Chapter 501 - Chapter 501: Chapter 501: Rural Life

Chapter 501: Chapter 501: Rural Life

Over forty minutes after John entered the room where the Giant Serpent was located, the battle had concluded.

The handsome blond from before was no longer in human shape – a horrendous sight to behold.

Half of his body from his right shoulder to leg was burrowed into the gaping mouth of the Giant Serpent’s chest. His clothes were tattered, and his exposed skin looked as if it had been eroded by strong acid. In some areas, one could even see bare bones.

Five tentacles tipped with sharp barbs were embedded in different parts of him, inflicting grievous injuries. The worst damage was to his face – half of it was slashed apart and his right eyeball was gouged out, leaving a bloody hollow.

At least he was still breathing. The white porcelain knife held in his left hand was deeply embedded into the fleshy lump on the head of the Giant Serpent, reducing it into a mess. Before his own death, he managed to kill the Giant Serpent.

After a while, the colossal mouth on the Serpent’s belly gradually relaxed, and John’s mutilated right arm, leg, and torso were finally released.

However, he no longer had the strength to stand up. With all his might, he strained to bring his mouth closer to the damaged area of the Giant Serpent’s head, gulping down the Serpent’s blood heartily.

Several minutes passed, the Giant Serpent had vanished, leaving only large amounts of grey dust on the ground. John was lying face down, motionless, appearing to be dead.

Outside the room, Mr. Liang, who had been watching the situation through a massive wall screen, knew that John Cavendish was not dead but had finished his Blood-Drinking Period early and was about to fall asleep.

Although his injuries seemed severe enough to be fatal if he were an ordinary person, he would mostly recover upon waking from this slumber.

Honestly speaking, a month ago when Mr. Liang first brought John into this underground space, he believed that John would stand no chance in a death match against the Giant Serpent. He was meant to be dead without a doubt.

Unexpectedly, in the end, it was John who survived.

Despite John entering the fight with the white porcelain knife and purposely choosing the Serpent’s Blood-Drinking Period when it would become violent, along with various strategies and tricks used against the Giant Serpent during the battle, Mr. Liang knew that those were not the keys to his victory.

John’s survival because he had managed to discard his own life during the fight, daring to fight with the thought of no way out, risking it all.

This mindset, Mr. Liang was certain, was something John did not have when he first brought him underground.

It seemed that after staying underground for over a month and observing the Giant Serpent, his mindset had changed significantly. Could it be… proximity to red makes one red, proximity to ink makes one black?

Mr. Liang didn’t think much of John before. Or rather, he looked down on all “Blood-eating Creatures,” that primarily consumed the blood of their own kind, whether human or other creatures.

But now, he felt he needed to reassess John’s worth. John might bring some unexpected joy?

…

Early morning.

Chongyun Village.

Liu Shiling groggily opened her eyes, vaguely aware of sunlight filtering through the gaps in the curtains onto her blanket. Her heart skipped a beat, and her first thought was:

Mom has overslept again!

But then she quickly realized that this wasn’t her bed in Star City. She turned right and saw “Sister Roast Chicken Wing” and then left to see Sister Apple.

Then it dawned on her, she was in Uncle Bald’s village, staying at Uncle Bald’s house.

Liu Shiling had a smile that she couldn’t suppress. She adjusted her blanket and twisted her body to get into a more comfortable sleeping position, shut her eyes happily, and continued snoozing.

However, Liu Shiling abruptly sat up, recalling something important, looking towards the worn-out blanket in the corner of the room.

“Where is Custard Pie!?” Liu Shiling exclaimed.

Her sudden movement stirred Xia Libing and Sister Apple, both woke up as well. Sister Apple even reflexively hugged the Little Fatty Girl by her side as she asked anxiously, “What’s wrong, what’s wrong?”

“Custard Pie, Custard Pie’s gone!” Liu Shiling said anxiously.

Xia Libing, gently fixing her bed-hair, told her, “We won’t lose Custard Pie.”

Sister Apple sighed in relief, chuckling, “Don’t worry, Xiao Lingdang, your cat went out to play with the canary last night. Cats, like birds, love to play at night. That’s why they say ‘night owls,’ right?”

In fact, Sister Apple was aware when Custard Pie went out with the canary last night. She even knew how Custard Pie and the canary managed to open and then close the window.

“Oh.” Feeling relieved, Liu Shiling thought the canary looked very smart. It might even have “magical powers.” So, Custard Pie should be safe with it.

Given that Xia and Sister Apple usually woke early, and seeing that the Little Fatty Girl was spirited, they did not continue sleeping and got up to freshen up.

