40 - Dungeon Growth Log

Xia Ge felt a surge of anger. She didn't even know what she was angry about. It was her who trespassed into the forbidden mountain, and it was her who trespassed into the restricted tomb. No matter what she encountered here, even if she accidentally died, she knew she had no right to complain. —But still, she felt angry. Maybe it was the helplessness that ignited her rage. However, now was clearly not the time to be angry. "Roar—" A Class C puppet rushed toward her, opening its maw wide. A jet of fire spouted out, followed by other puppets imitating it, sending flames, ice arrows, and sharp spikes hurtling in her direction! Xia Ge glanced at the Class B puppet guarding the platform, its stomach containing a mystical stone. Her Phantom Shadow technique activated instantly, allowing her to weave like a specter through the barrage of ice and fire. With practiced ease, she broke two lines of the array on the ground with her scythe before charging into the midst of the puppets. Her black scythe whirled like a reaper's dance among them as the ethereal flute music commanded every puppet. Trying to calm herself, Xia Ge asked, "Xiao Kui, can you identify what that stone is?" System: "Inspection... That large puppet's stomach contains a teleportation stone. It seems the Ancestor left a backdoor for disciples who accidentally intruded—" A backdoor? ...Indeed. "How much time is left for the competition?" Xia Ge's scythe sliced through a puppet's head. "—Do I still have time?" The system took a moment to recall she was talking about a competition. The Dan Peak Entry Tournament! "Host! You've already spent a day here, the competition has two days remaining!" Two days! Just two more days! The fasting pill could sustain her for three days, but she didn't have much leeway. Given the situation, she could only strive for her best. Slicing through another puppet, Xia Ge tucked the torn red sleeve of A Chan back into her sleeve. It was part of someone's wedding dress. If she ruined it, how would the girl get married? System: "You still have leisure to think about this? Wait, didn't you already tear it?" Xia Ge: "If I keep it well, she can sew it back." System: "…Do you really think she plans to marry? No, I mean, do you really think she's just a maiden from Mo Village waiting to be wed? Don't you suspect anything? Use your brain!" Xia Ge resignedly: "I do suspect, but I have no proof." System: "…" Xia Ge sincerely: "I'd rather rescue her and find out she's a bad person who stabs me than contend with my own conscience." The system was incredulous: "…You actually have a conscience." Xia Ge: "…" Why wouldn’t she have a conscience? She's not exactly a model citizen, but she still had basic social ethics! Bound tightly by vines, A Chan slowly opened her eyes, watching the small figure battling fiercely among the puppets below. She glanced at her torn sleeve. The red dress was like blazing fire, with fine golden threads spiraling around it, each one containing immense and terrifying power. Oppression and strength. {Spring Autumn} {Were you moved by him?} Of course, the dress didn't respond, only fluttering its torn corner lightly. Su Chan didn't care, just looked thoughtful before smiling slightly. Only those with utter devotion and a burning passion for their master could move a sentient garment. A youth able to touch the {Blood-Dyed Spring Autumn}, causing it to willingly relinquish a piece of cloth. It could only be said—just now, he genuinely wanted to save her. Even with suspicions, he was willing to save a stranger who had only crossed paths once, unsure if she was good or evil. Full of enthusiasm and sincerity, disregarding everything. She quietly watched Xia Ge's ferocious struggle among the puppets for a while. The girl in the red wedding dress chuckled, "It seems, disciples from your sect..." "Aren't all that detestable after all." == Xia Wu Yin went missing, and Ye Ze only realized it two days before the competition started. At first, Xia Wu Yin had been staying indoors. Although he rarely left the house, at least he would come out every morning to buy some buns or pancakes. But for two consecutive days, Ye Ze hadn't seen him outside. ...Could he have studied so hard that he fainted? Ye Ze found it hard to