Chapter 79: A Spiritual Mountain

Chapter 79: Chapter 79: A Spiritual Mountain

The sound of the inner door opening sent Xi Yunxui’s thoughts into complete disarray.

For several seconds, she remained seated exactly where she was, staring at Hui as though the little girl might suddenly transform back into the ash-grey creature and solve the problem herself.

Unfortunately, Hui simply looked back at her.

Her large eyes were bright and innocent, while the faint smile on her face suggested that she had absolutely no understanding of the disaster she had created.

Xi Yunxui slowly looked toward the door.

Then she looked back at Hui.

Her mind raced.

What exactly was she supposed to say?

The Patriarch had personally seen Hui.

The elderly shop owner had stared at Hui with an expression of complete disbelief.

Even the young apprentice behind the counter had screamed loudly enough for the entire shop to hear.

And now the creature had disappeared.

In her place stood an unfamiliar little girl.

Xi Yunxui pressed her fingers against her forehead.

This was worse than King C speaking.

At least when King C opened his mouth, she could cover it.

What exactly was she supposed to do with an entire little girl?

Hide her inside her clothes?

Xi Yunxui glanced at Hui.

The little girl blinked innocently.

Xi Yunxui immediately dismissed the thought.

No.

That would not work.

Hui was small, but she was certainly not small enough to fit inside her clothes.

Besides, explaining why her maid uniform suddenly appeared several sizes larger would probably create even more questions.

Xi Yunxui sighed quietly.

She needed a believable explanation.

Perhaps she could claim that Hui had run away.

No.

That would immediately lead to another problem.

The Patriarch and the elderly man would undoubtedly ask why an unfamiliar little girl had suddenly appeared beside her at the exact same time.

Could she claim that the girl had been hiding somewhere inside the antique shop?

Xi Yunxui frowned.

That explanation sounded even worse.

She had only been inside the shop for a short time. Unless everyone around her had suddenly lost their eyesight, nobody would believe that a five-year-old child had been standing there unnoticed.

Xi Yunxui’s gaze slowly shifted toward the ceiling.

Why was her life becoming increasingly difficult?

[Host.]

The familiar voice of the System sounded inside her mind.

Xi Yunxui narrowed her eyes.

She already had an uncomfortable feeling about whatever the System was about to say.

What?

There was a brief pause.

Then—

[Ding!]

[System Mission Issued.]

Xi Yunxui’s expression became blank.

Of course.

Of course there was a mission.

It was almost as though the System had been waiting for Hui to transform before appearing to enjoy her suffering.

Xi Yunxui mentally folded her arms.

Let’s hear it.

[Ding!]

[Mission: Prevent anyone from discovering that the little girl is Hui.]

Xi Yunxui stared ahead.

For several seconds, she said nothing.

Then her lips twitched.

That’s it?

[Mission details: The Host must successfully conceal Hui’s identity from all individuals who previously witnessed Hui’s tiger-like form.]

Xi Yunxui’s expression darkened.

That sounded considerably more difficult.

The System continued.

[Mission Duration: Until Hui’s identity is no longer at risk of exposure.]

Xi Yunxui frowned.

What kind of time limit is that?

The System did not respond.

Xi Yunxui’s eyes narrowed.

Of course.

The System was being deliberately vague again.

She mentally sighed before asking the most important question.

What’s the reward?

For a moment, the System remained silent.

Then—

[Ding!]

[Mission Reward: One spiritual mountain.]

Xi Yunxui blinked.

A what?

[One mountain located within Shiheng County.]

Xi Yunxui’s expression slowly changed.

The System continued.

[The mountain is approximately two hours away from the Huo residence by vehicle.]

Her eyes widened slightly.

[A high concentration of spiritual energy is present throughout the mountain. The location is suitable for cultivation and will be placed under the Host’s ownership upon successful completion of the mission.]

Xi Yunxui stared into space.

A mountain.

The System wanted to give her an entire mountain.

Not a house.

Not a piece of land.

An actual mountain.

Xi Yunxui’s mind immediately stopped focusing on Hui.

Her thoughts shifted toward something far more important.

Spiritual energy.

