70 - Dungeon Growth Log

Xia Ge stared at the eerie red ribbon, and goosebumps erupted all over her body. However, though she couldn’t break through the formation on the door, she believed she had a way to deal with the ribbon. Without hesitation, she floated over and tugged at the edge that had curled up. The delicate ribbon instantly became extremely obedient. With just one pull, it bowed its head, and soon the elegantly decorated room presented a ludicrous scene. A short, stubby paper man tugged at a long red ribbon, pulling it nonchalantly to the chaise longue in the room. Struggling, he tried to stuff the ribbon under the pillow on the couch. Despite exerting all his strength, he couldn’t get it in. Just as Xia Ge was about to give up and think of another method, the red ribbon gently nuzzled her paper cheek with its tail and gracefully slid under the silk pillow, covering itself completely. Xia Ge: "..." You're quite sensible, aren't you? Not long after it slipped in, Xia Ge felt her paper body warming up. In the next moment, with a ‘puff,’ white smoke enveloped her. Instinctively, Xia Ge wrapped herself tightly in the quilt from the chaise longue, quickly retrieved black cloak and chest bindings from her ring, dressed herself in a few minutes, then jumped off the chaise longue to open the door. Returning to her normal state, the door opened with ease when she pushed it. Xia Ge didn’t even have time to put on her shoes as she tried to flee, when suddenly she heard a "whoosh" and felt something wrapping around her ankle. She paused, closed the door with a “bang,” and upon checking under her tattered cloak, saw a bright red ribbon wrapped around her snow-white ankle, clinging to her with deep reluctance. Wasn’t this the same gigantic, shy ribbon she dealt with a moment ago? But now that she was back to her normal form, the gigantic ribbon was just a thin red ribbon to her, seemingly not threatening at all. Xia Ge: "..." What kind of rubbish are you? Xia Ge pulled the red ribbon off her ankle, “You want to follow me?” The red ribbon nodded vigorously. Xia Ge snorted, then a malicious smile curled on her lips, “Alright, but before that, let’s play a game, shall we?” No matter what she said, the red ribbon kept nodding fervently, displaying unquestioning trust. A minute later, Xia Ge looked at the red ribbon tied into a dead knot on the leg of the small table, clapped her hands in satisfaction, and pulled out a bronze mask from her ring, "So pretty, it really suits you.” The silly ribbon happily wiggled one of its ends tied into the bow. “Mhm, truly beautiful. Well then, let’s part ways here.” Xia Ge waved her hand. The ribbon stilled for a moment, seemed to realize something, then started to struggle vigorously. But Xia Ge had tied a tight knot, making it impossible to untie. Happily opening the door, Xia Ge looked up, “Tsk tsk, if you can untie it, I will...” Xia Ge felt her neck stiffen. In the next second, she hurriedly tried to shut the door with a "bang!" However, things didn’t go as she wished. A cloaked figure, wearing a bamboo hat, kept the door propped open with one hand, easily stopping the closing door. The figure then sidestepped into the room. “Ah, sorry, I entered by mistake. I’ll leave now…” Seeing someone come in, Xia Ge laughed awkwardly, trying to forget the embarrassing fact that she had just tried to exclude the room’s rightful owner. She began to sidle out, hoping to leave unnoticed, but unexpectedly, the person grabbed her shoulder. Xia Ge put on a bitter face, “I really didn’t mean any harm…” The cloaked figure said nothing, simply observing her, seemingly puzzled by her clothing. Xia Ge, recognizing the bamboo hat, realized that this was the person who had bought her fasting pills with a hundred middle-grade spirit stones! Subconsciously, Xia Ge clutched her cloak and grew wary, “I’m not selling my clothes! Oh, no, I’m not selling myself! Ahem, what I mean is, those spirit stones are already spent! No refunds!” The cloaked figure appeared slightly speechless. After a pause, she finally spoke in a low, hoarse voice, “Don’t go out.” Xia Ge, still on guard, asked, “You’re not here to demand a refund? Or to accuse me of being a thief?” The cloaked figure responded, “Why would you be a thief when I brought you in?” Xia Ge: "..." Taking a moment to process, Xia Ge’s eyes widened behind her bronze mask, “You…” She... already knew about the paper man earlier... The cloaked figure remained silent for a bit, then quietly said, “Don’t ask.” With that, she