Chapter 15 Those with Ambition:
After seeing Cui Xingmiao off, Shen Bingsi went to the kitchen to wash the dishes.
He returned to his bedroom and found Rong Xie still asleep.
Rong Xie was too tired to even move.
Shen Bingsi kicked off her shoes, leaned onto the couch, propped her head up with one hand, and lay down on her side next to Rong Xie, tracing her best friend's features in his sleep with her gaze.
When Rong Xie was asleep, his breathing was very light, and his sleeping posture was very peaceful. He was lying face up with his hands on the quilt, his fingers interlaced, like a jade statue.
If the sect competition included a contest of who could sleep better, Rong Xie would definitely be number one. No one could sleep as well as him in terms of appearance, and no one could sleep as well as him.
Shen Bingsi watched for a while, then got out of bed satisfied to do other things.
As dusk fell, the courtyard was bathed in golden-red light. Shen Bingsi returned from outside and found Rong Xie still asleep.
Shen Bingsi glanced at the steamed pork rolls and tofu pudding in her hand.
"Thank you, thank you."
Shen Bingsi leaned over the headboard and whispered in Rong Xie's ear.
He originally wanted to imitate Cui Xingmiao and shake his arm to wake him up, but Rong Xie was sleeping with his face turned inward and both arms were hidden, so he had no choice but to resort to this last resort.
Rong Xie is like a fragile piece of ice right now, unable to withstand any turmoil.
But the thought of tormenting him soon filled Shen Bingsi with conflicting emotions.
In the end, reason prevailed.
"Hmm?" Rong Xie stirred, buried his face in the blanket, and after a while, turned around.
"Look what I brought you! Specialties from Lotus Town, your favorite steamed rolls and tofu pudding." Shen Bingsi picked up the takeout container and shook it. "Why are your eyes so red?"
"Hmm? Is it 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 get some rest." Shen Bingsi helped him up, placed a cushion behind his back, and then went to open the food box.
"Wait a minute, I'm not too hungry yet. Let's eat at the table." Rong Xie couldn't stand the thought of food falling on the bed.
"Okay." Shen Bingsi readily agreed, picked up the food box, and sent it across the window to the small table. The food box flew over smoothly without spilling any soup or dipping sauce.
He freed his hand to help Rong Xie off the bed, but Rong Xie dodged first, placing his feet on the footstool in front of the bed and bending down to reach for his shoes.
Shen Bingsi glanced at her hand, which was outstretched in mid-air.
It's not surprising that Rong Xie would be angry with him. If he were in that situation, he would definitely explode on the spot. Rong Xie already has a very good temper.
Now that things have come to this, the first thing he should do is put aside his personal emotions, which should be what he is best at.
Rong Xie changed his shoes and came to the table. Before he could even sit down, Shen Bingsi rushed over to open the food box for him, bringing out a plate of crystal-clear steamed meat rolls, and then two bowls of hot tofu pudding topped with chili oil, sprinkled with soybeans and pickled vegetables, and placed them on the table.
Shen Bingsi placed the food box on the ground beside her, took out chopsticks and a spoon, and handed them to Rong Xie.
Rong Xie looked at the table. He thought he wouldn't be hungry anymore, but the visual impact still made him swallow.
Even if the sky falls, you still need to eat.
Rong Xie has never been a fast eater. Although he likes to eat, he eats slowly, spoonful by spoonful. He eats the tofu pudding until his stomach feels warm before eating the steamed rolls.
Surprisingly, Shen Bingsi ate very slowly. When Rong Xie got to the steamed rolls, he hadn't touched a single one. In the past, Shen Bingsi would have devoured his portion long ago.
Rong Xie couldn't help but glance at Shen Bingsi.
Shen Bingsi was focused on drinking her tofu pudding, drinking it very politely, sip by sip.
Rong Xie stared at him.
After finishing the last sip of tofu pudding, Shen Bingsi took out a handkerchief from his pocket and carefully wiped his mouth, looking like a young master raised by a noble family.
"You..." Rong Xie couldn't help but ask, "Is this how you eat out?"
"What do you mean 'outside'?" Shen Bingsi put away her handkerchief. "I'm thinking about something."
