Chapter 4. Silence returned to the house. ...
Silence returned to the house.
Outside, night had fallen. Gu Xiaozhu glanced at the red lucky charm in her hand and suddenly asked, "System?"
[I'm here! What's up? Is there something you need?]
It was no longer the empty silence of before, but a vibrant electronic voice filled with a hint of worry.
Gu Xiaozhu lowered her eyes: "Where...did you go before?"
I apologize, but due to some unforeseen circumstances, I expended too much energy and had to fall into a deep sleep.
[So before falling into a deep sleep, I could only place the host in a relatively safe place and then quickly explain the world-building.]
Gu Xiaozhu: "Is this world... the novel I hadn't finished writing before I transmigrated?"
Perhaps because of the car accident, she always felt that her memories were somewhat disjointed.
【……Yes. 】
After receiving confirmation, her expression became even stranger: "The names are the same, but the identities... don't match?"
For example, in the original story, the male protagonist Jiang Zhihe was supposed to be the chief disciple of the First Sword Sect and the future leader of the righteous path, but now he has inexplicably become the young master of the Hehuan Sect.
She remembered the character Wu Jiangxue, but her identity matched up; she was a disciple of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Immortal Valley in the original story.
【emmmm……】
[Perhaps the unexpected disaster caused a slight misalignment in the plot?]
[Including this village. According to the normal plot, that demonic cultivator shouldn't be in this village! That's why I thought it was safe here and left you here!]
[...To tell you the truth, host, there's another very important reason why I brought you into this world.]
Gu Xiaozhu: "?"
[This world will face a cataclysmic disaster in the future. At that time, the Heavenly Dao will collapse, the world will be submerged in a sea of blood, and ultimately turn into nothingness.]
Gu Xiaozhu: "..."
She felt like she could guess what the system was going to say next.
As expected.
So, host, you actually have a mission.
Gu Xiaozhu: "...Save the world?"
[Smart! As expected of the host!]
Gu Xiaozhu: "..."
She silently reached out, took a piece of candied fruit from the wooden table beside her, and popped it into her mouth to calm her nerves.
But soon, her eyes lit up.
It was unexpectedly sweet.
It's also very delicious.
She couldn't resist and ate another piece.
[The original host was in a car accident; death was supposed to be your final fate.]
[But as long as you complete this task, you can go home safely and avoid the original death outcome!]
The words of refusal that were already on the tip of her tongue circled in her mouth, but were ultimately swallowed back down by Gu Xiaozhu.
Going home...
Her eyes darkened.
"Why...why was I chosen?" she asked, changing the subject.
[Of course, it's because only you, the host, can save this world!]
Gu Xiaozhu looked puzzled: "But... as you can see, I'm just a mortal, I don't even have spiritual roots."
That's the truth.
During the year she was here, some cultivators did come to the village, looking for any promising cultivators they could find.
At that time, many young people in the village went to take the test, and she was no exception. Unfortunately, the test results showed that she had no spiritual roots and was just an ordinary mortal who could not cultivate immortality.
"How could I possibly accomplish such a world-saving mission?"
[Host! Don't underestimate yourself! In this world, besides you, there really is no one else who can save this world!]
[And I'll help you too! Hmm... I'm a little reluctant to admit it, but Jiang Zhihe will definitely help you too!]
Gu Xiaozhu was taken aback. She didn't quite understand how this topic had gotten involved with Jiang Zhihe.
The system answered her question in the next second.
He likes you, so he'll definitely help you!
Gu Xiaozhu's face started to burn uncontrollably again.
But this time, perhaps because she was alone in the room, she calmed down a lot, and the panic in her heart quickly subsided.
Her gaze was unconsciously drawn to the red amulet in her hand. She pondered it for a moment, then lowered her eyelids slightly: "...Do you believe it?"
The system was taken aback.
【Huh? Believe in what?】
"He said... he likes me. Do you think it's true?"
Before the system could reply, Gu Xiaozhu continued:
"I...can't believe it."
Strands of hair hung low over her forehead, casting a shadow on her face, and the emotions in the girl's eyes were somewhat ambiguous.
"I'm just an ordinary person."
"How could someone so outstanding fall in love with me?"
[Host...don't say that...]
The familiar, noisy argument seemed to echo in her ears again. Gu Xiaozhu closed her eyes briefly, her brows furrowing involuntarily, but gradually relaxing as she opened them again.
As if sensing that Gu Xiaozhu's emotions were not quite right, the system spoke up with some concern.
[Host, are you alright?]
