Chapter 102: Treasure
Tormented by nightmares, Gu Qiqi didn’t know how long she had been asleep. When she finally woke up and opened her eyes, her vision was hazy, as if she had been crying, surrounded by mist. As the mist was dispelled by the light, her sight gradually cleared, and she saw a clean and tidy tent.
“System? Are you there?”
The first thing Gu Qiqi did after waking from her stupor was to call out to the system in her mind.
No response came.
She was momentarily stunned, and as if recalling something important, Gu Qiqi’s expression changed, and she quickly began to search her body. When she felt the bamboo slips in her arms, she secretly sighed in relief.
Even though the system had never specifically said so, she knew that the Bamboo Slips Illusion was the most important thing for her, not only because it was her greatest reliance for advancing her spirit patterns but also because her subjects lived within it.
She had promised those villagers that she would ensure they lived a good life!
The bamboo slips were still there, which was good, but then what?
What should she do next?
Her bright eyes gradually dimmed as Gu Qiqi lowered her head, feeling a sudden rush of confusion.
She had lost track of time; it seemed that ever since she had found herself on the streets, the system had been by her side, telling her what to do and what not to do without her needing to think for herself, handling everything down to the minutiae, from daily necessities to spirit pattern drawing and urban legend hunting.
Sometimes, the system would even complain that it hadn’t found a host, but rather a daughter, or an ancestor!
Over time, her reliance on the system had become an inseparable habit.
The relationship between Gu Qiqi and the system had long transcended that of a typical host and system and had turned into one akin to family.
“Rustle, rustle…”
In the silence, footsteps could be heard approaching from outside the tent, as if someone was walking on the sandy ground.
Then, the tent’s flap was lifted, revealing a delicate and clean face that was so captivating it made one’s heart race uncontrollably.
“Oh? You’re awake.” The person smiled, raising a tray that held a teapot and baked flatbreads. “Here, have something to eat. Freshly made oil tea soup and baked flatbreads.”
Gu Qiqi glanced at the person and then at the food on the tray, swallowing hard, but remained silent with a fierce gaze.
Although her empty stomach had already begun to rumble at the sweet scent of the oil tea soup and baked flatbreads, she didn’t know the person in front of her and was unsure how to respond.
In the past, the system would have already informed her whether the person in front of her was a friend or foe, and whether the food was safe to eat…
Fang Ji observed Gu Qiqi, who clearly held hostility towards him, and after a few seconds of silence, he put down the tray and explained, “Haha, there’s no need to be afraid. I’m not a bad person…”
“Hmph!” Before Fang Ji could finish his sentence, Gu Qiqi cut in with a cold snort, “My… I have a friend who told me that those who claim to be good people are usually bad people.”
After all, the calamity that the system had mentioned was just like that—it would not only profess to be a good person but would also seem to perform just acts to cover up its evil deeds.
Don’t think that I’m easily deceived just because I look simple; in fact, I can be quite clever most of the time, Gu Qiqi thought.
Fang Ji chuckled at her words. “But I only said I’m not a bad person; I never claimed to be a good one! To be honest, I just want to use you to help me with something… Miss Calamity.”
Or perhaps, Miss Gu Qiqi? Fang Ji added in his heart.
Calamity?! Where… where is it?
Just as Luxianbei had PTSD from being a corporate slave, Gu Qiqi also had her trauma with “calamity.” Upon hearing the term, her muscles instantly tensed, her eyes involuntarily darting around, and her hands clenched tightly at the corners of the blanket.
When she had the system by her side, facing calamity required some courage; now, with the system asleep, encountering calamity in such a situation made her panic immensely.
After all, she was a woman who had been tormented by calamity more than once.
How miserable it was—each time, she cried her heart out.
But then noticing Fang Ji staring intently at her, Gu Qiqi was momentarily taken aback, coming back to her senses. She instinctively lifted her hand to touch her cheek and then quickly pulled it back.
Oh right! I am the calamity now… so there’s nothing to worry about!
Gradually relaxing, Gu Qiqi looked back at Fang Ji and recalled his words, narrowing her eyes.
Weird! This person just said he wants to use me, right?
He just said it so openly?
She had expected him to come up with some excuses, but Fang Ji’s response completely caught her off guard.
It felt like being promised a duel, arriving with weapons ready, only to find the opponent pulling out a transformation device from their bag.
She was utterly flabbergasted.
“Why should I let you use me?” After a few seconds of silence, Gu Qiqi stammered, “I don’t even know you!”
That was the strongest stance she could muster.
“Because I can help you!” Fang Ji said with a smile, “For instance, waking up your friend.”
As he spoke, he raised his hand and pointed behind Gu Qiqi, as if he had seen something there that ordinary people couldn’t see.
Gu Qiqi stole a glance at her shoulder and weakly replied, “How… how can I wake it up…”
Fang Ji smiled meaningfully, “Have you heard the legend of the Four Treasures of Yumen Pass?”
“…” Gu Qiqi opened her mouth to say something but, remembering Fang Ji’s hint about being able to wake the system, she chose to remain silent and shook her head.
Moreover, she liked treasures…
Thinking of this, her heart ached again.
