Bryce Harper took Yusuf Zuck to visit a respected person living in the Fragrant Hills villa district, and there was no doubt that Fragrant Hills was a gathering place for the wealthy—the prices of homes there had reportedly soared to nearly one hundred and thirty thousand per square meter.
"The master shares the same surname with you, also surnamed Zuck, with a simple given name, Everest. After you meet, you can just call him Mr. Zuck. Mr. Zuck is a true master, especially in ’The Book of Changes’ calculations and techniques, and can be called a grandmaster. He’s also a board member of the Chinese ’The Book of Changes’ Association and it’s rumored that he’s a secular disciple of the mysterious sect, meaning a disciple living among regular society." Newest update provided by novel⦿fire.net
"Another thing is that, legend has it, he has close ties with the government, though we don’t know the specifics."
"Ties with the government? What do you mean? Do officials also ask him to look at Feng Shui?" Yusuf Zuck laughed.
"Checking Feng Shui is just one aspect. I’ve also heard that he can handle some tricky cases that science can’t explain. Have you heard about the ghost incident on Bus 330 in the capital a few years back? He seemed to have been involved at that time."
"I know that one!" Yusuf Zuck immediately nodded. He had seen a post about it on the internet before, mentioning the ghost incident on Beijing’s Bus 330, which was quite a sensation back then.
"Exactly, the unseen doesn’t equate to nonexistent. When you meet Mr. Zuck, be humble, and he’s also known for his fortune-telling skills, incomparably precise." Bryce Harper exclaimed admiringly.
"Incomparably precise? How accurate?" Yusuf Zuck asked curiously.
After thinking for a moment, Harper said, "Three years ago, I met with him and he told me that I would experience some financial loss in the latter half of the year, suggesting that I should play it safe and avoid making large investments, or I’d inevitably suffer losses. Although I believed him, when a huge business opportunity came knocking in the second half of the year, I was tempted and impulsively went for it. And then, I lost this much!" Bryce Harper held up two fingers.
"Two billion?" Yusuf Zuck gasped in shock.
"Yeah." Harper sighed. "It’s my fault for not listening to him then."
"Isn’t business about profit and loss? That doesn’t necessarily prove his accuracy, right? ’Incomparably precise’ seems a bit of an exaggeration to use here," Yusuf Zuck challenged.
"That’s just one personal experience I’ve had. In fact, there are many legends about him that are quite miraculous. He also likes to collect things, and his favorite are jades. The jade cup you picked up the other day— that was acquired by him."
"Oh, I’m only here today to inquire about the Blood Jade. Nothing else," Yusuf Zuck said, not wanting his fortune read, as he felt his life was for him to dictate, and having someone else do it would just be a mental burden.
However, Miles O’brien seemed quite intrigued, "Then I’ll have him read my fortune today, will he agree?"
"That depends on his mood. He doesn’t readily read fortunes for others. Even if people come asking, offering astronomical sums, they can’t persuade him," Harper responded.
"I don’t care, you’ll have to get him to read my fortune today," Louise Garrett demanded coquettishly.
"We’ll see when we get there. My influence might not be enough," Harper replied with a wry smile, shaking his head.
Soon, the trio arrived at Fragrant Hills, registered at the gatehouse, and after contacting Mr. Everest Zuck, their car was allowed to enter.
This was a restricted access community, not just anyone who wished could come in—it was free from spam advertisements and all sorts of unauthorized people.
Everest Zuck’s villa was large, with a big front garden that even included a swimming pool, and the yard had a grapevine trellis; the whole yard was very beautiful.
When the Range Rover stopped outside the courtyard, an auntie around fifty years old opened the gate, wearing an apron that made her look like a caretaker.
"Mr. Harper, Mr. Zuck is waiting for you in the study. Please follow me," the caretaker recognized Harper and maintained a smile, making a gesturing sign to invite them in.
The group of three walked through the grapevine trellis and into the villa’s grand hall, then went upstairs. After the caretaker knocked on the door, the three were allowed to enter.
