Yun Pianpian took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and tried to search the Original Owner's memories in her mind.
According to the tropes of transmigration novels, shouldn't a massive influx of memory fragments be flooding her mind right now?
She concentrated her spirit and diligently meditated—
Three seconds passed.
Five seconds passed.
Ten seconds passed...
An awkward silence permeated the air. Yun Pianpian could even feel Liu Yun's puzzled gaze fixed on her face.
Right, nothing at all.
She slowly opened her eyes, a bitter smile touching the corner of her mouth. "The Original Owner is truly considerate, not even leaving me any memories..."
Since she couldn't figure it out, she decided to stop dwelling on it. Yun Pianpian resolved to meet her savior first before slowly searching for a way home.
After all, the road home must be walked one step at a time.
She threw off the Brocade Quilt covering her and was surprised to find her body much lighter than expected. Although her chest and hips still ached faintly, she could at least move freely.
"Looks like I still have internal injuries..." she mused inwardly, "I'll need proper recuperation when I get back."
"Liu Yun, please take me to see him," Yun Pianpian stood up and straightened her collar.
As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized an awkward problem—
"Right, what is his name?"
She couldn't possibly call her savior 'Hey.'
Liu Yun's expression instantly became subtle. She lowered her head, her voice barely audible: "Miss, this servant dares not speak carelessly... You will know soon enough."
The maidservant's evasive attitude gave Yun Pianpian a sense of foreboding.
Could the savior be a hugely important figure?
Liu Yun led Yun Pianpian to the dressing table mirror.
The Bronze Mirror was polished extremely brightly, capable of reflecting almost every detail of a person's appearance. The moment Yun Pianpian sat down and her gaze met the reflection—
"Ah—!"
A sharp shriek shattered the tranquility of the side room.
"What? I look like this?!"
The girl in the mirror was not unattractive—the Original Owner she had seen in the Illusionary Realm was indeed stunningly beautiful, a true peerless beauty. But this face right now—
Her complexion carried an unhealthy yellowish-green tint.
Her cheeks were slightly sunken.
Faint dark circles hung beneath her eyes.
Her lips were pale as paper.
She was the spitting image of a girl suffering from long-term malnutrition!
If the Original Owner was a blooming Peony, she now resembled a withered wild rose.
"Did the Original Owner... never get enough to eat?"
Amidst the shock, another, more terrifying discovery struck her like lightning—
"Where did my C-cup go?!"
Another scream echoed through the room. Liu Yun, holding the comb behind her, froze mid-air, unsure whether to support her or not.
Yun Pianpian slumped onto the embroidered stool, listlessly touching her flat chest.
This was simply a dimensional downgrade! From a mature woman directly regressing to an underdeveloped girl!
Thinking again, this body was probably only thirteen or fourteen, still in its developmental stage. But then she remembered the Original Owner's circumstances...
"No wonder she looks like a sprout..."
Liu Yun skillfully styled her dark hair and applied light makeup. When she changed into the apricot-yellow, cross-collared embroidered dress—
"This texture!"
Yun Pianpian exclaimed, tracing the embroidery on the gown. In her Previous Life, she had the fortune to see exquisite Suzhou embroidery, but this piece before her...
The Dark Pattern outlined in silver thread was faintly visible under the light.
The entwined lotus pattern on the collar was lifelike.
The butterfly-loving-flower pattern on the cuff seemed ready to take flight.
It was several times more exquisite than artifacts housed in museums!
Looking in the mirror again—
Clothes make the man, and grooming helps. After being dressed and made up, she finally looked somewhat better. But the foundation of long-term malnutrition couldn't be changed overnight.
Seeing Yun Pianpian lovingly stroking the fabric, Liu Yun explained gently, "Miss, this is Cloud Brocade, worth fifty thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones."
"Fifty thousand?! And Mid-grade Spirit Stones?!"
