55 - Dungeon Growth Log

### Chapter 55 Before Xia Ge woke up, her chaotic mind was preoccupied with memories of the pork chop rice and char siu buns from her past life. The pork chop rice was the kind that was mostly bones, a white and bony pork chop drenched in bloody tomato sauce, lying on a bed of soft rice. Next to it was a basket of char siu buns, emanating a rich aroma of meat. In her dream, she saw herself from her past life, dressed in a simple t-shirt and jean shorts, her figure graceful, as she picked up chopsticks in a small street shop, ready to indulge heartily— Just as the girl in the dream was about to thrash her chopsticks like knives into the gaps between the pork chop bones and tear them apart, Xia Ge opened her eyes. The green curtain on the window had been hooked up, letting the dim sunset light seep into the room. A girl in a red and white maple-patterned dress sat quietly by her bed, her figure silhouetted by the warm light from the sunset outside. For a moment, the expression on her face seemed blurry and unreal to Xia Ge. “...Pork chop...?” Stuck in her dream still, Xia Ge’s thoughts were lingering on the pork chop drenched in tomato sauce—she distinctly remembered there being three char siu buns in the wooden steamer basket with iron edges, and she also clearly remembered the array of white bones in the pork chop from top to bottom, left to right. But now, they were all gone. Not to mention the pork chop, even the sauce was nowhere to be found. A dream within a dream. “Awake?” The clear, crystalline voice was one Xia Ge felt she had heard somewhere before, like the sound of a cool stream trickling over pebbles, very pleasing to the ear. Xia Ge’s mind was still somewhat muddled. She felt something strange in her hand and instinctively looked down. She pulled her hand out from under the blanket, wanting to see it, but ended up pulling out another hand as well. Her hand was small, looking somewhat frail. At this moment, it was tightly entwined with another warm hand, whose fingers were distinct and grasping hers gently but firmly. The person holding her hand didn’t move. After saying those two words, she fell silent and looked at Xia Ge, as if waiting for her to say something, quiet and patient. Gu Pei Jiu knew that someone who had injured their spiritual sea would experience a period of mental confusion upon waking, varying in length from person to person. During this time, the person would suddenly switch from part of their past memories to reality, but their body and instincts would remain in the state of those memories, not recognizing anyone from the time after those memories. The boy looked at her blankly, his long eyelashes trembling anxiously. His usually lively eyes now held the lingering light of the sunset, showing the confusion of someone just waking up. Gu Pei Jiu’s heart moved slightly. No pork chops, no char siu buns, only a stranger in sight. A bit like... “...Wu...?” Xia Ge spoke. Her hoarse voice was extremely unpleasant, and as soon as she spoke, she was startled, looking at the other person like a small animal that had done something wrong. Gu Pei Jiu’s gaze softened, and her voice became gentle, with a hint of coaxing, “It’s alright, say what you want to say.” Xia Ge looked at her nervously. Her hand was warm in the other's grasp. After a while, she deliberately lowered her voice and spoke softly. “...Wu, Wu Yin.” Gu Pei Jiu was slightly taken aback, then understood. Was this child trying to tell her her name? “I know.” Gu Pei Jiu paused, “Your name is...Xia Wu Yin.” But the boy shook his head, his lips pursed unhappily, saying stubbornly, “You...Wu Yin.” Gu Pei Jiu looked at her, a bit confused. “Eyes...” Xia Ge murmured, “Like...Wu Yin.” Gu Pei Jiu was momentarily lost in thought. Was she saying that her eyes looked like his? Xia Ge felt confused, not knowing where she was. The pork chop with tomato sauce and the char siu buns were gone, her brother who came out to play with her was missing, and only a beautiful girl was before her, holding her hand gently. These eyes...were black like her brother’s. Like obsidian. Gu Pei Jiu didn’t know how to respond and after a while, she gently said, “Yes, they are the same.” [Ding! Host awakened! Crisis mental self-repair temporarily completed!] [Final mental adjustment ongoing] [60/100] ... [100/100] [Ding!] [Adjustment completed!] The distorted world became clear in an instant and Xia Ge’s chaotic mind abruptly regained full clarity. She suddenly realized she was gripping the delicate, jade-like hand of her high and mighty senior sister, holding on tightly as if unwilling to let go. Unbelievable. As soon as Gu Pei Jiu spoke, the hand Xia Ge was clasping tightly trembled. Xia Ge shivered, as if she had just woken up, and pulled her hand back abruptly as if she had been electrocuted— “... M-master...?!” Who knew that this sudden movement would tug at her wound, causing Xia Ge to gasp in pain, “Ah, it hurts!” Feeling the cool sensation disappear from her palm, Gu Pei Jiu’s eyelashes fluttered slightly and she slowly took her hand back into her wide sleeve, her expression unchanging, “Awake now?” Xia Ge awkwardly said, “...Yes, I am awake.” The memories were still somewhat fuzzy, but she roughly