"..." Rong Xie hesitated, "What are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking about what you'll do in the future." Shen Bingsi sat up straight.
Rong Xie suddenly felt a heaviness in his stomach, and his eyes began to dart left and right.
"What else can we do? We'll just do as Miss Cui says and keep her alive."
Actually, he hadn't figured out what to do yet. Another thing had hit him so hard that when he was lying in bed tossing and turning and couldn't sleep, he didn't even have time to think about what to do.
Moreover, he dislikes being asked questions like "What will you do in the future?" or "What are you planning to do?" as if they are negating his current self, as if he has committed some heinous crime and is beyond redemption if he doesn't change soon.
"Eat this first," Shen Bingsi said, completely unaware of the pressure his words were putting on Rong Xie. He pushed the whole steamer of rolls toward Rong Xie and made sure he picked up a piece. "These are all yours. Don't worry, I've already thought of everything for you."
Rong Xie's stomach was heavy, and he forced himself to eat a piece of food, which tasted like cardboard. Suddenly, he heard Shen Bingsi say that he had made up his mind, and he looked up at him in surprise: "Hmm... what have you made up your mind about?"
"Don't talk while you're eating." Shen Bingsi looked at Rong Xie, whose mouth was stuffed full, and tried to speak. She felt a mix of amusement and heartache. A strange feeling was colliding in her heart. She had agreed to put aside her personal emotions. "I've thought it through. We'll proceed as planned."
Rong Xie was taken aback. The original plan? What original plan?
"Cui Xingmiao's treatment plan is complete nonsense. She's been pretending to be an old man for too long, and she even speaks with an old man's accent. She doesn't use spiritual power, doesn't cultivate, and just quietly waits to die. What kind of treatment plan is that?" Shen Bingsi's anger flared up again when she brought this up. "I shouldn't have paid her the consultation fee this afternoon. What a quack!"
"No, actually I think..."
"Eat first, listen to me," Shen Bingsi raised her hand, looking at Rong Xie, "Medical cultivation can indeed not change the laws of heaven, but cultivation is inherently going against the heavens, seizing the heavenly power for one's own use. We have been breaking the laws since the first day we entered the inner sect, so why can't we do it now?"
"..." Rong Xie forgot to swallow, staring blankly at Shen Bing Si.
"Instead of pinning our hopes on others, we should rely on ourselves," Shen Bingsi said with high spirits, as if he had already grasped the key to victory. He looked at Rong Xie, "Are you willing to believe in me?"
"Ah... um..." Rong Xie swallowed the steamed roll, "I believe you."
“Very good.” Shen Bingsi nodded. “Let’s discuss this matter. The most urgent task is to get you to establish your foundation. Once you’ve established your foundation, we’ll have more time and opportunities to find a more perfect method. Moreover, there are cases of spiritual roots growing a second time. Perhaps when the time comes, you will naturally be able to cultivate. But first, you have to be able to persevere until then.”
"Hmm." Rong Xie sat up slightly, waiting for Shen Bingsi to continue.
"Therefore, Foundation Establishment is the most important goal. To achieve this goal, one is willing to do anything, pay any price, and firmly believe in one's ability to succeed. This is willpower. A person with willpower will succeed in anything they do, at least that's how I am. What about you? Do you have the willpower to achieve Foundation Establishment?" Shen Bingsi looked at Rong Xie seriously.
Rong Xie sat up straighter, his grip on the chopsticks tightening involuntarily. He felt as if he could once again cast aside all distractions and join Shen Bingsi in a big battle.
“I have it, but…”
"Yes, yes, don't say 'but'." Shen Bingsi twirled her finger halfway around her ear. "Speak louder, I can't hear you."
“I have it!” Rong Xie blurted out involuntarily.
"Very good." Shen Bingsi smiled with satisfaction. "Now, finish this basket of steamed rolls. You'll need a full stomach to have the energy to do your work."
Rong Xie obediently picked up a steamed roll. The food, which had been tasteless just moments before, suddenly became hot and fragrant. Taking a bite felt like drawing endless energy from it. Rong Xie ate earnestly, glancing at Shen Bing Si as he ate, and asked in a muffled voice, "...What...um...are you making?"
