75 - Dungeon Growth Log

What happened next... I can't remember. The wide red silk cloth seemed to empathize with its owner's feelings, spreading its agitation until it reached the doorway of a wooden door, as if something was attracting it. It cautiously rubbed against the door. Gu Peiju paused slightly, and a peculiar thought surfaced in her mind. ——No matter what. ——I want to become the person you like. She closed her eyes, a slight sweat breaking out on her forehead. What on earth was she... Inside the room, completely oblivious to what was happening outside, Xia Ge felt weak all over, her heart pounding. She held a teleportation stone in her hand, ready to flee at the slightest sign of danger. However, just as A Chan in the tomb had said, no one knew where the unreliable teleportation stone from Ancestor Lingxi would take her. Given her current indescribable state, she had no intention of using it unless absolutely necessary. Yet after waiting for a long time, the door that should have been kicked open remained silent, and there were no sounds coming from outside. ...What happened? Why didn't the ram-headed man come? Xia Ge touched the sickle in the bed, contemplated for a moment, and decided to check the situation. But as soon as she lifted the curtain and caught a whiff of the scent outside the bed, a buzzing noise filled her head, and she immediately felt dizzy. Not good! The fragrance outside triggered her indulgence craving! Xia Ge, holding on to her last bit of sanity, painfully retracted her head back, tightly closed the bed curtains, and realized that in her current state, going anywhere was tantamount to seeking death. Resolutely, she returned the teleportation stone to her reflective silver ring. She took a breath, her mind gradually growing muddled. Oh my, it's hot... Meanwhile, outside the room, Gu Peiju slowly released her grip. She watched Tian Zhuling sneakily pushing against the door. The door wasn't locked and was cautiously pushed open by it. At her mental command, the door silently swung open. Gu Peiju stepped in, one step at a time. The rich, eerie fragrance spread, but it had absolutely no effect on her. She only glanced at it, and Tian Zhuling, moving according to her will, shattered the incense burner burning the indulgence craving in an instant with a swift "crash." The sharp noise did not rouse Xia Ge, who had entirely lost her mind, her thoughts overrun with finding something cool to cling onto and rub against. Gu Peiju approached the bed, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, her soft black hair hanging down. Her pale hand slowly lifted the white bed curtain. Who would have thought that as soon as she lifted it a little, her wrist was seized by someone. Gu Peiju's pupils contracted, and before she could react, the person on the bed pulled her inside with great force! The bed curtain slightly moved, a hand wrapped in a red ribbon tightly grasping her wrist. The girl in the ochre-red long dress, with a red veil over her head, fully pressed down on her, clinging tightly like a fish stranded onshore, murmuring, "It's hot, hot..." Gu Peiju lay beneath her, her back hitting something hard. Her breath caught, and Tian Zhuling instantly prepared to strike, about to shatter the girl's head. Miraculously, just as it was about to touch the girl, the thin red ribbon wrapped around her left hand suddenly shot out, forming a wide silk net that shielded the girl, keeping her enveloped outside Tian Zhuling’s reach while it tussled fiercely with Tian Zhuling, both protecting her carefully. For a moment, Gu Peiju stared at the familiar red ribbon on the girl's hand, feeling even more confused. Pressing her temples, memories she had suppressed resurfaced, “Who are you?” She felt foolish for asking the question. The protective red ribbon was here; naturally, so was the person she sought. "I don't know. I don't know —" Xia Ge's mind was a mess as her hands wandered aimlessly and she mumbled incoherently, oblivious to her own words and only aware of her immense discomfort. Her hand brushed against something soft, making Gu Peiju widen her eyes in shock, her body trembling slightly. She gritted her teeth, grabbing the wandering hand, "…Stop it." "I feel awful—" The girl's