The sounds coming from next door were a chaotic cacophony of banging and clattering, as if a war were being waged. The entire house shook and swayed, feeling more like a demolition site than a living space.
Xu Xian’s expression shifted... his throat bobbed. "I think it's better if I hide outside for a bit!"
He stepped out of the room, but feeling it still wasn't safe, he hopped onto the high wall opposite the house. With his legs dangling in the air and one hand propping up his chin, he bathed in the fading glow of the setting sun and watched quietly...
Li Qingshan arrived uninvited, standing tall against the wind with a furrowed brow. "Are you tearing down my house?" he asked.
Xu Xian looked like he had lost all hope in life. "Not quite. Just moving in."
Li Qingshan’s frown deepened. "She’s staying here?"
"Yes."
"This is my house?"
"I know."
Li Qingshan protested, "Don't you think you've crossed a line?"
Xu Xian gave him a faint glance and said softly, "It’s a long story."
Li Qingshan waited in silence for several breaths before pressing, "And?"
Xu Xian gave him a meaningful look. "Don’t ask. Knowing too much won’t do you any good!"
Li Qingshan’s face darkened, and he raised his voice, emphasizing once more, "This is my house!"
Xu Xian looked at him calmly and replied again, "I know!"
Li Qingshan took a deep breath, trying his best to calm his heart that was on the verge of exploding. He snapped, "Fine, you win. For Elder Yao's sake, I won't argue with you."
With a flick of his sleeve, he turned and left.
Li Qingshan wasn't a petty man; the house was empty anyway. It was just that Xu Xian hadn't even given him a heads-up before letting someone move in, which made him feel like he had lost face.
And for Li Qingshan, face was everything!
He was truly fuming, yet he had nowhere to voice his grievances!
Xu Xian watched his retreating figure, pursed his lips, and said nothing...
As night deepened, the wind grew cold, and the noise finally ceased.
The starry river overhead was silent, and the small courtyard returned to tranquility. Occasionally, autumn insects chirped in the bamboo grove, adding a touch of loneliness to the air.
Having finished tidying up, Yao Xiaoxiao pushed the door open and stepped out, stretching her arms.
"Phew... so tired!"
She looked up and saw Xu Xian on the courtyard wall, tilting her head. "Little Grand-Uncle, why are you sitting on the wall?"
Xu Xian smiled slightly. "Finished cleaning?"
Yao Xiaoxiao nodded.
"Mm-hmm."
Xu Xian leaped down and walked slowly through the courtyard toward his room.
"Alright, then get some rest early."
"Little Grand-Uncle, wait!"
Xu Xian stopped and looked back. "What is it?"
Yao Xiaoxiao said with a giggle, "The moonlight is so beautiful. Why don't you take me for a walk? You can also tell me what kind of work I'll be doing while we're at it."
Xu Xian glanced up at the sky.
He had to admit, the moon tonight was exceptionally large, round, and bright.
After a moment of thought, seeing the girl's expectant gaze, he nodded. "Alright!"
With that, he leaped onto the roof. "Come up."
Yao Xiaoxiao followed suit, hopping up in a bit of a daze.
Xu Xian followed the same routine Li Qingshan had once used on him. Although it was a bit perfunctory, it was certainly much more efficient...
Yao Xiaoxiao’s expression throughout the process was exactly like his had been back then.
"...That’s about it. Anything else you want to ask?"
Yao Xiaoxiao nodded at first, then shook her head, looking innocent.
If she said no, it felt too dismissive. But if she said yes, it seemed Xu Xian had already covered everything that needed to be said.
Simply put, she could do whatever she wanted. She could sweep the floor or water the plants if she felt like it; anything was fine, as long as she followed Xu Xian wherever he went.
She didn't need to serve tea or water.
But she had to stay within three meters of him.
Although she didn't quite understand why, she figured this must be what a maidservant was supposed to do. She would just listen.
