CH 95

⌈Weekend update: 0/2⌋

However, it’s a pity that Shu Shuishui has run out of the adhesive bandages he brought with him. Who asked Jiaolong to have such a big head?

Da Bai waited for a moment. Jiaolong’s head had already plunged completely into the bowl, leaving only the tip of its tail swaying back and forth, looking somewhat smug and very much asking for trouble.

While Shu Shuishui was contemplating how to achieve the best of both worlds, Da Bai reached out and grabbed the tip of Jiaolong’s tail, then lifted it. Jiaolong was lifted up upside down like a noodle, its long whiskers tracing an arc in mid-air.

Jiaolong curled up its body, forming a circle, to look at its own tail.

Da Bai stared at the adhesive bandage on Jiaolong’s head and then reached out. Jiaolong quickly tilted its head to avoid it and tried to stare down Da Bai with its eyes, a clear warning in its gaze. A low growl rumbled in its throat as well.

However, it’s a pity that for a noodle-like Jiaolong, Da Bai had lost all trace of reverence. Along with the nine thousand years that had passed, Da Bai had long figured out that Jiaolong wouldn’t harm him.

In the end, Jiaolong was held by the neck. With Da Bai’s prodding and picking, an adhesive bandage was removed from a spot on its forehead far from the wound.

Jiaolong was like a chicken held by the neck, its claws pushing against Da Bai’s hand. It struggled to break free and then swiftly flew over to Shu Shuishui’s side. It wrapped itself around Shu Shuishui’s neck seeking comfort.

Shu Shuishui raised his hand and gently touched Jiaolong’s body. “Alright, little darling, you’re the best.”

Unexpectedly, these words caused Da Bai to stiffen as he was putting the adhesive bandage on himself. He didn’t lift his head; instead, he clenched the adhesive bandage in his hand.

“I’m going upstairs to sleep, do whatever you want.” He said with his head lowered, then walked towards the stairs without looking back.

Shu Shuishui: “…” With no experience in dealing with a tsundere, Shu Shuishui was quite vexed, wondering how to comfort him.

The world outside the study completely darkened. The entire city was bathed in the warm glow only from the study. Candlelight slipped out through the carved windows, unable to illuminate the further areas.

Because of Da Bai’s earlier reminder, Gu Lanyi was particularly vigilant towards the outside. So, when a strange and sharp whistle came from outside the study, Gu Lanyi rushed to the window and peered out.

In less than two seconds, Gu Lanyi quickly retreated back, wearing a bewildered expression.

“What’s wrong?” Seeing Gu Lanyi’s reaction, Shu Shuishui wasn’t as if he’d been startled. Rather, he seemed to have encountered something perplexing. Saying this, he also approached the window.

Gu Lanyi responded somewhat dazedly, “I don’t know either. It just feels uncomfortable, like there’s nothing, yet it also feels like it’s filled with something.”

While listening to Gu Lanyi’s words, Shu Shuishui had already leaned over to the diamond-patterned window to look outside.

The world outside was pitch-black, even the replica of the study had a heavy feeling to it. It was as if the light emanating from the study was being devoured by the darkness.

Shu Shuishui considered his night vision to be quite good. Just as Gu Lanyi had said, it seemed like there was nothing outside, but that sharp whistling sound indeed originated from the vast and dense darkness. The sound had a peculiarly piercing and chilly quality, nothing like a sound that a living creature could produce.

After a while, Shu Shuishui sifted through his thoughts and came up with a possible explanation. “It should be Resentful Miasma. With the world’s destruction, the cycle of reincarnation naturally collapses too. Sentient beings don’t disperse, lingering spirits don’t depart. Chaos blends, resentment fills the air, and over the nine thousand years, this resentment has still not dissipated. Eventually, it forms into miasma. It remains invisible during the day, but at night, it becomes visible. It devours all living creatures because it harbors immense resentment toward all living beings…”

Although it was Gu Lanyi’s first encounter with such a situation, his expertise in literary and cultural matters, combined with Shu Shuishui’s explanation, prevented him from being completely clueless. “I know that there’s a concept of ghosts in ancient cultures. Are you saying, Brother Shu, that during the night, the outside world becomes a realm of ghosts?”

Shu Shuishui pondered for a moment and didn’t deny it. “Though not entirely accurate, you can think of it that way.” The entities outside weren’t just simple ghosts; it was because of the world’s destruction that accumulated resentful thoughts over nine thousand years.

“In that case, if people from other strategy dungeons don’t find a refuge at night, wouldn’t they be in great danger now?” Gu Lanyi was glad he had chosen the right path from the beginning.

“It depends on luck.” In fact, most sturdy constructions that could withstand the passage of nine thousand years could prevent the invasion of Resentful Miasma. It all depended on the location after the teleportation. “So, you could say we’re quite fortunate. Within that barrier, even the night isn’t affected by the Resentful Miasma.”

Gu Lanyi nodded. “I understand. That place seems full of life, completely different from the outside. Once you come out from there, you can’t even find a single green tree.” Of course, except for the cliff that Jiaolong crashed into.

“The study is very safe. Find a place to rest, we’ll be hitting the road tomorrow.” Shu Shuishui, currently helpless against the Resentful Miasma outside, could only focus on the present and prepare to set off at daybreak, aiming to find Gu Langu with Gu Lanyi.

