Chapter One, there are sinister happenings in Sandao Kan Town

The crowd rose and proceeded to the backyard, arriving at the room of the Third Young Master, Zhiren. Lu Da dismissed everyone and only took his young apprentice inside.

Not long after, a servant reported that the old steward's son, Dayong, had already arrived at the town's entrance with his companions and would be here soon

the coldest days of winter

As a mediator, Wu Bansian briefed Lu Da on the situation— the cause of the matter is quite simple. Lord Liu is preparing to build a new house for his eldest son for the purpose of marriage. The house has just begun its foundation and has not been constructed for long, yet strange occurrences have been frequent. First, the local hired help claimed to have seen ghosts at night, then lumber was stolen, followed by the night watchman going mad and speaking nonsensically. Additionally, a worker fell from the beam and broke his leg.

Smile

He turned his head and looked to the right

When it comes to matters of life and death, even offering double the pay does not entice anyone to dare attempt it

The young man bowed respectfully and said he understood

Upon hearing this response, General Lu placed his pipe in his mouth, lit it, took a puff, and then said: "In that case, it is indeed strange—please take me to see your young master."

Old Master Liu noticed that the young man next to Lu was only about fifteen or sixteen years old, carrying a large wooden box and luggage. He signaled to the servant beside him to help take the items, but the young man refused.

He turned his head and asked the young man beside him: "Thirteen, have you noticed anything?"

Lu Da said earnestly: "What I am saying is true. He only knows some carpentry work, merely assisting with some tasks; as for other things, he knows nothing at all. However, what I have learned is not a good skill either. Many of my fellow disciples, due to their malicious spells that go against the principles of heaven, have fallen victim to the curse of 'lacking one door.' They either have no descendants, are disabled, or have suffered calamities among their relatives. Over the years, I have continuously accumulated virtue and done good deeds, yet I ultimately cannot escape that fate. I have given birth to three daughters, and even after my wife passed away, I could not produce a single son. Now that my daughters have all married off, I am left all alone, wandering like a small apprentice, making the world my home..."

Before Liu Laoye could respond, Wu Bansian smiled and said: "The old master is well-known as a great philanthropist in the surrounding ten miles and eight villages. Not to mention his contributions to building bridges and roads, and his donations to education, even with his own tenants, he charges half a portion less in rent than others. In times of trouble, he is amicable and fosters good relationships. Who hears of this without giving a thumbs up? How could he possibly have enmity with anyone?"

On the road, he called that young man "Brother Gan", and the young man smiled at him, saying, just call me Little Carpenter, everyone has been calling me that.

Towards the little carpenter

He asked the person: "Why haven't they arrived yet?"

When the two parties met, Wu Bansian acted as the intermediary and stepped forward to assist with the introduction—he had had a few encounters with the old man known as "Lu Da," which could be considered a slight acquaintance, though not much. As for Lu Da, although he had a somewhat cold temperament, he still maintained basic politeness. Lord Liu also felt that the other party exuded an air of a distinguished person, and he deliberately flattered him, leading to a pleasant conversation between the two parties.

Before long, a group of people arrived at the new house construction site on the west side of the town after traversing the long street. This site, being the future residence of the eldest son of Lord Liu, occupies a considerable area. The house has already reached the beam stage, and the courtyard walls have been built up, with wood, bricks, tiles, and other construction materials piled up in the open space

After listening to the situation, Lu Da closed his eyes, concentrated, and pondered for a moment before finally speaking: "Has Master Liu recently made any enemies?"

The son of the steward beside him immediately said, "The land has indeed been occupied, but the owner has compensated everyone, replaced the foundation, and even increased the area. The dealings are fair, and absolutely no one will harbor resentment."

Wu Bansian, in his fifties, possesses a unique physique and sports two long whiskers. He is a well-known figure in the local area and, in his early years, ventured into Beijing, gaining considerable knowledge and experience. As a result, the gentry from the surrounding villages and towns treat him with great respect.

The wooden box was both tall and large, roughly the size of two young men, which left onlookers in awe. However, the young man remained unfazed, walking steadily, his breath even.

She

This place should originally be a bustling construction site, yet at this moment, there are no others present except for two servants.

It is chillingly cold

The youngest son, Zhiren, only thirteen years old, has been enjoying the comfort of his parents' knees. However, unexpectedly, due to the matter of building a house, he has encountered misfortune. Since falling ill a few days ago, despite having summoned numerous doctors from the city, none have been effective. He is now in a state of great anxiety, with sores and blisters forming in his mouth.

Subsequently, he felt a sharp pain in the corner of his right eye

Lu Da inquired, "Does the newly constructed house encroach upon the land of others?"

Beside the wood, there sat a little girl wearing a red jacket

The young man nodded and said, "That Dayong, when he spoke, his eyes glanced downward, and his fists were tightly clenched, which made him appear somewhat guilty. It is likely that what he said may not be true. Therefore, the one who harbored ill intentions and acted deceitfully may not be our fellow carpenter, but rather a local villager who has been dispossessed and harbors resentment..."

