Chapter 2, Lu Ban teaches the master and the apprentice

The little carpenter cradled his head with both hands, half-squatting on the ground, his thumbs pressing hard against his temples, as if he were trying to pierce his head through.

Wu Bansian received praise, yet he was not happy; instead, he said with a worried expression: "I am merely more noticeable with these eyes; the ability to mediate matters still relies on you."

The little carpenter walked back behind the crowd, glancing back as he walked, but he could no longer see the little girl in the red jacket.

Old Master Liu said that is only natural

Without any pause, the little carpenter devoured all the food on the table with great speed, even licking the grease off the plate clean

Hiss ... ...

In the guest room

The young carpenter seemed to have noticed her, yet he did not respond. The two of them remained in their respective positions, one sitting and the other standing. After a long while, the piece of wood in the young carpenter's hands gradually took shape, resembling the outline of a chubby child. It was then that the young girl spoke up, saying: "I didn't expect you to have this skill as well"

Old Master Liu inquired: "How can this situation be resolved?"

Lu Da said: "Everything that needs to be seen has been seen, let's discuss it again when we return"

Faced with such a generous host, Lu Da did not decline any further. He waved his hand, allowing the carpenter to accept the payment, and then said: "There are three solutions to this matter. The first is to invite a highly skilled monk to come here, set up a platform, and chant scriptures to purify the negative energy; the second is to request a protective talisman drawn by a master of talismans for the purpose of safeguarding the house; and the third is for me to stay and find a way to remove the malevolent force hidden here, thereby breaking this ominous situation."

Lu glanced at him and knew that his little apprentice was having hallucinations again—this was an old problem, and he was used to it, so he did not pay much attention. Instead, he led the person into the construction site. Wu Banshen felt something was off and called out: "Xiao He - Tu - Shu brother..."

After Dayong left, the young carpenter glanced at his master, helped him cover with a quilt, and then took out a wooden toolbox from the enormous wooden chest

Lu Da smiled noncommittally but did not respond

The braised pork was stewed to a tender perfection, with more fat than lean meat. As soon as it touched the tongue, oh my brother, the fat exploded between the lips and on the taste buds, instantly flooding the little carpenter's heart with a profound sense of satisfaction

Exorcism? Are you capable of it?

Are you a dog?

Lu Da paused, glanced at Wu Banjian, and then asked: "What was your previous judgment?"

The craftsmanship of this wood carving was learned from his master, but he has surpassed his master, demonstrating a steadier temperament than his peers, along with a high level of talent, which makes him particularly skilled

It is truly delightful

Lu Da received the commission and nodded, saying: "In our profession, this 'Yuanmei' serves as a vessel for the grievances of the practitioner and disrupts the feng shui arrangement. There are countless variations, each with its own explanation and origin, which are quite complex, and it is unknown where they are buried or who is responsible for them. Therefore, if you wish for me to handle this matter, during this period, all affairs must be directed by me."

Only in this way can the intense pain in the mind be diverted away

The little carpenter did not ask much, merely nodded and said, "Oh."

The days of wandering are difficult; not to mention the meager sustenance, even the guarantee of two meals a day is uncertain. It is a matter of being hungry one moment and full the next, with no consistency. Moreover, the young carpenter is at a stage of growth, making it all the more essential for him to have a solid foundation of food.

Just as he was lost in thought, a soft laugh of "puh" came from beside him

The carpenter quickly stood up and asked, "Where is he?"

The young girl huffed, turned around, and left. The young carpenter licked the grease from the corner of his mouth, still a bit hungry, but he did not dare to move recklessly. He just sat in the courtyard and waited for nearly half an hour, when the steward's son, Dayong, came over: "Your master has had too much to drink and is looking for you everywhere"

I know a little, but mainly it is my master who does it—he is very skilled, having helped others with such matters, with at least eighty cases if not a hundred

Indeed

What about the third option

I heard them say, are you here to catch ghosts

Upon hearing Wu Bansian's analysis, Lord Liu finally understood the intricacies involved and hurriedly entrusted the old man in front of him, who was holding a smoking pipe

After a while, the girl in the blue coat appeared nearby again

However, Master Liu stated: "This amount is a token of appreciation for your coming, Master Lu. If the matter can be resolved later, there will be further rewards."

Not to mention the entire Qiancheng County, the Liu family is considered a prominent household, especially after the eldest son of the Liu family became prosperous. Therefore, the meals are naturally not lacking. Although they are not as lavish as a banquet, the table is adorned with a plate of glistening braised pork, a bowl of spicy peppers, a thick slice of fatty cured meat, a plate of pickled vegetables, and a bowl of heaping rice, which truly makes the little carpenter's mouth water uncontrollably.

Before he finished speaking, Lu Da in front tapped the stone piled up to waist height by the roadside with his smoking pipe and then said, "Don't mind him, it's an old habit."

The girl said: "His silence does not imply absence."

Hearing the girl's words of doubt, the young carpenter became somewhat angry and turned his head away from her, saying, "If you don't believe it, then so be it"

Lu Da said: "The first and second methods, as long as the right person is found, can basically yield immediate results and cure the ailment effectively"

Liu and the old master of the book raised his hand, and the old butler, who was already prepared, immediately presented a tray. On it were two paper tubes wrapped in red paper, one of which contained fifty silver dollars. It is important to note that at this time, a private school teacher's monthly salary was only ten silver dollars, and one hundred silver dollars was indeed a substantial amount of money

A group of people was walking out, and Wu Bansian followed closely behind Lu Da, respectfully inquiring: "Master Lu, you have inspected the entire construction site; is there really any issue here? Please give me an honest answer so that I can have some assurance in my heart, right?"

