Chapter 15
Qi Miao spent the most meaningful three days since her transmigration.
Because during these three days, every moment of her labor would soon turn into money.
Though the cultivation world lacked machines, her spiritual power was as efficient as any machine. Empowered by her spiritual energy, Qi Miao dug herbs swiftly, chopped trees quickly, and chiseled stones with ease.
She worked cheerfully for three full days, clearing out a quarter of the vast dense forest.
Unlike the sunny and cheerful Qi Miao, Qiu Tu and his three companions endured the most boring three days of their lives.
These rare prodigies, in a secret realm teeming with treasures and opportunities, had spent three whole days watching tree-cutting live streams.
Seeing Qi Miao determined to battle the dense forest to the end, Qiu Tu was the first to lose his patience.
He stormed over and asked for the umpteenth time, “How long do you plan to keep chopping?”
Caught off guard, Qi Miao looked up and gave the same answer as before: “Wait a bit longer. I’ll leave once my storage pouch is full.”
This time, Qiu Tu wouldn’t be fooled. Pointing at the storage pouch hanging at her waist, he said bitterly, “How big is that storage pouch of yours? When exactly will it be full?”
On the first day, when Qiu Tu asked when she would leave, Qi Miao said she’d leave when the pouch was full. He believed her, thinking it wouldn’t take long before she stopped.
Only now did he realize that Qi Miao’s storage pouch was enormous and wouldn’t be filled anytime soon.
Qi Miao blinked and hesitated, holding up a few fingers. “Maybe... in about four more days?”
Qiu Tu and the two others eavesdropping—Chu Chan and another—immediately wore grim expressions.
Qi Miao glanced at Qiu Tu’s now less gentle face and kindly said, “Senior Brother Qiu, I’ll just be chopping trees and digging herbs here these days, not going elsewhere. You can come find me in a few days.”
“...”
Qiu Tu stared at her intently. Seeing the eager gleam in her eyes as she looked at the forest, he knew she was serious.
Could it be that she really intended to wait foolishly here for another four days?
Seeing Qiu Tu silent, Qi Miao quietly raised her hand and sneaked two chops on a nearby tree.
The familiar sound of chopping entered Qiu Tu’s ears, making his temple twitch. He said darkly, “I’ll help you chop.”
Qi Miao raised her eyes warily.
Senior Brother Qiu finally couldn’t sit still. Was he going to compete with her for these herbs?
Qiu Tu seemed to read her mind and gritted his teeth: “The trees I chop and the herbs I gather will be yours. You don’t even have to share the money with me.”
Qi Miao immediately changed her expression and deftly handed him a “Good Person” card: “Senior Brother Qiu, you’re truly a good man.”
“...”
Qiu Tu ignored her and turned to look at Chu Chan and the others.
All three began to move in unison.
Tang Mingqin stroked his sword, Chu Chan took out some talismans and pretended to arrange formations, and Liu Ruzhen closed his eyes again, continuing his feigned nap.
Qiu Tu sneered coldly, “Still standing there? Get to work.”
Chu Chan lowered the talismans blocking her view and retorted, “You said you’d help her yourself. Why call us?”
“If you won’t work, fine,” Qiu Tu leisurely drew his long sword. “But when we leave, I’ll tell the others you did nothing in the secret realm.”
“...”
Tang Mingqin gripped his sword, his face tense and rigid. “How could I use my sword to chop trees?”
Qiu Tu nodded. “Then you can help Qi Miao gather herbs.”
Tang Mingqin’s lips twitched. The sword cultivator, born with innate sword bones, looked miserable, as if he couldn’t fathom how he had fallen to such a low state.
Liu Ruzhen saw these two couldn’t find an excuse to refuse and had to open his eyes. He exchanged a few seconds’ gaze with Qiu Tu, then strode over to Qi Miao.
“You said you needed experience. Is this ‘experience’ you’re talking about just gathering herbs here?”
Liu Ruzhen decided to persuade Qi Miao. He, Liu Ruzhen, really didn’t want to chop trees.
Qi Miao was interrupted again and looked up.
Liu Ruzhen’s voice was gentle, trying to tempt her: “To the east of the Zhulu Secret Realm lies the Wancang Pavilion, home to more than ten thousand books, including rare tomes from various schools. Don’t you want to explore it?”
