After Sang Ruo spoke those four words, she refused to say another.
No matter how much Rong Ji pressed for details, Sang Ruo only replied: “There is no summary that fits her more perfectly than that.”
Rong Ji felt as if a cat were scratching at her heart, thinking to herself how well Sang Ruo kept her secrets. “So, did you two separate later?”
“We separated.”
“Ah…” Rong Ji mused. “That makes sense. After all, you ended up here on our island.”
“Actually, it was even earlier than that.”
Earlier?
Rong Ji wanted to ask more, but as she opened her mouth, a piece of pastry was stuffed inside. “Mmph.”
“Is it alright?”
Rong Ji quickly raised a hand to hold the pastry, took a bite, and chewed thoughtfully. “Mmh… yes!”
Her eyes lit up. The texture was delicate, carrying a faint floral fragrance that wasn’t overpowering—a sweet, refreshing flavor. Rong Ji finished the piece quickly and immediately wanted another.
She stood with her hands behind her back, watching Sang Ruo arrange the plate, but Sang Ruo showed no intention of giving her another piece. After a moment, Rong Ji said, “When we were in the Young City Lord’s room, I saw you manifest a weapon on your own.”
Sang Ruo found it strange that she would bring this up now. “Yes, that is my natal Demonic Weapon. I am used to forming it into the shape of a blade.”
Rong Ji blinked at her. “Then during the Great Sacrifice, why did you ask to borrow my ceremonial sword? That sword wasn’t sharp at all.”
Sang Ruo: “…” Her movements froze.
She questioned her existence, whispering to the System: “Is she really bringing up old scores like this?”
The System: 【Don’t ask me. I am just an innocent bystander eating popcorn.】
At the time, Sang Ruo had indeed planned it. She wanted people to say, “The one who used the High Priest’s ritual sword to kill the monster.” It was poetic. But that was hard to explain now.
She looked at Rong Ji silently and realized that the girl didn’t look like she was interrogating her; rather, she looked like she was… enjoying the show.
Rong Ji: “Why was it?”
Sang Ruo, expressionless, stuffed another pastry into her mouth.
Rong Ji took a bite and smiled. “Are you bribing me?”
Sang Ruo gave a slight nod. “Is the Lady Priest satisfied with my bribe?”
Rong Ji shook her head. “Not enough—”
Under Sang Ruo’s seemingly calm but actually nervous gaze, Rong Ji’s smile deepened. “At least two more pieces.”
In the end, the finished plate was missing a small portion.
Sang Ruo’s pastries received unanimous praise. When everything was settled, she stayed the night in the High Priest’s small courtyard.
Alone in her room in the dead of night, Sang Ruo finally had time to study the lottery draw she had received for completing the side quest. A large wheel appeared before her, divided into eight sections with a red pointer. The rule stated: 100 energy points per draw.
Sang Ruo recalled that the mission itself only gave 100 points, so this “free” draw was quite a decent bonus.
【Would you like to use the free lottery draw?】 【Yes / No】
Sang Ruo clicked “Yes,” and the red pointer began to spin rapidly.
The System watched intently, acting like an interviewer: 【Host, are you nervous?】
“Not at all,” Sang Ruo said frankly. If she had to spend energy points, she would never do it, because—she was a total “African King” (unlucky player).
As she spoke, the pointer stopped.
【Congratulations! You have received “One Small Pill” x1. It is Purple quality! Please keep up the good work~】
Sang Ruo: = = “That automated voice sounds stupid.”
The System felt insulted: 【That’s the auxiliary system. It was designed ages ago; it has nothing to do with me!】
Sang Ruo noticed a “Detailed Description” button and clicked it. The description read: 【An orange-yellow small pill. Tastes sweet. Has miraculous healing properties, able to bring back the dead and regrow flesh on bone. However, there is a tiny side effect.】
It looked suspicious at first glance.
【Lottery items will be temporarily stored in the System Bag. The System Bag and System Shop are now temporarily open.】
“Temporarily?”
【This world is a beginner transition world. It won’t officially open until the next world. The pre-opening only allows for limited functions.】
Sang Ruo understood; essentially, it was useless for now. She put the “useless” item out of her mind and went to sleep.
In the adjacent room, Rong Ji was diligently scrubbing a handkerchief. It was the first time she had ever washed anything herself. Once it dried tomorrow, she could return it to Sang Ruo.
Sometimes she wondered if Sang Ruo lacked common sense, giving away personal items so carelessly. If it weren’t her, but someone else…
The next day was still rainy, so Rong Ji hung the cloth inside. It didn’t dry. On the third day, the sun finally came out, but she lost her chance to return it.
Mei Si’s confidant, Mei Thirty-Seven, arrived with her retinue.
At the time, Sang Ruo was playing chess with Rong Ji in the courtyard. As Mei Thirty-Seven stormed in aggressively, Sang Ruo held a black piece between her fingers and turned her cold gaze toward her.