voice carried a sobbing tone, "Waah waah waah... I think I'm dying." The voice was both familiar and unfamiliar. Familiar because that person always spoke in a deliberately low voice, unfamiliar because it now contained a feminine, coquettish quality. Gu Peiju didn't speak. She pinned the girl's hands down with one hand and lifted the red veil with the other. Underneath the soft black hair fell loosely, revealing a girl's features as exquisite as a painting, with cheeks like March peach blossoms and soft red lips, breathtakingly beautiful, unsurpassed in the world. Gu Peiju's pupils contracted sharply, staring at the face that was both familiar and strange, her heart feeling as though it had been struck heavily, leaving her mind blank. ...It's not you who thinks you're dying. It's she who feels she might die. The girl whimpered, "I feel awful." Gu Peiju heard her own unsteady voice, "Bear with it!" "I won't, I won't..." Xia Ge writhed against her, and Gu Peiju's mind was in turmoil, torn between inexplicable fragment memories and her remaining sanity. Biting her lip, she flipped over, pinning the restless girl beneath her! Xia Ge was poked by the sickle she had hidden in the quilt and started struggling again, "It hurts, it hurts..." Gu Peiju sneered, patting her face, "I just felt uncomfortable too." There seemed to be some iron object under the quilt, poking uncomfortably. It must have been a weapon this little mischief prepared for protection, not expecting to end up poisoned by this spring toxin. The scent of fresh blood lightly mingled with the air, and Gu Peiju paused, slowly reaching out to the girl. After a moment, she squinted her eyes. She sneered, patting her face, "Pretending to be a boy?" In her mind, she saw the girl standing barefoot on the clouds of the Yundu city walls, smiling at her cheekily. Gu Peiju tightened her grip on her hand. Xia Ge, devoid of rationality, her cheeks flushed, blinked at her innocently, sounding pitiful and ignoring everything she said, "I'm hot." Then she shamelessly twisted around, "It hurts, it hurts." Gu Peiju: "…Bear with it." Xia Ge refused, "I won't." She started tugging at Gu Peiju's clothes, "Cool, feels better." Gu Peiju’s face darkened. She pinned Xia Ge’s hands down, and Tian Zhuling rolled out, binding Xia Ge’s wandering hands tightly, “Take off your own clothes if you want to feel better.” The girl in the red dress fell silent, pouting, her disheveled black hair framing her face as she lay on the bed, her hands tied securely by the red silk, looking at her with soulful, expressive eyes. Gu Peiju’s mind spiraled into chaos again— That's not how it is… That person... It's not… It's not her. She came back to her senses, reaching behind the girl. The girl’s eyes were bright and wet, her back pressing against Gu Peiju’s hand, rubbing against it, murmuring, “Feels good.” Gu Peiju: "…Stay still." With that, she lifted the quilt from under the girl and pulled out a shining black sickle. Its blade was sharp enough to cut a strand of hair. Gu Peiju: "..." Holding the sickle, Gu Peiju looked down, about to say something, when suddenly the girl below flipped like a fish, warmth spreading across her lips. Staring at the face right before her eyes, her pupils dilated— The girl’s lips were tinted red with a hint of rose, her long, curled lashes and innocent, pitch-black eyes close enough to see clearly. Bewildered, Xia Ge kissed her and then rubbed her cheek against her face. Gu Peiju was so stunned by the sudden kiss that the sickle slipped silently from her hand back onto the quilt. The girl’s rouge smudged onto her face, and finally, seemingly tired, she rested her head on Gu Peiju's shoulder. Her disheveled black hair, Gu Peiju's heart pounding violently, felt like she would either die or needed to live in this very world. ——No matter how painful, only by living in this world. ——Can I become your sharpest blade. She slowly reached out, helping the girl up to lean against her. Xia Ge was exceptionally obedient, leaning against her front, her face flushed, eyes hazy. ——You are my everything. ——My all. Gu Peiju heard the girl murmur by her ear, "I want..." Gu Peiju said nothing. Clad in her cloak, her pale hand brushed through the girl's messy black hair. Her eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings. She moved her fingers, and Tian Zhuling loosened, letting the red ribbon entwined around the girl's hand slip free. Following Gu Peiju’s gesture, it reluctantly left her soft, pale hand and wound around Gu Peiju's fingertip instead. Holding her and allowing her to lean on her shoulder, the pale fingers touched the girl's black hair, voice hoarse. "...What do you want?" ——Whatever you desire, even if it means shattering the mountains and rivers, I will present it to you. The girl looked confused, murmuring for a while as if she didn’t know what she wanted. Gu Peiju neatly gathered her soft long hair, using the red ribbon wrapped around her finger to tie it up. The soft red ribbon held the pitch-black hair in place, no longer disheveled, revealing her delicate ears and fair neck. Her heart pounded fiercely. Closing her eyes, she asked again, "…What do you want?" The girl was confused for a long time, hesitating for an extended period, and wavering endlessly. Just when Gu Peiju thought she wouldn't receive an answer. "…I want to go home." Leaning against Gu Peiju's shoulder, the girl's voice was faint, filled with an unreachable yearning, "I want to go home…" Gu Peiju paused slightly, "Where is your home?" "…" "I can't go back…" The fabric beneath her head grew slightly damp; the girl's voice was tearful, and she started writhing uneasily, desperately pulling at the binds of Tian Zhuling, "It hurts, it hurts!" The indulgence craving had flared up! Gu Peiju raised her hand, pressing the girl back down onto the bed, her voice turning cold, "Wake up!" "I feel awful…" Xia Ge struggled. Gu Peiju took a deep breath, subduing her, when suddenly she heard footsteps and commotion outside the door. "What's going on!!" "Why is everyone—" "Quick, get someone in here!" The people from the auction house had arrived! Before Gu Peiju could react, another sudden warmth landed on her cheek with a "smooch," leaving a bright red lip print on her left cheek. The culprit, Xia Ge, looked confused, "Hmm, it's cool." Gu Peiju: "…" "They're definitely here! Check to see if anything's missing!" "..." The clamor outside grew, voices drawing closer. The girl stole a brief calm moment after kissing her but soon resumed her restlessness, writhing like a caterpillar, unsure of what she wanted, only feeling an unbearable emptiness. "Waaah, I want, I want—" An entirely blank Xia Ge had no idea what she wanted. After murmuring, "I want, I want" for a while, she finally whimpered— "I want…to go home." Overcome by indulgence craving, Xia Ge felt feverish throughout, with the most comforting memory being the air conditioning at home. As the door burst open, Gu Peiju grabbed the sickle, swiftly picking up Xia Ge and shattering a teleportation stone from Danfeng. Tian Zhuling stirred up a fierce, chilly wind, her eyelashes fluttering, "Mm, I'll take you home." = = Jianfeng. The moon was pale, cold winds swirling the snow, with crows cawing softly. Ye Zé dreamed. He dreamt of himself curled up in the grass, trembling, hearing the innocent laughter of a young girl. "Giggle, giggle…" "Mother, is this enough?" He looked up and saw an exceedingly familiar scene—the gate of his home, with an old banyan tree. A girl in white sat on the banyan tree, a string of silver bells around her ankle. The shadows of the leaves obscured her face, making it indistinct, although her laughter was clear and pure. In the pool of blood under the banyan tree lay two people whom Ye Zé knew immensely well, to his very bones. The two individuals who had raised him—one was the strict and tall head of the Ye family who had often taught him to be a man of great character and courage, and the other was gentle and kind, holding his hand, walking through their blooming garden and teaching him to recognize the newly planted peonies. And now they lay there, motionless. A thin woman dressed in black stood beside them, behind her were numerous demonized puppets with bronze masks. They snarled and roared. He heard the wails of the black dog that had been with him since he was six or seven years old. Wherever he went, the dog followed— "Where did this stray dog come from? Why is it barking? Has it never witnessed a massacre? What