Under One Person: Feng Shui Master, I Will Protect the Mountains and Rivers with My Own Body

A series of noisy sounds coming from the kitchen, like an alarm clock in the early morning, inexplicably entered Xia He's ears.

Xia He groggily turned over, buried her face in the pillow, and subconsciously reached for her phone on the bedside table.

Her fingertips touched the cool wooden bedside table, not the cold, damp basement walls she had slept on during those impoverished days, nor the musty sheets in the cheap hotel.

She suddenly opened her eyes.

The ceiling is clean and simple, with dust motes dancing in the light filtering through the curtains.

Memories flood back like a tide.

Oh, right.

Now that she's not short of money, she's not hiding from anyone.

She now lives in Jinmen, in Rainbow Garden, at Yan Sen's home.

Xia He sat up in bed, rubbing her slightly dazed head. Her signature long pink hair was a mess, completely devoid of its usual allure.

She glanced at the clock on the wall.

8:20.

"Tsk, it's already this late... I can't drink so much in the future, it's causing trouble..."

Xia He muttered something. This time would be half a day late for an ordinary office worker, but it was just right for her, who used to be a night owl.

Actually, lying down and taking a nap now would be a more comfortable option.

However, since I'm staying at someone else's house and they're already up, I can't very well stay in bed.

She stretched, and her loose pajamas slipped down, revealing her fair and rounded shoulders.

Unfortunately, no one in the house appreciated it, and she was too lazy to hide it. She slipped into the bathroom in her pink bunny slippers and plopped down on the toilet.

Then I started washing my face, brushing my teeth, and doing simple skincare, all in one smooth motion.

Looking at her own reflection in the mirror—a bare face yet still radiant and beautiful—Xia He patted her cheeks, trying to clear her head.

"Knock knock knock".

I had just put down the towel when there was a knock on the door.

"Xiangxiang? Are you up yet? The sun's already high in the sky, hurry up and come out for dinner."

Yan Sen's voice came through the door, full of energy and sounding very real.

"Get up! I'm coming right away!"

Xia He shouted back and opened the door.

A faint aroma of rice mixed with the fragrance of scallions wafts over.

The coffee table in the living room has been cleared out, and the table that was originally used for barbecue now has a few simple breakfast items on it.

A pot of thick white porridge, two bowls of tender steamed eggs with minced meat, a plate of mixed cold side dishes, and several plump white steamed buns.

Yan Sen was sitting cross-legged on the carpet, holding a steamed bun in his hand, eating it with some side dishes.

Seeing Xia He come out, he pointed to the empty seat next to him.

"Hurry up and eat. The rice cooker at home isn't working well, so I cooked this porridge in a clay pot for an hour. Only my parents have ever enjoyed this kind of treatment before. You're lucky to be here."

Xia He walked over and plopped down next to Yan Sen. Looking at the breakfast in front of her, which was full of life, a corner of her heart stirred slightly again.

This made her feel a little dazed. Ever since she met Yan Sen, she would always be touched by some of his unintentional little actions. This feeling was strange, indescribable, but also very reassuring.

"Thanks."

Xia He picked up a spoon, scooped out a spoonful of steamed egg, and put it in her mouth.

Tender, smooth, and fragrant, with no unnecessary seasonings, just the purest egg flavor and a touch of salty soy sauce.

My stomach felt warm instantly.

"No thanks, I'm just worried that if you cook, you might accidentally set my kitchen on fire."

Yan Sen snorted, chewing on a steamed bun, and mumbled, "Xiangxiang, you're really lazy. Let's make it clear from now on, we'll have to take turns making breakfast. I've always been treated like a young master since I was a child, and I've always been waited on hand and foot. Even when Xu Si comes to my house, he has to bring me breakfast."

"Pah! 'Young Master' indeed..."

The initial feeling of gratitude and warmth that Xia He had felt quickly dissipated.

She took a big bite of the steamed bun, as if she wanted to devour Yan Sen.

"Yan Sen, if you can't speak properly, you can donate your mouth to someone in need! Give me back the gratitude I felt!"

