56 - Dungeon Growth Log

### Chapter 56 Xiage felt that she was facing the greatest crisis since her time-travel. The saying "no need to make a long story short" implied that she couldn’t even say a single word. Surely, someone who could become the senior disciple of a peak wouldn’t be easily fooled, right? If she slipped up just once, she’d be done for. Gu Peijiu: “Speak up if you’re not in pain anymore.” “Ah... my head suddenly hurts again.” Xiage clutched her head, whining, “What’s going on? Suddenly, my head started hurting again... Ah, it hurts so much.” Gu Peijiu remained silent, her expressionless eyes fixed on her. The setting sun cast a particularly stern light on the girl’s face. After moaning pathetically for two minutes without eliciting any response, Xiage realized she couldn’t keep up the act. Finally, her shoulders slumped in defeat, “Can’t you at least show a little concern for your severely injured and miserable disciple?” “Heh.” Concern? If she didn’t show concern for herself, how could she expect others to? That laugh was ambiguous in meaning but carried a chilling undertone. The air around them seemed to drop to freezing point. Xiage forced a dry laugh, suddenly afraid to meet Gu Peijiu’s eyes. Seriously... if you’re not concerned, you’re not concerned. Why make the atmosphere so tense... After a long pause, the voice opposite her spoke coldly, “Speak.” Hey, her tone was so icy it could form icicles. Realizing she couldn’t deceive her any longer, Xiage tried negotiating for the best possible outcome, “If I tell you... will you return my things?” Xiage cautiously tugged on the tiger’s whisker, “That, the chipped dragon jade...” The dragon jade, which fell behind the mountain and got chipped. So, she just admitted to going to the back mountain? Gu Peijiu’s lips tightened. Seeing no reaction from her, Xiage tried to spin more lies with open eyes: “Without that jade, my family’s ancestral grave would go up in smoke—no, I mean, it’s a family heirloom. Without it, my ancestors would visit me in my dreams to discuss life matters!” “Wah, if you don’t give it back, I won’t tell you anything!” Gu Peijiu looked at Xiage and replied calmly, “It’s fine if you don’t speak.” She stood up, her red maple robe fluttering in the wind. With a keen eye, Xiage noticed the dried bloodstains on Gu Peijiu’s exquisitely tailored red robe. It was sudden and unnatural. “Hey, wait a minute—” Xiage grabbed her sleeve, muttering softly, “So stingy... You don’t even need that jade...” The girl’s delicate features and tightly pressed lips were surrounded by an icy aura, making her seem very unapproachable as she stared at her silently. But the coldness around her intensified. Ah... it seemed she had really upset her? Xiage felt like she was in over her head. While Yeze was manageable, dealing with a young, stern elder sister who held her life in her hands was truly baffling. Just as Xiage clutched her sleeve, racking her brains on how to wrap things up, she heard her speak: “Earlier, you lied.” Not a single truth in your words. Xiage: “...” After a long silence, under Gu Peijiu’s icy gaze, Xiage reluctantly confessed, “The dragon jade isn’t an heirloom... but it’s still important... What I mean is, it’s as important as an heirloom...” Gu Peijiu calmly stated, “The headache was also a lie.” Xiage: “...” Yes, yes, it was all a lie! It was all a lie! Everyone gets it, okay? Do you have to point it out and pin her to a pillar of shame? Life is hard enough, Elder Sister! Under her cold gaze, Xiage struggled to say, “Well, it doesn’t hurt now.” Gu Peijiu remained silent for a while. Xiage cautiously looked up at her, but all she saw was the girl in the red and white maple robe looking out the window, her lips pursed. Yikes... she seems really angry... Moreover, the bloodstains on her clothes... After a long pause, Xiage heard her own soft voice, “Um... sorry.” Gu Peijiu didn’t respond. Xiage looked into her dark eyes, awkwardly opening her mouth, “At that time... was it you?” At the Dan Training Ground. The one who took her away. The gentle scent of sandalwood, the warm embrace. —You should rest now. Gu Peijiu withdrew her gaze from the window, scanning over the boy’s somewhat awkward expression, then moving downwards to her hands clutching her sleeve. Her slender, fair left hand, which she could easily grasp. It looked very frail. But in her palm, there was a scar left for someone else. After some time, she sat down again, her voice calm, “Speak, I’m listening.” She neither confirmed nor denied Xiage’s question. Xiage hesitated for a long time. After some thought, since Gu Peijiu had already picked up the jade pendant, it was impossible to hide that she went to the back mountain... She deliberated on how to fabricate a somewhat believable story... However, before Xiage could come up with something, Gu Peijiu’s voice just as indifferently as before, like