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

"Knock knock".

The next morning, two crisp knocks on the door successfully disturbed Yan Sen's sweet dream.

He intended to ignore it, but the person outside the door was very persistent, as if he knew what Yan Sen was thinking, and kept knocking until the door was opened.

"Knock knock, knock knock, knock knock."

"Here it comes, here it comes."

Yan Sen had no choice but to get up and open the door for them.

Standing outside the door was a young servant boy from Tian Jinzhong's courtyard, responsible for taking care of Tian Jinzhong's daily life. At this moment, the boy was holding a whisk in his hand and bowed respectfully to Yan Sen.

"Mr. Yan, the Grand Tutor sent me to deliver a message. The Grand Tutor said..." the child said in a clear voice, deliberately imitating Tian Jinzhong's tone.

"You little rascal, you're always causing trouble. What good thing have you done now to make your unreliable senior brother so happy? You insist that I give your little sweetheart some pointers on her cultivation. Humph, you don't think of your junior brother when it comes to good things, but you make me do the hard work."

"Hurry up and get ready, little girl, and come with Liangzi to my place. If you're slow, I'll make myself sick with anger!"

"Mr. Yan, that's it. For the next fourteen days, I will come to invite you and Miss Xia at this time every day."

Yan Sen leaned against the door frame and listened, then raised an eyebrow.

Unexpectedly, my own master made quick moves. He had just expressed his opinion last night, and this morning he had already arranged for Master Tian to give Xia He special treatment.

What is this? Is it a disguised way of compensating for one's "filial piety"?

That old man is really something.

"Okay, Xiao Liangzi, find a place to rest for a while, we'll pack up and come with you."

After closing his own room door, Yan Sen turned and pushed open the door to Xia He's room.

She had been awake for a while and was currently tying her hair in front of a small mirror.

Xia He had obviously heard the conversation outside the door. At this moment, her bright blue eyes showed undisguised surprise, but also a hint of nervousness.

"Stinky, do you really want Grandpa Tian to teach me personally?" Xia He put down the comb, tied her hair up, and looked at Yan Sen through the mirror, her tone somewhat uncertain.

"Did you do something good last night? Something to make the Old Master happy? Otherwise, why are you saying this out of the blue..."

It's no wonder Xia He was surprised. Who is Tian Jinzhong? He's the second most important person in the Celestial Master's Mansion after the Celestial Master himself, and his seniority is incredibly high.

This kind of big shot is actually going to give a private lesson to her, a self-taught innate genius?

If it were based on the fact that she was Yan Sen's girlfriend and was extending that affection to everything related to him, she wouldn't have been so formal.

"Otherwise what? Your man has a lot of influence, huh?" Yan Sen walked over and casually ruffled Xia He's newly tied ponytail. "My great-grandfather has accepted you, so hurry up and get ready, don't keep the old man waiting."

Xia He nodded repeatedly. She knew in her heart that she was a naturally gifted person who had not experienced much orthodox cultivation. The only time she had actively cultivated was during those few months in Tianjin, and it was only with Yan Sen's guidance and instruction.

In retrospect, she used to believe more in enjoying life and had very little interest in spiritual practice, and she didn't have many opportunities or connections to do so.

But things are different now. She has Yan Sen by her side, and she doesn't want to be just a little woman protected under his wings forever.

If something really happens, she needs to be capable of standing by his side, not holding him back. An unequal relationship where one person is strong and the other is weak cannot last.

With this in mind, Xia He finished packing and the two followed Xiao Liangzi to Tian Jinzhong's small courtyard not far away.

As soon as the three of them stepped into the courtyard, Yan Sen smelled the aroma of millet porridge.

On the stone table in the courtyard were three bowls of porridge, several plates of refreshing pickled vegetables, and a bowl of plump white steamed buns.

Tian Jinzhong sat in a grand chair, holding a teacup in his only remaining hand.

Upon seeing the two enter, he first gave Yan Sen a subtle glare before smiling and greeting Xia He.

"Xia Xia is here, please have a seat."

Tian Jinzhong pointed to the stone bench opposite him, "Xiao Sen has been lazy since he was a child. I guessed that he hadn't had time to eat breakfast yet, so I specially asked someone to save a portion for him."

"Xia, whether you've eaten before or not, eat a little something, just to keep us company."

Xia He was somewhat flattered and quickly thanked him, "Thank you, sir."

At the same time, she was a little embarrassed, after all, she was just as lazy as Yan Sen. She hadn't eaten breakfast yet, and the old man was only saying that to save face for her.

"We're all family, no need to be so polite."

