51 - Dungeon Growth Log

"Miss, this child..." Bixi, who had always attended to Gu Peijiu's daily needs, gazed in astonishment at her young lady rushing in, clutching a boy dressed in black. Regaining her composure, she hurried forward, "Miss, let me carry him. You shouldn't be..." As she approached, the intense smell of iron immediately filled the air. Even though the boy was tightly wrapped, Bixi could instantly see the spreading stain of blood on her mistress's white robe, as vivid as the flowers that bloom at the banks of the River Styx — both beautiful and terrifying. The girl in red and white maple-leaf patterned clothing took a step back, her eyebrows cool and expression indifferent, "Go fetch some hot water." Bixi panicked, "Yes." Is the blood from the child in her arms? What happened to cause such injuries? While boiling water in the kitchen, Bixi's thoughts wandered. Her young mistress had always been averse to dirt, yet now... The water began to rapidly steam and bubble. Snapped back to reality, Bixi filtered the boiling water into a wooden basin, added a towel, and hurried towards Gu Peijiu's room with the basin in hand. She lifted the bead curtain and instinctively softened her steps, calling gently, "Miss?" She saw her mistress seated by the bedside, a soft-featured boy lying on the bed, his face pale, eyebrows furrowed, and a sheen of sweat covering his forehead. His lips were parched and cracked, and he was experiencing labored breathing, visibly in great pain. "It hurts..." Gu Peijiu tenderly caressed his forehead. At her response, Bixi placed the basin on the nearby stand, asking anxiously, "Miss, shall I look after him?" Gu Peijiu remained silent, her gaze drifting downward. Bixi followed her line of sight and saw that the boy was gripping her mistress's left sleeve tightly, his knuckles turning white. As if holding on to the only lifeline. Bixi was rendered speechless. "I will take care of him," Gu Peijiu said, pausing briefly, "Wring out the towel and bring those documents here." "...Yes." Bixi wrung out the towel from the basin and handed it to Gu Peijiu, then turned to fetch the documents. Gu Peijiu allowed him to hold onto her sleeve with one hand, while she carefully folded the wet towel and placed it on the boy's forehead with the other. "It hurts, it hurts..." The boy's voice was hoarse, and his grip on her sleeve tightened further. All he could do was cry out in pain. Gu Peijiu hesitated slightly, unsure of her feelings. She silently dipped her fingers in the hot water and gently moistened the boy's dry, cracked lips, bit by bit. She had given him a blood-stopping pill earlier, so the wound would temporarily stop bleeding, but the previous pain from the reopened wound was inevitable. Recalling the boy's action of smashing his wounds against the corner of the table to intercept a crucial pill, Gu Peijiu felt a mix of emotions in her heart. "Miss, I've brought the documents," Bixi said cautiously as she hugged the documents. "Shall I place them on the table?" "Yes," Gu Peijiu nodded, then stood as if to take the documents. However, sensing she was about to leave, the boy panicked, "No, don't go—" Gu Peijiu paused and halted her actions, "Go call for the doctor at the foot of the mountain, ask him to check the injuries." "Yes." Bixi left. "...Don't go," the boy's voice carried hints of sobs and weakness, "It hurts." Gu Peijiu gazed at her sleeve held in his grasp, her eyes slowly moved to his pale face, even in his unconscious state, he continued to cry out in pain. After a moment, "Alright, I won't leave." Gu Peijiu sat down, gently holding his hand that gripped her sleeve. His hand, though thin and bony, aroused a sense of pity. After she promised not to leave, the boy's grip relaxed slightly. Although his brows were still furrowed in pain, his expression seemed a bit more at ease. Gu Peijiu felt a mild flutter in her heart, listening to the boy's low, gentle murmur. "...Doudou, don't let me go." = = Xiage felt she was on the verge of dying from the pain. Maybe Su Chan's anesthesia was wearing off, the poison on the life-stealing dagger caused excruciating pain, and her reckless actions only aggravated it. The wound now felt like it was being salted, a searing, intense pain. She wanted to wake up, but due to the backlash from her spiritual energy earlier, her mind was still buzzing, like being halfway suspended in an abyss — part pulled by the real pain calling her from a deep slumber, part dragged into darker depths by sheer exhaustion. Everything seemed surreal, painful. Her thoughts grew chaotic, past memories she'd suppressed began surfacing. “What are you dawdling for, Shuangshuang? We need to find food.” “Hey, Shuangshuang, what are we eating today?” The once blurry