74,01 - Dungeon Growth Log

Later... what happened? I can't remember. The broad red silk seemed to sense its owner's emotions and grew restless, extending all the way to a Paulownia-wood door as if something were attracting it. It gently brushed against the door. Gu Peiju paused slightly, and a phrase inexplicably floated through her mind. —No matter what. —I want to become the person you like. She closed her eyes, a light sheen of sweat forming on her forehead. What on earth was she...? Inside the room, completely unaware of what was happening outside, Xia Ge felt her body turn weak, her heart pounding furiously. She held a teleportation stone in her hand, ready to flee the moment something went wrong. But as A Chan had said in the tomb, no one knew where the unreliable teleportation stone from Lingxi’s patriarch might send her. Given her current indescribable state, she wasn’t planning to use it until the very last moment. Xia Ge waited for a long while, expecting the door to be kicked open, but there was no movement, and no sound outside. ...What's going on? Why hasn't that ram-headed man come? Xia Ge felt for the scythe under the quilt, pondered for a moment, and decided to go check out the situation. Just as she lifted the curtain, however, the moment she smelled the fragrance outside the bed, her head buzzed, and she immediately became drowsy. No good! The fragrance had triggered her Desire Addiction! In her last sliver of rationality, Xia Ge pulled her head back in with great difficulty, tightened the bed curtain, and felt her body grow soft and swollen. She realized that in this state, going anywhere would be seeking death, so she decisively stowed the teleportation stone back into her liquid silver ring. Xia Ge panted, her mind starting to grow foggy. My goodness, it's so hot... At that moment— Outside the door, Gu Peiju slowly released her grip and watched the Heaven-Punishing Silk, which had cautiously nudged the door open a sliver. With a thought, the door was silently pushed wider by the Heaven-Punishing Silk. Gu Peiju stepped inside, one step at a time. The rich, bizarre fragrance permeated the room, but had no effect on her. She took a glance, and with a thought, the Heaven-Punishing Silk immediately shattered the burner that was smoldering with Desire Addiction. The harsh sound did nothing to rouse the person in the bed. Xia Ge had lost all sense and was only thinking of finding something cool to lean against. Gu Peiju walked to the edge of the bed, her eyes lowered. Her soft, dark hair cascaded down as she slowly lifted the snow-white bed curtain. The moment she did, her wrist was suddenly grabbed. Gu Peiju’s pupils contracted and, before she could react, the person in the bed pulled her over with startling force! The curtain swayed, and a hand wrapped in red silk clutched her wrist tightly. The girl in the red dress, wearing a bridal veil, pressed down on her firmly, clinging like a fish stranded on the shore. She murmured, "Hot... hot..." Gu Peiju was pinned beneath her, her back hitting something hard. Her breath caught, and the Heaven-Punishing Silk moved instantly, ready to strike. But just as it was about to hit, the fine red ribbon entwined around the girl's left hand suddenly shot out. The ribbon transformed into a wide mesh, encasing the Heaven-Punishing Silk and keeping it at bay. Mindful of the girl, it protectively wrapped around her, guarding her from any harm. For a moment, Gu Peiju stared at the incredibly familiar red ribbon wrapped around the girl's hand, her mind growing even more confused. Pressing her temples, her suppressed chaotic memories resurfaced, "Who are you?" As soon as she asked, she realized it was a foolish question. The protective red ribbon was proof enough; she didn’t need to look for anyone else. "I don't know... I don't know..." Xia Ge babbled, her hands wandering as she spoke mindlessly, unsure of what she was saying but only aware of her intense discomfort. Her hand abruptly touched something soft. Gu Peiju's eyes flew open wide and she shivered slightly. Clutching Xia Ge’s roaming hand, she