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

The distance from Nanchang to Longhu Mountain is not far, only a little over 100 kilometers. Xia He drove the borrowed Buick minivan and parked it smoothly in the parking lot of the front mountain scenic area in less than two and a half hours.

As I opened the car door, a mountain breeze carrying a touch of coolness rushed towards me around four o'clock.

Xia He rubbed her stomach, her acting skills kicking in. She turned to look at Yan Sen, who was taking luggage from the trunk, her azure eyes revealing a feigned pitifulness.

"Stinky, I'm hungry."

Yan Sen carried two backpacks, locked the car door, and glanced at the sky.

"People don't eat after noon on the mountain, so if we go back now, the kitchen will be long shut down. How about I take you down the mountain for a quick bite?"

The two strolled to a somewhat secluded commercial street outside the scenic area. Yan Sen, familiar with the place, slipped into a small, local restaurant.

The boss was a middle-aged man with a beer belly, sitting at the door peeling garlic.

When I looked up and saw Yan Sen, I laughed.

"Oh, Master Yan! What a rare guest!" He wiped his hands on his apron and came forward to greet him.

"Master Yi came over a while ago, and we talked about you. He said you've been busy lately."

His gaze then fell on Xia He, who was following behind Yan Sen. The boss paused for a moment, then his smile widened. "This girl is really pretty. Did you bring your girlfriend back?"

Xia He blushed slightly and, unusually, did not utter a word in rebuttal, but simply nodded politely.

"Yes, Uncle Li, we were hungry, and there's no food left on the mountain at this time, so we came here."

"I'm starving. The usual three dishes, plus a bowl of Shangqing tofu." Yan Sen didn't stand on ceremony and pulled Xia He to a clean table to sit down.

"Alright! Almost done!"

The dishes were served extremely quickly.

In addition to what Yan Sen ordered, Uncle Li also specially brought out two side dishes: cold houttuynia cordata salad and braised beef.

"This is a gift from your uncle! It's homemade braised meat, you two should try it!"

Xia He tasted the tofu; it was fresh, tender, and smooth, and tasted good.

She glanced at Yan Sen, who was enjoying his meal, and felt a strange sense of peace.

"You're quite popular, aren't you? (Stinky~)"

"Then you see, your man is popular wherever he goes."

"Virtue~"

After having their fill, the two paid the bill and strolled towards the scenic area's ticket office.

The peak tourist season has passed, and the park is now closed for the day, with announcements playing on a loop.

Several tourists who missed their tickets were gathered around the ticket window complaining.

Yan Sen ignored the group and walked straight to the window, tapping the glass with his finger. "Aunt Zhang, are you busy?"

Inside the window, Aunt Zhang, with a face full of fierce features, was calculating accounts with her head down. Upon hearing this, she looked up.

His usually stern, fleshy face was now beaming like a flower.

"Xiao Yan! You're finally back! I had no one to chat with when you weren't here."

Aunt Zhang opened the window and her gaze immediately locked onto Xia He, who stood out prominently next to Yan Sen, revealing an expression that those who have been through it all understand.

"You've reached the age where you should be dating. Time flies! Oh my, this girl is so pretty."

"That's right, but you're still young, it's a bit too early to be lamenting like this. You go ahead with your work, I bought some new tea leaves, I'll bring them to you when I go down the mountain tomorrow, and we can have a good chat." Yan Sen pointed to the ticket gate, "I'll go in first."

"Hurry up, hurry up, it'll get cool after the sun goes down." Aunt Zhang waved her hand, walked over, grabbed the key, and opened the staff passage next to her.

Several tourists who had just been told the park was closing and were preparing to leave objected.

A young man wearing glasses wanted to show off in front of his female companion. He pointed at Yan Sen and Xia He's backs, his face full of resentment.

"Auntie, weren't they saying that we wouldn't be allowed in after closing time? How come they just went in?! And without even buying tickets?"

Aunt Zhang tightened the lid of her thermos, rolled her eyes, and spoke in a completely different tone than before.

"Why would I buy a ticket? Their home is right up in the mountains! Am I going to stop them from going home?"

The young man was taken aback, his momentum immediately weakened, and he muttered to himself.

"Oh? So he's a young Taoist priest... Then... what about that pink-haired girl? She can't be a Taoist nun too, can she?"

"Is it any of your business? You have no culture, and you call yourself a Taoist nun? She's called a female Taoist."

"Make way, make way! I'm off work! Don't block the way!" Aunt Zhang shoved the crowd aside impatiently, leaving a group of tourists bewildered in the wind.