figure started to become clearer. She remembered. She thought she was close to forgetting. — Shuangshuang was the name of this body's original owner when she first transmigrated. Shuangshuang was a little beggar, about six or seven years old, with a friend named Doudou. Doudou was a few years older, but even she was unsure of her exact age. They begged for food together in a village called Nanming, living from one meal to the next in constant worry. Nanming was a very poor village, and when Xiage transmigrated, it was plagued by famine. Though this body's physical strength was naturally great, at six or seven years old, strength meant little; there were no significant tasks she could undertake. No money, no food, no beauty — she had nothing. A child of three 'have-nots,' capable of nothing more than futile dreams of grandeur. Yet if she had anything, it was a friend named Doudou. Under a sky full of stars, the two girls, who had just gnawed at leaves, climbed a withered crooked tree to catch some wind and discuss their future. Doudou, having just finished eating wutong leaves, asked, “Shuangshuang, what do you want to do when you grow up?” Two months in a desolate world, Xiage, wrapping her tattered clothes around herself, mused about the future, “Hmm... probably to become rich. It would be great to eat every day. Though difficult now, dreams are necessary, right... Or to become very powerful, capable of amazing feats.” So she could rob the rich and give to the poor. She had long despised the village's wealthy bully, Mr. Zhu, but she lacked the means. If she had them, she would have acted already. Well, a more refined way to put it... was to redistribute wealth? Doudou was puzzled, “Shuangshuang, why are you always saying things I don't understand?” Xiage paused, looked at her skinny arms and legs, sensibly discarded the idea of redistributing wealth, and settled on a more amiable goal, explaining her dream gently to Doudou, “Basically, it’s about living well and enjoying treats every day.” Doudou asked, “What are treats?” Xiage deflected, “Something delicious.” Although she didn't understand, Doudou sincerely blessed her friend: “Shuangshuang, you’ll get there one day.” — She never would, as there was no yogurt in this world, nor any treats to toss. Xiage didn’t find the blessing comforting. Two months ago, while not wealthy enough to waste, she certainly had the means to enjoy what she wanted. But just moments ago, the once-privileged Xiage tasted wutong leaves for the first time. The flavor was... indescribable. Covering her mouth to forget the taste and concerned for her companion’s future, Xiage asked, “Doudou, what do you want to do?” Like elementary children under socialism’s warm light discussing their dreams, Xiage mused over what she wanted. She suddenly realized she was in her final year of kindergarten. Doudou looked at the stars for a while, softly saying, “I suppose... I hope to always be free.” Xiage: “???” How did Doudou maintain such a lofty perspective in her dire situation? They are already too free, living alongside wutong leaves for flavor’s sake! Ready to gently refute her leaf-eating companion, Xiage paused at Doudou’s whisper, “Shuangshuang, being free is great. Slaves and those sold into prostitution get meals, but I don’t envy them at all.” Xiage paused in silence. Well... everyone has their reasons to think what they do. Though dreaming of greater freedom despite their plight was strange... “...Don’t you want to be stronger?” Choosing a different approach, Xiage suggested, “Doudou, we aren’t truly free.” Doudou seemed puzzled. “Chains and rules don’t just imprison people, so do hunger and poverty,” Xiage explained, “Honestly, as long as you're alive, true freedom doesn’t exist.” Doudou tilted her head, seemingly confused. "Oh dear, maybe this will make sense to you — I'll give an example." "What are we having for dinner tomorrow?" Doudou's face scrunched up in frustration, "..." Xiage continued, "See, we can't even decide what we'll eat tomorrow. How can that be freedom?" This example was spot on. The question of what to eat tomorrow was undeniably a pressing and very real issue they were about to face. Doudou hugged her knees, gazing at the bright stars in the night sky. Perhaps Xiage's realistic proposition was too difficult for her to handle, so she decided to ignore the metaphor she couldn’t eat, "Shuangshuang, you said earlier... you want to become really powerful?" Xiage, still troubled by the problem of tomorrow's breakfast, had lost interest in dreaming about the future. Though less earnest, she responded, "Yes, very powerful... it would be amazing if everyone knelt and called me 'boss'." Seeing Doudou's bewildered expression, clearly not understanding why