As soon as Sister Apple woke up, the canary rushed back, obediently waiting outside the window. Subsequently, when they finished washing up and descended the stairs, they found Custard Pie who had just hopped the wall and entered.

In contrast to the shiny-feathered canary, Custard Pie was in a sorry state. Its orange fur was covered with dirt and bits of fallen leaves, looking rather messy.

“Where did you run off to play with canary, see your state now! You’ve dirtied your coat! Sigh, now you understand how great it is to have wings, right?” Liu Shiling squatted down, gingerly removing the leaf bits stuck on Custard Pie, chiding softly.

Sister Apple felt slightly embarrassed, offering, “Should we give Custard Pie a bath?” She knew of Custard Pie’s situation through her connection with Alice and felt that Custard Pie got this dirty due to the canary inviting it to jaunt around in the mountain.

Xiang Kun, coming out from the kitchen with breakfast, chuckled, “No need for a bath now. It’d be too much trouble drying him afterwards. Plus, he’ll just get dirty again when he goes out to play later. We can give him a bath in the evening.”

Liu Shiling immediately crowded him, “Good morning, Uncle Bald! What delicious food have you made?”

“Meat buns.”

“Are they filled with rabbit meat?”

“It’s filled with beef.”

“Is it spicy?”

“There are both spicy and non-spicy ones. I gave you those over there, which are a little bit spicy.”

“Does the non-spicy one taste bad?”

“No, the non-spicy one is also delicious, but you like the one with a little spice,” Xiang Kun said definitively.

“Can I eat the non-spicy one?” Liu Shiling asked eagerly with her hands on the table. If she was at her aunt’s or uncle’s house, she wouldn’t ask so many questions. She knew it’s annoying. But she also knew, asking Uncle Bald these questions didn’t matter, Uncle Bald definitely won’t dislike her!

“Sure, you can try whatever you want to eat. Just give the leftovers to Old Xia,” Xiang Kun said with a smile. “Alright, go wash your hands now, then it’s time for dinner.”

After Xiang Kun had given his orders, he had Old Xia go upstairs to wake up Tang Baona and the others.

At breakfast, watching Little Fatty Girl trying all sorts of buns and rolls, then the leftovers passed on to Old Xia next to her, Yang Zhen’er curiously said, “Xiao Lingdang, these clothes… they weren’t bought by your mother, were they?” Whether it was in Star City or through video chats, Liu Shiling’s clothes didn’t seem like this style and texture. It looks a bit abrupt.

Liu Shiling swallowed a mouthful of meat bun before shaking her head and responding, “No, they were bought by Grilled Chicken Wing Sister for me.”

Yang Zhen’er laughed and said, “No wonder it looks a bit ill-fitting. I knew my brilliant eyes wouldn’t deceive me! Well, we should go into Jianzhou City today and buy some clothes for Xiao Lingdang!”

Tang Baona nodded and said, “Sounds good. Clothes shopping is one of the few things you’re actually good at.”

“Nana, are you complimenting me with that comment…”

After breakfast, Xiang Kun drove Li Yang, Sister Apple, Tang Baona, Yang Zhen’er, Liu Shiling, and Old Xia to Jianzhou City. The main goal was to send Professor Li Yang to catch his plane, as well as buying clothes for Little Fatty Girl. As for Xia Tianhuo, he ordered a ride and went for a stroll in Tongshi Town. The cat and bird remained at home.

Originally, Professor Li Yang was planning to stay just a day or two in Chongyun Village after bringing his daughter to celebrate Xia Libing’s birthday. After all, it’s not yet the holidays, and he only had a few vacation days available, he needed to get back to teaching.

But after a few days in Chongyun Village, Li Yang noticed a significant change in his daughter’s mood. She seemed more relaxed and cheerful, clearly reveling in the environment. Even the Canary, Jinshanshan, seemed especially delighted in Chongyun Village, as if it had found its home.

So, Professor Li Yang took the opportunity to talk to Xiang Kun last night about letting Xiao Pingguo stay longer in Chongyun Village. He also offered to pay for their board and lodging. Since Xiao Pingguo wasn’t schooling currently and mainly focused on her birding info, working as a B-Site UP master, she could work anywhere with a computer and internet. And having Tang Baona, who has been guiding her sort of older sister, there shouldn’t be any problem staying in Chongyun Village.

From the past few days, whether it was Xiang Kun or Tang Baona, Xia Libing, Yang Zhen’er, and all her sisters, they’ve been taking care of his daughter quite well. There was definitely no attitude of them finding blind people troublesome or considering his daughter as a burden. All of them genuinely cared and liked his daughter. Even the cute little girl “Xiao Lingdang” who arrived last night has a very obvious affinity towards Xiao Pingguo.

