86 - Dungeon Growth Log

Xia Ge was bankrupt. As she walked out of Jinjiang Candy Shop, even the golden sunlight of the day seemed to betray the reality of her poverty. System: “Don’t be like that, you still have me.” Xia Ge: “Can you eat?” System: “...No.” Xia Ge: “Then shut up.” Holding his candy and persimmons, Mao Qing was satisfied. “Hey, Xia Wuyin, you're really great.” Xia Ge: “...” Promisingly pounding his chest, Mao Qing declared, “Don't worry! I won't tell him anything!” Covering her eyes to hide her tears of poverty, Xia Ge responded, “...Thank you very much.” The two had barely walked a few steps when Mao Qing’s eyes widened slightly. “...Hey, who is that?” “That person seems to be at the place where you used to live. Are they looking for you?” Xia Ge paused. Her run-down shack at the foot of the mountain had been deemed too dilapidated by Danfeng and was thus unfit for new disciples. She couldn’t help but gripe about it—it hadn’t been a hazardous dwelling when she lived there, but now that she’d moved out, it suddenly became a condemned building? Where’s the humanitarian spirit? She glanced in the direction Mao Qing was pointing. “...Ye Ze?” Mao Qing sounded surprised, “It’s actually someone you know? Why isn’t he wearing Lingxi Peak’s robe?” Ye Ze evidently noticed her too. He started to walk towards her but halted upon seeing Mao Qing by her side, appearing somewhat at a loss. Mao Qing’s remark suddenly made her aware that Ye Ze wasn’t wearing the Jianfeng attire either. Instead, he was simply dressed in plain black clothes, his hair tied back with a black band, giving off an air of melancholy. “Ahaha, he’s a friend of mine. You should go back first; I have something to discuss with him.” Mao Qing didn’t ask further. Holding his prized sweets, he happily departed. “Alright, have a good chat.” After he left, Xia Ge walked over, curving her lips slightly, “Yo, what brings you to see me?” Ye Ze was silent for a moment before asking, “Who was that?” Xia Wuyin responded with a surprised “Huh?” and then dismissed it, “Just a friend.” Ye Ze said nothing more and turned to enter the ‘hazardous building.’ The creaking of the decaying wooden door as it opened was jarring. Xia Ge couldn’t help but remark, “...This place really is a hazard.” Ye Ze looked at her sideways, “Someone who can sleep with a sickle over their head is now concerned about the state of the building?” Xia Ge defended herself, “That’s different, and besides, no matter how grand others’ places were, home was still a haven, even if it had a sickle hanging overhead. Gold in someone else’s hand is theirs; even if there’s a danger in your own place, it’s still yours.” Ye Ze’s brow twitched, “So what you mean is, this hazardous building is no longer your haven?” Xia Ge replied, “No, actually what I meant was, back then I had no other choice but to stay here.” Ye Ze: “...” System: “I completely didn’t catch that meaning; you’re just making things up, aren’t you...” Ye Ze stood expressionlessly in the barely habitable building, staring at her. After a moment of silence, Xia Ge conceded with a sigh. The door behind them closed with a “bang.” Ye Ze didn’t waste any words and got straight to the point, pulling out a dragon-shaped jade with a corner missing, its gentle light faintly gleaming in the gloomy room. “I want an explanation.” Ye Ze demanded. Xia Ge feigned surprise, “Hey! You actually found it? I accidentally lost it a few days ago. Well, I originally intended to give it to you, so you don’t need to return it.” Ye Ze sneered, “Xia Wuyin, your acting has become so exaggerated.” Xia Ge: “...” Silently, she asked her System, “Was that really exaggerated?” System: “...A bit.” “Lost it, huh? Fine, let’s say it was lost.” Ye Ze’s voice turned colder, “Do you think it was stolen? Who might have taken it and left it in that place? Was it the spy from the Devil Sect who attacked Chu Yao, or was it Chu Yao herself?” Xia Ge’s gaze shifted evasively, “Ah... It was probably the spy.” Ye Ze gripped the jade tighter, his anger flaring as Xia Ge avoided the topic, “Nonsense! Xia Wuyin, do you think I’m an idiot, or do you think everyone else is? Who do you think you are? Do you think everyone can be played around by you?!” “If I hadn’t seen it, if I hadn’t picked it up, if someone else found it—what would have happened, did you think it through?!” “Everyone would think you’re a spy! You’d be arrested! Have you no sense...” “Then do you think I’m a spy?” Xia Ge suddenly looked up at him. Ye Ze: “How could you be a spy?” Xia Ge felt comforted, “That’s good, Little Ye. I didn’t raise you for nothing.” Ye Ze: “Go to hell.” Xia Ge sighed and gently persuaded, “The jade was originally yours. The fact that you found it means you’re destined for it. It doesn’t matter where you found it. Even if you found it in a latrine, once you cleaned it off, no one would know its origins. Meeting is fate; keep it, my young master.” A vein throbbed on Ye Ze’s forehead, “...” Xia