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

"Duo'er! Xiaoyan! It's done! It's done, haha!"

Liao Zhong's voice was so loud it was like a firecracker going off right next to your ear, making dust fall from the ceiling.

He clutched a stack of documents covered in large red stamps, and walked with the speed of a compass, as if he wanted to leap right up to Chen Duo.

That face, pierced by two stitches, was now smiling like a chrysanthemum struck by lightning—both terrifying and radiant.

He waved the documents incoherently, spitting as he launched into a high-intensity "policy interpretation" for Chen Duo.

Cold legal terms like "transfer of guardianship," "anthropomorphic resettlement," and "temporary worker reserve" tumbled from Liao Zhong's mouth, meandering into Chen Duo's ears.

Chen Duo sat on the edge of the bed, her emerald green eyes filled with a clear sense of foolishness.

She tilted her head, looking at Liao Zhong, who was so excited he was practically spiraling into the sky, then at the dense text, and finally cast a pleading look at Yan Sen, who was slurping his cola next to her.

That old man got too excited.

Yan Sen muttered something to himself, put down the Coke can, and let out a loud burp.

"Uncle Liao, it's a good thing you got into the company. With your eloquence, you'd starve if you were doing sales outside." Yan Sen rolled his eyes.

Liao Zhong froze, scratched his head, and blushed. "Then... what should I say? I'm happy too!"

Yan Sen sighed, walked to Chen Duo's side, squatted down, looked directly into her emerald eyes, and spoke in an extremely gentle voice: "Duo'er, what Uncle Liao means is that as long as you practice your skills obediently, study hard, and control the black mist in your lower dantian, you will soon be able to leave this big white box and go outside to see the real sun. And..."

Yan Sen pointed at Liao Zhong: "From now on, no one can lock you in a cage anymore, because this old man... cough, Uncle Liao, will always protect you."

Chen Duo understood.

"Get out." She repeated softly, a glimmer of hope in her eyes, then looked solemnly at Liao Zhong and bowed slightly politely, "Thank you, Uncle Liao."

Liao Zhong's grin froze in mid-air.

Thank you, Uncle Liao.

Very polite, very courteous, but also very distant.

Liao Zhong felt as if someone had stuffed a lump of old cotton into his chest, making him feel suffocated. He turned his head and frantically winked at Yan Sen, his eyes practically popping out of their sockets: Damn it! The most important thing! You haven't told me the most important thing yet!

Yan Sen felt a surge of secret pleasure as he watched Liao Zhong scratching his head and looking utterly cowardly, as if he wanted to scream "I want to be your dad" all over his face.

Then Yan Sen cleared his throat and said seriously, "Little Duo'er, do you think Uncle Liao treats you well?"

"Okay." Chen Duo nodded, answering without hesitation, "Uncle Liao bought me clothes, took me to play ball, and even gave me braised pork. Brother Sen is good to me too."

"Then..." Yan Sen's tone shifted, becoming somewhat suggestive, "would you like to stop calling him Uncle Liao from now on?"

Chen Duo was stunned. Not call him Uncle Liao? Then what should she call him?

"I don't understand," Chen Duo replied truthfully.

"Oh dear, I'm so anxious! Go away!"

Liao Zhong finally couldn't hold back any longer. He shoved Yan Sen aside and squatted down in front of Chen Duo like a bear. His bloodshot eyes were fixed on Chen Duo, his palms were sweaty, and his voice was stammering. Where was the dignity of the person in charge of the South China region?

"Um... Duo'er, Uncle... Uncle has an idea. You see, Uncle has never been married in his life, nor has he ever had any children. I was thinking, if you were willing... uh... would you be willing to let me be your father?"

After Liao Zhong finished speaking, he held his breath, his whole body tense like a fully drawn bow.

"Dad?" Chen Duo murmured these two words.

Researcher Li taught her this word. It's a term that represents blood ties, protection, and the closest relationship in the world.

That's someone you can unconditionally be spoiled by, someone you can always hide behind, someone you can share a "home" with.

Chen Duo looked at Liao Zhong. She looked at the hideous scars on his face, at his beard trembling slightly with nervousness, and at his eyes, which, though fierce, were filled with caution and tenderness when they looked at her.

It was a look that those people before would never have.

Chen Duo felt her eyes getting hot, and a bittersweet yet warm feeling welled up from the deepest part of her heart.

"dad."

Chen Duo bit her lip, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, yet as heavy as a thousand pounds.

Liao Zhong's eyes instantly reddened. This tough guy, who hadn't uttered a sound even when a bullet pierced his leg on the front lines, suddenly sniffed and let out a loud nasal sound.

"Hey! I'm here! Dad's here!"

Liao Zhong opened his broad, thick arms, which could shelter him from the wind and rain, and carefully pulled Chen Duo into his embrace.

He moved very gently, afraid that his brute force might hurt the newly opened flower.

Chen Duo leaned against Liao Zhongna's chest, which smelled of tobacco and sweat, and tears finally streamed down her face uncontrollably.

She didn't understand why she felt like crying even when she was happy, but she understood that from now on she would no longer be that "dust" floating in the world.

She has roots now.

