Chapter 20: Strength Or Cultivation

Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Strength Or Cultivation

The strange phenomenon in the library left Xi Yunxui and Huo Jingchen in silence for quite some time.

Neither of them seemed to know what to say.

The ancient book now looked completely ordinary.

There was no golden light.

No floating characters.

No strange energy.

Nothing.

It was almost as though what had happened moments ago had been nothing more than an illusion.

Huo Jingchen eventually closed the book.

"About what happened today..."

Xi Yunxui looked at him.

He paused for a moment before continuing.

"Don’t tell anyone."

Xi Yunxui nodded immediately.

"Alright."

She understood why.

Something like that was too strange to casually tell others.

If she went around saying that an ancient book had suddenly glowed and repaired itself, people would probably think she had gone crazy.

Huo Jingchen glanced at her one last time before leaving the library.

Xi Yunxui followed.

Neither of them mentioned the matter again.

---

The Huo residence gradually became quieter as the night grew deeper.

The servants finished their duties one after another and returned to their rooms.

The lights in the main residence were gradually turned off.

Huo Jingchen returned to his room.

His father remained in his study for some time, carefully examining the ancient book that had mysteriously restored itself.

Meanwhile, Xi Yunxui returned to the staff quarters.

She walked through the quiet corridor and entered the room that had been assigned to her.

After closing the door, she let out a long breath.

"What a day..."

She had started the day making breakfast.

Then she had gone to the daycare.

She had delivered documents.

She had cooked for Huo Jingchen.

She had attended a business dinner.

She had helped a stranger with her makeup.

She had accidentally become involved in a business dispute.

And finally...

She had witnessed a book perform what could only be described as a miracle.

Xi Yunxui shook her head.

"Modern life is exhausting."

She freshened up quickly.

The shower no longer frightened her.

In fact, she had begun to appreciate it.

Warm water falling from above without anyone having to carry a single bucket?

It was practically a gift from heaven.

After changing into her nightwear, she sat on the edge of the bed.

Her expression slowly became serious.

There was something she needed to ask.

"System."

[Yes, Host?]

Xi Yunxui hesitated.

Then she asked quietly,

"Is there cultivation in this world?"

Silence.

She waited.

"Are there cultivators?"

For a moment, the system didn’t answer.

Xi Yunxui frowned.

"System?"

[Yes, Host.]

Her eyes widened.

[There is spiritual energy in this world.]

[There are also cultivators.]

Xi Yunxui’s eyes immediately lit up.

"Really?"

She almost jumped off the bed.

"Then cultivation actually exists!"

[Yes.]

Xi Yunxui’s excitement was impossible to hide.

In her previous life, she had heard countless stories about cultivators.

Immortals who could fly through the heavens.

Experts who could move mountains and split rivers.

People who could protect themselves without relying on anyone.

Back then, those stories had always fascinated her.

Especially after her parents died.

Her father’s relatives had driven her and her three younger siblings out of the family home.

She had been powerless.

Completely powerless.

She could only watch as they took the things that had belonged to her parents.

At that time, she had often wished she possessed some extraordinary power.

If she had been a cultivator...

If she had possessed even a little strength...

Perhaps she could have protected her siblings.

Perhaps no one would have dared bully them.

Although her three siblings had now grown into successful adults, that desire for strength had never completely disappeared.

Xi Yunxui clenched her hands.

"How can I become a cultivator?"

The system fell silent.

Again.

Xi Yunxui narrowed her eyes.

"Why do you always go silent when I’m asking something important?"

[...]

She waited.

Finally—

[Host may check the System Store.]

"Store?"

[Yes.]

[The Host currently possesses 12 Affection Points.]

Xi Yunxui blinked.

"Twelve?"

The last time she had checked, she had been surprised that her affection points had increased so quickly.

Now they had reached twelve.

[The System Store has reached the required threshold for an expansion.]

[Would Host like to open the System Store?]

Xi Yunxui immediately nodded.

"Yes."

The familiar translucent panel appeared before her.

This time, however, there were more items.

Xi Yunxui stared at the list.

[Beginner System Store]

1. Modern Cleaning Equipment Operation Manual

Price: 8 Affection Points

2. Medicinal Meal Recipes — Headache & Stomach Relief

Price: 6 Affection Points

3. Beginner Cultivation Manual

Price: 10 Affection Points

4. Body-Strengthening Elixir

Price: 9 Affection Points

5. Skin-Nourishing Beauty Elixir

Price: 11 Affection Points

Xi Yunxui stared.

Her expression gradually became complicated.

"So many things..."

Her eyes first landed on the cleaning manual.

She remembered the strange cleaning machines she had encountered in the modern world.

That would definitely be useful.

Then she looked at the medicinal recipes.

Those would also be helpful.

But then—

Her gaze moved to the third item.

Beginner Cultivation Manual.

Her heart skipped.

Cultivation.

The thing she had dreamed about in her previous life.

Only ten points.

She had twelve.

She could afford it.

Xi Yunxui’s finger almost moved toward it.

Then she saw the fourth item.

Body-Strengthening Elixir — 9 Affection Points.

She stared at it.

Her expression slowly changed.

The original Xi Yunxui’s body wasn’t particularly healthy.

She was only twenty-four, but she had lived poorly for years.

Her meals were often inadequate.

She was thin.

Her strength was below average.

Even after Mo Yunxui’s soul entered the body, she could feel the difference between this body and the one she had possessed in her previous life.

As a maid...

Strength mattered.

She needed to be able to work efficiently.

She needed stamina.

And if she wanted to become an excellent all-works maid, having a weak body would only hold her back.

Xi Yunxui stared at the two choices.

Cultivation Manual.

Body-Strengthening Elixir.

One gave her the possibility of entering a world she had dreamed about.

The other could immediately improve the body she currently depended on.

She frowned.

"If I buy the cultivation manual, I’ll only have two points left."

She looked at the elixir.

"If I buy the elixir, I’ll have three."

But the difference wasn’t really the points.

It was the choice.

Cultivation could give her strength.

But she didn’t even know whether she had the talent to cultivate.

The elixir, however, would definitely strengthen her body.

Xi Yunxui thought for a long time.

Finally, she sighed.

"Forget it."

Her eyes remained fixed on the cultivation manual.

"I can always cultivate later."

She tapped the fourth item.

[Host has selected: Body-Strengthening Elixir.]

[Cost: 9 Affection Points.]

[Current Affection Points: 3.]

Xi Yunxui nodded.

"My job as a maid comes first."

She looked at her hands.

"Besides, if my body can’t keep up with me, what’s the use of having a cultivation manual?"

She wasn’t giving up on cultivation.

Not at all.

She simply decided to strengthen her foundation first.

After all...

She had spent her entire previous life taking care of others.

She knew better than anyone that a weak body could become a person’s greatest limitation.

[Purchase successful.]

A small bottle suddenly appeared in her hand.

Xi Yunxui stared at it.

The liquid inside was a clear golden color.

She raised an eyebrow.

"This is the elixir?"

[Yes, Host.]

Xi Yunxui carefully examined the bottle.

Then she smiled.

"Alright."

She had no idea what tomorrow would bring.

She had no idea what the strange golden phenomenon meant.

She didn’t even know why an ancient book had suddenly repaired itself.

But one thing was certain.

Her new life was becoming more interesting by the day.

And somewhere in the depths of her heart...

A tiny hope had begun to burn.

Cultivation.

One day, she would definitely try it.