a nuisance." The girl in the tree sounded somewhat aggrieved, yet exuded pure excitement, "Mother, mother, if we eliminate all of them, shouldn't we leave nothing behind, not even a dog?" The woman below looked up at the girl in the tree, her bloodstained face kind, “Mm, my dear, you're right.” With a slight wave of her bloody hand, there was a trace of cruelty in her eyes. “It’s true... nothing should be left behind.” The demonized puppets' roars rose in excitement, beginning their frenzy! That night, the cries of the stray dogs and the slaughter of more than two hundred members of the Ye family by the demonized puppets became a nightmare Ye Zé could never forget. "Mother," the girl chuckled, turning back to look in Ye Zé's direction, "There seems to be a survivor over there?" Ye Zé woke up with a start! The moonlight outside was bright, reminiscent of that bloody night, illuminating the small room. He touched his forehead—indeed, it was drenched with cold sweat. Looking at his damp hand, he slowly clenched his fist, his nails digging into his palm, almost drawing blood. = = When Xia Ge regained consciousness, it was sunset outside the window. She was dazed for a moment before realizing she was in her newly moved-into luxurious Danfeng single dormitory. The two-meter-long sickle rested quietly in the corner. Scenes from the black market flashed like a movie in her mind, cutting off at the point right before the indulgence craving. …What happened? Why was she back? Xia Ge asked the system, "How did I end up back here?" System: "…Someone brought you back." Xia Ge: "Who?" Before the system could reply, the door creaked open quietly. Turning around, Xia Ge saw a girl in red and white maple clothes standing at the door, looking at her with an unreadable expression in her dark eyes. System: "Well, someone far away but close at hand." "…Senior Sister?" Xia Ge felt her mind stutter, "You brought…you came to find me?" Gu Peiju nodded, "Mm, come help me organize some documents." Casually, as if nothing had happened. Xia Ge glanced down at her clothing, "Oh, okay… Let me just change first…" "Mm." Gu Peiju gave her a brief glance before closing the door for her. Xia Ge took out her clothes from the ring, "What did you mean just now? Senior Sister brought me back?" System: "Just as it sounds." After a pause, the system's voice brimmed with malice, "It seems she found out about your disguise as a boy." Xia Ge shivered, "What did you say?! Impossible—" System: "Believe it or not, just be careful." Xia Ge suddenly felt like she was walking into a trap. The system sounded indifferent, "Being found out isn’t going to eat you up. It's not like Ye Zé discovered you deceiving him about your brotherhood for years." That made some sense, but something still felt off... Xia Ge looked into the mirror, then stopped. The young man in the reflection had clean, fair skin. The makeup she had on her face had been wiped off by someone, and a soft red ribbon tied her black hair, making her look spirited and neat. Xia Ge stared at the red ribbon for a long time. The ribbon had been pretending to be lifeless, but facing Xia Ge’s sharp gaze, it trembled uneasily. "So it’s you." Xia Ge's eyebrow twitched. She wasn't stupid. Facing this little ribbon demon and considering the system's words, the cloaked person's identity was almost clear. "Are you ready?" A faint voice came from outside the door. "…Yes." Xia Ge rubbed her forehead and finally left the room, following Gu Peiju to the study. There wasn’t really much to do, just organizing some documents. Danfeng didn’t have many documents to sort, so after finishing, Xia Ge snuck peeks at Gu Peiju using a cinnabar brush. Why wasn’t she asking anything? Her deliberate silence felt more unsettling. Xia Ge thought Senior Sister would immediately resort to harsh interrogation methods, though tense, she was prepared to think of some lies if necessary. Instead, her calm demeanor made Xia Ge more uneasy. After pondering for a while, she mimicked a scene from TV, standing beside Gu Peiju, "Senior Sister, I’ve sorted the documents!" Gu Peiju responded with an "Mm", "Alright, you can go back now." Xia Ge: "..." Wait, aren't you going to ask anything? You’re just letting me go? Didn’t she just