Ge quickly added, “Oh, by the way, don’t worry. I didn’t pick that jade from a latrine.” System suffocated, “Your example is spot on.” “I don’t care where you found it!” Ye Ze said while displaying some fatigue, “Can’t you just...” — I don’t care where you found it. Hearing that, Xia Ge fell silent for a moment. For some reason, she suddenly felt a pang of sadness. Ye Ze didn’t understand, but the System knew. It remembered how, at just ten years old, Xia Ge had gone through a lot to obtain the Ghost Dragon Jade. She didn’t have Ye Ze’s fortune, nor was she a child of destiny. Stealing from someone destined required more than simple effort. But at the time, she had no other choices. Drawing a deep breath, Ye Ze decided to end the topic and asked, “Why were you in Senior Sister’s room back then?” Returning to her senses, Xia Ge sighed, “Ah, blame my beauty. It’s all my fault.” System couldn’t resist, “Speak normally.” Ye Ze: “Speak normally.” Xia Ge: “...I went to help Senior Sister with some documents.” Ye Ze looked at her for a long moment, “I understand.” He walked past Xia Ge, opened the door behind her, and said, “Xia Wuyin.” “Now, whatever you say, I’ll believe you.” “I’ll believe it all.” Then he turned and left. Without looking back. Xia Ge watched his departing figure for a while, then slowly took out a piece of cherry blossom candy from her pocket, unwrapped it, and put it in her mouth. System: “...You actually hid a piece?!” Chewing the candy, Xia Ge replied, “Shut up.” She chewed for a long time. The sweet flavor melted as the candy dissolved, leaving no trace of sweetness in its place. As she chewed and chewed, all that remained was a faintly bitter taste crawling forth. “Little puppet, I still feel a bit sad.” System: “What are you sad about?” Xia Ge: “Sigh.” If Ye Ze truly trusted her. He wouldn’t have asked why she was in Senior Sister’s room back then. “...So sometimes it’s just like this.” Xia Ge pushed open the half-decayed door, basking in the bright sunlight outside, squinting her eyes. “Even though I've told countless lies, I always hope there’s someone who believes everything I say.” “Don’t worry,” the System reassured. “There’s no one that foolish.” Xia Ge: “...Just let me dream.” System reconsidered, “I’m afraid your cleverness will get the best of you and you’ll end up with nothing.” Xia Ge said, “That would be my problem.” System countered, “What if you regret it in the future?” “The future?” Xia Ge laughed. “Who knows what the future holds?” What’s more, in the future... She was a puppeteer. She never believed she could keep that hidden forever. If no one found out, and she couldn’t return home, then living her life on Danfeng wasn’t a bad option. However, since she chose to seek the Soul Suppression, aspiring to become a master puppeteer, she had to be prepared for the consequences of being found out. When the time came and the truth was exposed, the outcome was almost inevitable. “Living freely alone for a lifetime doesn’t sound so bad,” Xia Ge mused. “At least for now, it’s pretty nice.” No one to entangle her. She was alone. And always would be. So, perhaps, no matter what happens. There would be no regrets. “Let’s go, time for class.” = = It started raining. Mountain rain began with a soft drizzle, going unnoticed by most. Then it grew heavier. Recently, they’d started hands-on alchemy classes. With smoke billowing from the alchemy furnaces, the task set by the instructor was simple: produce three Revitalizing Pills. Whoever finished first could leave first. Xia Ge was quick at alchemy. While others were still deliberating over the herb ratios, she had already tossed the necessary ingredients into the furnace. Revitalizing Pills were simple, and having unlocked her spiritual aperture, she had a nuanced control over the fire aura in the air, making her alchemy almost hyper-efficient. After handing over her pills to the instructor, Xia Ge was free to go. The instructor inspected the pills with a hint of approval, despite his usual indifference towards Xia Ge. “Not bad, not bad.” However, the rain outside continued unabated. Large raindrops fell from the foggy, overcast sky, forming long streams that drummed on the red tiles and paper windows, occasionally splattering in puddles, creating crown-like splashes. Xia Ge crouched at the doorway for a while; she didn't have an umbrella. System: "...Why are you squatting here?" Xia Ge: "I don't have an umbrella." System: "What does not having an umbrella have to do with squatting here?" "I remember watching TV dramas where the female lead squats in the rain, and after a while, someone always comes and holds an umbrella over her head." Xia Ge thought for a moment, "Then I'd have an umbrella." System choked for a moment. “You need to wake up.” Xia Ge: “I am fully awake.” System: “Stand up.” Xia Ge: “Nope.” System: “Still not fully awake, I see.” Xia Ge: “...” System: “Think about it. In those TV dramas, the female lead is always