“Cross the Bone-Eating River to the south and you’ll reach the Hidden Valley, full of rare and exotic herbs. Don’t you want those?”
“To the north is the Illusion Trial. If you can pass through, the secret realm will acknowledge you, and soaking in the Heavenly Pool for half a day will transform your constitution. Don’t you want to try?”
“To the west is the Sacred Hall of Elder Loulan, overflowing with treasures, heart techniques, sacred items, and exquisite spiritual weapons. Aren’t you tempted?”
As Liu Ruzhen spoke, he stared intently at Qi Miao.
Her fair cheeks, smudged with dirt from three days of labor, showed no emotion as she let out a simple “Wow,” then said—
“I’ll set off once my storage pouch is full.”
Liu Ruzhen: “...”
His handsome face showed a wounded frustration. He looked at her with complex feelings and asked, “Are these herbs absolutely necessary?”
Qi Miao nodded.
She came to the secret realm with the sole thought of stocking up.
“Senior Brother Liu, I’ll visit those places during the last three days I have left.”
Liu Ruzhen was silent for two seconds before quietly saying, “Did you forget those people waiting around before the secret realm opened? If you go only in the last three days, what treasures do you think you’ll find?”
Qi Miao remained unmoved. “Senior Brother Liu, I’ve read the messages from other senior brothers and sisters about the risks in the secret realm. Though treasures are tempting, obtaining them carries risks.”
“If I accidentally trigger the life token and get sent back, wouldn’t it all be for nothing?”
Unlike now, where she fills her pouch first before risking adventure, getting sent out early isn’t a loss.
Makes perfect sense.
Liu Ruzhen almost got persuaded but sobered up just in time. “Are you questioning our abilities?”
Qi Miao’s pretty face showed innocence. “How could I, Senior Brother Liu? I trust your strength, but I can’t just cling to you all the time and expect you to protect me.”
Liu Ruzhen frowned. “What’s wrong with that?”
Qi Miao was taken aback by the question and stammered, “You’re my debtors, not my bodyguards.”
Liu Ruzhen: “...”
Oh, so they’re her debtors.
Liu Ruzhen glared at Qi Miao darkly for a long moment, then decisively turned and joined the tree-chopping team.
Qi Miao looked at him in confusion, then turned back to find that the trees behind her had already been felled.
“?”
Looking ahead, she saw Qiu Tu, Chu Chan, and Tang Mingqin about ten meters away, swinging swords and casting talisman incantations to help chop trees.
Qiu Tu, seeming to notice her conversation with Liu Ruzhen had ended, shouted, “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and fill that lousy storage pouch of yours!”
Qi Miao: “...”
They do the work, and she reaps the rewards. Now she really couldn’t tell who owed whom.
With the four of them working, Qi Miao filled the storage pouch Zhao Qiong gave her within an hour.
Upon learning the pouch was finally full, Qiu Tu and the others breathed a sigh of relief.
They had all been weighed down by the ordeal and were eager to leave the forest, urging Qi Miao on, unaware of the chaos they left behind that would cause much misunderstanding for those who came later.
Qi Miao obediently packed her pouch and continued southward.
Approaching the river, Qiu Tu stopped and took out a round, brown leaf to hand around. “This is the Bone-Cleansing Leaf. Hold it under your tongue when crossing the river.”
Qi Miao did as told, and upon placing the leaf in her mouth, the pungent smell in the air vanished.
Chu Chan reminded her, “When you cross the river with your artifact, fly higher and faster. The Bone-Eating River sometimes suddenly shoots up a pillar of water to attack passersby. Don’t get hit.”
Qi Miao couldn’t help but ask, “What happens if you get hit?”
Chu Chan ruffled her hair, her smile sly: “You might lose an arm or break a leg.”
“...”
“Tang Mingqin will demonstrate how to cross first.”
Tang Mingqin: “?”
He shot an unfriendly glance at Liu Ruzhen.
Liu Ruzhen shoved his hands in his pockets and looked away as if he hadn’t seen.
They walked further until the translucent green river came into view, mysterious and beautiful.
Worried Qi Miao might be fooled by the river’s allure, Chu Chan picked up a stone and tossed it in. The moment it hit the water, it dissolved with a sizzling sound visible to the naked eye.
“See how fierce it is?”
Qi Miao instinctively nodded.
Very fierce indeed.
If only it could be stored as a weapon—it would be devastatingly powerful.