believe that a scoundrel like Xia Wu Yin, who would shortchange the heavens and the earth but never himself, could turn into a bookish recluse overnight. Nevertheless, he decided to check on him and see how his progress was coming along. After knocking for ages with no response, and calling out with no answer, Ye Ze felt something amiss, and decisively kicked the wooden door open— Only to find it empty. The alchemy book was casually left on the table. Ye Ze flipped it open and found it as clean as Xia Wu Yin's face—no sign of any all-night study sessions. Ye Ze: "..." At Dan Peak's study room. Ye Ze paced for a long time outside. He had searched all pubs, rural areas, even visited Mo Village three miles away, but nothing. The new tavern had mysteriously closed, and Xia Wu Yin was nowhere to be seen. It was as if he had vanished into thin air, with no trace even in the village. Despite knowing it was unlikely, Ye Ze decided to visit the place where Gu Pei Jiu often reviewed their disciple's work. "Who is outside?" A cold voice came from the study, devoid of emotion. Ye Ze's heart tightened a bit, "Disciple... Ye Ze." "…" The person inside paused for half a second. "Enter." "Yes." Ye Ze pushed the door open, finding the study meticulously tidy. Bright sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the girl in Dan Peak's plain clothes, her soft black hair tied with a red ribbon. She held a brush, reading a scroll, her long eyelashes gilded by the sunlight. She seemed troubled, with her moist lips slightly pursed. "What is it?" Gu Pei Jiu put down the brush, her tone indifferent. "Senior Sister, I want to ask... has Xia Wu Yin come to see you recently?" Ye Ze hesitated for a moment, "I..." "He hasn't." Gu Pei Jiu paused slightly, her long eyelashes drooping, her voice unperturbed, "You haven’t seen him? Since when?" Ye Ze relayed all he had noticed about Xia Wu Yin's abnormalities and the time he went missing. "Senior Sister." Finally, the youth in linen clothes asked cautiously, "Has Xia Wu Yin signed up for this competition?" No matter which peak it was, the entry competition required personal registration by the participant three days before it commenced. Outside, a gentle breeze carried the scent of oleander into the study. Gu Pei Jiu lowered her eyes, her slender jade fingers smoothing out the slightly crumpled scroll, finally brushing over the last faintly inked name, her voice light and ethereal, "He signed up." "Did he personally register? When?" Ye Ze asked instinctively, then thought he was being foolish. The Dan Peak Entry Tournament couldn't be registered without the participant's jade token. Gu Pei Jiu did not reply, but the youth inexplicably felt relieved, entirely reassured, "If he signed up in person... that's good." "..." Gu Pei Jiu observed him. Ye Ze met her gaze, his eyes clear and firm, "If he intends to take it seriously, I believe he will do well." Gu Pei Jiu was silent for a while, then nonchalantly said, "But he is missing now." "He'll be back." Ye Ze asserted, "If he signed up this time, it means he has agreed to my request." Xia Wu Yin, despite being lazy, irresponsible, and hard to like, had one redeeming trait: "He never promises what he can't deliver." "Senior Sister, if Xia Wu Yin has promised something, even at the cost of his life, he will fulfill it." The youth's eyes gleamed with faith: "I believe he will come." "…Indeed." Gu Pei Jiu paused, then casually remarked, "The Sword Peak Entry Tournament is tomorrow. Even though you don't have to participate, you should go and watch." "Yes! Thank you for your concern, Senior Sister!" Ye Ze departed, apparently very satisfied to learn Xia Wu Yin had registered in person, feeling both happy and at ease. The sky was clear, and the scent of oleanders seemed to carry an unspeakable toxin. The girl in the red and white attire lightly brushed the last name on the scroll once more. —Xia Wu Yin. Ye Ze claimed he kept his promises. So just registering counted as fulfilling his promise to Ye Ze? "In that case..." Gu Pei Jiu closed her eyes slowly, putting away the scroll, and retrieved from her sleeve the dragon-shaped jade token missing half a corner. Ferocious-looking, but because of the missing corner, it seemed somewhat like a child's toy. —She