Wait why is there only one bed

"Sect Master Xian!"

Xian Wu thought he heard an annoying noise and grumbled. He slowly opened his eyes, feeling a lot more rested. The rain hadn't lasted too long, so the two of them were spared from getting soaked.

"Sect Master, I've finished building the house! When do I get the reward, how much is it?"

Bo Penglai did the honors of pulling the damp set of clothes off Xian Wu's head as he sought answers to his questions. His jaw gaped slightly before closing; it seemed that Sect Master Xian and this beauty slept the night together! However, Bo Penglai was a man of shameless quality, no matter who was with the Sect Master, it was none of his business to care as long as he got paid his wages and was properly taught the martial arts.

Xian Wu pulled the damp set of clothes off from over his head and just now remembered that Lai Yiteng was cradled in his arms, his head firmly snuggled into his side. He tried to smooth out both his and Lai Yiteng's messy ruffles of hair.

"Er…you're done already?" he asked Bo Penglai, then looked at the sky and was certain that only one night had passed. That was less than 12 hours in which a house was constructed. Is that humanly possible with one man? Xian Wu added with skepticism, "It better not be shoddy,"

"Shoddy, or a craftsman's masterpiece, why doesn't Sect Master Xian have a look and then decide?" Bo Penglai countered nonchalantly, and air of expert calm about him.

"Yes, yes, I'll go see it."

Xian Wu yawned as he stood up, pulling Lai Yiteng back onto his shoulders. His breathing was quiet and peaceful. Wow, isn't it nice when Yi'er is so quiet and well-behaved?!

But, Xian Wu actually liked it more when he was awake, even if he was more bitter, at least there was a certain amount of liveliness to him.

They started walking along a thin deer trail in the woods, ferns and grass fell over it. Bo Penglai suddenly had three dumplings in his hand and was munching on them as he sauntered forward. A meal after a good day's hard work, they say. This time they were filled with chicken meat, not pork.

"Hey," Bo Penglai held a dumpling behind himself as he walked along the path, "want a dumpling?"

"Sure." Xian Wu took it, quite pleased with his sect member's mannerisms. He was even more glad that it wasn't Song Zhenxi who came after him or he would never hear the end of his bitter scolding about his recent choices and actions.

It was good that it was Bo Penglai!

There was a little grassy and flower-filled meadow that they passed through, then arrived at the newly built house not too long after.

Bo Penglai had spread out a few twigs and pine needles on the thatched roof to make it look older. This was not the only effort the lad had gone to, either, but also adding slight wear to the wood and doorframe. He even carved an old family name onto the door, one he'd randomly thought up. Yes, good thinking.

Lai Yiteng will surely never know the difference.

The size of it was indeed one-room, just enough to house two people even if it would be slightly cramped. Well, cramped in Xian Wu's opinion, as someone who was used to vast Sect grounds and luxurious living spaces. In any case, he took a hand and rapped the wood outside the house. It was softer, but solid enough, probably made from maples and pines nearby.

"I must say, it looks all right from the outside," noted Xian Wu.

Bo Penglai nodded seriously, his braid flopping onto his shoulder. "Of course, Sect Master. How would this loyal servant ever make something not up to standard? I made sure it was all put in as conveniently as possible, maximizing space. There are shutters on the window to prevent rain and wind as well." he wondered how much extra money he would be rewarded.

Xian Wu slid open the door, propping Lai Yiteng up on his back again, and stepped inside.

Bare necessities were present, including the table and stove. Bo Penglai had not made any mistakes. Well, that was what Xian Wu thought until he looked at the bed. It had a wide frame, two pillows side by side with a quilt, but the issue was that it was just one extra-large bed. It was clearly made for two people to sleep on.

"…what is this?" he asked dryly.

Bo Penglai had an innocent expression. "A bed big enough for two people!" he answered with confidence.

"Wait what?" Xian Wu knit his brown, slowly turning alarmed. "I clearly asked for two small beds. You see, one for Lai Yiteng, and one for myself. Not a bed for two people…"

Once again, Bo Penglai had a serious tone. "But won't this serve Sect Master's purposes better?"

"P-Purposes?! What purposes?!" Xian Wu could only grimace. "Your train of thought is all wrong."

Bo Penglai sighed. "Is that so. But Sect Master never went out of his way for another person, even though you're already past marrying age. So I just thought that maybe...ah, but alas…"

"Hey! Don't bring that up. Yi'er and marriage have nothing to do with each other! He's a man, you know? Don't you have two eyes on your head?! Moreover, you're only under twenty years, you shouldn't assume you know anything about these matters."

"Really?"

Xian Wu snapped, "Yes, really! He's just my life-saver from the past, that's all."

"Huhhh…" Bo Penglai looked unconvinced, but said nothing more.

"Well," Xian Wu smiled angrily, "you need to fix this bed before-"

As though the heavens had ordained it, Lai Yiteng shifted on Xian Wu's back and made a small groaning noise, as though about to awaken.

Bo Penglai started saying, "Fine, I will remake-"

"Nope. Never mind!" hurried Xian Wu. "Quickly get out of sight!"

Bo Penglai might be a bit odd, but he wasn't stupid. He got the drift and replied, "Yes, Sect Master! I'll ask about the reward later." His feet moved as he sprung off into the trees like a shadow.

Xian Wu laid Lai Yiteng down on the bed, watching him carefully and ready to block an attack in case that was Lai Yiteng's first action after waking up, but it had actually been a false alarm.

Lai Yiteng was only having another bout of restlessness in his sleep and wasn't waking up just yet. His face was taunt, as though he would snap awake at any moment, but he was gripped inside of his own mind and unable to break away.

Notes of sympathy flashed in Xian Wu's heart, he ran a palm over Lai Yiteng's forehead before stepping back outside of the house.

"Bo Penglai."

"Yes, Master Xian?" Bo Penglai flashed down from the tree.

"I need you to get me a few materials from the nearest town."

He listed off a number of herbs and other strange ingredients. Then he noted a few other things such as clothes, rice, paper, and the like. Once his faithful dog had gone off to buy those things, Xian Wu sat down at the table, glancing to check that Lai Yiteng was still asleep before pulling out a small bamboo slip. He began to write a letter to Song Zhenxi about Deathly Howling Mountain, describing the situation and that she needed to send a group of people to investigate.

In particular, that salamander. It was unlikely that evil creature arose on its own, and the poison it had to paralyze limbs was weak but unique.

There was probably some person dabbling in forbidden arts who created it, then dumped in onto that already haunted mountain. Before anyone caught on that monster had killed a substantial amount of commoners within a few months. More than that, it seemed that even martial artists from other sects had been drawn there and met their demise.

In any case, it wasn't something he could ignore.

He glanced at Yi'er sleeping on the bed, and saw him mouth something in his sleep. Ah, what could he be dreaming of right now?