Chapter 23 Do you still remember who I am? In the azure sky…
A continuous white "hill" hangs in the azure sky, and in front of you is a busy road with pedestrians wrapped in coats hurrying by, and white steam rises from the food stalls on the street.
Gu Xiaozhu stood by the roadside, head down, staring blankly at the black screen of her phone. Around her were other pedestrians also waiting for the green light.
Suddenly, her vision went dark, as if a pair of warm hands had covered her eyes.
Guess who I am~
Hearing the familiar voice, Gu Xiaozhu found it somewhat amusing: "How come you're still so childish?"
"Who else but you would do something like this?"
The hands covering her eyes remained in place, and the voice behind her seemed somewhat displeased: "Then say my name!"
Gu Xiaozhu: "It's just..."
The words came naturally to my lips, but just before I could say the last few words, my mind went completely blank.
"yes……"
She should know, but she couldn't piece together those words in her mind; she couldn't imagine them, nor could she say them.
Just as she was frowning in thought, her vision suddenly returned.
She looked up with some confusion and saw a black-haired boy wearing a woolen coat looking down at her.
Strangely, the boy's face was clearly blurry in her eyes, but she could feel that he was looking at her and that he was smiling.
"Alright, alright, I won't make things difficult for you." With that, he handed a cup of milk tea to Gu Xiaozhu. "Here, I brought you some milk tea."
The girl's brows relaxed, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved upwards, and a glimmer of starlight rose in her eyes: "Thank you."
She took the warm milk tea, the warmth spreading along her cool fingertips.
"Hey, don't be so polite!" The boy scratched his head, but his eyes quietly shifted in another direction, as if he was a little embarrassed.
As soon as the green light came on, the waiting pedestrians seemed to be switched on, and they all started walking forward.
"Oh! The light's green, let's go!" The boy, who had somehow appeared beside her, excitedly grabbed Gu Xiaozhu's other hand and led her across the street.
Gu Xiaozhu just smiled helplessly and followed him.
The boy seemed happy every day, always greeting each day with positivity and optimism, like the warm winter sun radiating warmth and shining on everyone around him.
The road wasn't long, and with the boy beside me chattering away, we quickly reached the other side.
"Why are your hands so cold? I've already told you it's almost winter, you should wear more clothes when you go out!" A voice came from behind.
Before Gu Xiaozhu could react, a scarf was wrapped around her neck.
The scarf still retained the boy's warm body heat, and the warmth seeped into her heart through her skin, making her ear tips tingle slightly.
"Actually, it's not that..." she said, turning around, but the scene in front of her made her expression freeze.
"Smack!"
The milk tea slipped from my hand, the cup tore, and the still-warm liquid splashed around my feet.
His pupils contracted, and his face suddenly turned pale.
In the very middle of the road, the white zebra crossings were stained crimson, thick blood spread across the ground, and the boy lay in a pool of blood, his light-colored coat soaked in dark red.
The surrounding vehicles honked their horns piercingly, and some people in the crowd screamed.
Everything around him seemed to be blurring, the sounds of the crowd were fading, and the streetlights were beginning to cast double images, but only in the middle of the road did the boy lie dying in a pool of blood—
Absolutely clear.
It was so clear, so clear that she could see his chest rising and falling slightly, so clear that she could see a drop of blood fall from the boy's trembling eyelashes.
She seemed to be nailed to the spot, her blood seemed to have frozen, and only her increasingly rapid breathing could prove her existence.
The boy on the ground slowly turned his head, opened his eyes with difficulty, and tugged at the corners of his mouth, as if trying to put on a comforting smile.
He lay there, looking at the girl by the roadside, and spoke, word by word:
Do you remember... who I am?
Gu Xiaozhu looked at him, feeling her hands trembling and a sharp pain in her heart, making it hard for her to breathe.
"You, you are..." As soon as she finished speaking, she realized that her voice was so hoarse and so... trembling.
She wanted to continue, but she clearly felt that the remaining words were right on her lips, ready to be uttered naturally as soon as she opened her mouth.
but……
She couldn't say it.
Her mind went blank.
He could only stare blankly at the boy, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly, but no sound came out.
Seeing this, the boy closed his eyes, and finally a smile appeared on his lips:
"You must... in the future..."
"Live each day happily..."
It felt like liquid was sliding down my cheeks.
