Chapter 157
Chapter 157: Memories of the Past
Supreme Virtue City.
The manor.
Meng Xi Yu glanced at the gates of the manor, then turned her gaze to Shi Zi Chu. “We’re staying here?”
Shi Zi Chu nodded.
Meng Xi Yu didn’t ask further, merely following Shi Zi Chu inside.
The manor was large, and Meng Xi Yu intended to explore. Shi Zi Chu, on the other hand, had something more refined in mind.
In the back mountains, a clear, pristine natural lake shimmered like a pearl nestled among green trees.
Shi Zi Chu had somehow found a small boat and was now leisurely drifting across the lake. The sunlight danced on the water’s surface, creating ripples that sparkled in the breeze. Shi Zi Chu, lying comfortably on a soft cushion, couldn’t have been more at ease.
Xue Gu, sprawled nearby, stretched lazily, mewing twice before rolling over to Shi Zi Chu’s side, snuggling close to her.
Shi Zi Chu, half-closed eyes, absentmindedly stroked the cat, but her thoughts were far away.
According to the plot provided by the female villain system, Chu Zhi Rou had obtained the Azure Luan inheritance in the Green Mountain Secret Realm. She then gained a spatial storage ring from the Celestial Grace Mountain Range, followed by the cold jade cup and heavenly treasures from the Floating Flower Secret Realm, as well as a lucky encounter at an auction.
With the power of these many heavenly treasures, Chu Zhi Rou’s cultivation was expected to reach the late Golden Core stage. After the Ten Thousand Visions Realm concluded, her cultivation would undoubtedly break through to Nascent Soul.
As for the Azure Luan Sword, it was not yet time for its appearance. The Yu Sheng sword, a fine spirit sword, was sufficient for Chu Zhi Rou until the Spirit Projection stage, so the Azure Luan Sword would come later.
Moreover, the system attached to Chu Zhi Rou was something new, something that had never appeared before. It seemed that her evil nature had prompted the story to introduce a system to balance things out.
Shi Zi Chu rolled over, lying on her side in the boat.
“Has the little dog been causing trouble lately?” Shi Zi Chu tapped Xue Gu’s head.
Xue Gu raised its head and communicated directly with spiritual sense. “It’s been staying in its doghouse, behaving very well.”
Shi Zi Chu flicked her finger, and the female villain system that had been residing in the spatial storage ring appeared on the boat.
With another gesture, Shi Zi Chu sent the scruffy little dog plummeting into the water with a splash.
As she watched it struggle in the lake, Shi Zi Chu smiled and asked, “Little dog, do you think our noble protagonist will get bound by the system?”
[Impossible! The heroine… The heroine is bound by the system?!]
The female villain system’s voice rang out in shock.
Shi Zi Chu propped her face up with one hand. “Yes, I detected system fluctuations on her.”
The female villain system seemed to freeze at her words.
As the scruffy little dog sank without further struggle, Shi Zi Chu used a burst of spiritual power to toss it back to the shore.
Such a beautiful lake shouldn’t be polluted by the female villain system.
Xue Gu hopped onto the shore, stepping on the little dog, its fluffy paws revealing sharp claws.
Shi Zi Chu steered the boat closer to shore, her smile widening as she looked at the frozen system. “I can’t deny her protagonist aura is strong, but as of now, I am the one at the Nascent Soul stage.”
The female villain system, seeming to come to its senses, replied with a sarcastic tone, [You vile villainess, what’s there to be proud of? You only have your cultivation through dual cultivation! Our great heroine has climbed her way to the top through her own efforts!]
The voice echoed through her spiritual sense, noisy and grating, but Shi Zi Chu simply smiled and replied, “Yes, yes, yes.”
The system, ready to continue its mocking tirade, was interrupted when Shi Zi Chu casually added, “But your noble heroine hasn’t refrained from dual cultivation either.”
The depictions of the heroine and the male leads’ dual cultivation were more vivid than some graphic novels. Compared to Chu Zhi Rou, her purity seemed almost laughable.
[You wicked villainess! You will meet a miserable end one day!!]
Shi Zi Chu sneered.
She hadn’t died in the last life, even when the heavens themselves were collapsing. This situation was hardly one to fear.
“Speaking of Xing Lan…” Shi Zi Chu once again accessed the plot from the female villain system.
In her past life, after she had drugged and engaged in dual cultivation with Xing Lan, he had never appeared again. It wasn’t Xing Lan who expelled her from the sect, but Xu Zhou Ye.