go to the black market!? Shouldn't it be suspicious? Ask anything and she could come up with an excuse! If nothing else, punish her with some writing; this feels too eerie. What if you imagine something terrible, where could she cry? Seeing Xia Ge hesitate, Gu Peiju’s hand with the brush paused slightly, “Why aren’t you leaving?” “Uh… yeah.” Xia Ge put her hands behind her back, “Um, Senior Sister, when do classes start again?” “In a day.” Gu Peiju replied, “Tomorrow you’ll receive your clothes. Don’t wander around.” The phrase "don't wander around" felt ominous, making Xia Ge feel uneasy, “Oh… But…” “What?” Xia Ge: “Uh, just… You don’t… Um, Senior Sister, you look beautiful today.” As soon as she said it, she felt foolish. Initially, her plan was to say “You’re not punishing me? Can I give back this red ribbon on my head?” but after pondering it, she realized revealing herself would be incredibly stupid. But as she came back to her senses, Xia Ge felt that her last statement wasn't particularly clever either. …Well, considering the system said that Senior Sister already knew she was a girl, it wasn’t too far-fetched to compliment her. After all, girls praising each other's beauty was just regular flattery, right? Oh wait, it wasn't mutual flattery because Senior Sister was never going to praise her in return. “Go back now,” Gu Peiju said matter-of-factly, “I understand.” Xia Ge: "..." Xia Ge left in a daze. Outside the study, vibrant red ball flowers were blooming beautifully. Xia Ge vaguely felt something was off but couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Wait, does Senior Sister usually respond to compliments with, "Mm, I understand"…? She couldn’t recall her responding like this before... Xia Ge stared at a butterfly landing on one of the blooming ball flowers. …Forget it. She decided not to dwell on it. Back to playing with her little puppets. Inside the study. Once Xia Ge was gone, Gu Peiju set down her cinnabar brush. Her pitch-black eyes flickered with an abnormal glint of demonic energy. She closed her eyes briefly and when she reopened them, they were back to normal. ——Senior Sister, you look beautiful today. She touched her lips and after a moment, her pupils contracted slightly before lowering her hand. The next day. “Xia Wu Yin, you’re here to get your clothes too.” The place where Danfeng distributed clothes to inner disciples was in a special garment bureau, and a long line had formed. Xia Ge was at the very end, with Mao Qing standing a little behind her. Mao Qing spotted her right away and patted her shoulder, cheerfully handing her a candy, “The shop in town just released new cherry blossom candies! Here, have one!” “Ah... okay.” Xia Ge accepted the candy. The pink candy wrapped in white paper looked lovely, with a small cherry blossom petal encased in its center. “Where's Huo Bai? Have you seen him? I bought extra just for him.” Mao Qing glanced around for Huo Bai. Xia Ge stiffened slightly, "Uh, no, I haven’t seen him.” Mao Qing looked around more but didn’t spot him, sighing in disappointment. She handed another cherry blossom candy to Xia Ge. “Oh well. Just take his.” Mao Qing added, “He wouldn’t take something this girly anyway.” Xia Ge looked at the pink candy in her hand, “…” Then why did you buy it for him? Mao Qing seemed to read her mind and snorted, “I just wanted to see if he’d accept it. Guess he’s not coming." Xia Ge: "But why do you think I would accept it?” Mao Qing answered without hesitation, “Because you’re a nice person.” Xia Ge: "..." System: “Haha.” “Hey, by the way, is that a new headband?” Mao Qing commented, noticing the red ribbon in Xia Ge’s hair. “It looks great. Is it new?” Having been given a “Nice Guy” card, Xia Ge lied with a straight face, “No, I just cut it from some cloth at the fabric shop in the village.” Mao Qing: “Which shop? I want to get one too.” Xia Ge responded nonchalantly, "Which else? The usual one." Mao Qing accepted this explanation with an "Oh," then pointed at Xia Ge’s waist, “Hey, what’s that?” Around Xia Ge’s waist, instead of jade, there hung a finely carved wooden doll with black gemstone eyes and red-painted lips, wearing its black hair down. Xia Ge remained unflappable, “Just a carved toy.” Mao Qing's eyes