46 - Dungeon Growth Log

There was nothing to be done. Having missed the registration, Xia Ge could only grudgingly accept reality in her despair. "Ye Ze is definitely going to kill me... ahhh." Xia Ge clutched her head, "Little Dummy, my life feels so bleak right now..." The system tried to comfort her: "Take a look... maybe there's still hope?" "Hope? More like despair... agh, hope... oh, right, hope! The Ghost Dragon Jade! I have to find the Ghost Dragon Jade!" Anyway, the competition was a bust, but if Ye Ze was going to leave, she absolutely had to give him the Ghost Dragon Jade! She really didn't mean it, and hoped he would relent because of the Ghost Dragon Jade. System: "..." No sooner thought than done, Xia Ge activated her Ghost Phantom Traceless Steps and swiftly flash-stepped to the place where she'd lost the jade. The grass was in disarray, vaguely highlighted by the scene of a demonic puppet's attack from a few days before, but Xia Ge searched every single clump to no avail—not even a nice-looking rock. "Argh, why can't I find it?!" Xia Ge, panicking, clutched her head and spun in circles, "I'm doomed... this time, I'm really dead!" "Yoo-yoo-yoo..." A familiar deer cry sounded. Xia Ge, distracted from her frantic state, looked back. From behind a thick tree trunk, a deer's head peeked out, its antlers like branches and its deep purple eyes watching her dreamily. ...A Roaming Deer? Why was it here? Recalling Su Chen's earlier words, Xia Ge thought it probably had no ill intentions now. Xia Ge: "..." Roaming Deer: "Yoo-yoo-yoo." System: "..." Xia Ge's eyes lit up: "You say you know where the Ghost Dragon Jade went?" "What? A girl in red and white clothes took it?" The deer behind the tree demurely nodded its head, "Yoo-yoo-yoo." System: "..." How did you understand that?!! Xia Ge: "She looks very pretty... has a cold demeanor, and her right hand is wrapped in something red... ah, isn't that the Master Sister?!" Xia Ge felt as if struck by lightning, "The Master Sister picked it up?!" Roaming Deer nodded, having achieved its goal, and turned to leave with its beautiful, haughty blue plum blossom-marked back. Xia Ge still had many questions for it, like why it led her to the Ancestor's tomb, or if it helped because she was too good-looking or something... ahem. But knowing that the Ghost Dragon Jade had been picked up by the Master Sister threw all those questions out of her mind, leaving it filled with– Shit, I sneaked to the back mountain to steal the spirit wood, and I got caught by the Master Sister again! Moreover, she had promised the Master Sister she would get into the inner door, but now the competition was a bust!! And Master Sister even tutored her especially for the competition! To dodge tutoring, she had boasted arrogantly that she'd place first... well, maybe not first, but when she refined the Twin Golden Pills, she had even patted her chest and assured the Master Sister– Don't worry, absolutely no problem! Now, Xia Ge just wished she had a time machine to go back and slap her past self's face. Don't boast about things you can't guarantee! Absolutely no problem? Bullshit! Major problems, got it?! No problem? Then why the fuck didn't you go sign up?! Why go back to sleep? Why steal glaze wood from the back mountain and craft a glaze wood box?! Pearl before swine? That's what it is—lost everything! Broken your promise, right?! Down in flames, right?! Blown your boast to smithereens, right? Xia Ge leaned against a tree for support, feeling utterly dejected, her body limp. The system seemed out of comforting words, the scene falling silent. After a long while– Xia Ge: "Hey... Little Dummy." System: "Mm?" Xia Ge, despondent: I might really end up copying pill manuals in the Reflection Pavilion for the rest of my life... The system considered this, deciding to console her a bit: "There's always next year..." another chance. Xia Ge had started fantasizing about her distant elderly future: “I wonder if outer sect disciples who copy pill manuals get insurance and pension, or if I should inquire about the retirement fund and other benefits…” The system retracted its sympathy and delivered a cold blow: "Outer disciples? Pension? Not a chance." Xia Ge shot back up, sparked by some stimulus, "Ah! No way!! I absolutely cannot sit idle! I must enter the inner door!" If she gave up so easily now, copying pill manuals would be the least of her worries. Xia Ge simply felt she would betray her swaggering boast. …Definitely not just for the pension!! "Oh, oh, go