The second strange occurrence involves the Dai family's hotels. Guests reported that late at night, they would hear what sounded like dancing outside their doors. Yet upon opening them, no one would be there - the security cameras showed nothing either. However, all guests consistently reported hearing these sounds, creating an extremely eerie atmosphere. Over time, all of the Dai family's hotels went out of business too. Within a short period, the family suffered massive losses across all their business ventures.
Beyond just business, their social connections and fortunes similarly declined. The Dai family fell from first-class elite status to second-rate.
The Dai patriarch grew desperate and urgently sought help, eventually discovering the problem lay with their ancestral tomb.
The Dai family owns a burial mountain where their ancestors have been interred for centuries. From a traditional perspective, they should be Vervecity's family with the most well-preserved ancestral graves.
Rumors say this mountain blessed the Dai family's prosperity all these years, allowing them to become first-class elites. But recently, problems emerged at the ancestral site. While the exact cause remains unknown, some suspect sabotage by enemies.
Mr. Dai invited several masters who all failed to break whatever curse or array was affecting the site. As a last resort, he's offering a million-dollar reward to gather experts who can solve the problem. Master Raul is one such invited expert, with the meeting set for 9 PM tonight at the Dai family ancestral tomb.
I realized this was essentially a bounty - whoever could break the Malevolent Array would claim the million. As a practitioner of the occult arts myself, why shouldn't I go?
Right now, money holds tremendous value to me. I won't pass up any money-making opportunity, no matter how slim. As for that ice queen bitch? I couldn't care less about her - a real man knows when to swallow his pride.
I asked Stella if she could bring me along. Regardless of whether I could actually break the array, I wanted to try my luck and expand my horizons. After all, as someone involved with the supernatural, meeting more masters could only benefit me.
Orwell's café investigation could wait until early morning since he said the old lady only appears around 3 AM. The array-breaking invitation at 9 PM wouldn't conflict.
Stella hesitated. While she'd deliver Master Raul's invitation, she personally had no interest in attending. That million-dollar prize meant nothing to her since the Dai family's Malevolent Array was clearly no trivial matter - otherwise Mr. Dai wouldn't be making such offers and gathering so many experts. Given Stella's abilities, that reward was likely beyond her reach anyway.
"Come on," I pressed, "just take me with you. Consider it paying off part of that two million debt - no need to repay that portion. How's that not a good deal?"
"Fine, fine," Stella finally agreed with a conspiratorial grin, like a mischievous spirit. "I could stand to learn something too. See you tonight, Boss - don't be late!"
Women are truly pragmatic creatures - without money, you can't move them. What a pity about my twenty thousand. If I can't get that million, I'll essentially be losing a hundred million instead.
By eight in the evening, Stella arrived wearing a black dress. Yet even such a heavy, serious color couldn't suppress her playful nature.
She hailed a cab for Stein and me, and we rode together to the base of a towering mountain.
The mountain stood majestic, surrounded by rivers with lush, towering trees covering its steep slopes.
"Incredible!" Stein couldn't help exclaiming. "The rumors are true! Little Boss, what shape does that mountain resemble to you?"
"Hmm... looks like... a dragon's head?" I replied after studying it.
"Exactly! A dragon's head indeed. And observe its feng shui - descendants buried here would enjoy smooth sailing," Stein explained.
This puzzled me. If the feng shui was truly as excellent as Stein claimed, who would want to ruin it? And who exactly created this malevolent formation?
After discussing with Stein awhile longer, we began our ascent. Despite the late hour, numerous bodyguards patrolled the grave mountain's entrance. Fortunately, one recognized Stella, allowing us to slip inside.
We climbed for about half an hour before reaching the main cemetery. While graves covered the entire mountainside, the primary burial site occupied a position slightly below the midpoint. Stein identified this as the "dragon's waist" - an ideal resting place for a family's founding ancestor.
"With an ancestor supporting the dragon's waist, the entire lineage prospers," Stein whispered.
At the main cemetery, about twenty people had gathered beside an extravagant tombstone marking a large, now-opened grave. Blending into the crowd, we stood on tiptoes to peer at the coffin's contents. What we saw made both Stein and me gasp in horror - the sight proved far more terrifying than expected.
This was the Dai family's ancestor?
Among these occult practitioners, even Stein - at forty years old - appeared youthful compared to the mostly elderly masters present. The younger generation was conspicuously absent, perhaps because true mastery requires age.
Our trio stood out awkwardly in the crowd, but by remaining silent, we avoided much notice as everyone's attention focused elsewhere.
A disturbing thought struck me: "If whatever's in there climbs out now, are we all doomed?"
Stella whispered, "It's worse than that... but don't worry. With so many masters here, we're relatively safe."
"Don't scare me like that!" I protested. "A mountain covered in graves? That's terrifying enough!"
Just then, a pair of cold eyes locked onto me, their furious glare unmistakable despite the icy expression.
Daphne? She'd apparently noticed me and seemed furious that I'd sneaked in. But with so many people present, she couldn't outright throw me out - she could only glare daggers, hoping I'd take the hint and leave.
Hmph, wishful thinking. Now that I'm here, I'm not leaving so easily. She could glare until her eyes bled for all I cared.
I ignored her and let her keep staring while observing the figures standing at the front. There was an old man about my grandfather's age, dressed in Celestial Master Taoist robes with his hair tied in a ponytail. His white hair and beard framed kindly eyebrows.
Beside him stood a blind man wearing sunglasses and leaning on a cane, also around the same age.
Next to the blind man was another elderly gentleman in a black suit, supported by Daphne. A group of attendants stood behind them. This had to be Mr. Dai - he appeared roughly the same age as my grandfather.