Chapter 48: The Art of Qi Observation
Fang Yi, how should we deal with Director Gu?" Once Man Jun had excitedly departed, San Pao spoke up, "Should we inform Elder Sun? You must understand, if you don't kill the snake, it may bite you back..."
San Pao had a rather cunning nature, and despite his usual silence, among the trio, he was the most ruthless. During their previous encounter with a group of thieves, he had struck two of them on the head with a brick, leaving them severely injured.
"What's there to fear? With Elder Sun around, I doubt he would dare to confront us again..." the rotund man boisterously declared.
"Just because he dares not now does not mean he won't in the future. I noticed the resentment on his face as he left..."
San Pao remained unwilling to let go of Director Gu, recalling how, after failing to kill a snake with a hoe in his childhood, he had been bitten. Since then, he had grown increasingly ruthless; few children in the village had dared to provoke him.
"Not to worry; he won't be able to bounce back for long..."
Upon hearing San Pao's words, Fang Yi shook his head slightly. San Pao was not one to be trifled with, and Fang Yi, being a wild practitioner, was not one to invite trouble. Earlier, when Director Gu departed, Fang Yi had meticulously observed his facial features.
While in the management office, Fang Yi had noted that Director Gu's forehead was well-rounded and his glabella was flushed—a sign of wealth and prosperity.
However, merely a few hours later, Gu Guo Guang's features had undergone a transformation. First, the area around his eyes, known as the "cunning gate," appeared bruised, as if he had been struck, showing a tinge of blue. The cunning gate governs all matters of disputes; if this area becomes darkened, it signifies the potential for legal troubles.
Moreover, Gu Guo Guang's "heavenly storehouse" and "earthly vault" had also changed; his glabella had shifted from a healthy red to a dull black, exuding a dark aura that seemed to reach for the heavens—another sign of impending legal misfortune. Thus, Fang Yi believed that even if they did nothing, Gu Guo Guang would still face grave danger.
Discussing facial observation may seem simple, yet truly skilled observers must understand the art of Qi observation.
Qi observation, broadly speaking, is a term within the realm of feng shui. Those adept in Qi observation can perceive the energy of a location; vibrant energy signifies prosperity, while dull energy indicates decline. Red energy suggests immense wealth, black energy portends disaster, and purple energy signifies great nobility. They often utilize this knowledge to locate auspicious sites.
On a smaller scale, Qi observation can also refer to assessing a person's energy, commonly known as facial observation. Only those who genuinely grasp the art of Qi observation can be deemed true masters; the charlatans found on street corners, claiming to possess such skills, merely scratch the surface.
It is essential to recognize that those skilled in Qi observation are also practitioners of Qi refinement. Since the age of five, Fang Yi had set distant goals for himself during his training, practicing with his eyes half-closed, as if gazing yet not gazing, focusing his mind until he could perceive a delicate mist rising.
This mist represents the energy of nature and the communication between the energies of yin and yang within living spaces, also referred to as the "haze" and "house energy." Only those able to see this house energy or haze can claim to have achieved a modicum of success in Qi observation.
When Fang Yi was ten, the old Taoist took him through the Fangshan mountain range, allowing him to observe the vibrant energy amidst the lush mountains and the ominous energy emanating from barren peaks.
After more than a decade of practicing Qi observation, Fang Yi could easily discern the life force and death energy of both residential and mountainous areas. For him, reading facial features was but a minor skill; he could generally assess a person's energy with remarkable accuracy. This ability was precisely why he chose to let Gu Guo Guang off the hook.
"Yi, didn't the old Taoist advise you to refrain from divining for others?" The rotund man looked at Fang Yi with concern, aware that Fang Yi possessed certain extraordinary abilities, but according to the old Taoist, such powers could also bring harm to oneself.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Observing facial features and predicting fortunes is harmless..." Fang Yi replied with a smile, shaking his head. While the saying about the secrecy of heavenly mechanisms holds some truth, as long as one avoids complex and large-scale divinations, one typically does not violate these mechanisms. Skilled diviners are adept at navigating fortunes and misfortunes, ensuring they do not place themselves in peril.
"Hmph, that fat fool must surely have some connection with that scar-faced man..." Upon hearing Fang Yi's explanation, San Pao snorted disdainfully, adding, "He took our money without providing a receipt. I have my own plans; if the police don't catch him, I can ensure he won't remain director of the management office for long..."
The money belonging to Fang Yi and the others was all in San Pao's hands. Previously, when they had paid the management office, San Pao had made some secret marks on the few hundred yuan, fearing that Gu Guo Guang might take the money without fulfilling his obligations and fail to secure their stalls.
"You little rascal, still as cunning as ever..." The rotund man shot a glare at San Pao, saying, "From now on, don't just call me 'fatty'; I'm different from that other fat man..."
"What difference?" San Pao grinned mischievously at the rotund man and said, "How about we stop calling you 'fatty' and start calling you 'Golden Flower' instead?"
"San Pao, you're asking for trouble!" Upon hearing the name "Golden Flower," the rotund man's forehead immediately broke into several dark lines. Without a second thought, he lunged at San Pao, knowing full well that he had fought nearly every child in the village over this nickname—a deep-seated wound in his heart.
