Feng Tianji carefully retrieved a flat, square wooden box from the front compartment of his satchel, opened the lid, and took out its contents.

Kuang Feifan was quite surprised to see that what Feng Tian produced was actually a compass. This was the first time Kuang Feifan had ever encountered such a legendary "magical artifact," and he couldn't help but feel curious. However, the moment he saw the dense array of characters covering the circular plate, he immediately abandoned any thought of discussing the compass's usage with Feng Tian.

It was said that the Luo Pan (compass) originated in the era of the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan. Subsequently, it had been continuously refined and improved by great sages across generations, based on the principles of the I Ching and the Luo Shu, referencing the movements of the sun, moon, five planets, seven luminaries, and celestial constellations, while also investigating the contours of mountains, rivers, plains, and waves on Earth. The Luo Pan was indispensable for determining direction and surveying terrain.

Generally, geomancers and sailors needed a Luo Pan, sometimes called a Luogeng, but among Feng Shui practitioners, it was mostly referred to as the Luojing, said to signify encompassing all phenomena and regulating heaven and earth.

Kuang Feifan listened to Feng Tian's lengthy exposition on the history of the Luo Pan, which carried a distinct tone of showing off. He couldn't help but interrupt: "Why don't you actually use it? We'll skip the theoretical knowledge for now."

Feng Tian gave Kuang Feifan a displeased look. Having finally produced a tool, only to have it disregarded, left him feeling distinctly annoyed.

However, he also knew that the pressing matter came first; this wasn't the time to lecture on Feng Shui metaphysics. He shrugged, held the Luo Pan steady with both hands, and began pacing around the room, his eyes fixed intently on the needle.

Naturally, the needle's function was not merely that of a standard compass. As he moved throughout the room, Kuang Feifan followed him idly. Kou Yue, meanwhile, sat on the bedroom **, hugging Xiao Hei and curiously watching the two men. Whenever Feng Tian frowned slightly and paused, staring at the compass, she couldn't help but ask timidly, "How is it? Master Feng?"

Clearly, having produced the Luo Pan, Feng Tian had been elevated to the rank of "Master" in her eyes.

As Feng Tian stared at the compass, Kuang Feifan couldn't help but glance at it a few times as well. However, since he didn't understand the meaning of the readings, he couldn't discern anything significant. It wasn't until Feng Tian carried the compass to the corner by the computer desk in the bedroom that Kuang Feifan noticed Feng Tian's body shudder slightly.

"Problem?" This time, Kuang Feifan finally voiced the question he had been holding back.

Feng Tian motioned for him to look at the compass: "Look at the needle. Isn't the tip sinking downward?"

Kuang Feifan examined it closely and nodded.

Hearing Feng Tian, Kou Yue also stood up curiously from the ** and leaned over, tilting her head to look at the Luo Pan. Unexpectedly, Xiao Hei, held in her arms, began to writhe as if uncomfortable, occasionally emitting low growls, seemingly disliking being near that corner of the room.

Feng Tian turned to Kou Yue and said, "Put Xiao Hei down."

Indeed, once placed on the floor, Xiao Hei scampered around the bedroom but steadfastly avoided the corner where they were standing.

Kou Yue couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Why is that?"

Feng Tian looked at the compass and explained, "The needle of the Luo Pan is extremely sensitive to changes in the surrounding environmental Qì field. According to the most basic explanation in the 'Eight Methods of the Strange Needle,' the downward dip of the needle tip indicates the intrusion of Yīn energy. Although it may not be malevolent Yīn, at best it causes discomfort, and at worst, it could cause harm."

"Ah..."

Kou Yue covered her mouth with a gasp.

Kuang Feifan asked doubtfully, "You mean there's something wrong with this house?"

Before Feng Tian could answer, Kou Yue spoke up in confusion first: "That can't be right, nothing has happened since we moved in. These strange things only started recently."

Kuang Feifan realized his question might have been intrusive and smiled somewhat sheepishly.

Feng Tian waved his hand: "Just because there were no problems at the start doesn't mean there aren't problems now."

With that, he placed the Luo Pan on the computer desk, raised his hand toward the window, and gestured for them to look outside, where the new buildings under construction behind the complex were visible.

"Look, the empty space between the newly built structures is getting smaller and smaller, almost to the point of squeezing into every gap. This can easily cause obstruction of the Yīn pathways," Feng Tian stated calmly.

"Yīn pathways?" Kou Yue jumped at the terminology.

Kuang Feifan understood the term’s meaning, hesitated for a moment, and decided it was best not to explain it too clearly to Kou Yue.

Feng Tian didn't elaborate either. Instead, he pointed to the set of wind chimes hanging in front of the window: "I see you have wind chimes hanging in front of all your windows, is that right?"

Kou Yue nodded.

"Take them all down. It’s best not to hang these things in front of windows, and the doorway and balcony are also not ideal spots."

"Ah... why?" Kou Yue couldn't understand why he would suggest that.

"Although the sound of wind chimes is pleasant, when hung in these locations, their ringing sound can easily attract the attention of certain entities," Feng Tian said, carefully avoiding explicitly "sensitive" words.

"Ugh..." Kuang Feifan felt helpless at his vague utterances.

"Then... where is a good place to hang them?" Kou Yue sounded genuinely disappointed.

Feng Tian knew she would be reluctant. He thought for a moment and said, "Hang them in the center of the room, or the center of the living room is fine—just keep them far from doors and windows. But don't hang them up for the next few days, understood?"

Kou Yue could only nod in agreement.

"Is that all done?" Kuang Feifan asked.

Feng Tian shook his head: "Of course not. This is just the beginning. Since the dog barking has been intense these past two days, it means that 'thing' has already entered the house. So, there are still a few things that need to be done."

