Chapter 15: Person with a Will
After seeing off Cui Xingmiao, Shen Bingsi went to the kitchen and washed the dishes.
He returned to the bedroom and found Rong Xie still asleep.
Rong Xie was too tired; he hadn’t even moved from his spot.
Shen Bingsi kicked off his shoes, leaned onto the bed, propped his head with one hand, lay on his side next to Rong Xie, and traced the sleeping features of his best friend with his gaze.
When Rong Xie was asleep, his breathing was very light, and his sleeping posture was very peaceful, face up, hands resting on the quilt, fingers interlaced, like a jade statue.
If there was a sleeping posture competition in the Sect Grand Competition, Rong Xie would definitely be number one. Those who slept more properly than him were not as good-looking as him, and there was no one better looking than him.
Shen Bingsi watched for a while, then got out of bed contentedly to do other things.
By dusk, the courtyard was covered in golden-red light. Shen Bingsi returned from outside and found Rong Xie still sleeping.
Shen Bingsi glanced at the fresh meat steamed rolls and tofu pudding in his hand.
“Rong Xie, Rong Xie.”
Shen Bingsi lay on the head of the bed, calling softly into Rong Xie’s ear.
Originally, he wanted to imitate Cui Xingmiao and shake his arm to wake him up, but Rong Xie was sleeping facing inward, hiding both arms, so he could only resort to this strategy.
The current Rong Xie was like a fragile piece of ice, unable to withstand any tossing.
But thinking that he was about to toss him soon, Shen Bingsi’s heart was filled with conflicting emotions.
Rationality eventually prevailed.
“Mmh?” Rong Xie moved, buried his face in the quilt, dawdled for a while, and then turned over.
“Look what I brought you? Lotus Town specialty, your favorite steamed rolls and tofu pudding.” Shen Bingsi lifted the takeout food box and shook it. “Why are your eyes so red?”
“Hm? Very red?” Rong Xie rubbed his eyes, his voice still carrying a lazy nasal tone. “Maybe I slept too long… What time is it now?”
“The sun hasn’t set yet. You should rest well.” Shen Bingsi helped him up, placed a cushion behind his waist, and then went to open the food box.
“Wait, I’m not too hungry yet. Let’s eat at the table.” Rong Xie couldn’t stand food falling on the bed.
“Okay.” Shen Bingsi readily agreed, grabbed the food box, and telekinetically sent it to the small table under the window. The food box flew smoothly, without spilling a drop of soup or dipping sauce.
He freed his hands to help Rong Xie get out of bed, but Rong Xie dodged first, stepping on the footrest in front of the bed and bending over to reach for his shoes.
Shen Bingsi glanced at his hand extended in mid-air.
Actually, it wasn’t surprising at all that Rong Xie would be angry with him. If he encountered such a thing, he guaranteed he would explode on the spot. Rong Xie’s temper was already very good.
Since things had come to this, the first thing he needed to do was put aside personal emotions, which should be what he was best at.
Rong Xie changed his shoes and came to the table. Before he could sit down, Shen Bingsi rushed over to help him open the food box, taking out a plate of crystal-clear fresh meat steamed rolls, then two bowls of hot tofu pudding topped with chili oil, soybeans, and pickled vegetables, placing them on the table.
Shen Bingsi put the food box on the floor nearby, took out chopsticks and spoons, and handed them to Rong Xie.
Rong Xie looked at the table. He thought he wouldn’t be hungry, but under the visual impact, he still swallowed.
Even if the sky fell, one still had to eat.
Rong Xie always ate slowly. Although he liked it, he ate one spoonful after another slowly. After the tofu pudding warmed his stomach, he went for the steamed rolls.
Surprisingly, Shen Bingsi also ate very slowly. When Rong Xie started eating the steamed rolls, he hadn’t touched a single one. In the past, Shen Bingsi would have devoured his share like a whirlwind.
Rong Xie couldn’t help looking up at Shen Bingsi.
Shen Bingsi was lowering his eyes, concentrating on drinking tofu pudding, very gracefully, sip by sip.
Rong Xie stared at him.
Shen Bingsi finished the last sip of tofu pudding, took out a handkerchief from his bosom, and carefully wiped his mouth, looking like a young master raised by a noble family.