Yun Pianpian felt struck by lightning, her fingers trembling violently. Although she was new here, the residual memories of the Original Owner told her—
In this world, the most important currency for transactions was Spirit Stones. One High-Grade Spirit Stone equaled one hundred Mid-grade Spirit Stones, and one Mid-grade Spirit Stone equaled one hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones.
One hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones were enough for an ordinary family of five to live on. Five hundred High-Grade Spirit Stones were enough for a Cultivator's cultivation resources for a year.
The instinct for thriftiness from her Previous Life caused her blood pressure to spike instantly: "This isn't wearing clothes; this is wearing a mansion!"
Through conversations with Liu Yun, she also learned the current situation. This world was a vast world of cultivation. The Tianxuan Continent where she was currently located was divided into four nations: the Eastern Profound Nation where the Original Owner was from, the West Moon Kingdom, the Nan Clan Country, and the Northern Di Kingdom.
Further up, one could reach the Central Continent via a Teleportation Passage, where countless cultivation Sects and families were established.
Finally, one could ascend the Saint Immortal Ladder to enter the Immortal Realm Continent.
As for the path of cultivation, once a child on the Tianxuan Continent reached the age of ten, their cultivation attribute must be determined by a Spirit Meridian Sphere. They would immediately absorb Spiritual Qi to cultivate, entering the Spirit Gathering Stage, then Spirit Apprentice Realm, Spirit Master Realm, Spirit King Realm, Spirit Emperor Realm, Spirit Ancestor Realm, Spirit Venerable Realm, Spirit Saint Realm, and finally the Spirit Emperor Realm.
Beyond that was information beyond Yun Pianpian's current knowledge. She secretly felt fortunate: "Good thing I've read novels before; understanding this setting is no pressure at all."
After finishing her grooming, she followed Liu Yun through the winding Corridor. Along the way, pavilions and towers stretched endlessly, with rockeries and ponds arranged pleasingly.
But the current Yun Pianpian, still recovering from severe injuries, felt her legs go weak every ten steps, causing her to bend over and sigh. She didn't know if it was hunger or something else; her vision occasionally darkened.
"Are we there yet?"
"Is this it?"
"How much further?"
Liu Yun maintained extreme professionalism, always wearing a perfect, practiced smile. After every question from Yun Pianpian, she would answer patiently, "Miss, please wait a moment, we are almost there."
Yun Pianpian thought that with such a good temper, if Liu Yun were in her era, she would definitely be a top-tier customer service agent!
Passing through the final carved archway, the outline of the Main Hall finally came into view. Before even stepping inside, she heard a clear questioning voice from within, though she couldn't make out the content.
The hall was deathly silent; no one responded.
Liu Yun stepped forward and whispered a few words to a Guard. The Guard quickly walked to the highest point in the hall, knelt on one knee, and reported: "Master, the Miss has arrived."
The moment the heavy hall doors slowly opened, a dark shadow swept past her side like a phantom, moving so fast it only left an afterimage in the air.
Before Yun Pianpian could get a clear look, she was so stunned by the sight that she held her breath—
This was no palace; it was clearly an immortal's Cave Dwelling!
The dome hung high above, painted with constellations depicting the rotation of the Star River. The gold-threaded carpet was embroidered with vivid Cloud Patterns, making every step feel like treading on clouds.
If this were in the modern era, it would absolutely be a 5A-rated scenic spot, with tickets starting at two hundred!
Indeed, it was the man who saved her that day. Although she hadn't seen him clearly then, a woman's intuition wouldn't be wrong.
He wore a white, cross-collared long robe, its sleeves light and flowing. A dark blue belt adorned with exquisite silver patterns cinched his waist, adding a touch of refinement to the otherwise plain attire. His long, black hair fell naturally, some strands fluttering in the breeze, exuding an ethereal quality.
It was less about being handsome and more about being breathtakingly beautiful.
"Pian'er has arrived."
The cold voice sounded like jade striking jade, making one's Ear Tips tingle.
Yun Pianpian, however, froze abruptly—
Pian'er?
