"Master Wu," I gripped the teacup until my knuckles whitened, "why bury my father in cursed ground?"
Since childhood, I'd trailed Second Uncle through mountain graves. A backwater geomancer who never married, he'd poured his knowledge into me like a surrogate son. I knew enough to recognize the burial site's malignant energy.
"Your Second Uncle chose that plot," Master Wu stroked his beard, "though by conventional geomancy..."
"Enough riddles!" Second Uncle barged in, straw hat shadowing his weathered face. "The boy deserves the truth."
His calloused hand clamped my shoulder. "Yin-Yang convergence grounds breed chaos—yes. But some storms..." he tapped my chest, "...require lightning rods."
Twenty-one winters ago:
Father and Master Wu found her on the solstice river—my mother, lashed to a bamboo raft as the River God's bride. They cut her bonds too late.
"But her belly stirred," Second Uncle's voice cracked. "Your father made Master Wu channel corpse-energy to sustain you. A Yin-born child, half-drowned in death's waters."
Master Wu's fist hit the table. "I warned him! Three Calamities haunt Yin-born souls—especially the 21st year's Yang Barrier Trial. The dead mother... she comes claiming what's hers."
The revelation slammed into me. That spectral woman haunting my dreams—my own mother's vengeful po soul?
"Why the cursed grave then?" My voice shook.
Second Uncle unfolded a moth-eaten cloth, revealing three vermilion marriage contracts. "Granny Yin left you these. Three fated brides to anchor your yang energy through the Three Blossoms Ritual."
Master Wu traced the names with a trembling finger. "Find them before winter solstice. Their life-forces may break the curse."
Dawn found me at the city's edge, clutching the first contract: Wu Yun, 17 Maple Lane.
The mansion's golden gate mocked my dusty clothes. A servant sneered, "Beggar, scram!" before slamming the door.
Tires screeched behind me. A convertible Porsche idled at the curb, its leather-clad driver appraising me through Gucci sunglasses. The girl beside him gasped—her jade pendant glowed crimson as our eyes met.