gritted her teeth, "Stop." "I... feel awful..." Xia Ge's voice held a sobbing tone, "I... I think I'm dying." Familiar yet strange. Familiar because that person always spoke deliberately, their voice usually low. Strange because this voice now carried a girlish charm. Gu Peiju said nothing, subduing Xia Ge’s hands with one hand, and with her free hand, she removed the red bridal veil with a flick. Messy dark hair scattered down. Beneath the lifted veil, the girl's charming face was as delicate as a painting, her cheeks as rosy as peach blossoms in March, her lips a soft crimson, enchanting and peerlessly beautiful. Gu Peiju’s pupils contracted sharply. Staring at that face, so familiar it was almost alien, she felt as if her heart had been struck hard, rendering her brain blank. ...It wasn't Xia Ge who was going to die. It was her. The girl whimpered, "I feel awful..." Gu Peiju heard her own somewhat unsteady voice, "Endure it." "I can't... I can't..." Xia Ge defied her, squirming atop her. Gu Peiju, in utter turmoil between the strange fragments of memory and her remaining rationality, grit her teeth and flipped Xia Ge over, pinning her beneath her! Xia Ge was jabbed by the scythe under the quilt and began struggling again, "I feel awful... I feel awful..." Gu Peiju sneered and slapped Xia Ge's face lightly, "I was feeling awful just a moment ago too." There seemed to be something under the quilt, something hard and uncomfortable, likely a weapon Xia Ge had stashed for self-defense, forgetting about the springtime toxin in her rush. The scent of fresh blood wafted in the air. Gu Peiju hesitated, reaching down to feel around the girl, narrowing her eyes after a moment. She chuckled coldly, slapping Xia Ge’s face lightly, "Cross-dressing as a boy?" In her mind, a barefoot girl stood on the Cloud-Gate wall of a dream, smiling brightly at her. Gripping Xia Ge's hand, Gu Peiju tightened her hold. Lacking rationality, Xia Ge's cheeks flushed as she blinked at Gu Peiju beseechingly, "I'm hot." She twisted again, "I feel awful, I feel awful." Gu Peiju: "...Endure." Xia Ge refused, "I can't." Then she began tugging at Gu Peiju's clothes, "Cooling... It's cooler." Gu Peiju's face darkened and she pinned Xia Ge's hands. The Heaven-Punishing Silk shot out, binding Xia Ge's wandering hands tightly, "If you want to cool off, take your own clothes off." The girl in red fell silent, biting her lip, her disheveled dark hair framing her expressive eyes. Gu Peiju’s mind was filled with chaos. This isn’t her... It isn’t the person... She blinked back to reality and reached behind the girl. Xia Ge's eyes shimmered like water, and her back rubbed against Gu Peiju’s hand uncontrollably, "It feels nice." Gu Peiju, "…Behave." She pulled back the covers under Xia Ge and withdrew a large, gleaming black scythe. The blade was razor-sharp, able to cut through hair effortlessly. Gu Peiju: "..." Holding the scythe, Gu Peiju lowered her head, about to say something, when the girl suddenly leaned up, her lips brushing Gu Peiju's in a warm, unexpected kiss. Gu Peiju's pupils constricted, staring at the girl’s face up close. Her lips wore a red tint with a faint rose fragrance. From her perspective, Gu Peiju could clearly see the girl's long, fluttering eyelashes and her innocent, dark eyes. She kissed rather naively, then used her cheek to nuzzle Gu Peiju’s face. Gu Peiju was so stunned by the sudden kiss that she froze. The scythe slipped silently onto the quilt, and the girl’s cosmetic powder rubbed off on Gu Peiju’s face. Eventually, seeming exhausted, Xia Ge rested her head on Gu Peiju's shoulder. With dark hair in disarray, Gu Peiju’s heart pounded furiously. For an instant, she felt like she might die; in another moment, she felt she must live in this world. —No matter how painful it is, only by living in this world. —Can I become your sharpest blade. She gently propped the girl up, letting her lean against her. Xia Ge obediently complied, her face flushing red, her eyes hazy. —You are my life. —My everything. Gu Peiju heard the girl murmur in her ear, "I want..." Gu Peiju did