Tian Jinzhong waved his hand happily.

The two sat down, and as soon as they did, Yan Sen grabbed a steamed bun and stuffed it into his mouth without any manners. He then picked up a piece of pickled vegetables and put it in Xia He's bowl.

"Try it, you lazybones. This is pickled vegetable from the mountains; you can't find it anywhere else."

Xia He rolled her eyes at him and muttered under her breath, "You're the lazybones. Hurry up and eat. You're such a chatterbox."

"I never said I wasn't lazy..."

Watching the young couple bicker at the dinner table, Tian Jinzhong sipped his tea, unable to suppress the smile on his face.

It's quiet on this mountain, but I sometimes crave some liveliness. However, due to seniority, no one can be so disrespectful and make a ruckus in front of me.

So Tian Jinzhong was really looking forward to Yan Sen's return. How to put it? This kid had such a strong sense of life that it made Tian Jinzhong very relaxed. And now that he'd brought one back, it seemed like he could relax even more in the future.

After breakfast, the boy quickly cleared away the bowls and chopsticks, then brought out three cushions from the inner room and arranged them on the open ground.

Tian Jinzhong gestured for the young couple to sit down and pointed to Xia He, who was sitting next to Yan Sen.

"Xiaosen, you already know what I'm going to teach this girl, so if you want to listen, you can listen with me for a while. If you're bored, you can find a place to rest. Your grandfather won't take care of you."

Upon hearing this, Yan Sen stretched on the spot, leaned back, and lay down in a comfortable position.

"Okay, Grandpa, don't worry, I won't cause any trouble. I'll just take a nap here and study hard with Xiangxiang~"

Xia He ignored him, straightened up, and became focused.

Tian Jinzhong nodded in satisfaction and began to explain today's lesson.

He didn't talk about those profound and mysterious theoretical knowledge; instead, he told Xia He about the Tao Te Ching, one of the classic texts of Taoism.

"As the sage said: 'Attain utmost emptiness, hold fast to stillness.'" Tian Jinzhong's voice was calm. "You don't need to deliberately control your Qi; it's better to let it flow than to block it. What you need to do is imagine your mind as a block of solid ice. No matter how much your Qi boils, this block of ice cannot melt."

"But Grandpa, if we don't control it, it will instinctively come out, but controlling it won't work either. The more we try to control it, the stronger its rebound will be."

"I'm much better now thanks to Yan Sen's guidance, but I still sometimes lose control when I get emotional."

"Who told you to suppress it all the time?"

Tian Jinzhong chuckled. "Face it squarely. When you're hungry, you want to eat; when you're tired, you want to sleep. These are all desires. You just need to see them for what they are and not let them lead you by the nose."

"You must understand that only when you control your own mind can you control your own body."

Tian Jinzhong started by explaining the basics of breathing exercises, using the simplest and most understandable language to break down some of the methods of other schools of meditation for Xia He.

Xia He listened very attentively, and when she encountered something she didn't understand, she asked questions generously, and Tian Jinzhong answered them patiently. The back-and-forth conversation went quite smoothly.

As for Yan Sen, he was actually snoring right next to him.

The sun gradually rose higher, and before long it was afternoon.

Tian Jinzhong stopped talking, picked up the tea that had long since gone cold, and took a sip.

"Alright, that's enough for today." Tian Jinzhong waved his hand. "Cultivation isn't something that can be done overnight; you can't bite off more than you can chew. Go back and experience it slowly on your own. Come back tomorrow morning."

Xia He stood up, still savoring the moment, and bowed respectfully.

Upon hearing the noise, Yan Sen jumped up and rubbed his eyes.

"Are you done talking, Grandpa? What are we having for lunch? I'd like to eat some wild game from the back mountain."

Tian Jinzhong's eye twitched, and he grabbed the whisk beside him, pretending to strike.

"Eat, eat, eat! All you ever think about is eating! Don't you know the saying 'A gentleman keeps away from the kitchen'? You brat! Get the hell out of here!"

"No, Grandpa, I've come all this way, I want to stay with you a little longer."

Yan Sen nimbly dodged, chuckling to himself.

"Come on," Tian Jinzhong said with a look of disgust. "Your great-grandfather has a long life ahead of him. There's no need for you to come here and be filial now. That girl only has half a month of leave. Instead of taking her to the mountains, what are you doing wasting this old man's time here? You're such a blockhead!"

After saying that, he immediately ordered Xiao Liangzi to kick the two of them out.

Standing outside the courtyard gate, Xia He burst out laughing.