placed neatly folded clothes on the chaise longue next to her, revealing long fingers wrapped in crimson silk. Xia Ge, noting the elegant hand shape, instinctively thought this person might be a woman. After arranging the clothes, she pulled out a small, fox-faced mask from under her cloak. Her slender fingers brushed over the red ears of the fox, its eyes smiling and mouth playfully upturned - a mask that looked both cunning and innocent. Pausing for a moment, she looked at Xia Ge. Xia Ge, hands twisted nervously behind her, was pondering how to get some information from this person. However, seeing that she had stopped all movements and was now looking at her thoughtfully with the fox mask in hand, a chill ran down Xia Ge’s spine. Though the other person wore a bamboo hat, Xia Ge felt an inexplicable sense of being completely seen, which made her incredibly uncomfortable. Determined to break the silence, Xia Ge tried a casual chat, “Um... did you just go out... to buy clothes?” There was a moment of silence. “Yes,” the cloaked figure replied. Xia Ge glanced at the clothes she had brought, noting the pristine white undergarments at the bottom, with a neatly folded set of soft-looking dark silk garments atop. Taking a quick look, she couldn’t help but think the size seemed a bit small. Xia Ge discreetly observed the other person’s height and then looked back at the clothes. Hesitantly, she asked, “Um... These clothes seem a bit small.” Could she be like Xia Ge, appearing tall but with twenty-plus centimeters being fake? ... Surely not. It didn’t seem likely. “Not small,” the cloaked figure said. “They’re just right.” Xia Ge couldn’t help but remark, “... You wear height-increasing shoes too?” System: "..." The cloaked figure: “Hmm?” Xia Ge quickly backpedaled, “Uh, no, nothing, just kidding, haha.” The cloaked figure watched her for a moment, then, holding the mask, walked toward Xia Ge. With a height difference between 1.7 meters and 1.5 meters, the psychological pressure mounted, making Xia Ge instinctively want to retreat, but there was only the door behind her. As the cloak figure took a step, Xia Ge backed two, until she was pressed firmly against the door. The cloaked figure’s voice was calm, “Afraid?” Xia Ge forced a smile, “... Not really.” Pausing, she added in a small voice, "It's just... you're pretty tall." The figure, holding the fox mask, seemed to ponder, “Tall, so you’re intimidated?” Xia Ge laughed awkwardly, “A bit pressured.” The cloaked figure sighed softly, grabbing her shoulder gently, the hand wrapped in red silk graceful, “So, you know how to be afraid.” Xia Ge: "???" In the next moment, Xia Ge felt herself being lifted onto the chaise longue as if transported by mystical force. Her bare feet, previously on the cold floor, now rested on the couch. Her eyes, behind the bronze mask, widened. Next to her were the neatly folded clothes, and before her was the brim of the bamboo hat hiding the figure’s face. After placing Xia Ge on the chaise longue, the cloaked figure, now standing below, lifted the fox mask and looked up at Xia Ge, her voice indifferent, “Are you still afraid?” Standing with her bare feet on the chaise longue, Xia Ge, still dazed, instinctively said, “Not anymore.” Realizing what had just happened, Xia Ge despondently realized she was even farther from the door now. The cloaked figure: “Hmm.” After a pause, she added gently, “Don’t be afraid.” Saying this, she reached out to remove Xia Ge’s mask. Xia Ge, startled, quickly covered her mask with her hand, “You can’t take it off!” The figure glanced at the fox mask in her hand, “I’m giving you a new one.” Xia Ge: “… Still can’t take it off!” The figure thought for a moment, “But it looks just like you.” Xia Ge glanced at the fox mask giving a sly smile, “…” Lies! How does that look like me?! Xia Ge suppressed her emotions, "It doesn't!" “Fine, it doesn’t,” the figure conceded, “But you’re wanted in the Black Market.” Xia Ge: “…” She added, “Bronze mask, five to six chi in height, wearing a tattered cloak.” Recalling the words spoken when she was fleeing, Xia Ge knew she wasn’t joking. After a long silence, the figure’s voice softened, “Change into this, I’ll close my eyes.” Xia Ge looked at the hat concealing the other’s face, "..." Not believable at all, suffocating. “Who are you?” Xia Ge decided to drop the pretense, lowering her hand, “Do I know you? Why are you helping me?” The cloaked figure didn’t respond. As Xia Ge waited for an answer, she felt a sudden cool breeze on