That was odd.
She could sense Xing Lan’s survival through the Ring of the First Bell, yet why had he never appeared?
Shi Zi Chu lay back on the cushion, squinting at the bright blue sky.
Xing Lan’s love for her had been evident long ago, but after losing and regaining it, what would Xing Lan do in this situation?
Divining Heavenly Secrets?
Given Xing Lan’s talent and cultivation, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to divine the heavens.
What would Xing Lan do after glimpsing the secrets of the universe?
He would likely kill Chu Zhi Rou.
When Xing Lan attempted to kill Chu Zhi Rou, the plot would surely intervene.
Xing Lan, possessing such a powerful artifact, wasn’t someone with shallow luck. If the plot couldn’t kill him, it would have to find a way to trap him.
This would explain why Xing Lan had disappeared completely after that point.
“What are you thinking about?” came the cold voice of Meng Xi Yu.
Shi Zi Chu snapped back to reality, sitting up. She saw Meng Xi Yu, tall and graceful, standing at the shore.
“Nothing,” Shi Zi Chu responded, flopping back onto the cushion. “Did you finish your walk?”
Meng Xi Yu nodded, her gaze falling on the cat and dog just a few steps away.
Neither of them looked like ordinary spirit beasts.
“Meow~” Xue Gu let out a soft meow.
Shi Zi Chu returned the female villain system to the spatial storage ring, then cast a dust dispelling spell on Xue Gu.
Xue Gu leapt onto Shi Zi Chu’s lap.
She lay lazily, smiling up at Meng Xi Yu. “A’Yu, can you help me with something?”
Meng Xi Yu met her gaze and replied, “Speak.”
“I want some lychees, and some snacks too,” Shi Zi Chu said with a hint of longing.
Meng Xi Yu nodded and turned to leave.
As she did, Shi Zi Chu spoke to the female villain system through spiritual sense, “The plot can’t do anything to me, can it?”
The female villain system’s voice, sharp and mechanical, replied, [How would you know… know what? The plot can’t do anything to you? You found the Azure Luan Sword first, but what came of it?]
If the plot truly had the power to stop her, the spatial storage ring wouldn’t be in her possession.
The plot was powerful, yes, but directly confronting it would be futile. However, if she chipped away at it, piece by piece?
Like now, the Azure Luan Sword, which should have appeared much later, had appeared ahead of time.
The female villain system continued to shout, [The heroine is the heroine! You, the vile villainess, can never hope to change the story! You are destined to be a stepping stone for the heroine!]
After hearing these tired words countless times, Shi Zi Chu simply smiled without responding.
It wasn’t certain yet who would be the stepping stone.
…
Meng Xi Yu returned quickly.
She had been searching for a while, and upon finding Shi Zi Chu, the boat had drifted to the center of the lake. Shi Zi Chu lay there, half-asleep, half-awake.
“Back already?”
Meng Xi Yu nodded.
Shi Zi Chu rubbed her eyes, woke from her nap, and gracefully leapt to the shore, holding Xue Gu in her arms.
The two of them walked toward a nearby pavilion.
Once inside, Meng Xi Yu placed the food Shi Zi Chu had asked for on the table.
“It looks delicious, thank you, A’Yu!” Shi Zi Chu’s eyes sparkled as she eyed the snacks and fruits on the table, immediately reaching for one.
Meng Xi Yu sat nearby, peeling a lychee.
Shi Zi Chu finished the snack in her mouth, then leaned forward and took a bite of the lychee.
Meng Xi Yu glanced at her.
Shi Zi Chu chewed the crisp, sweet fruit and mumbled, “Wasn’t this supposed to be peeled for me?”
“It was,” Meng Xi Yu replied, looking away as she continued peeling the lychee. “The sugar box ran out, so this one was a gift from the immortals.”
“It’s delicious,” Shi Zi Chu said, spitting out the pit onto the table.
Meng Xi Yu handed her a peeled lychee.
Shi Zi Chu took it without hesitation, chewing as she spoke, “It’s getting a bit hot now. There should be plenty of sweet drinks in the city, right?”
“We can go out for a stroll,” Meng Xi Yu said, glancing at the sky. “Evening would be better.”
A Nascent Soul cultivator wouldn’t be affected by the weather, but Shi Zi Chu was a bit spoiled. If they went out now, she’d definitely complain about the heat and the sun.
Shi Zi Chu smiled brightly. “Alright.”