for it, host." The system had grown too weary to criticize further; whatever happened, its host's chances in the competition were practically nil. Xia Ge lamented: "Little Dummy, don't be so downcast! Have you ever heard of a saying?" The system, sounding visibly unimpressed, "Oh, what?" Xia Ge, solemnly: “In our place, there's a great figure named Lu Xun who once said–” “A true warrior faces life head-on, confronts the bloodshed with courage–” “And is also unflinching in facing their own bragging!” System: "..." Damn it, you made that up, didn’t you?! Lu Xun’s turning in his grave, damn! The system held back: “Alright, warrior, quick, brave one, look at the time, the third announcement is about to be made, you don't seem to have much time..." But before the system's words were finished, Xia Ge moved! Through Xia Ge's vision, the system felt as though watching a blue-light high-definition television, which next second, turned into static blur of an old CRT TV from the 90s. Everything in sight was a blur. This was Ghost Phantom Traceless Steps at its fastest! The system's data felt blank for a second before it screamed, "You're insane?!" At such speed, the wound couldn't hold up! "If I'm no ordinary student, I'll be an exceptional enrollee! I'm so exceptional! I also shine brightly! This year, the inner disciples at Dan Peak must have a spot for me!" —So what if she hadn't registered. If she was outstanding enough to blind them with her brilliance, she could make it into the inner sect! Absolutely! Definitely!! The wind whistled, Ghost Phantom Traceless Steps at full throttle, the scenery whipping past as thin streaks, wind lashing her face like knives. Xia Ge gritted her teeth, "I... am a warrior!" System: "...host, warrior, no, brave one, your wound has opened!" Xia Ge grimaced, "No worries, a warrior braves the bloodshed—this doesn’t hurt!" System: "Fuck, you're bleeding profusely now!" "All for retirement pa... no, for the boasts I made, no, for the promise! Bleeding a little is nothing!" System: "..." It's for the retirement package, isn't it? Just admit it, trash. = = At Dan Peak's competition ground. It was a spacious field at the foot of Dan Peak, already prepared with hundreds of bronze furnaces, lined up neatly. As with Sword Peak's entry trial, stands were set up in the east, west, and north. As the host peak, Dan Peak's was in the north, spearheaded by Gu Pei-Jiu. The west was for the Beast Peak disciples, and the east for the Sword Peak disciples. Normally, Sword Peak barely attended Dan Peak's entrance trials, deeming themselves far too noble to bother. But today, surprisingly, there was a veritable crowd, bustling nonstop. Gu Pei-Jiu cast a casual glance and spotted a girl in blue and white sword attire sitting at one side, cradling her sword. Her black hair was tied high with a blue ribbon, unadorned, yet her porcelain-white face was flawless, honey-colored almond-shaped eyes bright and sharp, ruby lips pressed into a thin line, back straight, exuding the pride of a Sword Peak disciple. It was Chu Yao, the reserve Senior Disciple of Sword Peak. Gu Pei-Jiu's dark eyes flashed with a hint of surprise. Behind him, Dan Peak disciples whispered, "Is that the eldest daughter of the Chu family?" "The one who won two consecutive championships in Sword Peak's Spirit Inquiry?" "Why would she come to watch our Dan Peak’s entrance competition..." "It must be on a whim. Someone like her has probably only seen Heaven-tier pills before, never witnessing how Yellow-tier pills are refined—she might be here just for a new experience." "Haha, it's a good chance, Lou Che, why don't you go and refine a fasting pill to show her?" "Go jump off a cliff!" "..." Gu Pei-Jiu’s voice was cool, "Silence." At once, the chattering disciples fell silent and proper. Dressed in simple Dan-frost attire, Ye Ze stood beside her, his brows tightly furrowed, eyes showing a trace of worry. He paid no attention to the talk about Sword Peak’s reserve Senior Disciple, only firmly watching the entrance. The roll had already been called twice. Gu Pei-Jiu looked up at the sky. Half an hour more, and the third call would be made. Those absent by then would lose their participation rights. The girl in red and white frost clothes had subtle brows and eyes. She flipped through the roster, staring at the last name, her gaze unfathomable. Are you going to break your promise? "Miss…" Xiao Qing said cautiously, "They’ve called all the new disciples’ names." "Mm." Chu Yao hugged her