98 - Dungeon Growth Log

Early morning class. Just as Mao Qing had said, Huo Bai was already gone. Xia Ge flipped through the alchemical manual, feeling somewhat unsettled. The manual recorded various methods for refining yellow-grade and some mysterious-grade pills. Though the methods for refining mysterious-grade pills had not been lost due to their commonality, the training methods for the alchemical veins of mysterious-grade pills were irretrievably lost. Hence, the highest rank alchemists on Alchemy Peak could achieve was pseudo-mysterious grade. As her fingers skimmed the edge of the page, a fleeting image of that moment when the arrow tail left her hand appeared unbidden in Xia Ge's mind. ——"You can't escape." The sinister and eerie voice from her dream seemed to mock her from somewhere in the shadows. "Clap!" The alchemical manual was abruptly shut. Xia Ge closed her eyes, though she did not know why, she felt somewhat faint-hearted. System: "What's wrong with you?" Xia Ge came back to her senses: "Nothing, just reading." ——"Prepare well for the midterm exams." Senior Sister had said that to her. So, it was time to prepare well for the exams. Fortunately, the content of the alchemical manual was not too boring, and there were plenty of mysterious-grade pills. "[Hundred Souls Pill]: Intermediate mysterious-grade pill, used for dispelling soul poison. {Recipe included}." Xia Ge turned the page, and dense alchemical recipes filled the back of it. Xia Ge glanced over it and fell into thought, "…They won't test us on mysterious-grade pills at midterms, right?" System: "How would I know?" That's true. Xia Ge looked at the quiet teacher reading up front, confirmed she wasn’t paying attention, then propped the book up to block her face and glanced over at Mao Qing. Mao Qing was reading. Xia Ge took a quick look. First page of the alchemical manual. She cheerfully greeted her in a low voice. "Morning, Mao Qing. Did you already have breakfast?" Mao Qing’s reading slightly paused. After a while, she turned to look at Xia Ge. The girl's long eyelashes framed her dark pupils, which reflected Xia Ge’s smiling face, casting a row of fine shadows. Skillfully pulling out a piece of sakura candy from her pocket, Xia Ge slipped it into Mao Qing's hand. "Got a question for you." Mao Qing looked at the candy in her hand, then back at Xia Ge. "What’s the question?" "Do you think the midterm will cover mysterious-grade pills this year?" Xia Ge pointed to the [Hundred Souls Pill] in the manual, speculating, "I feel like it probably won't, but since it's in the book, there's always a chance the teacher might... Hey, you read more than me, what do you think?" Mao Qing paused, her fingers gently trailing over the page, and spoke slowly, "Most likely, it will be on the exam." Xia Ge lamented, "Ah? ‘Most likely’? You're not sure?" This book likely contains everything that could be on the exam, right? As soon as she thought that, she heard Mao Qing innocently say, "Just guessing, based on that, everything in this book could be on the exam." You’re right; you’re thinking the same thing as me. So why did I bother asking you? Xia Ge silently extended her hand: "..." Mao Qing: "???" Xia Ge: "Give me back my candy." Mao Qing: "..." System: "..." Stop it already, you. The candy in Mao Qing’s palm still felt warm. Mao Qing replied, "It will be on the exam." Xia Ge squinted at her, "Hmm?" Mao Qing blinked, "This one, it’ll be on the exam." Xia Ge: "Didn't you just say..." Mao Qing gave a slight, mischievous smile, "I was teasing you earlier." Xia Ge: "..." Forget it. Xia Ge glanced again at the empty seat where Huo Bai used to sit, "So Huo Bai really left, huh." Mao Qing: "Mhm." Xia Ge asked, "Didn’t you say anything when he left?" Mao Qing: "I bought him three pounds of mint candy." Xia Ge: "..." Xia Ge looked back incredulously, "What did you say? Three pounds? Why didn’t you buy me three pounds too?" Mao Qing looked at her, fingers pinching the sakura candy Xia Ge had given her, and curiously asked, "Are you leaving too?" Xia Ge: "No, no one’s leaving. I wasn't talking about leaving. Did you see him before he left?" Yesterday’s Huo Bai wasn’t the same as before. If you went rashly... Xia Ge felt a slight pang in her heart. "What kind of look is that, like I took something from you?" Mao Qing paused and teased, "Did Huo Bai really give you a love letter? Are you jealous because I gave him candy?" Xia Ge looked at her with dead fish eyes: "..." Mao Qing casually flipped through the alchemical manual, a light laugh escaping her, "Don't worry, I didn't say goodbye to him." Xia Ge: "..." Why should she feel relieved? Was she particularly worried about Huo Bai? Ridiculous. Xia Ge: "And you said you bought him three pounds of candy?" System: "..." Just how much do you care about those three pounds of candy? "I did go to buy him three pounds of mint candy, but he was gone by the time I tried to give it to him." Mao Qing propped her chin on one hand, casually flipping through the alchemical manual until she stopped on the page describing the Hundred Souls Pill. Xia Ge sighed in relief: "So... you didn't see him?" "No." Xia Ge rubbed her hands together, "And what about the candy?" System: "..." Mao Qing: "I left it in the dorm." Xia Ge batted her eyes at Mao Qing, "Ah Qing, we should share both hardships and joys." Mao Qing touched her chin, smiling slightly, "But we didn't even buy coconut cake together, how can we share joys and hardships?" Xia Ge: "…Hey, wasn’t that shop closed anyway? Going there was a waste of time, I was just thinking of you!" She emphasized the last word. System: "..." Mao Qing gave an "Oh," "Then I’ll consider it." Xia Ge: "..." Ye Ze was still better. If it were Ye Ze, he would have given it to her without a second thought. Missing him.jpg. System: "…Ye Ze’s gone, so stop daydreaming." Mao Qing looked at the page describing the pill, her eyes narrowing slightly. After a while, she asked