Chen Duo peeked out from Liao Zhong's arms, looked at Yan Sen beside her, and gave him an extremely bright smile, even with a hint of pride.

"Brother Sen, look. I chose my own dad."

Yan Sen felt a lump in his throat as he watched this scene. He touched his nose and gave an awkward smile.

Seeing the father and daughter enjoying each other's company, Yan Sen suddenly recalled Yan Que's unreliable face.

Old Deng is probably currently in Zhuge Ning's Bagua Village, all lovey-dovey, right?

He missed home too.

……

The next day.

Liao Zhong was busy early in the morning, preparing to take Chen Duo to the administrative district on the upper level of the bunker to register her household registration. The company had given her the green light all the way, and Chen Duo's name would officially appear in the national household registration system.

Yan Sen, carrying his worn-out canvas bag, stood in the corridor and bid farewell to Liao Zhong.

"Xiao Yan, why...why are you in such a hurry?" Liao Zhong stopped in his tracks. "You've done me such a huge favor, saving Duo'er's life. I absolutely have to thank you properly. Money, or a magical artifact? Just name your name, and I'll go find something for you!"

"Come on, please." Yan Sen waved his hand dismissively. "You should save your meager salary to buy Duo'er pretty dresses. As for gratitude, just turn a blind eye to me if I ever get into trouble outside."

"Nonsense! We can't do anything illegal or disorderly!" Liao Zhong glared.

Yan Sen smiled, walked up to Chen Duo, squatted down, and patted her little head one last time.

"Duo'er, practice your skills diligently and don't slack off. I'll be waiting for you outside, so don't forget about your brother. If we run into each other outside and you dare to pretend you don't know me, I'll cry."

Chen Duo's face, which was preparing to show a reluctant expression, burst out laughing at Yan Sen's words.

"Hey... I won't forget Brother Sen."

Proud Chen Duo is back online.

"Alright, you heartless brat." Liao Zhong sighed, took a package from his pocket and handed it to Yan Sen, "Uncle won't be coy. You can keep this."

Yan Sen opened it and exclaimed, "Wow, a Nokia 6600!" Having spent so much time in this high-tech bunker, seeing this "soap phone" full of the times gave Yan Sen a feeling of being in another world.

"My number and Duo'er's number are all stored in there." Liao Zhong patted Yan Sen on the shoulder, his tone unusually serious. "In South China, as long as you don't kill or commit arson, if anything happens, just call your uncle. I'll take care of everything for you."

Yan Sen took the phone, stuffed it into his pocket, and waved casually.

"Alright! Uncle Liao, Duo'er, see you outside!"

Yan Sen turned around and, guided by the driver, put on a fully enclosed shielded helmet.

The elevator slowly ascended, and a feeling of weightlessness came over me.

……

In the corridor of the bunker.

Liao Zhong took Chen Duo's hand and walked towards the activity room.

"Duo'er, do you want to play in the activity room a little longer? Or do you want to go back to practice your skills?" Liao Zhong asked his daughter, looking down at her.

Chen Duo spoke almost without hesitation, her emerald green eyes filled with earnestness: "I want to practice martial arts, Father Liao."

Liao Zhong stumbled, nearly falling flat on his face. His eyes widened, and he stared blankly at Chen Duo, utterly bewildered. "What? Liao...Liao Dad? Duo'er, didn't we agree last night that I'd call you Dad? Why am I using your surname now? Is there something I did wrong? Tell me, and I'll change!"

Liao Zhongxin is heartbroken. How could he have been demoted after just one night's sleep?

Chen Duo looked at Liao Zhong's utterly devastated expression and smirked.

"Hey... Last night, Sen told me quietly that girls should be a little 'reserved'. I didn't know what 'reserved' meant, so Sen told me not to call you 'Dad' directly yet, but to add your surname. He said... he was afraid you'd be too happy to handle it."

Liao Zhong's facial muscles twitched violently, a peak of anger and helplessness.

"Damn it! Yan Sen! You little bastard!"

Liao Zhong punched the air, gritting his teeth and roaring, "If I ever see you again, I'll kick your ass into eight pieces!"

Chen Duo, mimicking Liao Zhong's tone, waved her little fist in a mock-serious manner: "Damn it, kick it into eight pieces!"

Liao Zhong was so startled that he quickly covered Chen Duo's mouth: "Oh my little darling! That's not allowed! That's swearing! We're ladies, ladies, you know?"

"Hey......"

……

At the same time, Yan Sen, who had already boarded the shuttle bus to the airport, suddenly sneezed loudly.

"Achoo!"

Yan Sen rubbed his nose and muttered, "Old Deng must be missing me. Zhuge Bagua Village... Hehe, Zhuge Ning, my dear mother, I'll have to wait until your son goes back to visit you properly."

He rolled down the car window, looked at the rising sun outside, and took out the letter written by the old Taoist master from his pocket.

When one's own being merges with Heaven and Earth, then Heaven and Earth will all return to their source.

Yan Sen closed his eyes, feeling the massive dragon vein stretching south from Yanjing beneath his feet, and a smile curved his lips.

He won this round of the Medicine Immortal Gathering with a resounding applause.