Feng Shui Chapter 141: Tracing the Source

Chen Xiao and Shen Yanxing made a full circuit of the area, and what they saw wasn’t limited to just the construction sites, even the faces of the residents were faintly stained with signs of malevolent energy. If it had been just one household, it might have been attributed to some obstructive influence, but it was impossible that such a large number of people across such a wide area were all affected for no reason.

After leaving the neighborhood, the three of them didn’t go far. Instead, they sat down at a small shop just on the edge of the street. The place was narrow and shallow, with only two or three tables inside, and the owner working behind a corner counter. If not for the need to find a nearby spot to talk in private, Shen Yanxing wouldn’t have brought Chen Xiao to such a tiny place.

Only once they entered did Chen Xiao realize the shop sold hot tea soup. After walking in the cold for so long, a bowl of warm tea soup was exactly what he needed. At the shop owner's recommendation, Chen Xiao ordered a fruit milk tea soup, his first time trying something like it. The soup was made by boiling milk pudding and tea together, with small cubes of dried fruit added in. The balance of sweet and sour was just right, and the thick milk aroma lingered warmly.

Chen Xiao couldn’t help but sigh in appreciation, people's ingenuity truly knew no bounds. Wherever the conditions were similar, people would always find a way to create what they needed. And hadn’t he just stumbled upon this world’s version of milk tea?

Without hesitation, Chen Xiao decided on the spot to order five bowls of each flavor to go. He was still bitter about missing out on the other types of buns from that street vendor. That kind of regret should never happen again, if it’s worth it, pack it up!

The shop owner was delighted to see such a generous customer. Chen Xiao seized the opportunity to chat with him casually, subtly steering the conversation toward the neighborhood they had just visited. Shen Yanxing, sitting nearby, looked at him with admiration, his teacher was so sharp that he could even turn a tea break into an investigation.

Chen Xiao accepted his student’s admiring gaze without a shred of modesty and listened carefully to the shop owner’s explanation.

The owner said, “If you ask me, the earliest conflicts started when the water level in the well began dropping. And it wasn’t just that street, over the last two years, the well water all across the city has been declining. It’s not like we don’t have enough to drink, but once we draw water, it takes an entire day for the well to refill to its original level.”

Chen Xiao, Shen Yanxing, and Zhou Zheng were all shocked. Shen Yanxing asked in disbelief, “Why wasn’t this reported to the capital authorities? A drop in the water table is a serious issue.”

The owner replied, “Of course it was reported! The past two years, it’s been reported several times. People from the Capital Office came to inspect it, but nothing came of it. I suppose with the new dynasty just established, the sovereign’s been too busy to care about something like this.”

Access to clean water was one of the most critical aspects of public life. Especially for a city like Jin City’s capital, located on a plain, if the groundwater dried up, the entire city could collapse. Shen Yanxing hadn’t known any of this before, and now he understood that the biggest trigger behind all the recent conflicts was the dropping water level.

The shop owner sighed and continued, “Just getting drinking water means waiting in long lines. For construction, they need to mix materials, and they can’t take water meant for household use. So they can only draw water during short intervals. But during those times, multiple families are all trying to get it, of course they start fighting. And then lumber prices went up too, and the resentment only deepened. And it’s not just this neighborhood, other parts of the city are dealing with the same thing.”

A few more customers entered the shop, and the owner went off to serve them.

Shen Yanxing’s expression turned grim. “Teacher... could this really be caused by a feng shui issue?” But even as he asked, his confidence wavered.

Chen Xiao nodded slowly and said, “Did you forget what I wrote in the book? Feng Shui involves not just dragon veins and earthly Qi, but also the terrain, the lay of the land, and the geography of rivers and mountains. Judging by the current state of the city, its Feng Shui is showing signs of depletion.”

