[NR] X, But Y - Chapter 644 (Patreon)

Well, “clear” might have been a bit of an exaggeration. However, the marks that were left did the job and Jason could cut out the shape close enough that it would fit like a glove. Satisfied, he spent an entire week laying out the Energy gathering ritual using chalk.

Yes, he did want to do things without such assistance, but the slab took more effort than he was willing to throw away because of a bad bit of layout and design. Besides, once marked it took him barely an afternoon to finish it. Now, all he needed was for Courtney to be around to take advantage of her magic.

Good thing the pair weren’t traveling too far out. Since they had taken a bit of a break, no matter how forced it was, the place had completely changed, so they needed to rebuild their mental map. This is particularly good for Rosha’s skill growth as it was like exploring a whole new forest.

Then, once Courtney was around, it is pure simplicity to lower his basement’s new floor. All it took was for Courtney to create some shadow constructs in the pit, allowing the stone slab to be slowly lowered in. The constructs aren’t combat worthy and couldn’t actually support the stone slab. What they did do was provide a soft resistance and plug up the air gap some so the air helped.

After that, the basement room needed a ceiling and it was as complete as Jason planned to make it for the moment. The walls would need to be bricked up at some point, but he had plans for that. Besides, he didn’t have easily accessible clay at the moment and didn’t want to bother making it.

Oh, and the ceiling was simplicity itself. One of the spare slabs of rock that ended up being needed for the floor with an opening cut into it for the staircase. Once that was in place, Jason couldn’t help, but to facepalm. He had forgotten to build the staircase.

Not that he needed it. That short of a distance was easily jumped. It was just that having one would make the trapdoor easier to hide. However, he wasn’t going to drag the ceiling slab away.

Instead, Jason tossed all the materials he needed down into the basement and hopped in himself. Then it was a simple matter of building his way out. Well, it would have been simple if he had remembered to bring along his ritual plate of light.

Jason was getting a bit frustrated by this point. He was missing way too many things! Then it hit him, he needed sleep. Building this place had gotten him way too locked in and hadn’t even been meditating properly every night, instead favoring irl cultivation since that wasn’t bottlenecked.

Now, he really wanted to finish up, but could tell that was a recipe for disaster and so went to bed. This quick bit of sleep turned into a nearly 14 hour slumber. Yeah, he had been running himself ragged. Even with cultivation and meditation, he was nowhere near ready to forgo sleep like he had been.

Though once he woke up, Jason had to deal with the classic situation. Oh, you slept more than a night’s rest? Feel tired now!

Of course, along with that, things were a lot clearer as if a fog had lifted, so Jason just dealt with it. Besides, there was still so much to do! In particular, he wanted to put the floor of his house back into place.

But how would he hide his basement trapdoor? It wasn’t like they had to use scrap wood on the floor. The planks were to size, with the scrap wood being used for other things more suited for it.

Well, the answer is simple enough if you’re strong enough. Since the boards go across the floor the short way, Jason simply attached the planks that covered the staircase down. Now, to get into the basement he simply has to lift the planks up.

Would this eventually show wear and tear along the edges? Most certainly! However, Jason didn’t plan to make a habit of going down into the basement. It had been meant as a safe room for when something that couldn’t be interrupted was going down. Oh, and after the bricks went in, as an emergency shelter. Though those are a way off, even if he was going to store some non-perishable food and water down there.

And now that his house was done, it was time!

To work on Rosha and Courtney’s house. At least until they got back to the clearing. There wasn’t as much work that needed done. Just putting up some shelves and what not? Though this did give him enough free time to pamper Lily.

He hadn’t been neglecting her, but...

Yeah, Jason realized anytime someone said, “X, but Y”, chances are Y would invalidate X. Though he really did feel like he tried! It just wasn’t like when they were out on the road by themselves.

After this, Jason suddenly felt like one of those dads in a children’s movie who is about to learn the lesson that their kids would much prefer them being at their ballgame over a vacation to Hawaii. Anyway, after this is finished, he would be switching off with the other two ongoing out into the Deep Wilds.

Maybe not one to one, he was the one building their base, but at least every third trip. Jason grimaced again. It kept happening! He was going to have to work on this. Even if cultivation in theory can grant you immortality, what good is it if you end up alone in the end?

In fact, as he thought about this, the clearing didn’t need someone guarding it 24/7. Jason felt a headache coming on because he couldn’t blame all of his bone headedness on sleep deprivation. He should be going out adventuring with Rosha and Courtney, at least some of the time!

They’re friends for goodness's sake!

Nevertheless, that little thought of, “after this” still snuck in.