Gu Xiaozhu gently shook her head: "I'm fine, you don't need to worry."
"Squeak—"
Just then, Aunt Liu pushed open the door and, seeing that only Gu Xiaozhu was inside, went in carrying a bowl of steaming chicken soup.
"Xiaozhu, how are you feeling now?"
Seeing Aunt Liu's worried expression, Gu Xiaozhu finally smiled and said, "I'm much better now, Aunt Liu, you don't need to worry."
Hearing this, Aunt Liu breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good, that's good. Here, this is some fresh chicken soup I just made."
As she spoke, she picked up a spoon and was about to feed Gu Xiaozhu.
Seeing this, Gu Xiaozhu put the Ping An Fu (a type of herbal drink) on the table and quickly took the bowl back, saying, "It's alright, it's alright, I can drink it myself!"
Aunt Liu didn't insist and let go of her hand.
She looked at the girl, who was sipping the chicken soup with her head down, and her eyes showed affection: "Oh dear... your health isn't very good to begin with, and you've been through such a shock. You really need to take good care of yourself!"
[...Are you unwell?]
The system suddenly spoke at that moment.
Gu Xiaozhu responded in her mind: "I'm not quite sure either. In the first month or two before I came here, my body was actually perfectly normal."
"But later, I don't know why, I would sometimes feel dazed for a moment, and every one or two months I would have a few days when I was particularly sleepy."
Seeing that the system had not responded, she thought that the system was worried about her, so she comforted herself in her heart: "It's okay, don't worry, it shouldn't be a big problem."
[Ding!]
The main quest is now available: Collect three "fragments" to prevent the apocalyptic catastrophe and save the world.
Main Quest 1: Retrieve the "Fragment" Lost in the Lingyao Secret Realm
Reward: System Energy
Side Quest 1: Go to the Valley of Healers to cure the poison
Rewards: Immunity to all poisons, System Energy
Seeing that Gu Xiaozhu had finished the chicken soup, Aunt Liu quickly took the empty bowl and said, "Xiaozhu, do you want more? If you do, Auntie will get you some more."
Gu Xiaozhu smiled and said, "No need, Aunt Liu, thank you!"
Aunt Liu smiled and gently rubbed the girl's nose. "Oh, why are you being so polite with Aunt Liu! In that case, Aunt Liu will be going now. You should get some rest. Aunt Liu is in the next room, so just come and find me if you need anything!"
Gu Xiaozhu nodded hurriedly, "Mmm!"
Aunt Liu was satisfied and left.
After Aunt Liu left, Gu Xiaozhu inquired about the details of the mission.
"What is the system energy rewarded by main quest 1?"
[Hehe, with the system energy, there are even more ways I can help you!]
[For example, today, the ability to breathe smoothly and the weakening of the skin on the demonic cultivator you stabbed—all of this requires energy!]
Gu Xiaozhu nodded thoughtfully.
She thought about the side quests issued by the system again, and finally sighed slightly before getting out of bed.
It's summer now, so the nights aren't very hot; instead, they're cooler than during the day.
She pushed open the door and walked out of the house.
The evening breeze brushed against her cheeks, making her mind clearer.
In the night sky, countless stars are still twinkling, like a never-ending dance.
She quickly arrived at the tree Jiang Zhihe had mentioned. She looked around, but didn't see him.
Seeing this, she hesitated for a moment, then tentatively asked, "...Jiang Zhihe?"
"I am here."
A voice filled with laughter came from above.
Gu Xiaozhu looked up and saw the boy in red sitting on a thick tree branch, smiling at her.
He got up and jumped down from the tree, his movements light and graceful, and he didn't even make a sound when he landed.
He looked at the girl in front of him with a smile, tilted his head, and his ponytail swayed as well: "Have you thought it through?"
Gu Xiaozhu nodded: "I will go to the Valley of Healers with you."
Jiang Zhihe smiled and nodded, then took out a square wooden box from the storage bag at his waist.
The wooden box was only about the size of a palm.
He quickly handed the wooden box to Gu Xiaozhu.
Gu Xiaozhu didn't take it immediately, but asked in confusion, "This is...?"
Jiang Zhihe smiled and asked, "Is the candied fruit delicious?"
Gu Xiaozhu was taken aback, but still answered, "It's delicious."
Hearing this, he smiled even more broadly: "If it's delicious, then eat more!"
As he spoke, he pushed the wooden box in his hand forward a little.
Gu Xiaozhu understood.
The wooden box contained candied fruit.