Earlier, if she hadn’t been so excited after seeing that luxurious treasure chest and had lost control, opening the treasure chest without assessing the risks, perhaps the system wouldn’t have fallen asleep.
“The first one,” Fang Ji said, raising a finger, “is related to the legend of God Realm Yumen. It is said that Yumen Pass is a grand god realm whose master has long passed away. As the master departed, the god realm merged into the endless sands, but the key to controlling the god realm remained intact and is rumored to be hidden somewhere in this Gobi Desert, waiting for a specific person to find it.”
“However, what the key looks like and where it might appear is still unknown to anyone.”
After a pause, Fang Ji raised a second finger. “The second treasure is the token of the Nanling County King. It is said that a thousand years ago, the county king was a heroic figure. Monsters from the western regions invaded, and with the help of the Huihu people, they penetrated deep into the territories of Guo and Sha, causing immense suffering.
The county king, relying solely on three thousand armored soldiers, was able to repel the enemies a thousand miles and imprison over half of the monsters within the God Realm Yumen, forcing the remaining monsters to flee in disarray.
Such great achievements brought immense joy to the emperor of that time, who not only rewarded the Nanling County King with fertile land, gold, horses, and so on but also bestowed upon him a token that could command ten thousand elite soldiers, allowing him to take charge of Yumen Pass and guard it well…”
Gu Qiqi listened, fascinated, and when Fang Ji paused, she immediately urged, “What happened next? What happened next?”
“Don’t be so impatient!” Fang Ji smirked and continued, “Later, that county king and the ten thousand elite soldiers dedicated their lives to guarding Yumen Pass. Even when the dynasty fell, and their lifespans waned, they dared not relent in the slightest.
It is said that after those one thousand soldiers died, they all transformed into heroic spirits, becoming urban legends, sleeping beneath the sands, waiting for the one who holds the token to arrive and awaken them, allowing them to heed their command.
However, unfortunately, that token has two parts; one part should still be hidden within the God Realm Yumen, while the other part has long been lost, whereabouts unknown. It is probably impossible to reunite the two halves.”
After hearing about the two treasures, Gu Qiqi scratched the back of her head, suddenly feeling like she had been duped.
“Although these two stories are quite interesting, how do they relate to waking… my friend?”
“Miss Calamity was previously searching for treasures in the Gobi Desert, right? I thought you would enjoy hearing these,” Fang Ji shrugged.
In fact, he had thought this so-called imposter Miss Calamity’s behavior of rummaging around was seeking a certain treasure.
“But the treasures you mentioned sound like things that cannot be obtained…” Gu Qiqi frowned.
Treasures that cannot be obtained are not treasures!
Just like the small change in someone else’s pocket, even if one knows it exists, it’s difficult to turn it into one’s own.
“Alright.” Fang Ji smiled, “However, the third treasure is related to waking your friend. This treasure is also linked to the Nanling County King but lacks proper historical records, existing only in the o*al traditions of some spirit energy organizations.
It is said that while the Nanling County King was incredibly brave, the sheer number of monsters from the western regions was simply overwhelming. He and his three thousand soldiers achieved several great victories but still could not stop the monsters from continuing their destruction, and due to the supply team being ambushed, they fell into a predicament.
At the moment when the Nanling County King was forced into a corner, preparing to lead his soldiers in a last-ditch effort against the monsters, a monk named Hong Bian from the Zoroastrian sect brought a turning point to the situation.
That monk visited the Nanling County King alone at night, and the next day, the king obtained ample supplies, and additionally, the damaged equipment of the three thousand soldiers was restored and replaced, looking completely new overnight; it was truly a miracle!
It is said that after the monk died, he was buried in this Gobi Desert, and the miraculous ability he possessed did not dissipate with his d*ath. If someone could find his tomb and open it, at that very moment, divine light would shine, turning the desert into an oasis, and every person or urban legend bathed in that divine light could make one wish.”
After a pause, Fang Ji added meaningfully, “Any wish! This means that it includes waking up your friend.”
“And I happen to know where that monk’s tomb is.”
After hearing Fang Ji’s words, Gu Qiqi’s breathing involuntarily became heavier, her gaze heated, but then she furrowed her brows again. “So, what do you want me to help you with? Don’t think that just because you can help me, I’ll do whatever you want. I have principles!”
“Miss Calamity, don’t be so excited!” Fang Ji waved his hand, “As for what I want you to do, I haven’t figured that out yet. I’ll tell you once I do.”
“Don’t worry; if you feel it goes against your principles at that time, you can refuse.”
Fang Ji was being honest with Gu Qiqi.
To be honest, having a fake calamity suddenly pop up on this Gobi Desert was beyond his expectations.
However, the members of the Miracle Cult were never afraid of surprises.
For the members of the Miracle Cult, surprise was another name for miracle!
Now, with Gu Qiqi impersonating calamity unexpectedly falling into his hands, it could mean that soon, Gu Qiqi would create miracles, right?
Moreover, it seemed that calamity had also used the name Gu Qiqi when in Shizhou City, right?
Fang Ji thought as he turned to glance back at Gu Qiqi with a meaningful look.
Just thinking about it was already very interesting!
