A world without glitz
"Don't pass me the water, I'm almost full." Meimei raised her eyebrows and glared at Chen Ye angrily. At the same time, she stretched out a slender hand and pressed the water cup handed by Chen Ye hard on the table.
Due to the excessive force, the originally calm water surface in the cup suddenly began to ripple, and the water line began to shake violently, as if it would overflow from the cup at any time.
Meimei took a deep breath, calmed herself down and said, "This is not a solution. Let's split up. You go to the east side of the town and I'll go to the west to check and see if there are any monsters hiding here." After saying that, she looked at Chen Ye with a sharp gaze, as if waiting for her response.
Chen Ye's eyes flashed with excitement upon hearing this, and she jumped up from her chair as if she had received an injection of chicken blood. She patted her chest and replied loudly, "Okay, Boss! Don't worry, I guarantee that the task will be completed!" Before she finished speaking, she rushed out of the room like a gust of wind.
At the gates of Qingshui Palace, elderly mother Xiao Fanghua watched as her two children were about to leave home for a long journey, tears mingling with the clothes she knitted. Mother Xiao frantically stitched before the palace gates. Xiao Xinyin had finally persuaded the couple to let her travel to the dense southwestern forests to spar with the renowned Xi Xi, but she had barely left her study, only to be stopped by her own father.
"Yin'er, your brother just went to participate in the Immortal Cultivation Conference. Don't leave your father. What will you do if your father is gone?" Wu Mian successfully passed on his shameless kung fu to his own son. Now in this tearful scene, it is hard to tell who is the father and mother.
"My dear daughter, can't you wait until your mother finishes embroidering this dress before you leave? Look, it's just missing a pattern." Seeing that her husband had stopped the woman from leaving, Xiao Fanghua took the opportunity to plead for mercy.
"Dad, weren't you two living well before you gave birth to me and my brother? Do you really have to make such a fuss now that you're going on a long journey? Besides, it only takes me a quarter of an hour to get to the West Mansion, fight, and then I can go home and have dinner. I went there to exchange magic skills, not to compete in beauty. Why are you dressed so eye-catchingly? You were acting the same way when that silly boy left. Do you still look like the master of a palace?" Xiao Xinyin took great pains to pull her father up from the ground.
The couple was a well-known slave to their children. They treated almost all the disciples of Qingshui Palace as their adopted sons and daughters. As a result, they actually had no status in the palace. After all, everyone was equal. But now is different from the past. Some people from other sects came to visit Qingshui Palace under the name of exchange and learning, but in the end they just wanted to explore the secrets of the spirit of the weapon. The two of them barely supported each other to stand, and still wanted to say some words to persuade them to stay, but seeing the excitement on the face of the woman who was traveling, they finally turned their persuasion into encouragement, "Yinyin, no matter whether we succeed or fail, you and Shui'er are the proudest children of your parents. Remember to tell your parents if you are bullied, okay?"
Xiao Xinyin certainly understood her parents' intentions, but now wasn't the time to dwell on them. The teleportation talisman's range reached Luo'an Town, a densely forested town in the southwest, a thousand miles from Qingshui Palace. A few days ago, she had sent a message to Xixi, setting their duel on the outskirts of Luo'an Town. This duel didn't need an audience, and even though she hadn't received a definitive reply, she felt compelled to fight.
She, Xiao Xinyin, had distinguished herself at the previous Immortal Cultivation Conference and, after a period of seclusion in Qingshui Palace, was determined to make a name for herself upon her first exit. A young woman on a journey always ushered in an era of instrument spirits, and of course, the one who ushered in this era was her mother, Xiao Fanghua.
Beneath the ancient locust tree not far from the inn, a figure stood quietly. It was Xiao Xinshui, who hadn't left the spot the entire time. He leaned back against the rough, old bark of the old locust tree, his body slightly tilted back, striking a pose he considered quite dashing and handsome.
Xiao Xinshui held a delicate jade-faced feather fan, gently obscuring most of his face, revealing only a pair of narrow, peach-shaped eyes. Those eyes, like the depths of a lake, shimmered with mystery and cunning. The red ribbon woven with fine gold and silver threads fluttered in the wind, creating a striking harmony with the vibrant red dress of the woman beside him.
In reality, Xiao Xinshui was well aware of his benefactor's identity. Her extraordinary presence alone revealed that this woman was no ordinary NPC. Furthermore, he had long noticed the unique bracelet on her wrist, the kind worn only by participants in this trial. Thinking of this, Xiao Xinshui's lips curled up slightly, as he secretly contemplated the exciting events that might unfold.
Xiao Xinshui precisely calculated the moment the plum blossoms would appear. In the blink of an eye, the ancient locust tree suddenly began to flutter with the long-prepared red plum blossoms. These tiny, vibrant red plum blossoms fell silently like snowflakes, creating a dreamlike scene.