Such an intimate address? What was the relationship between the Original Owner and this man? They didn't seem close enough for such familiarity. Could they have known each other before? But there was no corresponding memory.
She forced herself to remain calm and performed a half-bow: "Yun Pianpian."
The person on the throne curved his lips slightly: "Shen Yue."
The name suited his temperament, but was it really appropriate to be so familiar?
To avoid losing composure, she quickly walked to the seat on the right and chose the farthest chair. She deliberately avoided eye contact throughout the process, yet she could still feel a tangible gaze upon her.
As soon as Yun Pianpian sat down, a Maidservant presented a Cyan Porcelain Tea Cup. She picked it up and took a small sip. The moment the tea entered her throat—
Like the fresh air of a pine forest after the snow clears, a warm current rose from her Dantian, instantly sweeping away days of fatigue.
This wasn't tea; it was clearly immortal dew!
The swirling tea vapor blurred her vision, giving her a chance to compose herself. She warned herself: Don't be mesmerized by his beauty. Remember the first rule of being a transmigrator—the more handsome the man, the higher the danger level!
"Thank you, Young Master Shen, for saving my life." She set down the cup, trying to adopt the demeanor of a well-bred lady. "As the saying goes, a drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring, but a figure like yourself probably..."
"Gurgle~"
A long, drawn-out stomach rumble abruptly interrupted her address.
Yun Pianpian instantly froze like a stone statue, her Ear Tips turning red at a visible rate. Her fingertips unconsciously twisted her hair, wishing she could dig a hole and crawl into it right there.
It couldn't have sounded earlier or later! Now she truly looked like a starving ghost!
Silence spread throughout the hall. Just as the awkwardness was about to become tangible—
"I will claim my reward another day," Shen Yue's voice struck like a Jade Chime, the ending note carrying an almost imperceptible hint of a smile. "Let us dine first."
He waved his wide sleeve, and the attendants moved like flowing water.
In the side hall, the purple sandalwood long table was already laden with various dishes.
Originally, the two were seated at opposite ends of the long table, several meters apart. Yun Pianpian was staring at the Honey Glazed Fire Ham far away, worrying, when she saw a dark sleeve sweep past her vision—
Shen Yue had actually gotten up and sat down only two seats away from her!
The distance was close enough that she could clearly smell the cool pine fragrance emanating from him, and in her peripheral vision, she could see his wrist as Shen Yue picked up his chopsticks.
Yun Pianpian's heart skipped a beat. 'How am I supposed to eat like this!'
Shen Yue took in her astonished gaze. Before she could react, those well-defined hands picked up jade chopsticks and began serving her food with fluid grace.
"Slow-stewed Black Feather Chicken, it is the most nourishing."
A piece of chicken, Pale White like jade, landed in her bowl, the broth clear as amber.
"Crystal Dragon and Phoenix Pastry, easy to digest."
Two pieces of crystal-clear Pastry were stacked into a small mountain.
"Eight Treasure Steamed Spirit Goose, replenishes Qi and blood."
The goose meat, wrapped with spirit mushrooms, emitted an enticing aroma.
Shen Yue announced the dishes in a tone as calm as if reciting a sword technique, yet his movements were astonishingly meticulous—he even specifically chose the tenderest part of the goose meat.
"This... this isn't quite right, is it?" Yun Pianpian demurred verbally, but her ivory chopsticks honestly poked toward the crystal Pastry.
In the blink of an eye, her left cheek was bulging with Spirit Goose meat, her right cheek stuffed with Spirit Chicken meat, and her lips smeared with a bit of honey glaze, making her look exactly like a grain-stealing hamster.
"Slow down," Shen Yue suddenly raised his hand and lightly tapped the corner of her mouth with his fingertip, "No one is fighting you for it."
This action nearly made Yun Pianpian choke. What was even more terrifying was that she discovered—
She had habitually rubbed against the spot his finger had touched!
Body memory warning: The Original Owner and this man definitely have something going on!