Passing through the bustling buildings on the front mountain and stepping onto the bluestone path leading to the back mountain, the number of tourists gradually decreases, ancient trees reach for the sky, and the solemnity of this Taoist sanctuary is palpable.

Xia He was dressed in very simple and plain clothes.

She wore a loose beige turtleneck sweater, straight-leg jeans, and white flat sneakers. Her striking pink long hair was neatly tied into a low ponytail.

Aside from her overly beautiful face, her outfit is even more proper than that of a female college student.

"Let me tell you, Xiangxiang."

Yan Sen walked ahead, leading the way while turning back to remind him, "The mountain is a place for quiet cultivation, so there are many rules. We'll be sleeping in separate rooms for the next few days, so don't worry about it."

Xia He nodded, indicating her understanding.

"Then, you should also pay attention to your attire. We can't wear hot pants and expose your thighs anymore. It's not only cold, but it's also not dignified enough. What you're wearing today is just fine."

Xia He couldn't help but chuckle as she listened to his half-joking, half-serious words.

"Okay, whatever you say."

She looked up, gazing at the lush green mountains and forests around her and the faintly visible eaves of the Taoist temple in the distance, and a surge of indescribable emotion welled up in her heart.

This is Longhu Mountain. It is the ancestral home of the Zhengyi sect and a forbidden place for all evil spirits and demons.

In the past, she wouldn't have dared to come even if she had ten times the courage.

It's not fair to blame her for being timid; after all, her abilities are hardly those of a good person, and she can't control them well, with her muscles occasionally slipping out.

But now, she not only came, but also left with dignity, without the slightest bit of panic in her heart.

The saying goes, "Where the body goes, the mind follows."

It's unbelievable that Xia He would have such a day, able to understand the teachings of her predecessors.

"What are you daydreaming about? Keep up, there are many forks in the road on this mountain." Yan Sen stopped and naturally reached out to take her hand.

Their warm palms touched, and Xia He smiled sweetly, her hand gripping his tightly in return.

Along the way, we occasionally encountered a few young disciples wearing Taoist robes.

"Mr. Yan is back!"

"Brother Yan, long time no see!"

Yan Sen responded with a smile, and whenever someone looked at Xia He with curious eyes, he would generously raise their clasped hands and shake them.

"This is my girlfriend, Xia He."

Xia He blushed and politely greeted him as he did.

"Sister-in-law... Hello, sister-in-law..."

The young Taoist priest stared wide-eyed, and after greeting him, he blushed and fled in a panic. Judging from his appearance, he would probably have to recite the Heart-Cleansing Mantra several times when he got home that night.

After passing several grand halls and through a quiet bamboo forest, the two finally arrived at the gate of the small courtyard where the old Celestial Master Zhang Zhiwei lived.

At the entrance of the courtyard, the burly Rong Shan was leaning against a doorpost with his arms crossed. When he saw Yan Sen leading a girl over, his big, bell-like eyes lit up instantly, filled with undisguised teasing and gossip.

"Hey, isn't this our Xiaoyan? You've finally decided to come back to the mountain?" Rongshan grinned, his gaze sweeping over Xia He twice. "This girl... did you tell Master about her?"

"Of course I told him, how could I possibly keep it from him?"

"That's good, that's good." Rong Shan chuckled, then whispered something in Yan Sen's ear, "You have good taste, much better than Senior Brother Youyi..."

"Master Rongshan, please stop gossiping and teasing the younger generation. Aren't you ashamed?"

Yan Sen remained unfazed, completely ignoring Rong Shan's teasing and refusing to listen to Liang Youyi's gossip.

"Master Rongshan, is my grandmaster inside?"

"Yes, yes, come in." Rongshan stepped aside.

Yan Sen raised his hand and knocked on the door.

"Knock knock".

"Come in." A voice, old yet strong, came from inside the house.

Xia He swallowed hard, her fingers unconsciously gripping Yan Sen's clothes.

Despite having mentally prepared herself all the way, she still couldn't help feeling nervous when the moment actually came to face him.

"Don't be afraid." Yan Sen squeezed her hand and pushed the door open to enter.

The furnishings inside were extremely simple: an eight-immortal table and a few armchairs.

The old master Zhang Zhiwei sat upright in the main seat, holding a purple clay teapot in his hand.

On the chair next to him, Tian Jinzhong, who was missing an arm, was smiling as he looked towards the door.

Clearly, he had calculated that Yan Sen would definitely come to visit his senior brother first, so he waited for them here.

"Yan Sen greets Grand Tutor and Grandfather." Yan Sen released Xia He's hand, clasped his hands together, and respectfully performed a Taoist salute.

Xia He followed suit and quickly clasped her hands in a fist and bowed.

"I've...I've met...uh..."