sword, blandly responding. "......" Xiao Qing dared not speak further; from the looks of it, her mistress intended to stay until the very end. Inwardly, she despaired. Alchemy was smoky and punishing work, and they’d be crafting the lowest-grade pills here. What meaning could her mistress find in it? If she wanted to see someone crafting alchemical pills, she could have easily invited the best alchemist from [Zhì] to demonstrate. It wasn't like viewing minor Yellow-grade fasting pills was impossible with her status as the eldest daughter of the Chang’an Chu family. So why come here to watch a bunch of novices—not even novices yet—Dan Peak entrance disciples refining pills? Time ticked away. "Alright, this will be the final roll call!" The voice of the Dan Peak inner disciple holding the roster was clear and bright. He stood at the front of the platform, dressed in simple Dan-frost attire, "Disciples who fail to answer this call will lose their qualification to participate!" Ye Ze gazed anxiously at the entrance, clenching his fist tightly. Biting his lip, he was on the verge of leaving. —Xia Wu Yin, what are you up to now?! Gu Pei-Jiu, with an indifferent expression, turned a page in the document she held, "Ye Ze." Ye Ze halted his movement, his voice tinged with unwillingness, "Master Sister, I..." "Didn't you believe in him?" Her voice was cold and clear as she looked up at him, her eyes calm and serene, "Then have faith in him to the very end." Ye Ze's body stiffened. After a long pause, he let out a self-mocking laugh and didn't move. Belief or no belief... what difference did it make? The girl in red and white frost garments turned another page in her document. Ye Ze's lips pressed into a taut line, his fist clenching tightly. Beside him, the girl's voice remained light and unconcerned. "At least, let me see if he is worthy of such trust." Ye Ze closed his eyes, remaining silent for a long time. In this world, no one could truly be worthy of his trust. But if it was Xia Wu Yin— —Then yes, always worthy. "Number 77, Huo Bai!" "Here." A lazy-sounding youth responded. Huo Bai, arms crossed, glanced at the furnace beside him, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Another one absent." The girl to his right huffed, "Anyone who is late for such an important exam can't possibly amount to much." Had Xia Ge been there, she’d have recognized the girl as the one she’d helped out of the goodness of her heart—rescuing her from Changlu, taking her to the doctor, and even covering her medical expenses. "Number 98, Mao Qing!" The girl responded with a firm "Here," as Huo Bai looked meaningfully at the furnace before him. An important exam, huh... "Regardless of the others, I'm here to win the championship," Mao Qing's eyes gleamed with battle intent, "I want to be the top Dan Peak disciple this year!" Huo Bai let out a soft snort, thinking the championship was pointless. "What, you don't want to win?" Mao Qing arched an eyebrow. Huo Bai: "Indifferent." Mao Qing huffed, mockingly, "With your attitude, you shouldn't have come at all. Just blending in with the crowd—" She gestured to the empty furnace beside Huo Bai, "Like that absent fool—" "Number 124, Xia Wu Yin—" As the name was called, a black figure abruptly appeared in the clear sky, riding a fierce, whirling wind, like a gallant black horse suddenly bolting out from the dense forest, startlingly materializing in the Dan competition ground! Mao Qing's voice faltered, her pupils reflecting the black figure in mid-air, momentarily speechless. Ye Ze looked up at the black figure, eyes widening in shock, his heart pounding wildly. His clenched fists slowly relaxed. —You came. At the Sword Peak stand, Xiao Qing’s eyes widened, "What... is that?" Beside her, her mistress shot to her feet with a ‘swish,’ eyes fixed on the sudden appearance of the black-garbed youth— Chu Yao's heart pounded. It's him! It's really him! He really is... a Dan Peak disciple! The person reading from the roster gawked at the black-clad youth descending from the sky, the following words "absentees will be disqualified" stuck in his throat— A hoarse voice pierced through the sky, wild and excited, brimming with arrogant fervor— “Here!” Bursting onto the scene! It was as if an impossible miracle had suddenly materialized. In mid-air, Xia Ge performed a 360-degree flip and landed steadily on the ground, one knee down. Adjusting her pained expression, she looked up and flashed a brilliant smile at the red and white frost-garbed girl on the