Fate Sealed with Death

Examining the courtyard’s feng shui was merely a test of my abilities. Clearly, the few words I uttered earlier struck directly at the heart of the matter, convincing Mr. Sun that I possessed some skill and prompting him to discuss things in detail.

When I agreed to come here with Hao Jianguo, I had already prepared myself for a collaboration with Mr. Sun, hoping he would leverage his connections to help broaden the search. To gain something, one must be willing to give. To earn trust, one must demonstrate ability.

Thus, as soon as I sat down, I said, “Mr. Sun, I assume your reason for inviting me has something to do with a family member?”

Mr. Sun seemed surprised that I took the initiative, smiling and nodding, signaling me to continue.

The reason I started by mentioning his family was that his facial features were generally harmonious, except for a faint darkness beneath his left eye, in the area known as the “children’s palace.” This part, located below the eyelid, is used to observe the fortunes of one’s descendants. For the unmarried, it can reveal marital prospects; for the married, it shows the virtue and health of their children—left for sons, right for daughters.

Without opening my inner eye, I could see clearly: the left children’s palace bore vertical lines and a bluish-black tinge, indicating his son’s poor health and even danger to his life.

“I suspect your son is experiencing some health issues,” I said.

After my words, I felt Mr. Sun’s gaze shift to one of respect—evidently, I had hit the mark again. He smiled politely and said, “Young master, you truly are a hero among the youth. Your eye is sharp; it seems Jianguo underestimated you.”

I smiled modestly, refraining from comment, waiting to hear more from Mr. Sun.

“I used to be an atheist,” he began, “but two incidents over the years have completely changed my understanding. I’ve come to realize how formidable people like you really are.”

Mr. Sun started recounting, beginning from when he left the army. He remembered the events vividly, as they were unusual.

On that day, Mr. Sun was waiting for a ride to his new post when a shabby old man approached, stared at him for two minutes, and then said, “Your life will be prosperous, but you are doomed by fate. At thirty, you’ll lose your wife; at forty, your daughter; at sixty-five, your son. To temper these calamities, it’s best to keep your distance from them and seek tranquillity for self-cultivation.”

Most fortune-tellers charge for their services, but after speaking, the old man simply walked away without looking back. At the time, fresh from the army, Mr. Sun dismissed him as a lunatic.

Years passed, and at thirty, Mr. Sun’s healthy wife suddenly fell ill. After examination, she was diagnosed with cancer. Within two months, her condition worsened, and she passed away. Only after her death did Mr. Sun recall the old man’s prophecy: prosperous fortune, yet doomed by fate.

Indeed, his career had flourished—he had climbed steadily through the ranks, earning the envy of many. Yet the old man had foretold the loss of his wife at thirty, and now, recalling that his wife had fallen and died within three months, even the most skeptical Mr. Sun began to worry.

He sought advice from various people, but from the tone of his voice, I could tell that most catered to his status, offering little genuine insight.

Over the years, truly capable people were rare. Mr. Sun tried several, none could see through the matter, so he comforted himself by thinking it was all coincidence.

At forty, with his birthday approaching, Mr. Sun became anxious about his daughter. He brought her in for a check-up beforehand; she was healthy, and he relaxed. For safety, he also arranged for someone to watch over her discreetly.

Yet only half a month after his fortieth birthday, tragedy struck. His daughter went out to take out the trash, slipped, and fell. A simple fall—something anyone might experience—yet this one was fatal. By the time the ambulance arrived, she was gone.

Thirty: loss of wife. Forty: loss of daughter. Two successive predictions fulfilled, deeply shocking Mr. Sun and convincing him the shabby old man was a master who had truly seen his fate.

Thinking of the prophecy about losing his son at sixty-five, Mr. Sun grew worried. Following the old man’s advice, he distanced himself from his son, sending him to the coast and building a wellness center for himself.

All these years, Mr. Sun tried desperately to find the old man who had warned him, but time had passed, and with limited resources back then, finding someone whose name and appearance he barely remembered was nearly impossible.

Now, with his sixty-fifth birthday only a month away, Mr. Sun was anxious. His previously healthy son fell ill after being caught in the rain. Hospitals found nothing, his condition worsened daily, and Mr. Sun feared that once his sixty-fifth birthday arrived, his son would die.

His search for capable people was well known to Hao Jianguo. Before the Zhao family incident, Hao Jianguo doubted my abilities and was reluctant to introduce me, fearing to waste Mr. Sun’s time. After witnessing my work with the Zhao family, despite some mistakes, my true skill was undeniable. Hao Jianguo told Mr. Sun about me, and upon hearing of the events with the Zhao family, Mr. Sun immediately asked him to bring me here.

Thus, the scene at the door upon my arrival.

Hearing all this, I felt pity for Mr. Sun’s pain—losing wife and daughter, and now possibly his son. To know such fate and be powerless to stop it—the helplessness and despair can only be understood by those who have lived it.

“Mr. Sun,” I said, “if I may speak frankly, destiny cannot be violated. Some things are written in fate. No matter how you struggle, the outcome remains unchanged.”

I had expected Mr. Sun to react with anger, but he merely nodded and said, “I’ve long understood this. Regarding what might happen in a month, given Xiao Qing’s current state, I am prepared. I just can’t resign myself yet and hope for a glimmer of hope.”

His attitude was reasonable. What I feared most was someone who refused to accept fate, tried to defy it, and ultimately blamed me when nothing changed.

“Young master, what’s your view on my son’s case? Is there any hope?” Mr. Sun stared at me intently.

The shabby old man had only needed a glance to see Mr. Sun’s innate doom—loss of wife at thirty, daughter at forty, son at sixty-five. Clearly, he was a master of extraordinary skill.

Such a fate can only be changed by defying heaven itself.

Fate-changing comes in two forms: innate and acquired. Like those I helped in the Zhao family, I blocked the imminent death by altering acquired fate—mainly because Zhao Guang borrowed fate, causing the crisis.

Where there is cause and effect, it’s acquired.

Acquired fate-changing is relatively easy; as long as one addresses the cause and effect, it can be done. But Mr. Sun’s case, as the old man said, is innate doom.

Innate fate-changing starts from birth—his marriage and children were already under an invisible constraint. This kind of inborn situation is what my grandmother referred to as innate fate-changing; among a hundred, perhaps only one succeeds, and even then, at great cost.

“Mr. Sun, the situation is difficult. I won’t beat around the bush—without knowing the specifics, I can’t promise anything.”

Before Mr. Sun could speak, I hastened to add, “And, as you know, fate can be changed, but not everyone’s fate can be changed. There are too many factors involved.”

Having lived so long, Mr. Sun nodded seriously. “I understand. At this point, I’m not insisting on a change. I just hope, if there’s a sliver of hope, it’s better than waiting for death, isn’t it?”

A perfectly reasonable wish.

After pondering a moment, I decided to start with his son’s birth chart, to see if he bore a death fate—what’s known as a doomed destiny.

If it wasn’t a doomed destiny, there might be a chance for change.

At my request, Mr. Sun immediately gave me his son Sun Qing’s birth details, and I laid out the chart in my notebook.

Male, dry pillar.

Four pillars arranged.

Just as I prepared to examine them carefully, the image of next month’s pillar flashed in my mind.

Comparing Sun Qing’s monthly pillar to the coming month, my heart sank.

Heaven opposes earth.

When a birth chart faces heaven opposing earth, it is even more serious than offending the annual fate.

Heaven opposing earth is as if the heavens themselves demand a life.

Given Sun Qing’s current state and Mr. Sun’s innate doom, even without a detailed look, I knew: Sun Qing’s was a doomed fate.