The Hong Kong Ministry of Magic isn't really stupid; in fact, they've been actively communicating with the Muggle government, and Kowloon Walled City Park is expected to officially open to the public as early as the end of the year.
But for merchants, making money is still easier when it comes to ripping off foreign suckers.
The Eastern Wizarding World has always been synonymous with mystery, and the best place for foreign wizards to gain a deeper understanding is the relatively open Wizarding World of Hong Kong.
While the Wizarding World of Japan and South Korea are also quite open, they can't compare to Hong Kong, which is backed by the University of Tokyo, in any aspect.
It's a case of one party willing to give and the other willing to receive; many foreign wizard tourists are happy even knowing they're being ripped off.
With the relocation of the Hong Kong Wizarding World two years ago, the merchants' resentment towards the Ministry of Magic has deepened.
The uncle who runs the herbal medicine shop is actually quite polite; some radical merchants are really willing to ambush high-ranking officials and beat them up.
Sheng Bai was powerless to change the situation, so she could only comfort the uncle, saying that things would get better.
However, after only a few words of comfort, he joined the older man in complaining about the high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Magic.
This scene inexplicably stirred a long-lost sense of familiarity in Vincent's heart.
Sheng Bai is a descendant of a branch of the Big White family of Dongda University. His car is a Rolls-Royce Silver Spur, and his status in the Hong Kong Wizarding World is definitely not low.
However, he did not treat the merchants with arrogance; instead, he joined the older man in venting his dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Magic in a down-to-earth manner.
Although the environment of Dragon Fort City is quite different from what one might imagine the Eastern Wizarding World to be, yes, this is indeed the real Eastern Wizarding World.
After saying goodbye to the uncle, Sheng Bai continued to walk through the streets and alleys with Vincent, and every resident they met greeted Sheng Bai warmly.
Soon, they passed a small square filled with teenagers who were excitedly drawing various talismans on the ground.
The artistic graffiti on the wall is also their work, with the huge slogan "Hong Kong Magic, Take it All" being particularly eye-catching.
Just as Vincent stopped to admire the images of Fantastic Beasts from the East in the graffiti, a middle-aged woman carrying a feather duster stormed into the square.
"Sing-Sing Chow! What are you doing here, you idiot!"
A fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy hurriedly dropped the magic brush in his hand and was about to run away when an older woman rushed forward and grabbed his ear.
"You're a good-for-nothing who never studies! You'd be better off dying in the street if you only got 50 points on the test!"
The young people quickly dispersed, hiding to the side with expressions of watching the spectacle.
Vincent, standing outside the square, smiled knowingly. "Mr. Bai, let's go."
Accompanied by heart-wrenching screams, the two passed through the alley and came to a secluded path.
The road surface is paved with smooth, rounded pebbles. Walking on it with shoes will give you a slight massage sensation, and if you walk barefoot, it will feel especially refreshing.
The path is short, and after passing through it, you will see a treehouse.
The tree was a banyan tree, not as thick as the one that surrounded the huge bronze vault, but it was still more than ten meters tall, and it also had a treehouse on top that was almost integrated with the lush branches.
Vincent looked up at the talisman fluttering on the eaves, on which were written the four large characters "Have Tea When Free" in a very wild style.
"We've arrived." Sheng Bai smiled as she walked towards the spiral staircase leading to the treehouse.
Although the exterior walls of the treehouse blend almost seamlessly with the lush branches of the banyan tree, the doors are elegant lattice doors.
This place should be the Asia branch of the Wizards' Purity Party. Vincent originally thought it would be located in Muggle city or a particularly secluded place, but he didn't expect it to be in the Hong Kong Wizarding World.
Sheng Bai pushed open the door, and a faint aroma of tea wafted out.
The tea shop was larger than it appeared, and its interior was decorated in a very antique style, with ancient paintings hanging on the walls and antique ornaments placed in the corners.
A long, carved mahogany tea table is placed in the middle, and there are four other small tea tables next to the windows in the four directions of east, south, west and north.
There is a set of classic and exquisite purple clay teaware on the tea table and tea table. There are only three mahogany chairs around them, and the missing chair is in a different position, as if hiding some mysterious layout.
Sheng Bai led Vincent to the mahogany coffee table. "Mr. Wayne, please have a seat."
Since it's a tea shop related to fortune telling and feng shui, different choices will lead to different results.
Vincent instinctively chose the chair in front of him, which was facing south.
Sheng Bai smiled slightly and moved a chair to sit down opposite him.
"Mr. Wayne, the South belongs to the element of fire, representing heat and light, corresponding to summer, and symbolizing passion and vitality."
Sheng Bai casually glanced at the small tables in the four directions and the chairs placed around them. "In the Bagua, the south corresponds to the Li trigram, which has the meaning of 'attachment and light,' symbolizing an upright and enthusiastic personality."
He clapped his hands lightly, and the lid of the purple clay teapot in front of him immediately opened. "Mr. Wayne, you are Britain, so you should prefer sweet and mellow teas like black tea, right?"
Vincent looked at the dazzling array of small tea jars on the coffee table. They were arranged neatly in eight rows and eight columns. There were no unique markings on the outside of the jars. The choice of tea was probably part of fortune telling and feng shui.
"Mr. Bai, that's a stereotype." Vincent casually pointed to the small jar in the first row and first column. "I've always wanted to try different teas, but I just haven't had the chance."
Sheng Bai was taken aback at first, then chuckled, "Mr. Wayne, it seems you like to take the initiative."
He reached out and picked up the small jar. After opening it, a rich and pure orchid fragrance wafted out. "Da Hong Pao is a type of oolong tea, known for its high aroma and complex taste, symbolizing elegance and independence."
He gently picked up a small handful of tea leaves and put them into the purple clay teapot. "Mr. Wayne, you chose the Qian hexagram, which is composed of six yang lines and is the only pure yang hexagram among the sixty-four hexagrams of the I Ching."
Vincent knew about the I Ching (I Ching) and had briefly read it in his previous life, but he didn't quite remember what each hexagram meant.
Before closing the lid, Sheng Bai made a gesture by hovering his hand above the teapot, and boiling water instantly gushed out of the pot.
After about two or three seconds, he selected two black porcelain teacups and poured orange-red, translucent tea into them.
"Mr. Wayne, please have some tea." Sheng Bai offered the teacup with both hands.
The first brew of Da Hong Pao has a slightly bitter taste, but the aftertaste is distinctly sweet, and the aroma is indeed high and impressive.
Vincent put down his teacup. "Mr. Bai, I have some knowledge of the Book of Changes. It uses the six lines of the I Ching to illustrate the complete development process of things from their hidden state to their peak and then to reflection, right?"
Sheng Bai nodded. "Yes, my method of divination is rather special. Although it is not as specific as Mr. Grindelwald's predictions, it can produce a hexagram at any time."
The fact that he addressed him as "sir" instead of "prophet" greatly increased Vincent's goodwill towards him. "So, what is my divination?"
Sheng Bai's eyes were sharp. "Nine in the third place: A gentleman is constantly diligent and cautious, and at night he is always vigilant and apprehensive. He will be without blame."