remembered. However...it seemed she had mistaken her senior sister for her brother. Xia Ge felt a headache coming on. How could she have mistaken her senior sister’s eyes for her brother’s? What kind of spring and autumn dream was she having? And she almost exposed herself— Wait. Exposed...exposed?! Xia Ge instinctively looked at herself, but before she could lower her head, she heard Gu Pei Jiu’s cold and indifferent voice, “Xia Wu Yin, you need to explain this.” Xia Ge’s neck grew stiff at once. She immediately thought of what the Maze Deer had said...that the Ghost Dragon Jade was picked up by someone who seemed like her senior sister. Explain...what? Wait, is her senior sister trying to have a kind and gentle talk about life with her now? While she’s so gravely injured? Don’t break a person when they are down, senior sister!! And why is it that the very first thing she saw upon waking was her senior sister? So eager to talk about life with her? Is she looking to settle accounts? And what was up with that ten-fingers-interlocked thing upon waking up? Thinking about it is terrifying. Is it still possible to pretend to have a headache and faint again...wait, no—that competition, what happened to it? Did the stove explode or not? Did anyone get hurt? There’s a lot to clear up in her 520mb memory... But it was clear that there wasn’t time for Xia Ge to clear her memory. The girl in the red and white maple-patterned dress spoke in a cold voice, “Knife wounds, whip wounds, violating the alchemy rules several times and going to the back mountain, Xia Wu Yin, you really are something.” Xia Ge snapped back to reality, her eyes darting around, “Oh, no, not really, senior sister...you overpraise me.” Xia Ge felt the pressure around her drop by a good five or six degrees and wished she could knock herself out on the bed. Overpraise what?! Do you even know who you’re talking to? The invincible Puppet? It’s your senior sister! The big shot who can make you copy alchemy rules for a lifetime with one word! Speak with some respect! She finished speaking, and the other side remained silent, plunging the entire room into a suffocating silence. Xia Ge decided to make amends, her gaze drifting outside the window, “...Ah, senior sister, the weather is quite nice today.” When the atmosphere is sensitive, the weather is the safest topic. She sure was clever. Gu Pei Jiu looked at the boy in front of her whose gaze was drifting all over the place, “It is quite nice.” She responded, which meant… for now… she wasn’t going to pursue it further? Xia Ge immediately decided to grab the opportunity, “Then...then...senior sister, I mean…” ...There were too many questions, which one should be asked first. The results! Ask about the results first – haven’t they come out yet? Just as Xia Ge was about to speak, Gu Pei Jiu’s cool voice interrupted her, “The competition results are out.” Oh my, the results are out?! How long did I sleep for?! This seems quite a bit! Xia Ge's heart tightened, and she instinctively looked up, meeting her gaze. Xia Ge looked at her eagerly, “So...did I pass?” Did I pass or not?! Hurry up and tell me, quick! With the setting sun now dimming, Gu Pei Jiu’s face backlit against the light, her long eyelashes casting delicate shadows in her pitch-black eyes, and her usually cool lips slightly curved, “I won’t tell you.” Xia Ge: “...”Who are you? Are you fake? Seeing Xia Ge’s face full of dejection, Gu Pei Jiu paused and said, “You can check the results yourself in three days.” “Oh.” Xia Ge glanced sideways and saw a small table purposely placed next to the bed. Huh...why is there a small table next to the bed? On the table, neat stacks of documents and ink brushes, the most prominently visible was a document titled “Final Evaluation of the Peak Alchemy Competition” with large and glaring letters on the cover. ...Clearly right in front of her eyes, why must she wait three days to check the results, seriously. How slippery can this thigh be? Xia Ge thought for a moment, deciding not to sit idly by, hoping to garner some sympathy by playing pitiful—why go roundabout when it’s within arm’s reach? “Um, senior sister, you see I...” She lowered her head pitifully and glanced at herself quickly. The bandages were very neatly wrapped, and the chest binder was firmly in place... Oh! That means her identity hadn't been discovered yet? Yes, yes, if her identity had been exposed, senior sister would have probably already confronted her about cross-dressing as a man and wouldn’t be talking about the weather and exam results. Heavenly blessings indeed! What a relief, what a relief. Gu Pei Jiu raised her voice slightly, “Hmm?” Xia Ge swiftly rearranged her expression from joyous to one of utter sorrow and poignantly continued her act, “You see, I’m gravely injured. How can I check the results like this...” To emphasize the gravity of the situation and the immense mental trauma caused by her physical injuries, Xia Ge covered her face and whimpered, “Senior sister, it hurts so much. Do you think I’ll ever be able to stand again in this life?” Gu Pei Jiu watched the insincere sorrow on Xia Wu Yin’s face without changing her expression. After a while, a faint smile with a hint of coldness appeared at the corners of her mouth. She