It wasn't just because of her grandfather’s instructions, but also because Xu Xian had truly saved her life.
She couldn't say exactly how he had done it. At the time, she only knew it was freezing cold, and everything around her was pitch black. It was so quiet she could hear nothing, and she felt as if she were about to die.
Suddenly, a beam of light fell, shining directly and accurately upon her.
It was warm.
She had grabbed onto that light and refused to let go, drinking it in desperately until she finally opened her eyes in a daze and saw Xu Xian’s face.
And the crimson on his wrist.
Her mouth had felt warm and slightly sweet, with a heavy taste of blood...
Then she had fainted.
She knew very well that it was blood—Xu Xian’s blood.
Furthermore, seeing Xu Xian’s pale lips and the dark circles under his eyes, it wasn't hard to guess that she had drunk quite a lot.
Regarding her incurable disease, her ancestor said he had found a cure. Yao Xiaoxiao might look a bit simple and young, but she wasn't stupid. There were no such coincidences in the world.
She had a flare-up. Little Grand-Uncle saved her. Then the ancestor claimed to have found a cure and told her not to worry, finally tricking her into working for the Little Grand-Uncle.
She could figure out with her toes that there was something fishy going on. This so-called 'medicine' likely had everything to do with the Little Grand-Uncle’s blood.
Although her knowledge of Xu Xian was mostly limited to rumors, she didn't believe for a second that he had truly accepted her ancestor’s ridiculous excuses. Working like an ox or a horse to repay a favor? That was too far-fetched.
So she was certain the two of them had made a deal. The reason they were keeping it from her was naturally for their own reasons.
But since they didn't want to say, she wouldn't ask. She would continue to play dumb. After all, she didn't have much longer to live anyway. Why add more trouble to others?
She would just take it one day at a time.
"Little Grand-Uncle."
"Yeah?"
"Thank you for saving me."
"It was nothing. Just consider it repayment for the Foundation Establishment Pill."
Yao Xiaoxiao was a bit surprised. "You still remember that?"
Xu Xian teased, "I may have a high seniority, but I'm not that old. My memory isn't that bad."
"Little Grand-Uncle."
"What now?"
"Why are you only growing cheap stuff in your spirit herb field over there?"
Xu Xian rolled his eyes. "Because I'm poor!"
Yao Xiaoxiao continued, "Then why are there still some empty spots?"
Xu Xian didn't hide it, saying frankly, "Those? I'm saving them. When I dig up something good in the future, I'll plant it there."
Yao Xiaoxiao gave an 'oh,' her eyes darting around as if she were planning something.
"Any more questions?"
Yao Xiaoxiao waved her hands quickly. "No more!"
"Alright, then get some rest."
Yao Xiaoxiao responded obediently, "Okay!"
Xu Xian returned to his room to continue his research, while Yao Xiaoxiao crouched on the roof, gazing at the starry sky and the moonlight.
"It’s so nice!"
She seemed to have already begun looking forward to her new life at Zuiwan Residence.
Early the next morning.
Yao Xiaoxiao woke up early to sweep and decorate the courtyard. Tables, chairs, and tea sets were all set out. She even built a small shed and placed a small alchemy furnace underneath it.
It had to be said, the girl was quite capable with her hands.
Unfortunately for Li Qingshan, the bamboo he had planted suffered for it. He came over early in the morning to demand an explanation from Xu Xian, but Xu Xian simply brushed him off, telling him to go ask Elder Yao for compensation.
Li Qingshan gave Xu Xian a harsh scolding before running to his master to complain, venting his frustrations.
Ye Xianyu listened with great interest, chasing after Li Qingshan to ask, "My Little Junior Brother is quite something, isn't he? He even managed to win over Elder Yao’s little granddaughter. Quick, tell me, what stage is their relationship at?"
Li Qingshan nearly spat blood from rage. "Is that the point?"
"Is it not?"
Li Qingshan: "..."
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