her face. With her narrow vision through the bronze mask’s holes suddenly widening, Xia Ge couldn’t react in time. The delicate hand wrapped in red ribbon gently placed the fox mask on her face. The small fox mask fit her perfectly, offering a clear view. The tips of the fingers wrapped in red silk accidentally brushed against her cheek, bringing a slight warmth. Xia Ge's eyes widened, “You…” The cloaked person held the bronze mask with a missing corner, “I have closed my eyes.” Feeling aggrieved, Xia Ge muttered, “…You’re lying.” The cloaked person replied, “I do not lie.” Xia Ge persisted, “Then who are you?” Evading the question, the cloaked person glanced at the pitiful red ribbon tied into a bow knot nearby and stated, “You tied it up.” Indeed, she wasn’t lying. The cloaked person simply refrained from responding when she didn’t want to answer a question. Seeing that it had caught its master's attention, the slender red ribbon wriggled excitedly, signaling for help. However, the cloaked person merely noted its predicament without taking any further action. Xia Ge, feeling a sense of déjà vu with this behavior, mused, “Isn’t this exactly what you usually do?” System: “You’re one to talk. Isn’t this the way you often handle things?” Feeling even more frustrated, Xia Ge demanded, “Be quiet. Who is she?” System: “She’s wearing a cloak and hat; I can’t detect her identity.” While Xia Ge was racking her brain for ways to uncover the cloaked person’s identity, she offered an unexpected proposal, “If you truly wish to know, exchange one question for another.” Xia Ge pouted, “I don’t trust you, who knows if you’re lying.” “I don’t lie,” the cloaked person asserted, “As long as you don’t lie, I won’t either.” Xia Ge challenged, “But how can I be sure you’re not lying?” The cloaked person simply reiterated, “I don’t deceive you.” Xia Ge: “…” Acknowledging that this wasn’t very convincing, the cloaked person paused to think before taking out a small, round green ball. “This is a Verity Sphere,” she stated. “In its presence, any falsehood spoken will become true.” Xia Ge: “…Huh?” “If you speak the truth, the Verity Sphere will have no effect,” the cloaked person continued calmly, “Do you understand now?” Xia Ge’s immediate reaction was: “If I say I’m a millionaire, will that come true?” System: "..." Hey. The cloaked person responded, “It seems you are not.” Xia Ge: "..." Did you just laugh? You definitely laughed, didn’t you? The cloaked person warned, “Do not carelessly utter falsehoods before the Verity Sphere. Using it to turn lies into truth comes at a dire cost.” “No one knows what the price might be. It could be your fortune, your soul, or your life.” Xia Ge glanced at the Verity Sphere, and the system scanned it. [Verity Sphere·Earth: A rare mystical artifact capable of turning lies into truth, but the cost for such transformation is catastrophic. Use with caution.] Whoa, she wasn't bluffing. Such a thing actually existed in this world? It seemed incredibly dangerous no matter how she looked at it. Feeling apprehensive, Xia Ge softly suggested, “We were just chit-chatting, no need to be so serious.” The cloaked person replied indifferently, “Because you don’t trust me.” --- Author's Note: = = Reader “Xiao Ming” threw 1 landmine, time: 2018-07-03 23:36:27 Reader “You Li You Xian” threw 1 landmine, time: 2018-07-04 02:38:43 Reader “Only” threw 1 landmine, time: 2018-07-04 06:00:45 Reader “Jiu Mi Jiang Ya” threw 1 hand grenade, time: 2018-07-04 09:07:28 Reader “Bo Shi Yi” threw 1 hand grenade, time: 2018-07-04 20:01:29 Reader “Lu Yi Shen” threw 1 hand grenade, time: 2018-07-04 23:17:50 Thank you, little angels, for the hand grenades and landmines!! = = Reader “Bo Shi Yi” irrigated with 10 nutrition solutions, 2018-07-04 20:01:48 Reader “Mo Ji” irrigated with 5 nutrition solutions, 2018-07-04 17:01:08 Reader “Hong Shi Shou Hu” irrigated with 20 nutrition solutions, 2018-07-04 13:02:17 Reader “Destroyed” irrigated with 30 nutrition solutions, 2018-07-04 10:45:46 Reader “null” irrigated with 1 nutrition solution, 2018-07-04 10:38:51 Reader “Ji Wu Sheng” irrigated with 70 nutrition solutions, 2018-07-04 10:25:18 Reader “Chi Qing” irrigated with 10 nutrition solutions, 2018-07-04 05:15:05 Reader “Guan Tian Xing” irrigated with 30 nutrition solutions, 2018-07-04 01:59:25 Reader “Biu~Biu~” irrigated with 1 nutrition solution, 2018-07-04 00:44:47 Reader “Yuan San Sui” irrigated with 10 nutrition solutions, 2018-07-04 00:01:03 Thank you all for the nutrition solutions! Love you!