not reply. Wearing a cloak, her pale hand swept through the girl's slightly messy dark hair. Her lashes fluttered like butterfly wings. She moved her fingers, and the Heaven-Punishing Silk loosened, allowing the red ribbon on the girl's left hand to slip away reluctantly, then wind around Gu Peiju's fingertips. She cradled the girl, letting her lean against her shoulder, while her pale fingers stroked through her dark hair, the red ribbon wrapping tightly around her fingers. Her voice turned husky. "…What do you want?" —No matter what you desire, even if it means shattering mountains and rivers, I will present it to you. The girl seemed bewildered, stammering for a long time as if unsure of what she wanted. Gu Peiju gathered her long, soft hair and used the red ribbon entwined around her fingers to tie it up. The red ribbon secured her jet-black hair, which now no longer appeared messy, revealing her delicate ears and fair neck. Her heart pounded fiercely. Gu Peiju closed her eyes and asked again, "…What do you want?" The girl seemed confused for a long time, hesitating and wavering. Long enough for Gu Peiju to think there would be no answer. “…Go home.” Resting on Gu Peiju’s shoulder, her voice was gentle, carrying an almost unreachable longing, "I want... to go home..." Gu Peiju's breath caught, "Where is your home?" “……” "I can't go back..." The fabric on her shoulder started to feel damp. The girl's voice was tinged with sobs as she twisted restlessly, trying hard to pull at the Heaven-Punishing Silk binding her hands, "It hurts, it hurts!" The Desire Addiction had taken hold! Gu Peiju pressed the girl back onto the bed, her voice turning cold, "Stay awake!" "It hurts..." The girl struggled. Taking a deep breath, Gu Peiju held her down, suddenly hearing footsteps and commotion outside. "What’s going on!!" "Everyone—" "Quick, call for someone!" The auction staff were coming for their goods! Before Gu Peiju could gather her thoughts, she suddenly felt a warm sensation on her cheek. With a "smack," a red lip print was left on her left cheek. The culprit looked bewildered, saying, "Mm, it's cool." Gu Peiju: "..." "They’re definitely here! Check if anything's missing!" “……” The noise outside grew louder, voices approaching. The girl settled down for a brief moment after kissing her, but then started squirming again like a restless caterpillar, unsure of what she wanted, just feeling overwhelmingly empty. "Want, want—" A blank-minded Xia Ge had no idea what she wanted, eventually sobbing out, "I want... to go home." The Desire Addiction was burning intensely, making Xia Ge's whole body feel hot and swollen. She could only think of the most comforting thing: the air conditioning at home. As the door was about to break open, Gu Peiju snatched up the scythe. Efficiently lifting Xia Ge, she crushed a teleportation stone from Dan Peak. The Heaven-Punishing Silk whipped up a fierce, cold wind and Gu Peiju's lashes trembled slightly, "Okay, I'll take you home." = = Sword Peak. Under a pale moonlight, the cold wind swept through, carrying the echoed cries of ravens. Ye Zé was dreaming. He dreamed he was huddled in the bushes, shivering. Nearby, he could hear a young girl's innocent laughter. "Giggling..." "Mother, is this enough?" He looked up to see a very familiar house gate, and an old banyan tree with a little girl in white perched on a branch. Her ankle had a string of silver bells, and the swaying tree shadows concealed her face. Though unseen, her voice rang out like silver bells. Under the banyan tree lay two people in a pool of blood. They were all too familiar to Ye Zé, familiar down to his bones. These two had raised him. One was the stern patriarch of the Ye family, who’d taught him to be a stand-up man of integrity. The other was gentle and kind, guiding him through the garden of their home filled with blooming flowers, teaching him to recognize peonies she’d personally planted. And now they lay there silently, lifeless. Nearby stood a thin woman in black, surrounded by countless demonic puppets wearing bronze masks. They growled and roared in