Xia Liang raised an eyebrow.
"This feng shui should be an auspicious layout ant to bless the descendants. How could it..."
The feng shui of the Lin Family's burial site was ingeniously designed. The entire cetery was suffused with a dense tallic energy, clearly a first-rate arrangent.
But... with a layout like this, how could anything go wrong?
Xia Liang's brow furrowed ever tighter.
Upon hearing this, Lin Xiaolan's expression darkened. "Taoist Priest Cha said the sa thing."
At that thought, Lin Xiaolan grew even more sorrowful. Back then, Taoist Priest Cha had also said there was no issue with the feng shui before leaving, helpless. Could it be that in Xia Liang's eyes, the result would be the sa?
She sighed softly.
Xia Liang shook his head. "Could the problem be elsewhere? Your residence, perhaps, or even your street? After all, I've only examined the feng shui of the antique shop so far." Stroking his chin, he speculated slowly.
Lin Xiaolan slowly shook her head. "Taoist Priest Cha checked it several tis. He found nothing wrong."
"He checked it several tis?" Xia Liang's interest was instantly piqued. So where could the problem be...?
Lin Xiaolan let out a sorrowful sigh. "Master Xia, if you really can't figure it out, then please don't worry about it. The Lin Family will still compensate you for your ti."
"This isn't about compensation!" Xia Liang waved his hand dismissively. "Even if you didn't pay a single cent, I'm determined to get to the bottom of this."
He ant it. Ever since learning the Great Fate Technique, this was the first ti he had encountered such a situation. Even if it wasn't for the money, this peculiar layout had already thoroughly intrigued him.
"Hmm?"
Just then, his eyes fell upon the gravestones.
"Why are these inscriptions..."
His gaze swept over each tombstone one by one.
Seeing how focused he was, Lin Xiaolan quickly asked, "Master Xia Tian, have you discovered sothing?"
Xia Liang nodded. Instead of answering, he asked a question of his own. "When was this cetery built?"
Lin Xiaolan answered truthfully, "Our family burial site was established over a hundred years ago. I can't say for certain exactly when it was built."
Xia Liang gave a slight nod. "I think I'm starting to understand what's going on."
As he spoke, a smile finally touched his lips.
Lin Xiaolan's face lit up. "Master Xia Tian, really?"
He nodded. "I'm about ninety percent sure. But there are a few things I need to confirm with you."
Lin Xiaolan nodded lightly.
Xia Liang thought for a mont before asking, "In your family, has there been a male heir since your grandmother's generation? And has the number of daughters dwindled with each passing generation, until in yours, you were the only one?"
Lin Xiaolan frowned, then nodded. "Yes, that's right. To be precise, it started with my great-grandmother's generation. Does this have sothing to do with the feng shui?"
Xia Liang chuckled softly. "And yet, each generation of the Lin Family has produced an exceptionally brilliant woman. That's why, over all these years, your family's business has continued to thrive."
He then pointed to a gravestone. "This should be your aunt, right?"
Lin Xiaolan nodded. "Yes. She passed away right when my mother discovered she was pregnant with ."
Xia Liang pressed on. "Because the Lin Family is so prominent, its won must continue the bloodline by having their husbands marry into the family. Am I right? And you, as the sole daughter, have shown exceptional talent since you were young. That ans, until now, you were the one managing the family's assets. Isn't that so?"
As he finished, Xia Liang watched her quietly.
"Yes, that's correct," Lin Xiaolan affird with a nod.
Li Lizhi chid in from the side, "It's true. Xiaolan and I have been classmates since junior high, and she always had the best grades in our school." She looked on curiously. "Master Xia Tian, how did you deduce all of this?"
Then, rembering that Xia Liang had been examining the gravestones, she decided to follow his example.
She shouldn't have looked. The mont she did, all the color drained from her face.
"Master Xia Tian, are you saying Xiaolan's health... it's because..."
Xia Liang gave a slight nod. "You've seen the epitaphs, haven't you? It's all written there quite clearly."
"No, that's impossible..." Li Lizhi cried out, turning to Xia Liang. "Master Xia Tian, you have to save Xiaolan!"
Their exchange left Lin Xiaolan completely bewildered, but Xia Liang's intense gaze remained fixed on her.
"In your family, the most outstanding woman of each generation... not one has lived past the age of twenty-three. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Lin Xiaolan's expression shifted. She'd always known that several of her ancestors had died young, but she had never realized they were the most outstanding won of their respective generations.
"Now look at these," Xia Liang said, gesturing to the gravestones. "In the past, won could marry at thirteen or fourteen. So, even though their lives were short, they still managed to have children. Nowadays, won typically marry after twenty. And since you are the only daughter of your generation..."
He trailed off, saying no more.
Lin Xiaolan's face was ashen. "It ans the Lin Family line will end with ... is that it, Master Xia Tian?"
Xia Liang nodded slowly.
Lin Xiaolan stood stunned for a mont, a strange crimson flush rising to her cheeks. Then, as if her soul had left her body, she collapsed to the ground.
Li Lizhi cried out in alarm, "Xiaolan, are you alright?"
It took a long while for Li Lizhi to help the limp Lin Xiaolan back to her feet. Gasping for breath, she barely managed to regain her composure after what felt like an eternity.
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