mid-Autumn Festival? Your daughter was next, but now you're selfish! If we all get that cursed illness, we'll hold you accountable!"

"Traitors!" another villager spat. "You disturbed the Dragon King! Arrest those outsiders before disaster strikes!"

Poles and sticks raised, the mob advanced. Mao Shi and I had no chance—until Chen Xiaomei fired two warning shots into the air with her pistol, shielding us. "Touch them, and I'll kill you!" she snarled.

Chen Tiebao paled. "I never wanted to sacrifice my daughter! This is fate—every year, we offer children to the Dragon King to survive. Without these sacrifices, our village would've perished long ago!"

"Never!" Chen Xiaome clutched her sister. "If anyone dies, I'll take her place!"

The crowd erupted. Chen Xiaome marched to the well, but I lunged forward, pulling her back. She stiffened in my arms, her face flushing crimson. I released her hastily, gesturing at my bitten leg. "Jumping won't help. Its mouth isn't big—it has no teeth." I sketched its size in the dirt: a creature no larger than 1.5 meters, explaining why only children were offered.

Mao Shi leaned over. "Too abstract. I don't recognize it."

As villagers muttered anxiously, I recalled setting Feng Shui for the village. Only the "Dragon Severing Platform" was cursed—the rest were safe. The youngest girl, trembling in her sister's arms, had been thrown into the well four times. I tied a Tang Dynasty copper coin around her neck—a charm to soothe her fears. She stopped crying instantly.

"Thank you, Zhang大哥," Chen Xiaome whispered, tears in her eyes. "Next life, I'll marry you to repay your kindness."

I stepped between her and the well. "Listen! We're Taoist priests from Maoshan." I brandished my Tianshi Order amulet, its archaic script and intricate carvings impressing the crowd. Mao Shi, however, began convulsing dramatically, then leapt up, eyes glowing. "I am the Jade Emperor!" he roared. "This Zhang Daobao is my envoy to slay the demon! Defy him, and you'll be struck by thunder and damned to hell!"

With a theatrical flourish, he detonated a small explosive, sending water gushing 15 meters into the air. The villagers recoiled. Mao Shi winked at me, collapsing theatrically. "Effective, isn't it?" he murmured.

The crowd dispersed. "What now?" Chen Xiaome asked.

"The creature's hiding," I said. "Tomorrow, we'll end this."

Chen Tiebao revealed a secret: ten years ago, a father resisted the sacrifice. He fought the villagers, but they left him catatonic—alive but refusing water for a decade. "Ask around," Chen Tiebao said. "Everyone knows where he is."

Chen Xiaome handed me her coat. Cold and shivering, I followed Chen Tiebao home. Mao Shi nudged me. "That girl's lucky—plump hips, good for bearing sons. Why not stay here as her上门女婿?"

"Focus!" I hissed. "How'd you make that explosion?"

Mao Shi grinned, producing tiny devices. "American tech. Remote-controlled. Works wonders in emergencies."

His mix of genuine skill and cunning, I realized, explained his success. In this world, adaptability was key—even if it meant bending rules.