"I can't pay it back. Once something comes into my possession, it's all mine. You know what a Pixiu is? It only eats and doesn't poop." Yan Sen glanced at her, his eyes extremely open and shameless. "Besides, I haven't even asked you to pay me back yet. My stomach hurts from drinking with you last night. You have to take responsibility."

"Stomach ache? That's easy! You and Teacher Yu Qian go to the Big Iron Rod Hospital to see Director Tong."

Xia He rolled her eyes and said irritably.

This bastard only eats and doesn't poop? It sounds disgusting. Couldn't he be more tactful? He could at least just give out and not take in.

Breakfast ended with the two bickering.

Although they bicker and argue, it's undeniable that Xia He's witty banter is improving rapidly, and sometimes she even finds her own words funny.

After dinner, the two of them cleaned up the dishes together and then sat cross-legged on the carpet in the living room again.

The morning sunlight shone on the two of them, as if gilding them with a layer of gold.

"Now, it's time to get down to business. Come on, Xiangxiang..."

Yan Sen dropped his playful demeanor and became serious. He picked up a prayer mat from the side and tossed it to Xia He.

"Sit down."

Xia He sat down as instructed, adjusted her posture, and looked at Yan Sen with some confusion.

"Master Yan, you said you would teach me to control my breathing muscles, but you haven't told me yet. How exactly are you going to teach me? You don't even have the ability..."

This has always been her question.

There are quite a few naturally gifted individuals in the world of supernatural beings, with a wide variety of abilities and each person's path is different.

I heard Xu Si say before that Yan Sen cultivates a family-inherited method, making him an acquired extraordinary person, and his method has nothing to do with her kind of charm ability. How can she be taught?

"shallow."

Yan Sen snorted softly, and a back scratcher appeared in his hand at some point. He gently tapped Xia He's shoulder.

"You people who are born with talent are just arrogant. You always think you are exceptionally gifted, that you are some special chosen ones, but in reality, you haven't even touched the threshold."

"Although I don't know how to relax my muscles, I do understand 'spiritual cultivation'."

Yan Sen held up one finger and shook it.

"Your problem is that your 'fate' is too strong, while your 'nature' is too weak."

"The ability of 'breathing muscles' directly affects the body and desires. Its energy level is very high, but your mind, or what is commonly known as mental strength, cannot control this power at all."

"It's like a three-year-old child holding a gun. If he gets even slightly agitated, he'll start firing indiscriminately."

Xia He nodded thoughtfully: "So... you're going to teach me how to cultivate mental power?"

"I suppose so. Taoists call this 'sexual cultivation'."

Yan Sen crossed his legs, adopting a standard five-heart-facing-the-sky posture.

"Sister Bao was taken to Tongzhou by Master Xu these past two days. Otherwise, it would have been more effective for her to teach you. She has a pure 'childlike heart,' and her spirit is inwardly radiant; she doesn't need any acquired cultivation at all."

"But you're different. You have too many distracting thoughts and too many desires, so we have to use a clumsy method."

"What a stupid method?"

"Zazen."

Yan Sen uttered two words.

"It's also called sitting in oblivion. This is the most basic and also the most profound method in Taoism. As long as you can calm your mind, not to mention the simple act of breathing, even if you have more advanced techniques later, you can control them as easily as your own limbs."

"Tch, I thought it was some kind of ultimate secret technique, it's just spacing out, isn't it?" Xia He said dismissively.

"daze?"

Yan Sen laughed, but his laugh was somewhat cold.

"Come on, do as I say and see if you can 'space out' properly."

Yan Sen took the back scratcher and began to correct Xia He's posture.

"Place your feet on opposite thighs, that's called the double lotus position. Can't do it? Then try the single lotus position first, don't force it."

Xia He tried it out. Although she was very flexible, the double lotus position not only tested flexibility but also endurance.

"Knees down, don't hold it up! Keep your back straight! No slouching, no leaning forward!"

Yan Sen gently tapped Xia He's back a few times with the back scratcher in his hand.

"Imagine a thin line hanging from the top of your head, with the Baihui acupoint pointing upwards. Imagine a rope suspending your skull."

