Feng Shui Chapter 100: Good News

The first day of intense training was always the hardest. After just one day, during his massage, Chen Xiao found that aside from the usual soreness, his body was now overwhelmingly numb and swollen. To ease his discomfort, Xi Yunqing was even more attentive this time. Warm energy flowed from his palms through Chen Xiao’s spine, sinking deep into his body, leaving him completely powerless. All Chen Xiao could do was let out muffled cries, unable to fight it.

He was too focused on enduring the sensations to realize how suggestive and breathy those cries sounded. The ambiguity in his voice made Xi Yunqing’s ears flush red with heat.

After the choked moans, Chen Xiao’s voice came out hoarse. He tried to sit up and head to the door. He was still wearing nothing but a thin pair of underclothes, soaked through with sweat from the overwhelming stimulation. Beads of moisture rolled down from his temples, tracing along his neck, over his collarbones, and dripping onto his chest, clinging to the delicate tips of his nipples. As he twisted to the side, faint red marks from the massage criss crossed his back. The stark contrast between the flushed hues on his chest and back made Xi Yunqing’s heart race and his throat tighten uncontrollably.

He reached out and pulled Chen Xiao back down onto the bed, covering him with a sheet. Chen Xiao was still dazed when Xi Yunqing stood up, facing away from him.

“I’ll get the door. Don’t catch a cold,” Xi Yunqing said as he walked out of the bedroom.

Though it was already late spring, the morning and evening winds were still a bit chilly. Heading out with a body covered in sweat was asking for trouble. Chen Xiao tugged at the sheet and finally realized just how indecent he looked. Blushing, he pulled the covers up and obediently lay back down.

Xi Yunqing opened the door with a stern face. Outside, Tong Nuonuo stood frozen, round face blank with shock, like his soul had just left his body. Xi Yunqing frowned. His voice was low and cold. “What is it?”

Tong Nuonuo jolted in surprise. His eyes flicked to Xi Yunqing’s neatly dressed figure. Everything looked properly in place, no signs of being hastily thrown on. That observation helped him relax a little. As his mind settled, his mouth, unfortunately, didn’t. “Oh, so you weren’t doing that kind of thing… scared me half to death.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Tong Nuonuo realized he’d screwed up. That kind of thought should’ve stayed in his head, not blurted out. Was he looking to die?

At first, Xi Yunqing didn’t catch the implication. But as Tong Nuonuo’s face changed, equal parts regret and fear, it slowly dawned on him what the boy meant. For a moment, his mind went blank. Then a flood of emotions surged forth: irritation, fury, embarrassment, and a faint, inexplicable unease. Being misunderstood like this, thought to be in that kind of relationship with Xiao, of course he was angry and shocked. But why was there embarrassment and unease too?

Pushing those feelings aside, he clung to anger as his shield. With a stern look, he snapped, “Watch your words. I was merely helping Xiao relieve his fatigue through massage.”

Realization finally dawned on Tong Nuonuo, and he let out a breath of relief. Bowing and chuckling nervously, he said, “Sorry, I totally misunderstood. With the sounds just now, I mean… who wouldn’t think that? Chen Xiao’s voice was way too convincing…”

Seeing Xi Yunqing’s expression still dark, Tong Nuonuo quickly wiped the smile off his face and straightened up, adopting a serious tone. “It was my mistake. I’ll be more careful in the future. Please forgive me, Daoist Xi.”

Xi Yunqing forced his expression to soften and gave a slight nod of forgiveness.

Just then, from inside the room, Chen Xiao’s voice called out, “Big Brother, Nuonuo! What are you two doing out there? Why aren’t you coming in?”

Xi Yunqing finally stepped aside to let Tong Nuonuo in, then quietly closed the door behind him.

Tong Nuonuo made a beeline for Chen Xiao’s bedroom. As soon as he stepped in, he saw Chen Xiao lying on the bed, cheeks flushed, limbs bare, a sheet draped around his waist, his body damp with sweat. The sight was definitely easy to misinterpret. Tong Nuonuo, having just been burned by his earlier assumptions, merely twitched his mouth and didn’t dare let his thoughts wander.

On the small tea table by the bed sat an uncapped bottle of medicinal oil, the fragrant scent lingering in the warm air. Tong Nuonuo wrinkled his nose. “Why is it so hot in here?”

Chen Xiao drawled lazily, “Big Bro warmed the room a little to help the oil take effect. He used his fire-attributed true essence, so it got a bit stuffy.”

“Ah.” Tong Nuonuo hummed in response, then raised the item in his hand. “Here, it’s ready. See if you like it.”

Chen Xiao’s eyes lit up, and he shot upright in bed. He eagerly reached out and accepted the item, a pen shaft, and mimicked a writing motion, carefully testing the feel of it. Made from rhino horn, the shaft was firm and solid, with a weight distinct from wood or bamboo. Its surface was warm to the touch, with an excellent texture.

“This is great,” Chen Xiao said happily. “The rhino horn has a surprisingly non-slip grip. Even after writing for hours, my hand won’t feel sore.”

He examined it a little closer, then frowned. “I’m just worried that after a while, the part where I grip it will darken from absorbing sweat.”

Tong Nuonuo responded confidently, “It won’t. Black-gold rhino horn has a dense and compact structure, it came from a fierce beast, after all, so sweat won’t seep in easily. Plus, I treated the surface with special techniques. It’s water-resistant, fireproof, and protected against outside damage. It won’t get brittle over time. You can use it for a few hundred years without any issues.”

