Chapter 154 Bullying Others with Power

The woman looked at me in shock as well. I stood up, walked over, and started the conversation by saying, "Auntie, do you have a basin that can be used for burning things? Could you get me one?"

The woman nodded blankly, looking back at me as she walked toward the kitchen. I smiled and paid no mind. After a moment, she brought out a basin apparently specially used for heating. I took it, placed it on the dining table, and slowly put the yellow talisman paper wrapped around the broken chopsticks inside. Glancing at the woman out of the corner of my eye, I lifted my finger, and with a whoosh, a flame ignited. The woman's mouth dropped open as she stared in disbelief at the inside of the fire basin. I revealed a faint smile. A moment later, I picked up the yellow talisman paper enclosing the chopsticks directly; the flame burned in the palm of my hand, yet I did not feel a shred of pain. The woman was already speechless, gazing at me with the eyes one might reserve for a monster. I remained silent, flicking the chopsticks; the talisman paper instantly scattered into ash, and the four chopsticks, split in two, turned entirely golden.

At this point, the woman was completely dumbfounded. Upon seeing these golden chopsticks, she cried out, "Oh my, where did the chopsticks go? How did they change from black to little brother, are you performing magic?"

I shook my head and replied, "I do not know magic."

Following that, I laid the chopsticks out on the table. Hong Weiguo was efficient; the item I requested was bought back very quickly. I took down the Toad Immortal from the altar, replaced it with the new one, lit three incense sticks, and began chanting incantations under my breath. Hong Weiguo looked at me with a somewhat puzzled expression. The woman stood beside him, nudged his arm, and whispered excitedly, "Daguo, what kind of person is this young brother? He was so amazing just now. I saw him make two chopsticks stand upright, and he even turned the chopsticks into pure gold. My mind is blown—is this something a human being can do?"

Hearing these words, Hong Weiguo was also startled, his heart suddenly trembling as he gazed at my back. From that exact moment, he knew he had not chosen the wrong person. Finishing my incantation, I inserted the three incense sticks into the censer, flicked my wrist, and the four golden chopsticks flew into my hand. Hong Weiguo was dumbstruck and subconsciously blurted out a vulgarity: "Holy shit!"

I smiled and placed the chopsticks on either side of the Toad Immortal. The moment they were set down, the chopsticks melted into golden light and vanished entirely. Then, I turned to look at the Hong couple. Both of them had their mouths wide open, staring at me in shock. I walked over and said, "Don't be too surprised. Sit down, everyone. Did you buy the money tree?"

Hong Weiguo shifted his shocked gaze from the altar to me, nodded, and said, "Bought it, bought it. The merchant will deliver it shortly."

I nodded, sat down, and took a sip of water. Hong Weiguo collected himself from his shock and said with a beaming smile, "Hey, Xiaoxuan, why drink plain water? I have cola right here."

I was taken aback, watching Hong Weiguo take away my cup and replace it with a brand-new one. The woman retrieved a bottle of cola from the refrigerator and poured me a full glass. Feeling awkward, I looked at the couple and said, "Please don't be so formal. I take people's money to help them avert disaster. Uncle Hong, once the money tree arrives, help me move it to the eastern corner. That is the wealth sector of your household. I have already cast a copper coin into it, and with the assistance of the money tree, you won't have to worry about sluggish business."

Hong Weiguo nodded and uttered a word of assent. I nodded in return and began chatting with him. After about half an hour, a pickup truck parked right in front of the shop. Hong Weiguo glanced outside and said, "Ah, it's here."

I looked back as well. A driver wearing a hat walked in, holding an invoice. Hong Weiguo exchanged a few words with him, signed his name, and together with the driver, carried the money tree inside. Before leaving, the driver even smiled and wished them a prosperous business—a fine blessing indeed for someone starting out with a shop like Hong Weiguo.

Taking a sip of cola, I stood up and helped Hong Weiguo carry the money tree to the eastern corner. Afterward, I turned to the woman and asked, "Auntie, do you have some gold thread and needle, along with a red fortune pouch?"

The woman nodded, ran upstairs, and brought down a spool of thread with a needle and a fortune pouch. I pulled out a meter and a half of golden silk thread, placed it inside the fortune pouch, and left just enough length to tie it securely around the branches of the money tree. Hong Weiguo watched me with some puzzlement and asked, "Xiaoxuan, what is the use of doing this?"

