Du Rong was stunned by the number of spirit pearls in the small pouch he was holding. He still couldn't move much and had to be propped up against the pillows. Looking at Chen Xiao with a bewildered expression, he asked, "Master, what is the meaning of this?"
Chen Xiao smiled. "It's your reward. You saved my life, any competent employer should be generous with their rewards."
Surprised and at a loss, Du Rong stammered, "A reward? But this is too much..." He knew that cultivators who served as bodyguards for wealthy mortals often received hefty bonuses if they performed well, but never this much. This was thirty spirit pearls, not mere spirit coins!
Chen Xiao replied calmly, "I don't think my life is worth any less than thirty spirit pearls. Given time, I can easily earn another thirty. A second and third batch wouldn't be a problem either."
Du Rong thought about it and realized it made sense. Chen Xiao had that miraculous housing technique, allowing him to generate wealth continuously. Feeling reassured and delighted, he accepted the spirit pearls without hesitation.
During the battle against the fierce beast, the breastplate and rune-engraved blade that Chen Xiao had given him had been completely destroyed, reduced to worthless scraps. With these spirit pearls, Du Rong could now afford to upgrade his gear without having to rely on his employer to cover the costs.
He couldn't help but feel a sense of irony. When he first took the job as Chen Xiao's bodyguard, he had thought he was lowering himself. Who would have guessed that this would turn out to be the most dangerous and most rewarding experience of his life?
For the first time, Du Rong felt a pang of regret. Why couldn't Chen Xiao cultivate? If he could become an immortal cultivator, Du Rong would have pledged his allegiance to him without hesitation. Generous, intelligent, and talented, with a good temperament, he was a master worth following, one with a bright future ahead.
While Chen Xiao happily handed over half of their spoils to Du Rong, Xi Yunqing had no intention of keeping his own share of spirit pearls either. Finding the sum uncomfortably large, he traveled to Hanshan City and spent extravagantly, making purchases on a grand scale.
This was the first time Chen Xiao had witnessed what it truly meant to be "extravagant beyond reason." Xi Yunqing's lavish spending was downright jaw-dropping.
At Zhishi Hall, he issued an urgent mission, recruiting a team of high-rank cultivators and Foundation Establishment practitioners. Then, he bought a cultivator's estate in Hanshan City and arranged for them to move in.
Meanwhile, Chen Xiao and Du Rong were politely invited out of their bedroom. Chen Xiao stood, while Du Rong remained propped up on the bed, both of them dumbfounded as they watched the scene unfolding in the valley. Cultivators were soaring through the air, carrying various construction materials on their shoulders with astonishing speed.
In just one day, a massive square courtyard was built, featuring a central courtyard with four smaller courtyards positioned at the east, south, west, and north.
The leader of the hired cultivators was a Foundation Establishment practitioner. After reviewing the blueprint in his hands, he nodded in satisfaction. Noticing the two stunned individuals staring at him, he explained, "The furniture and necessities have all been arranged according to the specifications. You may move in now."
Seeing Du Rong's pale face and clear signs of severe injury, the cultivator added apologetically, "The client who commissioned this job requested urgency, which unfortunately disrupted your recovery. I hope you understand."
Chen Xiao twitched the corner of his mouth. He was so overwhelmed that he felt numb. Exhaustedly, he asked, "So... the house is finished now, right? Everything's done?"
The cultivator hesitated before replying, "The house itself is complete, but the overall construction isn't finished yet. There are still additions to be made; ponds, rock gardens, pavilions, and waterside gazebos..."
Chen Xiao looked at him in astonishment. "Isn't this supposed to be a residence for an ordinary person? Most cultivators' courtyards leave open spaces in the center for training, don't they?"
The Foundation Establishment cultivator paused, subtly glancing at Chen Xiao with an unreadable expression. Seeing the youth's innocent face, he couldn't help but speculate.
That Golden Core cultivator had rushed to move an entire estate here, it definitely wasn't for himself. The injured middle-aged man beside him, rugged and weary, didn't seem like the beneficiary either. But this young man, with his thick eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, and vibrant energy, was strikingly good-looking...
The cultivator felt as if he had figured something out. The world was full of strange occurrences, and this wouldn't be the first case of a "golden house to keep one's treasure."
He cleared his throat to cover his thoughts and said nonchalantly, "Of course, there is space for training." Spreading out the blueprint, he pointed out, "The estate consists of four courtyards. The north and south courtyards align with the central axis, and if you flip the blueprint, you'll see the east and west courtyards are also symmetrically positioned. Besides the central courtyard, the four corners have open training spaces. The entrance to the valley is closest to this side, so it serves as the main gate. The other three areas can be used for cultivation. they are more than sufficient."
His tone was resolute, as if certain that no additional residents would be moving in.
Chen Xiao wasn't well-versed in such matters. Since the cultivator claimed the space was ample, he assumed there was no issue. Du Rong only half-understood but refrained from commenting, as they were merely temporary guests. It wasn't their place to interfere with the homeowner's decisions.
By nightfall, the hired cultivators finished their work for the day and withdrew. Before leaving, their leader assured them that construction would resume in the morning but that they would start with quieter tasks to avoid disturbing their rest.
This small consideration touched Chen Xiao, he had encountered construction crews in the modern world who were far less considerate. If Zhishi Hall allowed reviews, he would have given them a five-star rating!
As evening fell, Xi Yunqing finally returned from his day-long excursion.
Chen Xiao and Du Rong had been waiting outside for hours. Though they had only been sitting and standing around, they were still exhausted, especially Du Rong, who, as an injured man, had been unable to properly rest amid the constant comings and goings.
The estate, along with its furniture and supplies, was fully prepared for them to move in at any time. But neither of them stepped inside. They waited instead for the homeowner to return.