A graceful and suave young man emerged from the beautiful red plum blossom rain. Xiao Xinshui, beaming, and with the brisk steps of a cheerful puppy, he trudged right up to Meimei. He cupped his hands, bowed slightly, and said with a grin, "Fellow Daoist, the path to immortality is long. How about some companionship?" However, faced with Xiao Xinshui's enthusiastic invitation, Meimei simply replied, "Thank you!" Without hesitation, she strode through the thin plum blossom rain.
Meimei was wearing a dazzling red dress. As she walked gracefully, a few fallen plum blossoms gently fluttered down her sleeves, adding to her ethereal beauty. However, Meimei clearly didn't want to pay any attention to Xiao Xinshui, who was following closely behind her. She simply shrugged, as if trying to shake off the plum blossoms and the person who clung to her like a dog-skin plaster, but no noticeable trace remained.
Meimei walked straight towards the temple in the center of town, completely ignoring Xiao Xinshui who was chattering behind her. Xiao Xinshui quickly put away the exquisite jade-faced feather fan in his hand and followed Meimei closely.
Chen Ye had just left the inn, still muttering, "System! System! Please tell me how to find this monster? You can't just ask me to go up to it and ask, 'Hello, are you a monster? I'm here to subdue you,'"
Meanwhile, Chen Ye paused on the bustling street. Her eye was caught by a unique hairpin displayed on a small stall. Intricately crafted, it was inlaid with a meticulously cut and polished ruby, gleaming with a captivating radiance. Though the bronze mirror provided by the stall was a bit blurry, it gave a rough idea of how beautiful the hairpin would look when worn.
While waiting for the system's response, Chen Ye involuntarily moved a little closer to the bronze mirror. It wasn't because she was captivated by the stunning face in the mirror, but because she simply couldn't accept that after transmigrating into the book, her appearance was even more ordinary than before.
Chen Ye stretched out her hands, gently stroking the contours of her face. Her delicate, oval face, paired with a high, straight nose and slightly thin lips, seemed to hint at a cold and aloof nature. To be fair, her facial features weren't exactly ordinary. However, her eyes, which should have been lively and expressive, seemed shrouded in a thick mist, appearing dull and lifeless.
While her appearance could only be described as unremarkable, her attire was quite luxurious, adorned with gold and silver. This was especially true of her unique dress, which appeared to have no sleeves at all. This unique design, inspired by an unknown fashion trend, was also adorned with an exquisitely carved golden lotus armlet. The smooth, white jade Guanyin pendant dangling from her chest further softened her demeanor.
"Oh, this modeling is so poor! Why does my face look like it's been blurred out?" Chen Ye muttered, somewhat discontentedly dropping the hairpin she was holding. She turned and walked out of the room, beginning to stroll up and down the street. Meanwhile, a small window in her mind clearly displayed the progress of the system update: it slowly climbed to 95%, then quickly reached 100% after a few steps.
"Were you just standing there dazed while the heroine cast a spell?" Following this question, the system's prompt chimed in once again, perfectly timed. At this very moment, Chen Ye's meticulously prepared spicy wontons were just coming out of the pot, steaming hot and fragrant.
Recalling the mysterious words, she eagerly picked up a wonton and put it into her mouth. "That sentence... well, I do remember it..." Chen Ye muttered to herself. As the thin, flaky skin met the juicy, tender filling on her tongue, a rich, homely flavor instantly filled the air. These wontons were not only thin-skinned but also generously filled, and the broth was incredibly delicious. They were truly the king of street food!
Chen Ye swallowed the delicious food in her mouth with satisfaction and continued to act according to the instructions of the system: "Concentrate your mind on one thing and recite after me - the Nine-Bright Prajna Mantra is wide, and it is the Great Bright Mantra that can start the movement." She did not dare to be negligent and hurriedly did as she was told. This is how workers are. Even if they curse, they will not give up any opportunity to make money.
In an instant, a magical scene occurred! As the last word of the spell was uttered, Chen Ye's irises were coated in a crystalline grid. Those "fireflies" were actually migrating data links, deliberately formed into arrow shapes by the system's manipulation. The brightest points of light formed a smiley face, clearly the work of some malicious system.
"Could this glow be the legendary spiritual power?" Chen Ye's eyes widened in astonishment. The light was so dazzling that she had to squint and carefully observe everything around her. Even so, the intense light from countless fireflies still made her feel dizzy, as if she could be blinded at any moment.
However, Chen Ye didn't stop. She took a deep breath, gathered herself, and then followed the flickering fireflies, slowly moving southwest. She also left a few copper coins at the wonton stall. After all, if she left without paying, the old woman with the young child would likely chase her for miles to collect the debt.
Her steps were swift, her eyes fixed on a single direction. As the distance grew closer, that direction gradually became her back, a figure standing against the light. She reached out her hand, but just as it was about to touch, it vanished, leaving only the glaring backlight. Beyond the backlight, everything lost its brilliance.