casually, "Can you refine all the pills in this book?" Xia Ge silently glanced at her, then reached out to touch her forehead. Mao Qing’s body stiffened momentarily at the sudden touch, but then she relaxed again, "...?" Xia Ge muttered, "No fever. What kind of nonsense are you talking about?" Mao Qing: "..." Xia Ge: "You know exactly how capable I am." Mao Qing gave an "Oh," just as she was about to say something, but her expression suddenly turned serious. Xia Ge sensed something was wrong, and before she could react, the alchemical manual hiding her face was yanked away, and the next moment, a heavy hit landed on her forehead. "Xia Wu Yin." The goaty-bearded teacher glared at her, "You’re getting more and more insolent! Hmm? Not only are you neglecting your studies during early lesson time, but you’re also disturbing your female classmate? Where’s your shame?! Have you put all your studies in the belly of a dog?!" Xia Ge: "Ah no, I..." I wasn’t disturbing a female classmate! We're all girls, how could I be disturbing her?! "You still want to argue?" The teacher got more furious as he spoke. In the end, he slammed the alchemical manual onto Xia Ge's desk, "Am I blind? Could I have been mistaken?! Go stand in the corner and reflect on your actions!" Mao Qing watched, propping her chin on her hand as Xia Ge glanced over. She saw Mao Qing, her lips curved, smiling oh so prettily and innocently. Xia Ge picked up the book with a dispirited sigh and bowed to the goaty-bearded teacher, "…Apologies, Teacher. I promise not to disturb my female classmates again." Several people nearby stifled laughter. The goaty-bearded teacher made a face of utter disgust, "Go, go, go, go reflect on your actions. Don’t come back in until class is over!" The morning air was remarkably fresh. Holding her book, Xia Ge stared blankly at the sycamore tree outside the courtyard. System: "Why did you lie just now?" Xia Ge, still reveling in the aftertaste of "disturbing a female classmate," finally caught on, "Ah… Did I lie?" System: "You could easily refine all the pills in that book if you wanted to." Xia Ge: "Oh, really?" Wait, how exactly did she "disturb a female classmate"? Just… by touching her forehead? But the nonsense Mao Qing was spewing did sound like she had a fever. Xia Ge hadn't even finished reading the alchemical manual once; how could she know all the recipes? System: "..." The system couldn't help but roar, "Why not?! Haven’t you always wanted to become a heavenly-grade alchemist?! You have an inborn talent for alchemy! Making any pill should be a cinch for you! Why do you live like more of an outsider than me?!" Xia Ge: "Oh, sorry, I just didn’t think of it at the time..." System: "..." The gentle morning light of early autumn filled the sky with splendid hues. Xia Ge glanced at her book, then suddenly said, "But doesn't that make it all meaningless?" System: "What?" "Mao Qing spoke to me that day." Xia Ge cradled the book, gazing at the dense sycamore leaves above her, "She said... I could become an Earth-grade alchemist." ——Everyone says you can. ——Since you can... if I try a bit harder, maybe I can too. ——Whether I succeed or not, at least you give me the courage to strive for it. The system was befuddled, "So what?" What did she mean? Tiny slivers of sunlight filtered through as Xia Ge said, "So, because of you, I can easily become an Earth- or even a Heavenly-grade alchemist. But for her to achieve her dream, it's truly an uphill battle." Xia Ge slowly closed the book, whispering, "If I rely on you to become an Earth- or even a Heavenly-grade alchemist, then I... don't deserve to be her courage." Xia Ge: "But even so, I told her... you can become an Earth-grade alchemist." The system fell silent. Xia Ge gazed at the sky, “What does it feel like... it's like someone who always comes last in class cheating to get first place and then telling others of the same level, 'If you work hard, you can be like me too.'” System: “That's not quite right.” “You're correct, it’s indeed not the best comparison,” Xia Ge said slowly. “Because that last-place student might actually become first in class through their own hard work motivated by those words.” “But here on Alchemy Peak, where the methods for cultivating alchemical veins are lost,” Xia Ge whispered, “Where should Mao Qing direct her efforts?” System: “Just take care of yourself. Why concern yourself so much with others?” Xia Ge sighed, “I just feel like I should be responsible for the things I say.” The system muttered, “…You tell lies so often, but I’ve never seen you take responsibility for any of them.” Xia Ge covered her face with the book, “Hey, that’s different. The things I lie about don't need to guide someone’s life. They’re just trivial matters about everyday things—no guilt involved.” System: “…” The fact you even recognize the concept of guilt at all is a minor miracle. The system pondered a bit, then said, “But I think what you’re saying…” It paused, then continued, “Is meaningless.” Xia Ge: “Hmm? How is it...” meaningless? The system interrupted her: “Becoming an alchemist shouldn’t be about becoming someone else’s goal or courage.” “Entering Alchemy Peak shouldn't be about meeting someone’s expectations or fulfilling their beliefs.” “You’ve always thought you were on the right path, but you've been walking the wrong road.” Xia Ge: “Ah… have I really been doing that?” System: “Yes.” “We are born as one, and die as one soul.” “Xia Ge, I am not your cheating tool.” “I am your natural talent that helps you move forward.” There is no need for guilt, no need for unease. The system is inherently your extraordinary gift, as well as your unstoppable drive. Author's note: System: "I'm not some cheating tool!" Xia Ge (looking at the sky): “Why does this make me feel a bit guilty?” = = …Actually, adding another chapter made me feel guilty too (hides under a pot lid) I’ll try to find time to give you all a super long chapter someday (empty promise).