"What are you laughing at?" Yan Sen patted the dust off his clothes.

"I'm laughing at you, you bullying scoundrel, even you have your moments of defeat."

Xia He stretched, revealing her graceful curves.

"Where to next? Grandpa said you'd show me around, I can't just keep sleeping, can I?"

Yan Sen stroked his chin, his eyes darting around, and an idea came to him.

"Come on, I'll take you to a great place, I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

Yan Sen held Xia He's hand, and the two of them took a winding path, ignoring the main road and choosing instead the narrow paths without even stone slabs.

After walking for about twenty minutes, we passed through a dense thicket of bushes, and suddenly the view opened up before us.

A hidden valley appeared before Xia He.

"This..." Xia He's eyes widened.

The valley is not large, but the scenery inside is extremely incongruous.

In November, the trees outside had already shed their leaves and fallen.

But this valley is full of life.

To the left is a grape vine with intertwined tendrils, hanging bunches of dark purple berries. To the right is a strawberry patch, the bright red strawberries as big as little fists. Further on, there are a few peach trees, their branches bent low with the weight of pink peaches.

Fruits from different seasons ripen simultaneously in this secluded little valley.

"What's going on here?" Xia He couldn't help but step forward and touch the crystal-clear grapes. The texture felt real, so it didn't seem to be an illusion.

"Of course it's my secret base." Yan Sen said with his hands in his pockets, his tone smug.

"I used the energy formation to make a small alteration to the earth's veins here, intercepting the surrounding vital energy and changing the temperature and humidity. As long as I don't remove the energy formation, this environment can be maintained year-round."

He casually picked a peach, wiped it on his clothes, and handed it to Xia He.

"Try it, it's different from the fruit sold outside that has zero natural additives. My fruit is absolutely green and healthy."

Xia He took it with some skepticism and took a bite.

With a "crunch," the juicy burst of flavor exploded in her mouth, its intense sweetness filling her taste buds. A warm, soothing sensation followed, sliding down her throat and into her stomach, leaving her feeling completely relaxed.

"Mmm!" Xia He's eyes lit up completely, her cheeks puffed out, and she finished off a large peach in just a few bites.

This is absolutely the best fruit she has ever eaten in her life!

"Stinky! This is so delicious!" Xia He swallowed the last bite of fruit and excitedly turned to Yan Sen. "Can I take some with me? Please, please!"

Yan Sen leaned against the grape trellis, a wicked smile playing on his lips.

"Take it away? Sure. But this is my private property; there's no such thing as a free lunch." Yan Sen rubbed two fingers together. "Even between brothers, accounts must be clear. Boss Xiangxiang, how much are you planning to pay?"

Xia He paused.

Need money?

Where would she get any money? Besides, you're actually asking me for money?

Looking at Yan Sen's smug, unscrupulous businessman face, Xia He raised an eyebrow, her true nature as a vixen once again revealed.

She stepped forward and forced Yan Sen against the thick wooden pillar of the grape trellis.

With a sudden push of his left hand, he slammed it against the wooden pillar beside Yan Sen's head. With a loud "bang," he completed a highly oppressive wall slam.

Yan Sen was stunned for a moment, then began to struggle in cooperation.

"Let me go, you wicked woman!"

Xia He tilted her head slightly, her nose almost touching Yan Sen's. Her deep blue eyes shimmered with a hint of aggression.

"Didn't you ask your sister for money?"

"I don't have any money." Xia He breathed softly, her warm breath brushing against Yan Sen's cheek.

"How about paying with sex?"

Before she could finish speaking, she gave Yan Sen no time to react, and directly tiptoed up and precisely covered his lips with hers.

It was an extremely aggressive kiss, with the sweet taste of peaches.

Yan Sen initially continued his previous weak and cuddly persona, cooperating with Xia He, but later felt that this wasn't quite enough, so he turned around and wrapped his arms around Xia He's slender waist, taking the initiative and deepening the kiss.

The wind blew through the valley, and the leaves rustled against each other, making a soft, whispering sound.

After a long while, Xia He finally pushed him away, panting. Her cheeks were flushed, but her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness.

"I've already paid the deposit!" Xia He wiped her lips confidently, turned around and ran towards the strawberry field. "I'll pay you the balance when we get back~"

Yan Sen leaned against the wooden pillar, his fingertips lightly tracing his lips as he watched the pink figure flitting about in the orchard like a cheerful little bird, and chuckled softly.

"Pick less! They'll rot if we can't finish them!"

"Mind your own business! I've already paid, I'm the boss now!"

This two-week holiday has been a perfect start.