Chapter 33 Xiaozhu, Stay Here For the next two days, the mountain…

For the next two days, there was no movement from the cave as usual, and Gu Xiaozhu stayed quietly in the camp, at most going for a stroll around the camp area.

Although A Cui rejected their suggestion, Gu Xiaozhu would always unconsciously pay attention to her whenever she saw her.

On several occasions when Ah Cui was in trouble, Gu Xiaozhu wanted to help, but Ah Cui always managed to defuse the danger with sweet words.

But this is not a long-term solution.

It might work once or twice, but what about later? How many more times can this method be used to solve the problem?

late at night--

A faint sound came from the woods not far away. Gu Xiaozhu woke up groggily. She wanted to ignore the sound and continue sleeping, but her eyes, which were about to close, suddenly opened wide.

Wait, that voice... seems to be Ah Cui's?

The weariness in her eyes vanished, and she sat up, straining to listen.

“Ah Cui…you…”

"Young master...doing this...is for..."

No, I can't hear you.

"System, is that Ah Cui's voice? Is there someone else with her?"

[Yes, host. She is currently in the woods about 300 meters to your right, and appears to be arguing with a cultivator.]

Gu Xiaozhu lifted the tent flap. The camp was quiet, and everyone seemed to be sleeping soundly. She looked into the dark woods and swallowed.

That's a bit strange.

Why were Ah Cui and that monk so close to their camp?

Moreover, even I, a mere mortal, could hear the sounds from that side, so why were the others in the camp completely silent?

"System, is that really Ah Cui?"

[Yes, that's right, both Ah Cui and that monk over there are real.]

However, I'm not entirely sure why they're here, or why you can hear them.

The system seemed to sense Gu Xiaozhu's desire to go and check, and encouraged her:

[It's alright, host! If you want to go see it, I can protect you!]

Gu Xiaozhu thought for a moment, and finally cautiously walked in that direction.

The closer they got, the clearer their conversation became, and at the same time, the familiar scent of flowers wafted into her nostrils once more.

"Young master, this... this might not be good..." Ah Cui's hand was grabbed by the man opposite her. Her face was slightly pale, and her expression was filled with fear.

But because of her stunning beauty, this appearance only made the man opposite her want to ravage her even more.

They wanted to bring this self-important, otherworldly woman down from her pedestal, into a muddy swamp, and stain her with filthy silt.

So many days have passed, and I've already touched it myself, but why, why won't I take the final step!

"Ha, I only listened to your sweet talk and endured so many days because you're pretty!"

Bloodshot veins appeared in the man's eyes, his face contorted with his filthy desires: "Now that it's time, you're not willing anymore?"

"What are you pretending for?! With that vixen-like look, you must have served a lot of people, right?"

Ah Cui's face grew even paler, and she seemed about to collapse, utterly broken: "I...I..."

The man looked at her, his hand still gripping her wrist tightly, while his other hand was already reaching for her waist, his eyes filled with lust and contempt: "I think you are..."

"What are you doing?"

A sudden voice interrupted the person's words and actions.

His gaze lowered, filled with fierce intensity as he looked toward the source of the sound, but his expression softened slightly upon seeing who it was.

"Who do we have here? It's Young Master Jiang's man." He chuckled nonchalantly, putting an arm around Ah Cui's trembling shoulder. "Miss, this is a private matter between Ah Cui and me. Surely... you don't want to get involved too?"

Gu Xiaozhu frowned: "But she's not willing."

The cultivator's face immediately darkened, and the fragrance of flowers in the air seemed to intensify, as if to indicate his suppressed emotions.

"She had no choice but to agree, otherwise who would be willing to protect a mortal in this perilous secret realm?"

"It's her honor to have caught my eye!"

Gu Xiaozhu: "But..."

"But what but!" The cultivator's eyes were bloodshot, his expression ferocious, as if he had been possessed by a demon: "I'm telling you, don't meddle in other people's business! I haven't touched you yet only because of that Jiang guy!"

"You're nothing but his mistress, what right do you have to order me around?!"

Gu Xiaozhu looked at him for a long time, and finally sighed: "Chop him, but leave him with a breath left."

The next second, the cultivator trembled violently, his hair stood on end, and he collapsed to the ground, convulsing.

In his mind, the system, which had been cursing for a long time, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

That feels good.

This time the commotion was much smaller, probably because the system's control is getting better and better.

Thinking this, Gu Xiaozhu walked towards A Cui.

The closer you get, the stronger the floral fragrance emanating from Ah Cui becomes.

When you get close to her, the fragrance of the flowers is so strong that it's almost suffocating.

She couldn't help but cough, and Ah Cui across from her stiffened unusually, causing the rich floral fragrance in the air to fade considerably.

Although Gu Xiaozhu felt a little strange, she didn't say much. Instead, she looked at A Cui and asked, "Are you alright?"

