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8.38% Learning To Live As A Cultivator / Chapter 27: Chapter Twenty Seven - I'm not sure what to say

Chapter 27: Chapter Twenty Seven - I'm not sure what to say

Leon could not see hide nor hair of Jin Li once he stepped out of his broken hut. Had he finally decided to part with him? The boy simply sighed and made his way to the pavilion and to the Herb Hall. Each step felt heavier than the last as he wondered where best to sleep tonight; he did not wish to return to the mess, not ready to deal with it yet. He was also uncertain on how to deal with the matter.

The last time he... or rather Leo had suffered a break in, he had been moved to that isolated place and then forgotten. If he reported that there had been another break in, though nothing was stolen, would he have to move again? He did not want to. The small hut being far removed was beneficial to him, the outsider who was trying his best to fit in. He could hide there, learn to be a Cultivator without the distraction of trying to be someone else or live to expectations that others had for the person who was not him. He sighed, undecided until he reached the Halls.

Teacher Sagi happened to be there this time. "Leo! I have not seen you in a while!"

"I-I went d-d-down the m-mountain," Leon said, "for n-n-new cl-clothes."

The man frowned, noting that Leon's stutter was much worse than when they last spoke. "What is wrong?" He demanded. "Have you suffered another deviation?" He grabbed Leon's wrist to check his pulse point, but realised with relief that there was nothing wrong. In fact there were clear signs of improvement.

"N-no," Leon flushed, slightly, fidgeting under the scrutiny. "S-s-something h-h-happened a-and m-my c-c-cauldron c-cracked." His eyes glanced at the small cauldron in hand, not willing to look at the teacher in case he pushed him to speak further.

The man gently took the cauldron from him and saw the crack. It was clearly made by the use of force against it. His eyes narrowed, he knew it was not in Leo's nature to abuse his tools. In fact, he had witnessed the care the boy had given the small, cheap pot once in the past. The boy had sat and cleaned and polished it outside his hut for an hour, while others tossed it to one side once finished with it. "I will get you a new one," Teacher Sagi told him. "You are too thin! Go get something to eat in the meantime!"

Leon did as he was instructed, wandering into the near empty Food Hall without thought. The grey haired kitchen woman saw him enter and called over to him. "Hey, there boy!" She waved cheerfully. "'Ere to eat? You be forgettin' yer rice from last time!"

"Oh, yeah," he replied, recalling the whole thing with the mushrooms. How could he forget? It was where he found Jin Li after all.

"I'll getcha summin to eat," she stated. "You look like a fresh breeze could whisk you away!" She slipped back into the kitchen and brought back a tray of hot rice porridge filled with beans and peas, a plate of sliced rabbit meat in some brown sauce and fresh hot bread. His mouth instantly watered. He felt a little guilty that he could not share this with Jin Li, before remembering that the man had left him now. It would be quiet without him, he thought, but at least he could sleep in his own bed... once he fixed it.

His stomach was round like a ball by the time he had finished and he also store away the remaining bread into his pouch, noticing that he had yet to empty it of the purchases he carried. There was barely room to squeeze in the bread, but he dare not leave his things in the house. He would have to think of how to protect his things, he decided as his hands became occupied.

The grey haired woman came to take his tray away and noticed the little wooden rabbit charm just carved by his hands. "How cute," she commented and he blushed as he realised he had fallen on old habits to settle his nerves again.

"Here," he said, handing it to her. The little shape had been carved with a symbol for good health, though she was not aware of this. She was startled, but took it with good grace, before indicating the large sack of rice. He did not think it would fit in his pouch, so she let him borrow one that her son used.

"Tha' boy! No sooner did he drop off th' supplies, he be runnin' off somewhere else! Don' he think I know he be jus' tryin' to get outta chores!" She muttered as she made her way back into the kitchens.


Chapter 28: Chapter Twenty Eight - What I think about Jin Li

With the two pouches, one loaned and new cauldron and a whole mess of herbs to hand, Leon felt that he really should not procrastinate and attempt to fix some of the mess his home was in. Admittedly, he felt uncomfortable returning, but he would simply have to make do. He had survived through a beating (well partially), hunger and Jin Li, this would simply be another trial to him.

As his thoughts turned to his difficult house guest, he wondered if Jin Li had returned or if he had finally gone on his way. He also wondered how he felt about that. Just this morning, he wished him away as Jin Li was arrogant, rude, spoilt and enjoyed tormenting him. But he could not deny that there were a few brief moments where the man had his interests in mind, such as at the apothecary and ensuring he purchased clothes (for he likely would not have bothered and placed food and utensils above all else). He was also very angry about the destruction of Leon's property on Leon's behalf, even though he had made it blatantly clear that he did not care for it. And deep down, Leon quietly admitted to himself, when he glanced at Jin Li during those brief moments that he was not being his horrible self, Leon did find him attractive. His own thoughts caused him to blush.

Ah, had it really only been a few days since Jin Li came into his life like an angry tornado? It felt like so much longer! Leon found himself sniggering, his quiet laughter lightening the heavy burden he had felt upon his shoulders since first transmigrating here, the burden he hadn't even realised he had been carrying. But then, he supposed, trying to survive in an unfamiliar environment with the odds stacked against you since the beginning was a burden to even the hardest of men. And let's face it, in this world or the last, Leon had such small shoulders.

As he neared the clearing, he collected the broken talismans, saving them for the fire. It would not do to waste wood and these silly charms were just pitiful decorations. He could create more, better ones too since he had improved over the weeks. As he pottered along, feeling more cheerful, he came to see the hut in the distance. From this angle, it appeared as it normally did, it would not be until he moved to the front of his little home that he would be reminded. With a sigh, he took those steps.

Only... his garden was not quite the wreck it had become. Granted, the plants still looked rather pitiful, as if they had been thrust into the ground with some tremendous force, then soaked under a bucketful of water. Leon glanced around to see a heaped pile of pottery, jade glass and wood splinters to one side of the door, which while it still had one less hinge, had been placed shut into the door frame. He knocked upon it, knowing if he opened it himself, it would simply fall to one side once more. Instead, Jin Li, who occupied the small hut, caused this to occur instead.

The man looked disgruntled as the door fell, but stepped to the side to allow Leon entry. Inside had been somewhat tidied, though he could still see sparkling fragments missed from the haphazard cleaning in the corners and beneath the bed. The few jade bottles had been placed upon the shelf that was still fixed to the wall and upon the table lie a pile of shredded paper and the remnant cheap leather bindings.

Leon turned to Jin Lin and glanced up into a face that seemed to declare that he didn't want any acknowledgement while his eyes flickered about Leon's, seeking something. Leon did not let him down. "Thank you," he said with a genuine smile.

"Well, it's not like this Lord did this for you," Jin Li muttered, despite seeming quite pleased by Leon's words. "I simply did not wish to sleep in such a sty." His stomach loudly rumbled. Leon swallowed any laughter and handed him the large piece of bread he had retained from lunch.

"I'll g-go ahead and m-make s-something to eat," Leon said, softly.


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Ebonsolaris Ebonsolaris

Just a short chapter.. almost out of prewritten chapters & this is one of four books I am writing.

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