anger. Ye Zé heard the pitiful wailing of his family's black dog, which had been by his side since he was six or seven years old, following him everywhere. "Where did this stray dog come from? Why is it barking? Has it never seen a murder before? It's so annoying!" The little girl seemed a bit aggrieved, but excitement lit her innocent face. "Mother, mother, does silencing mean killing everything, not even sparing a dog?" Looking up at the girl on the tree, the woman below, with a face stained in blood and a serene demeanor, responded kindly, "Yes, my dear, you’re right." She waved her hand slightly, her expression mingling with a bit of cruelty. "Indeed... not even a dog." The demonic puppets began their frenzied massacring, their roars merging with the wild howling of dogs. That nightmarish scene of demonic puppets slaughtering over two hundred members of the Ye family, trampling everything underfoot, forever haunted Ye Zé’s nights. "Mother," the little girl chuckled, turning toward Ye Zé’s hiding spot, "there seems to be a survivor over there?" Ye Zé awoke with a start! The silver light from the moon outside bathed the small room in a pale glow, reminiscent of that fateful night. He touched his forehead; as expected, it was drenched in cold sweat. He clenched his damp palm, feeling his nails dig into his hand, nearly drawing blood. = = When Xia Ge woke up, it was late afternoon. She stared blankly for a moment before realizing she was in her new, luxurious single dormitory at Dan Peak. The over-two-meter-long scythe leaned quietly against the wall. Scenes from the black market flitted through her mind like a movie reel, ending abruptly with her Desire Addiction episode. ...What happened? Why am I back? Xia Ge asked the system, "How did I get back?" System: "Someone brought you back." Xia Ge: "Who?" Before the system could answer, the door creaked open. Turning her head, Xia Ge saw a girl in a white and red maple robe standing at the door, looking at her with an unreadable expression in her dark eyes. System: "Far better than a thousand miles away. Right in front of you." "Master Senior Sister?" Xia Ge's head felt a bit foggy. "You brought... you came for me?" Gu Peiju nodded, "Mm, came to get some documents in order." Acting as if nothing had happened. Xia Ge glanced at her own clothes, "Oh, alright... I'll change first..." "Mm." Gu Peiju shot her a brief look and closed the door. Xia Ge pulled out some clothes from her ring. "What did you mean earlier? The senior sister really brought me back?" System: "Exactly what I said." Pausing, the system's voice dripped with malice, "And it seems she found out you were cross-dressing." Xia Ge shivered, "What? No way—" System: "Believe it or not, be careful anyway." Xia Ge suddenly felt like she was heading into a trap. The system seemed indifferent: "What's the big deal if she found out? She’s not going to eat you. It's not like Ye Zé finding out you deceived your 'brother' for years." That made sense, but something still felt off... Looking in the mirror, Xia Ge froze. The boy in the reflection had clean, fair skin. The makeup she’d used to disguise herself had been wiped off, and a soft red ribbon tied up her hair, making her look both dignified and neat. Xia Ge stared at the red ribbon for a long time. The ribbon remained motionless, yet her sharp gaze was too much for it to bear. Eventually, it trembled slightly. "So, it was you." Xia Ge's eyebrows twitched. She wasn't stupid. Seeing this little cloth wraith and recalling the system's words clarified who the cloaked person was. "Are you done?" The voice outside was calm. "…I'm done." Xia Ge sighed, finally stepping out and following Gu Peiju to the study. There wasn’t much to do; just following her to sort documents. Dan Peak didn't have many documents, and after finishing, Xia Ge secretly watched Gu Peiju use a cinnabar brush to review them. Why wasn't she asking anything? Gu Peiju continued to act as if nothing happened, unsettling Xia Ge. She’d prefer interrogation; even if tension-filled, it was better than this eerie quiet. If worst came to