Mu Chen and Shen Xi arrived at the secluded area nestled beyond the primary peaks of the Sky Sect. Dotted along the verdant slopes stood several small, exquisite buildings, each constructed with a minimalist elegance that complemented the natural beauty of the mountain.
The dwellings were surrounded by thick, abundant Qi — a place that seemed designed for quiet cultivation and peaceful living.
Though the sect had officially allotted them different buildings, the two reached a silent consensus without deliberation — they would live together.
"It looks like this is spiritual jade," Mu Chen remarked as his gaze fell upon the interior.
Upon entering the main hall of the building, Mu Chen noticed a small, embroidered silk bag lying prominently on the polished wooden table. He stepped forward and opened it, revealing a collection of stones.
They were a specific type of jade, translucent and shimmering, filled to the brim with incredibly pure Spiritual Qi. This was the spiritual jade, the primary currency used within the Sky Sect. This jade could be exchanged for high-grade pills, spirit weapons, and various other treasures within the sect's vast storehouses.
Shen Xi leaned over his shoulder, her eyes sparkling with a subtle, playful light as she inspected the contents of the bag.
"I imagine my room probably has a bag exactly like this one waiting for me," she suggested with a soft smile. "Since we have two now, we could use that entire bag just to secure the best food and wine the sect has to offer."
Mu Chen nodded in agreement. In this place, the common spiritual stones they had carried from the Northern Domain were of no use. It was a clear indicator that they had truly entered a realm where the standards of living and cultivation were vastly superior.
Shen Xi crossed the room and placed Nibi gently on the large, plush bed. As the cat settled into the soft blankets, Shen Xi couldn't help but notice that Nibi seemed to have gained a significant amount of weight lately.
The golden cat, once sleek and agile, was now looking increasingly round. Shen Xi thought to herself that if Nibi's diet weren't strictly restricted soon, it would be remarkably difficult to manage her in the future.
As if sensing the critical thought, Nibi's fur bristled for a moment. She shifted her weight, a sudden chill running down her spine. Her ears flicked toward Shen Xi, her amber eyes narrowing with suspicion.
Was someone actually daring to plot against the health and happiness of the Almighty Nibi? Was there a hidden enemy seeking to hurt her through the cruelty of a diet?
"Meowed~"
Nibi let out a soft, plaintive sound. Deciding to ignore the existential threat of a diet for the moment, she began to rub her soft belly, feeling the familiar, hollow pang of hunger. She looked straight at Mu Chen, her eyes locking onto the man she considered her personal food ticket.
"Nibi, why don't you ask Shen Xi for a change?" Mu Chen joked, catching the cat's demanding gaze. Despite his teasing, he had already begun to turn his steps toward the kitchen area of the residence. He knew the routine well enough by now; if he didn't provide a meal, she wouldn't let him rest for even a single second.
Nibi seemed to consider the suggestion for a moment. She looked at Shen Xi and then back at Mu Chen, her head tilting to the side. After a brief pause, she shook her head firmly. She flicked her golden tails and twitched her whiskers in a clear gesture of dismissal.
The cat's expression was one of profound skepticism; as far as she was concerned, Shen Xi had never even touched a cooking utensil. Who knew if whatever she produced would even be edible for a cat of her high standards?
"Nibi, do you really dislike the idea of my food that much?" Shen Xi asked, her voice carrying a hint of feigned hurt. She had just come down from inspecting the second floor of the building and caught the cat's judgmental look.
Nibi didn't bother to reply. She simply closed her eyes with an air of regal finality, as if the very idea of Shen Xi in a kitchen was a concept too absurd to entertain.
Shen Xi didn't wait for a second invitation. Motivated by Nibi's lack of faith and perhaps a sudden spark of domestic ambition, she bypassed Mu Chen and entered the kitchen first.
To be perfectly honest, she had never actually cooked a meal in her life. However, she had stood by and watched Mu Chen prepare countless dishes during their journey. To her, it seemed like a logical process of heat and ingredients; she figured she shouldn't have any major problems replicating the results.
Mu Chen's mouth involuntarily opened for a brief moment as he watched her disappear into the kitchen. He stood in the hallway, stunned by the sudden turn of events. He had never imagined he would see the day when Shen Xi would volunteer for cooking.
He looked down at Nibi, who had opened one eye to share his look of bewilderment. It looked like today, both he and the cat were going to taste something entirely different.
Shortly after, Shen Xi emerged from the kitchen, carrying several plates of decent-looking dishes. They possessed an acceptable color, looking far more professional than Mu Chen had anticipated. Mu Chen, being a polite companion and genuinely curious about her hidden talents, sat down and tried a bite.
It wasn't particularly delicious, but it was edible. The flavor was rather bland, lacking the complex layering of seasonings he usually employed, yet the texture was correct. It was a simple, honest meal.
Nevertheless, the fact that it existed at all was a major surprise to Mu Chen, since Shen Xi was exactly the type of person who never bothered with mundane household chores.
