Learning To Live As A Cultivator 29 Chapter Twenty Nine - I wonder if this has changed things

Leon made a something like a mushroom risotto, but without oil nor seasoning as he had neither. He did, however, have an edible herb with a slightly peppery tang to it, so chopped a couple of leaves finely to give the rice more flavour. Jin Li did not compliment it, in fact he claimed it was "just about edible," but he ate every mouthful, even seeking a second helping from the pot.

After the sunset beyond the horizon, Leon settled down to cultivate, placing his glasses onto the table, assuming that he would not gain access to the bed, not that the mattress had covers anymore and the rushes that filled it were spilling out of one side as it had been slashed with the covers. Jin Li glanced at him for a moment as he lay upon the bed.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"Oh," Leon replied, "I d-didn't want t-to disturb your r-rest, so I sh-should c-cultivate tonight."

"Tch," Jin Li muttered, then said aloud; "This bed is far too large for one person, I don't like this much... space." Leon stared at him wide eyed for a moment. He was certain that his bed was actually narrower than that which they had slept in at Mino's place. "And you should not cultivate when your mind is so unbalanced. Or do you wish for an entirely white head."

"Wh-what unbalance?" Leon wondered aloud, but was pulled to his feet and thrown onto the bed. A few dry grasses from the mattress fell out onto the floor.

Satisfied, Jin Li settled beside him. "Don't fidget," he told him, sternly, before falling asleep with a snore. Leon lie still upon his back, his face flushed red for a long while before his eyes grew heavy and he too drifted into his dreams.

While wrestling with the door, the following day, both men knew that fixing this would need to be a priority, however while Leon could carve ornamental things, his skills were not practical and Jin Li was a 'noble' warrior of great lineage, not a common blacksmith. For a blacksmith, they required money. Granted, Leon had the option of turning to the school, but he did not wish for them to know of his current circumstances and who knew how long it might take? Even then, they might just move him to a hut like Leo's first place, close to the main alchemy pavilion and surrounded by neighbours.

Leon, however, first decided to treat Jin Li, who had decided to cultivate for a while, to a warm bath. It took several trips to the lake, carrying a lone filled barrel to the large cooking pot, kettle and even his cauldron over three separate fires before the bath was filled with steaming water. Jin Li timed his emergence well as Leon shyly indicated the tub. Jin Li appeared startled at first, a warm smile even crept upon his face for a moment, stunning Leon that he could look so handsome. But naturally, this fell to an expression that seemed to say that it was clearly his due. As he stripped, he threw both outer and inner robes over Leon's head, but that did not stop him from viewing Jin Li in all his glory causing him to redden greatly and look away. Did they really come in that size? He had been a bit of a loner after his one relationship ended, so how would he compare? Or was his own in both lives less than the average he had always assumed.

He thought it best to not deliberate further on the subject and took the silk robes to clean, leaving the new hemp robes for Jin Li to wear.

While he was at the lake, he set up the fishing rod, but still there were no bites. He failed to attract a single fish despite washing the clothes some way down current. He decided to dig up a few tubers and edible roots on route back to the hut and came back to notice that Jin Li was no longer in the tub, in fact he was no where to be seen.

Leon placed the vegetables to one side before throwing off his own robes and sinking into the tub. The water was tepid now, but still a few degrees above what he had become accustomed to. He sighed as he pulled his knees closer to his chest trying to get comfortable before washing away the any dirt from his skin.

"So brazen, sneaking into my tub," Jin Li teased from behind him, enjoying as Leon visibly flinched in surprise. Leon did not think it was worth pointing out that he had paid for it and continued splashing about for a moment, before getting out of the tub. He didn't care that Jin Li saw him undressed, he had likely seen it all before at the lake and his body was not that interesting to look at unlike the other man.

He used his old robes to wipe away the excess water before wrapping over his body with the newly purchased ones. They swamped his frame a little, but they were warm, so he had no real complaints. Jin Li was wearing the blue, once-marital robe over his new under robes and trousers. The colour suited him very well, more regal than rogue, unlike his slightly tattered silks. Leon blushed to look upon him, before complimenting him. "You w-w-wear those r-robes well," he offered, shyly.

Jin Li raised a lone eyebrow, wondering what Leon's reaction meant, before responding; "but the fabric is still harsh and itchy."

Chapter end