hadn’t directly told Ye Ze the truth. Because that name, she had written down herself. Xia Wu Yin had not come back to register. "If others made promises to you." She seemed to speak to herself, her voice chilly, "Would you still fulfill them?" She paused. "…That's not right." Leaving the jade token, she walked to the window, where the blazing white oleanders stood out vividly. She recalled the green-haired youth at the Dan Pavilion, whose carefree brows and eyes were filled with laughter. He had promised her. ——Rest assured, there will be no problems! The girl's voice was faint, almost as if talking to herself. "This is the promise you made to me." The manuscripts had been reviewed and corrected. "Miss." A low voice sounded from outside the study, "We searched the back mountain thoroughly. Apart from the demonic puppets and the garment spirit, we found no trace of anyone." The girl, dressed in Dan Peak’s plain attire, responded coldly. "Keep searching." "Understood!" == The night wind was cool. Chu Yao had just returned from her sword practice. After taking a bath and tidying up, Xiao Qing's voice called out. "Miss, tomorrow is the Sword Peak's entry competition for new disciples... Will you be attending to watch?" Xiao Qing's tone carried a hint of trepidation. In past Sword Peak entry competitions, even though the primary disciple was expected to attend, the Miss rarely showed up. In her own words— "They're all a bunch of unworthy amateurs, nothing worth watching." But this year's competition, the esteemed young master from the Chang family would be participating. Thinking of this, Xiao Qing's voice took on a more persuasive tone, "Miss, please consider attending this time. The family head wishes for you to take care of him..." Take care? Chu Yao glanced at the Frost-Liang Sword she had casually hung on the wall. Under the moonlight, the sword's glimmer was cold and dreamlike. A chilly smile curved her lips, revealing a sharp canine tooth. "Xiao Qing, I don't take care of trash." This single sentence left Xiao Qing speechless, unsure whether to advance or retreat. After a moment, with a strained tone, he added, "The young master from the Chang family is very young, but his swordsmanship is exceptional..." "I will go." Chu Yao retracted her gaze nonchalantly, her brown eyes gleaming with an indescribable light. "No need to say more. Go rest." "...Yes." Xiao Qing was taken aback by her sudden agreement but then sighed with relief. Regardless of the reason, her willingness to attend was a positive outcome. Just as he was about to leave, her indifferent voice sounded again. "Wait, have you reviewed the list of participants this time?" Xiao Qing stopped, "I have..." "Is there anyone with the surname Xia?" Xiao Qing racked his brain, "There seem to be a few... Which one does Miss specifically mean?" "It's nothing, just curious. You can go. I'll be attending." "…Oh." As he left, Xiao Qing muttered to himself, someone with the surname Xia? There's no famous Xia family... Author's note: Well. It's almost exam time, so let’s build up some goodwill for the exams… Updating more tomorrow =w= First update tomorrow at noon, second update still at 11:30 PM, hmm. = = Thanks to Cat Bigshot for the landmine! = = Reader “vieaky”, thank you for the nutrient solution on 2018-06-06 22:30:00 Reader “Mo.”, thank you for the nutrient solution on 2018-06-06 22:24:44 Reader “Today also heartless”, thank you for the nutrient solution on 2018-06-06 18:30:13 Reader “Chen Su”, thank you for the nutrient solution on 2018-06-06 15:09:41 Reader “boluoboluome”, thank you for the nutrient solution on 2018-06-06 14:42:26 Reader “Wen Xingzhi”, thank you for the nutrient solution on 2018-06-06 10:37:31 Reader “Falling leaves follow the wind”, thank you for the nutrient solution on 2018-06-06 10:08:26 Reader “Eighteenth Prince”, thank you for the nutrient solution on 2018-06-06 09:05:59 Reader “”, thank you for the nutrient solution on 2018-06-06 02:36:01 Reader “Elegant Little Fairy”, thank you for the nutrient solution on 2018-06-06 01:02:23 Reader “skye”, thank you for the nutrient solution on 2018-06-06 00:10:40 Reader “Meow Meow Meow”, thank you for the nutrient solution on 2018-06-05 23:33:45 Thanks, everyone, for the nutrient solutions! I love you all!