Chilled by that icy look, Mei Thirty-Seven’s legs went weak, and she felt a sudden, inexplicable urge to apologize. However, she quickly regained her composure and arched an eyebrow at Sang Ruo. “We need to speak alone.”
Sang Ruo didn’t move. She turned back and placed a black piece on the board. “This Lady Attendant, we aren’t that close, are we?”
According to her plan with Mei Si, they weren’t supposed to know each other in front of Rong Ji. This now restricted Mei Thirty-Seven’s actions.
Mei Thirty-Seven froze for a second, then said harshly, “Just come outside with me.”
Sang Ruo: “Is there something that cannot be said here? The Lady Priest is not an outsider.”
Mei Thirty-Seven: “…You!”
Sang Ruo refused to follow her, and she couldn’t order the High Priest around. Even though Rong Ji was a puppet, her status was still noble. Mei Thirty-Seven eventually swallowed her anger and changed her approach: “Did you sell something a few days ago?”
“Mmh.” Sang Ruo understood instantly. She was here to interrogate her about the sold treasures.
A dark light flashed in her downcast eyes. Or rather Mei Thirty-Seven thought she was here for the treasures.
Rong Ji looked at Sang Ruo, then at Mei Thirty-Seven, unsure if she should play dumb or leave. Sang Ruo looked up at her. “It is your move.”
Then, Sang Ruo slowly picked up another black piece, her dark eyes landing on Mei Thirty-Seven. “Weren’t they given to me? Why can’t I sell them?”
Mei Thirty-Seven hadn’t expected her to just blurt it out. She instinctively looked at Rong Ji. Rong Ji had her head down, her lips pressed together, her shoulders trembling slightly. Mei Thirty-Seven felt confused; things weren’t going as she had imagined.
Sang Ruo asked, “Did Mei Si specifically instruct you to come here and pressure me?”
Mei Thirty-Seven remained silent, staring at her fixedly. “That is not for you to ask.”
Sang Ruo stood up and walked toward her step by step. “I heard that Mei Si values you highly. But if she truly valued you, she wouldn’t have sent you here.”
As she approached, the attendants behind Mei Thirty-Seven wearing bamboo-leaf masks drew their swords in unison, pointing them at Sang Ruo. Lan Nineteen had previously explained that the bamboo-leaf masks belonged to the Bamboo Section.
The Bamboo Section managed military force.
Mei Thirty-Seven frowned and sneered, “What nonsense are you talking about?”
Faced with the wall of swords, Sang Ruo didn’t stop her advance. “You still don’t understand.”
Mei Thirty-Seven gripped her hilt, watching her warily. As Sang Ruo drew closer, Mei Thirty-Seven suddenly felt as if she had fallen into a deep abyss, unable to move. Time seemed to stretch. In that moment, she heard the sound of a falling leaf.
She saw Sang Ruo raise her hand. Those hands were so pale they were almost transparent, perfectly shaped—too perfect to be human, for humans are flawed.
Between her pale fingers, she held a black chess piece, which she swept across Mei Thirty-Seven’s throat in a diagonal arc.
Mei Thirty-Seven felt a chill at her neck. Cold air rushed into her throat. “Gurgle—”
Her vision blurred rapidly, and her body collapsed forward uncontrollably. Before she lost consciousness completely, she heard a sigh: “Because she is using your life to test me. How pitiful.”
Mei Thirty-Seven seemed to understand something at last. Infinite sorrow filled her shell, but her thoughts soon ceased.
In the eyes of the Bamboo Section attendants, everything happened with lightning speed. In the blink of an eye, their leader had fallen. There was no blood, no sound.
“My Lady!”
After a few seconds of stunned silence, the first attendant lunged at Sang Ruo with a sword, followed by the others. About thirty people attacked her in succession.
Sang Ruo gathered black energy into a blade, parrying them with ease. Quickly, she disarmed them all. The most injured took a cut to the shoulder, while others merely had their weapons knocked away.
The disarmed attendants realized the terror of this woman, their bodies trembling slightly. If she wanted to, everyone present would be dead. No one dared to pick up their fallen weapons; no one dared to move.
A moment later, they heard the terrifying woman say slowly, “Those who don’t want to fight can get lost.”
Still, no one dared move.
“Oh, and when you leave, don’t forget to take this corpse back. And clean up every trace of blood.” Sang Ruo turned and walked back. Only then did she hear the sound of disorganized, retreating footsteps.
Rong Ji was waiting by the chessboard with a white piece. Seeing Sang Ruo return, she raised her hand and gently wiped a speck of blood from Sang Ruo’s face.
“Ah… a bit splashed on me by accident,” Sang Ruo sighed softly.
Rong Ji had just witnessed a terrifying scene a corpse, a chaotic fight and her heart was racing. But seeing Sang Ruo approach quietly like a cat, she suddenly felt a sense of peace.
“Is this what you meant the other day by ‘you’ll find out in a few days’?” Rong Ji asked.