After leaving the guild, Ye Cheng stops at the market and buys some foodstuffs, before heading home.
When he pushed open the bamboo gate, he was greeted by the sound of cheerful chatter. It turns out Scruffy; the unknown beast had returned at some point.
Bai Jing held Scruffy's forehead with one finger, preventing it from moving forward: "Scruffy, this is for Ye Cheng, not you."
Meow!
"No, don't pout! I'll give you a little piece later. You already ate two, what if you get a bad stomach?"
You don't know what you're talking about, human!
Ye Cheng paused in the doorway. Bai Jing sat cross-legged on the low stool, carefully peeling an orange with delicate fingers. Scruffy sat opposite him, tail lashing impatiently, with its golden eyes locked on the fruit as if it were prey.
When Bai Jing looked up and saw Ye Cheng, his face lit with a hesitant smile. He stood quickly and walked to meet him: "You're back. I… saved this for you."
Scruffy let out a sharp mewl, batting its paw against Bai Jing's arm in protest.
Bai Jing frowned at the beast: "Stop it! You already had your share. This one is for him; I will get more for you tomorrow. Didn't I already promise you that?"
Meow! Scruffy retorted indignantly, puffing its fur as though claiming the orange by right.
Ye Cheng's brows lifted slightly. He was oddly amused. Their bickering voices, one soft and coaxing, the other sharp and demanding, filled the small house with warmth he hadn't realized before.
When Bai Jing finished peeling the orange, he offered it to Ye Cheng: "Here. Try it. It's really good, Scruffy wouldn't stop eating it."
Ye Cheng accepted it, brushing Bai Jing's trembling fingers briefly with his own. He placed the fruit in his mouth, and drank the juice, intending to take only a sip.
But as soon as he swallowed it, his expression froze.
A rush of warmth spread through his veins instantly, sharp and invigorating. His spiritual energy stirred like a river breaking free from ice, flowing more smoothly than it had in months.
This was no ordinary fruit. He stared at the remaining orange in Bai Jing's hands more carefully, his pupils narrow in disbelief. No wonder the beast wanted it for himself.
"This…" Ye Cheng said slowly: "This is a Spirit Blood Orange."
Bai Jing blinked confusedly: "Spirit… blood orange?"
Scruffy let out a smug mewl, as if to say, of course. You stupid humans don't know treasure when you see it.
Ye Cheng ignored the beast, gaze still fixed on the fruit: "It's a rare variant. Grow only where a spiritual vein intersects with spirit soil. They are nearly impossible to find. Where did you find so many?"
Bai Jing swallowed nervously: "Near the hillside, close to the mountain. It is much bigger and regular oranges grow on a small stem instead of a big tree. I just thought it looked… so I picked a few."
Ye Cheng's lips pressed into a thin line. He took another sip, teasing it carefully. The taste was rich and sweet, but the effect was what made it priceless.
"Spirit Blood Oranges purify impurities in the meridians and enhance spiritual circulation," he explained: "For a cultivator, even one can be worth more than two gold coins. The red ones can stabilize the foundation, extend lifespan by a few years, and… in rare cases, awaken dormant spiritual roots."
Bai Jing's eyes widened. "Is it really that amazing?"
Ye Cheng nodded faintly. "No wonder the beast fought you for it. You really are lucky, finding treasures in unexpected places." His gaze slid briefly to Scruffy, whose tail was still lashing resentfully.
Bai Jing instinctively clutched the other orange closer to his chest. "Then… you eat it. You need it more."
His tone was simple, he said it as though it was obvious. But those words struck Ye Cheng with an unexpected force. For someone who had been treated badly, Bai Jing was really forgiving. This made him feel even more guilty.
Ye Cheng's hand tightened around the orange in his palm. He didn't know what to say. For a long moment, silence stretched between them, broken only by Scruffy's offended huffs.
Finally, Ye Cheng said quietly, "I'll take it. But next time… don't wander carelessly. Finding something like this means the place may also be dangerous."
Scruffy rolls its eyes: Ha! What are you afraid of? With me around, those low-level beasts don't dare make a move!
Bai Jing nodded: "I'll be careful."
Ye Cheng turned away before Bai Jing could see the complicated expression on his face. His pride, his suspicion, his budding guilt, they all tangled together, a knot he couldn't yet loosen.