had intended to ask later, but since this kid brought it up, she might as well address it directly. “Oh? It hurts?” Xia Ge nodded eagerly, “Yes, it really hurts.” Gu Pei Jiu’s smile deepened, the coldness more pronounced, “Then, Xia Wu Yin, since it hurts so much, why don’t you tell me properly how you got those severe injuries on your back and stomach?” Xia Ge: “…” Gu Pei Jiu’s jet-black eyes bore into her, “And how did those injuries make it so you can’t stand for the rest of your life?” Xia Ge couldn’t keep up her act, cold sweat started to bead on her forehead, “Not being able to stand might be an exaggeration, heh... senior sister, actually, this… this is a long story...” “Go ahead.” Gu Pei Jiu looked at her, her demeanor calm and unhurried, “And also explain why you went to the back mountain, and what happened over these three days. Tell me everything.” The girl in the red-white maple dress had a voice that was clear and understanding, “No need to shorten it; you can take your time, don’t rush. I’m listening.” Xia Ge: “...Senior sister, I suddenly don’t feel pain anymore.” It doesn’t pay to break a person when they’re down! --- **Author’s Note:** Yes, the attempt to play the victim backfired (not). I’m currently living the life of a streaking writer with no buffer manuscripts (sigh). --- **Thanks to the following for the grenades and rocket launchers:** 游离悠闲, threw a landmine: 2018-06-18 23:38:27 闲待，无聊, threw a landmine: 2018-06-18 23:40:15 闲待，无聊, threw a landmine: 2018-06-18 23:51:25 闲待，无聊, threw a landmine: 2018-06-18 23:51:37 闲待，无聊, threw a landmine: 2018-06-18 23:51:50 闲待，无聊, threw a landmine: 2018-06-18 23:52:07 闲待，无聊, threw a landmine: 2018-06-18 23:52:22 闲待，无聊, threw a landmine: 2018-06-18 23:52:46 大大要粗长, threw a landmine: 2018-06-19 00:14:47 spancer, threw a grenade: 2018-06-19 06:29:47 闲待，无聊, threw a rocket launcher: 2018-06-19 15:00:18 陈素, threw a landmine: 2018-06-19 17:10:15 陈素, threw a landmine: 2018-06-19 17:10:41 陈素, threw a landmine: 2018-06-19 17:10:47 不雪仁, threw a landmine: 2018-06-19 17:58:51 Thanks to everyone for your landmines and rocket launchers. I feel pampered every day (not)! --- **Thanks to the following for the nutrient solutions:** 读者“妖妖妖妖”, contributed 120 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 22:33:56 读者“噜啦啦噜啦噜啦嘞”, contributed 42 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 22:20:22 读者“落叶随风”, contributed 20 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 22:03:12 读者“90”, contributed 10 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 21:58:11 读者“我就是个学渣”, contributed 3 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 21:24:25 读者“吾是百合控”, contributed 50 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 18:31:39 读者“有点懒”, contributed 7 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 17:46:57 读者“琉年”, contributed 3 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 16:49:01 读者“gal玩”, contributed 10 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 16:35:41 读者“卧听南窗雨”, contributed 10 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 13:48:55 读者“yuuuuuuu”, contributed 60 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 13:31:28 读者“糖醋排骨加里脊”, contributed 10 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 13:29:11 读者“”, contributed 1 unit of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 12:23:26 读者“思无邪”, contributed 70 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 12:14:09 读者“雪大大”, contributed 30 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 09:27:55 读者“”, contributed 2 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 09:26:31 读者“十八世子”, contributed 1 unit of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 09:02:03 读者“”, contributed 20 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 08:59:37 读者“never”, contributed 1 unit of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 07:22:57 读者“鹅仔?”, contributed 1 unit of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 07:03:52 读者“何处繁华落笙歌”, contributed 1 unit of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 06:57:39 读者“spancer”, contributed 50 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 06:26:10 读者“非鱼”, contributed 3 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 02:20:33 读者“爱的疯狂”, contributed 1 unit of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 02:01:29 读者“南宫敏”, contributed 1 unit of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 01:53:39 读者“月之影”, contributed 1 unit of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 01:51:00 读者“百合党的圣者”, contributed 10 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 00:55:11 读者“保持、微笑”, contributed 20 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 00:53:10 读者“陈陈陈～”, contributed 10 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 00:31:57 读者“御坂美琴我老婆”, contributed 10 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-19 00:16:00 读者“芸芸众生”, contributed 4 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-18 23:54:13 读者“yiliya_0o0”, contributed 10 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-18 23:47:04 读者“苏从心”, contributed 10 units of nutrient solution: 2018-06-18 23:40:06 读者“戏精”, contributed 1 unit of nutrient solution: 2018-06-18 23:35:49 Thank you all for the nutrient solutions! Love you all!