Courtyard Check-in: Starting with a Small World of Cultivation

February 1st is the beginning of spring.

The sun shone brightly in the small courtyard in front of the gate. Chen Yu moved a chair and sat under the pomegranate tree, a thin blanket covering his legs, squinting in the sun. Qin Huairu was hanging clothes to dry nearby, glancing back at him every now and then, her eyes full of heartache.

He's been back for three days, but his face is still pale, and he walks with unsteady steps. He's completely different from the energetic Chen Yu he used to be.

"Are you sure you don't need to go to the hospital?" Qin Huairu walked over and touched his forehead.

"No need." Chen Yu held her hand. "It's just that my true energy was overused. I'll be fine after some rest. The hospital won't be able to tell."

Qin Huairu sighed and sat down beside him: "That white-haired old man, is he really dead?"

"Dead." Chen Yu nodded. "Completely and cleanly."

"That's good," Qin Huairu said softly. "There won't be any more danger in the future, right?"

Chen Yu was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "The seal hasn't been repaired yet. Once I'm healed, I'll have to go back to the battlefield."

Qin Huairu's face paled, but she didn't say anything, only tightened her grip on his hand.

Just then, the courtyard gate was pushed open. Ding Qiunan came in carrying a basket, and her eyes lit up when she saw Chen Yu: "Brother Chen, I've brewed some medicine for you!"

"What medicine?" Chen Yu asked curiously as she opened the basket, revealing a bowl of dark, medicinal soup that emitted a strong medicinal smell.

"I learned this recipe for replenishing qi and blood from the Compendium of Materia Medica," Ding Qiunan said, presenting it to him like a treasure. "Try it; it shouldn't be bitter."

Chen Yu took the bowl, smelled it, and indeed there were several qi-tonifying herbs inside. He took a bite, and it wasn't bitter at all; it even had a faint sweetness—this girl had added licorice.

"Not bad," he praised, "You learn quite quickly."

Ding Qiunan blushed slightly, but her eyes were full of pride: "That's right, I read books diligently every day."

"Reading books isn't enough," Chen Yu said. "You have to put it into practice. Once I can move around, I'll take you to gather herbs."

"Really?" Ding Qiunan's eyes lit up.

"real."

Just then, there was another knock on the courtyard gate. He Yuzhu's loud voice rang out: "Chen Yu! Huai Ru! Open the door!"

Qin Huairu went to open the door, and He Yuzhu came in carrying a steaming pot of food, followed by Yan Bugui, who was carrying a basket.

"I've brought you some good food!" He Yuzhu put the bowl on the table. "It's my wife's stewed chicken soup, good for your health! Chen Yu, why do you look so pale? Are you sick?"

"It's nothing, I'm just tired," Chen Yu said with a smile.

Yan Bugui put down the basket: "My wife made red date cake, which is also good for replenishing blood. Little Chen, you have to take good care of yourself and not overwork yourself."

"Thank you, Uncle San, thank you, Brother Zhu." Chen Yu felt a warmth in his heart. These neighbors, though they usually have their own little thoughts, are always so heartwarming in crucial moments.

Everyone sat down and chatted while eating. He Yuzhu started talking about what was happening in the courtyard—Jia Zhangshi had gotten into another fight, no one was home at Xu Damao's house, and Third Uncle's chess skills had improved dramatically recently; he had won several games…

Chen Yu listened with a faint smile on his face. These days are truly wonderful.

In the afternoon, after seeing He Yuzhu and Yan Bugui off, Chen Yu returned to the house and entered the small world.

The sun still shone brightly in the small world, the medicinal herbs in the spirit field grew even more luxuriantly, and there were a few more chickens and rabbits. He sat cross-legged in the bamboo house, took a Qi-Nourishing Pill, and began to circulate his internal energy to recover.

His golden core was dim, his true essence was depleted, and recovery would be very slow. But he wasn't in a hurry; he would take it slowly.

The time flow rate in the small world is adjusted to 1:10, so one day outside is equivalent to ten days here.

When thirty days had passed in the small world, his true essence had recovered by 20%.

Sixty days had passed in the small world, and it had recovered to 40%.

Ninety days had passed in the small world, and it had recovered to 60%.

He opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of stale air. At this rate, he would be fully recovered in another sixty days (small world time).

Only nine days had passed in the outside world after I left the small world.

Qin Huairu was cooking in the kitchen when she saw him come out and exclaimed with delight, "You look much better!"

"Hmm, you're recovering well." Chen Yu walked over and gently hugged her from behind. "You've had a tough time these past few days."

"What's so hard about it?" Qin Huairu leaned against him. "Your well-being is more important than anything else."

The two exchanged a smile, everything understood without a word.

In the days that followed, Chen Yu accompanied Qin Huairu to the shop to help out during the day, taught Ding Qiunan medicine in the evenings, and entered his small world at night to cultivate and recover. His days were peaceful and fulfilling.

February 14th, Valentine's Day (although we don't celebrate this holiday these days).

In the evening, Chen Yu called Qin Huairu out of the small world—she had been keeping him company in the small world for the past few days, only occasionally coming out for some fresh air.

"What's wrong?" Qin Huairu asked.

Chen Yu took a small box out of his pocket and handed it to her: "This is for you."

Qin Huairu opened it, and inside was a pearl the size of a thumb, round and smooth, emitting a faint blue glow—it was one he had casually picked from the coral when he was in the Dragon Palace of the East Sea.

"So beautiful..." Qin Huairu murmured, her eyes slightly red.

"Try wearing it."

Qin Huairu wore the pearls around her neck, and the pearls clung to her fair skin, making them appear even more lustrous.

"Is it pretty?" she asked.

"Beautiful." Chen Yu looked at her, his eyes full of tenderness. "More beautiful than pearls."

Qin Huairu blushed and lightly slapped him: "You're always being cheeky."

The two stood in the courtyard, watching the sunset on the horizon.

"Chen Yu," Qin Huairu suddenly asked, "Once the seal is repaired, let's stay like this forever, okay?"

"Okay." Chen Yu put his arm around her shoulder. "Let's stay like this forever, and never be apart again."

The sunset painted half the sky red and gilded the courtyard with a layer of gold.

Under the pomegranate tree, the two shadows nestled close together.

At this moment, all is peaceful and serene.