Chapter 145 Squirrel

Liu Zhongguo offered a wry smile and said, "Don't look at me like that. Our Waterway Brotherhood has strict rules. Standing up for you just now was actually a breach of protocol. For shameless scoundrels who disregard the rules, I honestly don't have any good solutions."

Seeing Liu Zhongguo in a difficult position, I stopped speaking. Protecting my family ultimately depended on myself. Liu Zhongguo pulled a bottle of traditional herbal medicine from his pocket, handed it to me, and said, "This is Modified Dihuang Pill. Take three qian per dose, washed down with a boiling water on an empty stomach. It will nourish your Qi and blood."

I quickly swallowed three qian, and instantly felt strength return to my whole body. Color began to return to my face, and my physical condition felt even more robust than it had before the battle. Only then did I understand Liu Zhongguo's intention. A Feng Shui master's Qigong could only achieve the fastest growth through combat. Seeking life through mortal danger was the best way for a Feng Shui master to improve their strength.

After this fierce battle, my Qigong technique had advanced considerably. I should now be able to withstand several more palm strikes from malevolent spirits.

Seeing Luo Xingtao and his group leave, the fishermen also pulled out identical herbal pills from their pockets, consumed them, and sat down on the spot to regulate their Qi and blood. The color gradually returned to the pale, battered faces of these fishermen, and they became spirited as their strength improved.

A strict teacher produces brilliant disciples. Although Liu Zhongguo could easily have resolved the battle in a single second, he still chose to let his disciples undergo trial through hardship. I could not help but feel a surge of admiration for him.

"Alright, Piyan Xi, I've taken up too much of your time today. Your little bride is still waiting for you in her chambers, so we'll be heading back first. Since you also wish to see the Yellow River revive, we will still need your help later with the Feng Shui layout of Duhe City."

I looked at Liu Zhongguo, nodded, and said, "Master Liu, for matters that benefit the country and the people, as long as I can help, feel free to command me!"

Liu Zhongguo smiled, patted my shoulder, and said, "Then take good care of yourself. With your intelligence and talent, you will certainly not fall short of your ancestors. The revival of the Yellow River depends entirely on you." With that, Liu Zhongguo and I exchanged contact information, and he left with the fishermen.

After Liu Zhongguo and his fishermen departed, I was truly the only one left in the entire hall. Bai Ranhe would probably send people to clean up this chaotic mess tomorrow. It was already so late that I estimated Bai Xiaoli was fast asleep. Deciding not to rush to find her, I stepped out of the villa.

The stars were brilliant, the night breeze was slightly cool, and the air still carried the scent of river water. Everything had returned to normal.

Under the moonlight, I found the newly planted pagoda tree outside the villa. Tonight's events all began because this tree had disrupted the Bai family's Feng Shui, allowing any evil entity to enter the villa. This reflected a fundamental problem: Bai Ranhe only knew how to arrange Feng Shui, but did not know how to guard it. The wealthier such people were, the easier it was for Feng Shui masters with ulterior motives to target them. Even if one secured a propitious Feng Shui site, it was useless if one could not guard it.

This reminded me once again of the Feng Shui layout of Duhe City. Compared to disrupting the Bai family's Feng Shui formation, disrupting the grand Feng Shui layout of the entire Duhe City was infinitely more complex. If it was truly as Liu Zhongguo said, and the Yellow River Manor wanted to destroy Duhe City's Feng Shui layout, I would have to return this portrait of the Celestial Master to Yin Shushu after all—after all, taking things from others leaves one indebted.

I found a woodchopping knife and managed to cut down the pagoda tree at the corner of the Bai family's wall, leaving me drenched in sweat. Fortunately, the medicinal properties of the pill Liu Zhongguo gave me were potent; even after tossing and turning all night, I didn't feel overly tired. An ordinary person would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago.

Just as the pagoda tree fell, I saw a squirrel leap down from the branches. This yellowish-brown squirrel was holding a pine nut in its paws, standing on the ground with its head raised, staring quietly at me with a pair of pitch-black eyes.

Seeing that the squirrel was not afraid, I was stunned for a moment before asking tentatively, "Something the matter?"

The squirrel nodded, hopped over to me, and held out the pine nut in its paws toward my hand.

After I took it, the object felt quite heavy in my palm. Other than that, I didn't notice anything unusual about it; it was simply a slightly heavy pine nut.

I looked at the squirrel in confusion. Under the moonlight, I watched the squirrel make a cracking gesture, as if urging me to shell the pine nut.