Chapter 50: DECORATING THE COURTYARD

His voice was filled with resentment as he stared toward Purple Mountain in the distance.

On Purple Mountain, Hu Bai sat inside his own residence while speaking with Hu Biyan, whose appearance was completely different from the one Li Yan had become familiar with outside the sect.

Hu Biyan looked exactly as he had during his years as a disciple of the sect, and there was nothing about his current appearance that would remind Li Yan of the man who had accompanied him outside.

"This is the appearance I use inside the sect. The one Li Yan knows is the appearance I use whenever we leave the sect."

Hu Bai glanced at him before looking away.

"It has been a long time since I used to see you like this."

Hu Biyan remained silent for a moment before looking toward Hu Bai with a complicated expression.

"Was it really necessary to deceive Li Yan?"

Hu Bai looked at him.

"You could have told him the truth when you were saying goodbye. Why did you not tell him that I would still be here with you?"

Hu Bai laughed when he heard Hu Biyan’s question, and there was a hint of amusement in his eyes as he leaned back against his chair.

"Where is the fun in telling him everything beforehand? It would be nice to give him a surprise."

Hu Biyan looked at him for a moment before shaking his head, but he did not continue arguing about it.

Several hours later, Li Yan had fallen asleep inside his new residence, and with him finally resting, Xiaoxiao decided to make use of the quiet time to improve the courtyard.

The courtyard was already peaceful, but it was rather plain, and Xiaoxiao felt that there was no reason for Li Yan to live somewhere that looked so bare when she could easily make it more comfortable.

She brought out some high-grade spiritual water and carefully watered the existing plants, allowing the rich spiritual energy contained within the water to spread through the soil and restore the plants that had been neglected for some time.

The changes were immediate.

The leaves became greener, the stems straightened, and several flowers that had been struggling to grow suddenly bloomed in brilliant colors, filling the courtyard with a pleasant fragrance while the spiritual energy within the plants improved the quality of the surrounding air.

Xiaoxiao continued working until the entire courtyard had taken on a completely different appearance, and she eventually turned her attention toward the large tree standing near the center.

Several of its branches had become dry, but after she infused them with spiritual energy and nourished their roots with the high-grade spiritual water, new leaves began growing along the branches.

The tree soon became healthier than it had been before, and its branches spread outward to create a wide patch of shade beneath it.

Xiaoxiao looked at the empty space beneath the tree before deciding that it would be useful for Li Yan.

She brought out a small desk and a low chair and placed them beneath the shade, creating a quiet place where he could study without having to remain inside the house.

After looking over the courtyard again, Xiaoxiao nodded in satisfaction.

It was much better now.

She then entered the kitchen and looked at the ingredients that had been prepared for Li Yan before beginning to cook.

Xiaoxiao had spent countless years inside her space, and although she had not needed to prepare food for herself in a very long time, she had not forgotten how to cook.

She prepared several simple dishes and arranged them neatly on the table, making sure there was enough food for Li Yan once he woke up.

When she finished, she looked at the dishes before glancing toward the bedroom where Li Yan was still sleeping.

Taking care of him was beginning to feel strangely familiar.

It made her feel as though she were looking after a little child who needed someone to handle everything for him.

Of course, compared with her age, Li Yan was practically a child.

She had lived for centuries longer than him, and watching him sleep peacefully after everything he had gone through during the examination made her feel a little more responsible for him than she had expected.

Xiaoxiao returned to the courtyard after finishing the food and sat beneath the tree, where she took out some embroidery and began working on it to pass the time.

The courtyard became quiet again, with only the occasional sound of the wind moving through the newly grown leaves and the faint fragrance of the flowers spreading through the air.

She continued embroidering while waiting for Li Yan to wake up, and the peaceful atmosphere remained undisturbed for quite some time.

Inside the bedroom, however, the smell of freshly prepared food had already begun drifting through the room.

Li Yan’s nose twitched as the fragrance reached him, and after sleeping for several hours, his stomach finally rumbled loudly enough to pull him from his sleep.

His eyes slowly opened as he sat up in bed and looked around in confusion.

The delicious aroma grew stronger when he opened the door and stepped into the living room, and he followed it toward the kitchen before his sleepy expression gradually became more alert.

"What is that delicious smell?"

Li Yan walked out of the residence and immediately noticed the changes around him, and the difference was so obvious that he stopped for a moment to take in the courtyard that had been completely transformed while he was sleeping.

The flowers were blooming beneath the trees, the leaves looked healthier than before, and the entire courtyard was filled with a pleasant fragrance that made the place feel considerably more alive.

"Did you do all of this?"

Xiaoxiao nodded as she continued with her embroidery.

"You are still a young boy. There is no reason for you to live in such a desolate and lacklustre place when I have the ability to make it more vibrant."

Li Yan looked around again before smiling slightly. "It looks much better."

"I also made some food. I think it is better to eat out here where it is nice and cool."

Xiaoxiao snapped her fingers, and the dishes she had prepared immediately appeared on the table beneath the tree.

Li Yan’s eyes brightened when he saw the food, and he walked over before taking a closer look at the dishes.

"I did not know you could cook. This looks even better than Hu Biyan’s dishes."