The House Is Built

Tang Xiaoyu did not want to get too deeply involved with these people, in case he felt compassion when taking action against them later. Having a good day was enough for today; never mind tomorrow or the day after. He felled tree after tree.

When he had chopped enough trees, Tang Xiaoyu went back to select a location and dig foundations.

Liu YuXin saw the countless ingredients in the kitchen and immediately started cooking, making everything she wanted to eat. When over a dozen meat and vegetable dishes were placed on the table, she nodded satisfactorily. It was impossible not to taste them; checking the seasoning was a must.

“Tang Xiaoyu, lunch is ready.”

Tang Xiaoyu put down his tools, washed his face, and saw so many delicious foods. He praised: “The dishes you’ve made are better than mine. Whoever marries you will be blessed.”

“What are you saying? I’ll call Master and the others to eat.”

“No need to call. They don’t need to eat.”

Liu YuXin asked uncertainly: “Is that so? How boring their lives must be.”

“Let’s dig in then!”

“Alright.”

After a whirlwind, Tang Xiaoyu leaned back in his chair, picking his teeth: “Forget about building your house. The one I built is enough for both of us.”

“Okay.”

“Oh right, tomorrow we have to follow Eldest Senior Sister to register and collect identity plaques, clothes, weapons, elixirs and the like.”

“I’m busy right now. Help collect them for me.”

Liu YuXin said awkwardly: “That doesn’t seem right. Eldest Senior Sister will be upset.”

“It’s because of her that I’m not going. That female rogue.”

Tang Xiaoyu worked fast. Within a day, the foundations were dug and the timber was transported back.

The next day, Tang Xiaoyu began stacking the logs like walls according to his design. When Liu YuXin came back holding things, he had just fallen into distress over where to place the staircase.

“Your plaque, clothes, shoes, sword and basic cultivation technique are all in this storage bag.”

Tang Xiaoyu did not even look. He just hung the bag around his waist.

“Tang Xiaoyu, you have new clothes now. Take those off and let me wash them.”

Currently engrossed in building the house, Tang Xiaoyu casually threw his clothes to her: “Thanks.”

“Never mind, focus on your work!” Liu YuXin left holding the clothes.

Tang Xiaoyu completed building the exterior walls: “It needs a second floor. So I have to partition the rooms on the first floor first and consider where to place the stairs.”

He took out his sketch and sank into distress over where to place the stairs.

After a night of sketching and designing, he finally worked out a perfect plan.

With the drawings, Tang Xiaoyu worked even more smoothly.

While Liu YuXin had started guiding qi into her body with Eldest Senior Sister’s help, Tang Xiaoyu was still building the house.

When Liu YuXin stepped into the qi-training stage, Tang Xiaoyu was still building the house.

Whoever tried to advise him was useless. He was completely obsessed. Tang Xiaoyu's Master just shook her head after seeing this. After all, Tang Xiaoyu was taken in just to fill the numbers. She could not be bothered to manage him.

Standing in front of this two-story wooden structure, Tang Xiaoyu was pondering over the exterior design and interior decoration.

“The railings on the second floor balcony have to be nicer. The windows and doors must be exquisite and imposing. There must also be railings in front of the door, and the road in front must be paved with stone blocks in various patterns leading to the road ahead.”

“Use wooden fences to surround a yard and plant some fruit trees. When free, grow some vegetables too.”

Once Tang Xiaoyu had an idea, he would take action. That was his strength. If he did not know how to carve, he would learn. If there was anything he did not know, he would pick it up.

Liu YuXin had grown used to living in the wooden house she built. Tang Xiaoyu had also completed his house.

“Liu YuXin, come take a look at my house!” Tang Xiaoyu's shout sounded from outside.

Having just awakened from cultivation, Liu YuXin walked out of the room. “You’ve finally finished building it?”

“Come take a look with me.” Tang Xiaoyu invited.

“What’s there to see? I see it every day.”

“Also, why did you insist on building in front of our houses? Don’t you know it ruins the scenery?”