A-Cui, her face pale, stared at the girl opposite her for a long time before shaking her head.

"It's alright, thank you..."

Gu Xiaozhu smiled and said, "It's nothing. But after what happened today, you probably won't be able to stay with him anymore, right?"

She reached out her hand to the woman in white opposite her: "Would you like to come over to our side?"

Ah Cui stood rooted to the spot, her eyes fixed on the outstretched hand. She remained silent for a long while, then asked, "Why?"

Gu Xiaozhu: "What? Why?"

She looked up, tears welling in her eyes: "Why...why are you so good to me?"

Gu Xiaozhu looked at her: "I just wanted to help you out. Someone like you shouldn't be wallowing in the mire."

Ah Cui: "Someone like me? Someone as filthy and despicable as a brothel girl?"

The girl opposite him looked bewildered: "Why do you think that?"

"In my eyes, you are clearly a smart, emotionally intelligent, kind-hearted, clean and beautiful girl who, despite your difficult circumstances, still retains kindness."

Her ability to move freely among cultivators demonstrates her intelligence and her ability to utilize her strengths.

The fact that she was able to coax that cultivator for so long without losing her virginity proves that she can quickly grasp other people's personalities and flatter them in a targeted way to gain enough benefits for herself.

Even in such a situation, when they met for the second time, she held a knife but ultimately did not drop the weapon. She still retained her kindness, or... she would not cross that moral line.

A Cui stood there, stunned.

After a moment, the tears in her eyes finally broke free, and the crystal tears formed a line that flowed down her cheeks.

Realizing it, she subconsciously raised her hand, somewhat flustered, trying to cover up her current embarrassing state.

Gu Xiaozhu gave a helpless laugh, and finally opened her arms: "Perhaps, you would like a hug?"

A Cui's shoulders trembled slightly. With tears streaming down her face, she looked at the girl opposite her, sobbed, took a step towards her, and hugged her tightly.

How can there be such a gentle person in the world?

"You are the only one... who sees me this way and treats me so well." Gu Xiaozhu heard her soft voice.

She stroked Ah Cui's back with her hand and said softly, "You're wrong."

"I believe I won't be the only one."

"As long as they have normal values ​​and good moral character, they will treat you the same way I do."

"You have a long life ahead of you, and I believe you will meet someone like that."

Ah Cui didn't say anything, but instead tightened her arms slightly.

"No more..."

She spoke softly.

Gu Xiaozhu didn't quite hear it, or perhaps she did hear it but didn't understand the sentence: "...What?"

Ah Cui slowly released her hand, her bloodshot eyes looking at her: "My life has come to an end, so there will be no more. You are the only one."

Gu Xiaozhu was somewhat confused: "What do you mean?"

Before she could figure it out, the surrounding environment suddenly began to shake—the earth, the trees, the sky, even Ah Cui in front of her…

They all turned into white petals and disappeared into this world.

"Wake up."

… …

Suddenly opening her eyes, Gu Xiaozhu sat up abruptly.

She looked around and saw a vast, endless sea of ​​white flowers.

The rich floral fragrance filled her nostrils, making her choke for a moment, but this time, the fragrance wouldn't dissipate, because it was endless.

Not far away, a figure in white strolled through the sea of ​​flowers, walking towards her step by step.

She was still dressed in the familiar white, and her face was still stunningly beautiful.

A Cui walked up to Gu Xiaozhu, her black hair falling over her shoulders, and a smile appeared on her face.

This smile was pure and genuine, unlike the usual deliberate attempts to please; it was a heartfelt and relaxed smile.

Gu Xiaozhu looked at her, hesitatingly asking, "So... everything just now was an illusion?"

A Cui nodded.

"When did it start?"

Ah Cui: "At the beginning."

She crouched down, looking the almond-haired girl in front of her at eye level: "This secret realm is actually composed of a huge and realistic illusion. Everyone who enters will fall asleep amidst the fragrance of flowers the moment they arrive at this sea of ​​flowers."

Gu Xiaozhu was startled: "What about the others..."

A Cui's eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if she was somewhat dissatisfied, but she quickly smoothed them out: "The others are the same. They are still trapped in the illusion, stubbornly guarding the false entrance to the treasure."

"As long as their desires persist, they will never wake up."

Gu Xiaozhu asked with some confusion, "Then I..."

A-Cui chuckled softly: "'I'm still in the illusion, 'I' am absorbing the filthy desires of those people, letting them sink into the illusion. But—"

"Those who gain my approval can escape the illusion and enter reality."

As she spoke, she gently took Gu Xiaozhu's hand, and the rich fragrance of flowers surrounded them.

"Xiaozhu, in all these years, I have never met a person as gentle and tolerant as you."

"A person like you should not live in that filthy world."

She looked at the girl in front of her, her narrow eyes filled with expectation:

"Xiaozhu, stay."