Chapter 21

  Vast-Body Dantian (IV)

  "D-does... does Master not believe in me?" The girl looked like she was about to weep openly and loudly if I so much as said 'Y-'. So, I hurriedly alleviated her worries.

  "No, of course I do; it's the opposite," I quickly said. "Your Master has seen that you have a slightly unique constitution, but because of the way you were taught thus far, you have gone down a wrong path. That's why, for the next 60 days, I will help you correct it. After 60 days, you will resume cultivating as normal."

  "R-really?!" she beamed up. Luckily, it did seem like she was one of those naive, believe-your-Elders kids. Yaay!

  "Of course," I offered a gentle smile and looked for a clean pot to boil some water for tea. "The only change will be that you will have to drink a tea I prepare for you thrice a day. Don't worry--tea is delicious!"

  "Yes, Master! Dai Xiu will work hard to make herself useful!"

  "..." There was something remarkably depressing about having to hear that statement from the lips of a haggard, twelve-year-old girl.

  "Hm," I sighed inwardly. "Your brother, however... forgive Master, but even I cannot restore his cultivation. While his life has been saved, I'm afraid he can only become a servant."

  "Ah..."

  "Don't worry," I quickly added. "As you can see, there aren't any people on this peak. I will take him in so you two can keep living here."

  "... t-thank you, Master," she squeezed out through a cracking tone; I didn't insist on talking any longer, and she hurried out, picking up her broom and going out to sweep.

  In the meantime, I prepped three cups of tea; after all, I have no memory of drinking this tea (though I do have memories of plenty of wines, ugh), and if I'm going to drink it, and Dai Xiu is going to drink it... well, damned be all else, so will Long Tao.

  Luckily, I've constructed a (functional) table and some chairs, and as it was a rather nice, sunny day, I put them outside and invited the two kids to join me.

  Mildew Qi tea was quite... grassy? Was that the best way to describe it? It was rather reminiscent of the green tea back on Earth, if a bit sweeter. Of course, without sugar or honey, it was in no way, shape, or form 'sweet', but it was better than just water.

  Haah, every day I am reminded of how many things I used to take for granted back on Earth; ready access to spices? Anything I could think of was a five-minute walk away at the grocery store! Sugar, salt, cooking oil? Yup.

  It's entirely unlikely that this world didn't have those things. Chances are that the cultivators simply didn't care. After all, Lu Qi was one of the few who did, and he was looked down upon by even the servants within the sect.

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  Long Tao was the first to finish, getting up without saying a word and going back into the house. I think, judging by his fluctuations, he'll have a breakthrough by dawn.

  Tsk.

  That guy really has no worry about anything. He at least used to bother hiding his realm before, and the only reason I knew was because I had a system. Nowadays, if someone came by, they, too, would recognize his actual realm.

  Though there was also a chance that he's showing it to me on purpose and judging my reaction, or, well, a lack thereof.

  "Senior Brother Long is... strong..." Dai Xiu mumbled softly, catching herself and flushing red quickly.

  "He is," I nodded. "But you can't tell anyone."

  "O-of course, Master!"

  "Don't worry; your talents aren't any worse than his."

  "Really?!!"

  "Would I lie?" I mean, I would... and am.

  Technically, though, it is true that she may have as good of a talent as him, but that was purely speculative. It was never a good thing to sour on kids, however; better to let them dream.

  Dai Xiu finished the tea second and went back into the house, this time around to wipe.

  As for me...? Well, I dreamed a bit. Dreamed of flying on top of a sword, whizzing through the sky, not a care in the world...

  And was then brought back to reality by the realization that I have to now build two houses. Potentially even three. Haah. It truly was a sin to be poor and hated in this world. If I had money and reputation, I could just hire a bunch of servants and would probably have an entire palace constructed within a year.

  But there was not much else to it.

  There was actually no need to construct three houses--I'll just play stupid and shove them all into one, with just three separate rooms. They were kids, and private bedrooms are earned... yeah, let's just go with that nonsense.

  Lonesome Peak wasn't at the literal peak of the mountain--rather, it was a flattening about five hundred yards short of the topmost point, framed in three-quarters by the steep mountainside. The clearing itself was quite massive, and even eyeing it told me it was at least two acres of land. With some terracing magic, it'd be entirely easy to construct a multi-tiered, multi-layered compound housing upwards of a hundred disciples.

  All that, though, was fantasy for now.

  Instead of daydreaming about the enchanted pavilions, I found a small corner nestled against the mountain and started doing basic measurements. Even a simple house with the most minimal furniture would still, realistically, take at least three to four weeks to construct, and that was with me being a cultivator. However weak against other cultivators I may be, I could still lift heavier things and work for a bit longer.

  I gather it will be fun, however; all this while, I have been too enthralled in the unique qualities of this world, and now I've found my respite. Something to ground me.

  An anchor, if you will.

  A giant, solemn, dirty anchor that is a house. Can I even build it, for crying out loud?!

  I mean, I helped build a few tree houses nearly three decades ago! If I put that on my resume and then handed it over to a construction company, they may just toss me off the top of the building to test the safety measures!

  Ah, whatever.

  I'm sure that if I screw up something, Long Tao will point it out with glee.

  In about an hour, I had rough measurements; if I really went for the most basic outline, like, New-York-apartment-for-$600-basic, I can probably get away with each room being about 30 square feet. That's enough for a simple bed, maybe a nightstand, and... no, that's it.

  I mean, they're kids; for adults that kind of space might be tight enough to make 'em bruise like a peach, but for kids it should be enough. By the time they start sprouting like mushrooms after the rain, I hope to have enough money to make actual rooms.

  Since the only thing they'll be doing in the rooms is sleeping and crying, I can get away with minimal ventilation and just one window per room. Make the central hallway that I can temporarily extend if another kid shows up, and add another room on top of it...

  Yeah.

  This is gonna suck a big fat one, isn't it?