Even without the guidance of a Feng Shui master, people, through generations of experience, could discern where it was suitable to build cities and settle. Basins, alluvial plains, and river confluences were all ideal locations for urban development. However, nothing in the world remains unchanged. After hundreds or even thousands of years of wind, rain, erosion, and land subsidence, the natural landscape could shift, transforming once-hospitable environments into places of hidden peril.

Yet after entering the capital, Chen Xiao hadn’t observed any clear signs of decline or ruin in its Feng Shui. Which made the recent drop in water levels and the growing aura of baleful energy across the city all the more strange.

He began loading the large stack of tea soup into his storage box. When the shopkeeper saw that a single wave of Chen Xiao’s hand made all the tea vanish from the table, he realized these were cultivators, true Immortal Masters. This was the first time such distinguished figures had ever stepped foot into his humble shop. Flustered and awestruck, he didn’t quite know how to react. Chen Xiao simply smiled, not wanting to cause further disturbance, and stood to leave. Zhou Zheng settled the bill. If not for his reminder, the shopkeeper would have even forgotten to charge for the bowls.

Once outside, Chen Xiao turned to Shen Yanxing. “After you return, find a way to have your Royal Uncle or someone from the Capital Prefecture dispatch a team to this area. The baleful energy here is spreading fast. If left unchecked, a major disaster could erupt at any time.”

Shen Yanxing agreed immediately, though his face was filled with worry. “Teacher, how do we go about solving this Feng Shui problem?”

“Don’t rush." Chen Xiao said seriously. “We still haven’t pinpointed the source of the issue. If you’re free tomorrow, come to the inn. We’ll leave the city together and find a high vantage point nearby, somewhere we can overlook the entire capital.”

“I’ll come first thing tomorrow morning." Shen Yanxing promised solemnly.

That night, after returning to the palace, Shen Yonghe was in the middle of receiving a visiting city lord. It was said they would be dining together after the formal discussions. Shen Yanxing tried to request an audience but was unsuccessful, so he went to find Shen Yongqing instead.

Shen Yongqing began by scolding him for leaving without notice, then tried to persuade him earnestly. “I know you feel stifled sitting through those endless banquets, but this kind of occasion is not one you can just skip. If you keep doing this, the noble families won’t take you seriously anymore. And once that happens, it’s hard to claw your way back. Do you really want to be dismissed as just another pampered noble son? While your father still has hopes for you, while you’re still young, you should strive to make something of yourself. At the very least, holding a position in the Capital Prefecture earns more respect than idling around all day.”

In the past, Shen Yanxing would have listened gratefully to such advice. But now, with a clear goal in his heart, he no longer wished to seek validation through endless paperwork and social functions. He waited until Shen Yongqing had finished speaking, then finally explained why he had come.

When he mentioned dispatching a unit to guard a neighborhood in the northern part of the city, Shen Yongqing was puzzled. Shen Yanxing knew he couldn’t persuade him using Feng Shui theory, the man had no understanding of it.

So he shifted the focus of the conversation. “While reviewing records, I discovered that since the founding of the new dynasty, there have been forty casualties in that area from ongoing conflicts. I went there today and found the atmosphere volatile, something big could erupt at any moment. With all the city lords and noble families currently gathered in the capital, if something were to happen, it would be a huge embarrassment to my father. Having someone stationed there now is just a precaution. Better to act early than let the Capital Prefecture be blamed for negligence after the fact.”

Since Shen Yongqing was responsible for assisting with Capital Prefecture affairs, this matter did fall within his purview. What Shen Yanxing said wasn’t unreasonable, it was a small effort in manpower, and even if nothing happened, it would show prudence. If something did break out, they would be able to respond quickly. Once Shen Yongqing agreed to dispatch a team, Shen Yanxing finally felt reassured and excused himself.

The next day, Shen Yanxing slipped out of the palace and arrived early at Chen Xiao’s inn. Whether or not he had a banquet to attend that day, or whether his father would be angry later, no longer mattered to him at all.