"System, what level of monster is this? It's like a walking light bulb." Seeing that he didn't catch anything, Chen Ye began to regret the bowl of wontons that he hadn't finished.
"How should I know, sister!" Chen Ye could come up with such a leisurely voice. The person on the other side of the electronic screen was probably cracking melon seeds or drinking soda when he said this.
Chen Ye failed to catch up, but the man behind her grabbed her wrist, immobilizing her. The immense force of the backlash made her turn her head. She had actually noticed this gorgeously dressed man long before; he had been following her since she left the inn. Was this the pervert from the world of immortal cultivation? However, as the backlight gradually dissipated, Chen Ye finally got a clear look at the true face of the man who had been following her—it was actually Qi Yiwen, the male protagonist of this world.
The oil-paper umbrella he was holding seemed about to slip out of his hand, but the moment Chen Ye suddenly turned around, he quickly raised it high. In an instant, the umbrella suddenly blossomed like a blooming flower, and countless pink cherry blossoms fluttered down. Not a single petal deviated from its trajectory, and all landed precisely on Chen Ye's pretty face.
For a moment, Chen Ye felt as if she were about to be drowned in this dazzling shower of flowers. She frantically jumped on the spot, trying to shake off the petals that piled like snow on her body. "Miss... your Guanyin pendant." Qi Yiwen's voice seemed a little shy and weak. At this moment, he slowly loosened his grip on Chen Ye's wrist and calmly removed a crystal-clear white jade Guanyin pendant from his wide sleeve.
Chen Ye instinctively reached for her empty chest, then lowered her voice and cursed indignantly, "Hmph, what a petty jewelry thief!" Although Chen Ye was filled with confusion at this moment, completely unsure of why she had unexpectedly run into this male protagonist on such a remote street corner, as a demonic spy lurking within a righteous sect, she knew she had to remain vigilant at all times and strive to leave a good impression with the sect leader.
After all, if she performed well, she might even be able to secure a complete corpse! Thinking of this, Chen Ye forced herself to act sweet and charming, deliberately dragging out the final syllable of "thank you," striving to create an image of innocence. She firmly believed that no one, faced with such a sweet and lovely girl, would have the heart to dismember her body, right?
Qi Yiwen watched helplessly as the romantic rain of flowers dancing in the sky had no effect at all, and she couldn't help but feel anxious. Then she suddenly had an idea and began to swing the gorgeous dress from side to side.
This dress was a treasure he had just meticulously crafted at Linlin! Woven from the finest silk spun by the finest silkworms, it was as light as mist, swaying gently in the breeze, as if ready to drift away at any moment. The pale blue hem was adorned with translucent pearls, shimmering with a captivating light. Combined with Qi Yiwen's deliberately coquettish pose, it made her appear even more charming and glamorous.
However, just when Qi Yiwen was fully expecting to catch Chen Ye's attention, something unexpected happened. Chen Ye was suddenly blinded by the dancing dress and had to close his eyes repeatedly and hurriedly dodge to the side.
Chen Ye stood there motionless, completely stunned. Seeing this, Qi Yiwen couldn't help but feel an indescribable sense of embarrassment. After all, this secret technique was a unique skill he had learned in the mysterious and unpredictable Taixu Illusionary Realm. He had thought it would easily win the other person's heart, but now it had no effect on Chen Ye.
For a moment, the two of them froze in place, the atmosphere becoming strangely eerie and oppressive. Even the system, which had been silently observing them, had a misconception after coming to its senses, believing it had malfunctioned. Chen Ye and Qi Yiwen both froze in place, but as if destined, they turned back. Though her eyes had been blurred, she could still clearly see the familiar, enchanting red in the distance. It seemed as if her boss and the male protagonist were bound to the same system.
Meimei had just felt that this figure was very familiar. She looked closely and rushed around the town looking for clues. She didn't expect her good follower to be here to pick a rich man? Was she being backstabbed?
"Chen Ye, what are you standing there for? Come back with me." Meimei's voice was getting closer and closer, becoming more and more impatient. Chen Ye looked at Qi Yiwen in this outfit. She looked like a seductive little devil. If Meimei, who was obsessed with looks, saw this, they would have to enter the bridal chamber today.
"Why does he dress so ostentatiously for no reason?" Chen Ye wanted to cover up his shiny dress, and also wanted to cover up his adorable and affectionate peach blossom eyes, but after all these actions, he turned himself into a flower thief who was taking advantage of others.
"Sir, please go first. I have something to do!" Chen Ye had already made a gesture to invite people in. She absolutely could not give the two of them a chance to fall in love at first sight, at least not leave such a perfect impression.
"Hey, what are you doing? Why are you ignoring your boss?" Meimei turned Chen Ye around again, but she still tried her best to hide the person behind her with her hands. The whole inexplicable squirming made Meimei ask: "Why are you itchy?"
"Ah!" Chen Ye was awakened and found that the cherry blossoms on the ground had disappeared, and the man behind him had evaporated.
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