"Relax your shoulders and keep your armpits hollow, as if you are holding two hot steamed buns between your arms—they shouldn't fall out, nor should they be flattened."

Following Yan Sen's instructions, Xia He adjusted her body little by little.

"Tuck your chin slightly, don't tilt your head back, your chin is practically pointing to the sky. Press your tongue against the upper palate, build a bridge, and connect the Ren and Du meridians."

"Keep your eyes open three-tenths open and seven-tenths closed. Don't close them completely, as that makes you drowsy and sleepy; and don't open them completely either, as that makes you distracted."

Yan Sen's voice was deep and calm, with a strange rhythm.

"Finally, form the Meridian Linking Hand Seal with both hands. Since you are a woman, place your right hand below and your left hand above, with your thumbs lightly touching."

Xia He did as instructed.

At first it was fine. Apart from the slightly awkward posture, I didn't think it was a big deal.

But only ten minutes later...

An indescribable tingling and numb sensation began to spread up my legs, as if a thousand ants were crawling in the cracks of my bones.

What's even more deadly is the restlessness in my heart.

As soon as I close my eyes, my mind is like a boiling pot.

One moment it's the狰狞 (zhengning, meaning ferocious or hideous) face of an enemy, the next it's the lewd smiles of those stinky men, and then it's the disdainful look in my parents' eyes from when I was a child...

Countless thoughts came rushing in, making it impossible to calm down.

"Ugh... This feels so uncomfortable..."

Xia He frowned, and couldn't help but shift her body, wanting to put her legs down.

"Don't move!"

Yan Sen gave a low shout and smacked Xia He's shoulder with the back scratcher in his hand.

The force wasn't great, but it was enough to bring her to her senses.

"Your legs are numb? This means your meridians are blocked. Haven't you ever practiced horse stance? How come they went numb so quickly?"

"Your mind is in turmoil again? That's normal, this is called a restless mind. Calm your mind and seek stillness, unify all thoughts! Focus your attention on your dantian! When thoughts arise, don't chase them, don't suppress them, just observe them and let them dissipate on their own!"

Xia He gritted her teeth, a fine layer of sweat beading on her forehead.

This is even more tiring than fighting with someone!

Another ten minutes passed.

Xia He couldn't hold back any longer. She suddenly opened her eyes, loosened her legs, and collapsed, panting heavily.

"I can't take it anymore... I can't take it anymore..."

Xia He waved her hand, looking miserable.

"Master Yan, this is too difficult! I can't learn it. Is there an easier way to cultivate? Like some shortcut?"

She was a free spirit by nature, and she valued doing whatever she wanted within fixed rules. She had never been exposed to this rigid and methodical way of cultivation before.

Seeing her hopeless state, Yan Sen didn't joke with her like he had before.

He wiped the smile from his face, and his eyes, which usually held a hint of mockery, became deep and cold.

"Xia He".

He stopped calling her "Xiangxiang" and started calling her by her given name.

"Do you think this method is very difficult and tiring? You're right!"

Yan Sen stood up, looking down at her with an unprecedented sternness in his voice.

"As a naturally gifted individual, you certainly have the ability to achieve this, because God has blessed you with talent. Your starting point is far superior to most acquired individuals."

"But have you ever considered this question: why are almost all of those who truly stand at the pinnacle of the entire world of supernatural beings acquired supernatural abilities later in life?"

"Because those of you who are born with it have never experienced the hardships of cultivation..."

Yan Sen pointed to his chest.

"I started getting up at five o'clock every morning when I was three years old and practicing standing meditation for two hours. At an age when most children couldn't even speak properly, I could already recite the 'Burial Classic' and the 'Qing Nang Classic' backwards. I never missed a day, regardless of wind or rain, or even when I had a fever or a cold."

"My father took me to wander in the deep mountains and forests. To toughen me up, he left me alone in a mass grave overnight. To strengthen my body, I was left to have my skin torn and bleeding under a waterfall."

"Do you think my skills came from a sudden gust of wind?"

