105 - Dungeon Growth Log

## Chapter 104 Outside, the Sword Peak disciples brought by Chang Lan were still standing, seemingly hesitant. Wei Yu said, “Senior Brother, don't believe him. What if it's fake and just a ruse…” As he spoke, his confidence wavered slightly. After all, when Xia Ge refined the pill, it had been verified as mystic grade by a master from Dan Peak. Dan Peak's master might not be profoundly knowledgeable about other things, but his insight into pill recognition was as sharp as an old hand. Chang Lan gave him a look, and Wei Yu fell silent. After a while, a disciple beside them cautiously said, “But, Senior Brother...without concrete evidence, this…” Chang Lan didn’t respond, just feeling a sharp pain in his temples. “But he’s the prime suspect!” Wei Yu couldn't help but exclaim. Suddenly, someone whispered, “But on the day the little puppet was discovered, Xia Wu Yin was actually with the chief disciple of Dan Peak.” Wei Yu was momentarily speechless, then impatiently said, “Besides him, there’s no other suspect!” Wei Yu had always looked down on Ye Ze. But Ye Ze’s talent was undeniable, and he was chosen to support against the Ghost Tide because of his abilities, whereas Wei Yu, who used to look down on others, was not picked, making him a subject of ridicule. Already hostile towards Xia Wu Yin, who was known to be friendly with Ye Ze, Wei Yu’s disdain only deepened. On top of that, many Sword Peak disciples who were close to Wei Yu were injured in the demonic cult’s assault, fueling their hatred. Learning that Xia Wu Yin was said to be a demonic cult spy, they naturally wanted to capture her and exact some retribution. But now, this so-called "demonic cult spy" had suddenly turned into Sword Peak's only "savior." It felt suffocating. “Are you...Sword Peak disciples? What are you doing here?” Amidst their argument, a female voice suddenly spoke up. Everyone turned to look, and Chang Lan was a bit taken aback upon recognizing the woman. “You are...Bi Xi?” She was the attendant of Dan Peak’s chief disciple. Bi Xi frowned, “Are you here to request pills?” Wei Yu, quick to speak, was hard to stop by Chang Lan: “We're here to catch a spy! Xia Wu Yin is a spy!” Bi Xi looked at Chang Lan, raising an eyebrow high, “Are you saying that our Dan Peak’s chief is a spy from the demonic cult?” Chang Lan shot Wei Yu a glare, trying to smooth things over, “Well, there's no evidence yet, so it's hard to conclude…” Bi Xi retorted, “Oh? So you suspect our Dan Peak’s chief to be a demonic cult spy?” Chang Lan hesitated, “…” In reality, that’s exactly what they thought. Chang Lan stumbled over his words, “This…” “Without evidence, please go back and rest early. Many people at Dan Peak are still waiting for the chief’s antidote. If you don’t need pills, stop causing a disturbance here,” Bi Xi said, pausing and glancing at Chang Lan with a mildly mocking tone, “What do you think, Senior Brother?” Chang Lan fell silent again. Wei Yu tried to say something, but another sharp glare from Chang Lan silenced him instantly. Chang Lan glanced at Bi Xi, pondered for a moment, and said, “Let's go.” Bi Xi gave a smile that did not reach her eyes, “I won’t see you out.” Inside the room, after feeding the pill to Mao Qing, she looked at Xia Ge with wide eyes. Xia Ge asked, “Why are you staring at me? Do you feel uncomfortable?” Although the soul poison wasn’t particularly severe for Mao Qing, being affected by the toxin still caused some disturbances. The pill melted in her mouth, filling it with a faint herbal fragrance. The cool sensation spread, completely masking any discomfort. Only gentle warmth remained, expelling the invasive toxin from her soul. Mao Qing smiled faintly, “No, I feel good.” “That's good.” Xia Ge replied, “Rest well, a good sleep should fully recover you.” Mao Qing responded with a soft “Mm” and closed her eyes. The night was deep, Xia Ge stretched lazily and collapsed onto a table, ready to rest despite the commotion outside. Just as Xia Ge was about to fall asleep, Mao Qing’s voice interrupted: “Xia Wu Yin.” Xia Ge, groggy, mumbled, “...Mm?” “Can I ask you a question?” “...Ask.” Still half-asleep, she answered. “What does it feel like to save someone?” Mao Qing’s voice drifted lightly. Xia Ge mumbled, “...Huh?” After a moment, realizing what Mao Qing was asking, Xia Ge scratched her head, “This question…” Thinking briefly, Xia Ge said, “If it's someone you wanted to save, it would feel very satisfying.” Mao Qing stared at her. Xia Ge smiled at her, “If you’re asking how it feels for me to save you, split your candies with me, and I’ll tell you reluctantly.” Mao Qing silently looked at her for a while, then turned around, giving her back to Xia Ge. “Say if you want or not.” Xia Ge: “...” It seemed...the soul pill was working? Though a bit infuriating, Mao Qing’s attitude felt like her usual self. Xia Ge's doubts slightly dissipated, and she chuckled, “Hey, don’t be like that, it’s just a few candies, why so stingy?” Mao Qing replied, “I’m poor.” Xia Ge: “...” Xia Ge sighed, “Alright, I’ll tell you.” Mao Qing carefully turned back to look at her. Her long eyelashes fluttered, eyes reflecting Xia Ge's image. Xia Ge spoke solemnly, “If I must say, the feeling is…” “I’m truly amazing.” Mao Qing: “...” The system: “...” Xia Ge: “Am I not amazing?” After a brief silence, Mao Qing dryly said, “Haha, truly amazing.” Then she silently pulled up the covers, turning her back to Xia Ge again. Xia Ge: “...” Xia Ge pondered, asking the system, “Am I not amazing?” The system answered, “As long as you're happy.” How to put it—thick-skinned over time, one can't tell if it's thick or thin anymore...probably. In the silent room, there wasn’t even an echo. It seemed Mao Qing had fallen asleep. The night was very deep, and it appeared that not to disturb Mao Qing, the noisy Sword Peak disciples were driven outside. Outside, a bright moon shone, casting a tranquil light inside. If she must say... Lying on the table, Xia Ge whispered after a long time. “That...the truth is...” “It's really great not to have let