Lu nodded and said that you indeed see clearly, which makes my years of teaching worthwhile. However, the world is full of changes, and human hearts can be treacherous. Even your own eyes may deceive you, so in any matter, do not make rash assertions before it has been verified, do you understand

Upon hearing this, Master Liu immediately stood up, and Wu Bansian did not dare to be negligent either. The two of them exited the house together and waited outside in the large courtyard. Before long, a few people appeared on the distant bluestone path. Leading the group was the young man Dayong, and beside him were two others—one was a thin, black-clad old man wearing a green jacket and holding a pipe, while the other was a young lad carrying a large wooden box on his back

Old Master Liu observed and secretly felt that that Lu Da was indeed a capable person

Lu Da said: "This is natural, but I am referring to something else"

Lu Da glanced at the person on the bed, then walked out of the room with his apprentice and said to the crowd waiting at the door: "Let's go to the new house construction site"

In the end, Liu Laoye's youngest son, Liu Zhiren, visited the new house construction site once, and upon returning, he developed a fever, experiencing night sweats for several nights, and fell into a state of unconsciousness

That smile is just like ... ...

This matter is permeated with an air of the uncanny. The county sent someone to investigate, but they could not uncover anything. Therefore, they sought out Wu Bansian.

Wu Bansian said: "Na Lu was originally from the Meishan sect in his early years, and later joined the Luban sect. His master, He Ye Zhang, was once renowned in the north alongside Yangshilei. However, when the Qing court cracked down on the Luban sect, he also dispersed. In recent years, he has been making a living in the southwestern region by constructing buildings, and he is quite famous in our trade. As for you, Lord Liu, this matter of yours has been caused by someone using Luban's aversion technique—this aversion technique, to put it plainly, is a curse. Someone has buried something in your new house through sorcery, which has led to a series of unfortunate events, allowing malevolent forces to invade, resulting in your young master falling seriously ill. As for Na Lu, he possesses two exceptional skills: one is the Luban axe, a carpenter's craft, and the other is the Luban victory technique, specifically used for dispelling such curses..."

However, at this moment, Lord Liu was somewhat anxious and asked him: "That Nalu Da you mentioned, is he capable?"

Lu said: "This child is unfortunate; he lost his parents at a young age and was driven out by his clan, leaving him without a means of survival. I happened to save him while passing by. However, he lacks any aptitude for our trade; apart from having some strength, his skills are only passable, barely qualifying him as a small carpenter. As for my legacy, I fear it will be impossible for him to inherit it."

Wu Bansian was unable to inquire further. He noticed that although Lu Da was strict with his disciple, there was a hint of kindness in his expression. Thus, he changed the subject and began to talk about the child.

Subsequently, Lord Liu learned that this young man was a disciple of Lu Da, with the surname Gan, and was called Gan Shisan

The butler's son, Dayong, informed everyone that since the last accident occurred and the rumors about the haunting spread, the workers have been too afraid to continue coming to work.

When an expert takes action, the outcome is immediately evident; in matters of professionalism, one should be concise and to the point

Wu Bansian smiled and said, you must be joking. I see that this child has bright, lively eyes, dark and shiny, resembling a three-year-old. At first glance, it is evident that he is an intelligent person

The guests were welcomed into the main hall, and each took their seats, while the young man placed the wooden box from his back by the door and then stood behind his master

Two individuals entered the inner room and approached the bed, where they beheld the third son of the Liu family, who was unconscious on a silk-covered cotton quilt atop a mahogany bed. The coldness on Na Lu's face diminished slightly.

In the Republic of China, in the town of Sandao Kan, located eighteen li east of Qiancheng County, the main residence of the gentry landlord Liu Mou, known as Liu Laoye, is where he is conversing with the fortune teller Wu Banjian from the Donghe Township market.

Old Master Liu has already grown fearful of such sinister matters and does not wish to become involved. Therefore, even with a professional like Lu Da present, he does not dare to act recklessly. Thus, accompanying the master and apprentice on their journey are the medium Wu Banjian, the butler's son Dayong, and several other servants.

Moreover, Master Liu's eldest son is getting married next year, and this house must be completed. The construction schedule is tight, and this matter is causing great anxiety and headaches.

The young carpenter Gan Shisan followed his master into the construction site, and before he could steady himself, he felt a chill run through his entire body

Wu Bansian is indeed skilled in the art of divination, yet his ability to handle affairs is somewhat superficial. At this moment, encountering a figure like Lu Da, who is well-known in the realm, he naturally would not let the opportunity slip by

On the right side is a pile of fine timber, planed straight and neatly stacked in one place

Listening to Wu Bansian's extravagant tales, Lord Liu grew increasingly anxious—his eldest son served under the warlord He Jian, wielding a gun, while his second son attended a school in the capital, with the possibility of studying abroad in the East. They were both exceptionally promising children, but the only regret was that they were rarely by his side

February 2, the dragon raises its head, the awakening of insects occurs, and creatures begin to stir

He constantly flattered and sought advice along the way, as the saying goes, "One does not strike a smiling face." Given the other party's obsequiousness, Lu Daziran did not put on airs. The two chatted and walked together, creating a lively atmosphere

Wu Bansian was aware of the complexities involved, and did not dare to say much, merely smiling apologetically

The young man pondered for a moment and said, "The space between the eyebrows is dark, and the vital energy is dim; it must be the result of a curse."

Wu Bansian is quite skilled at fortune-telling, though his abilities in mediating disputes are rather average. Fortunately, he happens to know that Lu Da is nearby, so he devised a plan, wrote a letter, and had someone deliver it to summon Lu Da over.

Cold Ice