Xiage would want others to call her 'boss,' she paused to explain, "Ah... I mean, I want to become someone admired by many powerful people... you know, like even the emperor would have to bow to me... someone who shines so brightly." After speaking, Xiage sighed. The night was dark, and as a final-year kindergartener, what was she doing dreaming with an elementary schooler? "A shining person?" Doudou asked curiously, "Are there people who shine?" Xiage: "..." No, wait, it's actually a metaphor... But Doudou seemed to have thought of something, her brows smoothing out, quite happy, "Will Shuangshuang shine if she becomes powerful? Like..." She thought for a moment and pointed to the sky, "Like those stars?" Xiage: "..." Well, that’s one way to look at it, though not exactly what she meant by ‘shining’... Xiage: "No, it's more like... becoming someone dazzling." Doudou, who had not been to many places and didn't understand much, seemed largely naive in Xiage's eyes—endearingly so. "Think of it this way," Xiage said, deciding to explain it in a way Doudou could understand, "being ‘dazzling’ means you're very skilled and lots of people like you. Even in a crowd, you stand out right away." “Actually, thinking of stars isn't wrong,” Xiage continued, looking upwards, feeling a bit melancholic. "They are things people look up to." Doudou smiled, but her smile faded as she pondered, "But being powerful like that must mean taking care of many people, like our village chief... but he's always worried about so many people and has even lost all his hair. Shuangshuang, if you become like that, you’ll be very tired. I don't want you to lose your hair, it’d look ugly." Thinking of their balding village chief who was only in his twenties, Xiage paused and agreed deeply, "You’re right. Maybe it's better to be a bit less powerful, as long as we have enough to eat." "Mm-hmm." Doudou tilted her head, looking at Xiage for a long moment. "But Shuangshuang, you say you're not powerful, yet I feel like you're already shining." Instinctively, Xiage looked at herself: "..." Doudou continued, "I think you're already dazzling." Seeing Doudou’s earnest expression, Xiage couldn’t help but smile, her heart warming. What a strange feeling, getting comfort from a child after living for over twenty years. "Since I shine in your eyes, I’ll make sure to look after you," Xiage decided to play along, adopting Doudou’s tone, "I may not be a star that cares for many, but I can be Shuangshuang who looks after Doudou!" Doudou obediently asked, "Then Shuangshuang, for example, what will we eat tomorrow?" Xiage: "..." This example isn't pleasant, let’s drop it. Starving and still boasting she could look after Doudou, where did that confidence even come from? "Ah! I've got it!" Xiage, caught in her struggle, brightened with an idea, "I know what we can eat!" Doudou looked at her with sparkling eyes. “I remember there’s a swamp area near the village...” Xiage said. “We could check there?” Doudou’s excitement dampened instantly, shaking her head vehemently like a rattle drum. She tugged at Xiage’s sleeve, "Don’t go, many people have disappeared there... Villagers say there are man-eating demons." Xiage: "That’s just a myth! I’m really strong, believe me, I can protect you!" Doudou replied softly, “I’m scared of demons.” Xiage’s eyes twinkled with amusement, “It’s okay, don’t be scared, I can protect you.” Doudou stared into Xiage’s eyes, momentarily dazed. Perhaps she was too hungry, or maybe Xiage’s eyes looked especially beautiful. In the end, Doudou bit her lip, turning her head away, “Alright then…” She murmured softly, “Shuangshuang, I trust you.” Xiage nodded, thumping her chest boldly. “Trust me, you won't go wrong, I’m even greater than the gods!” Doudou looked puzzled, “???” What are gods? Xiage: “...Ah, gods are very powerful, dazzling beings.” Understanding dawned on Doudou, and she nodded earnestly, “Mm-hmm, Shuangshuang is even more amazing than gods!” Xiage: "..." Strangely, it didn’t feel like a compliment. Xiage’s confidence mostly stemmed from knowing that near the village indeed lay a swamp. The myth of flesh-eating demons likely originated from people getting stuck and drowning there accidentally. She only intended to explore the fringes. Taking Doudou with her, they cautiously approached the swamp’s edge. In the dim light, surrounded by clusters of reeds, Xiage squatted down to dig through the mud, getting her hands dirty. Under the bright moon and stars, Doudou watched her curiously. "Ha-ha, found it!" she exclaimed, proudly showing a water chestnut to Doudou, "Finally, real food!! Ah...choo!" Reeds were swarming with insects, making Xiage sneeze uncontrollably. Surrounded by darkness, Doudou, though scared, couldn’t help but