Everest Zuck’s study was large, its two sides lined with books on the walls, from floor to ceiling, reaching up to the top. At the same time, Yusuf Zuck and Miles O’brien turned their attention to a middle-aged man seated behind the desk, who appeared to be around forty years old. He looked quite young, yet there was something mature about him.
He wore a set of white practice clothes, the kind worn for practicing Tai Chi, without any air of hermit-like transcendence, just a very ordinary man.
When Yusuf Zuck and the others entered, the man fixed his gaze on Yusuf Zuck and held it for a good four or five seconds.
"What, have you spotted something on my young nephew?" Bryce Harper walked up to Everest Zuck with a smile and introduced, "His name is Yusuf Zuck, and this is Miles O’brien, one of my younger relations."
"Please sit down, Bryce, sit," Everest Zuck rose and smiled, but did not intend to shake hands with Yusuf Zuck. After indicating for Yusuf and the others to sit down, he also took a seat and said with a smile, "Let’s talk about the Blood Jade." He didn’t answer Bryce Harper’s earlier question or tell him what he had noticed about Yusuf Zuck.
Each expert has their own character, and if he chooses not to speak, no amount of questioning will change that.
"Yusuf Zuck, go ahead and speak about the Blood Jade you wanted to ask about," Bryce Harper signaled to Yusuf Zuck with a meaningful look.
Yusuf Zuck nodded, "I just wanted to ask, I came across a piece of jade before that felt chilly to the touch. The moment I looked at it, I got goosebumps all over. I’m wondering whether it would cause any issues if I kept it in my hand or at home."
Everest Zuck gave Yusuf Zuck a mysterious smile, "Everyone is different, you are unique, and so am I; hence, different people holding the Blood Jade will encounter different situations."
"However, you won’t have any problems; the Blood Jade won’t harm you." Everest Zuck’s words were a tongue twister, yet they seemed profound. Of course, Yusuf Zuck understood that Everest Zuck was saying he was different.
"Why won’t it harm me?" Yusuf Zuck asked curiously.
"Like I said, each person is unique. A person frail and often ill, holding the Blood Jade, will not last half a month; they will certainly die. A woman holding the Blood Jade will become mentally disturbed, troubled by illness. An ordinary man with the Blood Jade will likewise face disaster: at best, they suffer physical and mental debility; at worst, they die an unnatural death."
"Of course, if a Taoist exorcist were to hold the Blood Jade, it would become a boon to him; for a Monk handling the Blood Jade, he could turn it into a treasure of immeasurable value. That’s why I say, different people holding the Blood Jade will experience different outcomes."
"Mr. Zuck, you still haven’t explained how I am different!" Yusuf Zuck said with a smile.
Hearing Yusuf’s words, Everest Zuck looked at him with renewed interest, smiling, "The Blood Jade, also known as the Evil Jade, contains Evil Qi, and young brother Yusuf likewise possesses Evil Qi, which, I suspect, might be greater than that within the Blood Jade. If I am not mistaken, within the past three days..." Just as he reached this point, Everest Zuck suddenly stopped talking, swiftly wrote a few characters with his pen, tore the paper off, and handed it to Yusuf Zuck.
Yusuf Zuck took the note with a puzzled look, but when he read the line of small print, he was startled, almost jumping out of his seat.
Of course, his face did not show any significant reaction, remaining quite calm.
The note read: Within three days, you have taken the lives of three or four rats!
Everest Zuck seemed very pleased with Yusuf Zuck’s composure and continued, "Moreover, young brother Yusuf, you are destined for wealth, unique in body and soul. Hence, a mere Blood Jade is merely an object of amusement to you. However, if you manage to find that Blood Jade, I am willing to purchase it at a high price, of course, provided it’s as you described—when you see it, you feel a chilling sensation and every hair on your body stands on end."
"If I manage to find it, I will certainly bring it to Mr. Zuck," Yusuf Zuck stood up, took a deep breath, and paid his respects to Everest Zuck by clasping his fists and bowing deeply.
"Then, I’ll thank you in advance," Everest Zuck replied with a fist-clasping gesture.
PS: Here is the third update, thank you all for the support.