worst, she could lie her way out. But the more nonchalant Gu Peiju acted, the more uneasy Xia Ge felt. She thought for a moment, then mimicked what she’d seen on TV, standing beside Gu Peiju. "Senior Sister, I've sorted the documents!" Gu Peiju murmured, "Mm. That’s all for now; you can go back." Xia Ge: "..." Wait, nothing to ask? Just sending me off? She went to the black market! Isn’t that suspicious? Ask something, so she could make something up! If it’s too much, make her copy Dan Peak texts! This silence was terrifying! If Gu Peiju harbored any misunderstandings from overthinking, where would she cry? Seeing Xia Ge frozen, Gu Peiju paused while holding her brush, "Why aren't you leaving?" "Ah... Um," Xia Ge clasped her hands behind her back, "Senior Sister, when will classes start?" "One day later," Gu Peiju replied, "Tomorrow you'll get uniforms. Don't wander off." Xia Ge felt that "don't wander off" had a hidden meaning, making her heart pound. "Oh… Uh, then…” "What?" Xia Ge: "Um, actually... Senior Sister, you look really pretty today." Xia Ge immediately felt foolish. However, upon reflection, Xia Ge realized her comment wasn't particularly clever. ...Well, the system did say Senior Sister knew she was a girl. Complimenting each other's looks was normal for girls, after all. Oh right, it wasn't mutual; Senior Sister wouldn't be complimenting her back anytime soon. "Go back now," Gu Peiju said nonchalantly, nodding. "I understand." Xia Ge: "..." Feeling dazed, Xia Ge exited the room. Outside the study, clusters of vibrant red ball flowers were in full bloom. Xia Ge had an unsettling feeling she couldn't quite pinpoint. Hmm, would Senior Sister really respond to a compliment with, "Mm, I understand..."? It didn't seem like her usual self... Xia Ge watched a butterfly land upon one of the blooming flowers. Oh well, forget about it. Time to go and tinker with the puppets again. Inside the study. After Xia Ge left, Gu Peiju set down the red brush. Her eyes had an unnatural demonic gleam, which she blinked away before opening them to reveal her usual calm demeanor. —Senior Sister, you look really pretty today. She touched her lips, and after a moment, her pupils contracted slightly as she lowered her hand. The next day. "Xia Wu Yin, you came to get your uniform too." The place where Dan Peak distributed uniforms to inner disciples was a dedicated Cloth Bureau, currently with a long queue. Xia Ge was at the very end. Mao Qing, who was behind her, immediately spotted her and patted her shoulder with a grin, offering her a candy. "New from the candy shop! Cherry blossom candy! Here, have one." "Ah... oh." Xia Ge accepted the candy. Wrapped in white paper, the pink candy had a small cherry blossom petal in the center, very pretty. "Have you seen Huo Bai? I bought extra just for him." Mao Qing's head swiveled in search, making Xia Ge tense up slightly. "Uh, actually... I haven't seen him." Looking around but not spotting Huo Bai, Mao Qing seemed disappointed but handed another cherry blossom candy to Xia Ge. "Oh well, here, take his too." Mao Qing said, “He wouldn't like this color anyway.” Xia Ge stared at the girlishly pink candy in her hand, thinking, "..." Then why did you buy it for him? Mao Qing, seeing through Xia Ge’s thoughts, snorted, "I just wanted to see if he'd take it. But since he didn't show, never mind." Xia Ge: "Then why do you think I'd take it?" Mao Qing responded without hesitation, "Because you're a good person." Xia Ge: "..." System: "Pfft." "By the way, did you get a new hair tie?" Mao Qing asked, looking curiously at the red ribbon in Xia Ge's hair. "It's pretty. Is it new?" Xia Ge, having been given a proverbial 'good person card,' lied with a straight face, "No, I got it from the village cloth vendor." Mao Qing: "Which vendor? I want one too." "Which one? The usual one," Xia Ge answered casually. Mao Qing nodded, then pointed to Xia Ge's waist, surprised. "Hey, what's that?" Instead of a jade ornament, a finely carved wooden doll hung from Xia Ge's waist. With eyes inlaid with black stones and lips painted red, it was quite