However, Gu Lanyi suddenly stood up from his chair. “If you’re tired, go to sleep first. I still want to read for a while,” he said, as if afraid of being stopped, and rushed towards the bookshelves.

Shu Shuishui shrugged indifferently, unhooked Jiaolong from around his neck, and amidst Jiaolong’s reluctance, placed it back in the bowl. “Goodnight, Xiao Jiao Jiao. Sleep well.”

Jiaolong was much more obedient than Gu Lanyi. It nodded its small head and nuzzled Shu Shuishui’s fingers with its head before curling up inside the bowl.

Shu Shuishui glanced at Gu Lanyi, who had instantly immersed himself in a sea of books. The light in the study was evidently going to burn throughout the night. Gu Lanyi sat by the lamp, his gaze never leaving the pages.

Tranquility was restored in the study. However, compared to the initial silence, there was now a hint of warmth in the air.

Shu Shuishui ascended the stairs to the second floor, his first time seeing what it looked like up there. The second floor had fewer bookshelves compared to the first floor, but it had a folding screen, a resting bed, an office desk, and neatly arranged materials for writing and painting.

Shu Shuishui circled around the second floor, yet he didn’t find Da Bai anywhere. Puzzled, he remembered seeing Da Bai go upstairs. Just as he was wondering, Da Bai’s familiar voice emanated from a bookshelf.

Approaching the bookshelf, Shu Shuishui located the source of the voice: a large hazelnut shell with a golden hue, which had a wormhole in it.

Shu Shuishui couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity; this scene looked like his hazelnut had been damaged by worms.

Although reality wasn’t too far off. From a hazelnut shell with a small circular hole, a tiny figure emerged! The hazelnut shell was about the size of a palm, and the figure that emerged from it was the size of a thumb maiden.

The tiny figure seemed to be busy doing something, standing with hands behind its back, looking rather aloof. “Why aren’t you keeping the cutest Xiao Jiao Jiao company? What are you doing upstairs?”

Shu Shuishui was taken aback for a moment, then he smirked. “Reading. The books on the second floor are different from those on the first floor.”

Da Bai snorted but still responded obediently, “Of course they’re different. The second floor houses treasures and many cultivation texts. Originally, those whose strength wasn’t sufficient wouldn’t even have the qualification to go upstairs. That’s a rule you set after all. After all, some things can only be handled by the strong.”

Shu Shuishui didn’t expect to hit the nail on the head – the books on the second floor turned out to be even more precious than those on the first floor. As he casually flipped through two of them, he realized that just as Da Bai had said, these books were indeed considered treasures. Even though some of the authors weren’t famous, as long as their content was practical and useful, it would be compiled and organized together.

Apart from these precious texts, there was also a bookshelf dedicated to storing books that Meng Mo Li had written himself.

Although Shu Shuishui was quite interested in Li Meng’s records, now wasn’t the time for reading. He still remembered his initial purpose in coming upstairs: to placate his own tsundere offspring.

“What’s Da Bai Bai doing?” Shu Shuishui approached the hazelnut shell. “This hazelnut shell is quite big.”

Da Bai raised his head slightly and proudly introduced, “This is my private property. I’ve personally decorated the inside. Are you interested in coming in for a look?”

“I don’t know how to use mimicry, so I can’t shrink my size.” Shu Shuishui said regretfully. “However… I can look inside through the window.” Shu Shuishui pointed to two smaller holes on the hazelnut shell’s surface, wondering if they were meant for ventilation.

Da Bai’s expression flickered, and it was only when Shu Shuishui finished speaking that he reluctantly revealed a smile. “Since you’re so eager to see, I’ll reluctantly allow it.”

Shu Shuishui leaned in and squinted one eye to peer inside the hazelnut shell.

The space inside the hazelnut shell was surprisingly spacious. It not only accommodated Thumb-Maiden Da Bai but also had a small table, chairs, and even a small bed. Shu Shuishui even spotted pieces of rice paper on the bed, making it look incredibly soft.

On the small table, Shu Shuishui also noticed the adhesive bandage, currently spread out on the table. Besides the adhesive bandage, there was a bowl of peculiar substance next to it, looking somewhat like paste. “Da Bai Bai, let me ask you, do you have a white, paste-like substance with the fragrance of trees?”

Da Bai responded, “Of course, there is not just one kind. We produce various white viscous materials that are hard to remove but serve as excellent adhesives for other things.”

Shu Shuishui tapped on the hazelnut shell. “Just like the one you used?”

Da Bai’s voice faltered.

Da Bai’s voice lowered. “I don’t know why, but this thing called an adhesive bandage becomes less sticky after being removed, hindering the healing of my wound.”

That’s why Da Bai had found those adhesive substances, intending to apply some on the adhesive bandage before sticking it to himself. This way, it would be more secure and wouldn’t fall off.

After understanding, Shu Shuishui couldn’t help but pat Da Bai’s small head. “Actually, even without adhesive bandages, I have bandages. I can wrap your wound for you; you don’t need those adhesive bandages.”

Upon hearing this, Da Bai’s eyes lit up, and obediently, he crawled out of the hazelnut shell and then extended his hand.

Shu Shuishui suddenly felt like he needed a magnifying glass; otherwise, this wrapping process would truly test his skills.

Da Bai cooperated well. He transformed into his adult form and then sat down beside the table, waiting for Shu Shuishui to wrap his wound.