Chapter 103: The Feng Shui of the Xiao Family

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Chapter 103: The Xiao Family’s Feng Shui

Jingang went to consult Qinglong about the matter of cultivating experts, while Xiao Tianci sent Chief Steward Lin Jian to find Huofeng. Between the mountain summit shrine and the residence below were several buildings—quiet, elegant, and arranged with exquisite care.

Facing the vast sea, Xiao Tianci felt an immense sense of ease. He had come up first; the chief steward followed and stood behind him, saying, “Boss, I’ve already informed Miss Huofeng; she’ll be here shortly.”

“Mm,” Xiao Tianci nodded. The most pressing matter was to resolve the situation with Xiaomeige. His greatest concern now was the safety of Tian Ni and Xiaomeige. Tian Ni’s side was already secure. At first, Xiao Tianci was uneasy, but after receiving a call from someone in the country, he finally felt assured.

Tian Ni lacked self-defense abilities and couldn’t be publicly guarded in a high-profile manner—like when the president of the United States visits China, thousands are sent ahead to secure the route with top experts collaborating with local security teams, eliminating every possible threat, employing numerous drastic measures.

Xiao Tianci had even considered that if worst came to worst, Tian Ni’s safety would come first, and even if she disagreed, he would keep her close. Since that call, he was completely at ease because the government had quietly conveyed the message through official channels: any country or organization with sufficient status would receive this warning.

Anyone who harmed Tian Ni in the country would be openly declaring hostility against the government of Z Nation—simple and resolute. The protection team sent was formidable, representing the weight of a major power’s official stance, known to all. Thus, Xiao Tianci believed no one would dare threaten Tian Ni; targeting her was tantamount to inviting trouble with himself. Indeed, this was likely the nature of the Ghost Operation.

But if that were the case, should he return? He was the focal point for everyone because of the government’s stance. They wouldn’t make excessive sacrifices or maneuvers just for Tian Ni. But he was different—he carried something they desperately wanted, openly or covertly. This thought troubled him greatly.

Then there was the matter of Meige, the very reason he had summoned Huofeng for a talk today. Huofeng was now inseparable from Meige, spending all her time with her. Her influence on Meige was probably as strong as his own. To persuade Meige to stay willingly, he had to convince Huofeng first.

But inviting Huofeng was a challenge. Xiao Tianci knew that if he told her outright he had business, his standing with her would plunge below zero. So he sent Chief Steward Lin Jian to ask Huofeng to come, stressing the importance of discussing Meige’s situation, and only then did she agree.

This was, in a way, an internal setup. They had to secure Meige’s stay by any means, internally and externally. Suddenly, Xiao Tianci noticed the sky darkening. Looking up, he saw the sun had already sunk halfway, leaving only a fiery red glow painting the clouds.

When he first arrived, it was only afternoon. Turning to Lin Jian, he asked, “What time is it now?”

Lin Jian glanced at his watch: “Boss, you’ve been standing here for two hours and sixteen minutes.”

So much time had passed? Xiao Tianci was surprised but took a moment to reflect and looked around. Lin Jian thought to himself, “No need to look further, she hasn’t arrived yet,” and asked, “Boss, has Miss Huofeng come yet?”

Xiao Tianci confirmed again, “Did she really agree to come?” He knew Huofeng well—if she didn’t want to come, she would have said so outright. She wouldn’t play games by agreeing then failing to show.

Lin Jian nodded, “Don’t worry, boss. She’s definitely coming. She was practicing shooting with Miss Meige when I last saw her.”

Xiao Tianci might not be quick with his hands—he couldn’t match Jingang’s marksmanship, nor the chief steward’s—but his eyes were sharp, especially at reading people. When Lin Jian said that, Xiao Tianci caught a fleeting smile in his eyes.

Hmm... Meige practicing shooting with Huofeng and the steward is happy? After a brief thought, Xiao Tianci understood. Ha... ha... that must be why the steward smiled—his apprentice must be very good, showing progress. Most likely, Huofeng lost.

Though the guess seemed reasonable, Xiao Tianci was still amazed.

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After all, Meige had been learning only a short time. Although since arriving at the Xiao family she could practice shooting more freely, and despite her youth, she was remarkably serious and even fanatical in her efforts—far surpassing Xiao Tianci himself. Were it not for limiting her practice time due to her age, she would likely spend all her waking hours shooting.