Du Rong was waiting for Immortal Immortal Master Xi Yunqing to return and assign accommodations, but Chen Xiao had even more concerns. This world also valued the tradition of the master residing in the main house, with south-facing homes being the most desirable. However, all four courtyards in this estate faced south and were identical in size and layout—the only difference being the direction of their gates. Who knew which direction Immortal Immortal Master Xi Yunqing would prefer?
When Xi Yunqing saw the two of them waiting in the courtyard, he raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. "Why aren't you inside? I specifically instructed that once the construction was completed, Daoist Du should be settled immediately. Were my orders not passed on?" His expression darkened slightly, clearly displeased that the cultivators in charge of the task had failed to follow his instructions.
Chen Xiao hurriedly explained, "No, they did inform us. But we thought it would be best for the owner to be the first to set foot in a new home. And with so many courtyards, we weren't sure which one to choose."
Xi Yunqing smiled faintly. "Any of them will do. No need to be so particular. The only consideration was adding a kitchen for your convenience. That's why I had it specially arranged."
J-just for cooking? Wouldn't it have been easier to just build a simple kitchen? Did he really have to relocate an entire estate for this?!
Chen Xiao's face stiffened slightly, though inwardly, he was screaming.
Back in his previous life, he hadn't been stingy with money. In fact, knowing he didn't have long to live, he had indulged in every possible luxury and adventure. He had visited famous landmarks, climbed Mount Everest, and explored the Blue Hole, everything except literally going to space. But even with all his extravagant experiences, he had never seen anyone mobilize resources on such a grand scale just to build a kitchen. This was on a completely different level!
Suppressing his inner turmoil, Chen Xiao forced out a polite word of thanks. Xi Yunqing's thoughtfulness should have been moving, but instead, it left him utterly shell-shocked.
In the end, Xi Yunqing chose the eastern courtyard for himself, while Chen Xiao and Du Rong settled in the southern one. Chen Xiao secretly congratulated himself on letting Immortal Immortal Master Xi decide first. Ordinary people usually picked the northern courtyard along the central axis as the main residence, but it seemed cultivators preferred the east.
The main gate of the estate was located at the southwestern corner since it was the closest access point to the valley. However, the next day, the leading cultivator had another gate added in the northeast. Apparently, beyond the estate itself, the entire valley's vegetation was also being carefully managed, preserving the most scenic areas while removing any unhealthy growth. Some sections were even being replanted to create a sparse yet elegant grove.
Xi Yunqing made good on his word, providing Chen Xiao and Du Rong with a spacious kitchen. It was built in the corner of the southern courtyard and featured three stoves; one large, two small. Chen Xiao had seen this type of stove before; an owner had once proudly shown one off to him. It was powered by spirit stones.
He slid open a hidden compartment on the stove, revealing an intricate array of glowing rune patterns, at the center of which sat a perfectly round, luminous spirit pearl.
Chen Xiao forcibly swallowed the saliva that almost caught in his throat. Of course, a cultivator's kitchen would be powered by spirit pearls! Ordinary people might be lucky enough to stumble upon a stove left behind by an immortal, so why wouldn't the rightful owner use one? Ha… ha… what was so surprising about this?
Aside from the stove, the kitchen was well-equipped with cabinets, shelves, and a large, square storage unit. Chen Xiao wasn't sure what it was for, so he opened it out of curiosity. Inside, the cabinet was divided into neatly arranged compartments, each one a foot in length, width, and depth. Every section contained a different vegetable.
If it were just a vegetable cabinet, it wouldn't have been anything special. But when he lifted the lid, a wave of cold air rushed toward his face. It was a familiar sensation, just like when he used to open a refrigerator.
…There was no need to ask. This was clearly some kind of immortal technology!
Steadying himself, Chen Xiao examined the cabinet more closely. It was positioned horizontally on the ground, with compartments arranged from right to left, the right side for fresh storage, the left for freezing. When the lid was closed, it sealed perfectly, preventing any mixing of flavors.
Setting aside everything else, just these rune-imbued household items alone were on par with modern appliances from his previous life in terms of convenience. It only made him more fascinated by the world of cultivation.
Before the kitchen was built, Xi Yunqing had been providing Du Rong with fasting pills. A single pill could sustain a cultivator for days without food. However, Du Rong's cultivation was low, and his talent was lacking, so he couldn't absorb the energy efficiently, one pill could only sustain him for two days and one night. If not for Xi Yunqing giving him a share of the battle spoils, Du Rong wouldn't have dared to consume them, fearing he wouldn't be able to repay the debt. Even though Immortal Immortal Master Xi hadn't asked for repayment, Du Rong wasn't shameless enough to accept such generosity without intending to return the equivalent value in spirit pearls in the future.
Chen Xiao, on the other hand, couldn't consume fasting pills at all. So, he had been surviving on dry rations and cold water. That was probably why Immortal Immortal Master Xi had taken pity on them and arranged for a kitchen.
Now, with a fully equipped kitchen, an advanced stove, a convenient refrigerator, and plenty of fresh ingredients, Chen Xiao found himself itching to try his hand at cooking. The gleaming kitchenware and spotless counters inspired an illusion of capability, even if he wasn't a chef, he felt like he could whip up something impressive in this environment.
So, he rolled up his sleeves and got to work.
Unfortunately… aside from grilling meat, he had zero cooking skills. He couldn't even make instant noodles properly, what could anyone expect from him?
As he presented his culinary disaster, Du Rong ate in silence, tears welling in his eyes, not from joy, but from sorrow.
He decided he would stick to fasting pills. He wasn't blessed enough to enjoy the employer's cooking. More importantly, he wanted to live long enough to recover…