“You…” Rong Xie couldn’t help asking, “Do you eat like this outside?”
“What outside?” Shen Bingsi put away the handkerchief. “I’m thinking about something.”
“…” Rong Xie hesitated. “What are you thinking about?”
“I’m thinking about what you will do in the future.” Shen Bingsi sat up straight.
Rong Xie immediately felt a heaviness in his stomach, and his gaze shifted left and right.
“What else can I do? Just follow Miss Cui’s advice and take it easy.”
Actually, he hadn’t figured out what to do yet. Another matter had impacted him too much, so much so that when he tossed and turned in bed unable to sleep, he didn’t have time to think about what to do with himself.
Moreover, he didn’t like people asking “what will you do in the future” or “what do you plan to do,” as if denying the current him, as if he had made some unforgivable mistake and would be hopeless if he didn’t change as soon as possible.
“Eat this first,” Shen Bingsi didn’t realize at all that his words had put pressure on Rong Xie. He pushed a whole basket of steamed rolls to Rong Xie’s side and supervised him picking one up. “These are all yours. You don’t need to worry; I’ve already thought it out for you.”
Rong Xie’s stomach felt heavy. He forced himself to eat one, which tasted like chewing wax. Suddenly hearing Shen Bingsi say he had already thought it out, he looked up in surprise: “Um… thought out what?”
“Don’t talk while eating.” Shen Bingsi looked at Rong Xie’s stuffed mouth still trying to talk, feeling a trace of amusement and a trace of heartache. Strange feelings collided in his heart. Didn’t he agree to put aside personal emotions? “I’ve thought it out. We’ll proceed according to the original plan.”
Rong Xie was stunned. Original plan? What original plan?
“Cui Xingmiao’s treatment plan is basically nonsense. She’s been pretending to be an old man for too long and talks with an old person’s vibe. Not using spiritual power, not cultivating, waiting quietly for death, what kind of treatment plan is that?” Shen Bingsi got angry again mentioning this. “I shouldn’t have paid her the consultation fee this afternoon. Quack doctor!”
“No, actually I think…”
“Eat first, listen to me,” Shen Bingsi raised his hand, looking at Rong Xie. “Medical cultivators indeed cannot change the laws of the Heavenly Dao. However, cultivation is inherently an act against the heavens, seizing heavenly power for one’s own use. We’ve been doing things that break the rules since the first day we entered the inner sect. Why can’t we do it now?”
“…” Rong Xie forgot to swallow, staring blankly at Shen Bingsi.
“Rather than pinning hope on others, it’s better to rely on yourself.” Shen Bingsi said with high morale, as if he had mastered the method of inevitable victory. He looked at Rong Xie. “Are you willing to believe me?”
“Ah… um…” Rong Xie swallowed the steamed roll. “I believe.”
“Very good.” Shen Bingsi nodded. “Let’s review this matter. The urgent task is for you to reach Foundation Establishment. As long as you reach Foundation Establishment, we’ll have more time and opportunities to find better solutions. Besides, cases of secondary growth of spiritual roots are not unheard of. Maybe when the time comes, you’ll naturally be able to cultivate. But first, you have to persist until that time.”
“Mm.” Rong Xie sat up a bit straighter, expecting Shen Bingsi to continue.
“So, Foundation Establishment is the most important goal. To achieve this goal, anything can be done, willing to pay any price, firmly believing in one’s success, this is will. People with will succeed in whatever they do, at least that’s how I am. What about you? Do you have the will to reach Foundation Establishment?” Shen Bingsi looked at Rong Xie seriously.
Rong Xie sat up even straighter, involuntarily gripping his chopsticks tighter. He felt as if he could cast aside distracting thoughts again and go all out with Shen Bingsi.
“I do, but…”
“Having it means having it, don’t say but.” Shen Bingsi turned his finger half a circle by his ear. “Speak louder, I can’t hear you.”
“I do!” Rong Xie blurted out involuntarily.
“Very good.” Shen Bingsi showed a satisfied smile. “Now, finish this basket of steamed rolls. Only with a full stomach can you have the strength to do things.”
