"Uh, that won't do. Miss Feng, you're such an elegant and lovely woman. If I let you stay in a thatched hut, I wouldn't be able to eat or sleep in peace."
Nuwa was a little disappointed. Even though I offered to stay in a thatched hut, the expert still won't agree?
So the expert has rejected me. What a shame—I still haven't figured out what he meant.
Nuwa was deeply disappointed and remained silent for a long while.
Seeing how dejected she was, Jiang Ping silently reproached himself. What a blockhead I am.
I could have tactfully suggested another solution. Why did I have to say it so bluntly?
He quickly thought it over, and an idea struck him. "Miss Feng, I do have a good idea."
Nuwa's eyes lit up. The expert had changed his mind after all.
"Please, tell me, Young Master."
Jiang Ping pondered for a moment, then said, "How about this? Miss Feng, stay here with me for now. Over the next few days, I'll go to the back mountain to cut down some trees and haul over some stone to build a simple house as soon as possible. Then you can choose whichever one you like."
Nuwa was delighted. This time, the expert wasn't rejecting her. She could sense the sincerity in his words.
But then she quickly spoke up again. "Your idea is good, Young Master, but I have one of my own."
"Then let's hear it."
Nuwa's heart stirred. Houtu lived not far from here. She could seize the chance to introduce Houtu and let her meet the expert.
Whether she gained a fortuitous opportunity would depend on her own fate.
"Young Master, I happen to know some friends who are very strong and especially skilled at building houses."
Jiang Ping was overjoyed. "Really? That would be wonderful. Though we won't need too many people. I can barely afford to feed them, let alone pay wages."
Nuwa smiled. "Don't worry, Young Master. They're all kindhearted and won't ask for anything in return. They're easygoing about food and drink, too."
"Besides, I think you must get lonely here by yourself. Having more people around would make things livelier."
"And your little courtyard could use some repairs. Why not take this opportunity to renovate and improve it all at once?"
Jiang Ping was deeply grateful and said, a little embarrassed, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Miss Feng."
Nuwa smiled. "There's no need to be so polite, Young Master. Why don't I go right now?"
Jiang Ping was taken aback. "Miss Feng, are you in such a hurry?"
Nuwa nodded, then gave him a sly smile. "There's no time like the present. I'm afraid you'll change your mind again."
"All right, then. When will you come back?"
Nuwa thought for a moment. "In two or three days, probably."
"Good. Wait a moment." Jiang Ping rose at once.
He took a stack of drafts from a nearby bookshelf.
"These are some house plans I drew up before. Take them back and show them to your friend for reference. They can see what tools they'll need to bring, so nothing gets overlooked and causes trouble later."
Nuwa took them, tucked them away carefully, and said goodbye to Jiang Ping.
After Nuwa left, Jiang Ping felt a pang of melancholy. They hadn't even had much time to talk before Miss Feng had rushed off again.
It certainly suited her name—Miss Feng. How interesting.
I can't wait. Soon, I won't be lonely anymore. I'll finally have someone to talk to.
Nuwa left the courtyard and immediately sped off, flying with all her might toward the Witch Clan settlement.
A long while later, Houtu was astonished to see Nuwa.
"Nuwa, why are you back so soon? Did you fail to find the expert?"
Nuwa smiled and shook her head. "I met him. I told the expert about you, and he agreed to let me bring you along."
Houtu was delighted, too. Anyone Nuwa called an expert had to be extraordinary.
"Let's go. We'll leave right now."
Nuwa tugged at Houtu's sleeve and chided her playfully. "Don't rush. I came to find you because there's something I need to tell you first."
Houtu paused and eyed Nuwa suspiciously. After looking her over, her gaze sharpened, and she was inwardly shocked.
"Nuwa, you've only been gone half a day, but your cultivation seems to have improved again."
Seeing Houtu's astonishment, Nuwa giggled. "You have the sharpest eyes. I can't hide anything from you. You're right. I gained another fortuitous opportunity from the expert."
Houtu's expression gradually grew serious. She said thoughtfully, "Nuwa, I still think you should be careful. What if this expert is a fraud? He might have used some forceful method to spur your potential, which is why you advanced so quickly."
"That would be a serious mistake. Forcibly exhausting your potential would greatly harm your future path. You might make rapid progress at first, but later you'd run out of steam, and your cultivation would never advance beyond that point."
Nuwa felt a warmth in her heart and said softly, "Houtu, don't worry. I know what I'm doing. At first, I was doubtful about the expert, too, but after spending some time with him, I realized he truly stands apart from the world, free of all desire."
"Everything he has is there for you to take. Once the right opportunity comes, the benefits will come to you on their own. The expert doesn't say much, watches quietly, asks no questions, and never forces anything."
Houtu grew even more curious. She asked doubtfully, "Can there really be an expert so detached from the world and free of desire?"
Nuwa nodded firmly. "Otherwise, how could he be called an expert?"
"Then tell me everything about him, so I can be prepared."
Nuwa firmly refused. "I can't do that. The expert is an existence who cannot be spoken of. How could I discuss him behind his back? Besides, the more you know, the further you'll stray from your original intent. Fortuitous opportunities come from letting things unfold naturally. You have to comprehend and seek everything for yourself!"
Houtu said helplessly, "You cultivators are always saying such mysterious things. We Witch Clan members rely entirely on the strength of our bodies. One punch can destroy anything!"
"People who follow different paths can't work together, as the saying goes. But that won't stop the two of us from getting along." Nuwa playfully winked.
Then she suddenly added, "Oh, right! I nearly forgot the important matter. There's something I need your help with before we go."
"Just say it. I'll do what I can."
Nuwa thought for a moment. "Actually, I'm using the excuse of helping the expert build a house to bring you there. I told him you knew a lot about construction, so could you see if there's anyone suitable in the Witch Clan? Perhaps bring a few clansmen along?"
Houtu burst out laughing. "My dear sister, I don't know the first thing about building houses. But there are a few Great Witches in the clan who are skilled at it, and some Ancestor Witches are proficient in the divine powers of the five elements and space. They might be useful."
"But I don't plan to bring them this time. You know how hot-tempered those Great Witches are. I'm afraid they'll anger the expert before we've said a few words. Wouldn't that ruin your plans?"
"As for the other Ancestor Witches, they wouldn't believe in something like this, so there's no relying on them."
Nuwa thought it over carefully. "That's fine. The two of us can go first. It's just a matter of building a house. How hard can it be?"
"Oh, take a look at these. The expert said he drew these plans himself."
Houtu took them and examined them carefully. She praised them without reservation. "The expert certainly knows his stuff. Just looking at these plans, I can sense that there's something extraordinary about them, though I can't quite put my finger on it. It may be because my soul is weak."
"There's no time to lose. We shouldn't keep the expert waiting. Let's go now."
"Let's leave the plans here. I'll look them over when I have time. I keep feeling there's something hidden in them."
Before you continue