The abundance of spiritual energy within the antique shop had allowed her cultivation to advance from Beginner Level, Stage One to Intermediate Level, Stage Two in a single session.

Although Xi Yunxui still did not fully understand what had caused such an extraordinary increase, she knew one thing with certainty.

Cultivating in an environment rich in spiritual energy was significantly more effective than cultivating elsewhere.

And now the System was offering her a mountain filled with spiritual energy.

Xi Yunxui swallowed.

System.

[Yes, Host?]

Are you serious?

[The System does not joke about mission rewards.]

Xi Yunxui’s eyes narrowed.

That wasn’t entirely reassuring.

Still—

A spiritual mountain.

Her imagination immediately began working.

She could cultivate whenever she wanted.

She would no longer need to depend on accidentally discovering mysterious antique shops with suspicious amounts of spiritual energy.

If the mountain truly belonged to her, she could visit whenever she had the opportunity.

More importantly, it would give her a place where she could strengthen herself without attracting unnecessary attention.

Xi Yunxui’s expression gradually became serious.

The reward was incredibly tempting.

Unfortunately, there was one problem.

She slowly looked toward Hui.

The little girl smiled at her.

Xi Yunxui stared back.

The temptation immediately weakened.

Just slightly.

The System had essentially handed her a mountain and then asked her to perform the impossible.

How was she supposed to prevent everyone from realizing that Hui was Hui?

Xi Yunxui lowered her voice.

"System."

[Yes, Host?]

"Are you trying to kill me?"

[Negative.]

Xi Yunxui glanced at Hui again.

"Then why do I feel as though you’re setting me up?"

[The System has issued a reasonable mission.]

Xi Yunxui almost laughed.

Reasonable?

The Patriarch had seen Hui.

The elderly shop owner had seen Hui.

The apprentice had nearly screamed himself unconscious because of Hui.

Now the System expected her to convince all three men that the tiger-like creature had disappeared while a completely unrelated five-year-old girl had mysteriously appeared beside her.

Xi Yunxui rubbed her temples.

This was not a mission.

This was a test of her ability to lie.

Before she could continue arguing with the System, Hui moved closer.

The little girl gently tugged at the edge of Xi Yunxui’s sleeve.

Xi Yunxui looked down.

"What is it?"

Hui simply stared at her.

Xi Yunxui waited.

Nothing happened.

The little girl remained silent.

Xi Yunxui sighed.

Right.

She had forgotten that Hui apparently could not speak.

Or perhaps would not speak.

Xi Yunxui still had no idea which explanation was correct.

Hui tugged at her sleeve again.

This time, Xi Yunxui noticed the little girl’s expression.

Although Hui remained calm, there was something uncertain in her eyes.

Xi Yunxui’s irritation softened slightly.

Whatever Hui truly was, she was still the little girl Xi Yunxui had found hiding inside the kitchen the previous night.

Xi Yunxui reached forward and gently patted her head.

"Don’t worry."

Hui blinked.

Xi Yunxui looked toward the partially opened inner door.

The voices of the Patriarch and the elderly man had stopped.

That silence made her considerably more nervous than their previous argument.

"We’ll figure something out."

Hui continued looking at her.

Xi Yunxui hesitated before adding quietly, "Hopefully."

King C, who had been standing nearby, slowly moved closer.

He leaned toward Xi Yunxui.

"Are you talking to yourself again?"

Xi Yunxui immediately turned toward him.

King C wisely lowered his voice.

"What?"

Xi Yunxui narrowed her eyes.

"Nothing."

King C glanced toward Hui.

Then back toward Xi Yunxui.

His expression became suspicious.

"You have that look."

"What look?"

"The look you have whenever the invisible voice in your head gives you trouble."

Xi Yunxui stared at him.

King C lifted his chin.

"I notice things."

Xi Yunxui slowly nodded.

"Congratulations."

King C frowned.

"Why are you being sarcastic?"

"I’m not."

King C looked unconvinced.

Before he could continue questioning her, Biyu fluttered down from its position and landed near Hui.

The little girl immediately crouched beside it.

Her expression brightened.

Biyu tilted its head.

Then Hui gently touched one of its feathers.

Biyu remained still.