"good……"
She heard herself say that.
… …
My consciousness was still a bit hazy. As soon as I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the constantly flickering firelight.
She suddenly snapped to attention, her body tensing instantly, and instinctively gripped the oil-paper umbrella in her hand.
"You're awake?"
A voice came from the person on the other side of the fire, and Gu Xiaozhu then realized that the boy who had been seriously injured and unconscious earlier had woken up at some point.
He even started a fire, but he didn't even realize it!
"System! System! You said you'd call me if there was any trouble?!" she cried out in her mind.
The system's voice sounded a little aggrieved: 【Yes.】
"Then why didn't you wake me up when that person woke up?"
[Host, have you forgotten? You're still holding a mid-grade defensive magic artifact. He, a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, can't harm you at all.]
[Furthermore, after waking up, he simply bandaged his wounds quietly and started a fire; he showed absolutely no intention of harming you.]
[That's why I thought you should rest a little longer, host.]
Gu Xiaozhu: ...Okay.
And she had a dream after she fell asleep, a... very strange dream.
She shook her head to stop thinking about it and turned her gaze to the person opposite her.
The boy seemed to have changed into a new set of clothes. His black hair was not tied up, but hung casually over his shoulders. His head was slightly lowered, and the loose strands of hair obscured his expression, making him look somewhat gloomy.
Suddenly, he raised his head, and his dark eyes met Gu Xiaozhu's gaze.
Gu Xiaozhu was startled and instinctively tried to look away, but the person opposite her spoke first:
"You saved me, so I now owe you my life."
Gu Xiaozhu: Huh?
But she quickly realized what was happening and avoided his gaze, saying, "Um... I..."
She never imagined this person would be so straightforward... Well, considering his personality, it's actually quite reasonable.
According to the original storyline, the Demon Realm's Holy Son is somewhat sullen and sharp-tongued. He doesn't talk much, but when he does, it's mostly sarcastic and his words are extremely cutting.
Moreover, he dislikes owing favors to others, which is why, in the original story, when the protagonist unintentionally saved his life, he later risked his life to save the protagonist, simply to repay this life-saving debt.
However, this incident also made the protagonist think that he was a righteous person, so he decided to help him return to the Demon Realm and take back everything that belonged to him.
Although a large part of his reason for doing this was to gain trust.
Moreover, given his personality, if a conflict were to arise again after they had settled their scores, he could ruthlessly kill the protagonist.
However, since the protagonist decided to help him, there was naturally no conflict between the two, as they shared the same goal. Therefore, he naturally did not do anything like killing someone later on.
Gu Xiaozhu stammered for a long time, unable to think of anything to say, so she decided to ask first: "Um, my name is Gu Xiaozhu, what's your name?"
Although she already knew, she still had to ask the question in order not to appear strange.
"Teng Shao".
His voice was steady, and you couldn't discern any emotion in it.
“Then, Young Master Teng…”
"Just call me Teng Shao."
"Ah, oh." Gu Xiaozhu responded and continued, "Actually... you don't need to make such a heavy statement. I just happened to... just happened to save you, it's not at all like you owe me a life."
Teng Shao raised his head, his expression calm: "You're just a mortal, aren't you?"
Gu Xiaozhu was taken aback, then nodded.
Teng Shao: "Although I don't know how you accidentally entered the secret realm, you are someone who is completely useless..."
He paused, glancing briefly at the cave entrance before turning back to look at the oil-paper umbrella in her hand, and continued, "Even if you know some formations and have defensive magic artifacts protecting you, ultimately, you are still a very fragile mortal."
"Moreover, there are demonic cultivators chasing after me in the secret realm."
"You will die."
Gu Xiaozhu choked.
Teng Shao's tone remained unchanged throughout his speech. She understood that he didn't mean to look down on her, but it was precisely because he didn't mean it that way, and what he said was all true, that it sounded so... awkward.
[Bullshit! Host, don't listen to his nonsense. I will protect you. When Jiang Zhihe arrives, he will protect you too! You won't die! Absolutely not!]
"Yes, I understand. But what he said is indeed true."
"Even if I have defensive magical artifacts, most things in the secret realm can't hurt me. But don't forget, there are still demonic cultivators chasing after Teng Shao in the secret realm!"
"I have defensive magical artifacts, but what if those demonic cultivators also have offensive magical artifacts?"
