Before Ruan Ruoyin could get angry, the Game System quickly explained:
【If you don’t spend money, the shells you earn from completing the beginner quests can only be exchanged for one bottle of low-grade healing Elixir.】
【Zaizai is very likely to die from worsening injuries.】
“Fine.” Ruan Ruoyin reluctantly accepted the Game System’s reasoning.
Anyway, she wasn’t short on money—she could afford as many 648s as needed.
While Ruan Ruoyin was talking to the system, Fu Ruheng regained consciousness from his dazed state.
He abruptly sat up, his beautiful face pale and sickly, his eyes alert as he scanned his surroundings.
Everything was quiet. The weeds were scattered and soaked from the rain, but there were no obvious signs of anyone having disturbed them.
Half of Fu Ruheng’s anxiety eased—those who were after him hadn’t found him yet.
A moment later, he suddenly realized something, his pupils contracting sharply.
With so many wounds on his body, why didn’t he feel any pain at all?
Was it because the pain was too intense, numbing him?
Fu Ruheng lifted the torn cloth on his arm, and his pupils contracted again.
The crisscrossing wounds were completely gone.
His arm was only pale from malnutrition.
How was that possible…
He still remembered the pain when those people slashed him with their knives…
And the feeling of weakness as bright red blood continuously flowed from his wounds.
Fu Ruheng lifted the torn cloth on his stomach and legs, using the damp weeds to wipe away the dried blood.
Once the blood was wiped off, his pale skin was exposed.
Still, there were no wounds.
Fu Ruheng was bewildered.
The cold air brushed against his skin, and he sneezed.
The sneeze seemed to act as a trigger, flooding his mind with a surge of overwhelming memories.
His fragile brain throbbed with pain.
A drop of cold sweat slid down Fu Ruheng’s forehead.
His slender body trembled uncontrollably.
Watching the screen, Ruan Ruoyin panicked. “Why does Zaizai look so pained?”
“Didn’t you say his injuries were all healed?”
The Game System was also confused. 【His injuries really are healed.】
Ruan Ruoyin felt this system was utterly unreliable. “I’m going to leave a negative review for your game’s spending after-sales service.”
The Game System panicked. 【No, no, no, dear player, I’ll find a way to get your Zaizai back to normal right away.】
“Hurry up. If anything happens to Zaizai, I’ll write you a ten-thousand-word negative review.”
Ruan Ruoyin tapped the screen, wiping away Fu Ruheng’s sweat.
The Game System whimpered, 【Understood.】
After a while, the Game System said: 【I’ve applied for a universal healing miracle medicine for the player.】
【Feeding it to Zaizai should fix everything.】
“Alright.”
Ruan Ruoyin instinctively opened the “Backpack” tab and dragged the healing miracle medicine to the mouth of the Chibi Character.
As soon as the medicine touched the Chibi Character’s lips, it dissolved into liquid and flowed into its mouth.
On the other side.
Fu Ruheng curled up in pain.
His hands clenched tightly into fists, his nails digging into his palms until they bled.
His slender neck arched upward, his thin lips bitten with teeth marks, slightly swollen and flushed. His faintly pink lips resembled half-ripe peach flesh, and combined with his unrealistically exquisite features, it created an inexplicably sensual image.
After an unknown amount of time, a warm energy enveloped his fragile body, soothing his pain.
Fu Ruheng opened his eyes, brushing aside the strands of hair clinging to his skin. His vacant gaze gradually focused, slowly gaining vitality, until his pitch-black pupils finally settled into a chilling coldness.
Flooding his mind were memories of his past life.
He had been reborn with his memories intact.
Returned to the age he despised most, the age when he was most powerless—eighteen.
Before he could even find a sect to join, his yet-to-awaken innate Spiritual Root had been dug out.
Those who had taken his bone and talent thought he would die from weakness, but unwilling to let fate control him, he clung to life and escaped.
They likely never imagined a dying person could run so fast, and in their carelessness, they failed to catch up.
He shook them off and hid himself in a patch of overgrown weeds.
Only…
Fu Ruheng lowered his gaze, his long lashes trembling slightly.
With an inscrutable expression, he watched as his once scar-covered, slender fingers turned snow-white and clean.
Something was different from his past life.
Someone had saved him.
How strange—he had no value whatsoever now.
What could that person’s purpose be in saving him?
Fu Ruheng couldn’t figure it out.
Yet, inexplicably, he felt no hostility toward that person.
He stood up, the confusion in his deep eyes fading as coldness once again gathered and spread.
With no cultivation at all now, rather than pondering that person’s motives, it was better to rebuild his Spiritual Root and talent.
Once he regained strength, he could track that person down.
In his past life, Fu Ruheng had lived for tens of thousands of years and recorded many secret methods for rebuilding Spiritual Roots and talent.
The most urgent task now was to find the spiritual herbs required for the process.
Fu Ruheng pressed his pale lips together, breathing in the cold, rain-soaked air, and headed toward the mist-shrouded mountains in the distance.
There was a spiritual herb he needed in the Heavenly Sword Mountains—he had to make the trip.
On Ruan Ruoyin’s side, she watched the Chibi Character’s actions curiously. “What is Zaizai doing going into the mountains?”
As soon as she spoke, ripples spread across the center of the screen.
【Side Quest (Activated): Demon Lord Fu Ruheng has entered the Heavenly Sword Mountains. Please assist Fu Ruheng in obtaining the spiritual herb “Blood Lotus.”】
【Quest Reward: Shells ×10.】
Ten shells could only be exchanged for low-tier items, which Ruan Ruoyin didn’t particularly care for. Still, playing a game required completing some quests. After a moment’s thought, she decided to do it.
One minute later.
Watching the Chibi Character’s frail, swaying figure, Ruan Ruoyin felt a pang of heartache. “Zaizai looks so miserable. He might not be able to complete the quest. Can I get the Blood Lotus by spending money?”
The Game System broke into a sweat: 【You can, but 128 for one isn’t really worth it…】
【Besides, it wouldn’t be a great experience for the player…】
Money was the last thing Ruan Ruoyin lacked. With a grand wave, she slapped her bank card onto the coffee table. “Give me a hundred.”
Game System: !
Rich Daddy, you call the shots.
The Game System immediately changed its tune. 【Not doing quests is the best gaming experience!】
【Spending money is the right choice for the player!】
With a “whoosh,” Blood Lotuses began raining down endlessly from the center of the screen.
The Blood Lotuses were huge, each the size of a human head.
Buried under the pile of Blood Lotuses, Fu Ruheng: “…”
Fu Ruheng pressed his lips together and silently pushed aside one Blood Lotus after another.
Ignoring the temptation, he continued forward.
He never believed in things falling from the sky. These Blood Lotuses were likely an illusion realm set up by cultivators in the Heavenly Sword Mountains. Taking them would mean falling into someone’s trap.
Ruan Ruoyin: “…”
Ruan Ruoyin wailed, “Zaizai, all of this is the empire I’ve spent money on for you. How can you not want even one?!”
Game System: [Esteemed player, is it possible that Zaizai has nowhere to store the blood lotus flowers?]
Ruan Ruoyin slapped her thigh. “That makes sense.”
“System, keep spending! Get Zaizai an infinite storage space!”
Game System: [Received!]