heartbroken, she is sad, she is grieving, and she's squatting in the rain. That’s when someone comes to shelter her with an umbrella. You haven't just broken up, you're not sad, you're not grieving, and you’re squatting under the eaves…” The System sounded mournful, “If you’re going to do this, you should do it right.” Xia Ge nodded, “Hmm, you’re right.” So, she decisively stepped out from under the eaves, walked through the splattering rain, and squatted next to a puddle in the torrential downpour. A frog by the puddle croaked, “Ribbit.” Xia Ge shuffled her feet to give it more space. System: "..." The rain intensified, drumming urgently onto Xia Ge. Her entire figure was soaked, her soft black hair plastered to her shoulders. Xiangsi quietly started to form a web to shield her from the rain. “Xiangsi.” Xiangsi paused, then wilted and reluctantly stopped, settling on becoming a red hairband. Her whole body was drenched. Her clothes clung uncomfortably to her skin, cold and clammy. System felt suffocated: “Has your head recently filled with water?” Xia Ge: “...” System: “Listen to the sound of the water. How about shaking your head to hear it better? No need to shake; I can tell you, it’s sloshing everywhere in there.” System was about to say more when Xia Ge interrupted: “I feel unwell.” System: “...” The torrential rain's drumming drowned out her quiet, almost self-muttering voice. It seemed as if no one could hear it. The System hesitated: “...What makes you feel unwell?” Xia Ge: “No one brought me an umbrella, so I feel unwell.” System: “...Not only is your brain soaked, there's a hole in it too.” Just as Xia Ge was about to say something else, the cold rain beating on her body suddenly ceased. The faint scent of sandalwood mixed with the earthy smell of rain slowly spread around. Xia Ge looked up slowly. The girl in the Danfeng white robe, her elegant brow slightly furrowed, held a snow-white oil-paper umbrella painted with landscapes. She only half-covered herself with it, tilting the other half towards Xia Ge to shield her from the sharp, cold rain. Yet, one of her shoulders was already drenched by the downpour. She looked like an ethereal fairy, willing to come down from the heavens and endure the storm for someone’s sake. Xia Ge was momentarily spellbound. After a while, she smiled at her, “Senior Sister, you are really kind.” Gu Peijiu stood watching the girl crouched like a mushroom, entirely drenched. Xia Ge’s wet hair clung to her pale face, her large, cat-like eyes shiny with water. Maybe some rainwater had flowed into her eyes, causing them to look slightly red. Though Xia Ge’s lips wore a smile, her eyes seemed to be crying. Gu Peijiu couldn’t help but think. Raindrops spattered on the umbrella, and Gu Peijiu extended her hand towards Xia Ge, “Get up.” Her immaculate white sleeves and snow-white hand reached out. Her voice, amidst the rain, was clear yet gentle. Xia Ge curled her hands inward and bowed her head: “...I don't want to move.” Such a white hand... System: “...” Gu Peijiu’s extended hand faltered for a moment, then pulled back. She stood quietly holding the umbrella. Under the gray skies with roaring rain, the girl in the Danfeng white robe was soaked on one side while the girl under the umbrella remained dry. The frog nearby croaked twice, “Ribbit-ribbit,” and jumped into the puddle, splashing mud onto Xia Ge’s skirt, seemingly mocking her foolishness. Lowering her head, Xia Ge said, “Are you here to see the teacher?” Gu Peijiu softly responded, “Mm.” “Then you should go.” Xia Ge paused, “I’ll be fine after squatting for a bit.” Gu Peijiu was silent for a moment, “Why squat here?” “I’m feeling down; squatting helps.” Xia Ge said, “Maybe getting wet will clear my head, and I won't feel down anymore.” Gu Peijiu: “Why are you feeling down?” Xia Ge: “Do you really want to know?” Gu Peijiu gave a quiet “Mm.” “Then I’ll tell you.” Xia Ge looked up: “Just now, I felt down because no one brought me an umbrella.” Gu Peijiu watched her. Xia Ge continued, “Now, I feel down because someone did bring me an umbrella, but you’re getting soaked.” “You’re so kind.” Xia Ge added, “I feel a bit reluctant.” Author's Note: Mm. Reader "Classmate, time to sleep," irrigated 102 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-20 23:31:58 Reader "Miss Chen Family," irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-20 23:10:25 Reader "Soft Rain," irrigated 195 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-20 22:54:20 Reader "Flying Immortal Awaiting the Snow," irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-20 22:49:57 Reader "aum," irrigated 37 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-20 22:11:18 Reader "Ghost Nuo," irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-20 21:55:36 Reader "Clear Ripple of the Luoshui God," irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-20 21:45:54 Reader "Shuyue," irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-20 