[Vol. 1] Chapter 27 - Xiashi's Uncle
[4 day locked: days remaining 1.]
[Pay off debt: 4000]
[Current charge points: 101]
It was the fourth day of the system lock. Tomorrow, the system would unlock.
She breathed out a sigh. It had been so boring.
Yesterday, a maidservant had come to feed her dinner. It wasn't A-Ling, much to her despair. No one kept her company at all!
Back in her old life, she could lay in bed for hours without leaving. The difference was she had a phone, entertainment. Here, she had nothing.
Earlier, the herbalist Qi Ze had given her a strange look before informing her that she could now leave the bed, but couldn't train in the meantime.
She laid there like a dead salted fish, sulking.
"So boringgg."
Xiaolan grumbled and rolled off her mattress. Standing up, she looked around her room for something to do.
"Ah! How did I forget that!" she said, remembering something. Right, she had taken a jade slip from the misty trials. She slapped her forehead.
"Where was it?"
Not here. Not here either.
She had turned her whole place upside down, and yet the jade slip was nowhere to be found. She tried to remember, hard, where did she put it?
Heavy, pressurizing memories hammered her head. A woman. White hair. Black uniform.
She knew she had forgotten something. She knew her memories were blurry. But she couldn't remember what.
Tok-tok—
She'd have to search again later. First, the door
"Young Miss! It's been days since you've last teased any innocent and virtuous women!" called a voice from behind the door. The maidservant, Meixiu, did not dare to enter.
What?! The original Lin Xiaolan loved doing such... enjoyable... ahem, inexcusable things?!
Her gaze turned crescent-shaped with brimming joy, and she turned toward the door as if addressing an imaginary camera with expressive delight.
It's as if warm spring came~
Her once-sulking mood vanished. With a sigh, Xiaolan went to the door. This servant is only worried about me, after all, she thought.
I should just make up an excuse and say I don't want to go out. I'll use that chance to loot some more.
Opening the door, still wrapped in a blanket like a robe, she put on a pitiful look.
"I still have a headache, so I'd rather not—" she trailed off.
HUH?!
Lin Feiyu stood in front of her door, arms crossed. The maidservant cowered beside her.
"Finally you're out," she said.
The spring immediately turned to icy tundra.
"Why are you here?" Xiaolan asked.
Feiyu grabbed her wrist. Hard. Xiaolan grimaced.
This girl isn't going to beat me up is she?!
Without a word, she slammed a small bottle of medicine into her palm, then turned and left.
No explanation. No goodbye. Just boots stomping away like she was angry about being there in the first place.
Xiaolan stared at the bottle, then at the empty space where Feiyu had stood.
...What?
Her gaze fell onto the poor maidservant, who had just endured Feiyu's presence with visible trembling.
Meixiu smoothed her robes, plastered on a warm smile, and clasped her hands together.
"Young Miss, Lord Zhou Wenhao is here."
Xiaolan blinked. Zhou Wenhao? Who?
Before she could process it, Meixiu gently took her arm and started guiding her down the path.
"Elder Guang is waiting, we must hurry!"
Xiaolan was baffled. Not even letting me rest?!
As they hurried along, Xiaolan tried to probe the original owner's memories. Nothing. Useless, useless, useless!
Meixiu glanced at her, something sharp flickering behind those warm eyes—gone in an instant.
"Lord Zhou brought Miss Xiashi to the clan," she explained.
"Ah! Then Xiashi's full name... Zhou Xiashi?" Xiaolan murmured quietly.
Meixiu's expression flickered before smoothing back to helpful. "No, no. Lord Zhou is Miss Xiashi's senior."
Xiaolan felt like question marks were floating above her head.
Too soon, they arrived at the Receiving hall.
Meixiu released her arm with a bow. "I'll leave you here, Young Miss."
Xiaolan barely noticed. The receiving hall air was heavy with sandalwood and polished lacquer.
She took a shaky breath and stepped forward. Father held no favor for her, Xiashi was keeping her distance, and now came some unpredictable Lord Zhou.
In her panic, she had forgotten she was still draped in her blanket, looking like she was on her way to a cult ceremony.
***
Inside, Elder Guang sat on his high seat, sipping tea like he didn't have a care in the world.
He opened his eyes at the sound of footsteps.
"Father..." she began.
"I have arrived. Hehehe," Xiaolan said, trying to act cute. The blanket made her look like a waddling ghost.
"COUGH—!" Elder Guang spurted out his tea. He coughed violently.
"Xiaolan, what is that you're wearing?!"
"I heard we had an important guest, so I dressed modestly!"
"Uncle," a soft voice interjected. Xiashi stepped forward, a calm smile on her face. "He's here. An old acquaintance of my mother."
Tap. Tap.
From behind Xiashi, a tall, slender man stepped into view. Silver hair flowing like it had its own wind. One look and Xiaolan knew, this man could kill her without breaking a sweat.
A smile graced Zhou's lips.
"It's been years, Lord Lin. How have you been?"
"Lu Huaiyang's junior?" Elder Guang stared. His sister's junior. And Xiao'er in that ridiculous blanket.
Zhou's eyes swept the scene, lingering on the blanketed figure.
"What a joyous occasion. To have found Senior Lu's daughter at last."
He approached Elder Guang, expression turning solemn.
"Here." He held out an object wrapped in silk.
Elder Guang unfolded it. A jade tome, covered in ancient symbols. His breath caught.
Zhou nodded grimly. "Yes. It is as you fear."
"...Then the Lu family...my sister..."
