A Chinese Harry Potter has conjured up a personal fortune after setting up an online "spell" emporium that is reportedly earning him more than £100,000 each month.
Luo Shun, a 31-year-old from Hunan province, launched his internet business last October and has since been swamped with customers seeking paranormal solutions to their distinctly terrestrial problems.
Mr Luo is now reportedly making one million yuan (£109,000) each month from clients who hoped to find love, atone for sins or improve relations with their mothers-in-law.
"Writing spells is a sacred thing," Mr Luo told The Daily Telegraph. "[You must] calm your heart, shower and change clothes [and] be guided by the Holy Spirit."
Mr Luo had initially seemed destined for a career in accounting. But after two years at the Changsha University of Science and Technology he quit his course, deciding that his future lay in the ancient Chinese art of feng shui.
"I witnessed many quite mysterious scenes and I wanted to find the answers," said Mr Luo who said he had subsequently studied feng shui with "experts".
In 2002, the university dropout began working as a freelance feng shui consultant, charging for advice on auspicious dates and names.
Then, last October, he opened an online store on Taobao, China's answer to Amazon, in the hope of reaching some of the country's 538 million-plus internet users.
"The internet spreads information fastest ... so I chose Taobao to sell my spells," said Mr Luo, whose site now offers more than 160 different spells or products.
Last month the online shop sold 2,825 spells, with the most popular item being a £33 love charm.
The impresario declined to discuss how much money he was now making but vowed to channel his wealth into philanthropy.
"If I really become rich in the future I will build a football field in my hometown where there is no football field yet [and] open it free of charge for the kids to play on. Or [I will] build a primary school where the kids can develop according to their own interests – or perhaps build a Taoist temple."
Examples of spells:
1. The [build] good relationship between daughter-in-law and mother-in-law spell, improves relations between the two
2. The abortion atonement spell: a spell for driving away the evil spirits [caused by abortion] and soothing the baby's spirit
3. The villain prevention spell: wards off crooks
4. The debt-chasing spell: make your debtor upset so he returns your money.
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