it was a casual question, “How did you get the wound on your stomach?” Xiage shuddered: “Ah, I hit it!” Gu Peijiu stared at her expressionlessly. Xiage: “...” That sounded pretty far-fetched, huh? Xiage sheepishly added, “...I hit a knife.” Gu Peijiu looked coldly at her, “You stabbed yourself?” Xiage: “...” This is too hard, next question. Gu Peijiu paused, deciding to give Xiage another chance: “How about the whip marks on your back?” She really moved on. But the scars on her back weren’t from a whip... ...Never mind, getting caught and whipped by the guardians after trespassing the ancestral tomb of the mountain was probably a lesser offense than the former, right? Xiage lied with open eyes, “This is... after sneaking into the back mountain, I got caught and whipped by the guardians.” Gu Peijiu watched her quietly for a long time. Xiage widened her eyes, trying hard to make her smile look sincere. After observing her, Gu Peijiu stood up and turned to leave. Unsurprisingly, her sleeve was grabbed again. Gu Peijiu’s voice was indifferent: “If you won’t tell the truth, why should I stay?” Xiage felt guilty: “...I-I am telling the truth.” Gu Peijiu: “The guardians of the back mountain don’t have weapons.” After a pause, “They don’t have whips to lash people, nor daggers you could run into.” Xiage still clutching the sleeve, replied, “I just happened to run into one that did, bad luck, can’t do anything about it.” Gu Peijiu: “Xia Wuyin.” Xiage: “Yes?” “Disciples of the Dan Peak cannot stand without integrity.” Gu Peijiu pressed her lips together, slowly pulling her sleeve from the other’s hand, “I don’t ask you to always be honest, but at least...” The cool sleeve slipped smoothly from her hand, silky and soft, “When you can truly trust me, then we can have a long conversation.” Outside the window, the sun had completely set, taking with it the last rays of daylight. Under the dark sky, the stars began to twinkle faintly. The door creaked open with a “squeak,” and the girl in the red robe left her room. Xiage: “Xiaokui, are you awake? Has my elder sister’s trust in me gone bankrupt?” After calling for a while without a response. “...” Forget it, what’s the point of asking, it’s definitely bankrupt. Actually, it wasn’t unusual for calls to go unanswered for a while, lasting from half a day to a full day, with little impact. Xiage just assumed it was still asleep and wasn’t too worried. Looking at herself, her bandages were neat, her chest bindings well done, it seemed Elder Sister didn’t suspect anything. That was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune. With the person gone and the system still asleep, with nothing to do, Xiage took the time to look around the room assigned for her convalescence. Not luxurious, but clean and tidy. In the corner, there was a Ba Bao shelf, with carved windows hung with green curtains. On the pear-wood table by the window, there were all four treasures of the study, and in one corner, there was a small white porcelain bottle with a few stalks of fly whisk. While simple, it had an elegant and serene atmosphere. The faint scent of sandalwood lingered around, making it seem less like a random disciple’s room for recovery but more like... a young lady’s boudoir. Stop! Probably not... Xiage dared not think further. She coughed and glanced at the small table placed beside the bed. On the table, there were neatly arranged documents. Upon closer observation, she found them perfectly aligned. Each page matched up precisely, a neatness that could cure anyone’s OCD. Staring at the perfectly arranged red pen, Xiage thought, this wasn’t just a desk. This was art. But if even a small table was like this, the elder sister must have OCD, right? Looking fixedly at the top document labeled “Final Evaluation of the Dan Peak Competition,” Xiage thought. Sigh, the more OCD someone is, the more rigid they become, it seemed unless she told the truth... But with all these injuries, lying about them convincingly was difficult. But before that, should she secretly take a peek at the scores? After all, she would know sooner or later. Knowing early wasn’t cheating, not against the rules! Just a small... peek! Just as Xiage was about to extend her claws towards the “Final Evaluation of the Dan Peak Competition,” she suddenly heard the wooden door creak open— Xiage hastily retracted her hand, but the sudden movement tugged at the wound on her back, making her grimace in pain. As tears welled up in her eyes, she looked up and saw a stranger in a green dress carrying a basin of water. The woman had an oval face, big eyes, and thin pursed lips. Her black hair was simply tied up, and she did not look pleased. Enduring the pain, Xiage awkwardly greeted, "Sister, you seem unfamiliar." "I am the lady’s maid," the woman said curtly. "My name is Bixi." Bixi continued to look at her with a displeased expression after introducing