Huofeng rarely used guns, but as vice-captain of the mercenary corps, it was a serious matter if Meige had truly surpassed her. This gave Xiao Tianci confidence in his guess, though he found it hard to believe.

Xiao Tianci asked, “Chief Steward, do you have some good news to share?”

Hearing this, Lin Jian smiled—a rare sight—and said, “Boss, your eyes miss nothing.”

Xiao Tianci laughed heartily, “Ha... ha... though it sounds like flattery, I like it. So, Meige and Huofeng are competing?”

Lin Jian nodded, “Miss Meige and Miss Huofeng are in the shooting room competing. I’ve already taught Meige the basics of marksmanship and some foundational skills she’ll need later. She learns very quickly. Recently, I’ve had her practice accuracy, which takes time to develop—a kind of instinctive shooting. Though Meige can’t quite do it yet, she already scores very high on fixed target shooting. When I left, Meige was leading. I suppose Huofeng’s delay is related to this.”

“Ha… ha… ha…” Xiao Tianci laughed so joyfully it took him a while to speak again. “Ha… I really want to see Huofeng’s expression now—it must be priceless.”

Watching his boss revel in this, Lin Jian thought, “Is it really necessary to be this happy?” It seemed the relationship between the boss and Huofeng had only worsened.

Now Xiao Tianci no longer bothered to explain himself to Huofeng. For someone who had labeled him a lecher, he wouldn’t waste words. The two had become opposites in everything, which troubled Qinglong greatly.

Xiao Tianci turned back to the sea, delighted: “Good, today is truly excellent. Chief Steward, this place is splendid. Standing here is incredibly comfortable; now it feels even better—more so than at the very summit.”

Lin Jian said, “This is a prized feng shui site, overlooking the vast sea and nestled against the mountains. It was carefully chosen by the ancestors of the Xiao family long ago. This pavilion was built from the start. The patriarch loved watching sunsets, moonrises, and the stars here.”

“Oh, overlooking the vast sea, backed by mountains—a feng shui treasure!” Xiao Tianci murmured, nodding, then shook his head. “Is that so? I’m not much of a believer in feng shui. Our ancestors could afford this island because they achieved great things. That was the real foundation. After that, things naturally fell into place. Without my father, the Xiao family wouldn’t have risen again. Hmph, feng shui treasure? Nowadays, I’d say this is more suitable as a cemetery.”

The more he learned about his family, the more he felt for those who suffered disaster. Each thought made him uncomfortable. Lin Jian noticed and quickly diverted the topic to keep the boss from dwelling on those dark memories.

“Boss, I’ve studied some feng shui—not expertly, but I find it quite mysterious. Considering this world has supernatural martial arts and many strange phenomena, feng shui may not be entirely false.”

“So you’ve studied feng shui, huh? Next time we have a chance, I’ll have to see exactly what you know. Is there anything you haven’t studied yet?” Xiao Tianci looked again at the place. Setting aside whether feng shui was true or not, this location was brilliantly chosen. Standing here felt refreshing; even breathing seemed easier, and thoughts flowed clearly.

Lin Jian said, “Boss, Miss Huofeng is unpredictable. How about I tell you about feng shui? You can just listen for fun.”

“Mm, sure. I’m curious what feng shui really is. But don’t start learning from charlatans—if Huofeng comes and finds out, I’ll have you spar with her to toughen you up. Then don’t say I’m a cruel boss!”

True to form, the boss was merciless. If Huofeng arrived, she’d be like a live bomb—who would dare provoke her? Sparring with her was like volunteering as a target. Ah, being a chief steward wasn’t easy—he had to ease the boss’s mind and keep him happy...

With these thoughts, Lin Jian maintained a professional smile and nodded.

“Look over there,” he said, pointing. “In feng shui, there are large latitudinal structures roughly every eight degrees. Feng shui calls the continuous mountain ranges ‘dragon veins.’ The dragon vein of Z Nation originates from the northwest Kunlun Mountains. Since many of the Xiao ancestors are buried in the country, this is significant in records.

