Chapter 6: A Dual Approach

As if to confirm Yang Rui’s words, the instrument before Su Jin’s assistant suddenly emitted several faint “beep” sounds. On the screen, the curves representing the static magnetic field and infrasound energy, though still far below their previous peaks, no longer formed a smooth baseline. Instead, subtle, pulse-like fluctuations began to appear—like a faint heartbeat. Particularly in the 16-20Hz range, that unsettling “ghost frequency” signal vaguely reemerged. Its intensity was low, yet stubbornly persistent, like a specter refusing to vanish.

Su Jin abruptly looked up at the instrument, his face growing even grimmer. Data never lies. The anomaly has not been eradicated.

“Do you see it?” Yang Rui pointed to the faint oscillations. “This is only a temporary calm. Like after a dam releases water, the upstream flow continues. As long as the chaotic energy source remains, and without a new, effective channel to guide and dissipate it, the energy will accumulate again. The symptoms in the matriarch and the second young master may ease for a time, but relapse is inevitable. Moreover, the disordered energy oscillations could trigger new, even more severe conditions.”

Chen Bojun’s relief was instantly replaced by renewed anxiety. “Then… what should we do? Master Yang, you must save the Chen family! Whatever needs to be done, just say the word!”

“The urgent priority is to design a new ‘guided dissipation’ scheme,” Yang Rui’s gaze swept across the thoroughly ravaged backyard and west wing. “We must reconstruct a new safe channel to lead, disperse, and ultimately neutralize this subterranean energy. This requires addressing several key points:”

“First, locate a new ‘energy vent.’ We need a place that can contain or transform this energy. Water is the best option, but the original lotus pond has been filled in. We must survey the old residence for any flowing water or a site suitable for safely excavating and constructing a new pond. If that’s not feasible, a large area of trees with deep root systems could absorb some of the energy.”

“Second, design a new ‘guidance path.’ Utilizing the building’s structure and special guiding materials—such as buried pipes or foundation stones containing specific metal elements—and even green belts, we can create an invisible channel within the residence. This path would run from the energy core, roughly beneath where the old wall’s foundation meets the foundation pit, to the new energy vent.”

“Third, reinforce or replace the ‘energy node.’ This iron box,” Yang Rui weighed the rusted container in his hand, “is severely corroded. Its internal structure may be damaged. We need to assess whether it can still be repaired and used. If not, we must find or fabricate a substitute that can produce similar constraining and transformative effects. This requires understanding the alloy composition inside and the principles behind its runic inscriptions.” He frowned, staring at the rust-seized lid.

“Hmph, easy for you to say,” Su Jin interrupted coldly. She seemed to have recovered somewhat from her initial shock, donning once more her professional and skeptical demeanor. “Even if you’re right about something underground, even if it happens to affect the local magnetic field, rebuilding a ‘guidance path’? Using pipes? Using stones? How can you guarantee you can precisely channel this so-called ‘energy’? It’s pure fantasy! There’s no scientific technology for directed guidance of such complex physical fields!”

She stepped in front of Yang Rui, pointing at the undulating monitoring curve. “The anomalous field strength is very low now—completely within acceptable limits. The most rational plan is: first, conduct a comprehensive physical, chemical, and mineralogical analysis of this iron box to study its composition and possible mechanisms. Second, install professional active magnetic shielding and infrasound absorption materials in key areas of the residence, such as patient bedrooms and activity zones. That is the scientific, reliable, and verifiable solution—not some nebulous ‘feng shui arrangement.’”

“Dr. Su,” Yang Rui retorted unyieldingly, his tone still calm, “your approach is merely palliative, and an expensive, passive defense at that. Installing shielding? That’s like putting buckets around a leaking house to catch water! The water keeps flowing underground—you’re only temporarily stopping it from wetting the people. But the pressure beneath the house will only build. Once the shielding fails or the energy intensity surpasses the threshold again, the consequences will be worse. And can you guarantee your shields cover every room perfectly, completely eliminating 16-20Hz infrasound, which penetrates deeply? The ‘gong sounds’ the matriarch hears and the ‘glass scraping’ the second young master experiences originate underground. Without addressing the source, blocking alone won’t suffice.”

He raised the compass in his hand. Amid the weakly fluctuating magnetic field, its needle trembled slightly and irregularly. “The core of feng shui layout is ‘guidance,’ not ‘blocking.’ It harnesses the environment’s own forces to resolve energy. Rebuilding the guidance path is not fantasy. Specific metal conductors, like copper, have magnetic field guiding effects. Certain soil structures and vegetation absorb and attenuate infrasound. Flowing water is a natural ‘energy vent.’ A century ago, our predecessors managed this. With modern materials science and environmental engineering knowledge, why can’t we do better? This is not mere mysticism; it’s advanced applied ecological engineering based on environmental physical properties.”

“Preposterous!” Su Jin choked on Yang Rui’s phrase “applied ecological engineering,” yet persisted. “How do you quantify it? Model it? Guarantee results? What if your ‘guidance path’ fails or causes other problems? My approach, at least, is measurable and verifiable!”

“Practice is the sole test of truth, Dr. Su,” Yang Rui’s eyes blazed. “We can conduct a pilot project. Since you insist on your shielding method and Mr. Chen urgently wants to protect his family, I propose a two-pronged approach.”

“Oh? What kind of two-pronged approach?” Chen Bojun clung to the hope like a lifeline.

“First,” Yang Rui looked to Su Jin, “install the highest-standard magnetic shielding and infrasound absorption devices immediately in the matriarch’s and second young master’s rooms, as well as other key areas with residual magnetic and infrasound fields, according to Dr. Su’s plan. This is a stopgap to protect them as much as possible and buy us time.”

“Second,” he turned firmly to Chen Bojun, “I will design the new guided dissipation layout. I need the most detailed architectural blueprints of the old residence, including underground sections and surrounding terrain and water systems. I also require non-destructive testing of this iron box to understand its internal structure and composition, to guide the design of a new ‘energy node’ or guiding material. Once the plan is complete, I will select a low-risk, easily verifiable small-scale guidance node for pilot construction—perhaps a small drainage pit far from the main house in the backyard, embedded with specific guiding materials and connected to the old energy source direction. Before and after construction, Dr. Su, please monitor the magnetic and infrasound changes around this node and throughout the residence using your most precise instruments.”

Finally, he looked at Su Jin with a trace of challenge. “Dr. Su, do you dare to use your most trusted scientific instruments to verify whether my ‘fantasy’ plan works? If the pilot node’s guidance effect is confirmed by your data, we will expand the project and thoroughly eliminate the risk. If it fails, I concede and fully support your shielding plan, and I will cover half the cost.”