Mystique Soul: A Cultivator's Flame
Chapter 33

Chapter 33: Chapter 33

Feng Jiao Xue returned back to her courtyard and though about it before deciding to try and make this place livable.

"Are you sure that’s possible?" Huang Jin De mused appearing beside her with his arms crossed looking at the place with distain.

"The roof is barely holding together. The walls are crumbling, the floor is overrun with weeds, and that’s just the structure. The bedding looks like it’s been used by ten generations of beggars, and let’s not forget the mold..." He continued listing the flaws with exaggerated drama, pointing at each detail with the flair of a critic.

Making Feng Jiao Xue not even have the indignation to be mad because everything he pointed out was mere facts.

"Xiao Xue why don’t we just try to find a more befitting place?" he concluded with an exasperated sigh.

The courtyard bore the quiet melancholy of a place long forgotten, its grandeur eroded by time but not entirely erased. The stone tiles underfoot, once meticulously laid, now lay uneven, their surfaces cracked and softened by creeping moss and stubborn weeds that thrived in the neglect. A faint, musty scent of damp earth lingered in the air, mingled with the sharper tang of decay, as if the courtyard itself was exhaling the memory of its prime.

The walls enclosing the space stood weathered and scarred, their surfaces streaked with the telltale marks of rain and years of disrepair. Tendrils of ivy climbed through the cracks, their delicate leaves a stark contrast to the grim, mottled stone. Faded carvings hinted at an era of artistry and care, though much of their beauty had been obscured by grime or chipped away by time. Rusted lanterns dangled from tilted brackets, their glass panes cracked or missing, casting distorted reflections in the soft, shifting light.

Yet, amidst the decay, traces of its prosperous origins remained undeniable. The symmetry of the courtyard, the intricate design of the pathways, and the imposing arch of the gate, though worn, hinted at a place once alive with dignity and pride. It was as though the space still clung to the memories of its vibrant past, festive celebrations, the clinking of tea cups, the rustle of silk robes, whispering faint echoes of a time when it had been a jewel in a grand estate, now reduced to a haunting shell.

"This was her... is my home" Feng Jiao Xue told him. "And the Feng Clan can be a great backing. You said it yourself, I need allies"

"Oh~ We can do that" Huang Jin De’s eyes brightened as he had a flashed of brilliance, grinning like a cat that managed to steal a fresh fish. "Let’s take over!"

"Where not doing something that drastic. Not yet, I’m thinking of something more official" a restricted mountain peak came to her mind. Before Feng Jiao Xue raised a brow. "And are you a bird or a cat?" she softly laughs.

Huang Jin De glared at her in indigation, puffing his chest as he said "I’m a majestic vermillion bird, the sacred king of the skies!"

The corner of Feng Jiao Xue’s lips quirked up. "Whatever you say... birdie" she smirked making Yin Xiao who was laying by the side laugh.

Huang Jin De puffed his cheeks angrily but his eyes held not a trace of anger but understanding and relief.

As Feng Jiao Xue observed the courtyard, his eyes followed her.

Her steps where light and this oppressive coldness that seems to seperate her from the rest of the word no longer feels like a repelling void forming a vast space around her making her unreachable, unapproachable.

If she had once been unreachable, like a star too far to grasp, the her now resembled a flower blooming atop a snowy mountain peak. Though cold and distant, she carried the promise of spring, a quiet strength ready to thaw under the warmth of the right sun, revealing the life waiting patiently beneath the frost.

There is still a trace of loneliness that attaches itself to her like a shadow cloaking her figure, lingering, trapping and tightly holding on to her.

He smiled softly as he walks besides her.

"I wanna help Xiao Xue" Yin Xiao volunteered throttling besides them as well. "We can make your territory the best in your herds’ home range"

Feng Jiao Xue, Huang Jin De, and Yin Xiao stood in the center of the courtyard, surveying the monumental task ahead.

"This is going to be a disaster," Huang Jin De muttered, poking at the cracked stone tiles with his foot. A piece broke off, tumbling into the weeds. "Yep, confirmed. Disaster."

"It’s not so bad," Feng Jiao Xue half heartedly defended after a while. "With a little effort, this place might look decent again."

With a defeated grumble, he grabbed a broken rake leaning against a wall and began half-heartedly pulling at the weeds. Huang Jin De snorted, yanking at a particularly stubborn weed. "Decent is a generous word." He pulled at the weed before it just ended in a burnt ash by his hand.

Yin Xiao on the other hand was happily using his mist to clean the walls. Making a game out of it by creating patterns and ’drawings’ out of squiggly lines.

Feng Jiao Xue watched as Yin Xiao pranced around the courtyard, his silver mist swirling and twirling like a playful child painting on a blank canvas. His delicate hooves made soft tapping sounds against the cracked stone as he created whimsical patterns on the moss-covered walls and mud covered pavements.