Her voice trembled slightly; she didn't know how to address her.

"Little girl, don't be nervous. Just call me Great-Grandpa like Xiao Sen does." Tian Jinzhong looked at Xia He, his face crinkling with smiles, his eyes full of kindness.

"Great...Great-Grandpa," Xia He called softly, her face as red as a ripe apple.

"Hey! Good boy!" Tian Jinzhong answered loudly.

After saying that, he turned and glanced at Zhang Zhiwei, who had remained silent beside him, then the old man raised his voice:

"Senior brother, why aren't you saying anything? Say something! My great-grandson has already brought his girlfriend home, what are you, the grand-teacher, pretending to be so profound for? Did I buy you a new phone for nothing?"

Zhang Zhiwei put down the purple clay teapot and pointed at Tian Jinzhong, complaining to Yan Sen in an annoyed manner.

"Look at your great-grandfather's behavior, is it appropriate? I was just a step slower than him, is this how you talk to your senior brother?"

Then the old master's gaze fell on Xia He. His usually droopy eyelids lifted slightly, and his deep eyes seemed to see through all illusions.

In that instant, Xia He felt that all her pretense had been exposed.

That gaze seemed peaceful, yet it was as if it could penetrate her meridians and reach the depths of her soul.

The pink Qi within her body, which had been deliberately suppressed, instinctively wanted to lie dormant and tremble under the immense pressure.

"Girl, look up and let this old man take a look," Zhang Zhiwei said calmly.

Xia He took a deep breath, obediently raised her head, and looked directly at the old man with an air of otherworldly wisdom.

The quiet room was silent for a few seconds.

Zhang Zhiwei stroked his long white beard, a barely perceptible hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

"Hmm, a good boy. His eyes are clear and his foundation is good. Putting everything else aside, Xiao Yansen has a good eye for choosing a cultivation partner..."

As Zhang Zhiwei spoke, he reached into the wide sleeve of his Taoist robe, pulled out a dark wooden plaque, and casually handed it over.

"Here, Grand Tutor, I have a gift for you. A while ago, a hundred-year-old peach tree on the back mountain was struck by lightning. I thought the wood was of decent quality, so I casually carved a few peace plaques. Wear them; they'll ward off evil and calm your mind."

The wooden plaque had a smooth, jade-like surface and faintly exuded an extremely pure yang energy.

Xia He accepted the wooden plaque with both hands, feeling the warmth emanating from it, and her unease was instantly soothed.

She knew she had passed the test.

Even if, as the old Celestial Master said, this wooden plaque was just something he carved casually, it would still be fought over by people outside.

"Thank you, Grand Tutor!" Xia He's eyes welled up with tears as she placed the wooden plaque around her fair neck.

Tian Jinzhong, who was standing to the side, froze instantly upon seeing this scene.

He looked down at his empty sleeves, then at the lightning-struck wooden bark around Xia He's neck, and finally stared resentfully at Zhang Zhiwei.

"Senior brother... are you acting against me?"

He was so happy that his great-grandson had brought his girlfriend home that he completely forgot about preparing a gift for them.

As a result, his own senior brother, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, quietly pulled out this treasure and did all the good deeds in one fell swoop.

"I didn't," Zhang Zhiwei said, his narrow eyes squinting into slits as he grinned like a cunning old fox. "Junior brother, don't overthink it, hahaha!"

Yan Sen watched the two old men, whose combined age was nearly two hundred, bickering and chuckled to himself.

Just then, the door to the quiet room was knocked on again.

"Master, I've brought you some fresh tea."

A clear, aloof, and highly recognizable voice rang out from outside the door.

Yan Sen's lips curled into a smirk, a wicked glint flashing in his eyes.

coming! he came!

"Come in." Zhang Zhiwei put away his smile and resumed his dignified demeanor as a Celestial Master.

The door was pushed open, and Zhang Lingyu, dressed in white with long, snow-white hair, walked in carrying a tray.

He walked straight to the octagonal table, preparing to put down the tea tray, but his gaze inevitably swept over Xia He standing to the side.

"Clang!"

The teacup on the tray shook violently, making a crisp clinking sound.

Zhang Lingyu's pupils contracted slightly, and he instantly lost his composure, his face darkening. He could already imagine what was going to happen next.

Oh no! My meditation technique is ruined!

"Good afternoon, Xiaoyu~ Did you miss me?"

Yan Sen blinked, his smile bright.

"Master Lingyu, how have you been?"

Xia He also greeted her softly.

"You...you two...good afternoon!"

Zhang Lingyu spoke through gritted teeth, glaring at Yan Sen.

Dude! Why are you two still chasing and killing each other?!