giggle. Still curious, she asked, “What’s that?” “A water chestnut!” Xiage grinned, “It’s edible!” “Wait here, I’ll find more.” Squatting back down, Xiage rummaged in the reeds, eventually unearthing five or six chestnuts. She wanted more but couldn't find any and reluctantly let Doudou drag her away as wild dogs howled in the distance. “Let’s go back quickly, wild dogs are howling. An evil ghost tide would be a disaster,” Doudou said. “What’s an evil ghost tide?” Xiage asked, wiping a chestnut clean on her sleeve and handing it to Doudou as they walked back. “...Well, it’s a really scary thing that makes people disappear overnight. Everyone in affected villages is left without a trace... It’s just terrifying.” She added, “Only those close to death or infants can predict when it’s coming. They see ghosts... and wild dogs howling is a sign too.” "Isn’t this place supposed to be a society of science and Marxism?" Xiage took a bite of the water chestnut, its crunchy, sweet flavor bursting in her mouth, feeling reborn. She promptly dismissed the unscientific ghost tide folklore. Tears of gratitude welled up as real, proper food finally touched her lips! What had she been thinking before! Science, faith in Marxism, whatever, her current religion was now water chestnuts! Forever banned was leaf-eating! One must live to cherish belief! Doudou took a bite, her eyes lighting up, “So yummy!” “Told you!” Xiage boasted, “This is life’s true belief!” “Belief? What’s that?” Doudou asked, confused. Xiage sighed, looking at the half-eaten water chestnut in her hand, “Belief... is something powerful you hold faith in, or someone powerful you admire, making their principles your own...” Uncertain if this world had its deities, Xiage hastily gave a simple example, "Like believing in the God of Wealth! Believe in him, and you’ll get rich!" Doudou still seemed puzzled. Xiage steeled herself, delivering a direct hit, “In simple terms, belief is something you hold most dear in your heart. It gives you strength!” Doudou hugged her water chestnut, looking at Xiage with shining eyes, "Then Shuangshuang is my belief!" Her affirmation, “Shuangshuang can find food, Shuangshuang is more amazing than the village chief. I trust Shuangshuang the most! Shuangshuang gives me strength!” Xiage: "…" No… belief doesn’t work that way. Seeing Doudou’s earnest, shining eyes, guilt welled up in Xiage. Coughing to clear her throat, she clarified, "No... not exactly. Belief is... when you place trust in something very powerful, or someone who follows strong principles. Like..." She remembered Deus Ex. "Belief is like trusting the God of Wealth! If you believe, he’ll make you rich!" Doudou remained puzzled. Xiage clenched her fists, resolutely explaining, “Belief is what you hold most dear, giving you strength!” Doudou hugged her chestnut, eyes shining, “Then Shuangshuang is my belief!” Her affirmation, “Shuangshuang can find food, Shuangshuang is mighty, I trust Shuangshuang the most! Shuangshuang gives me strength!” Xiage: "..." No… belief doesn’t work that way. And she definitely had no desire to be more powerful than the bald village chief. Xiage: "Actually, I recommend the God of Wealth more as a belief..." Even though believing in him had never made her rich, it only made her poorer. Xiage glanced at the water chestnut in her hand, perhaps the God of Wealth was offended by her quickly abandoning him for the chestnut. So, beliefs really had to be firm, or else they wouldn’t work at all. Doudou cradled her water chestnut, her gaze steadfast, "No, I won't believe in the God of Wealth, I believe only in Shuangshuang!" Xiage: "..." If you put such firm belief in the God of Wealth, you’d surely get rich... No... after all this talk, Doudou still didn't understand what belief was, did she? "Hey, look over there, fireflies!" Xiage’s eyes sparkled with a clever change of subject, "Wait here, I’ll go catch a few." Did she ever talk about something as highbrow as belief? Nope, definitely not! Hmph! Efficiently tearing her sleeve, Xiage swiftly caught two or three fireflies, then bundled them up using a twig, making a small pouch which she handed to Doudou, "I’ve been wanting to catch them for a while, hehehe." Doudou accepted the firefly pouch, "They’re so bright." Deceptively swindling a child without a hint of guilt, Xiage chuckled, "Yes, so bright." "I like them," Doudou said, no longer entangled with the concept of belief. "They are beautiful." Thinking for a moment, she continued, "I actually have many forgotten memories, but I didn't know what it meant to like something before. I seemed to do a lot of foolish things. When I finally understood what it meant to like someone, I did many foolish things that pushed that person away." Her voice