One moment, a flower bloomed in misty detail, petals unfurling delicately; the next, a smiling sun wobbled on the stone, its rays uneven but radiating warmth. Yin Xiao’s tail swished with satisfaction as he admired his handiwork.

"Xiao Xue! Look at this one!" Yin Xiao called, his voice bright as his antlers shimmered with energy. He gestured with his head toward a particularly elaborate doodle of what appeared to be a deer, complete with exaggeratedly long legs and a crown atop its head.

Huang Jin De snorted, leaning on the rake. "Is that supposed to be you?"

Yin Xiao puffed out his chest proudly. "Of course! I am a majestic Antiquity Snow deer, after all. Isn’t it beautiful?"

Feng Jiao Xue glanced at the "artwork," her lips quirking up ever so slightly. "It’s... unique."

"Ngou~" Yin Xiao happily throtted around them, flicked his tail excitedly and began crafting a new masterpiece, this time a caricature of a bird with exaggerated feathers and an oversized beak.

"Is that me?" Huang Jin De asked, squinting at the wall.

Yin Xiao’s laughter rang in their minds. "Yup. Do you like it?"

Huang Jin De groaned, running a hand down his face. "This courtyard is going to look like a child’s scribble book by the time you’re done."

"At least he’s helping," Feng Jiao Xue said, brushing dirt from her hands as she stood. She turned her gaze toward the walls, noting that the silver mist cleans the walls thoroughly making the cleaned area more prominent by contrast. "Yin Xiao’s magic is practical, even if his art skills are questionable."

"Thank you, Xiao Xue!" Yin Xiao chimed, his voice brimming with delight as he began adding swirls around the bird drawing.

"See, she understands me. Unlike some grumpy birds who just don’t appreciate beauty."

Huang Jin De folded his arms, his feathers puffing slightly as he narrowed his eyes. "Grumpy birds? Care to elaborate, oh great artist?"

Yin Xiao blinked innocently, tilting his head in an almost puppy-like manner. "I didn’t mean you, Huang Jin De," he said sweetly, his silver mist swirling into a heart shape beside the caricature. "I was talking about other birds. You’re more... regal."

"Regal?" Huang Jin De raised an eyebrow, suspicious.

"Of course!" Yin Xiao beamed, his mist forming a crown over the bird drawing. "Look, I even gave you a crown. Doesn’t it suit you?"

Huang Jin De stared at the drawing, his lips twitching as if caught between a scowl and a laugh. "That’s supposed to be me? That... that bird looks ridiculous!"

Yin Xiao gasped, his silver eyes wide with genuine surprise. "Ridiculous? No! It’s adorable! Look at the little wings and the proud beak. It’s you, but... um... cuter."

"Cuter?" Huang Jin De’s voice dropped into a growl, though the corners of his mouth twitched.

Yin Xiao’s ears flicked nervously, and he shuffled a step closer to Feng Jiao Xue. "Did I say cute? I meant majestic. Very majestic. Like... the king of birds!"

Feng Jiao Xue, who had been quietly observing, finally let out a soft chuckle. "He’s trying to compliment you, Huang Jin De. Don’t scare him off."

Huang Jin De sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine. But if I see one more squiggly line calling itself ’art,’ I’m burning it."

Yin Xiao’s eyes went impossibly wide, glimmering with unshed tears. "You wouldn’t! That would be so mean..." He looked genuinely heartbroken, his ears drooping.

"Relax, Yin Xiao," Feng Jiao Xue said, her voice carrying a rare warmth. "He’s just teasing."

"Teasing?" Yin Xiao’s ears perked up instantly, his sadness forgotten. "Oh! Then I’ll forgive him." He trotted over to Huang Jin De and nuzzled his arm lightly in a gesture of affection. "You’re not so bad for a grumpy bird."

Huang Jin De stiffened, his cheeks tinged with a faint blush. "Don’t do that. I’m not some child that needs to be coaxed."

"You’re not," Yin Xiao agreed cheerfully. "You’re my friend!"

Feng Jiao Xue turned away, suppressing a smile as the two bickered again, their playful banter filling the courtyard with a warmth it hadn’t known in years. Despite the teasing and complaints, the place felt a little less lonely, a little more like home.

Despite the bickering, the courtyard slowly transformed. The walls looked sturdier, the ground clearer, and the air fresher. Though the place was far from pristine, it carried a new sense of life, a charm born from the combined efforts of a stubborn phoenix, a playful deer, and a determined cultivator.

As dusk began to settle, the trio stood back, surveying their progress.

"It’s still not perfect," Huang Jin De muttered.

"But it’s better," Feng Jiao Xue said, her voice calm but firm.

Yin Xiao tilted his head, his silver eyes reflecting the faint glow of the setting sun. "It’s more than better. It’s ours now."

Feng Jiao Xue looked at the courtyard, her expression softening. The lonely shadows that had once lingered seemed less suffocating now, replaced by the warmth of companionship and the promise of something new.

"Yes," she agreed quietly. "It’s ours."