19 - Dungeon Growth Log

After two days and nights without sleep, even a superhuman would succumb. As soon as Xia Ge lay down, she slept straight through to the next noon. When she opened her eyes, Xia Ge could still feel a deep-seated fatigue and a groggy headache. The Little Puppet lay quietly at her bedside, having lost the liveliness of the previous day. Its previously radiant, glassy skin had turned to a wooden texture, and it had shrunk significantly. What yesterday was palm-sized was now only the size of her palm, a mere inch square, resembling a child’s casually carved wooden doll. Rubbing her temples, Xia Ge sat up and picked up the doll, her voice raspy from just waking up, “...Why does it look different from yesterday?” System’s voice was lazily nonchalant, “I told you, it is a low-level puppet. It only becomes like it was yesterday when you drive it.” Xia Ge looked puzzled, holding the doll, “...How do I drive it?” “{Control Soul Command}.” System paused slightly, “This is a skill that every puppet master must know. It is the most basic skill for controlling puppets.” “Host, you must be proficient in at least one musical instrument.” Xia Ge: “...” Xia Ge silently shoved the wooden doll into her pocket, “Ah, I’ll deal with this later.” Too broke to afford meals, where was the time to practice music, chess, calligraphy, and painting? What a headache. After a simple tidy-up, Xia Ge looked up at the precariously hanging black sickle above her head, grabbed her identity jade token, and headed out. System assumed Xia Ge would seek out Zhang Carpenter at the village end to help remove the sickle. Who would have guessed that she headed straight for the mountain once out the door? System: “...Aren’t you repairing the house?” Xia Ge: “Today’s payday!” System: “...” Ninety copper coins as remuneration was indeed a considerable amount for the host. But shouldn’t a normal person first find someone to repair their house?! Xia Ge: “I want to enjoy my fortune a bit longer.” System: “...” = = The internal affairs pavilion where the remuneration was distributed wasn’t far, and Xia Ge reached it with just a short walk. Indeed, today was the payout day for outer disciples, but most had already collected their money in the morning. Few would come in the afternoon, adding to the workload. Accountant Liu Xiaoqian focused on his ledger, his brush tapping and sketching on the rice paper, his brows tightly knitted. “Hehe, Brother Liu, I’m here to collect my payout.” A clear, youthful voice with a hint of laughter interrupted Liu Xiaoqian’s thoughts. Coming back to his senses, seeing it was Xia Ge, his expression immediately soured, “Xia Wuyin? Why are you so late?” Xia Ge scratched her head, laughing sheepishly, “Senior Brother Ye caught me to do some tasks today, so that’s why I’m late. I came straight here as soon as I returned.” System silently mocked, noting that the host’s ability to lie with a straight face had improved. “Forget it.” Liu Xiaoqian’s expression softened slightly. There were numerous outer disciples who were called upon to temporarily assist inner disciples, so such an excuse wasn’t unusual. He procedurally marked the ledger, “Xia Wuyin... three hundred copper coins.” Xia Ge was momentarily stunned, three hundred copper coins? Wasn’t it supposed to be ninety? Nonetheless, she maintained a beaming smile, “Really appreciate it.” Liu Xiaoqian tore off a receipt and handed it to Xia Ge, “Go collect it from the other accountant over there.” Taking the receipt, Xia Ge took a few steps towards the accountant before pausing. She slightly tilted her head, “...Brother Liu, did you perhaps miscalculate?” Liu Xiaoqian snorted, “I wouldn’t miscalculate anyone else’s, let alone yours. Just yesterday, the Elder Sister suddenly changed the rules. Now outer disciples guarding Dan Peak also get merit pay, doubling the previous remuneration.” He cast a sideways glance at Xia Ge, “Lucky break for you; now go get your money.” Xia Ge’s eyebrows shot up joyfully as she went to collect her payout, feeling the weight of the copper coins in her pouch as she exited the office. She called out merrily. “Little Puppet.” System