Rong Xie obediently picked up a steamed roll. The food that tasted like wax just now suddenly became hot and fragrant. One bite seemed to draw infinite strength. Rong Xie ate earnestly, looking at Shen Bingsi while eating, asking mumblingly: “…What exactly… mm… are we going to do?”
Shen Bingsi smiled without speaking.
Rong Xie’s head grew heavier as he ate, and Shen Bingsi in front of him appeared double. He shook his head, trying to shake off that drowsy feeling. He had just gotten up, how could he be sleepy again? He still wanted to hear Shen Bingsi’s further plan.
As long as he could reach Foundation Establishment, he could endure any hardship, suffer any tribulation. Just as Shen Bingsi said, where there is a will, there is a way…
Thud!
The chopsticks in Rong Xie’s hand fell onto the table, and he slumped to the side. There was still one steamed roll left in the basket.
Shen Bingsi supported Rong Xie’s forehead with one hand to prevent him from hitting the table, picked up the chopsticks with the other hand, and ate the last steamed roll.
Only with a full stomach can one have the strength to do things.
When Rong Xie woke up, he felt a burst of choking hot dampness drilling into his nasal cavity. He couldn’t help coughing, and his body slid down from the wooden board, falling onto a hot and wet soft cushion.
The surrounding temperature was very high, and the air was filled with water vapor. He opened his eyes blankly, seeing only a vast expanse of white, unable to see anything clearly.
“This is…” Rong Xie propped himself up and sat up. His back touched the familiar horizontal railing. He knew where this was.
This was the bathroom.
When Huanxue Villa was originally designed, the exterior was designed by people from the Shengjing Palace Works, but the interior was meticulously planned by Rong Xie and Shen Bingsi bit by bit. After all, they were the ones living here long-term, so the interior had to center around their needs.
So there was a study, a flower hall, a large kitchen, and a small kitchen arranged in the bedroom courtyard.
And this bathroom.
The main function of the bathroom was of course bathing, but Shen Bingsi bathed differently from others. He always made a grand scene, flooding the whole room as if it were submerged. Back in the inner sect, he received many complaints from fellow disciples. Later, as Shen Bingsi’s cultivation grew higher, the complaints naturally decreased, but bathing in a public bathroom was inconvenient after all. After having Huanxue Villa, Shen Bingsi could freely renovate his bathroom. To facilitate the wanton use of his domineering Water and Fire dual spiritual roots, the bathroom walls were all built with absolutely moisture-proof stones, with only a circle of bamboo chairs installed near the floor, so he could stroll over and sit down halfway through washing.
“Why stroll around halfway through washing?” Rong Xie had never understood this.
“Wouldn’t it be boring? Soaking in the tub all the time, one would get wrinkled.” The reason Shen Bingsi gave was as unconventional as always. “Besides, I can eat. When I sit here, you bring in a bowl of noodles. I eat, how delightful!”
“Why should I bring a bowl of noodles in while you’re bathing…”
Such questions would never have an answer in the end, only attributed to Shen Bingsi’s eccentricity.
It could be said that this entire bathroom was built based on Shen Bingsi’s eccentricity, and now, Rong Xie was lying here, having fallen asleep inexplicably for a moment, and woke up sitting on the bamboo slat chair.
“Is my spiritual power really exhausted? How can I faint twice in one day?” Rong Xie pressed his forehead, muttering to himself. “I clearly can last for a few more years, it shouldn’t be this fast… Wait, why am I in the bathroom?”
Rong Xie stood up holding the back of the bamboo chair, suddenly noticing that he wasn’t wearing that moon-white outer robe, but a close-fitting undergarment. To facilitate wearing the inner garment over it, the sleeves and pant legs of this undergarment were shorter than usual clothes. Especially the outer sides of the pant legs were tightened from bottom to top with ribbons like hung curtains, ensuring the loose pant legs could fit tightly against the legs. Whether wearing riding breeches or gaiters, it wouldn’t affect the outer lines. However, in this way, when wearing only the undergarment, the back of the knees and the outer thighs would be exposed, very unsightly. Rong Xie wouldn’t even wear it like this when sleeping; he would at least add an inner garment to prevent Shen Bingsi from suddenly popping up or external guests visiting.
Now, he was standing in the bathroom wearing this unsightly undergarment.
It was hot around him, but cold sweat suddenly broke out on his back.
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