widened, “Wow, it's so cute. I wouldn’t have guessed you could carve wood so well, Xia Wu Yin.” Xia Ge laughed, "Haha, of course. As a puppeteer, it's something I’m skilled at." The reflective silver ring was a defective product; she couldn't store the puppets inside as they were special items requiring her constant proximity. After contemplating, the safest option was to disguise them as innocent toys. All her puppets had two forms: the regular wood form and the ability-activated puppet form. These forms could be sculpted to the puppeteer’s liking. When in the wooden doll form, they would mask all energy signatures, making it unlikely for anyone but the most adept puppeteers to detect their true nature. After the shopping spree in the black market, her points had dwindled, but luckily, the system rewarded her with fifteen points for creating the little puppet, easing her financial strain a bit. “Hm… wait.” Mao Qing knelt to examine the wooden doll, “Why does it look familiar?” Xia Ge puzzled, “Hm?” Mao Qing stared for a while, then realized, “I know why it looks familiar! It resembles…” Xia Ge looked up suddenly, “Hey, Huo Bai is here.” Mao Qing turned around and indeed saw Huo Bai approaching. Huo Bai’s face looked a bit off. His hair was carelessly tied up, and he wasn’t wearing his usual flamboyant clothes, just simple hemp garments like other disciples, with a piece of white jade engraved with runes hanging from his waist. “Why are you so late?” Mao Qing asked naturally. Huo Bai replied, “I was delayed by something.” His tone was casual, like a simple greeting between friends, with no hint of the ruthless, cold demeanor he displayed at the black market. Xia Ge blinked at this masterful actor, suddenly feeling a deep respect for this undercover agent. Who would’ve thought White Blade was such an accomplished actor, like a real-life movie star? If it weren’t for that white talisman-etched jade pendant, she wouldn’t suspect anything was amiss. No… initially seeing the white talisman, plus the sudden puppet response, she had her suspicions but hadn’t thought much of it. It wasn’t until the black market incident that his true nature was exposed, catching her completely off-guard. “Congratulations,” Huo Bai turned to Xia Ge. Xia Ge blinked, “Congratulations? For what?” Huo Bai looked at her, confused, “For getting into the sect, as a special recruit.” Mao Qing clapped her hands as if suddenly recalling this truth, laughing, “How could I forget! Congrats on getting in, Xia Wu Yin!” Xia Ge: "..." The system added, "Congratulate the host on receiving heartfelt congratulations from a demonic cult infiltrator, White Blade.” Xia Ge sweated nervously, “Haha… there's nothing to congratulate, I was surprised myself.” Getting the clothes was quick, and the line moved swiftly. The trio didn’t talk much until they reached the counter, where Liu Xiaoqian was overseeing the accounting. He raised an eyebrow at Xia Ge, “Yo, moving up in the world, getting into the inner sect?” Xia Ge grinned sheepishly, “Pure luck, I swear.” Liu Xiaoqian rolled his eyes, “Alright, alright. Study hard and make us proud at Danfeng. Clothes are over there, pick them up yourself.” Gathering her clothes, Xia Ge didn’t linger and bid farewell to Mao Qing and Huo Bai before leaving the garment bureau. Mao Qing watched her depart, squinting, "What was it that I wanted to say to him just now? I forgot.” Huo Bai glanced at her, “What did you want to say?” Mao Qing exclaimed excitedly, “It was about that wooden doll! Did you see it? Xia Wu Yin carved that wooden doll, and it's so pretty!” Then she looked puzzled, “I kept thinking it looked like someone, but couldn’t remember who.” Huo Bai, uninterested, shrugged, “Didn’t notice.” “Wow, you’re so oblivious. How could you miss such a big wooden doll?” Mao Qing huffed, then brightened, “But now I remember who it looks like.” Huo Bai humored her, “Who?” “It looks like Senior Sister!” Mao Qing decided. “I can't pinpoint how, but… there’s just something about it that feels like her.” Huo Bai: "..." Meanwhile, Xia Ge found a secluded spot, tossed her clothes into her reflective silver ring, and headed straight for the Danfeng library. The supposed soul-quelling item from the black market was fake, so she