Xi Yunxui watched them.

For the first time since Hui had transformed, a possible idea slowly formed inside her mind.

The Patriarch and the others had only seen Hui in her tiger-like form.

They did not know that the creature could transform into a human.

Perhaps—

No.

Xi Yunxui immediately dismissed the thought.

Simply bringing Hui outside and claiming that she was someone else would not solve the problem.

The timing was too suspicious.

She needed a proper explanation.

A believable story.

Xi Yunxui looked around the antique shop.

Her gaze landed on the young apprentice behind the counter.

Unfortunately, he was already looking at her again.

More specifically, his eyes were fixed on Hui.

Xi Yunxui immediately straightened.

The young man froze.

Their eyes met.

For several uncomfortable seconds, neither of them spoke.

Then Xi Yunxui slowly smiled.

The apprentice immediately lowered his head and pretended to be extremely busy arranging several objects on the counter.

Xi Yunxui’s smile disappeared.

That was suspicious.

Very suspicious.

Had he already noticed that Hui was missing?

Xi Yunxui’s heart sank.

She looked toward the space where Hui had previously been sitting.

Then back toward the little girl.

The apprentice might not know exactly what had happened.

But if he had enough time to think about it—

Xi Yunxui’s eyes widened.

The System’s mission suddenly became considerably more urgent.

She mentally called for the System.

System.

[Yes, Host?]

Does the mission begin now?

[Affirmative.]

Xi Yunxui’s expression stiffened.

So I can fail it right now?

O

[The Host may fail the mission if Hui’s identity is exposed.]

Xi Yunxui closed her eyes.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

The reward was a mountain filled with spiritual energy.

The mission was preventing three people from connecting an ash-grey tiger-like creature to the silent little girl now standing beside her.

Xi Yunxui slowly opened her eyes.

Her gaze fell upon Hui.

Hui looked up at her.

Then smiled.

Xi Yunxui’s lips pressed together.

She could do this.

Probably.

She had survived transmigrating into another person’s body.

She had survived an increasingly strange household.

She was currently raising a talking goat-like creature, a strange chicken-like creature, and whatever exactly Hui was.

Surely, coming up with a believable explanation for one missing creature and one unexpected child could not be that difficult.

Xi Yunxui stared toward the inner room.

The door was opening wider.

Her confidence immediately disappeared.

The System’s voice sounded inside her mind.

[ Host should remain calm.]

Xi Yunxui mentally smiled.

Easy for you to say.

She quickly looked down at Hui.

The little girl was still standing beside her.

King C stood on the other side.

Biyu remained close.

Xi Yunxui inhaled quietly.

A mountain.

A mountain filled with spiritual energy.

She could already imagine herself cultivating there.

The thought immediately strengthened her resolve.

No matter what happened next, nobody could discover that Hui was the tiger-like creature.

Xi Yunxui smiled.

Then she looked down at Hui again.

"From now on, you are not Hui."

The little girl blinked.

Xi Yunxui paused.

That sounded wrong.

She pressed her fingers against her forehead.

"No. You are Hui."

Hui continued staring at her.

Xi Yunxui sighed.

"But you’re not that Hui."

King C slowly turned toward her.

Xi Yunxui ignored him.

"You understand?"

Hui blinked again.

Xi Yunxui stared at her.

After several seconds, she sighed.

"Let’s just hope you understand."

King C leaned closer and whispered, "I don’t understand."

Xi Yunxui immediately turned toward him.

"I wasn’t talking to you."

King C nodded solemnly.

"That makes more sense."

Xi Yunxui narrowed her eyes.

Before she could respond, footsteps sounded from the inner section of the shop.

The Patriarch and the elderly man were coming out.

Xi Yunxui straightened immediately.

Her gaze moved toward Hui.

Then toward the approaching doorway.

A spiritual mountain.

Two hours away from the Huo residence.

Filled with abundant spiritual energy.

Xi Yunxui silently repeated the reward inside her mind.

Whatever explanation she came up with—

It had better be convincing.

Because she was not losing an entire mountain to a five-year-old girl who had suddenly decided that transforming into a human inside an antique shop was a perfectly reasonable thing to do.