"Yi, save me!"
While San Pao was quick with his words, when it came to physical confrontation, he was no match for the rotund man, who swiftly brought him down and began to pummel him, shouting for help.
"You two can sort this out yourselves..." Fang Yi watched the playful scuffle between the two, a smile spreading across his face. He understood that this was merely their way of venting emotions. After today's events, they had truly established their footing in the antique market.
"Alright, I've sold everything for the day; you two should step up your game..." Once San Pao and the rotund man had brushed off the dirt from their clothes, Fang Yi said, "I'm going to wander around to other stalls; this one is now in your hands..."
"Go on, go on; I'll definitely sell more than you..." The rotund man waved him off. Having recently descended from the mountain after over a decade as a Taoist, Fang Yi surprisingly managed to sell better than the self-proclaimed smooth talker, leaving the rotund man feeling somewhat embarrassed.
"Well then, if you manage to sell three or five items, our rent for the month will be covered..." Fang Yi chuckled at the thought. It was only after coming down from the mountain that he realized the high cost of living. Had it not been for Man Jun's kindness in taking them in, they would likely be squeezed into San Pao's home or sleeping under a bridge. Therefore, their immediate goal was to earn enough money to survive in the city.
"Hey, sir, just by looking at the beads in your hand, it's clear you're a connoisseur. Come take a look at our goods..." The rotund man's sales tactics were evidently different from Fang Yi's. Sitting in the same spot Fang Yi had just vacated, he began to shout. If someone from old Beijing were to see him, they would surely think he had performed tricks on the bridge to sell miracle pills.
Yet, surprisingly, the rotund man's approach proved effective. By the time Fang Yi left his stall, the area next to him had already attracted seven or eight tourists, all of whom he was skillfully persuading to open their wallets.
"This kid truly knows how to make a living..." Fang Yi chuckled and shook his head, blending into the crowd of tourists and wandering from stall to stall.
Although the news of the earlier theft incident had spread throughout the antique market, during the commotion, Fang Yi's stall had been surrounded by layers of onlookers, preventing anyone from recognizing him except a few nearby stall owners.
Unlike ordinary tourists who would eagerly examine items and inquire about prices, Fang Yi remained silent. Whenever he encountered a stall where someone was bargaining, he would pause, straining to listen to the exchanges between the buyer and seller. After two hours of this, he gained a wealth of knowledge.
"The things these vendors say are truly unbelievable..." After a thorough exploration, Fang Yi's greatest realization was that in the antique market, nine out of ten stall owners were great deceivers, with nine out of ten statements being exaggerated.
It is crucial to understand that the art of Qi observation is not limited to merely reading faces; it also encompasses observing people's words and actions. Fang Yi might not excel in business, but he could read people well. He discovered that the vendors' words, when dressed up, sounded flattering, but in reality, they were merely trying to swindle money from unsuspecting customers.
"Truly, there's no merchant without deceit..." Fang Yi suddenly recalled a saying from his master, shaking his head with a wry smile. Noticing that the market was becoming less crowded, he turned and returned to his own stall.
"Hey, fatty, how's business?" Upon returning to his stall, Fang Yi noticed the rotund man surrounded by five or six people—other stall owners from nearby—listening intently as he animatedly gestured and boasted.
"Everyone, this is our Yi. Master Sun holds him in high regard and is considering taking him on as a disciple..."
Seeing Fang Yi approach, the rotund man quickly made space for him, tossing a bottle of water his way and saying, "Fang Yi, these gentlemen are very generous; they insisted on buying us a case of water in this heat. You should thank them..."
"No need for thanks; you gentlemen have rid the antique market of a menace. If anyone should be thanking anyone, it's us thanking you..."
Upon hearing the rotund man's words, the crowd began to shake their heads in unison, their gazes firmly fixed on Fang Yi. They had all heard of the esteemed Elder Sun and knew him to be a man of few words. They were surprised to learn that Fang Yi could become his disciple.
"Oh, don't listen to the rotund man's nonsense; it's simply not true..."
As soon as Fang Yi heard the rotund man's comment, he realized the latter was merely trying to inflate his own status. However, Fang Yi chose to dismiss it lightly, understanding that in the antique market, having a certain background was essential to avoid being marginalized.
"Young Fang is being too modest. By the way, are you free tonight? Let me treat you; we can find a place for a drink?" A middle-aged man with a full beard spoke up, standing only five or six meters from Fang Yi's stall. He had witnessed the events of the day quite clearly.
The bearded man knew that with Elder Sun and the current Deputy Director Zhao as their backing, these young men could navigate the antique market with ease. If he could foster a good relationship with them over a meal, it would undoubtedly be worth his while.
"Brother, I do have matters to attend to this evening; perhaps we can reschedule?" Fang Yi replied with a wry smile. The earlier days, these stall owners had kept their distance, but now their attitude had shifted dramatically, leaving Fang Yi feeling somewhat disoriented.
"That's fine; just make sure to grace us with your presence next time. Give Old Hu a bit of face..." The bearded man laughed heartily, fully aware that Fang Yi had made arrangements with Elder Sun. His words were merely an attempt to establish rapport with Fang Yi.
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