Shen Bingsi smiled but remained silent.
Rong Xie's head grew heavier and heavier as he ate, and Shen Bing Si's image appeared double in front of him. He shook his head, trying to shake off the drowsiness. He had just gotten up, so why was he sleepy again? He still wanted to hear Shen Bing Si's further plans.
As long as he can establish his foundation, he can endure any hardship and suffering, just as Shen Bingsi said, "Where there's a will, there's a way..."
"Thump!"
Rong Xie dropped his chopsticks on the table and slumped to one side. There was only one steamed roll left in the steamer.
Shen Bingsi held Rong Xie's forehead with one hand to prevent him from hitting the table, and picked up her chopsticks with the other hand to eat the last steamed roll.
You need to eat well to have the energy to do things.
When Rong Xie woke up, he felt a choking, hot, and humid air rushing into his nasal cavity. He couldn't help but cough, and his body slid off the wooden board and fell onto a damp, warm cushion.
The surrounding temperature was very high, and the air was full of moisture. He opened his eyes blankly, but all he could see was a white blur, and he couldn't see anything clearly.
“This is…” Rong Xie propped himself up and sat up. His back touched the familiar horizontal railing, and he knew where he was.
This is the bathroom.
When Huanxue Mountain Villa was designed, the exterior was designed by the craftsmen of the Shengjing Palace, but the interior was meticulously designed by Rong Xie and Shen Bingsi, since they would be living there long-term, and the interior had to be designed around their needs.
Thus, a study, a flower hall, a large kitchen, and a small kitchen were built in the bedroom courtyard.
And this bathroom.
The main function of the bathroom is, of course, bathing. However, Shen Bingsi's bathing style is different from others. He always makes a grand show of it, making the whole room look like it has been flooded. Back when he was in the inner sect, he was complained about by many fellow disciples. Later, as Shen Bingsi's cultivation level increased, the complaints naturally decreased. But bathing in a public bathroom is inconvenient. After acquiring Huanxue Manor, Shen Bingsi could freely decorate his bathroom. To facilitate his domineering dual water and fire spiritual roots, the bathroom walls were all made of absolutely moisture-proof stone. Only near the floor, a circle of bamboo chairs was installed so that he could stroll over and sit down halfway through his bath.
"Why wander around halfway through washing?" Rong Xie never understood this.
"Won't you get bored? Staying in the tub all the time will make you wrinkle up." Shen Bingsi's reason was as unconventional as ever. "Besides, you can eat. I'll sit here, you bring in a bowl of noodles, and I'll eat it. How refreshing!"
"Why did I bring a bowl of noodles into the shower while you were taking a bath..."
There will never be an answer to this question; it can only be attributed to Shen Bingsi's quirks.
It could be said that this entire bathroom was built based on Shen Bingsi's quirks, and now, Rong Xie was lying here, inexplicably fell asleep for a while, and when he woke up, he was sitting on a bamboo chair.
"Could it really be that my spiritual energy is depleted? How could I faint twice in one day?" Rong Xie muttered to himself, pressing his forehead. "I should have been able to last for a few more years, it shouldn't be this fast... Wait, how did I end up in the bathroom?"
Rong Xie stood up, supporting himself on the back of the bamboo chair. He suddenly noticed that he wasn't wearing the moon-white outer robe, but a close-fitting undergarment. To make it easier to wear the inner garment underneath, the sleeves and trousers of this undergarment were shorter than usual. In particular, the sides of the trousers were pulled up like curtains, with straps to ensure that the loose trousers would fit snugly against his legs. Whether he wore riding breeches or leggings, it wouldn't affect his figure. However, this meant that when he wore only the undergarment, the back of his knees and the outer part of his thighs would be exposed, which was very unsightly. Rong Xie wouldn't even wear this when he slept, always adding an inner garment to prevent Shen Bing Si from suddenly rushing over or if there were any visitors.
Now, he's standing in the bathroom wearing this indecent outfit.
It was very hot around him, but cold sweat suddenly broke out on his back.
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