endearing. "Just a doll I carved," Xia Ge replied nonchalantly. Mao Qing's eyes widened, "Wow, so cute. I didn't know you could carve dolls—you're pretty good at it." "Of course," Xia Ge laughed. As a puppet master, carving skills were essential. Though her liquid silver ring was a defective product, meaning her special puppets couldn't fit inside, she always kept them nearby, disguised as toys for safety. Each puppet she made had two forms: a standard wooden doll form and a functional puppet form. Both could be carved however she liked, with the wooden form masking all energy traces. Unless faced with a very skilled puppet master, most wouldn't detect any oddity. After spending her remaining points on the black market, scrambling for talismans, she was fortunate to have made back fifteen points from crafting this puppet, giving her some breathing space. "Hmm... hang on,” Mao Qing crouched down to examine the doll. “Why does this seem familiar...?” Xia Ge was puzzled, "Hmm?" After a look, Mao Qing understood. "I know why! This doll looks like..." Xia Ge quickly cut her off, "Hey, Huo Bai's here." Mao Qing turned, spotting Huo Bai indeed approaching. His complexion didn't look well, his hair messily tied back, and instead of his usual flashy attire, he wore plain disciple robes, a white jade talisman with runes hanging from his waist. "Why are you so late?" Mao Qing greeted naturally. Huo Bai replied, "Something came up." His tone was casual, like a normal friend's greeting, showing no trace of his cold demeanor from the black market. Xia Ge blinked, suddenly admiring this undercover demon sect agent's incredible acting skills. White Blade, indeed a master in deception, equivalent to an award-winning actor. If not for the white rune-engraved talisman, she'd never suspect a thing. No... even initially, when the puppet reacted to the white talisman, she only harbored slight suspicion. But after the black market incident, his true nature became starkly clear. "Congratulations," Huo Bai said, seeing Xia Ge. Xia Ge was taken aback, "Congratulations? For what?" Huo Bai looked puzzled, "For being admitted as a special recruit." Mao Qing, seemingly remembering this, clapped and laughed, "Oh, I forgot! Congratulations, Xia Wu Yin, on getting in as a special recruit!" Xia Ge: "..." System chimed in: "Congratulations to the host for receiving heartfelt congratulations from the demon sect infiltrator White Blade." Xia Ge, sweating nervously: "Haha... well, it was unexpected for me too." They quickly received their uniforms, so the line moved fast. The three didn’t talk much before they found themselves at the front. Liu Xiaoqian was still manning the counter. Seeing Xia Ge, his eyebrows shot up, "Well, look at you, making it into the inner sect." Xia Ge chuckled, "Purely by chance." Liu Xiaoqian gave her a sideways glance, "Alright, alright, study hard. Strive for Dan Peak. The uniforms are over there, go grab yours." After collecting her outfit, Xia Ge left the Cloth Bureau, bidding farewell to the two. Clutching her clothes, Mao Qing watched Xia Wu Yin's retreating figure, tapping her head, "What was I going to say to him? I've forgotten." Huo Bai glanced at her, "What was it?" "The doll he had. Did you see it? He can carve dolls, and they're quite beautiful!" Mao Qing recounted excitedly, then frowned, "I think that doll resembled someone, wanted to tell him, but can’t recall who." Huo Bai, uninterested, replied, "Didn’t notice." "You’re so careless, missing such a big wooden doll.” Mao Qing huffed, then brightened. “But I know who it looks like now.” Huo Bai humored, “Who?” “Senior Sister!” Mao Qing concluded, “I can’t explain, but it just feels similar. The aura, maybe.” Huo Bai: "..." Meanwhile, Xia Ge found a secluded spot to stash her clothes in the silver ring, then headed straight for the Dan Peak library. The black market ‘Soul Calmer’ was fake. She needed to find true leads on 【Soul Calmer】and fast. If the demon sect was spreading false information about 【Soul Calmer】being out in the wild, it meant one thing... The demon sect was also searching for 【Soul