Tang Xiaoyu disdained: “It’s precisely because I was afraid of marring the scenery that I built in front of your shabby houses to block them.”

“From now on, my house will be the facade of Maple Leaf Peak.”

The two came before the two-story house. Liu YuXin was dumbfounded.

The yard surrounded by fences, the road paved with assorted stone blocks, the porch extending from the house with a wooden table and two chairs underneath.

Upon entering, the smooth, bright wooden floor and exquisite, luxurious furniture looked imposing and stately. The paintings hung on the walls especially brought the house to life.

“Come upstairs.” Tang Xiaoyu brought Liu YuXin up to the balcony on the second floor.

“From here, the scenery of Maple Leaf Peak can be taken in fully. When free, having tea here while appreciating the scenery is not a bad choice.” Tang Xiaoyu felt emotional.

Liu YuXin touched Tang Xiaoyu’s forehead: “Has your brain gone bad? We’re here to cultivate, not to enjoy life.”

Tang Xiaoyu brushed her hand aside: “We cultivate precisely to enjoy life better. Why not relish it when there is a chance?”

Liu YuXin said angrily: “It’s impossible to get through to you. You must cultivate with me tomorrow. I’ll teach you how to guide qi.”

“Oh!”

“What does ‘oh’ mean?”

“It means I’ll listen to everything you say.”

“That’s more like it.”

Tang Xiaoyu asked: “Are you moving in then?”

“Why wouldn’t I move into such a nice house? I’d be silly not to!” Liu YuXin said.

Soon, Liu YuXin moved into the second-floor room while Tang Xiaoyu began his boring life.

When Tang Xiaoyu's Master saw such a beautiful house, she moved into one of the second floor's rooms without his consent, followed by several Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters who shamelessly moved in as well.

Lying on the exquisite, spacious bed looking at Maple Leaf Peak’s scenery in the distance, Tang Xiaoyu’s Master could not help sighing: “This is the life a lazybones should have.”

Just then, a whiff of fragrance entered the room and she looked down.

She saw Tang Xiaoyu and Liu YuXin barbecuing below. There was also wine and fruit on the table.

She went downstairs, arriving beside Tang Xiaoyu: “Make the taste stronger.”

Tang Xiaoyu responded very naturally: “No problem.”

But Liu YuXin was more restrained: “Master.”

Tang Xiaoyu’s cheap master was named Liu Xuning. She was the only junior sister to the Sect Leader of Maple Stream Sect, lazy and fond of wine without any great aspirations.

She did not look too bad but had poor self-care like a juvenile delinquent.

“I don’t like being too uptight. Just take things as they come.”

Liu YuXin replied properly: “Yes.”

Tang Xiaoyu busied himself happily: “Get some vegetables. Grilled, they are delicious too.”

“Coming right up.” Liu Xuning ran off with unprecedented vigor.

By the time she came back, Tang Xiaoyu was surrounded by people.

“What are you crowding around for? Quickly move the tables and chairs!” Tang Xiaoyu shouted.

“Roger!”

Soon, the tables and chairs were arranged.

Tang Xiaoyu placed the grilled items neatly on plates and served them on the table.

“You guys eat first. I’ll grill them slowly.”

Liu Xuning said: “Pour the wine into every cup. No one leaves until we’re all drunk today.”

The rest were used to it, but Liu YuXin said awkwardly: “Master, I can’t drink. I get drunk from one cup.”

“It’s fine, drink less.”

What a momentous decision it was. After being coerced into drinking one cup, Liu YuXin’s face turned red and she began to slur her words. As wine bolsters courage, her gut grew bigger.

(My head hurts thinking about the appearances of Tang Xiaoyu, Tang Xue and Little Hei later. I feel rather heavy-hearted and think Tang Xiaoyu should take a break first! I also need to adjust my mood.

Everyone can switch books for now! Those still interested can read the remaining chapters together in a couple of weeks!

At the same time, thanks everyone for the support and gifts all these days.)