“First, the dragon veins in the country begin at Kunlun and extend southeast along three main veins: the northern vein runs from Yinshan and Helan Mountains into Shanxi and ends at the Taihang crossing; the central vein runs from Minshan into the eastern passes to Mount Tai and the sea; the southern vein runs from Yunnan and Guizhou south to Fujian and Zhejiang before reaching the sea. When studying feng shui, one must understand the source and direction of the dragon veins.”

Though the concept of dragon veins seemed intangible and out of reach for ordinary people, those who needed it believed deeply. Xiao Tianci found Lin Jian’s explanation reasonable.

“But this place is over a hundred thousand miles from Z Nation. Does its dragon vein relate to here?”

Lin Jian replied, “Feng shui’s core idea is the continuity of blessings through generations along the dragon vein. Once the dragon vein is set, no matter where one is, its influence extends. Feng shui also advocates living in harmony with nature based on the environment—practical methods that suit natural laws, like this pavilion beside the lake, embodying the essence of feng shui.”

“Mm,” Xiao Tianci nodded, agreeing. Regardless of truth or superstition, the environment certainly affects people—from personality to habits. Even if feng shui were false, designing such a comfortable layout would mark its creator as a master. Intrigued, he urged, “Continue.”

Lin Jian pointed to a spot in the mountains. “Boss, remember that is the island’s water source—a subterranean spring. Earlier, I mentioned ‘mountain backing water’—one of feng shui’s basic principles. Mountains are the earth’s skeleton and a natural reservoir of resources; water is the source of all life. Without water, humans cannot survive; plants need it, people need drinking water, and water quality determines life conditions. Feng shui emphasizes tracing water’s origin and flow, analyzing quality, managing volume, and optimizing the environment.”

Xiao Tianci glanced at the protected spring nearby. “Mm, not bad. From a health standpoint, this is fitting.” He considered whether the dragon vein was simply about choosing a good site, and whether the layout and water source were feng shui’s way of dressing up practical, human-centric design—environmental and water considerations that naturally made living here pleasant.

Lin Jian continued, “Sunlight here shines from the south year-round, benefiting houses facing south. The principle of ‘sitting north, facing south’ reflects correct understanding of natural phenomena and alignment with the Dao. It harnesses the mountain’s qi and the sun and moon’s radiance, nurturing body and mind, cultivating talent and place.

“Feng shui masters believe qi is the origin of all things—the Taiji, or supreme ultimate. Qi accumulates into yin and yang; from one comes three; the five elements follow. Earth derives from qi, water from qi, humans from qi; qi responds to all things. Feng shui also advocates widespread greening, with traditional regulations: the emperor’s tombs have tall pine trees; lords’ tombs have cypress; nobles have phoenix trees; scholars have locust trees; commoners’ graves have willow trees.”

Hearing this, Xiao Tianci’s thoughts briefly returned to his deceased ancestors, but the conversation lightened the mood.

This was the first time he heard so much about feng shui and found it quite impressive. Combining it with his own reflections, he applauded, “Very well. Leaving superstition aside, our ancestors had personalized design, diet, health, weather, environment, and greening concepts thousands of years ago. Feng shui has value. Good, good. But Steward, if you talk about feng shui now, people might call it superstition. So you should rebrand it—change your clothes, get a new title, maybe a doctorate in design. That would be better. Environmental design is excellent.”

Lin Jian’s eyes lit up. “Boss, you’re amazing. I was just thinking about studying that.”

“Ah…” Xiao Tianci joked casually, then, seeing Lin Jian’s serious expression, asked, “You… want to study?”

Lin Jian nodded firmly. “I was going to tell you—I want to enroll in environmental design. I haven’t decided which school yet, but I plan to study online. Boss, could you help me choose a school, so I can take the exams?”

Xiao Tianci enjoyed learning new things but wasn’t keen on collecting titles. Seeing Lin Jian was serious, he sighed internally.

“Uh… I don’t know much about this. You decide for yourself,” he said, thinking it was just a joke. Let him study whatever he wanted. Who knew what he’d want to learn next?

“Okay,” Lin Jian nodded. “I’ll research which school is best.”

By now, night was falling, the last red clouds disappearing. Occasional bird calls echoed from the mountain. At that moment, the steward received a report from below: Huofeng had arrived.

Lin Jian hurriedly said, “Boss, Miss Huofeng is here.” As he spoke, he looked up at the darkening sky but could still see her approaching. She moved swiftly, light-footed, bounding up six or seven steps to the summit.