Calmer】! Hence, spreading fake news to mislead others while secretly investigating its true location. As for White Blade, likely related to the demon sect's schemes, Xia Ge didn’t plan to report him. There was something interesting called a counterintelligence strategy. Xia Ge arrived at Dan Peak’s library, which boasted an extensive collection, almost encyclopedic in scope. Unlike the deserted Reflection Pavilion, this library bustled with activity, frequented by disciples from various peaks. A dedicated caretaker managed the entrance. Showing her identity jade to the gatekeeper, Xia Ge entered the library. The library was vast, with ancient shelves towering high, endless layers stacked one upon another. Books of all kinds filled the shelves, each section labeled. However, being her first visit, Xia Ge struggled to find her way. After rushing through multiple sections like 【Alchemy Recipes】【Sword Manuals】, Xia Ge finally found her target: 【Historical Records】. However, she'd barely taken a few steps inside when she spotted an unexpected person. Quickly retracting her foot, she sidestepped into another aisle, grabbing a random book to use as cover. There was a faint sound of pages turning behind her. After a while, Xia Ge heard a cautious voice say, "Second Miss, please don't read here, your eyes recently..." "Shut up." The girl's voice was impatient, followed by the sound of a book snapping shut, "Go away, don’t bother me." "Yes, yes." Someone walked away through the gap in the bookshelves behind her. Xia Ge kept her head down, looking at the book she had randomly opened, feeling that life is full of unexpected meetings. As she glanced down, the first sentence on the book's page caught her eye. "Once upon a time, Lingxi Peak was home to a nest of bandits..." Xia Ge: "???" ...Writers should always start with a captivating hook, no matter how absurd the rest of the book is. Xia Ge checked the cover. In bold calligraphy, four characters flew out: 《Lingxi Anecdotes》. Well, no matter how ridiculous the rest of this historical account was, it had certainly grabbed her attention. But now wasn’t the time for reading. Xia Ge clutched the book, preparing to leave quietly, when she heard the girl exclaim, her tone tinged with surprise. Instinctively, Xia Ge turned around, peeking through the gaps in the bookshelf. Sunlight streamed in through the window, and a girl in a blue robe from Jian Peak raised her hand to shield her eyes. Her sleeve bore a meticulously embroidered silver butterfly, and her lips were tightly pressed together, looking very uncomfortable. Xia Ge’s heart stirred as she noticed the girl let go of her sleeve, and their eyes met through the bookshelves. Startled, Xia Ge took a step back, but the girl appeared not to see her. She reached her hand back, feeling along the spines of the books until she found an empty spot. She carefully inserted her book, her eyes open but her movements akin to those of a blind person. Chu Yi placed her book back and turned to leave, only to trip on her skirt and stumble forward, managing to catch a corner of the bookshelf to steady herself. Xia Ge clenched her fist, feeling conflicted. Chu Yi stood up, closed her darkened eyes, and stood still for a while. She remained motionless, and Xia Ge dared not move. After a while, she heard Chu Yi laugh. A low, chilling laugh that sent shivers down one's spine, filled with a hint of madness and hopeless despair. "Why..." Xia Ge heard her murmur softly, "Why me... why is it always me..." "…Hey, you there… Junior Sister?" The Historical Records section rarely had visitors, unlike the busy Sword Manuals or Alchemy Recipes sections. No, it was almost deserted. Xia Ge pinched her voice shrill, impersonating a eunuch from centuries past, sounding eerie enough to raise goosebumps. She glanced anxiously around, fearing discovery. Before she knew it, someone grabbed her by the neck, pressing a familiar dagger against her throat. A pure black dagger, neither metal nor jade, yet immensely sharp. It was rumored to be made from a fallen meteorite, capable of cutting through gold