Chen Xiao let out a dry laugh. A few hundred years? That was a bit much. In his mind, if the pen shaft lasted a few decades without breaking, it’d already save him a ton of trouble. Worst case, he could always find better materials and make another. He had underestimated the bizarre, logic-defying capabilities of immortal artisans in this world, never expecting Tong Nuonuo’s craftsmanship to be this durable.

Chen Xiao thanked Tong Nuonuo, but Tong Nuonuo waved it off. “We’re friends. No need to be so polite,” he said with a smile. To him, this was nothing more than a small favor, he was more than happy to help Chen Xiao.

Back when Chen Xiao had been ambushed, he promised to find a way to get more Essence of Ore Core for him. True to his word, after returning from Chang Family Village, he delivered a large basket full of it, so much that Tong Nuonuo nearly fainted from surprise and delight.

Tong Nuonuo’s master had once kicked him out of the sect, telling him to go out into the world and gain experience. Only through travel and exploration, he was told, would he truly grow. At the time, he hadn’t believed it. He thought his master simply didn’t want to share materials with him anymore. But in hindsight, he realized he had completely misunderstood. His journeys brought not only thrilling adventures and high-quality materials, but also sparked new ideas, and most importantly, introduced him to a true friend like Chen Xiao.

Cultivation wasn't about hiding away from the world or focusing solely on oneself. True cultivation required the harmony of four elements: technique, companion, resources, and ground.

Technique, of course, referred to one’s cultivation method, his master, though a rogue cultivator, had tailored one perfectly suited to him.

Companion meant kindred spirits and friends, wise men said a good friend could be more valuable than half a teacher.

Resources, well, Tong Nuonuo felt that one deeply. Without money, there were no materials.

And ground referred to a proper cultivation site or sect base. If he had access to a resource-rich sect, he wouldn’t have had to compete with his master for materials in the first place.

Before, technique was the only one of the four he could count as an advantage. After meeting Chen Xiao, he gained a worthy companion and an endless stream of resources. At this point, Chen Xiao’s place in his heart was only slightly below that of his master.

Seeing Chen Xiao pleased with his latest invention, Tong Nuonuo originally wanted to explain the benefits of using the Blackgold Rhinoceros Horn and how it could be applied to different mechanisms. Just as he was about to sit on the edge of the bed, however, Xi Yunqing stepped in to block him, speaking softly but firmly.

“Xiao-di needs to rise early tomorrow for training. If we delay the massage, it might affect his rest.”

Tong Nuonuo had no choice but to step back, withdrawing the foot he’d already placed on the bedside. “Alright, then. Get a good rest. If there’s anything else you need, just come find me.”

Chen Xiao, completely unaware of the subtle tension in the air, waved cheerfully at him as he left. Once Xi Yunqing had closed the door, he flipped over and lay on his stomach again. The shift in air flow told him Xi Yunqing had come to stand behind him.

He rested his chin on the pillow and said, “Big Brother, let’s continue.”

Xi Yunqing didn’t reply. He simply reapplied the medicinal oil to his hands and resumed the massage. But this time, the pressure was far more intense. Chen Xiao yelped in pain.

“The slower the massage, the longer it takes. That would eat into your rest time,” Xi Yunqing said, his tone low and even. “It’s better to push the medicine deep into the muscle quickly.”

This way, Chen Xiao wouldn’t make those soft, breathy sounds that made Xi Yunqing’s ears burn. Nor would anyone overhearing mistake their interactions for something improper. His face remained impassive, but deep inside, he felt a trace of regret. He silently pushed down that vague sense of loss and reminded himself to stay in line. Chen Xiao was his only friend, nothing more. It mustn’t become anything else.

That night, Chen Xiao fell asleep with tears in his eyes, not even noticing when Xi Yunqing left. But come morning, his body felt light and full of energy. He dismissed last night’s odd behavior, eagerly looking forward to a new day of training.

Since he could handle the first day’s regimen, Xi Yunqing began gradually increasing the intensity of the workouts each day, pushing him to his limit. Chen Xiao was so exhausted that he had no energy left to think about anything else. Even the pen nibs he’d ordered from the brush shop, once they were ready, it was Xi Yunqing who went to retrieve the pen shafts and have the master craftsman install them.

In this way, more than two months passed. Chen Xiao’s body had been pushed to the peak of the Qi Refinement stage. Training became easier, and soon he found himself with a free half-day each day. Not only could he practice freely, he even managed to draw a Thunder-Summoning Talisman that didn’t require spiritual energy to activate. His movement techniques were now sharp and clean, the only thing he lacked was combat experience.

At this point, Xi Yunqing had nothing more to teach him directly. So every day, the two of them sparred together in mock battles.

One afternoon, they were exchanging blows at the training grounds. Just as Xi Yunqing was acting as sparring partner, Chief Steward Han came hurrying over. They paused and opened the door for him.

Han’s face was alight with joy, and he could barely contain his excitement as he addressed Chen Xiao.

“Master Chen! Great news, truly wonderful news! The City Lord requests both of you come to hear it in person. There’s something joyous he must tell you himself!”

Chen Xiao’s expression shifted as a smile tugged at his lips. Even without being told, he could already guess what kind of news could make the entire City Lord’s estate so jubilant, without a doubt, it had to do with Han Yuanzhi’s wife receiving good news.