Seeing that she was still hesitant, Jiang Zhihe immediately put on a wronged expression: "We're already friends, and you won't even accept a box of candied fruit from a friend?"
Under the boy's persistent pleading, Gu Xiaozhu finally accepted the box of candied fruit.
Even if I accept it, I will still feel uneasy, as if this box of candied fruit is too hot to handle.
After all, it was Jiang Zhihe who saved her from the very beginning, and she realized that later on. Wu Jiangxue had already done more than enough by treating her, but then she said she would take her to the Valley of Healing Immortals to remove the remaining toxins, and Jiang Zhihe must have been partly responsible for this.
From beginning to end, it was Jiang Zhihe who was making all the sacrifices. She didn't help at all, so she couldn't accept so many things with a clear conscience.
As if sensing the girl's unease, Jiang Zhihe smiled and continued, "However, I've given you so much, so accordingly..."
"If there's anything I need your help with in the future, please don't refuse within your capabilities!"
Gu Xiaozhu was taken aback. She looked at the smiling face of the boy in front of her, then at the wooden box in her hand, and finally nodded.
"I will."
"If there's anything I can do to help you in the future, I'll do my best."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhihe's smile widened, and he extended his right hand, curling his fingers up so that only his little finger was sticking out.
"Shall we pinky swear?"
Gu Xiaozhu suddenly looked up at him, and finally extended her right hand as well.
Before the girl's slender little finger could even touch it, the boy's finger hooked onto it first. His action caught Gu Xiaozhu's hand off guard, causing it to tremble for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure.
The boy acted like a gentle guide, leading Gu Xiaozhu to follow his lead and finally place her thumb against his.
Their body heat transferred to each other through their touching skin. In the quiet night, the evening breeze brushed against their faces, dispelling some of the slight dryness that had risen on their skin. She could almost feel her heart beating, even quickening.
She was about to let go, but when she looked up, she was met with the boy's slightly sly smile.
A thought suddenly popped into her head:
He didn't let go first. If I let go first, wouldn't it seem like I'm trying to cover something up?
...No, no, what do you mean by trying to cover something up? I clearly didn't do anything!
So she had to pretend to be calm and suppress her urge to let go.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
They stood under the tree, looking at each other with a pinky promise.
The girl with apricot-colored hair looked away, but the boy in red opposite her was completely at ease, and you could even see him trying to suppress a smile.
The boy opposite her remained silent, but his hand still didn't loosen its grip. Finally, Gu Xiaozhu was about to give in. She glanced at the boy and whispered:
"So...it's a date then?"
"Yes, it's a date!"
Jiang Zhihe on the other side seemed to have been waiting for these words; almost as soon as she finished speaking, his voice rang out.
After answering, he was the first to let go of her hand.
Gu Xiaozhu, who was still hesitating about whether to let go first, breathed a sigh of relief.
However, after having spoken first once, she seemed to have gained a bit more courage when facing Jiang Zhihe.
She glanced at the increasingly dark sky, then at the smiling person in front of her who seemed determined not to leave, and tentatively asked:
"Um...it's so late, don't you need to go home and rest?"
Jiang Zhihe blinked: "I'm a cultivator, staying up all night is no problem for me."
Gu Xiaozhu choked.
That seems to make sense.
But she really wanted to go back and rest.
Finally, she had no choice but to muster up her courage and say, "Then...then I'll go back and rest first."
Jiang Zhihe smiled and nodded: "Okay, then you go quickly!"
Gu Xiaozhu breathed a sigh of relief for no apparent reason. Before leaving, she kindly said to the boy:
"Hmm... Even though you are a cultivator, you still need to rest."
Jiang Zhihe seemed surprised that she would say such a thing before leaving, and was stunned for a moment.
By the time he came to his senses, the girl had already disappeared.
"Snap out of it?" A teasing voice rang out from the side.
Jiang Zhihe turned his head and saw Wu Jiangxue standing beside him, holding a photo stone in her hand.
Wu Jiangxue tossed the recording stone in her hand and raised an eyebrow: "I recorded your silly grin just now, and I'll post it on the Spirit Network another day."
Jiang Zhihe didn't react, but turned his head and asked, "When did you arrive?"
Wu Jiangxue: "Just as you were saying goodbye to Miss Gu."
Jiang Zhihe: "Did you hear her last sentence?"
Wu Jiangxue was somewhat confused, but she nodded nonetheless.
Jiang Zhihe's eyes lit up: "Was her saying that... meant she was concerned about me?!"
Wu Jiangxue: "..."
How come she didn't realize before that this guy was a hopeless romantic?
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