you down.” Moonlight shimmered. Facing away from Xia Ge, Mao Qing's long eyelashes trembled slightly. = = It felt like traversing ancient time. Dampness, something seemed to be dripping onto her face. Gu Pei Jiu slowly awakened, seeing peculiar stalactites above her, high and glowing eerily. Fine drops of water dripped from the stalactites, “plop” into small puddles below. Such faint water sounds were ceaseless, adding to the eerie quiet. Gu Pei Jiu paused, stood up, and looked around. It was a forest of stalactites, with faint light suggesting paths through to somewhere. Recalling earlier events, Gu Pei Jiu didn’t hesitate. She casually pulled out a blank yellow talisman, picked a direction, and started walking. She hadn't gone far when an ominous voice echoed. “Do you know...where this is?” The hollow voice, coming from all directions, entwined with the dripping water, added to the strangeness. Gu Pei Jiu maintained her focus, ignoring the voice. The seemingly blank talisman she threw burst into intense flames as it left her hand, carving intricate symbols in the air. It adhered to the invisible barrier, distorting and igniting the surroundings, revealing a bamboo forest where the stalactites once stood. Wind rustled through the bamboo, creating a hushed melody. The burning talisman brought down an object wrapped within, which Gu Pei Jiu caught gently. It was a small piece of bloodstained cloth, scorched but intact. Gu Pei Jiu’s eyes narrowed, and a flame ignited in her palm. “Whoosh—” The instant the fire ignited, the cloth expanded, attempting to engulf Gu Pei Jiu! “Slice—” Responding to the threat, Tian Zhu Ling sliced the cloth into countless pieces with a swift and deadly maneuver. The ominous voice, now filled with anger, hissed, “...Let's see how long you can last!” Moments later, the voice laughed eerily, “Anyway, you can never guess...where this place is…” The shredded cloth vanished piece by piece, the wind echoing through the bamboo. In a serene bamboo forest, beneath a clear blue sky, Gu Pei Jiu put away her weapon. Her sleeve slightly damp, she pondered the resemblance of the scene to the stalactite forest she had just been. Real, yet surreal. Gu Pei Jiu looked up at the sky, deep in thought. This bamboo forest seemed familiar, as if she had seen it a long time ago. The wind gently rustled the leaves. “Oh my goodness...” Just as Gu Pei Jiu was deep in thought, she heard a rustling in the bamboo forest, followed by a familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar female voice. “Why can't I find it, find it, find it...” The clear voice carried a bit of frustration. The sound grew closer. Gu Pei Jiu concealed herself, Tian Zhu Ling ready in her hand. The rustling intensified, then suddenly, the speaking girl came into Gu Pei Jiu's sight. She was carrying a bamboo basket, her skin was fair, and her cat-like eyes held a bit of annoyance. She was using a wooden stick to poke through the scattered grass as if searching for something. Watching this face, Gu Pei Jiu silently tightened her grip on Tian Zhu Ling. An illusion...? But it didn't quite seem like one. The stalactite illusion earlier could be broken with a Mirage Dispelling Talisman, but here...there were no anomalies. Still, if it wasn't an illusion, why would Xia Wu Yin be here? And this scene... “Ah! Found it!” The girl cheered joyfully, pulling out a gray mushroom from a clump of grass. She plucked it and tossed it into her basket, a look of utter satisfaction spreading across her face. Just as Gu Pei Jiu was momentarily lost in thought, the girl abruptly turned around and exclaimed in surprise, “Ah Jiu, weren’t you supposed to be looking for mushrooms? Why are you still here?” --- Author's Note: Ah, my computer had a hiccup, sorry for posting late [crying face]. = = Little White Cat has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-04 07:05:47 Wang Er San has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-04 08:38:32 Wang Er San has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-04 08:39:30 Roselle has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-04 11:41:44 Roselle has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-04 11:42:47 Shang Han has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-04 16:19:07 Luo Xuan Ge has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-04 23:37:38 Zhen Fa Le has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-04 23:56:02 Zhen Fa Le has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-04 23:56:17 Zhen Fa Le has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-04 23:56:34 Zhen Fa Le has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-04 23:56:44 Wu has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-05 02:34:02 Color Equals Emptiness has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-05 08:52:15 Bu Jiang Jiu has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-05 09:56:16 Bai He Kong de Shen Shi Jun has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-05 17:19:21 Gu Gui has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-06 01:16:57 My__ has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-06 06:21:30 My__ has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-06 06:21:36 My__ has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-06 06:21:42 My__ has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-06 06:21:51 My__ has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-06 06:21:59 My__ has thrown 1 grenade. Time of throwing: 2018-08-06 06:22:05 Ning Mu has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-06 06:40:39 Bu Jiang Jiu has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-06 09:14:34 Shoot has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-06 09:41:13 Little White Cat has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-06 11:29:43 I Really Am Lazy has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-06 16:36:56 Jun Xian has thrown 1 landmine. Time of throwing: 2018-08-06 21:07:26 Thank you to all the little angels for the landmines and grenades!! Love you all!