and jade effortlessly. Meteor Blade. Chu Yi's cold voice asked, "Who?" Staring at Xia Ge with unfocused, jet-black eyes reflecting her image but devoid of life, Xia Ge cautiously waved a hand in front of her eyes. Chu Yi didn’t react. ...Truly blind. "I was just passing by and saw that Junior Sister seemed unwell," Xia Ge said in a shrill, affected voice, "Do you need any help? I can take you to—" The grip on her neck loosened, and Chu Yi sheathed her Meteor Blade, her face looking unpleasant. "No, get lost!" Xia Ge sighed in relief, secretly slipped something into Chu Yi’s pocket, then hurriedly walked away. As she turned back, curiosity got the better of her. The girl in blue and white butterfly robes sat on the floor against the bookshelf, hand resting on her knee. After her fit of anger, her dark eyes were dull and lifeless, making her appear frail. System: "Aren't you going to help?" Xia Ge: "…She should see again soon." System: "But if this drags on, she'll still go blind." Xia Ge sighed, "There's nothing I can do." System: "The Heavenly Eye Herb requires the fate energy of a chosen one to maintain its effect." Xia Ge, exasperated: "I know." System: "So, what's your plan?" Xia Ge: "…Guess I’ll wing it." System: "How can you be so cold?" Xia Ge: "I've always been cold." With that, holding the book, Xia Ge headed downstairs, her mind in a whirl. She hadn’t expected to encounter Chu Yi in the Dan Peak library. Then, from behind, Chu Yi called out, "You there, stop!" Startled, Xia Ge instinctively bolted. System: "Why are you running?" Xia Ge: "You hear 'stop' and you run! It's experience!" System: "..." Where did you get that experience? And why don’t I have it? Aren't you just feeling guilty? Author's Note: Daily updates are truly blissful. = = Rewards received: Yue Han Player threw a landmine, 2018-07-08 00:12:45 Faith threw a landmine, 2018-07-08 00:20:50 Big Pocket threw a landmine, 2018-07-08 00:38:14 Ink threw a landmine, 2018-07-08 01:08:28 “Ninja” threw a landmine, 2018-07-08 06:59:55 What is Sentiment threw a landmine, 2018-07-08 08:38:39 Seemingly Idiotic, Sun Ce threw a grenade, 2018-07-08 09:13:28 Drifting Leisurely threw a landmine, 2018-07-08 14:08:00 Thanks everyone for the landmines and grenades! = = Reader "", nourished with 2 nutrition fluids, 2018-07-08 23:29:05 Reader "", nourished with 3 nutrition fluids, 2018-07-08 23:23:41 Reader "", nourished with 2 nutrition fluids, 2018-07-08 23:09:38 Reader "", nourished with 2 nutrition fluids, 2018-07-08 23:00:50 Reader "", nourished with 2 nutrition fluids, 2018-07-08 22:53:53 Reader "", nourished with 2 nutrition fluids, 2018-07-08 22:44:58 Reader "", nourished with 2 nutrition fluids, 2018-07-08 22:40:19 Reader "", nourished with 2 nutrition fluids, 2018-07-08 22:33:52 Reader "Floating Life", nourished with 10 nutrition fluids, 2018-07-08 20:44:10 Reader "Black History", nourished with 20 nutrition fluids, 2018-07-08 20:22:34 Reader "Luo Xiao Yi", nourished with 1 nutrition fluid, 2018-07-08 20:04:53 Reader "Little Cabbage", nourished with 7 nutrition fluids, 2018-07-08 18:45:18 Reader "kinenorz", nourished with 2 nutrition fluids, 2018-07-08 18:30:13 Reader "Luo Shui’s Divine Startling Clear Ripples", nourished with 5 nutrition fluids, 2018-07-08 16:18:33 Reader "Young Master, Meditating", nourished with 10 nutrition fluids, 2018-07-08 12:58:31 Reader "", nourished with 1 nutrition fluid, 2018-07-08 11:58:51 Reader "Lou Lala Lou Lala Lou Lala Hey", nourished with 2 nutrition fluids, 2018-07-08 10:48:59 Reader "Wandering Fool", nourished with 10 nutrition fluids, 2018-07-08 08:24:27 Reader "Ninja", nourished with 20 nutrition fluids, 2018-07-08 06:59:56 Reader "Pond Fish", nourished with 10 nutrition fluids, 2018-07-08 03:20:41 Reader "Please Give Candy", nourished with 1 nutrition fluid, 2018-07-08 03:08:40 Reader "Late Twilight", nourished with 10 nutrition fluids, 2018-07-08 00:37:27 Reader "faith", nourished with 5 nutrition fluids, 2018-07-08 00:21:08 Reader "biu~biu~", nourished with 1 nutrition fluid, 2018-07-08 00:17:04 Thank you all for the nutrition fluids! Love you all!