Chapter 3: Breaking the Lotus Pod and Embracing the Seed

At that time, my grandfather was only in his teens, working odd jobs at the home of Chen Tinghai, with his main responsibility being to care for the horses. Through this work, he became acquainted with Li Jinshan, who lived in the stables.

As time went by, the two grew close despite the difference in their ages, and Li Jinshan confided his story to my grandfather. Grandfather sympathized deeply with Li Jinshan’s misfortune and would often bring him delicious food from home. Their relationship blossomed, and eventually Li Jinshan accepted my grandfather as his apprentice, gave him the name Li Tiancheng, and imparted to him all his skills.

Through their conversations, Li Jinshan also learned from my grandfather that Chen Tinghai was far from an upright man; he oppressed men and women alike, took lives without a thought, and committed every evil imaginable, making him a notorious tyrant in the region. This revelation filled Li Jinshan with regret for having once selected an auspicious burial site for such a villain, and he now understood why disaster had struck Chen’s family so swiftly.

More than twenty years passed in the blink of an eye. Chen Tinghai’s seven sons had either become officers in the Nationalist Army or married into wealthy families, and the Chen family’s influence grew ever stronger. Chen Tinghai himself became even more arrogant, acting as though he were the local despot of Qinzhou.

After several years of tending the Chen family’s horses without receiving a single coin, my grandfather was beaten when he tried to collect his wages. Feeling aggrieved, he poured out his heart to Li Jinshan, recounting not only his own mistreatment but also all the wicked deeds Chen Tinghai had committed over the years.

Upon hearing this, Li Jinshan was furious. With a grave expression, he said, “Tiancheng, I want you to do something. Do you have the courage?”

“Master, as long as it’s not immoral or against heaven’s will, there’s nothing I won’t dare.”

“Good. I want you to break the Chen ancestral feng shui formation, the Lotus Pod Embracing Children’s Tomb.”

“Very well!”

Young and fearless, my grandfather agreed without hesitation—partly to avenge his master, and partly to rid the people of Qinzhou of this scourge.

Seeing my grandfather accept, Li Jinshan was gratified and taught him the method to break the Lotus Pod Embracing Children’s Tomb.

“Tiancheng, listen carefully. You must not be careless. To break the formation, you must go on a night when the moon is full, before the sun has set. Lie in wait behind the burial mound of Chen Tinghai’s parents.”

“When the full moon rises, you’ll see a lotus pod emerge atop the grave. From this lotus pod, seven children will spring forth and circle the mound, calling out for their grandparents.”

“And then you’ll see an old couple emerge from within the grave and play with the seven children.”

“At that moment, don’t be afraid. Wait for your chance, dash to the top of the mound, and pull the lotus pod out by the roots in one swift motion.”

“Then turn and run. Remember—do not look back.”

After hearing this, my grandfather asked, curiosity and uncertainty in his eyes, “Master, what happens if I look back?”

“You’ll be scared to death.”

Although he had studied the secret arts of feng shui under Li Jinshan for several years, my grandfather had never experienced anything like this firsthand. The tale sounded so mystical that he was still doubtful. But though blind, Li Jinshan seemed to sense his thoughts and grinned, saying, “Tiancheng, tonight is the full moon. Go and see for yourself whether your master speaks the truth.”

That evening, my grandfather followed Li Jinshan’s instructions and went early to lie in wait behind the burial mound of Chen Tinghai’s parents. Brave as he was, he actually fell asleep there. At some point, a chilly wind rose, waking him. He looked up to see the full moon high in the sky, but saw no sign of a lotus pod atop the grave, let alone seven children.

He thought his master must have been telling tales and prepared to return and argue the point. But just then, something miraculous happened.

Bathed in moonlight, the grave shimmered, and a golden lotus pod slowly emerged from its crown. Seven thumb-sized children appeared atop the lotus pod. Leaping down, they instantly grew to the size of ordinary children and began circling the mound, calling out, “Grandpa! Grandma! Come play with us!”

A hearty laugh answered them: “Wait a moment, your grandparents are coming!” Even my grandfather, bold as he was, shivered with fear as he heard an old man’s voice coming from within the mound. In an instant, an elderly man and woman, clad in splendid attire, emerged from the earth.

My grandfather was secretly astounded, for the scene unfolding before him matched precisely Li Jinshan’s description. Not daring to hesitate, he waited until the seven children were playing with the two elders, then crept up to the top of the mound and, with all his might, tore the lotus pod out by the roots.

He turned and ran. Behind him, a fierce wind howled, mingled with the wails of seven children and the furious shouts of the old couple: “Return my feng shui spirit root!” “You’ve ruined the Chen family’s fortune—I’ll have your life!”

Terrified, my grandfather fled for his life. But curiosity got the better of him—he glanced back. He saw the two elders and seven children, their faces twisted and hideous, floating in midair as they chased him.

His face turned ashen with terror. He dared not look back again, running with all his strength. Only when he had escaped the range of the Lotus Pod Embracing Children’s Tomb did the voices behind him finally fade.

He ran straight to the stable and recounted the entire incident to Li Jinshan. Upon learning that my grandfather had looked back, Li Jinshan was genuinely surprised. “You’re a brave one, aren’t you?”

Knowing that the formation had been destroyed, Li Jinshan laughed heartily, so loudly that the mares in the stable pranced and stamped in fright.

With his wish fulfilled, that very night my grandfather carried Li Jinshan on his back and left the Chen household. After the Lotus Pod Embracing Children’s Tomb was broken, it took less than half a month for the Chen family to meet their ruin.