He pointed to the corner of the room: "Go buy a few potted plants, perhaps a Tie Shu (Iron Tree). Place one in each of the four corners of the room. Your bedroom faces west, so the Yáng energy is weaker there, requiring some adjustments."

As he spoke, he pulled several items from his bag—Kuang Feifan saw they were iron nails wrapped with red string.

Feng Tian borrowed a hammer from Kou Yue. He first drove nails into the four corners of the bedroom, then told Kuang Feifan to follow his example and nail one into the four corners of all the other rooms.

Kuang Feifan reluctantly took the nails and hammer, thinking that he was indeed just the assistant to help him set things up.

But Feng Tian was clearly not finished. He then took out a small circular mirror, positioning the reflective side outward, and hung it on a spot on the window. Next, he sprinkled a straight line of incense ash on the windowsill and handed Kou Yue a small packet of ash, saying, "Make sure this line of incense ash remains unbroken for three days. If you see it thinning, add a little more."

"Only this windowsill?" Kou Yue asked, clearly uneasy.

Feng Tian grunted: "Other areas require different methods."

Next, with Kuang Feifan assisting, Feng Tian and he worked on transforming Kou Yue's home. They first moved the bed in the bedroom, then adjusted the angle of the sofa in the living room, hung red string on the balcony, and sprinkled water mixed with incense ash at the main entrance.

Once the rearranging was complete, Feng Tian clapped his hands and announced to Kou Yue, "It's done. You can rest easy now; the problem is basically solved. In the future, just remember to buy the flowers and place them, which doesn't need to be done today."

"Thank you, thank you." Kou Yue, seeing the sweat on both their foreheads, expressed her gratitude profusely: "Well, Master Feng, how much will this cost?"

Kuang Feifan assumed that anyone who could afford such a large apartment must be wealthy, and he expected Feng Tian to demand an exorbitant price. To his surprise, Feng Tian just scratched his head: "It's fine, I wasn't planning on charging anything."

"Pfft..."

Kuang Feifan's jaw nearly dropped. Could this young man Feng Tian have some ulterior motives because the client was a beautiful woman?

While silently criticizing him, he heard Kou Yue say, "That won't do at all; I can't just let you work for free."

Saying this, she reached for her purse.

Feng Tian quickly stopped her: "Really not necessary, but..."

Kuang Feifan smiled inwardly—there was always a follow-up, the wolf’s tail was showing.

Then Feng Tian said, "However, there is one small matter I need to trouble you with. Specifically, I’d like to ask you for something."

"What?" Kou Yue asked, puzzled.

"I need some of Xiao Hei’s blood," Feng Tian murmured.

"What?" This time Kou Yue's voice was noticeably louder, and her tone sounded extremely displeased.

As soon as Feng Tian said this, Kuang Feifan's mind stirred. He immediately understood Feng Tian's intention.

Xiao Hei's blood—did that mean black dog's blood?

Seeing Kou Yue's face darken, Feng Tian quickly explained, "Just a little bit is needed, not much."

Kou Yue’s expression remained grim. Kuang Feifan quickly whispered in Feng Tian's ear, "Xiao Hei's life."

He figured Feng Tian wouldn't kill the dog for blood.

As expected, after this reminder, Feng Tian realized his oversight and hastily said, "Don't worry, Xiao Hei will be fine. I only need to prick its front paw and take a small bottle—that's all." He then seemed to remember something else and quickly brought over the food container filled with pork ribs that had been sitting by the door: "This is for Xiao Hei. I promise it won't even feel any pain by the time I get the blood."

Kou Yue's expression finally softened a little, but she still looked conflicted, mixed with reluctance.

After all, Feng Tian's entire afternoon had not been in vain. Finally, after hesitating for a long time, Kou Yue reluctantly agreed to Master Feng's request.

But she still couldn't bear it, and with red-rimmed eyes, she ran into the living room alone, leaving only Feng Tian, Kuang Feifan, and Xiao Hei in the bedroom.

It was obvious Feng Tian had tampered with the pork ribs. Kuang Feifan watched as Xiao Hei chewed two pieces, then shook its head, staggered a couple of times, and then plopped down onto the floor with a soft thud.

Feng Tian seemed prepared, pulling out a small kit from his bag. Upon opening it, he revealed an assortment of small scalpels, scissors, and a syringe.

Fortunately, Feng Tian didn't intend to use any sharp instruments; he opted for the syringe, sterilized it, and easily drew two tubes of blood.

"See? I was humane, right? I even anesthetized it before drawing blood," Feng Tian asked Kuang Feifan while drawing.

"You should have just explained that clearly to Kou Yue from the start. You wasted all that time and scared her half to death," Kuang Feifan retorted, curling his lip.

Feng Tian chuckled: "I wasn't charging any money, so if I don't scare her a little, she'll think I'm too easy to deal with."

"What kind of mentality is that?" Kuang Feifan made a gesture of disdain.

What was even more infuriating was that after drawing the blood, Feng Tian pulled out a roll of gauze and wrapped Xiao Hei's leg twice before happily packing up his things and carrying Xiao Hei out of the bedroom with Kuang Feifan.

As they left, Kou Yue's eyes were still red.

Feng Tian said to her solemnly, "Xiao Hei is a very spiritual dog; treat it well. If it hadn't been for it earlier, you might have run into serious trouble. It was protecting you."

"Then why did you take its blood?" Kou Yue's voice was thick with tears.

Feng Tian smiled: "It was necessary to help others. Don't worry, it won't cause it any lasting harm."

Leaving Kou Yue's apartment and taking the elevator downstairs, Kuang Feifan looked over the entire complex, reached out, and pulled Feng Tian, saying, "You really put in a lot of effort, didn't you?"