18:09:35 Reader "", irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-20 16:14:00 Reader "Wind Blowing Cool," irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-20 15:36:17 Reader "Tofu King," irrigated 5 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-20 13:22:49 Reader "Junxian," irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-20 12:46:49 Reader "All Living Things," irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-20 12:42:57 Reader "Red Stone Guardian," irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-20 11:27:08 Reader "Biu," irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-20 11:09:18 Reader "Yeming," irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-20 09:53:19 Reader "Raccoon," irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-20 08:50:17 Reader "Youbai," irrigated 5 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-20 08:19:46 Reader "Zenntriysa," irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-20 02:42:29 Reader "Tsun," irrigated 5 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-20 02:27:31 Reader "He Sheng," irrigated 5 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-20 01:57:12 Reader "you*_feel+," irrigated 6 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-20 01:05:18 Reader "DeDe," irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-20 00:58:43 Reader "Mo," irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-20 00:13:54 Reader "Una," irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-20 00:10:39 Reader "Drama Queen," irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-19 23:52:23 Reader "(?_?)," irrigated 25 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 23:50:21 Reader "Jun Yu," irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-19 23:47:09 Reader "Zi Ge," irrigated 5 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 23:37:19 Reader "Zhouwang," irrigated 2 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 23:14:16 Reader "", irrigated 20 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 20:43:07 Reader "Jugyun," irrigated 5 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 19:23:08 Reader "", irrigated 20 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 19:02:39 Reader "Qing Qing Zi Jin," irrigated 20 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 17:07:30 Reader "Cang Yan," irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-19 14:20:00 Reader "Zhou You," irrigated 12 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 13:15:28 Reader "Xi Qing," irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-19 12:50:44 Reader "Barium Sulfate," irrigated 20 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 12:45:15 Reader "Biu," irrigated 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-19 11:36:16 Reader "Zeroxia," irrigated with 30 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 11:11:41 Reader "Twelve," irrigated with 30 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 11:06:07 Reader "Mo Xiaoguang," irrigated with 2 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 10:56:15 Reader "Lingzhu," irrigated with 40 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 10:13:29 Reader "Zhi," irrigated with 5 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 10:10:28 Reader "pp," irrigated with 30 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 06:36:23 Reader "Good Understanding," irrigated with 20 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 06:31:14 Reader "9 Miaomiao," irrigated with 10 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 03:32:19 Reader "?e??," irrigated with 10 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 02:55:27 Reader "", irrigated with 5 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 02:24:11 Reader "For Food Cat," irrigated with 20 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 01:43:28 Reader "Ji Wusheng," irrigated with 40 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 01:12:32 Reader "Your Huang Daren," irrigated with 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-19 01:02:34 Reader "Patrick Star," irrigated with 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-19 00:44:40 Reader "Black," irrigated with 10 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 00:30:05 Reader "Abao," irrigated with 10 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 00:17:47 false+5 on 2018-07-19 00:07:07 Reader "A Flower Squirrel," irrigated with 10 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-19 00:05:49 Reader "Observing the Star," irrigated with 10 nutrient fluids on 2018-07-18 23:59:42 Reader "Mixed Eating and Waiting Teddy," irrigated with 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-18 23:54:11 Reader "Yao Na ~," irrigated with 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-18 23:52:28 Reader "Big Bear," irrigated with 1 nutrient fluid on 2018-07-18 23:45:56 Thank you little angels for the nutrient fluids!! Love you all.