The young girl said, "My father is the Liu master who invited you here."

So impressive

The carpenter cast a glance at her and slowly said: "Since you are the daughter of the master, I will speak out of turn—within thirty days, you will surely encounter a calamity involving blood."

Why?

The carpenter followed Dayong to the guest room, where his master, Lu Da, was already lying on the wooden bed asleep. Dayong informed him that his master had mentioned while drinking that they would go to the construction site at twelve o'clock in the evening to handle this matter

The carpenter said, "I have only heard that Lord Liu has three sons, but I have not heard that he has a daughter"

"Exorcism? No, where in this world are there ghosts? My master always says that the human heart is more terrifying than any ghost or monster. Someone has tampered with things here, and we have come to dispel the evil."

The little carpenter did not respond, and she said again: "Once this thing is done, will you give it to me?"

He selected a sharp carving knife from inside, then took out a piece of boxwood about the size of a baby's arm, sitting at the door of the guest room, and began to carve the wood, one stroke at a time

The little carpenter then raised his head and asked, "Who is your father?"

Master Liu inquired: "What are the advantages and disadvantages of these three methods?"

Here, those who sow the seeds of hatred possess remarkable skills, thus creating a web of suspicion; I also lack the confidence to easily capture them.

The banquet had long been prepared in the hall, and Master Liu invited Lu Da and Wu Bansian to take their seats. However, the young carpenter, without any instructions from his master, did not dare to sit down. Fortunately, the steward's son, Dayong, accompanied him and brought him to the side courtyard, where he prepared food for him on the stone bench under the ginkgo tree

Fragrance

Lu Dacheng pondered, yet did not respond

A group of people walked inside, leaving only the little carpenter behind at the original spot

Upon returning to the main hall of the Liu residence, everyone took their seats again. Old Master Liu inquired about Lu Da, who this time did not conceal anything but spoke up, saying: "Indeed, someone has secretly meddled with the situation, disrupting the feng shui of the haunted house, which is why strange occurrences have been incessant and troubles have been numerous. As for the young master's illness, it is also caused by accumulated filth; if the situation can be resolved, the ailment will naturally dissipate"

Are you bragging?

The young carpenter turned his head and saw a girl dressed in a blue jacket. The girl had a long and thick braid and was intently observing him. Unlike ordinary girls who would feel shy under his gaze, she curiously asked, "Is it delicious?"

The little carpenter, without any hesitation, embraced the large bowl of rice, first taking a few mouthfuls of the fragrant white rice, which caused him to choke a little, before finally putting a big piece of braised pork into his mouth

Lu Da did not say much more, informing everyone: "This matter cannot be investigated during the day, we will discuss it again at night"

The little carpenter nodded and said it was delicious, of course it was delicious

The little carpenter put down his hands and said with a bewildered expression, "Haven't we not gone in yet?"

The third option is relatively complicated, requiring a wait, and it is not guaranteed that a solution can be found

Yes

Upon hearing this, Master Liu hesitated slightly and could not help but glance at the side where Wu Bansian was. Wu Bansian, with a forced smile, said: "When it comes to eminent masters, none surpass the Hongshan Temple in Tanzhou. The abbot and several masters within the temple possess great abilities. However, in these turbulent times, the masters are reluctant to descend the mountain, so searching for them would be futile. As for talismans, that would belong to the Maoshan in Jurong, but it is too far away, and this matter also requires a certain opportunity, which is quite rare. Moreover, this issue has its cause and effect; if we cannot thoroughly investigate the matter, what if today's issue is resolved but arises again tomorrow? How can we manage that? Therefore, I kindly ask Master Lu to exert more effort and assist thoroughly..."

The carpenter said: "My master says I have a thin fate, I must be raised in a humble manner, and dog meat cannot be served at the table"

Lu nodded and said, "Everyone says that Wu Bansian from Qiancheng has real skills, and seeing him today, it is indeed true"

She looked at him, remaining silent.

The young girl pointed to the front hall and said, "The feast over there is more delicious, and there is wine as well. Why doesn't your master allow you to join the banquet?"

The little carpenter remained silent, and the girl finally became angry. She said furiously: "If you don't give it to me, I will ask my father to drive you away."

After a while, the little carpenter remained crouched motionless like a wooden carving, while the others had already come out. Lu Da snapped his fingers and said, "Let's go"

He was completely unaware of how much time had passed

Wu Bansian said: "The feng shui of this residence was assessed by me. The hidden dragon should not be used, and the white tiger nurtures the evil spirits. This greatly aids the eldest son of the family in his career. The overall feng shui and fortune are exceptional. However, now that problems have arisen, after much contemplation, it seems that someone has tampered with the house. After the incident occurred here, I came to observe the energy and felt that the air was stagnant, with an unstable balance of yin and yang. The yin is overwhelming while the yang is suppressed, gathering foul energy, which has muddied the tiger's evil spirit, causing it to become angry and harm others. This is why everything has been going awry, and troubles have been persistent."