Yan Sen's voice wasn't loud, but every word was precious and struck Xia He's heart.

"Those who cultivate themselves are like fish swimming in a boiling cauldron!"

"What do you mean?" Yan Sen took a step closer, his eyes sharp. "It's like a fish swimming in a pot of boiling water! If you slow down even a little, if you relax even a little, as long as you jump too slowly, you'll be cooked and eaten, leaving not even a bone fragment!"

"With such an eye-catching superpower and such an outstanding appearance, it's truly remarkable that you can maintain your principles and not be swayed by external things."

"But unwavering faith is merely the first step you take on your spiritual journey."

"The demons are testing your heart, using suffering to achieve enlightenment. Right now, they're just making you meditate. If you don't even have this much courage, this much patience, and this little bit of hardship, what kind of face do you still want? What kind of practice are you cultivating?"

"Look at all the notable figures in this world of supernatural beings today. Didn't they all rise through the ranks step by step, stumbling and falling every five steps? There are no shortcuts."

"Cultivation is about cultivating the mind, and at the same time, constantly correcting one's behavior according to the guidance of the mind. Therefore, it means enduring what ordinary people cannot endure, doing what ordinary people cannot do, and accomplishing what ordinary people cannot accomplish!"

"This! Is cultivation!"

"This! Now that's what cultivation should be!"

Yan Sen finished speaking in one breath, his chest rising and falling slightly.

The living room was deathly silent.

Only the occasional chirping of birds outside the window sounded particularly jarring.

Xia He sat blankly on the carpet, looking up at the boy who had suddenly become somewhat unfamiliar.

Is this still the same Yan Sen who only knows how to make jokes and always tries to gain an advantage verbally?

The metaphor of "fish swimming in a boiling pot" sent a chill down her spine.

Yes.

She always thought she was miserable, abandoned by her parents and tormented by fate.

But actually?

She has been running away.

They avoid the hardship of controlling power, avoid facing their true selves, and only think about going with the flow, relying on their talent and beauty to get by.

What if one day, talent and beauty no longer matter?

Xia He lowered her head and looked at her palm.

There was a thin layer of calluses there, left from using a knife over the past few years.

But compared to those who have been cultivating since childhood, the hardships she endured seemed insignificant.

a long time.

Xia He took a deep breath and raised her head again.

Those deep blue eyes held less restlessness and more determination.

"I see......"

Her voice was low, but very clear.

"You're right. I was just being dramatic."

Xia He crossed her legs again, her movements still somewhat clumsy, but much more resolute than before.

"I will practice. I don't want to... regret my laziness today later."

After saying that, she seemed to remember something, raised her eyelids, secretly glanced at Yan Sen, and muttered something under her breath:

"But... I understand the reasoning, could you be a little gentler next time? The way you were just now... was kind of scary."

Yan Sen looked at her looking like a wronged little wife, and his tense face instantly fell.

"Pfft."

He couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"I already told you, my teaching is very strict, so you should be mentally prepared, Xiangxiang."

Yan Sen sat back down on the futon, picked up the back scratcher, twirled it in his hand, and his tone returned to its usual lazy manner.

"Hurry up, while I still have the patience, let me guide you one more time. Whether you can get the hang of it or not depends on you."

Xia He didn't say anything more.

She closed her eyes and regulated her breathing.

This time, she didn't rush to fight those distracting thoughts. Instead, she tried to do as Yan Sen had suggested: watch them, let them come, and let them go.

Gradually.

His breathing became steady and deep.

The tingling, numbing sensation, like ants gnawing at my skin, was still there, but it seemed... not so unbearable anymore.

Yan Sen sat to the side, watching Xia He's brow gradually relax and the pink Qi around her slowly receding and no longer running wild. A hint of relief flashed in his eyes.

Not bad, you have a decent comprehension level.

If she can really improve her sexual cultivation, she might become his right-hand woman in the future.

Yan Sen leaned back on the sofa, picked up a magazine and covered his face to block the glaring sunlight.

Stealing half a day of leisure from a busy life~

My mood right now, the weather right now, I'm a carefree little immortal~