replied lazily, “Hmm?” “You were right.” System, confused, “???” Xia Ge chuckled but offered no explanation. The sunlight was bright in the sky. The youth, with a green hairband, kissed the money pouch, his black eyes gleaming softly. — Indeed, it was a piece of pale black jade. Silent, yet brightly shimmering. = = In the vast wilderness, the faint howl of wolves echoed. “A song of Requiem.” The voice of a blood-clad maiden was sweet and lingering, laced with a hint of allure, “Sings of the world’s end.” Draped in a blood-red coat, the girl leaned half-reclined on the rooftop, her jade-like hand twirling a glistening white bone flute. The red tassel at the flute’s end fluttered in the wind, the moon’s silver light accentuating her delicate features—exquisite and enchanting, her red lips and fair skin, naturally emanating charm. A somewhat immature voice sounded, and a young child wearing a half-iron mask knelt on one knee, “Master, it is midnight; you should retire.” “The moonlight tonight is splendid.” The girl's voice was rounded with a trace of seduction, her long eyes squinting to the temples. Though only fifteen or sixteen years old, every smile and gesture brimmed with allure, “I have no intention of sleeping.” “Yes, Master.” The child replied softly. The night was cool. The girl's finger, like white scallions, gently caressed the bone flute, as if stroking a lover, “How is Lingxi?” “There is news from Lingxi Peak; the demonic puppet we released was destroyed by the reserve senior brother from Jian Peak…” The child hesitated, “... with a single sword strike.” “I see.” The girl seemed indifferent. She lightly cradled the bone flute in her wide red sleeve, her long eyebrows slightly arched, “Is it that one… from the Chang’an Chu family, Chu Yao?” The child was slightly taken aback, then nodded, “Yes.” “What a shame.” The girl's voice was soft, “Such a beautiful mountain... always inhabited by unsightly people.” An inadvertent comment made the child tremble, his body barely perceptibly shivering. “Are you afraid of me?” The girl chuckled softly, “What are you afraid of?” Just as the child was about to answer, the girl raised her hand slightly, stopping him. She slowly stood up, her red lips slightly curved, “Afraid, huh? That’s good.” The child didn’t dare to respond. “Let’s talk.” The girl covered her mouth with a light laugh, “Who are the upcoming talents from Lingxi Mountain lately?” The child lowered his head, “Besides Chu Yao from Jian Peak, there's Chang Lan from the {Order} sect temporarily acting as senior brother of Jian Peak, and the newly promoted senior brother of Dan Peak, Gu Pei Jiu…” “Gu Pei Jiu?” The wind, suddenly stilled. “I can't stand this senior brother’s name.” The child remained silent. “Bai Zhi, I’ll give you three thousand puppets. Find a way to kill Gu Pei Jiu.” The girl’s voice was gentle, “Alright?” The child named Bai Zhi’s body quivered slightly, “Yes!” The night wind whispered, softly and gently. Bai Zhi knelt in the wind, not daring to move. The girl gazed at the bright moon in the sky, her long eyes reflecting the moonlight, affectionate and gentle. After a prolonged silence. “It’s been so long…” She caressed the bone flute, murmuring softly, her red coat flapping, the moon’s silver light reflecting in her dark eyes like a frozen river in winter, “It’s time to find news of ‘Requiem.'” White bones and grieving souls, unrivaled Requiem. The flute began to play softly, and across the desolate wilderness, countless puppet eye sockets ignited with a ghostly blue soul flame. The wolf howls quieted, replaced by the low growls of controlled demonic puppets. —It’s been so long. —You should return. “Not one of those to be killed will be spared.” As the tune ended, the puppets roared, their eye flames merging into a vast ocean against the endless wasteland. The girl gently stroked the bone flute, her voice tender, “I will be the first to find you.” —“I’m the only one who remembers.” I remember how much I loved you. Even if it means upending the world, sacrificing a million souls, I will guard your mountain, your Requiem, your white bones, waiting here, for your return.