herself. "You're very beautiful, Sister Bixi," Xiage praised with wide eyes, trying to flatter her. "Dan Peak is truly fortunate to produce such beauties." Bixi placed the basin down heavily and snorted, "Smooth-talking, you must not have good intentions." Xiage: "..." Ah, it seemed she had miscalculated with her flattery. "The lady sent me to take care of you," Bixi said. "Once you’re able to move, you better get out of the lady’s room quickly." Xiage: "Sure, sure, no problem... Huh?!" Coming to her senses, Xiage was stunned, "Where did you say I was?" Bixi's expression soured further, "Why do you care? Just make sure you’re out of here by tomorrow! Hurry up and leave!" Xiage: "..." That was a lot to process, give her a moment. What did she mean by... the lady’s room? Which lady? Couldn’t be the one she was thinking of, right? Xiage cautiously asked, "Um, which lady of yours...?" Bixi’s face remained expressionless as she replied, "The one who just left." Xiage: "..." Wow, she must still be dreaming? Oh, my head hurts, better go back to sleep, probably still in a dream— Bixi didn’t care what Xiage was thinking. Just recalling how this brat had clung to the lady made her angry. She glared at Xia Wuyin and twisted the towel in the basin fiercely, as if she were wringing her instead, her strength evident. Watching this, Xiage, who felt like she was dreaming, quietly shrank back into the corner. Even though it felt like a dream, it was really, really scary. In the end, Bixi couldn’t hold it in anymore. With one final twist, she threw the freshly wrung towel back into the basin. Xiage watched wide-eyed as the towel, once dry, was now soaking wet again. For a moment, she didn’t know if she should feel sorry for Bixi’s wasted effort or pity herself for the impending wrath. Bixi, with one hand on her hip and the other pointed at Xiage’s nose, demanded, "Tell me! Were you pretending to be asleep earlier?!" If it weren’t for her injuries, Xiage would have raised both hands and feet to declare her innocence: "No! I wasn’t!" Why would she pretend to sleep?! She didn’t even know if she won the competition, why would she take such a useless risk?! She must still be in a dream?! Surely, right?! "Bah! You grabbed my lady’s hand and didn’t let go for two days, causing her to attend to you day and night!" Bixi fumed. Her precious lady, who had never taken care of anyone since arriving at Dan Peak, wouldn’t have bothered with him if he hadn’t clung on! "You were just pretending to sleep to take advantage of my lady!!" Xiage: "!!!" What?! --- Author’s Note: Working hard... squeezing out the water. (lying down) = = Some readers threw grenades at: Youyiyoujian at 12:58:13 on June 20, 2018 Luo Jiagongzi at 16:10:09 on June 20, 2018 Xiandai, Wuliao at 17:21:12 on June 20, 2018 Thanks to everyone for the grenades! = = Reader "" irrigated with 5 units of nutrients at 20:16:50 on June 20, 2018 Reader Zhang Goudan irrigated with 1 unit of nutrients at 18:18:23 on June 20, 2018 Reader Cangyan irrigated with 6 units of nutrients at 13:24:06 on June 20, 2018 Reader Luoyeshuifeng irrigated with 10 units of nutrients at 13:01:08 on June 20, 2018 Reader "On How to Make the Nickname Fifteen Characters Long Bazaihei" irrigated with 10 units of nutrients at 12:40:05 on June 20, 2018 Reader Wuhui irrigated with 1 unit of nutrients at 11:37:50 on June 20, 2018 Reader "忍" irrigated with 11 units of nutrients at 11:35:53 on June 20, 2018 Reader "忍" irrigated with 10 units of nutrients at 11:35:11 on June 20, 2018 Reader Zaochang irrigated with 3 units of nutrients at 11:08:56 on June 20, 2018 Reader ocas irrigated with 10 units of nutrients at 11:01:57 on June 20, 2018 Reader Cijiu irrigated with 20 units of nutrients at 09:40:44 on June 20, 2018 Reader Weitaming irrigated with 5 units of nutrients at 09:15:22 on June 20, 2018 Reader Huichangkuzi irrigated with 2 units of nutrients at 08:23:42 on June 20, 2018 Reader Xiaoqingxin irrigated with 20 units of nutrients at 08:23:26 on June 20, 2018 Reader Zhafitren irrigated with 10 units of nutrients at 01:26:51 on June 20, 2018 Reader Erfenzhisanmingzhi irrigated with 10 units of nutrients at 00:28:13 on June 20, 2018 Reader Cunyu irrigated with 5 units of nutrients at 23:59:46 on June 19, 2018 Reader Lajijun irrigated with 20 units of nutrients at 23:57:15 on June 19, 2018 Reader Luoxiaoyi irrigated with 1 unit of nutrients at 23:55:34 on June 19, 2018 Reader "忻’s Faith" irrigated with 10 units of nutrients at 23:54:32 on June 19, 2018 Reader Shayu Baba irrigated with 1 unit of nutrients at 23:53:46 on June 19, 2018 Reader Yunyunzhongsheng irrigated with 10 units of nutrients at 23:49:57 on June 19, 2018 Reader Diandian Diandian irrigated with 50 units of nutrients at 23:38:44 on June 19, 2018 Reader Qinduo irrigated with 10 units of nutrients at 23:36:50 on June 19, 2018 Thanks everyone for the nutrients! Love you all! =3=