carried a hint of grievance. Xiage thought, what does a kid who doesn’t even understand belief know about love or liking someone? But she feigned empathy, "…That sounds really sad." Doudou smiled softly, "Yes, so I thought, if given another chance, I would definitely love them properly and grant them all freedom. I would not make any mistakes again." Xiage nodded, thinking, "Well... I hope you get that chance." Doudou looked at the fireflies trapped in the small pouch, their bright light reflecting in her eyes like stars, "Yes, it will come." Feeling full, Xiage yawned, hugging the remaining water chestnuts, and curled up under the crooked tree, "I’m sleepy, Doudou." "Okay, then Shuangshuang should go to bed early." "Mhm." In a daze, Xiage heard Doudou’s murmurs carried by the night breeze, "Freedom… no wonder... she would like it." She? The girl Doudou liked? A bit curious... though it didn’t really concern her, might as well wash up and sleep. Lulled by the warm night breeze, Xiage slept soundly, while the girl named Doudou quietly unwrapped the pouch, letting the fireflies flutter away, regaining their freedom. Doudou warmly clutched the pouch infused with Xiage’s warmth to her chest, her innocent eyes softened with a tender gleam. ——This time, she wouldn't repeat her mistakes. If you love someone, you should let them be free. That is true belief. **Author's Notes:** The next chapter is going to be a tear-jerker (刀 means knife in Chinese, metaphorically indicating emotionally intense content). It covers Xiage's early days after transmigrating — quite heart-wrenching. The author has adjusted the sequence for better reading; it's optional and doesn't affect the storyline. This novel aims for a light and enjoyable read, with occasional necessary dramatic moments. To maintain the emotional well-being of our little angels (readers), high-intensity emotional sections will always be marked. Thank you =3= Because the next chapter is intense, there’s an extra update in these two days. I hope my dear readers won’t abandon me (sob) qaq = = I strive to make the plot comprehensible. If there’s any confusion, feel free to ask. I’ll explain within non-spoiler boundaries (rubs cheeks). Finally, I edited a bit late, sorry for the delay by two minutes otz = = **Thanks for the rewards:** Wang Er San threw 1 landmine at 2018-06-15 23:56:56 British Shorthair threw 1 rocket launcher at 2018-06-16 00:28:05 Bu Xue Ren threw 1 landmine at 2018-06-16 07:51:20 You Li You Xian threw 1 landmine at 2018-06-16 08:32:02 Xu Feng threw 1 grenade at 2018-06-16 11:03:10 20633235 threw 1 landmine at 2018-06-16 22:00:25 ***Thanks everyone for the landmines!*** = = Reader "Li Qi", irrigated 50 units of nutrient solution on 2018-06-16 23:31:28 Reader "Xian Yu", irrigated 10 units of nutrient solution on 2018-06-16 22:50:41 Reader "Zhi Sui Wan", irrigated 10 units of nutrient solution on 2018-06-16 22:33:36 Reader "Gong Nuo", irrigated 30 units of nutrient solution on 2018-06-16 22:13:36 Reader "", irrigated 3 units of nutrient solution on 2018-06-16 17:06:45 Reader “Zui", irrigated 20 units of nutrient solution on 2018-06-16 15:42:55 Reader "June Night", irrigated 10 units of nutrient solution on 2018-06-16 14:46:34 Reader "Wang Xiao Yan", irrigated 1 unit of nutrient solution on 2018-06-16 13:44:29 Reader "Never", irrigated 1 unit of nutrient solution on 2018-06-16 10:51:39 Reader "Nono", irrigated 10 units of nutrient solution on 2018-06-16 10:38:53 Reader "23687590 Pang Si", irrigated 10 units of nutrient solution on 2018-06-16 09:02:05 Reader "Wai", irrigated 50 units of nutrient solution on 2018-06-16 09:00:27 Reader "Protagonist Face", irrigated 20 units of nutrient solution on 2018-06-16 08:53:58 Reader "Yao Cen", irrigated 30 units of nutrient solution on 2018-06-16 07:32:02 Reader "Qin Kong", irrigated 1 unit of nutrient solution on 2018-06-16 02:56:05 Reader "Wen Kun", irrigated 20 units of nutrient solution on 2018-06-16 02:54:19 Reader "Always Clubbing", irrigated 1 unit of nutrient solution on 2018-06-16 00:06:11 Reader "Wang Er San", irrigated 50 units of nutrient solution on 2018-06-15 23:56:56 Reader "Male Consort", irrigated 2 units of nutrient solution on 2018-06-15 23:54:13 Reader "Bok Choy", irrigated 10 units of nutrient solution on 2018-06-15 23:50:07 Reader "Xing Ye", irrigated 10 units of nutrient solution on 2018-06-15 23:47:52 Reader "Yun Yun Zhong Sheng", irrigated 10 units of nutrient solution on 2018-06-15 23:44:06 Reader "How", irrigated 50 units of nutrient solution on 2018-06-15 23:39:34 Reader "Eva", irrigated 6 units of nutrient solution on 2018-06-15 23:27:07 ***Thanks for the nutrient solutions everyone!*** = = Tomorrow’s chapter is intense, considering adding a sweet chapter for balance (worried).