Unknown to him, he will feel this guilt for a long, long time.
"I passed," Ye Cheng said suddenly, changing the subject: "I am now an official member of the guild. And a level 1 refining master."
"Really?" Bai Jing's eyes widened, and a brilliant smile broke across his face: "That's amazing! I knew you could do it! An official level 1 refining master... Ye Cheng, you are incredible!"
He wasn't really sure how those things worked, but he was certain it was a big deal. After all, Ye Cheng hadn't succeeded in four years. He secretly thanked the system store for being reliable.
His enthusiastic response caught Ye Cheng off guard. Bai Jing's genuine excitement made something warm stir in his chest. Even he didn't have such a reaction towards his success.
In his mind, the sword spirit let out a dramatic sigh: 'Oh, look at that. Your little wife is practically glowing with pride for you. Are you going to keep standing there like a wooden block, or will you celebrate with him?'
Ye Cheng ignored the sword spirit, instead, he handed out the small basket he brought from town. Inside were fresh cuts of meat, some plump seasonal vegetables, spice, and a jar of cooking oil: "I brought these from the market. I thought... we should have a proper meal tonight."
"Definitely!" Bai Jing beamed, taking the basket: "We have to celebrate this! I'll cook us a feast tonight. Now that you're at level 1, it won't take long for you to reach level 2."
He turned toward the kitchen, but before he could take three steps, Ye Cheng stepped in front of him, gently blocking his path. His eyes darted briefly to Bai Jing's still-flat abdomen: "Let me help. You shouldn't be lifting heavy pots or bending over the hot stove all by yourself. The physician said... you need to be careful."
Using the physician to cover up your care… The sword spirit rolled his eyes.
Bai Jing blushed slightly at the reminder of his pregnancy. Fine, he was a pregnant male, he got it.
Scruffy look at the two in deep thoughts. What happened after it left to guard its treasure? It seems like those two had somewhat gotten close?...
...
The small kitchen was soon filled with the two of them. Under Bai Jing's direction, Ye Cheng chopped the wood and washed the vegetables and made the fire. Bai Jing seasoned the meat with the spice and wild herbs he had gathered earlier, throwing in a handful of the Spirit flame grass into the fire.
As the leaves caught fire, an enchanting, savory aroma rose throughout the thatched house. Scruffy, who had been lazily napping, immediately ran into the kitchen, letting out a series of demanding meows. 'Human! The glorious scent is back! Feed his majesty at once!'
Bai Jing laughed, tossing a small, cooked scrap of meat to the eager furball.
Soon, the food was ready: a steaming pot of savory meat stew, stir-fried wild greens, and a bowl of fragrant rice. They sat down at the small wooden table. The atmosphere between them is lighter than before.
The weight of ruining Ye Cheng manual finally lifted off Bai Jing's chest.
As Ye Cheng took his first bite, he felt a familiar, soothing warmth spread through his chest. The spiritual energy, purified by the burning herb, gently flowed into his blocked meridians, easing the ache.
"It's delicious," Ye Cheng murmured, looking at Bai Jing with a softer gaze.
Bai Jing smiled, taking a bite of his own food. "I'm glad you like it. So, now that you're an official level 1 refining master, what's the next step?"
Ye Cheng set his chopsticks down. "As an official guild member, I am allowed to use the guild's spare stalls. Every weekend is a business day in Liyu town, where cultivators and merchants gather. I can sell the basic weapons and iron tools I refine directly to them. We will finally have a steady source of income."
"That's wonderful! We won't have to worry about the upcoming winter if we can save up enough silver." He paused, looking down at his plate. "I... I haven't thought of what to do yet. Lan Zhu and I are selling mushrooms, but it's not a permanent plan. I'm thinking about opening a breakfast stall in town, but it's just a thought for now."
Ye Cheng looked at him, his voice surprisingly gentle. "There is no rush. Take your time to think. For now, focus on your health."
Bai Jing nodded, his heart swelling with a strange sense of hope. For the first time since transmigrating into this world, he felt that maybe, just maybe, his life here wouldn't be so bad after all.
He doesn't need Ye Cheng to love him, he himself, has no such feelings for Ye Cheng. As long as they treated each other well, that's more than enough.