[Host, if that's the case, then isn't Teng Shao the biggest source of danger right now?]
Gu Xiaozhu was taken aback.
yes!
Since the group of demonic cultivators who chased Teng Shao in is the greatest danger right now, if Teng Shao isn't by her side, then this greatest danger won't come looking for her!
[So, host, we need to get rid of Teng Shao now! Keep him as far away from you as possible!]
Gu Xiaozhu glanced at Teng Shao across from her. Teng Shao was also looking at her, his gaze calm, as if waiting for her answer.
To rescue someone and then push them out to attract danger again just doesn't seem very ethical.
However, what the system said was indeed correct.
As long as Teng Shao is still by her side, he will be the biggest source of danger. If she is unlucky enough to run into him, she will definitely be implicated.
"So, pay more attention to your own feelings and interests!"
For some reason, the words of the boy in red from years ago surfaced in her mind.
After hesitating for a while, she finally took a deep breath and said, "Um...you just said that there are demonic cultivators chasing you in the secret realm?"
She decided to express herself more tactfully at first, but when she said "chasing after you," she emphasized it a little.
Teng Shao nodded, then realized something and exclaimed, "You want me to leave so you won't be implicated?"
Gu Xiaozhu choked.
That's the gist of it, but it's said in a really blunt way.
But since the words were already out, she could only grit her teeth and say, "Yes."
But then, feeling that his words were a bit too harsh, he quickly added, "Besides... you don't owe me a life. Leaving, leaving this place is your way of repaying me."
After all, given the current situation, she was just an ordinary person with no strength to even kill a chicken, making her a burden to Teng Shao. And Teng Shao, in turn, happened to be a source of danger for her.
Therefore, it's better for both of them to separate.
Teng Shao nodded: "I understand."
He stood up and was about to leave almost without hesitation.
Given his current condition—not only is he not fully recovered from his injuries, but he is also being pursued—he is indeed a burden to this mortal girl.
But just as he was about to reach the cave entrance, he heard the girl's slightly hurried voice behind him: "Wait a minute!"
He turned around, his eyes filled with doubt.
A girl in an orange dress ran up to him, holding an umbrella, and then took out a bunch of bottles and jars from the red bracelet on her wrist.
He accepted it somewhat bewildered, and then heard the girl in front of him speak:
"Um... I'm sorry, but for my own safety, I have to do this."
"Your injuries shouldn't be healed yet? As compensation, take these medicines."
Teng Shao looked at her and suddenly spoke up: "I am a demonic cultivator."
Gu Xiaozhu was taken aback: "Uh... I understand?"
Teng Shao looked puzzled: "Aren't you afraid? I'm a demonic cultivator who kills without hesitation."
Gu Xiaozhu: "..."
Should she be afraid?
Knowing the plot, she naturally knew that although Teng Shao was a demonic cultivator, he was not bloodthirsty, and sometimes she could even reason with him.
But... she probably doesn't know that.
She had to at least act like she didn't know.
Um, so what should she do now? Act like an ordinary person meeting a demonic cultivator? Or should she say something?
She's quite panicked right now.
After thinking for a long time, she said dryly, "I don't think you're that bad."
Good heavens, what is she saying?!
She quickly tried to cover it up: "I mean... well, you see, you didn't hurt me after you woke up, you even said you owed me a life, so..." Her voice trailed off:
"So...you're not that bad after all?"
Teng Shao looked at her, opened his mouth, but said nothing.
In the Demon Realm, everyone prioritizes their own interests; outside the realm, demonic cultivators are universally reviled, and any mortal would be terrified at the mere sight of them. Therefore, it's perfectly normal for him to see him as dangerous and for young women to stay away.
On the contrary, the girl is now apologizing and giving him a lot of medicine as "compensation." After learning that he is a demonic cultivator, she is not afraid and says that he is not bad. This is abnormal in his eyes.
He didn't understand.
But that wasn't all. After thinking for a moment, the girl took out a silver bracelet and placed it in his hand.
This is a defensive artifact that the system rewarded me with after the Phantom Demon incident that day.
“This is a mid-grade defensive magic artifact. You can take it. Don’t worry, I have more.” She paused, then continued, “…Don’t die.”
Teng Shao stared at her for a long time: "I won't die."
"Also, don't help strangers in the future."
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