needed to find real clues about 【Soul Suppression】, and she had to speed up. Since the demonic cult spread false rumors about the emergence of 【Soul Suppression】 to distract everyone, it meant only one thing… The demonic cult was also searching for 【Soul Suppression】! Hence, they spread false information to confuse others while secretly investigating the actual location of 【Soul Suppression】. As for White Blade, the undercover agent, Xia Ge didn’t plan on reporting him. There's this fun strategy called counter-espionage. Arriving at the Danfeng library, Xia Ge found it bustling, unlike the deserted Thoughts Penitence Pavilion. The library held a vast collection and disciples from various peaks were present, with managing disciples at the entrance. Xia Ge showed her identification jade to the gatekeeper and entered. The library was enormous, with ancient bookshelves towering high, layer upon layer, seemingly endless. Rows of neatly arranged books filled the shelves, and fortunately, each section was labeled. Her first visit made finding books a bit of a challenge. After navigating through sections labeled 【Alchemy Formulas】【Sword Manuals】【… Section】, Xia Ge finally found what she was looking for on the third floor. 【Historical Records Section】 But she barely took two steps inside before spotting an unexpected figure. Quickly, she retracted her foot, sidestepping to the other side of the bookshelves. She grabbed a random book off the shelf, using it as a cover. The faint sound of pages rustling came from behind. After a while, Xia Ge heard a cautious voice, “Second Miss, please don’t read here; your eyes have been strained lately...” “Shut up.” The girl’s impatient voice rang out, followed by the sharp sound of a book snapping shut, “Get out, don’t bother me.” “Yes, yes.” Someone left through the gaps in the bookshelf behind her. Xia Ge, looking down at the randomly opened book in her hands, felt a strong sense of déjà vu. Lowering her gaze, she noticed the opening sentence of the book. 【A long, long time ago, there was a den of bandits on Lingxi Peak...】 Xia Ge: “???” ... A proper story needs an intriguing start to captivate its audience, irrespective of how the rest unfolds. She glanced at the cover. Four boldly written characters in graceful strokes: 《Lingxi Anecdotes》. Alright, no matter how absurd the remaining content might be, at least the beginning piqued her curiosity. But now wasn’t the right place to be reading. Xia Ge held onto the book, planning to leave quietly, when she heard the girl exclaim “Ah,” with a hint of surprise. Instinctively, she turned back and peeked through the gap in the bookshelf. The sunlight streamed in, illuminating a girl in a blue Jianfeng outfit, who raised her hand to cover her eyes. Embroidered silver butterflies adorned her sleeves, her lips tightly pressed, looking extremely uncomfortable. Xia Ge felt a stir of emotion. After a moment, the girl released her sleeve, her dark eyes lifting, and she met Xia Ge’s gaze! Startled, Xia Ge took a step back, but it seemed the girl hadn’t noticed her. She raised her hand, groping along the bookshelf with a deliberate yet blind motion, finally finding an empty spot where she placed the book she was holding. Despite her open eyes, her movements were like that of a blind person. Chu Yi, placing the book, turned to leave but tripped over her skirt, stumbling forward. She barely steadied herself by grabbing the corner of the bookshelf. Xia Ge clenched her fist, feeling conflicted. Chu Yi stood up, closing her black eyes, remaining still for a while. As she stayed quiet, Xia Ge dared not move either. After a moment, she heard Chu Yi laugh. A low, chilling laugh filled with a surreal hint of madness and hopeless despair. “Why…” Xia Ge heard her murmuring, “Why me… Why is it always me…” “...Hey there, junior sister?” The Historical Records section wasn’t as busy as the Sword Manuals or Alchemy Formulas sections. No, hardly anyone came here. Using a high-pitched, eerie voice reminiscent of ancient eunuchs, Xia Ge called out, “Hey there, junior sister, do you need...?” Before she could finish, a familiar dagger pressed against her neck. A pure black dagger, neither metallic nor jade, but exceptionally sharp, reputedly forged from