I nodded and answered, "Naturally, it is useful. The fortune pouch itself carries the implication of smooth fortune and safety. Tying it to the branches of the money tree can enhance the circulation of wealth. This should be about enough. Then, all that remains is for me to banish the wandering ghost that has been harassing the two of you."

Hearing me say that this would suffice, Hong Weiguo nodded excitedly, grabbed my hand, and uttered a word of thanks. I waved my hand dismissively and said, "Think nothing of it."

"Xiaoxuan, thank you truly. Wife! Whip up something good for lunch and treat Xiaoxuan properly!"

Mid-sentence, Hong Weiguo added this instruction to the woman. She smiled, nodded, and walked into the kitchen. I smiled as well without speaking. Hong Weiguo ushered me over to the dining table, but just as he was about to speak, footsteps echoed from the entrance, accompanied by a voice calling out, "Well, well, Boss Hong, business seems to be doing quite nicely."

I was startled and turned to look. Two individuals were standing at the doorway, walking in with an immensely arrogant swagger. Upon seeing the pair, Hong Weiguo stood up abruptly and demanded, "Zheng Jiawen, what are you here for? Hm? Aren't you the feng shui master who came to read our geomancy last time? Could it be that the two of you are really in cahoots?!"

Zheng Jiawen was taken aback and replied shamelessly, "Oh, Boss Hong, what do you mean by being in cahoots? Watch your tongue if you don't know how to speak properly—be careful your shop goes under!"

Observing the two men at the door, my eyes remained locked on the feng shui master standing behind Zheng Jiawen. He was looking at me as well, and we both instantly read the underlying meaning in each other's eyes. Hong Weiguo possessed a fiery temper and began cursing aloud on the spot. Knowing that people in business despised hearing the word "bankruptcy" above all else, Zheng Jiawen showed not the slightest concern over Hong Weiguo's verbal abuse; instead, he laughed even more heartily. I tugged gently on Hong Weiguo's sleeve. He paused, looked down at me, and I smiled, signaling for him to sit back down.

Shooting Zheng Jiawen one last irritated glare, Hong Weiguo finally reseated himself. Ignoring the two men at the threshold, I stayed in my chair and continued sipping my cola. Seeing that we were paying them no mind, Zheng Jiawen sneered, "What's this? Judging by this posture, is this brat your boss? You sit down just because he tells you to? Boss Hong, where did your former boldness go?"

Still ignoring him, Hong Weiguo slammed his palm on the table and made as if to stand up again. I directly channeled my Taoist energy to press him back down. Smiling, I looked at Hong Weiguo and said, "Uncle Hong, why get worked up over a little mongrel like this? Am I right? He's just relying on having some feng shui master who knows a smattering of the yin-yang arts. It's truly unnecessary, completely unnecessary."

As soon as I finished speaking, the feng shui master behind me shifted slightly. Hearing me curse him as a little mongrel, Zheng Jiawen flared up in anger. He glanced at the feng shui master, who kept his hands clasped behind his back and stared straight at my back, saying, "Well! Judging by your tone, little punk, you're also someone in our circle."

I smiled, offering no response and without turning my head. Looking back at Hong Weiguo, I asked, "Uncle Hong, didn't you mention earlier that you hadn't offended anyone? What is the story between you and him?"

Hong Weiguo was momentarily dazed. He glared at Zheng Jiawen and grumbled with displeasure, "He was the one who came looking for trouble with me first. He's the husband of Qiongfang across the street. Originally, when our two families lived close by, our relationship wasn't bad. But the very day I opened for business, he came over to make a scene, and he brought this same feng shui master with him that day too. Back then, I swallowed my anger and didn't stoop to his level. Later on, he simply copied me and opened a shop of his own, and that's how my business dwindled."

I nodded, finally understanding the situation. It turned out this Zheng Jiawen was simply unreasonable and overbearing. Zheng Jiawen adopted a vicious expression and laughed as he retorted, "You lack the capability yourself, yet you blame others! I open my shop—how does that interfere with you?"

Hearing this, I furrowed my brow. The root cause was now laid bare before us, and of all things, I detested unreasonable bullies the most. I turned my head sharply, fixed my gaze on him, and shouted, "Do you have any ability to speak of? Try operating without this feng shui practitioner and see where you get! Don't think I can't see the little tricks you pulled. Rest assured, though, the wealth-blocking formation you set up has already been broken by me, and I will deal with the remaining one as well. If you want to play these petty little schemes, you are welcome to try me!"