Nibi watched Mu Chen's reaction before cautiously taking a small bite for herself. She chewed slowly, her expression unreadable. Seeing the cat's excessive caution, Shen Xi's mouth twitched.
"Nibi, looking at your face, it seems you really need a beating," she muttered, though her eyes were soft.
Nibi found that the meal wasn't nearly as catastrophic as her expectations had suggested. It lacked the gourmet flair of Mu Chen's cooking, but it was a solid first effort.
She let out a short meow, a begrudging admission that it was decent, especially keeping in mind that it was her first try. Her tails flicked as if to say that Shen Xi, you could do better in the future with more practice.
Shen Xi smiled helplessly at the cat's critique.
The peaceful atmosphere of the meal didn't last long, however. Nibi and Mu Chen soon began a silent but fierce competition for the remaining portions.
It wasn't long before Nibi began brazenly snatching food from Mu Chen's plate. After all, Shen Xi had prepared this meal herself; if they missed out on this specific dinner, they might never get to eat a meal prepared by her hands again.
"Nibi, leave something for me at least," Mu Chen complained, trying to maneuver his chopsticks around her.
Whenever Mu Chen was about to take a bite, Nibi would expertly bring her golden tails in front of his face, obscuring his vision and tickling his nose. By the time he managed to brush them away, she would have already cleared three or four bites from the plate.
Shen Xi sat back and watched the chaos, a warm smile spreading across her face. She felt a rare sense of peace and warmth in her heart. She realized that she had truly started to enjoy this kind of life.
...
As night fell over the Sky Sect, the mountain range was bathed in a silvery glow. Having eaten and drunk their fill, Mu Chen and Shen Xi made their way to the roof of their building.
They laid down against the sloped tiles, gazing up at the massive, bright moon that hung over the Southern Domain. Nibi, her belly full to the point of roundness, was sprawled out on Mu Chen's chest, sleeping soundly.
The small building situated to their immediate left belonged to a girl named Wu Yan, a prominent prodigy of the Southern Domain. She had also been allotted a first-class residence in this area. From her own balcony, Wu Yan's eyes widened in profound curiosity as she spotted Mu Chen and Shen Xi lounging together on the roof.
She watched them with an intense focus, her mind racing. These two were living together? Did that mean they had that kind of relationship? To her, they appeared to be the perfect couple: a talented, mysterious man and a breathtakingly beautiful woman.
Wu Yan, like many young women her age, was naturally gossipy, and she couldn't help but be curious about the history of these two.
Shen Xi, her senses as sharp as ever, felt the weight of someone's gaze. She turned her head slightly, spotting the girl on the neighboring balcony.
"That's Wu Yan, isn't it?" she asked softly.
During the name announcement ceremony, Shen Xi hadn't bothered to remember many people's names. However, she still retained a certain impression of that energetic, high-spirited young woman. But as she looked at Wu Yan now, Shen Xi felt a bit puzzled. What was it about that look? The way the girl was staring at them seemed a little strange.
"I guess so," Mu Chen replied without even looking at the girl, his eyes fixed on the stars. "I am notoriously bad at remembering names."
"Why is she staring at us like that?" Shen Xi asked, her brow furrowing.
Mu Chen finally turned his head to look at Wu Yan. He caught the girl's wide-eyed, speculative expression and then looked back at Shen Xi.
"I think," he said with a dry chuckle, "that in her eyes, we are probably some kind of strange, exotic creatures."
Shen Xi nudged him with her elbow. "Mu Chen, don't joke."
They didn't realize that in Wu Yan's eyes, they really were strange. The Northern Domain was widely reputed to be the weakest and most resource-poor region in the Sky Heaven, yet these two had emerged from there with power that defied common sense.
Wu Yan's own ancestor was the Peak Master of the Body Refining Peak in the Sky Sect; she had been surrounded with elite resources in her entire life. Yet, just sensing Shen Xi's presence gave her a lingering feeling of dread.
"Ah...!"
Wu Yan watched them for a few more moments until she realized that both Mu Chen and Shen Xi were now staring back at her with strange expressions. The realization hit her like a lightning bolt, and she immediately blushed a deep crimson. Terrified of being caught in her voyeurism, she turned and sprinted back into her room, slamming the door behind her.
How embarrassing! Wu Yan thought, her heart racing as she leaned against the door. Are you crazy, Wu Yan? Staring at them for so long... they'll definitely see you as some kind of pervert now! Although she hadn't been able to hear what they were saying, the image of the handsome man and the beautiful woman under the moonlight was quite a sight to behold.
Mu Chen and Shen Xi exchanged glances on the roof and then burst into a fit of quiet laughter, unable to contain their amusement at the girl's sudden flight. They both found Wu Yan to be quite interesting in her own way.
"Looks like we aren't the only strange ones here," Mu Chen joked, his voice light.
Nibi let out a sleepy meow in response, curling into a tighter ball on Mu Chen's chest as the cool mountain breeze washed over them. Under the watchful eye of the moon, the first night in the Sky Sect passed in peaceful silence.