"This is all I recovered from the rubble. Senior Lu Haiyang is dead. And so is Lu Zihan."
Xiaolan's eyes widened. A cultivator. A real cultivator. Her eyes flicked to Xiashi. Lu Haiyang... that's Xiashi's mother?
The two men fell into conversation. Xiashi watched with a warm gaze.
Only Xiaolan stood frozen. One move and he could kill me.
She began to edge away slowly. Quietly.
She stepped on her blanket.
THUD.
The three figures stared at the fallen Xiaolan.
Idiot!
She scrambled up. A figure knelt in front of her.
Zhou Wenhao chuckled.
"This young lady's greeting is extraordinary." He lifted the blanket off her with one hand.
Xiaolan felt utterly exposed.
"Apologies for my daughter," Elder Guang said, glaring at her.
Zhou stood, turning his back.
"There's no need for the banquet. Next time I visit, I'll make it up to you." He glanced over his shoulder. "And... concerning the shrine."
Next time?! Xiaolan screamed internally. Please just leave!
"As for the young lady who gave me such an extraordinary greeting..." His voice was calm. Too calm.
He turned fully, arms behind his back.
"Mind your head next time."
He should have looked reassuring. Handsome, gentlemanly. Instead, Xiaolan heard: I'm coming for your head.
Her legs buckled. She crumbled back to her knees.
I can't even survive a cultivator's presence. Forget about finding YueYue.
Xiashi hummed softly, her face solemn. "I can hardly believe it. My mother's old friend...what a coincidence, don't you think, Xiaolan?" She noticed Xiaolan on her knees. "Are you alright?"
"Which would be more painless?" Xiaolan asked, eyes hollow. "Hanging myself or jumping off a cliff?"
"What's wrong with you? Every problem has a solution!"
"I've been very unlucky lately..." Xiaolan muttered, staring at the ceiling like it might offer escape.
Elder Guang shook his head.
"You two are dismissed."
***
Outside, Xiashi studied Xiaolan's hopeless expression.
"Then why don't you pray at Yuan'an Shrine? The gods will surely take care of kind people."
Xiaolan's spirits lifted. "That's right! Let's go pray!"
Gods, please! Deodorant, shampoo, perfume, Coca-Cola, and let me meet Qing Yao and Lin Xiao!!!
Xiashi tilted her head. "What about... your blanket."
Xiaolan looked back at the receiving hall doors, already closing. "...The maids will handle it!"
Probably.
A familiar figure came into view. It was Lin Feiyu, leaning against the wall, staring at her.
Xiaolan tried to evade the gaze by leaning toward Xiashi, but Feiyu was looking at her.
Lin Feiyu observed and nodded. Yorou was right about something... she couldn't face Xiaolan properly. To lessen the awkward tension, she had shoved the medicine at her and run away fast.
But it shouldn't be like that. A debt of honor couldn't just be disregarded. To her, Xiaolan wasn't yet an Alpha, and she had beaten and roughed her up. It was no different from beating a cripple. Hence, a debt of honor was applied.
Gritting her teeth until bulging veins were prominent on her neck, she approached.
Xiaolan was startled, this girl... don't tell me she circled the receiving hall and is now pretending she just arrived. And is she ignoring the fact she just beat me up days ago?
Lin Feiyu's face fell for a second, then she crossed her arms. She sighed, "Don't bother trying to leave, I really was waiting for you."
Xiaolan tensed, this could mean Feiyu had an agenda. "What do you want? Didn't you..."
"Yes. I know what I said." Feiyu growled, almost losing control over her pheromones but she was mindful of Miss Xiashi. "Till you're all better, I'm obliged to..."
She couldn't finish the sentence. Her jaw was locked so tight Xiaolan could hear her teeth grinding.
"Obliged to...?" Xiaolan prompted, genuinely confused.
"To..." Feiyu's face was turning an alarming shade of red. "To make sure nothing happens to you. Until you can fight back properly."
The words came out like they were being physically extracted from her body.
Xiaolan winced. "Xiashi, I'm so sorry you have to see this."
"It's... fine."
"Let's go!" Xiaolan said, as if escaping a disaster, grabbing Xiashi's hand.
"Then I'll come as your escort!" Lin Feiyu dropped the pose.
She pointed at herself like she was offering a great service. This is a perfect chance to investigate, she thought to herself.
Xiaolan opened her mouth.
"Alright, let's go." Lin Feiyu declared, already falling into step beside them.
Xiaolan thought: Lin Feiyu is a sticky, greasy taffy.
The path wound through the lower slopes of North Peak, the mountain's bulk rising behind them and the foothills spreading out ahead. Xiaolan's eyes wandered as they walked, taking in the unfamiliar landscape.
Then she saw it.
A pagoda. Distant. Small against the sky. Its curved roof was the color of old bronze, catching the late afternoon light.
Xiaolan's eyes sparkled.
That pagoda was very well known to her. In the game, there was a rare scene there. Two women kissing in the background of a festival event. An easter egg for Pride Month, tucked away where only the most dedicated players would find it.
Her most treasured memory.
Not from her old life. From the game. The only place she'd ever seen something like that treated as normal. As beautiful.
"A-Lan?" Xiashi's voice pulled her back. "Is something wrong?"
Xiaolan blinked. Shook her head. "No. Just... thinking."
She dragged her gaze away from the pagoda and kept walking.
Aside from those thoughts, she was also clear about what she needed to do now. Find out why her dantian was empty. Why she couldn't feel her qi.