platform. In her weathered black clothes, not the rough hemp attire of an outer disciple, the thin youth's black hair was a bit disheveled, but her eyes sparkled like stars. Her voice, though raspy, rang clear— “Dan Peak’s 556th generation, number 88 outer disciple Xia Wu Yin, reporting to Master Sister!” Gu Pei-Jiu's eyes reflected the youth below, the one smiling brightly at her. Her grip on the pen slowly relaxed. He came. As expected… he came. Gu Pei-Jiu lowered her gaze, feeling a subtle sense of relief. Her voice remained placid. "Find your place and get ready to start." "Yes!" Xia Ge responded, rising to her feet. As she did, she felt the warmth of liquid on her abdomen slowly seeping into the bandages. Though her body was still semi-numb, the earlier sprint had severely aggravated her wound, causing significant pain yet manageable. —Endurable. Under the black clothes tidied up earlier by Su Chen, her white undergarments were soaking with warm blood, slowly staining the bandage and finally the black clothes, leaving a faintly conspicuous dark patch on the hem, though not obvious from afar, resembling a shadow on the fabric. In the gaze of nearly a thousand participants and spectators, Xia Ge straightened her back and nonchalantly made her way to her place. Such minor injuries, nothing to fuss about. ...Just bear with it a bit longer. Watching the youth's erect posture, Gu Pei-Jiu noticed an odd stiffness in his gait. Rigid, awkward. —As if injured. Could it be... he got hurt in the back mountain earlier?! Gu Pei-Jiu's pupils contracted. Her lips parted as if to say something, but she heard Ye Ze murmuring beside her. "...He is worthy." —Xia Wu Yin, forever worthy of his trust. The red and white frost-garbed girl froze momentarily. Sitting on the platform, she watched the black-clad youth walk step by step toward the alchemy furnace, ultimately saying nothing. —A youth worthy of Ye Ze's trust would never wish to let anyone down. Gu Pei-Jiu saw the pride beneath that straight back, unique to Xia Wu Yin. —Fine. Gu Pei-Jiu cast a glance at the entry on the document she'd previously marked [Special Admission: Xia Wu Yin], finally closing it. That was a proud youth—such a straight back, perhaps only wanting to show everyone he needed no special care. Gu Pei-Jiu's lips tightened slightly. ...Then let her see if his strength matched his pride. Completely unaware of Gu Pei-Jiu's thoughts, Xia Ge’s own: {I shall toil for my pension until my last breath, though perilous, I remain unregretful!} Pride.jpg Author's Note: Readers’ support with nutrient solutions: Reader “Protagonist Face,” nutrient solution +10,2018-06-11 23:56:14 Reader “Grain,” nutrient solution +3,2018-06-11 23:55:07 Reader “Autumn Fire Blaze,” nutrient solution +1,2018-06-11 23:50:25 Reader “Countless People,” nutrient solution +1,2018-06-11 23:39:44 Reader “sheepdeer,” nutrient solution +10,2018-06-11 23:37:12 Reader “White Little Guard,” nutrient solution +1,2018-06-11 23:08:08 Reader “From Now On,” nutrient solution +5,2018-06-11 22:49:01 Reader “Inside Black,” nutrient solution +2,2018-06-11 21:32:39 Reader “”, nutrient solution +1,2018-06-11 20:37:21 Reader “”, nutrient solution +80,2018-06-11 19:16:34 Reader “One Leaf Knows Fall,” nutrient solution +10,2018-06-11 18:12:14 Reader “southnorth,” nutrient solution +2,2018-06-11 17:56:44 Reader “zooski,” nutrient solution +10,2018-06-11 13:49:58 Reader “Rain Falls,” nutrient solution +5,2018-06-11 13:31:41 Reader “So Therefore,” nutrient solution +1,2018-06-11 12:45:22 Reader “Wood Life,” nutrient solution +1,2018-06-11 11:52:20 Reader “ .,” nutrient solution +50,2018-06-11 11:28:56 Reader “Feather Fall,” nutrient solution +10,2018-06-11 10:58:18 Readers' support with nutrient solutions: Reader “Ongoing Continuity,” nutrient solution +5, 2018-06-11 09:28:47 Reader “paropa,” nutrient solution +30, 2018-06-11 08:51:52 Reader “Autumn Fire Blaze,” nutrient solution +1, 2018-06-11 07:46:55 Reader “Baili Chang Palace,” nutrient solution +14, 2018-06-11 07:42:52 Reader “Crane Sheng,” nutrient solution +10, 2018-06-11 04:06:29 Reader “Bun or Steamed Bun,” nutrient solution +3, 2018-06-11 02:44:23 Reader “Xiao Xiao,” nutrient solution +3, 2018-06-11 01:16:46 Reader “Subtle Influence,” nutrient solution +5, 2018-06-11 00:05:36 Reader “Lost,” nutrient solution +30, 2018-06-11 00:03:14 Reader “Crazy Dog,” nutrient solution +100, 2018-06-10 23:49:26 Reader “Rain Love,” nutrient solution +5, 2018-06-10 23:23:28 Thank you, everyone, for your nutrient solutions =w=