fallen meteorite, capable of cutting through gold and jade—Meteorite Blade. Chu Yi's cold voice cut in, “Who?” Her eyes were pitch black, reflecting Xia Ge’s image without any light. Xia Ge waved her hand in front of Chu Yi’s eyes cautiously, seeing no reaction. ... She really can’t see. “I was just passing by and noticed junior sister seemed uncomfortable,” Xia Ge's voice, pinched and high-pitched, sounded extremely affected, “Do you need any help? I can take you to...” The pressure on her neck suddenly lifted, seemingly disgusted by her voice. Chu Yi put away the Meteorite Blade, her expression sour, “No, get lost!” Relieved, Xia Ge paused, stealthily placing something in Chu Yi’s pocket before quickly leaving. As she reached the bookshelf, she couldn’t resist looking back. The girl in blue, with butterfly patterns, sat on the ground, leaning against the bookshelf, her hand resting on her knee. After the initial anger, her deep, dark eyes seemed dull and powerless. System: “Aren’t you going to help?” Xia Ge: “…She’ll regain her sight soon, right?” System: “But if this drags on, she’ll still go blind.” Xia Ge sighed, “There’s nothing more I can do.” System: “The Heavenly Eye Grass requires the luck of the chosen one to maintain its effect.” Xia Ge winced, “I know.” System: “What’s your plan?” Xia Ge: “…I don’t have one.” System: “How can you be so cold-hearted.” Xia Ge: “I’ve always been cold-hearted.” With that, Xia Ge tucked the book under her arm and made her way downstairs, though her thoughts were scattered. She hadn’t expected to encounter Chu Yi at the Danfeng library. Just then, Chu Yi’s voice called out behind her, "Hold it right there!" Xia Ge's instincts kicked in, and she sprinted away. System: “Why are you running?” Xia Ge: “When you hear ‘hold it right there,’ you run! It’s common sense!” System: “…” Where do you get this experience from? And why don't I have any? You must be feeling guilty! ### Author's Note: There’s satisfaction in writing a thousand words a day. = = Player Yuehan threw a landmine. Throwing time: 2018-07-08 00:12:45 faith threw a landmine. Throwing time: 2018-07-08 00:20:50 Big Pocket threw a landmine. Throwing time: 2018-07-08 00:38:14 Mo threw a landmine. Throwing time: 2018-07-08 01:08:28 《忍》 threw a landmine. Throwing time: 2018-07-08 06:59:55 Héwéiyǒuqíng threw a landmine. Throwing time: 2018-07-08 08:38:39 The seemingly clueless Rizè threw a hand grenade. Throwing time: 2018-07-08 09:13:28 Wanderer Leisure threw a landmine. Throwing time: 2018-07-08 14:08:00 Thank you all for the landmines and hand grenades! = = Reader “", watering nutrient solution +22018-07-08 23:29:05 Reader “", watering nutrient solution +32018-07-08 23:23:41 Reader “", watering nutrient solution +22018-07-08 23:09:38 Reader “", watering nutrient solution +22018-07-08 23:00:50 Reader “", watering nutrient solution +22018-07-08 22:53:53 Reader “", watering nutrient solution +22018-07-08 22:44:58 Reader “", watering nutrient solution +22018-07-08 22:40:19 Reader “", watering nutrient solution +22018-07-08 22:33:52 Reader “Floating Life“, watering nutrient solution +102018-07-08 20:44:10 Reader “Black History”, watering nutrient solution +202018-07-08 20:22:34 Reader “Luo Xiao Yi”, watering nutrient solution +12018-07-08 20:04:53 Reader “Little Cabbage”, watering nutrient solution +72018-07-08 18:45:18 Reader “kinenorz”, watering nutrient solution +22018-07-08 18:30:13 Reader “God of Luoshen”, watering nutrient solution +52018-07-08 16:18:33 Reader “Contemplating Quietly”, watering nutrient solution +102018-07-08 12:58:31 Reader “", watering nutrient solution +12018-07-08 11:58:51 Reader “Lulala lulalu lai”, watering nutrient solution +22018-07-08 10:48:59 Reader “Wandering Fool”, watering nutrient solution +102018-07-08 08:24:27 Reader “《忍》”, watering nutrient solution +202018-07-08 06:59:56 Reader “Chi Qing”, watering nutrient solution +102018-07-08 03:20:41 Reader “Please Feed Sugar”, watering nutrient solution +12018-07-08 03:08:40 Reader “Late Evening”, watering nutrient solution +102018-07-08 00:37:27 Reader “faith”, watering nutrient solution +52018-07-08 00:21:08 Reader “biu~biu~”, watering nutrient solution +12018-07-08 00:17:04 Thank you all for the nutrient solutions! Love you guys!