"This will be your new home." Elder Qian said as they stopped in front of a two floor house.
The building stood quietly under the late afternoon light, its blue walls glowing softly while the grey tiled roof curved upward in the traditional style of the sect's architecture. A gentle breeze moved through the courtyard trees, rustling faint green leaves. The courtyard itself was wide and tidy, with enough room for sparring, meditation, or just enjoying the sky without interruption.
The moment Bai Long laid eyes on it, he could immediately imagine training there at dawn. Leng Yue, on the other hand, seemed more interested in the general feel of the place. The atmosphere was calm, serene, almost detached from the chaos of battles and sect affairs.
"This house looks perfect," Bai Long said.
"Yeah, let's go in and take a look," Leng Yue added, stepping forward with a lightness that betrayed how tired she actually was.
Inside, the bottom floor was surprisingly spacious. The living room had three couches arranged around a low wooden table, and a tall bookshelf filled with countless books. Some looked brand new, others clearly worn after decades of use. The room had a warmth to it that felt like someone had lived here before with care.
Next to the living room was the kitchen. Everything was neatly arranged and already stocked with the basic equipment: pots, pans, knives, and even a small wooden spice rack. Beyond that, a bathroom and a few small relaxation rooms waited, each one simple but functional.
Going upstairs, they discovered only three rooms. A bathroom at the end of the hall, and two identical bedrooms opposite each other. Each bedroom had a bed set neatly against the back wall. An empty bookshelf stood beside it, ready to be filled. A small table with a tea set and two chairs completed the interior, giving the rooms a subtle elegance.
"I'm just saying this now but the bathroom up here is mine. You can have the bottom one." Leng Yue said, claiming her territory without hesitation.
"Yes, that's fine," Bai Long replied, not bothering to argue. Then he added, "I'm kind of tired considering that we immediately went to claim our rewards after our fight and then had to go to the main hall, so I'll go to sleep for a while before going to Xue He."
"Okay, I'll probably drink some tea before going to sleep," Leng Yue said. Though her voice sounded casual, her steps already seemed slower, her shoulders slightly drooped. She clearly needed rest.
Later that day, when Bai Long woke up and went down to the living room, he stopped in his tracks.
Leng Yue was passed out on the couch.
Her posture was completely careless, arms draped at awkward angles, hair slightly messy, and a cup half filled with tea on the table beside her. She hadn't even bothered to finish it. The expression on her sleeping face was peaceful, but also tired in a way only someone who had pushed themselves too far could show.
Was she that tired that she couldn't even go back to her own room?
Bai Long sighed quietly. Though they had fought fiercely earlier, and though she still carried a coldness in her personality, seeing her like this reminded him that she was still someone who pushed herself relentlessly. And, in her own way, she trusted him enough to fall asleep so openly in a shared house.
He turned around, went to his room, and grabbed his quilt. Returning to the living room, he gently draped it over her, making sure her arms and shoulders were properly covered. Her breathing softened, and she shifted slightly, settling deeper into the couch.
He then found a piece of paper near the bookshelf and wrote her a message with clean, steady strokes:
"Going to Xue He. Will be back later."
Placing the note beside her cup, he quietly walked out of the house and into the cooling evening.
After walking for half an hour, Bai Long finally reached the area where he had previously lived. What used to be a quiet outer disciple zone had now turned into an inner disciple residence area. The buildings were cleaner, the environment more controlled, and the spiritual qi was heavier in the air.
Arriving at Xue He's place, he knocked twice and waited five seconds before the door opened.
"Brother Li, are you here for my reward?" Xue He asked with an eager expression. He looked like someone who had been waiting impatiently all day.
"Yes. I told you I would give you a sword technique, but I changed my mind."
Xue He's eyes widened. "What? Brother Li, don't tell me you're going back on your promise."
"No," Bai Long replied bluntly. "I just realized what you need isn't a sword technique as you haven't even mastered the Earth-grade technique. I'm going to give you two things. Firstly, a new goal. If you reach transcendent rank with your current sword art, I'll give you a Heavenly-Grade sword art. And second, your reward for coming in the top four: a cultivation manual."
"A cultivation manual?" Xue He repeated confusedly.
"Yes. A cultivation manual is something only seen in the upper realms and can help guide your cultivation in a certain way or even influence your qi. The one I'm planning to give you is called the Fire Qi Cultivation Manual, a yellow-grade technique."
"Only a yellow grade?"
Bai Long flicked him on the head instantly.
"Don't interrupt me. Now, as I was saying, a yellow-grade cultivation manual is about as rare as a Peerless-Grade sword technique. And the Fire Qi Cultivation Manual is the most important manual for anyone with a fire affinity. Firstly, it strengthens any fire-based attacks, while unfortunately, attacks of other elements become weaker. Secondly, you can't use a stronger cultivation manual related to fire if you haven't reached transcendent realm in this one."
"So it makes my attacks stronger and builds a foundation for future techniques, right?"
"Correct. If you reach transcendent with that manual as well, then I'll give you an earth-grade technique next."
Xue He hesitated for a moment before finally asking the question he had been holding back. "Brother Li, how do you have all these techniques?"
Bai Long paused, then spoke with a perfectly calm face.
"I'll tell you a secret. I'm actually a descendant of a super strong powerhouse, so I naturally have all this."
"Really? Then what are you doing here?"
"Yes, really. And I'm here to gain experience," Bai Long said, and he didn't even consider it a lie. The cosmos was technically a powerhouse, and it did create him. Everything he said was true in his eyes.
"Okay, I'm going back now."
With that, Bai Long turned around and made his way back to his and Leng Yue's house. The sky had darkened into a deep violet, lanterns lighting the paths. The air was quiet, peaceful, almost welcoming after such a long day.
He wondered briefly if Leng Yue was still asleep on the couch.