Sometimes, he got this illusion that his daughter and these people have known each other for many years, or that they were relatives and friends.

However, because of this, he felt assured to go back to school, leaving his daughter in their care.

Xiang Kun gladly agreed to Professor Li’s request. Even if Professor Li hadn’t asked, he would have suggested him to let Xiao Pingguo stay in Chongyun Village for some time.

Without a doubt, Xiao Pingguo, at present, is the most comfortable and most “free” in Chongyun Village. This “freedom” is not physical but psychological and sensory.

Xiang Kun also hoped that during this time when Alice was advancing further, Little Apple could leverage this to enhance the connection between them, and perhaps make a quantum leap in terms of their collaborative use.

He did not refuse or return the “Little Apple’s living expenses” that Professor Li transferred to him through WeChat, but simply accepted it without hesitation.

According to the cognitive model he’d established of Professor Li, not accepting the money would actually worry the professor. He would continue to worry that his daughter was causing an objective and economic burden on Xiang Kun and his family. Even knowing that Xiang Kun wouldn’t mind, he would still try to repay them in some way and feel guilty about letting Little Apple stay too long.

Accepting the money, on the other hand, could reassure the father, Li Yang.

After sending Li Yang to the airport, Xiang Kun drove everyone to a nearby department store. After a simple lunch, they started shopping for clothes for the Little Fatty Girl.

Yang Zhen Er loved shopping for clothes, not only for herself but also for others. Back when she was young, she used to buy clothes for Old Xia, referred to as her “dear cousin.” After starting work, she also bought clothes for her roommate Tang Baona – but unlike Old Xia, Tang Baona had her own style and didn’t fully embrace outfits selected by Yang Zhen Er.

This time, having the opportunity to shop for clothes for the Little Fatty Girl was like fulfilling a hobby for her. She bought dozens of clothes, shoes, and accessories of various styles for the Little Fatty Girl, until Tang Baona and Xiang Kun insisted on stopping. They then switched to shopping for Little Apple, and in the end, even Old Xia got a few outfits arranged by her.

As for Xiang Kun and Tang Baona, they vehemently refused to participate in Yang Zhen Er’s “Real-life Barbie dress-up game.”

On their way back, Yang Zhen Er, with a satisfied look on her face, flipped through the photos she’d snapped of Little Apple, Little Fatty Girl, and Old Xia trying on new clothes, discussing with Tang Baona in the car about which outfit and style looked the best.

Although she was the one paying for clothes worn by others, Yang Zhen Er was exceptionally excited and happier than if she had bought dozens of outfits for herself.

Not only for Little Apple, Chongyun Village was truly a “home ground” and a “land of freedom.” It was also an extremely fun place for the Little Fatty Girl.

When she first arrived yesterday, she was overwhelmed by her emotions, and didn’t pay much attention.

But today, she was very aware that the sensing ability of her five coins in Chongyun Village had greatly improved.

After dinner, Liu Shiling took the initiative to invite Little Apple to play at the hilltop she had secretly observed earlier.

Perhaps because Tang Baona and Yang Zhen Er had walked too much and were too exhausted from shopping in the afternoon, they went to sleep right after dinner. Thus, it was Old Xia who accompanied the two girls, keeping an eye on them.

However, it was merely a formality, as she and Xiang Kun knew that in Chongyun Village, these two girls were under all-round protection, and all safety hazards would be forecasted and prevented by Alice.

The Little Fatty Girl, holding Little Apple’s hand, stood side by side on a slope, and pointed to the distance saying: “Sister Little Apple, that is Chongyun Village down there, let’s play with paper planes!” Of course, they didn’t know that the spot where they were standing was where Xiang Kun and Alice, who had co-manifested the previous night, had sat and discussed issues all night long.

Saying that, the Little Fatty Girl took out two paper planes she had just folded in the courtyard, gave one to Little Apple and held the other one herself.

Both paper planes were made in the same style, but the one in her hand was folded with white cardboard and looked sleek and new, while the one in Little Apple’s hand looked rumpled, as if it was folded out of waste paper.

If it were someone else, they would probably think the Little Fatty Girl gave herself a good plane and a beat-up one to Little Apple.

However, whether it was Old Xia watching from the sideline, Little Apple who took the plane, or the shiny golden canary perched on a tree branch, or even the Custard Pie who was looking up at Little Fatty Girl’s feet, they all understood the wrinkled plane was actually the really cool one.